The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-11-09 00:00:00, page 1

From John Holt's Paper of July 20, 1778.
Since our las many of the difreffd Refugees from
the Wyoming settlement on the Sufquebanna,
who escaped the general massacre of the inhabi
tants, have passed this quay, from whom we
have the following important account, viz.
PREVIOUS to the narrative, it
may be necessary to inform some
of our readers, that this settlement
was made by the people of Connec
ticut, on a grant oflands purchased
by the inhabitants of that colony, under sanc
tion of the government, of the Indian propri
etors ; and that these lands falling within the
limits of the Pennsylvania claim, a dispute
concerning the right, has arisen, between the
two governments, and proceeded to frequent
ads of hostility. When it was at a height
that threatened the disturbance of the other
governments, Congress interposed, by whose
recommendation and authority, the decision
of the dispute was suspended, till that with
Great-Brirrin, equally interesting to every
American State, was concluded, when there
might be more leisure to attend to the other,
and confider the justice of each claim.
On this footing the dispute has lain dormant
for two or three years; the inhabitants lived
happily and the settlements increased, consist
ing of eight townfllips, viz. Lackewana, Exe
ter, Kingston, Wilkefborough, Plymouth,
Nanticoak, Huntington and Salem, each con
taining five miles square. The fix lower town
ffiips, were pretty full of inhabitants, the z up
per ones had comparatively but few, scattered.
The lands are exceeding good, beautifully si
tuated along both sides of the Susquehanna,
navigable for Hat bottomed boats, and produ
ced immense quantities of grain of all forts,
roots, fruits, hemp, flax, &c. and stock of all
kinds in abundance. The settlement had late
ly supplied the Continental army with 3000
bushels of grain, and the ground was loaded
with the most promising crops of every kind.
The settlement included upwards of a thou
sand families, which had furnished our army
with a 1000 soldiers, besides the garrisons of
our forts, in the townships of Lockewana,
Exeter, Kingston and Wilkefbury. One of
these forts was garrisoned by upwards of 400
soldiers, chiefly of the militia, the principal
officers in it were Colonels Dennison, and
Zebulon Butler.
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
2 lb. 6oz. for 14 Coppers, and in the fame
Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight.
JAMES ROBERTSON, M. G.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 355. per Cent.
Published February 2, 1778.
The Tories and Indians, had given some
disturbance to these settlements last year, -before
Gen. Harkemer's battle at Oneida Creek, near
Fort-Stanwix, and our skirmishes soon after
with parties of the enemy at and near Schoha
ry, when they were dispersed, and the Tories
concealed themselves among our different set
tlements ; the people here remained undistur
bed during the rest of the year.
About this time the inhabitants having dis
covered that many of these villanous tories
who had birred up the Indians, and been with
them in fighting against us, were within the
the settlements, 27 of them were in January
last, taken up and secured. Of these 18 were
sent to Connecticut, the rest, after being de
tained some time, and examined, were for want
of fufficient evidence set at liberty; they im
nlediately joined the enemy, and became ac
tive in raising in the Indians, a spirit of hosti
lity against us. This disposition soon after
began to appear, in the behaviour of the tories
and Indians, which gave the people apprehen
sions of danger, and occasioned some prepa
rations for defence.
N E W-Y ORK
AND
WEEK LY
Monday, November g, I„8;
The people had frequent intimations that the
Indians had some mischievous design against
them, but their fears were somewhat abated by
the seeming solicitude of the Indians to pre
serve peace; they sent down at different times,
federal parties wit. declarations of their peace
able disposition towards us, and to request the
like on our part towards them. They were
always dismissed with assurances that there was
no design to disturb them. But one of those
Indians getting drunk, said he and the other
raeffengers were only sent to amuse the people
in the settlement, but that the Indians intend
ed as soon as they were in order, to attack
them. On this the Indian men were confined,
and the women sent back with a flag. In
March, appearances became more alarming,
and the scattered families fettled for 30 miles
up the river, were collected and brought into
the more populous parts. In April and May,
strolling parties of Indians and Tories, about
30 and under in a company, made frequent
Containing tbe eatlteO Unices
O Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, IN HANOVER-SQARE.
excursions into the settlement, fobbing and
plundering the inhabitants, of provision, grain
and live stock. In June, several persons being
at work on a farm, from which, the tory in
habitants had gone to the enemy, were attack
ed, and one man of them killed ; fooh after,
a woman (Wife of one of the 27 tories before
mentioned) was killed, with her 5 children,
by a party of these Tories and Indians, who
plundered the house of every thing they could
take away, and destroyed the rest.
