I llllll Hill "1" "■ 014 1073503 ^^rvation Resources Lig-Free® Type I 122 rii4 :opy 1 :e^ BY ADELAIDE SKEEL AND DAVID BARCLAY. W ^ Major Patrick MacGregorie, with his brother-in-law, David Toshack, the Laird of Minivaird, came to America from Scotland in 1G84, with a company of about fifty followers or servants. Major MacGregorie prob- ably belonged to the MacGregor sept, a clan noted for its indomitable courage, claiming descent from Gregor, third son of King Alpin, and boasting the motto, " Srioghal mo dhream. Royal is my race." Scarcely anything is known of Major MacGregorie's personal history previous to his emigration, except that he is described as a gentleman who served formerly in France. It was during the " killing times " in Scotland that these men set sail for the New World. East Nevv Jersey, the destination of the company, was under the governorship of Robert Barclay, Tyhose instructions to his Deputy, Gawn Lawrie, show the ap- pointment of both MacGregorie and Toshack to positions of trust. The document, dated London, August 1st, 1684, names '' David Toshack of Monyweai'd, Partner with James Earl of Perth and Sir George McKinzie or Tarbutt, and Prosy for them Captain Patrick Magriger " ' and others. The voyage to America and the arrival is described in a letter, pre- sumably from the Major, dated Amboy, or New Perth, in America, No- vember 9th, 1G84, wherein he writes: " Having accidentally met with the Bearer had not time to give you any particular accompt of this Countrey only assure you that it is beyond (not only) all our expec- tations but all that ever you have heard spoken of it. We (praised be God) all of us arrived safely without loss of any one Passenger scarcely any of them was ever sick only we had much trouble coming from Mary- land by land our Skipper having for his oavu advantage put in first at the Capes of Verginia but we have had a brave Prospect of the Countrey and all the way as well as in this place where now we are, we found plenty of Corn and all kinds of Fruit, Venison and wild Fowls in such abun- dance that a Deer may be had for 2 shilling Countrey money and Turkies for 6 pence which will be at least as big as any 2 Turkies in Scotland and are really Turkies only blacker than tame Turkies that you have seen." ^ The Major's interests Avere at first identified with East New Jersey, where he remained till the following year, when he petitioned to take up lands on Billop's Point, Staten Island. This petition was possibly the means by which Governor Dongan, of New York, heard of his arrival in America. Both had served in France and may have been companions- in-arms. It is known that MacGregorie and the Laird were persuaded by Governor Dongan to settle in the Province of New York. Patrick MacGregorie and his companions located on the west bank of Hudson's River, at Murderer's Creek, now Moodna, and made there the 56 HisTOEicAL Papees. only settlement on that side of tlie river for a distance of about forty miles. A petition by the children of Patrick MacGregorie shows that the company came " to settle some unimproved lands on the vs^est side Hudson's river above the Highlands, which laud v\^as then lately pur- chased by the said Colonel Dcngan for the use of his royal Highnesse. James, Duke of York and Albany, from the natives at the charge of the revenue of this Colony there belonging to said Duke of York, and had no other inhabitants upon it but the natives, who V/ere then numerous. That by the demise of King Ch. 2nd and the Duke's accession to the Crown, the same land became invested in the Crown; that the said Patrick Macgregere and David Toshack, with their servants, by Col. Dangan's encouragement, did set down and cultivate great part of said land." ^ MacGregorie's cabin is said to have been on Couwanham's Hill, now Plum Point, on the north side of the stream. Toshack established a trading post, the first store in Orange County, on the southern bank upon the slope of Sloop Hill. Here the savages brought the skins of tlie beavers, then plenty in the vicinity, to be exchanged for goods, tobacco and rum. It is of record that both the Major and the Laird becanui " masters of the Indian language and insinuated themselves much into their favor." On June 15th, 1685, shortly after Major MacGregorie's arrival, Gover- nor Dongan commissioned him Muster-Master of Militia for the Cit> and Province of New York, and gave him these instructions for a tour of review and inspection: , " You are to go through the Governm't of New York and its Depend- encyes and in every towne the Chiefe oflicer of