1757

A Very Important Year for the Christman Families

Jacob Christman in the French & Indian War

There is evidence that Jacob Christman participated in Sir William’s militia activities. The failed succor of Col. Monroe at Fort William Henry, the subject battle in James Fenemore Cooper’s “Last of the Mohicans”.

By an order of Sir William Johnson, the Stone Arabia Company of Soffrines Dygert in the 2nd Battalion of the Albany Militia was ordered to march on March 20th to Fort William Henry, returning home on the 29th. Jacob Christman is listed among them.

By August 4, Major General Daniel Webb abandoned the fort leaving its defense to Colonel George Monroe with 2,300 men, only having 1,100 fit for duty. Montcalm advanced on the fort with 7,626 French troops and 1,600 Indian allies. Sir William was informed and quickly mustered a militia force. After a day and a half in the saddle, he arrived with 1,676 militia of the 2nd Battalion [the list destroyed by fire] at Fort Edward for General Webb who, in fear, did not go to Monroe’s succor. Monroe surrendered, his troops were promised safe passage, and they were massacred.

Jacob Christman must have been among that number quickly mustered. The following is a famous description of the massacre:

“More than two thousand raving savages broke from the forest at the signal, and threw themselves across the fatal plain with instinctive alacrity. We shall not dwell on the revolting horrors that succeeded. Death was everywhere, and in his most terrific and disgusting aspects. Resistance only served to inflame the murderers, who inflicted their furious blows long after their victims were beyond the power of their resentment. The flow of blood might be likened to the outbreaking of a torrent; and, as the natives became heated and maddened by the sight, many among them even kneeled to the earth, and drank freely, exultingly, hellishly, of the crimson tide.” - James Fenemore Cooper

The Palatine Village Massacre



November 12

French & Indians attacked Palatine Village. It was a massacre. The Christman family of Hans Nicholas escaped to Fort Herkimer. About a hundred people escaped across the river to the fort containing about 150 soldiers.

The route that the enemy took was down the Black Creek. Could it be that they attacked the Christmans at the site of their 1728 purchase first? It is unknown what happened to Johannes and Anna Gertraud but it is unlikely that they lived beyond November 12, 1757.

Frederick is found in the Herkimer area after that. Perhaps he escaped an attack at their Cold Brook location to warn Hans Nicholas’ family at Palatine Village.

Sir William Johnson was sick in bed at the time. The following is an account of the destruction of Palatine Village as reported by George Croghan, now associated with Sir William, to the Earl of Loudoun dated November 20:

“Sir William Johnson being still so unwell as not to be in a Situation to write himself, I take the Liberty to give your Lordship the following Report of what has happened lately at the German Flatts, agreeable to your Lordships Desire in a Memorandum to Mr. Claus.

The Strength of the Party of French and Indians that have done the Mischief at Burnetsfield were according to the Account of the Indians who brought the Intelligence with a Belt of Wampum, Eight hundred when they set out from Swegachy or La Galette. One hundred of which the Oneida Indians told me returned by the Road, by Reason of their not being willing to join the French in the Attempt, and did not know by their leaving Swegachy that the French designed to march against Burnetsfield. And as to the Account of their Numbers the Germans gives that made their Escape at the time of the Attack, they make them no more than 3 or 400.

The Redheads Son an Onondaga Indian, who had come down to the German Flatts with 8 or 10 Indian Women a few Days before the Affair happened, in order to trade with the Germans went out to see the Enemy after they had destroyed the Flatts and on his Return, said they did not exceed 400.

As to the Mischief done by the Enemy, they have burnt and destroyed on the North Side of Burnetsfield all the Farm houses from Canada Creek to the upper End of he Settlement which may be upwards of 40 houses besides Barns and Outhouses, they have destroyed all the horn Cattle, taken with them all the horses.

And there are 114 Men Women and Children missing, either taken or Killed 8 of which were found, and it is supposed some were consumed in the Flames.