On the Ift instant, (July) the whole body of
the enemy, confiding it is supposed of near
1600 (about 500 of whom were thought to be
Indians, the rest tories painted like them,
except their officers, who were dressed like
regulars) the whole under the command of
Col. Zebulon Butler, (a Connecticut tory, and
cousin to Col. Zebulon Butler, the second in
command in the settlement) came down near
the upper fort, but concealed the greatest part
of their number, here they had a fkirmilh with
the inhabitants, who took and killed 2 Indians,
and loft 10 of their own men, three of whom
they afterwards found, killed, scalped and
mangled in the most inhuman manner.
Thursday, July z. The enemy appeared on
the mountains, back of Kingston, where the
women and children then fled into the fort.
Most of the garrison of Exeter fort were to
ries, who treacherously gave it up to the ene
my. The fame night, after a little refinance,
they took Lackewana fort, killed Squire Jen
kins and his family, with several others, in a
barbarous manner, and made prisoners of most
of the women and children; a small num
ber only escaped.
Friday, July 3. This morning Col. Zebu
lon Butler, leaving a small number to guard
the fort (Wilkelbury) crossed the river with
about 400 men, and marched into Kingston
fort. The enemy sent in a flag, demanding a
surrender of the fort in two hours. Col. But
ler answered he should not surrender, but was
ready to receive them. They sent in a second
flag demanding an immediate surrender, other
wise that the fort should be stormed, plunder
ed and burnt, with all its contents, in a few
hours—and said that they had with them 300
men. Col. Z. Butler proposed a parley, which
being agreed to, a place in Kingston was ap
pointed for the meeting, to which Col. Z.
Butler repaired with 400 men, well armed,
but finding nobody there, he proceeded to the
foot of the mountain, where at a distance he
saw a flag, which as he advanced, retired, as
if afraid, 20 or 30 rods ; he following was led
into an ambush, and partly surrounded by the
enemy, who suddenly rose, and fired upon
them. Notwithstanding the great disproporti
on of 1600 to 400, he and his men bravelv
flood and returned the fire for three quarters of
an hour, with such briskness and resolution,
that the enemy began to give way and were
upon the point of retiring—when one of Col.
Z. Butler's men, either through treachery or
cowardice, cried nut that the Colonel ordered
a retreat —This caused a cessation of their fire,
threw them into confufion and a total rout
ensued. The greatest part fled to the river,
which they endeavoured to pass, to Fort Wil
kefbury, the enemy pursued them with the
fury of Devils, many were loft or killed in the
river, and no more than about 70, some of
whom were wounded, escaped to Wilkefbury.
Saturday Morning July 4. The enemy sent
in 196 scalps into Fort Kingston, which they
invested on the land fide, and kept up a con
tinual fire upon it.
This evening Col. Z. Butler with his fami
ly quitted the fort and went down the river.
Col. Nathan Dennison, wentwith a flag, to
Exeter forty to know of Col. John Butler what
he would grant on a surrender. Butler an
swered, the Hatchet. Col. Dennison return
ed to Fort Kingston, which he defended till
Sunday morning, when his men being nearly
killed and wounded, he could hold out no
longer, and was obliged to surrender at dis
cretion. About 70 of the men, who had
lifted in the Continental Service to defend the
frontiers, they inhumanly butchered, with
every circumstance of cruelty; and then Cut
ting up the rest, with the women and children
in the houses, they set fire to them and they
periled together in the flames.
After burning all the buildings in the fort,
they proceeded to every building and improve
ment (except what belonged to some tories)
Monday, 51 Min. after 1
Tuesday, 48 Min. after 2
Wednesday, 37 Min. after 3
Thursday, 25 Min. after 4
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
Friday; ii Min.after 5
Saturday, $6 Min. after 5
Sunday, 38 Min. after 6
Las Quarter on Wedmfday.
THE
that came within their reach, all on these flou
rishing settlements, which they have render
ed a fcerie of defolatiori and horror, beyond
description, parralei, er credibility ; and were
not the facts attested by numbers of the un
happy fu fferers, from different quarters of the
settlement, and unconnected with each other,
it would be impossible to believe that human
nature could be capable of such prodigious
enormity.
When these mifereants had destroyed the
other improvements, they proceeded to deftfoy
the crops on the ground, letting the cattle and
horses; to the corn, and cutting up as much as
they could of what was left. Great numbers
of the cattle they shot and destroyed ; and
cutting out the tongues of many others, left
them to perish in misery.
The course of these truly diabolical procee
dings, was marked by many particular acts of
distinguished enormity, among which were
the following, -viz.
