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[From Vtttw Herald, May 27, 1890.]

HISTORICAL.

Address on Judge Wiliam Cooper of

Cooperstown by Hon. Edward

F. DeLancey.

A Tribute to the Otsego Pioneer by the Son of the First Bishop of Western Jfeiv York— The Oneida Historical Society Ad- journs to September.

The feature of the regular meeting of the Oneida historical society at its rooms last Bvening, was the address on Judge Wiiliam Cooper, founder of Cooperstown, by Hon. Edward F. DeLancey of New "iork. There was a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen ana members of the society. Vice President Charles Hutchinson pre- ided, Rees G. Williams being recording ecretary. A number of contributions to he society's collections were received, and hanks ordered to the donors, After the usual routine business, Chairman Hutchin- son introduced Mr. DeLaucey, who is ,he son of the late Right Rev. William leatbcote DeLancey, D. D,, LL. D., D. C. Oxon., late bishop of western and cen- tral New York. Mr. DeLancey's profile md face strikingly resemble that of his ather. He is an earnest historical student ind a frequent contributor to the Magazine Df American History and similar periodi- cals. His address was as follows:

In the history of the practical settlement of this fair land in which it is our good for- une to dwell, tbe ancient New Nether- ands, the Royal Province and now the mperial state of New York, four names land forth far above all others.

First, Rieter Evertsen Hulst, the saga- cious and wealthy Amsterdam merchant ,nd director of the Dutch West India com- >any ot that city.

Second, Sir William Johnson, baronet, who

)olh as the agent of his uncle, Admiral Sir

i*eter Warren, K. B., and later on his own

Account, was untiring in his efforts for prac-

[tical, permanent settlement, and did far

more than any other one man of his day to

develop agriculturally the valley of the

iMohawk. ~

t Third, William Cooper of Otsego, who first settled, and settled most thoro'ly and successfully, the beautiful valleys of the Susquehanna, with its mountain lakes and streams and deep, magnificent forests.

Fourth, Colonel Charles Wlliinmson, the first to lake active measures in person and tliro' agents to bring settlers and domestic animals into the vast, rich, rolling plain lying between the foot hills of the AHeghanies, on the south, and the vast inland eeas of Ontario and Erie on the north and west, gemmed with fair lakes and amid flowing rivers, the unequaled and splendid region of western New York, and now the richest and most flourishing part of our own great state,

These four men are striking illustrations of that cosmopolitanism of origin to which our American, and especially our New York people, owe their force," success and power. Each of these erreat pioneers should have the history of their successful efforts and careers, as the early developers of the material resources and prosperity of New York, fully and fairly written. This so- ciety could not devote its energies to better advantage than to issue well prepared and printed, full, but brief, separate memoirs of these chief leaders in the agricultural de- velopment and the actual settlement of the great state, of which this fair city of Utica is nearly the geographical cen- ter. William Cooper of Otsego was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, a man of position, character, determination, and possessed of moderate means. To the latter of which fact it is owing that he became a land- holder and inhabitant just after the close of the revolution of the then new state of New York. His ancestry was English. Hebe- came eventually the largest landholder of bis day in the Susquebanna region, and he devoted himself to the settlement and devel- opment of it in person and with a courage that no obstacle could daunt.

Altho' it was in 1783 when he and Andrew Craig had succeeded in acquiring control of the claims against the Crogh and Potent es- tates, it was not until 1785 that William Cooper first saw the region it covered. He was then thirty-one years of age, in the full health and vigor of perfect manhood, nearly six feet in bight, of fine figure, with a rich, deep complexion. He came to visit and see the region for himself, ana to take steps for its survey and settlement, and most thoro'ly did he do so. Some of his later acquired lands had been originally attempted by former owners on the contract system. Such con- tracts as existed he of course maintained as the new owner, but all the other uncori- tracted portion he held in fee under his own system. It is impossible in a paper of this kind to mention the many different measures and the various means adopted by Judge Cooper to advance the interests and promote the industries of the Susquehan- ha region. One, however, must be men-

tioned, as the subject excited great and gen eral attention. This was the first move- ment in this state, as a state, to encourage manufactures, and the particular manufac- tuie sought to be encouraged was that of maple sugar. Of Judge Cooper's most interesting and excitins: political career I had intended to speak at length, but it would require a paper by itself. No man was ever more fiercely attacked by political rivals, and no man as active as he ever came out of a heated political contro- versy with cleaner hands. Nothing can more fully demonstrate the singular, im- portant and really dansrerous. condition of tbe political affairs of New York, growing out of the adoption of -tbe constitution of the United Statea in 178s, and the political parties it originated, than the controversy about Judge Cooper and his action in the gubernatorial contest of 1792, which culmi- nated in the success of George Clinton and the defeat of John Jay. A full, true history has never yet been written. Judge Cooper was a successful leader in the field of poli- tics, as he was in that in which he practi- cally developed and settled the splendid region he chose for bis home. Force, wit, judgment, decision and determination, united with even justice and high honor, marked every step of his striking^career.

At the conclusion of the able address, William M. White moved a graceful resolu- tion of thanks, which was seconded by Rev. Dr. Gibson, who referred to Mr. DeLancey as an old college friend, and recalled brief ly some reminiscences of Judge Cooper and Colouel Williamson. Colonel Cantwell also spoke briefly in appreciation of the speaker and the address,

THE MASSACRE AT FOHT SCHUYLER.

