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MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN STUART, D. D.

la the year 1775 commenced the upheaving of those elements which in a short time terminated inthe birth of this Republic . The agitation which followed rent society in pieces, and many whohad been previously neighbours and friends, now found themselves enemies, and opposed to eachother in the deadliest hostility. Suspicion stalked abroad and those who, from whatever motive,shrank from approving the new order of things were denounced and arrested, if they had not alreadyabandoned their homes. No class was so uncompromising in its loyalty as the clergy of the Churchof England in this State, and they in consequence, did not fail to experience the bitter effects oftheir own unwise resolution.

Mr. Stuart however did not experience any inconvenience at first; indeed he remainedundisturbed at Fort Hunter, for some time even after the Declaration of Independence , andconstantly performed divine service without omitting the prayers for the king, as prescribedin the Liturgy . In the Spring of 1777, Gen 1 Herkimer received intelligence that some personsbelonging to Tryon County intended to join the enemy at Niagara; he ordered a watch on the highroad, which prevented their passage, and on being fired at, they retreated and lost their bundles.On the next day, two packs of letters were picked up by a squaw 7 not far from the road. One ofthese letters, though not subscribed, was supposed almost for certain, to be the hand writing ofRev 11 M r Stuart, Minister of the Mohawk Castle, and the whole were forwarded to the ProvincialCongress. On examination, however, the papers were found to be of such little importance thatthey were returned to the committee of Tryon County. M 1 ' Stuart’s continued residence at FortHunter now became dangerous alike to himself and his family. St. Leger had raised the siege ofFort Schuyler ; Burgoyne had surrendered ; the Indians, who had hitherto protected their Minister,had abandoned their homes, & with Brant were laying waste the country between the Susquehannaand the Mohawk rivers. Mr. Stuart’s connexion with the Johnson family and his relations to theIndians rendered him particularly obnoxious to the Whigs. His house was attacked, his propertyplundered and every indignity offered his person. His church was also plundered, then turnedinto a tavern and in ridicule and contempt a barrel of rum was placed on the reading desk. Itwas afterwards used as a stable, and finally served as a fort. 1 He became thus necessitated toremove, and in June 1778, the Board appointed for detecting Conspiracies were advised of hisresidence in Schenectady .

It was represented to them that “ Mr. Stuart would have it in his power to convey Intelligencefrom that Place to the Indians, and as he had always been a declared Enemy to the Liberties ofAmerica, it w 7 ould be necessary to Order him down the Country.” This information was received onthe 11 th June and on the 25 th M r Stuart was ordered to “repair with his family forthwith to theState of Connecticut until his exchange could be procured, and that he sett off in four Daysafter this Resolution is delivered to him, and on his failure to comply herewith it is ordered thathe be put into close confinement.”

Mr. Stuart appeared before the Commissioners two days after the above order, and “declared hisReadiness to convince them that he had not corresponded with the enemy, and that he was readyand willing to enter into any engagement for the faithful performance of such matters as might beeujoyned him.” It was therefore resolved that lie “enter into Parole not to do or say any Thingin opposition to the Measures pursued by the Congress of the United States of America, or by thelegislative or executive Powers of either of the said States, and that he shall and will not hold anyCorrespondence by word or Deed upon Politikal Matters with any of the enemies of the said

1 Abstract for 1782, ut ante. Journal of the N. Y. Prov. Cong. i. 883; ii. 415, 416