Just imported in the Mary, Capt. Dunn, and now
opening at
RHINELANDER'S Store,
The corner of Burling's Slip,
A large and general assortment of
IRONMONGERY and CUTLERY,
Consisting of,
It is said he had several times written letters
to the Congress and Gen. Washington, ac
quainting them with the danger the settlement
was in, and requiring assistance; but that he
received no answer; except that he had no cause
to fear, face the Indians were all for peace, and
quite averse to war. However he lately recei
ved a letter from Capt. Spaulding, acquainting
him that neither the Congress nor Gen. Wash
ington had received any of his letters, which
had been intercepted by the Pennsylvania
tories, who in all probability ached in concert
with those execrable mifereants, against Wyo
ming; It is reported that these wretches;' after
completing their horrid business at Wyoming
are going or gone to Cherry Valley, and the
parts adjacent.
We hear that a party of infernal of the like
kind, have within this week or two, infefted
the parts about Leghawegh, near Rochester,
on the Minifink road to Philadelphia, where
a party of them 40 in number, have plunder
ed and burnt several houses, abused some peo
ple and carried of three men —lt is hoped
speedy and effectual measures will be taken to
punish and extirpate these monsters in human
shape, from the face of the earth.
Knives and forks,
Penknives,
Cutteaus, oyster knives,
Sciffars, Shears, razors,
Shoe, knee, and stock
buckles,
Snuff boxes,
Sleeve buttons,
Money Scales,
Stilliards,
Table and tea spoons,
Coat and vest buttons,
Shovels and spades,
the distresses of the surviving inhabitants
of that late and flourishing settlement, are by
their present circumstances, rendered such stri
king objects of charity, that withholding re
lief from them, by those who are able to afford
it, argues a criminal abduracy, which deserves,
and may be punished by distresses of a Similar
kind.
We are told that of the 1000 men in the
Continental army, who went from the settle
ment, their number is by sickness and the cruel
usage of the prisoners by the enemy, reduced
to 400, who have now to lament the loss of
their property, wives, children, and all that
was dear to them in life! The helpless fugi
tives from the place, escaped with little more
than their lives, they could bring nothing with
them —hardly clothes to covet them, and no
thing to eat, many were two or three days
without sustenance, and several pregnant wo
men were delivered alone in the woods. This
it is hoped will be the concluding Scene of the
tragedy a&ed by the British tyrant and his
murderous emissaries, in a part of his late
kingdom, which he has justly forfeited, and
which is now for ever departed from him.
With a great variety of other articles, all which
will be fold on the most reasonable terms, for caffi.
K, China, glass, earthen-ware and looking-glas
ses, a large and general hffortment as ufuah
Wheat per BuiHe!, 12s. od.
Flour, 355. .od.l
Brown Bread, b_j. od.|
Welt-India Rum; ss. 6d.|
New-Englahd dot 45. od.l
Cross-cut, mill and pit
laws,
Carpenters, coopers, fid
dlers and Shoemakers
articles, very generally
assorted,
Frying pans, grid-irons,
Bellowfes,
Shovels and tongs,
Brass and iron candle-
Sticks,
Sad irons, brass cocks,
English and German Reel,
GAZE TT E:
THE
M ERGUR Y.
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
I Mufcovado Sugar; §l. ios.
I Single refin'd ditto, is. gd.
iMolaffes, 2s. 6d.
IBeef per Barrel, 81. od.
IPork, sl. lOS.
ffmign an^ Domeffki.
OLD linseed oil,
Whiting,
Ptit ,>.„
White lead ground in oil,
Ditto dry,
Verdigreefe ground,
Vermillion,.
LARGE feather beds,
Small ditto with bed
ftcads and check curtains,
Broad cloths, Walloons,
Buckram, tape, Elk,
Mohair, and death-head
buttons,
French great coats,
Ruffled and plain ffiirts;
Elegant Reel buttons,
Artois plated buckles;
Pinchbeck seals,
Hanging paper,
Ink Hands, ink powder,
pencils,
Bath ftovbs and grates, ,
Most of the above articles will be fold by the quantity,
at a small advance for calh. Colours mixed lor /hip
painting, warranted to dry without the use of spirits of
turpentine.
Light HALF JOES,
Of 9 dwt. taken in payment at £. 3, by
John and Augustus Nicoll,
No. 49, Ne^Dock, near the Ferry Stairs,
Who have for SALE, at a low rate,
A LS O,
Jamaica spirits, Weft-India rum, best French brandy;.
Lisbon and Teneriffe wines, bottled porter, lemons, cof
fee, rice, &c.
