Claas Groot ⁴⁸²

  Noted events in his life were:

• Kidnapped, Feb 1690. The French prepared to attack Schenectday, New York as a part of the war that was declared against England by the Prince of Orange. The citizens of Schenectady were concerned for their future safety and dispatched a letter to the British Governor requesting protection, as a village near them had been attacked earlier. The letter was written by Pieter Schuyler, Major, Dirk Wessels Ten Broeck, Recorder and Killian Van Rensselaer, patroon.

Albany, the 15th day of February 1689

Honored Gentlemen:

To our great grief and sorrow we must acquaint you with our deplorable condition, there never having been the like dreadfull massacre and murder committed in these parts of America, as has been acted by the French and their Indians at Schenectady, twenty miles from Albany, between Saturday and Sunday last, at 11 o'clock at night. A company of two hundred French and Indians fell upon said village and murdered sixty men, women and children, most barbarously, burning the place and carrying twenty-seven along with them prisoners, among which, the Lieutenant of Captain Bull Enos Talmadge, and four more of said company were killed and five taken prisoners. The rest being inhabitants, and above twenty-five persons freezing their limbs in the fight.

The cruelties committed at this place no pen can write, nor tongue express, the women with child ripped up, and the children thrown into the flames, and their heads dashed in pieces against the doors and windows.

But what shall we say? We must lay our hands upon our mouths and be silent. It is God's will and pleasure and we must submit. It is but what our sins and transgressions have deserved. Since human things are generally directed by outward means, so we must ascribe this sad misfortune to the factions and divisions which were amongst the people and their great disopbedience to their officers, for we would obey no commands or keep any watch, so that the enemy having discovered their negligence and security by their praying Maguase Indians whowere in said place two or three days before the attack was made came in and broke open their very doors before any sould knew of it, the enemy dividing themselves in three several companies, came in at three several places no gate being shut, and separated themselves six and seven to a house, and in this manner begun to murder, sparing no man till we saw all the houses open and mastered, and so took what plunder we would, loading thirty or forty of the best horses, and so went away about 11 o'clock at noon on the Sabbath day.

It was, as if the heavens combined for the destruction of the village. That Saturday night the snow fell above knee deep, the weather was dreadfully cold, and the poor people that escaped and brought us the news about break of day, did so much increase the number of the enemy, that we all concluded that there was a considerable army coming to fall upon our city, and as was affirmed, we were upon their march hither; we were being told not only then but that day that there were 1900 at least. We sent out a few horses forthwith, after we had received the news, but scarcely could we get through the deep snow, some wherefore go to that desolate place, and there being some few Maquase here in town, we got them to go thither with our men in companies, to send messengers in all haste to the Maquase castle, and to spy where the enemy went, who were not very free to go, the snow being so deep, and afraid of being discovered by their tracks, but coming to the village which was in such a consternation, there being so many people and cattle killed and burnt, that it was not effected until two days after, when we heard that the Maquase knew nothing about it, upon which messengers were sent and the Maquase of the first and second castles came down in twenty-four houres, whom we sent out with some of our young men in pursuit of the enemy. Afterwards the Maquase of the third castle came down, who were also sent out, but we are afraid will not overtake them, and which is worse if we do find them fear we will do them no great hurt, the Indians amongst them being of the kindred of our Indians; for the policy of the French is so great, that we declared to some of the Maquase, whom we found at Schenectady, that we would not do the Maquase any harm yea, if we should burn and destroy ever so many houses at Canada and kill ever so many French, yet we would not touch a hair on their head; for their governor had such an inclination to that people that he would live in peace with them. Nay, to gain the hearts of the Maquase, whatever we desired at Schenectady was granted to the women and children that were left alive. Upon their desire we were released and saved. The very houses where the Maquase lay were saved upon their request, so that we left no stone unturned to bring the Indians to their devotion.

The forty Maquase that were out as scouts at the lake, who furnished with powder and lead to lie there on purpose, we conclude, have known nothing of the enemy's coming, for we posted themselves at one of the passages, and before we had men to the other passage the enemy had passed by, which we impute to their negligence.

The said French had belts of wampum along with them which we showed to a Maquase squaw at Schenectady, which was designed to have given to our Indians, upon proposal of peace, if we had met with any upon the way, so that we must conclude we wanted nothing but a peace with our Indians to destroy all the parts.

Our Maquase have got one of their Indians prisoner, whom we have tortured and afterwards have released him, but delivered him into our custody; for we feared that I would escape and run away to the enemy. The said Indian confessed that there were 600 men preparing to come out upon this place or New England, and 100 men were gone out against Skachkook Indians, which were beside these 200 men, and that this company had been twenty-two days away from Canada.

After the French had done the principal mischief at Schenectady, Captain Sanders, a justice that lived across the river, was sent for by the captain of the French, who had put himself in a posture of defense in my fort with the men that he could get byhim; when thirteen came there and told them not to fear for their order was not to wrong a chicken of theirs, upon which Captain Sanders ordered them to lay down their arms, and so were let in where we left one man for a hostage, and Captain Sanders went to their commander, who told him he had a commission to come and pay a debt which we owed; Colonel Dongan, our governor, had stirred up our Indians to do mischief in Canada, and we had done the same here. And pulling my commission out of my bosom told him he was strictly charged todo no harm to him or my, but especially to my wife who had since been so charitable to the French prisoners, so that Captain Sanders saved sundry houses from being burnt, and women and children from being carried away. But the snow was so extremely deep that it was impossible for any woman to march a mile, so that we took none but men and boys that could march.”

List of People Killed:

Myndert Wemple killed. Anneke Janse killed
Jan Van Eps and three children killed Frans Harmense Van de Bogart killed
Maria Viele, wife of Dowe Aukes Claas Van de Bogart - prisoner
and her two children killed
Arnout Viele taken prisoner to Canada
Symon, Abraham, Philip, Dirk and Claas Groot captive
All of the Groot boys were redeemed except for Claas.
Jan Baptist son of Jan Van Eps was kept captive until he escaped and returned home.

I was eventually returned by the Indians who kidnapped me.

While Claes was returned in good health physically, he was never the same mentally.