the militia is to draw out his company and to muster them and you are to see that all men be fitted with sword, musket and bandoliers fltt for service and also to get a List of the Constables of all men between the age of sixteen and sixty; that they may appeare in theire armes and to give strict order to every officer at their Perils to have their company in good order com- plete and full; and in the first Reveiew & you are to v\''arn all such as are fitted with swords, muskets, bandoliers, &c. that at the next ap- pearance they be fitted or that otherwise they shall be pro- ceeded against according to Law; and you are to give in charge to all officers to warne those who are not able to bear armes themselves to have in their houses such Provisions as are by Lav/ required. " You are also to leave with the officers the form and method of trayn ing and diciplining Souldiers and in particular how to handle their arms and how the officers are to behave themselves in tlie head of their com- panies. Each Cap't with a Pike and Lieu't v^^ith a Partizan and the others according to their office; and all eap'ts are to take care that theire companies be full and that the fees belonging to the Muster Mas- ter be gathered by the Cap't and Peid to him and none spared at their Perrills. You are also to bring in a List of each -company that soe if Major Patrick MacGregorie. 57 tliey be not full and compleat a due court may be taken with the cap'ts who are also required to show you all courtesy and civility during yout aboed with them: the same care is to be taken by you in viewing the horse and a Particular Exact List of them returned by you to mee. "THO: DONGAN." * In order to establish fur trading with the far Avestern Indians, Dongan in 1G85 granted licenses to Captain Johannes Roseboom of Albany, Abel Marion La Fontain, a French refugee, and others, to trade with these tribes. This expedition journeyed to Michilimackinac on Lake Huron and the Ottawas' country, and Avas so successful that the next year Captain Roseboom was again sent with a number of the young men of Albany, to trade with the OttaAvas. They were to pass the Vvfinter among the Senecas, and precede on their Avay in the Spring of 1687. A secoaid party was organized to start from Albany that same Spring with the intention of overtaking Roseboom's troop and proceeding west ward with them. Major MacGregorie, who had recently been appointed Ranger General of Staten Island, was selected by Dougan to lead the second party, and to take command of both when joined, as this com- mission shoAvs: " Thomas Dongan, Captaine Generall Governour and Vice Admirall of the province of New Yorke and dependencyes, " To Major Patrick Magregore, Greettiug:— Being Avell assured of youi loyalty Conduct and Courage I have Coramissionated and appoynted and by these presents doe Commissionate and appoynt yow the said patrick Magrigore To bee Captaine and Comandr In Cheife of such men as by my order j'ow are to go along with from Albany to the OttAvasse Countrey a tradeing. As also of a Company Avhich LikeAvise by my order yow are to OA'-ertake and proceede together with in the said Journey, which said Companyes as Captaine and Comander in Cheife yoAA^ are to Leade and Conduct in their sayd Journey to the said OttAA\asse Countrey and from thence back again to Albany. In the Execucon of Avhich office yow are to observe such Instructions and directions as yoAA' already haA'e or from time to time shall Receave from me Hereby Comandeing and Requyre- ing all and Every person and persons of the said Companyes to Give due observance and obedience to the said patrick Magregore in the premisses as they AA'ill ansAver the Contrary att their uttmost perrills this Commission to be in force one yeare and no Longer Given Under mj hand and Seale att ffort James this fourth day of december, 1686. And in the Second yeare of his Ma'ties Reigne. "THO: DONGAN. " By his Excellencyos Comand " IS. SWINTON." ' Meantime the Marquis DeNonville, Governor of Canada, having learn- ed of Roseboom's former expedition, wrote to Dongan, charging him with doing wrong in sending the English to Michilimackinac, and furnish- ing through traders the Indians Avith " Eau de Vie," which " converts 58 Historical Papees. the savages into Demons." Dongan replied that he had " only permitted severall of Albany to trade amongst the remotest Indians," and he be- lieved it to be " as lawfull for the English as French nations to trade there." As to furnishing the savages with liquor he wrote, that care would be taken to disuade them from