LEISLER
The story of the so-called Leisler Rebellion illustrates the difficulty
of sifting conflicting historical testimony. Among the earlier
chroniclers of New Netherland there is the widest difference of opinion
about the chief actor in the drama. Leisler was "an illiterate
German," says one authority. Another says: "He was the son of a French
clergyman driven into exile, and making his home in Frankfort where the
little Jacob was born. The boy was taught to write and speak Dutch,
French, and German; but being unskilled in the English tongue he was
unjustly charged with illiteracy." By one party he was branded as a
vulgar demagogue ready to ally himself with the mob against the
conservative citizenry. By another he was acclaimed as the champion of
the people's rights and religion when they were threatened with
invasion by the minions of the perfidious Stuarts.
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In regard to the main events of this troubled time there is,
fortunately, little dispute, although they are so complicated that they
require close attention. When James II fled from England at the end of
the year 1688 and was succeeded by William and Mary, the affairs of the
American provinces were thrown into a state of chaos. The change of
government was not known in Massachusetts until March, 1689. The
immediate result of the news was to fan the popular wrath against Sir
Edmund Andros, then in Boston, into such a flame that the Governor was
seized and thrown into prison before he was able to make his escape to
New York. His imprisonment left Lieutenant-Governor Nicholson,
Andros's deputy at New York, in a difficult position. Andros was still
Governor and Nicholson was unable to communicate with him. Some people
held that Nicholson thus became acting Governor; others claimed that
the whole existing machinery of government was swept away by the
abdication of James and that the provinces were free to govern
themselves till they could learn the will of the new sovereigns.
Nicholson was a weak man, and his vacillation produced the impression
that he might be engaged in a conspiracy to bring back the rule of
James. {152} Three years before, in the King's camp, he had knelt when
Mass was celebrated. Who knew what Catholic designs might lurk behind
this significant act? Rumor grew into suspicion, and suspicion turned
to panic. At length Nicholson fell into an altercation with an officer
on guard at Fort James who asserted his authority. In the course of
the argument the Lieutenant-Governor remarked angrily: "I would rather
see the city on fire than commanded by an impudent fellow like him."
Next morning word had spread far and wide through the town that
Nicholson had threatened to burn New York, and all was in an uproar. A
crowd of citizens appeared at the house of Leisler, who was an officer
in the train-band, a citizen well known for honesty, a stanch, even
bigoted Protestant, and withal a man of firm purpose, and they begged
him to act as their leader in a determined effort to preserve their
liberties and hold New York for William and Mary. It is easy to see on
looking back over two centuries that the dangers of conspiracy were
greatly exaggerated; but we must remember that these men really
believed that they themselves and all that they held sacred were in
jeopardy. The possibility of war with France was indeed not remote;
and fear {153} of an invasion from Canada with all the horrors of an
Indian war haunted the minds of every frontier family.
Leisler invited the people of the towns and counties of New York to
choose delegates to a convention to be held at Fort James on June 25,
1689, to consider what was best to be done under existing conditions.
Ulster, Albany, and most of the towns in Queens County refused to send
delegates. The others responded, however, and the delegates formed
themselves into a committee of safety. They appointed Leisler "Captain
of the fort at New York until orders shall be received from their
Majesties," and Leisler accepted the responsibilities of government.
Massachusetts and Connecticut congratulated him on his conduct, and in
the province of New York he was generally approved; but he had the
misfortune to be opposed by the Roman Catholics and the landed gentry.
The former were few in number and, after the establishment of the
Protestant succession, a negligible danger, though in view of the
assertion made by James to the Pope that "it was his full purpose to
have set up Roman Catholic Religion in the English Plantations of
America," we can scarcely call it bigotry on {154} Leisler's part to
fear their influence. Unfortunately for the Leislerians "the gentry"
made common cause with the Catholics against the new Government.
