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Schuyler, Peter (1657-1724) to Lord Cornbury

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.02073 Author/Creator: Schuyler, Peter (1657-1724) Place Written: Albany, New York Type: Letter Date: 28 March 1707 Pagination: 1p. : docket ; 17.2 x 21.5 cm Order a Copy

Peter Schuyler writes that he has received a message from Coll. Partridge that Indians have caused some destruction in Deerfield in New England. He then explains what detachments he has sent to the frontiers for security purposes. Letter marked as a copy.

Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon, also known as Lord Cornbury (1661-1723) was Governor of New York and New Jersey (1702-1708). Cornbury came to be regarded in the historical literature as a moral profligate, for accusations of corrpution and cross dressing. Some have asserted he was the worst governor Britain ever imposed on an American colony, although recent scholarship has debunked some of these stories. Peter Schuyler (1657-1724) was the mayor of Albany and the head of the Albany Commissioners for Indian Affairs. He also served as acting Governor of New York in 1709 and from 1719-1720. This letter references the Deerfield Massacre of February 29, 1704, during Queen Anne's War by joint French and Indian forces. Striking at dawn, they razed Deerfield and killed fifty-six colonists, including twenty-two men, nine women, and twenty-five children. One hundred and nine survivors, including women and children, were taken captive and forced on a month-long trek to Quebec. Many died along the way. Some eventually returned to New England, but others remained in French and Native communities.

May it please your Excellency

Since my Last to your Excellency by Leitt C: Congreve. I have Receivd by 2 Indian messengers from Col: Partridge of hatfield ye Inclosed Letter Relating ye Late Destruction by ye Enemy at Dearfield in new England and by Johannis Luycano from Lawrence Claese ye Interpreter in onnondage ye Inclosed Information, ye Commissoners appointed for ye managing ye Indian affairs have Resolved that 2 Trusty Indians be sent out to Canida by whom wee may have some Intelligence of there designs, which Indians I think to proceed in few days and to dispatch them away for that purpose -
May it please yor Lordship
The time appointed for ye Country detachment here posted for ye [formerly] of her Majst. frontiers bring so near Expired [struck: & not] I have payd them [struck: from ye 24th of novembr last when they went] untill ye post of aprill 1704 and [struck: have] [to] [illegible] ye sloop of John vannors by whom I design to send [struck: them] doune undr. Command of Mr. George Ingoldesby [Leiut] as many as willing to goe severalls of them doe stay here, This with submission to yr Excell: is what often at present from
Albany ye 28 March 1707
[docket]
March 28 1709
Copy of Coll: Schuylers [illegible]
To my Lord Cornbury

Schuyler, Pieter, 1657-1724

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