ACTE OF THE TAKING POSSESSION OF THE COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOIS, CALLED SENECAS, 19 July 1687. [Paris Doc. III.] On the nineteenth of July, One thousand six hundred and eighty seven, the troops commanded by Messire Jacques René de Brisay Chevalier Seigneur Marquis de Denonville and other places, Governor and Lieutenant General for the King throughout the whole of Canada and country of New France, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Callière, Governor of Montreal in said country, Commandant of the camp under his orders, and of Philip de Rigaud, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Commandant of the King's troops, which being drawn up in the order of battle, Charles Aubert Sieur de la Chenays citizen of Quebec, deputed by Messire Jean Bochart, Chevalier, Seigneur de Champigny, Norvy, Verneuil and other places, Privy Councilor to the King, Intendant of Justice, Police and Finance, in all Northern France, presented himself at the head of the army, who stated and declared that on the requisition of the said Seigneur de Champigny, he took possession of the village of Totiakton, as he has done of the other three villages of Gannagaro, Gannondata and Gannongarae, and of a Fort half a league distant from the said village of Gannagaro, together with all the lands in their vicinity as many and how far soever they may extend, conquered in His Majesty's name, and to that end has planted in all the said Villages and Forts His said Majesty's Arms and has caused to be proclaimed in loud voice, Vive le Roi, after the said t oops had beaten and routed eight hundred Iroquois Senecas, and laid waste, burnt and destroyed their provisions and cabins. Whereof and of what precedes, the said Sieur de la Chenays Aubert has required an Acte; granted to him by me Paul Dupuy Esq. Councilor of the King and his Attorney at the Provost's Court of Quebec: Done at the said Village of Totiak on, the largest of the Seneca Villages in presence of the Revd Father Vaillant, Jesuit, and of the Officers of the Troops and of the Militia Witnesses with me, the said King's Attorney undersigned, the day and year above mentioned, and have signed the Minute, Charles Aubert de la Chenays, J. René de Brisay Monsieur de Dénonville, Chevalier de Callière, Fleutelot de Romprey, de Desmeloizes, de Ramezay, Francois Vaillant of the Society of Jesus, de Grandville, de Longueuil, Saint Paul and Dupuy. TAKING POSSESSION OF NIAGARA BY MONSIEUR DE DENONVILLE. [Paris Doc. III.] JACQUES RENE DE BRISSAY Chevalier Seigneur Marquis de Denonville and other places, Governor and Lieutenant General for the King in the whole extent of Canada and Country of New France. This day, the last of July of the year One Thousand Six hundred and Eighty seven, We declare to all whom it may concern, in presence of Hector, Chevalier de Callières, Governor of Montreal in the said Country and Commandant of the Camp under our orders, and of Philippe Derigaud, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Commanding the King's troops, being encamped with all the army at the post of Niagara, returning from our expedition against the Seneca villages, that being come to the camp of Niasituate south of Lake Ontario west of the Senecas, twentygara five leagues above them, in the angle of land East of the mouth of the River of the same name which is the outlet of Lake Exie, coming from Lakes Huron, Illinois, the Great Lake Superior and several others beyond the said Great Lake, to reiterate anew for, and in the name of the King the taking Possession of the said Post of Niagara, several establishments having been formerly made there many years since by the King's order, and especially by Sieur De la Salle having spent several years two leagues above the Great Fall of Niagara where he had a Bark built which navigated several years Lakes Erie, Huron and Illinois, and of which the stocks (les chantiers) are still to be seen. MOREROVER the said Sieur De la Salle having erected quarters (logemens) with settlers at the said Niagara in the year one thousand six hundred and Sixty Eight which quarters were burned Twelve years ago by the Senecas, which is one of the causes of discontent that with many others have obliged us to wage war against them, and as we considered that the houses we have thought fit to rebuild could not remain secure during the war, did we not provide for them, WE have Resolved to construct a Fort there in which we have placed one hundred men of the King's troops to garrison the same under the command of Sieur de Troyes, one of the Veteran Captains of His Majesty's Troops with a necessary number of Officers to command said soldiers. This Acte has been executed in Our presence and in that of Monsieur Gaillard, Commissary on behalf of the King attached to the Army and subdelegate of Monsieur de Champigny, Intendant of Canada which Acte We have signed with Our hand and sealed with Our Seal at Arms, and caused to be subscribed by Messrs de Callières and Vaudreuil and by