drunkeness, " though certainly our Rum doth as little hurt as your Brandy and in the opinion of Christians is much more wholesome." " Notwithstanding the Canadian Governor's protest, Roseboom's troop started from Albany in September, 1686, the refugee La Fontain accom panying them. " From Schenectady they travelled westward in canoes, twenty of which freighted principally with rum, were reported by James de Lamberville as having passed Galkonthiage near the head pf Oneida Lake." ' Before MacGregorie's departure, his wife, Margaret Toshack, the Laird's sister, gave birth to a son, who was in all probability the first white child born within the present limits of the County of Orange. The baby was christened Johannes on January 7th, 1687, in the Dutch Church at Kingston, the record naming Thomas Chambers and Laui'entia Kel- lenaar as witnesses. A short time afterwards and early in the Spring of that year, the Major with his company started on their journey, proceeding by the same general route as the advance party. In May, Roseboom's troop of twenty-nine Christians, three Mohawks and two Mahicans had reached a point in Lake Huron twenty leagues below Michilimackinac, when they were attacked and made prisoners by a party of French and Indians, numbering about a hundred and twenty, commanded by La Durantaye. The captives were brought back towards Niagara, and theit goods, which would have purchased eight thousand beavers, pillaged. At the Detroit of Lake Brie near the French Fort, Major MacGregorie's company of twenty-nine Christians, six Indians and eight prisoners (whc were being returned to their homes among the Ottawas) Avere set upon and captured by a vastly superior force of French and Indians. Thb Major's men were likewise plundered of their goods and merchandise, which would have brought eight or nine thousand beavers. Both the cap- tured parties were conveyed to Niagara and thence to Irondequoit Bay on Lake Ontario, where they were delivered to De Nonville, who was then engaged in an expedition against the Senecas. The French Governor ordered La Fontain shot as a deserter. The rest of the prisoners he sent to Cataraqui where they were very barbar- ously treated by the commandant and forced "to labour grevious hard" in building the fort and otherwise. AVhile there Major MacGregorie quarreled with one of the French officers and was kept in close confine- ment for a time, "■ because he did threate with his sword run through a Capt. being actually upon his duty." The cause of the dispute does not appear, but Governor Dongan in a paper to the French Agents wrote in regard to it: " What concernes Majoe Patrick MacGregobie. 59 Major Magregory's pryvate behaviour is nothing to the publicqne, the' I beleeve it must bee some extraordinary provocacon that should urge him to offer any rudenesse to a person in that Captaines Circumstances." ' From Cataraqui the prisoners were talven to Montreal and received better treatment witJi greater freedom. Upon De Nonville's arrival, how- ever, he sent them to Quebec, Avhere they were put out to farmers and others to work for their food; but it seems were, nevertheless, civilly treated. Four of their number soon afterwards escaped and came in five days to Albany, making the journey all the way by water, except at two carrying places. Governor Dongan demanded of De Nonville the release of the prisoners, asserting the right of the English to trade with the Ot- tawas, " for they and the Indians who wear pipes thro' their noses, trad- ed with Albany long before the French settled att Montreall." " On October 2nd, 16S7, De Nonville informed the New York Governor that " in conformity with my Masters orders, and in response to the intentions of His Majesty, whose will I follow, directing me to do all in my power to contribute to the union that our Masters desire should exist between us, I have determined to send you back Sieur Gregory and all those you dispatched under his orders, being very happy to evince to you thereby the desire I hav(J to live well with you." '° The prisoners were thereupon liberated and shortly afterwards re turned to their homes. Roseboom's troop had been absent more than a year, and MacGregorie's not so long. During this time they had journeyed through tlie lakes until attacked by the French, suffered foui months' imprisonment and endured great hardships. It is related of Johannes Bleecker of Albany, one of the trading party, that he was eigh- teen years old when he left home with Captain Roseboom on September 11th, 1686, and that he did not return until " after the second