Albany, which was preeminently Dutch and held the Reformed Church in
reverence, was also aristocratic in sympathy and resented the rule of
Leisler as the representative of the common people. Even so, had
Leisler shown more tact and less obstinacy there might still have been
a chance to placate the opposing factions; but by his fanatical attacks
on all Catholics and his open defiance of such prominent citizens as
Nicholas Bayard, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, Frederick Philipse, Peter
Schuyler, and Robert Livingston, he fomented the strife until
conciliation became impossible.
In the beginning of January, 1689, Leisler committed a grievous
strategical error in permitting Nicholson to leave for England to
render an account of the state of affairs, while the Leislerians
depended upon communications written in dubious English and carried by
a bearer who was of inferior social standing.
Meanwhile Leisler won a temporary victory over his opponents. In
December dispatches arrived from the Privy Council and the King and
Queen of England, addressed to "Our Lieutenant-Governor {155} and
Commander-in-Chief of our Province of New York, or in his absence to
such as for the time being take care to keep the peace and administer
the laws," and authorizing him to take the reins of government, calling
to his assistance "in the administration thereof the principal
freeholders and inhabitants of the same, or so many of them as you
shall think fit." Nicholson having departed for England, the messenger
was in some doubt as to the proper recipient of the message. Bayard
and his faction strove to obtain possession of it; but it was finally
delivered to Leisler. He appointed a council of eight men, all
reputable citizens and by no means representing the rabble, as his
enemies charged. In this procedure he was acting in strict conformity
with the letter from the Privy Council.
Leisler assumed the title of Lieutenant-Governor and, much to the
chagrin of his foes, took his seat in the Governor's pew at church. It
was his moment of triumph; but troubles were already darkening the
horizon. In November Leisler sent to Albany his deputy, an Englishman
named Milborne, to demand the recognition of his Government; but the
mandate being opposed by Schuyler, Livingston, and Bayard, all well
known and highly {156} esteemed in Albany and representing the
aristocratic faction, that town refused entrance to Milborne and his
escort and refused likewise to recognize Leisler as Governor.
The Albany Records for November, 1689, describe the incident as
follows: "Three sloops neared Albany bearing troops under Jacob
Milborne and immediately Captain Wendell and Blucker, Johannes Cuyler
and Reymier Barents go aboard to learn the object of his visit. Jacob
Milborne asks: 'Is the fort open to receive me and my men?' The reply
is: 'No, the Mayor is in command and will hold it.'"
On the receipt of this inhospitable message, reenforced by military
demonstrations, Milborne wisely withdrew his inadequate force and
returned to New York to report the failure of his mission. Three
months after Milborne's rejection, in the bitter February weather of
1690, the village of Schenectady, at that time a western frontier post,
was burned and its inhabitants were massacred in a French and Indian
raid. Once more Leisler sent his deputy at the head of a body of
troops to the assistance of the Albanians, and this time Milborne was
not denied entrance to the town. Having thus gained control of the
province, Leisler summoned {157} a convention of delegates from
Massachusetts and Connecticut to meet at New York on May 1, 1690, in
order to discuss the defense of the colonies.
Meanwhile the Leislerians and their opponents were bombarding the new
King and Queen with their conflicting claims. In 1690, Captain Blagge,
congratulating their Majesties on "the late Happy Revolution in
England" asked their Majesties' approbation for Leisler on the ground
that "Nicholson, like Col. Dongan, had neglected to repair the
fortifications of the city, which excited suspicions against his
loyalty, and he was disaffected towards the late happy revolution in
England." Hence Jacob Leisler had been chosen, "with a committee, to
make such repairs and to administer the government until William's
pleasure could be known." The memorial goes on to say:
Shortly after, their Majesties' Proclamation arrived by which William
and Mary were to be proclaimed King and Queen of England. Notice was
given to the late Council of Nicholson, and to the Mayor and Aldermen
to assist, with proper ceremonies, in this Proclamation. They desired
an hour's time for considering it, and then refused. Leisler and his
Committee and most of the inhabitants did then celebrate the event with
many demonstrations of joy and affection.
