192
[ From Vol. in Sec's Office, endorsed, “Duke of York’s Charter, Laws, Papers &c. in Leisler ’s time. I.” ]
March 4, 1689 [0. S.] In fort William.
To our great griefe I must acquaint you of the sad and deplorable massacre which happened atskenectady near Albany by the french and their Indians the 19 th of ffebruary last betwixt Saturnday&'Sunday at eleaven of the clock in the night 200 men fell upon them & most barbarously murderedsixty two men women & children & burnt the place left but 5 or 6 houses unbumed carried awaycaptive 27 the rest escaped many of which being about 25 persons much damnified by the frenchwomen with chyld ript up, children alive thrown into the flames, some their heads dashed ag‘ thedoors & windows all occasioned by their neglect of their not watching, deryving to obey under thecommand of the Commission of Sir Edmond, the s d commander being onley spared withall whichbelongs to him a safeguard being sett in his house & he himselfe to release the prisoners he desiredlast Nov’ber a certaine number of rebellious people at Albany calling themselves the convention &ruling by the arbitrary Comission of Sir Edmond & encouraged & supported by some of the wickedcreatures of Sir Edmond, desired from me assistance of men gunes ammunition & money beingafraied of the french to whom we have sent 52 men 50 lbs match 950 lbs pouder, boulits etc wch arry-ving there ag* their expectatione would not receive them, & were left there by the Inhabitants desire,the s d rebells with their fort keept the Inhabitants under a faire. I have sent up this Winter &commissioned one Capt" with 25 men to Joine with our confederate Indians to warre ag 4 the frenchat Canada , who were hindred by the s d rebells, who proclaimed upon paine of being punished forrebells if they mett above four men soe they were prevented to goe, we would else have discoveredthe enemy & prevented that disaster
fort WiUiam March 4th 1689
Honorable Sir Governor of Boston :
Yours of the 8 th instant by M r Pembroke I received & I returne yow many thanks for the care Iperceive yow have had for our packet, Since your last wee have received the sad & miserable newesfrom Skenectedy neere Albany whereof wee understand is laid to your woeful account it is suchnewes as wee feared long since, Alace what could there be expected of a certaine number of rebel-lious people that remained rulling under that arbitrary Commissions of sir Edmund at Albany withinthis province, and encouraged and supported by Connecticoatt by ordering their forces sent thither toobserve the directions of the s d rebells named a Conventione, being well assured the same is sup-ported more especially by that waylerous John Allan the Secretary of that Collony.