It does not appear that the Enemy endeavored to carry off much plunder, as they immediately on their Attack set Fire to all the houses, and in Mr. Petry’s house after the Enemy was gone, there was a Lump of Silver and Gold found which was melted together and lay near the place where Mr. Petry’s Chest stood.

With Regard to the Intelligence the two Oneida Indians who were sent by the Sachems of the upper Castle brought of the Enemy’s Approach, it came to Fort Harkemer on Fryday about 12 oClock at Noon, and the Messengers said, that Seven Indians arrived at their Town the Evening before and informed them that there was 800 of the Enemy at the Carrying Place, on their March against the German Flatts the Settlements on the Mohawk River, and Skenectady, that they were of Opinion the Enemy could be at Burnetsfield next Morning; On which Captain Townsend fired the Alarm Guns, in order to call in the People from Burnetsfield, and desired them to bring their Women and Children to the Fort, but many of them paid little Regard to this Intelligence saying it would be time enough in the Morning. And captain Pellinger of the Militia whom Captain Townsend desired to send out 3 different Scouts, only sent out one up the Mohawk River, and which Route the Enemy did not take, as they came down Canada Creek.

Some of the Germans who made their Escape at the Attack, acknowledge to have received 3 different Intelligences within a Fortnight before this happened from the Oneida Indians of the upper Castle desireing to collect themselves together to the Breast Work near the Church as they had undoubted Intelligence from Swegachy that the French intended to destroy their Settlement this Fall, all which they paid no Regard to, and I suppose secreted the Thing for Fear of being hindered from Trading. [Another account says that they slapped their buttocks saying that they did not value the enemy.]

And to what Stock of Goods was in the Farmers houses on the German Flatts or on the Mohawk River when this happened I cant pretend to say, but believe not to any considerable Amount, and how this Trade has been carried on for some past I believe has been done as formerly, every Person that had any thing to sell, made the most of it and took what Advantage they could, as it was an illicit Trade, and which I heard Sir William say he spoke to your Lordship of, and wished to have a Stop put to it.
As to what Communication or Coorespondence has been held betwixt Canada and the Inhabitants of the German Flatts I never understood there was any.

Concerning the Number of Indians that took up Arms on this Occasion for Us, there was but very few at their Towns, most of them being upon the Hunt, at the same time every One that was at home in both Mohawk Castles took up Arms and went with Us to the German Flatts. As to what Number of the 6 Nations or other Indians joined the French on this Occasion I cannot as yet say, but as soon as I get Intelligence thereof I shall acquaint your Lordship therewith.

The Rest of the Enemy by the best Information I could obtain was from Swegachy by Way of the Oneida Carrying Place which is the Route they took when Bulls Fort was destroyed.

On Wednesday when My Lord Howe left the Flatts, I sent four Mohawks up the River towards George Casts upper-most Settlement to see whether they could see any Indians from whom they might gain further Intelligence who returned to me at Canajoharee on Tuesday Morning and told me they met with 3 Oneida Indians who informed them, that they had been told by some Swegachy Indians that there was a larger Body of the Enemy behind with Cannon, who were to Join this Party that done the Mischief, and come down and destroy all the Settlements on the Mohawk River, upon hearing this dispatched a small Party of Mohawks to reconnoitre the Oneida Carrying Place and Lake, and bring the certainty of the Enemys Motions, upon their Return I shall immediately acquaint your Lordship with whatever Account they bring.

I cannot foresee My Lord what Credit may be given to the said Account however it has that Effect upon the upper Inhabitants on this River that they most all quit their Settlements and move downward, some to the other Side of the River. – George Croghan

It did not take long for the news to reach Jacob’s family at Stone Arabia and beyond.

“The day is recorded in history as November 13, AD 1757, but I am afraid that I did not know much about years then, and certainly the month seems now to have been one of midwinter. The Mohawk, a larger stream then by far than these days, was not yet frozen over, but its frothy flood ran very dark and chill between the white banks, and the muskrats and the beavers were all snug in their winter holes. Although no big fragments of ice floated on the current, there had already been a prodigious scattering of the bateaux and canoes which through all the open season made a thriving thoroughfare of the river. This meant that the trading was over, and that the trappers and hunters, white and red, were either getting ready to go or had gone northward into the wilderness, where might be had during the winter the skins of dangerous animals - bears, wolves, catamounts, and lynx - and where moose and deer could be chased and yarded over the crust, not to refer to smaller furred beasts to be taken in traps.