The Mayor and Aldermen were then suspended from {158} office, and
certain opponents of the Revolution and their Majesties' interests,
were imprisoned. Shortly after their Majesties' letters arrived,
directed to Lieutenant Governor Nicholson, or, "in his absence to such
as for the time being do take care for the preservation of their
Majesties' Peace, and administering the Lawes in that their Majesties'
Province; ordering such to take upon them the place of Lieutenant
Governor and Commander in Chief of the said Province and to proclaim
King William and Queen Mary, King and Queen of England, Scotland,
France and Ireland, and supream Lord and Lady of the Province of New
York, if not already done"; which was accordingly done.
The Inhabitants generally were satisfied therewith, and Leisler's
committee was dismissed, and a Council chosen to assist him in the
government; but the members of the old government opposed all this and
created a faction. This excited fear lest the Province should yet be
delivered up to the French in Canada, which fear greatly agitated the
Protestant population. The said faction also surrounded Captain
Leisler and abused him with ill language and threats, and would have
done violence to him, if they had not feared the people, who rescued
him out of their hands, and imprisoned the ringleaders of the
opposition. Multitudes also flocked into the city from the country, to
defend the existing government, and it was with great difficulty that
their zeal could be restrained. The prisoners were ultimately fined
and discharged upon their own recognizance to keep the peace.
The Fort and City were therefore, now in a good condition, excepting a
lack of ammunition. The Commission of all military men who had acted
under Governors {159} Dongan and Andros, had been called in, and other
Commissions issued in the name of their present Majesties, and only to
those who were well affected thereto. But our efforts thus to secure
their Majesties interests have been greatly misrepresented, and we have
been loaded with reproaches; our actions have been called a Dutch plot,
although three quarters of the inhabitants are of Dutch descent, and
speak Dutch; and our ruin is threatened, if the government ever falls
into the hands of our opponents.
To this lengthy defense Bayard and Nicolls made response as follows:
Jacob Leisler a man of desperate fortune, ambitiously did assume unto
himselfe the title of Lieutenant-Governor of this Province of New York,
and chose a councel of ye meanest and most abject common people; made
to himself a Broad Seale, which he called ye Seale of ye Province, with
ye usuall armes of Kings of England; and affixed the same to some
unlawful graunts of land within this Province; and commissionated under
ye same Justices of ye Peace, in whose hartes were mischiefe. He
constituted Courts of Oyer and Terminer, and tryed severall subjects
for pretended treason, murther and other crimes. He taxed and levied
monney upon their Majesties subjects to their grievous oppression and
great impoverishment. When he wanted more money for his occasions, he
forcebly robbed and spoiled, broke open doors and locx were he guissed
it was to be found, and carried away to ye vallue of some thousands of
pounds in money or goods; and all this against the {160} best
Protestant subjects in the Province. He imprisoned whom he feared,
without any other cause than that their integrity to ye Protestant
interest, and fidelity to their Majesties, became a terroire to him;
some of them after a tedious confignment, without collour of law, he
whipt and branded; and some he kept in duresse so long as he held ye
fort.
Upon one point, both the followers and opponents of Leisler agreed:
there was no Dutch plot behind this revolution. "The notion of a Dutch
plott cannot be applicable to Leisler and his adherents," said Bayard;
"the much greater part of Albany which wholly consists of Dutch people,
and all the men of best repute for religion, estatte, and integrity of
the Dutch nacon, throughout the whole Province, having alwaies been
manifestly against Leisler and his society, in all their illegall and
irregular proceedings." To these representations their Majesties'
advisers made no reply, but the appointment of Governor of New York was
given to Colonel Henry Sloughter, "a profligate, needy, and narrow
minded adventurer," the selection of whom did little credit to the
wisdom of William of Orange. All the papers from both factions were
committed to this inefficient officer with instructions to examine the
allegations strictly and impartially and to make a true report.
