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General View of the County

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In 1753, while De Lancey acted as Governor, the English and French mutually extended their settlements, and each was anxious to possess the best posts for trading with the Indians. Mutual aggressions made mutual complaints, which were soon followed by open acts of hostility.

In Sept. 1755, the colonies made great efforts to conduct the war against the French. This campaign was conducted on a large scale. There was one expedition against the French in Nova Scotia, another against them on the Ohio, one against Crown Point, and a fourth against Fort Niagara, built by and in the possession of the French. The first was unsuccessful; the second failed by the defeat of Braddock; the third, under Gen. Wm. Johnson, partially failed; and the fourth, under Governor Shirly of Massachusetts, advanced to Oswego and was then abandoned and the troops returned to Albany. During the winter and spring of 1756 large and small parties of western Indians made frequent incursions into the counties of Ulster and Orange, destroying much property and taking many lives. Their attrocities in this county were committed in the Minisink country.

In 1758, under the administration of Wm. Pitt, the tide of affairs in the colonies seemed to turn strongly in favor of the English. Three expeditions were put on foot;—one against Lewisburgh, one against Ticonderoga, and one against Fort Du Quesne. Lewisburgh surrendered to Gen. Amherst in July. Abercrombie with 16,000 men attacked Ticonderoga, but was compelled to retire; and the garrison at Fort Du Quesne, not being sustained by the Indian allies, in December abandoned and burnt the fort on the approach of Gen. Forbes. When Abercrombie was defeated he sent Col. Bradstreet with 3,000 men against Fort Frontenac, on the outlet of Lake Ontario, which surrendered.

Quebec and other forts were taken in 1759 by the English, which placed, Canada in their possession, and prevented the incursions of the Indians and French into the territory of New York, which had for many years impeded its prosperity.

It appears from this statement that the Indians of New York were engaged in all the various wars between the French and English from 1687 to 1759, sometimes as the allies of England, and at others on their own account. The great Indian settlements were in the northern and western parts of the State. Here the Five Confederated Nations resided; and when they were attacked by the French and Indians from Canada, all others in the various localities of the State were from time to time drawn into, the great war maelstrom to protect their friends or revenge their injuries. In doing so the Indians were true to the instinct of their nature; revenge and the scent of blood along the war path were sufficient incentives. The consequence of these continued wars was, the Indians in greater or smaller numbers from time to time let the County and became united with their northern friends a were killed in battle,—so much so that at the commencement of the Revolution there were only a few straggling Indian in the County, and those of a friendly character.