The following, among the presentations to the society collection, is the original of a letter witten by an eye witness of the mas- sacre at Fort Schuyler, (Utica,) and has not before been published:

July, 1777— At three o'clock on Sunday after- noon, the 27th instant, our garrison was -alarmed with the firing of guns. A party of men was instantly dispatched to the place where the guns were tired, which was just on the edge of the woods about 400 yards from the fort, but they were too late. The villains were followed, having: shot two girls who were pick- ing raspberries. Two of the girls were lying scalped and tomhawked among the bushep, one dead and the other expiring. She died in half an hour after she was brought home; the third had two balls thro' her shoulder, but made out to run off and get clear of them. Her wounds are not thought to be anyway danger- ous. By the best discoveries we can make there were four Indians who committed these murders. We had four men with arms just past by that place, but these mercenaries of Britain came not to fight, but to lay in wait to

murder, and it's equal the same to them, if they can get a scalp whether it be from a soldier or an innocent babe. Oh, George ! to what art thou fallen ! Like Herod of old hast thou sent forth thy murderers to slay innocent children? Gracious heaven, wilt thou not take vengeance on these things? I send you the following particular ac- count of this affair, the better to deliver some of the inhabitants of this oppressed country from that strange infatuation which is ever wakening them up to a perse ution, that they have nothing to fear from ttie king's wretched murderers, ana news of this kind is publisned with design to decrease them as well as if it should come to the knowledge of some gener- ous Briton, who is still in the service ot that t»rant, (for some such I still believe there are) they may blush when they think what a master they serve. But are there any Americans who will still continue to subject themselves to this savage king and join with the barbarous fiends tbus to murder the innocent babes of their land? Methinks barbarism itself must stand amazed at the supposition, and every generous breast that is not steeled with savage ignor- ance weep to think that there a>e such inhu- man monsters who were born and brought up among us and blessed withtbe same enjoyments. One of the children who was killed and scalped, a girl 13 years ot age, was a daughter of one John Steene, who has lived at this place since 1765, getting his livelihood by cultivating a small piece of ground he received permission to incio-e near the fort. He served the king of Great Britain during the whole of the last war as appears by his discharge, of which the fol- lowing is a true copy. He is now an old man and unfit for any kind of service, yet that king in support of whose honor he formerly toiled and fought has thus requited him for bis former services. The girl who received the wounds on her shoulder, is 10 years of age, the daughter of one George E. Reyter, who served as a soldier in Captain Dravill's company, the 16th battalion of royal Americans, duri.ig tbe late war. He is at present employed to bake for the garrison. He is also an old man, and to employ him is an act of charity.

He tells me he was discharged by purchase in the year 1765, which discharge is at the Ger- man Flats, his proper place of residence. The other is a servant girl of one Mr. Roof, the principal inbabitant^of this place, who has lived here since the year 17tiO, and was former- ly baker to the garrison and army at tnis place. The girl's name is Levea Stepnase, aged 20 years. Thus stands the affair. My country- men, is there a man among you whose soul does not shudder at such dastardly bloody bus- iness, or is there a pusillanimous heart which, requires arguments to urge him to arms against the king and parliament of Britain, who, de- spairing of conquering our country by reduc- ing us to a state of wretched vassalage, have declared war against our poor de- fenseless infants? Are there still any of you who are supinely indulging yourselves with the fancy that you are in no danger, that no harm is intendeu against you Are vou possessed of more- innocence that those'poor murdere 1 children? Have you any right to expect better treatment than they have

bad if you fall into the same hands? Flatter not yourselves that it is only in this wilderness where such bloody scenes are to be expected. It is true the same kind of murderers may not overtake you in all your habitations, but the same bloody tyr-mt is employing his murderers of one kind and another thro'out your country, and it is the vilest infatuation to suppose your being only on-lookers will save you from de- struction should they get you in their power.

Rouse, then, my countrymen, rouse ; it is under God, in your own arms, that you are to look for deliverance, and fear not. God is a righteous God, and in so righteous an opposi- tion success will most assuredly . attend you. To doubt of the assistance of heaven in such a cause is to impeach the justice of Almighty God.

These Indians, we are informed, are some of those sent out by those direful emissaries of Britain's tyrant, Sir John Johnson, and Colo- nels Clark and Butler.

Other presentations were.the commission as postmaster at Trenton given to Dr. Luther Guiteau, father of the late doctor, signed by Gideon Grander, postmaster general, September 20, 1803; also a poem by 8. G. Arnold, entitled "The Call of Dr. Judd," published as a pamphlet at Wash-

ington. Dr. Judd was the princi- pal organizer of the Sandwich Island government, and was for some years its prime minister. He was the son of Dr. Elnathan Judd of Paris Hill, this county. The poem is a graphic account of Dr. Judd's life and adventures. It describes how the youthful missionary was urged to take a wife out with him —

"Disturbed in thought, his fate unsettled still, Ho reached his loving home at Paris Hill, And called h a friends around in consultation That they might know and help the situation."

He evidently knew where to find her, for, having delegated the important matter to his uncle, Hastings, to break the proposal to the maid,

"Hastings at once the needful time bestowed, And rode to Clinton, where the maid abode."

The question was deftly asked by the ambassador, and the maid blushingly an- swered "yes;" whereat,

"Next they were married, and they did not

fail To join their friends and take the long drawn

sail 1"