FRONTIER MURDERS: FRENCH AND INDIAN & REVOLUTIONARY WARS & GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THOMAS POSEY

"Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.
--George Washington to Charles Mynn Thruston, 10 August 1794

Governor George Clinton sent affidavits to "Colo. Wm. Butler Com'g at Schohary" with the following letter:

"Poughkeepsie 6th Sep'r 1778

"Dear Sir, By a Number of Affidavits which will be handed to you by the Bearer you will learn that Hamanus Dumond, late an Inhabitant of Poughetaghten on the Delaware, was lately cruely murdered by a Party of Men supposed to be from the Neighbourhood of Schohary under the Command of Colo. Harper. What adds to the Cruelty of the transaction, is that Dumond had for some Time Passt remained at his Habitation at Poughataghten at the Request of Colo. Cantine, who commands the Militia in actual service on the Frontiers of Ulster and Orange Counties for the Purpose of acquiring & transmitting his Intelligence which he had friequently done. But the Danger increasing in that Quarter, he was now moving into the securer Settlements with his Effects, of which the Party who Shot & plundered him, after he was mortally wounded, even of his wearing apparel, was informed & coud not doubt. You will also perceive by the Affidavits, that several other of the well disposed Inhabitants were plundered of their Effects by the Party. Placing the greatest Confidence in you & considering you as immediately Commanding the Militia in actual Service in your Quarter, I have, therefore, to request that you will cause the Effects of Dumond & the other Persons who were plundered by the above Party, to be restored to the Bearer, for the use of the owners, and that you will deliver the Delinquents over to the Civil Authority to be dealt with according to their Crimes. I am Sir with great Respect Your most Obed't Serv't. [G.C.]

To: Colo. Wm. Butler Com'g at Schohary."

Harmanus Dumond, in the DAR list for "Personal Service" --DAR-205. While serving as a "spy" for the Continental side Harmanus was killed by Morgan's Rangers and Schoharie Co. Militia, in a case of mistaken identity, or, possibly deliberate act of greed, since his personal property were stolen by these troops as he lay dying. His burial place is unknown at this time.
It was probably in Arkville, since he died in the Van Wagenen cabin, approximately where the Erph Center is now located. The members of the Kingston militia assigned to the bury him, after it was learned of his killing, would probably have done it hurridly, and would not have carried his body to the family cemetery which was located at the homestead - on what became the railroad right-of-way, and now the sewage treatment plant.

"During the summer of 1778 trouble on the East Branch of the Delaware began to mount. On July 11th Gen. Abraham TenBroeck forwarded to Governor Clinton a report by James Armitage that for the past six weeks armed men were continually passing, or stopping at his home in Batavia (Windham) on their way to "Paghkatakean." He identified them as tories, "some five hundred of whom left Burgoyne's army before its surrender at Saratoga. Armitage said that he was told that they were gathering at 'Paghkatakean' preparatory to a march of fifteen thousand men under Col. John Butler through the mountains to meet Lord Howe at Catskill. In directing Colonel Cantine to increase his guards, Clinton said: 'This is the most critical and unfavorable period to have the peace of our frontiers disturbed.' But the peace of New York 's frontiers was about to be disturbed with a vengeance." (Monroe, p. 48)

Harmanus Dumond went with such a group of men from Pakatakan down the river to Pepacton on July 8, 1778. It appears that Harmonus had no intention of joining the tories but wanted to collect information on their activities. He apparently was successful in maintaining a working relationship with them, as he never seems to have been threatened by them. He hurried back up the Delaware, crossed Pine Hill and went down the Esopus to Marbletown to give the information to Col. Levi Pawling, and Col. Cantine in the form of a deposition, on the 10th of July. The deposition was forwarded it to Governor Clinton in Poughkeepsie.

DEPOSITION OF HARMANUS DUMOND:

"Harmanius Dumon, of Poughkataken, being Duly Sworn Saith that on Wednesday the Eighth Instant he with Johannis Vanwagenen and Several other Residenters of the Settlement, went Down the River to Papaconk, at the Request of George Barnard; when they can to Johannis Barnard at Papaconk, they found about twenty Indians all arm'd, and about twenty Tories who were, (as the Deponant Under Stood) to go Down the River to a place called Willdewemaugh (Williwemack) and their to be Joynd, by another party, thence To proceed to Laghawock and So on to Rochester and to Destroy all before them; only Such as Should Joyn them or lay Down their arms; and this Deponent farther Saith; that he Under Stood That their was a party Under the Command of Brant (the Indian) gon to Schogery, and another Party to Cherry Vally, and also another party Under the Command of Butler to Weomic and another party Commanded by one Crum To Manising; the party who Intends for Rochester is to be Joynd, by forty men Under the
Command of Joh's Ostrout, and also another party Under The Command of Samuel Gunsalus.