Monsieur Gaillard, and countersigned by Our Secretary. And they sign: J. René de BRISSAY, Marquis de Denonville, le Chevalier de Callières, Chevalier de Vaudreuil, Gaillard; and lower down by Monseigneur Tophlin. [From Council Min. V.] ffort James Tuesday ye 19th July 1687. (O. S.) Mr Brockholes Informed ye Council he is now Come from Albany & Schanectade with Instructions from the Govern' to bring up with all convenient speed a Certain Number of Men & some Provisions The Instructions Read Ordred that sixty men be raysed out of ye Citty & County of New York & sixty men out of Queens County that Warrants be forthwith made out to Major Willett to Raise the men in ye Queens County and to Coll. Bayard to raise ye men in ye City & County of New York. that an Expresse be Imê:iately sent to Major Willett with ye sd Warrant & that he & Coll. Bayard have their Complement of Men Well armed in ffort James on ye 22th Inst. FROM MR. GRAHAM TO MR. SPRAGG. [London Doc. V.] New York, 16 July 1687. Sir-I am invited by your favours to give you by this occasion acknowledgements and also to acquainte you that Mr. Swinton departed this life the 3d currant, after that he had been violently seized with three fitts of an apoplexie. In the interval of his fitts he was very sencible but without apprehensions of death, however was prevailed with to make a will, by which has constituted Mr Delaval his executor, his affairs are in great confusion, and he judged to be indebted £300. besides what his engagements may be to you, his Excell: being at Albany. The Councill sealed up the office in which state it now remains and will continue until His Excell pleasure be knowen. Mr Knights in the mean time does the service of the office. Last night I received a letter from his Excell: in which aduiseth that the French had assaulted the Senaquaes, and were worsted, report by other hands saying the French had 300 men killed, the certainty wants confirmation, however, its consequence is like to be very injurious to us, we having already very little trade, besides are likely to be ingaged in a bloody warr. whose events is uncertain, we are strangely surprised with the french proceedings, not knowing what moves them to invade his Majtys dominions, without giving notice, and so soon after the publication of the treaty of Commerce betwixt the two Crowns-P the next which will be Jacob Maurits His Excell: will give you a full account of his resolves, he having sent a messenger to the French which is not yet returned. Five days agoe, My Lord Effingham..........Sr Robert Parker arryved here from Virginia, he laments the Governours absence otherwise wer satisfied with his entertainments; all your friends are well, my wife kisseth your hands and joins with me in the request that you would give our duty to our Father, our service to Major Baxter, to whom please to excuse not writing, being strained with time, and accept of the assurance that I am Sir Your affectionate friend and most humble servant JA GRAHAM INFORMATION GIVEN BY SEVERALL INDIANS TO THE GOVERNR. AT ALBANY, 6. AUG. 1687. [Lond. Doc. V.] The Govt of Canada last fall, sent word to the Sachems of all the Five Nations to come and speak with him at Cadarachqui this spring, which wee acquainted His Excellency withall, but in pursuance to his Excelleys commands wee being the King of England subjects, thought ourselfs noways obliged to hearken to him, and therefore refused to go, and shortly after wee heard by an Onondage Indian that had lived long at Cadarachqui, that the Govr of Canida had a design to warr upon us, for hee had seen a great deal of amunicion and iron Dubletts brought to Cadarachqui, and that a Frenchman at Cadarachqui told him, that they would warr with all the Five Nations, About ten days after wee gott the news, that the Gov of Canida with his army was seen encampt att the side of the Lake with many Canoes about halfe way between Onnondage and Cadarachqui: upon which they sent a hundred men to the Lake side to spy; who see a Barke neer Irondequat the landing place a lyeing by and nott att anker they sent four men in a Canoe to haile them, there orders from the Sachems being expressly not to doe the French any harme, and when they hailed them, the French answered in base language: Enustoganhorrio, squa, which is as much in theire language as the Devil take you, whereupon they paddled for the shore, and told the rest of theire companions, what answer they had, the hundred men went forthwith to the Castles, and told the Sachems, what they had seen, who forthwith sent twenty men to spy what theire designe was, and they see another Barke come to the first, and while they were theire as scouts spied a great many of the Twichtwich Indians come by land, and had almost environed them before they were awarr of them: the twenty men seeing this, went up forthwith to the Castles and had much adoe to gett through, and the Sachems having sent out three Spyes, after the twenty, to see what the French would have, and before the three were come to |