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In December, 1690, Sloughter set sail with several ships and a body of
troops. By some accident the vessels were separated, and the ship
bearing Major Richard Ingoldesby, "a rash, hot-headed man" who had
served in Holland and recently returned from service in Ireland,
arrived in the _Beaver_ two months before Sloughter's ship reached New
York. His commission required him to obey the royal Governor, but did
not give him authority to act as commander-in-chief in case of
Sloughter's absence or death. Nevertheless Ingoldesby at once
announced the appointment of Sloughter and demanded the surrender of
the fort. Leisler replied by offering quarters for Ingoldesby's
soldiers; but refused to surrender the fort till he saw the Major's
commission.
Ingoldesby had no credentials whatever, but he issued a proclamation
calling on the people and magistrates to aid him in enforcing the royal
commission. Leisler issued a counter proclamation warning him at his
peril not to attempt hostilities against the city or the fort; but on
receiving assurances that Ingoldesby had no intention of using force
against the people of New York, he permitted the troops to land. The
fort, however, he would not yield. With rival forces in the town,
{162} peace was difficult to maintain. Neither commander trusted the
other. Recrimination followed protest. Finally, on the 17th of March,
Leisler fired on Ingoldesby's troops, killing two and wounding others.
At length on March 19, 1691, Sloughter entered the harbor of New York.
Representative anti-Leislerians hastened to board his ship and escorted
him to the City Hall, where he took the oath of office at eleven
o'clock at night. He immediately dispatched Ingoldesby to demand the
surrender of the fort. Again Leisler's bigotry and obstinacy overcame
his prudence. Instead of surrendering at once he dispatched a
messenger bearing letters and warning him to look well at Sloughter and
be sure he was no counterfeit. Sloughter informed Leisler's messenger
that he intended to make himself known in New York as well as in
England and ordered Ingoldesby for the second time to demand possession
of the fort and to release from their prison Colonel Bayard and Mr.
Nicolls, that they might attend the council to which they had been
appointed members.
Leisler refused either to surrender the fort or to release the
prisoners but sent Milborne and De la Noy to endeavor to make terms.
Sloughter {163} imprisoned both envoys and ordered his frigate to hold
itself in readiness to fire on the fort. Leisler, at length and too
late realizing that resistance was useless, sent a letter to the
Governor offering submission. For the third time Ingoldesby was
ordered to demand the possession of the fort. This time the garrison
yielded and Leisler was put under arrest.
With Milborne, now his son-in-law, and eight others, Leisler was
arraigned before a court having inveterate royalists as judges. Two
insurgents were acquitted. Six made their defense, were convicted of
high treason, and were reprieved. Leisler and Milborne declined to
plead and appealed to the King. They were, however, condemned and
sentenced to death. Sloughter was reluctant to sign the
death-warrants; but his associates, more particularly Bayard, who had
been imprisoned by Leisler, were determined on the execution. It is
maintained that the Governor's signature was obtained at a banquet when
he was under the influence of liquor, and that an officer stole with
the warrant to the prison and ordered the victims led out for immediate
execution. Be this as it may, Sloughter's compunctions were overcome
and the death-warrants signed.
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The scaffold was erected at the lower end of the park and weeping
people thronged about the victims. Leisler's dying speech, which was
marked by neither anger nor bitterness, affirmed that he had no other
aim than "to maintain against Popery or any schism or heresy whatever
the interest of our Sovereign Lord and Lady and the Reformed Protestant
Churches" in these parts. The drop fell, the populace rushed up to
claim some relics of their leader, the bodies were taken down,
beheaded, and buried, and so the worthless Sloughter thought to make an
end of "a troublesome fellow."
But the Leisler blood still flowed in the veins of the dead man's son,
who never ceased fighting till in 1695 the attainder on the estate was
removed. This action of the English Parliament was tantamount to a
confession that Leisler had been unjustly accused, tried, and hanged,
and that these, the only people ever put to death for political reasons
on the soil of New York, died as misguided martyrs, not as criminal
conspirators.
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