Livingston, Robert (1654-1728) to Lord Nottingham re: French intrusions, William and Mary
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.00182 Author/Creator: Livingston, Robert (1654-1728) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1690/03/27 Pagination: 2 p. + docket 31 x 20 cm Order a Copy
Livingston writes imploring assistance from England in repulsing the incursions into New York made by the French and their Indian allies. He also sends news of Albany's joyful reaction to the crowning of William and Mary, and the news of Jacob Leisler's requests that Albany submit to his command. Livingston forwards news of the massacre at Schenectady as well.
Boston, [Mass.] 27 March 1690
My Lord
Being sent hither by the Magistracy of the Citty [inserted: & County] of Alb[any] to Treat wth. the authority of those Collonies & to Implore there assistance in such a juncture when the french are so active & we sitt still in a manner and suffer them to committ all the outrages Imagineable, I Presume to give yr Lord[shi]p the trouble of these few lines wherein [inserted: have] inclosed copies of our Transactions which will give yr Lord[shi]p full Information of all affares with us;
We would long ine now given yr Lord[shi]p an acct. of our Condition had we not dayly Expected a gov[erno]r From his Maje[sty] to Put a [struck: end] [inserted: Period] to these distractions & divisions which [inserted: am afraid will] Ruine the Country. We of Albany [inserted: have been hitherto here] the finest [inserted: of its] of any of our neighbours for assoon as we Recd. the [inserted: Joyfull] news of there Maje[sties] king Wm & queen Marys happy accesse to the crowne of England & we were satisfyed the Protestant Religion was secured haveing so gracious a nursing father & nursing Mother upon the throne we Proclaimd there Majes[ties] with all Imagineable joy & gladnesse and soon after [struck: the] [inserted: we Recd. a] Proclamation whereby there Maje[esties] continued & Confirmed Protestant Sherriffes Justices & Collectors [struck: coming to our hands we] [inserted: which Was also Published] [struck: the same] And by virtue thereof the Justices [inserted: acted with the advise of the] Protestant [inserted: military] officers for Papists [inserted and struck: officers] we had none & Praised be to god we have [inserted: but] 2 [inserted: men] in the whole City that are of that Persuasion. [struck: This good unity & harmony being Enjoyed by our neighbor who had taken the illegible such as we could not and illegible stand] [inserted: But] they of N: Yorke that is the vulgar sort [inserted: illegible they had subverted the authority illegible & replaced Capt Nicholson] made one Jacob Leysler [inserted: a mercht.] [struck: Capt of the of the Train band Compie. of the Citty] there Command in Cheiffe who was much dissatisfyed that we would not submitt to him & occasioned us dayly distractions which causd us [live] verry uneasy but thinking [inserted: the time would be that & that] a govern. would speedily arrive we [bene] all Patiently; asson [sic] as his majes[ty's] Lettirs arrived [Diverted] to Capt Nicolson & in his absence to such as for the time being take Care [2] for the Preserving the Peace & maintaining the Laws this Capt Leysler commanded them from the messenger Mr. Riggs & forthwith titles himself [Leiut] Govr. & Commander in Chieffe of the Province, & sends up new Commissions to the People of Alb[any] & Places adjacent without showing any the least authority or order so to doe which necessitate me to make a Protest against those that he Employed to Disturbe us which is also here Inclosed. [inserted: illegible Leylser illegible] [struck: These] Commissions & yr notions [inserted: by] which he [send] up in People Especially at a Place calld S[c]hinnechtady 20 miles from Alb[any], that they should have Luck & such Priviledges; causd the People Contemn the authority Confirmed by there Maje[sty's] Proclamation, & would not hear [his] or obey any officer whatever would keep no watch nor [worde] notwithstanding [inserted: it is] the utmost frontier [sic] of the whole Country till at last [struck: the] 250 french & Indians came on the 9 feb last and Cut them [struck: all] off which if there had been but 10 or 12 men in the Small fort they [struck: had] might have saved the Place so that the french Plunderd all killing 60 & [take] 27 Prisoners. Then [inserted: People] could see there [sorrow] & what the fears of his Divisions brings the seditious letter & [illegible] skins sent by sd. Leysler being formd in the press seald with Blood [inserted: illegible] we doubt not but his Maje[sty] has already sent a Govr. to [Boston] but if it should happen that by the Emergency of affares at Large it could Not hitherto be Dispatched we pray that [you] your [inserted: Lordship] would aquaint his Maje[sty] how [Requisite] it is to have A govr. & sufficient supply [illegible] here Else the French will Run the Countrey. They have now to the Eastward of Boston abut 60 miles off killd & taken twenty nine People & burnt a Towne so that they are always to quik for us. I am of [struck: of mind] [inserted: confident] that N Engl: could never doe a [Peece] of bettir service for the Crowne then the Takeing of Canida but they [struck out: tell me] [inserted: say] Pouder is there greatest want which occasions there sending an Expresse away a Purpose. I shall not Presume upon yr Lord[shi]ps Patience any further to Rend these Imperfect lines but break of & Remain
Your Lord[shi]ps most humble & most obedient Servt.
R[obert] L[ivingston]
To my Lord Notingham there Maje. Principal Secretary of State
[Docket]
Boston 27 March 1690 Copy Lettir to my Lord Nottingham There Maj[esti]es Principall Sec[reta]ry of State
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