I was not at all saddened by the departure of these rude, foul men, of whom those of Caucasian race were not always the least savage, for they did not fail to lay hands upon traps or nets left by the heedless within their reach, and even were not beyond making off with our boats, cursing and beating children who came unprotected in their path, and putting the women in terror of their very lives. The cold weather was welcome not only for clearing us of these pests, but for driving off the black flies, mosquitoes, and gnats which at that time, with the great forests so close behind us, often rendered existence a burden, particularly just after rains.

Other changes were less grateful to the mind. It was true I would no longer be held near the house by the task of keeping alight the smoking kettles of dried fungus, designed to ward off the insects, but at the same time had disappeared many of the enticements which in summer oft made this duty irksome. The partridges were almost the sole birds remaining in the bleak woods, and, much as their curious ways of hiding in the snow, and the resounding thunder of their strange drumming, mystified and attracted me, I was not alert enough to catch them. All my devices of horse-hair and deer-hide snares were foolishness in their sharp eyes. The water-fowl, too - the geese, ducks, cranes, pokes, fish-hawks, and others - had flown, sometimes darkening the sky over our clearing by the density of their flocks, and filling the air with clamor. The owls, indeed, remained, but I hated them.

The very night before the day of which I speak, I was awakened by one of these stupid, perverse birds, which must have been in the cedars on the knoll close behind the house, and which disturbed my very soul by his ceaseless and melancholy hooting. For some reason it affected me more than commonly, and I lay for a long time nearly on the point of tears with vexation - and, it is likely, some of that terror with which uncanny noises inspire children in the darkness. I was warm enough snuggled under my fox-robe, snuggled into the husks, but I was very wretched.

I could hear, between the intervals of the owl’s sinister cries, the distant yelping of timber wolves, first from the Schoharie side of the river, and then from our own woods. Once there rose, awfully near the log wall against which I nestled, a panther’s shrill scream, followed by a long silence, as if the lesser wild things outside shared for the time my fright. I remember that I held my breath.

It was during this hush, and while I lay striving, poor little fellow, to dispel my alarm by fixing my thoughts resolutely on a rabbit-trap I had set under some running hemlock out on the side hill, that there rose the noise of a horse being ridden swiftly down the frosty highway outside. The hoof-beats came pounding up close to our gate. A moment later there was a great hammering on the oak door, as with a cudgel or pistol handle, and I heard a voice call out in German (its echoes ring still in my old ears):

“The French are in the Valley!”

I drew my head down under the fox-skin as if it had been smitten sharply, and quaked in solitude. I desired to hear no more.

Although so very young a boy, I knew quite well who the French were, and what their visitations portended.” - Harold Frederick

It was winter. Hans Nicholas’ family and Frederick had no homes. They, like most of the Palatines who survived, probably retreated to Stone Arabia and farther. Jacob’s residence at Stone Arabia must have been very full that winter. It was a hard winter. It was a turning point for the family.

Even though the Palatines from German Flatts fled to the lower settlements they were not safe as evidenced by the attack of John Markell and his wife Anna Timmerman that summer who lived in the westerly part of Minden. They left home with their baby in arm to visit neighbors and saw a band of Indians in the path before them. As John cried out to Anna, a bullet ripped through his body and into her; they both fell to the ground. He was dead; Anna feigned death; the baby screamed. The Indians rushed up, one grabbed the baby by the legs and smashed its skull against a tree; another, jabbed his knee into Anna’s back, put her hair in his mouth, and pulled back while slicing her scalp off. They left. Anna staggered for help and lived. She married Christopher Getman of Ephratah, and carried the bullet to her grave.

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