sermon " on Sunday, October 23rd, 1087. " Death now entered the new settlement on the Hudson and the Laird of Minivard was called away. An entry in the Council Minutes dated December 3d, 1687, shows that David Toshack was then dead and none having power to meddle with his estate, it was in danger of being em- bezzled. Whereupon the Council ordered Daniel Maskrig, late servant to Toshack, to " take all ye Indian goods and all ye personal estate which ye deceased died possessed of," into his custody, and to dispose of thf; goods, receive the indebtedness due from the Indians and render an account. In the latter part of November, though winter had now commenced. Major MacGregorie was again sent to Quebec with letters from Dongan demanding restitution of the arms and goods taken from his trading party, the destruction of several forts lately built by the French, and the release of all Indians of the Five Nations held as prisoners. It appears that he arrived at his destination " in good health on Dec. 3rd, in spite of the fatigue of the saison." He presented his dispatches, and finally ar- ranged with DeNonville to conduct to Albany two agents or commission- 60 Historical Papees. ers, who at Dongan's suggestion were sent thore by the French GoTernor in order, if possible, to effect a settlement of the differences between this province and Canada. On tlie day before New Years MacGregorie once more faced the hardships of the wilderness and set out on his homeward journey. Father Frausiscus Valliant, a Jesuit, and Mons. Blambert Du- mont, the two Frencli agents, accompanied liim. On tlie way they were attacked by a band of drunken Mahican Indians, who abused the French- men and plundered them of part of their effects. However, they finally arrived safely at Albany, where the French agents immediately complain- ed of their treatment by the Indians, and the marauders were promptly ordered punished by Dongan. No mention is made of any public services rendered by the Major during the ensuing mouths luitil Autumn. He probably passed a con^ siderable portion of this period at his home on the Hudson. At all events he was present and took part in the christening held one daj^ that Spring, when the deceased Laird's son, David Toshack, was baptized. This ceremony was performed JMarch 13th, lOSS, by the minister of the Dutch Church at Kingston, and Patrick Mac Gregorie and his wife were tht witnesses. In the fall of this year the Major was. again called to active service. Sir Edmund Andros, now Governor of New York, as well as New Eng- land, sent him once more on that trying winter, journey to Quebec with messages for De Nonville. The Governor himself shortly afterwards led a considerable body of troops into Maine to attack the hostile Indian-i at Pemaquid. His expedition suffered severely, many of the men dying from exposure, and but little was accomplished in punishing the savage^, who retired to inaccessible localities. '- In order to protect the Maine settlements the Governor established garrisons at several posts there, and one of them he placed in charge of MacGregorie, giving him " the Com- mand of sundry troops fitted out against the Indians to the eastward of Pemaquid." " While he was doing garrison duty that winter in the Maine woods, the revolution occurred in England, and disturbances followed in some of the American colonies. An uprising of the people took place at Boston in April, Andros was arrested and thrown into prisma, and a Council of Safety assumed the government of Massachusetts. Soon af- terwards this Council ordered the garrisons withdrawn from Maine. Some of these troops deserted, others revolting seized MacGregorie and several of their officers and sent them bound as prisoners to Boston. The Majors confinement was short however, and late in June he set out for New York, carrying a letter from Andros to Stephan van Cort- landt, one of the Council, requesting him, among other things, to see to it that the bearer received his arrears oi pay. Upon his arrival he found affairs in an equally unsettled condition, and only succeeded in obtaining some thirty pounds on account Avith the promise of more.. Troublous times were now beginning iu this province. Andros was in prison. Nicholsen, his Lieutenant Governor, was unable to maintain au- Major Patrick MacGregoeie. 