THE partnership between Henr,
Cruger and John Mallard, of the city of Bristols
merchants, being by mutual content differed the 15th
of June left. The fubferiber is directed to give notice,
that all accounts depending on, or with the said partner
ship, arc to be fettled by Henry Cruger, now residing in
Bristol, where he intends to carry on business in future
unconnected with said John Mallard,
JOHN PERRY.
JOSEPH
At his store No. 1046, Wat<
ton's, has for file oh the
,fordwing articles, viz.
VERY fine old Madei
ra, by the pipe,quar
calk, or dozen,
Ditto Lilbon, do. Tenerifte,
Red port,7
London porter, >la bottles.
Liverpool ale, J
Jamaica spirits,
Weft-India rum of good qua
lity and high proof,
Brandy, and cherry brandy,
An assortment of the best
cordials, Geneva,
Mobiles in hogsheads or left
quantity,
Mufeovado Sugar in hhds.
or less quantity,
Single an^ double refined loaf
sugar, coarse and fine fait,
Candles by the box or less
quantity,
Cattile and common soap,
Coaife and fine thread,
Pins and needles,
A fine assortment of tape,
Shirt buttons, Finance oil,
Excellent white wire vine
gar for pickles,
THOMAS BARROW,
In Bruad-ftreet, near the Main-Guard;
Ha'^ For Sale,
A very heat assortment of glass, china, earthen and
Queen's ware ; and the very best Spanish Flora indigo for
dyiuzor wafhin,, by rhe pound or ounce.
GENERAL experience has confirmed, beyond dis
pute, the great virtues of this Essence in cholickly
pains and flatulencies, as well those which happen fud
dently from various causes to persons in health, as in
those which are in a manner habitual to the weak and
fedentaryj in the Reachings, Sickness, Loss of appetite,
and other injuries brought on by the abuse of wines or
spirituous liquors ; in hjfterical or hypochondriacal De
pressions ; in the Tremblings, LoWnefs of Spirits, and
various Nervous Weaknesses, which women of tender
constitutions arc so often afflicted with, xrd which the
plentiful ufeof tea contributes greatly to foppo/G
The above may be had of RICHARD
SPEAIGHT, Cb )m if No. 41, ^een-ftreet,
in large or small Bettles, vebolefale and retail.
Imported in the lad Ibips from London and
Cork,
IRISH beef in tierces, ox tongues in kegs, loaf sugar
in hogsheads, bohea tea in chests, bottled porter in
hogsheads, Irish linens, cotton checks, beaver hats, Eng
lish leather for fhocs and boots, and a variety of other ar
ticles fit for the approaching season, to be SOLD by
Robert Alexander, and Co.
At their store No. 917, Water-Street.
Also, old Madeira wine London quality, and Tenerift
and Li^oh wines in pipes, hogsheads and quarter calks.
By the KIN G's Patent.
The genuine Effnee es
PEPPER MINT.
[Fine Salt, is. 6d
ICoarfe Salt, is. cd
/Indian Corn per Bu. 7s. od
ICoffee, is . gd
IChocolate, 265. per Do
Red lead,
Prussian Blue,
Yellow oker,
Best large painting hruftri;
Fine tools of various sizes,
Camel hair pencils and tools.
Gold leaf,
Thick and thin quarto post
and pot writing paper,
, Iron, pots, saws,
Stock locks, hatchets,
Cloth brushes,
Mohagony rubbing ditto,
Scotch carpeting, yard wide/
Morea patterns for gowns;
Gaute ribbons,
Portnianthas, girths,
Jockey caps, furfingles,
Whips, bridles,
Sealing wax, ffiammy {tins.
Pewter plates and diffies,
gapped fnuff in cannisters,
Plated fours, ginfolcts; &ci
I ROSE,
ter-ftreet, back of Mr. Wal
: most reasonable terms, the
Hffon, Congo and bohea te&
Coffee in barrels or less
quantity,
. Chocolate, black pepper.
Cloves, mace, nutmegs,
, Allspice, cinnamon,
Cut and leaf tobacco,
Mustard in bottles,
. Double and single Glouce,
fter chdefe,Cheshire ditto,
New rose butter in firkina
and half firkins,
Shot of different sizes,
Short and long pipes,
Writing paper,,
Rice by the C wt. or less
quantity,
Barley and oatmeal,
Split peafe,
Raisins and currants,
Ground ginger,
Powder and fig blue.
Search, fad irons,
Frying pans,
Knives and forks,
Pewter spoons, padlock,
Sorted nails, tea kettles,
Shovels and tongs.
[No. 1412]