Harmanes Dumond
Sworn before me this tenth Day of July 1778,

Levi Pawling."

(PUBLIC PAPERS OF GEORGE CLINTON FIRST GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, Albany, 1900, vol. II, pp. 544-545).

Harmanus Dumond's deposition is a remarkable summary of the plans of the tories, since nearly every prediction came true. And even more remarkable is that he was able to gather so much information and get it
to the authorities in such a short period of time. The Governor, who was in Poughkeepsie had the deposition in his hand on July 11th. He responded:

"Poughkeepsie the 11th July 1778.

"Sir, I have this Moment received your Letter Dated 2 o'Clock this Norning together with one from Colo. Cantine of yesterday inclosing an Affidavit & a Letter addressed to the Inhabitants of Kingston &c. (said to eb wrote by Order of the Anandago Indians) inclosed containing Accounts of the Hostile Designs of the Indians & Tories on our Western Frontiers. By a Letter I received yesterday from Colo. Gaansevoort, at Fort Schuyler, I am informed that a number of Regular Troops from Canada & Indians were assembled at Osewigatje from whence they were directly to Proceed ag't Fort Schuyler. This Account which came to Colo. Gaansevoort so as to obtain his full Credit induces me to put greater Faith in Dumond's Affidavit, for I think it more than probable if the Enemy seriously intend any Thing ag't that Post, they will keep small Parties out on our Frontiers, constantly alarming the Inhabitants to prevent the Militia from marcking to the Relief of that Garrison, which is, I am sorry to say, neither sufficiently strong or well provided to resist a formidable attack.

"This is the most critical & unfavorable Period to have the Peace of our Frontiers disturbed. Genl. Washington's Army not having arrived I dare not withdraw the Militia from the Posts in the Highlands. Harvest being at Hand forbids the ordering & keeping out the whole or indeed a large Proportion of the Militia for and Space of Time. I dont know that any Thing more can be done but keep out those already so stationed as to get the earliest Intelligence of the Enemy's Motions & occasionally to strengthen them, if on the Approach of the Enemy it may appear necessary. I woud apprize you that strong Detachments are out towards Minissink & Peenpack from MvCaghry's & Allison's Regts., between whom & Coll. Cantine a constant Communication shoud be maintained, for the Purposes of gaining Intelligence & Cooperating with each other. I expect Colo. Cantine to whom you will please forward this Letter will increase the Guards on the Frontiers by ordering out a greater part of the Militia if he shall Judge it necessary, without waiting for further Orders. I must submit to you & him whether Gonsalus & Oosterhoudt ought not to be immediately secured. This will depend on their Characters & other Circumstances. I am your most Obed't Serv't [G.C.]

Colo. Levy Pawling & to be forwarded to Colo. Cantine.

ANALYSIS OF DUMOND INFORMATION AND PREDICTIONS:

Harmanus names Johannis Vanwagenen as one of the Pakatakan residents who who went down river to the meeting in Pepacton. Vanwagenen was one of those earliest settlers in the Margaretville/Arkville area. George Barnhart, who requested the meeting, was born in 1747 and claimed to be a large land-owner (actually he leased the land) in the Pepacton area. He had four sons and two daughters. At least two of the sons were credited with
serving with the British -- Jacob, who was born in 1768, and enlisted on 2 Dec 1780; and Nicholas, born in 1771, and joined at the same time as his brother (being only 9 years old, and 4'6'' tall). (Loyalist records) George had been involved with the tories for several months, assisting Col. John Butler, and had been imprisoned for a time. He went on to become a sergeant in the King's Royal Regiment, in which he was officially enlisted on 22 May 1780. He settled in Canada in 1784. Johannis Barnhart, born in 1746 and served with Brant on scouting expeditions, and was with him at the battle of Minisink, July 22, 1779, and in one engagement was wounded. He joined the King's Royal Regiment on 1 February 1780, serving with Munro from 1781-83. He also settled in Ontario, Canada. One of the other men
who probably went to Pepacton with Dumond was "the noted villian" John Snow, who had gone with the tories on their raid of Lackawack, was captured when someone (possibly Harmanus Dumond) allerted Lieut. Westbrook of Col. Cantine's regiment that he was at Pakatakan. He was captured there just before July, 30th, as Col. Cantine reported to Gov.
Clinton. (vol. III, p. 597)

"One can assume that General Washington read the affidavit detailing

this occurrence with a gleam of approval in his eye for the young major's

vigilant and astute handling of such unmilitary conduct." (John Thornton Posey)

Truth be told, should Thomas Posey, that young major, and his mentor,

and possibly his natural father, George Washington, be accused of

murder, or complicity in murder?