61 tliority, ancl the favorable opportiTiiity was seized upon by Jacob Leisler, a captain of militia, to place hiniselL' in control of the government. In August a committee of safety, composed of Leisler's adherents, appointed him Commander-in-Chief of New York, and a little later he assumed the title of Lieutenant Governor. It is stated that MacGregorie, " offered Gapt. Leisler, if he vv-ould let him have but four men and a halbert, he would fetch Dougan up a prisoner." '* In making this offer the Major was probably influenced by resentment, because Dongan, while Governor, had failed to grant him a patent for the Murdei'er's Creek property. It is doubtful if he can be considered one of Leisler's adherents even at this time. He certainly opposed him later, and lost his life in the closing scenes of the strife. Where IMacGregorio passed the turbulent period that ensued seems to be rather uncertain. Perhaps he retired to the plantation at IMurderer's Creek, and there remained with his family. He Avas, however, a man of action, ever ready when there was fighting to be doni>, and so in March, 1G91, he again appears at Now York, V(^here affairs had reached a crisis. Leisler with some of his followers had shut themselves in tlie fort and turned its guns on the cits'-. On the 17 Lh inst. those in the fort opened fire with cannon and musketry, killing two men in the streets and wound- ing a number of others. The shots were answered from the city, and in firing one of their cannon Major MacGregorie and several more were accidentally killed, either by a premature discharge or the explosion of the gun. The opportune arrival of Colonel Slaughter, the recently appoint- ed Governor from England, put an end to the strife, and Leisler, deserted by his adherents, surrendered the fort. The Council Minutes state that Major MacGregorie, " slain in His Majesty's service," Avas buried Avith public honors. He was undoubtedly a very capable officer, noted for his personal braA^ery, and he discharged the duties assigned to him Avith zeal and fidelity. From the meagre details Avhich have been preserved, it is evident that during the seven years of his residence in this country, his life was an almost unbroken succession of adventures. xifter his death his AvidoAV and children continued to reside at Murder- er's Creek, but soon misfortunes overtook them. Captain John Evans, of H. M. Ship Richmond, stationed here in lOW, obtained in that year from Colonel Fletcher, then (Tovernor of this province, a patent for a very large tract of land on the AA'est side of Hudson's River, extending from Stony Point north to the south line of New Paltz, and Avestward from the river to the SIuiAvangunk Mountains. This great grant included Avithin its bounds tAvo-thirds of Orange County and parts of Ulster and Rockland Counties. It Avas estimated to contain about six hundred and fifty thou- sand acres. The only settlement on the tract Avas that of the Major's heirs and folloAvers at Murderer's Creek, and tnese lands Avere included in the grant to Evans. In a letter to the Lords of Trade, the Earl of Eellomout Avrote, that MacGregorie's Avidow Avas " said to be compslled by Colonel Fletcher to sell her house and land to CUptain Evans for 30 or 62 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Historical Papers. 014 107 350 3 35 pounds, to the ruin of herself and family." " The Captain leased to the Major's son Patrick, the tract he occupied, retaining the title in him- self. These great grants were investigated at Bellomont's suggestion, and the patent to Captain Evans vs^as vacated by Act of Assembly on May 12th, 1G99. For a number of years afterwards the heirs of MacGregorie and the Laird sought to obtain title to the property they occupied, as their many petitions show. But though the Major had faithfully served his country and King, it was only after much difficulty that his family secured pa- tents for a portion of these lands. His heirs remained in possession of the property at Plum Point until 1727. They then sold it, and so passed away from his family the tract whereon Major MacGregorie located when he founded the first settlement in w^hat is now Orange County. REFERENCES. Archives of New Jersey, I, 459. Collections of New Jersey Historical Society, I, 299. N. Y. Colonial MSS. Land Papers, VII, 115. Report of State Historian of N. Y., 1896, Col. Series I, 392. Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., IX, 318. Ibid., Ill, 463. Eroadhead's Hist, of N. Y., II, 443. Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., Ill, 525. Documentary Hist, of N. Y., I, 268. Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., Ill, 512. Eroadhead's Hist, of N. Y., II, 443, note. Ibid., II, 522. N. Y. Colonial MSS., Land Papers, VII, 115. Doc. Relating to Colonial Hist, of N. Y., Ill, 618. Ibid.. IV, 822.