How can a historian today determine how George Washington would respond to what some people might think was a clear-cut case of murder and plunder? Is there anything in George Washington's past that would help us understand why he would have had a gleam of approval in his eye for Thomas Posey, the "young major" after the soldiers under his command were accused of murder and plunder, and when it appears from his own testimony that it was probably Posey, himself, who, in using "third degree" tactics threatened to tomahawk the victim as he lay dying in bed, and then stole the victim"s hat and shoes and buckles from his clothing?

Little has been written that is not complementary to George Washington the so-called "Father of our Country". Perhaps it is because historians have seen George Washington as America's "moral exemplar" and don't wish to portray him in less than a favorable light. A recent book, John Adams, by David McCullough, Simon & Schuster, 2001, quotes Adams, who recommended Washington to be the Commander of the Continental troops to Congress, as telling his wife, Abigail, that Washington was "one of the most important characters in the world. The liberties of America depend upon him in great degree". McCullough, who characterizes Washington as: "virtuous, brave, and in his new responsibilities,"one of the most important". Later, when Abigail met Washington at a Cambridge reception, she thought her husband had "not said half enough in praise of him." (p.28)

Likewise, Charles Thomson, who served as secretary to the Continental Congress beginning in 1774 would not say anything negative of Washington. As a young man, Thomson was adopted into the Delaware Indian Nation in 1757. These Delawares called him Wegh-wu-law-mo-end, which meant "the man who tells the truth."

Years after the American Revolution, Benjamin Rush asked Thomson to write a history of the American Revolution, but Thomson declined saying:

"I ought not, for I shall contradict all histories of the great events of the Revolution, and shew by my account of men, motives and measures, that we are wholly indebted to providence for its successful issue. Let the world admire the supposed wisdom and valor of our great men. Perhaps they may adopt the qualities that have been ascribed to them, and thus good be done. I shall not undeceive future generations."

"There is no doubt in my mind that Harmonus Dumond was everything you portray him to be, and that is why I feel so strongly that your mission of vindication would best be served by publishing a full account of his life, focusing particularly on his role as a patriot whose contribution to the cause was to live in a dangerous area among citizens apparently leaning to the Crown, and providing the Revolutionary authorities with information about the Tories and Indians operating in that area. The activities of such patriotic informers have not been widely reported by historians, and your research provides you with a unique opportunity to help fill that void in our country's history. I would be most interested in reading the final product of your work." (John Thornton Posey, author of GENERAL THOMAS POSEY, SON OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION)

John T. Posey sent me these sentiments after I wrote to him suggesting that if General Washington was as astute an observer of character as is usually portrayed, he might not have "read the affidavit detailing this occurrence with a gleam of approval in his eye for the young major" as he says in the biography of his third great-grandfather. (p. 43)

John Thornton Posey, in his well documented biography of Thomas Posey, writes a succinct, but limited, description of the event in question:

"Shortly after the battle of Monmouth, the Rifle Corps was partially disbanded, and its two senior officers, [Daniel] Morgan and Lieutenant Colonel William Butler, were re-assigned to their original state regiments. The three companies of riflemen remaining intact were formed into a battalion under the command of Major[Thomas] Posey, and on 18 July the unit was ordered to march immediately to Albany in upstate New York, which now faced a new peril on its western frontier. (fn: 53 Tench, Tilghman to Thomas Posey, 18 July 1778, The George Washington Papers (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1964, text-fiche), reel 50.)) Large war parties from the six nations of the militant Iroquois League, incited by British officers operating out of Fort Niagra on Lake Ontario, were making devastating raids on American settlements in western New York and Pennsylvania. In the Wyoming Valley area of the latter state, the warriors, accompanied by a troop of irregular Tory "Rangers" led by Colonel John Butler, had ambushed a 450-man colonial militia force on 3 July. Over 300 men were killed and many were horribly tortured to death after being captured."

[The name, Butler, in J.T.Posey's statement above, referring to two military leaders, on either side of the war; William Butler for the Patriots and John (and Walter) Butler for the Loyalists. The soldiers, under Posey's command, who took Dumond and Barrows captive, apparently used the name "Butler" as a means of intimidation, since their captives most likely would never have heard of William Butler but were very familiar with John Butler, and his son, Walter, both Loyalist Rangers, who with Indian allies terrorized the region where these two men lived. Although Dumond had not yet heard about the Wyoming incident, in which Walter Butler was involved, he was aware of the fact that the loyalist Indian attack was planned. In fact, Dumond had reported to Governor Clinton that he had attended a meeting in which this and other raids were planned. Dumond risked his life to attend such meetings in order to gain information which he delivered to Gov. Clinton and patriot militia officers.]