Schoharie Bound

With the announcement in September 1712 that the Governor would no longer support them, the Palatines began to disperse.  Some left for New York City, some for New Jersey, and several hundred for the promised land of Schoharie.  Before the Schoharie contingent could leave they were faced with the complication that the land where they hoped to settle belonged to, and was occupied by, the Mohawk Indians.

Knowing that they could not survive without the permission and support of the Mohawks, the Palatines sent a delegation in October to ask permission to settle in Schoharie.   Since the Mohawks had earlier granted the land to the British for Governor Hunter’s tar and pitch project, they felt they had no authority to stop the Palatines.

The Germans set out immediately.  They travelled on established roads for much of the way, eventually veering off on to a well-traveled Indian path.   With winter settling in, many of the Palatine families took refuge along the way in Albany or Schenectady, but there were 50 families who would not be stopped.  Although they were cold, tired and half starved, they cleared a way through 15 miles of woods and made their way to Schoharie.  

The massive group of German immigrants who arrived in America in 1710 were now scattered and their epic journey beginning, yet again.  Although he was no longer able to support the Palatines, Governor Hunter was not quite done with them.  As they left, he instructed them to return to the Camps in the spring and resume their work in the pine forests. 

 

Reference:  “Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness

Summer 1712

Following the futile military expedition to Canada in September 1711, the Palatine men returned to the Camps where they and their families settled in for another difficult winter. 

In the spring Governor Hunter remained confident that the naval stores project would succeed, and to ensure that the work continued unhindered he instituted some changes.   First, he made a show of force by posting 30 soldiers around the Camps.   Second, instead of the men merely working off their debt, he allowed that half of the profits from the tar and pitch be paid to them while the other half went toward their expenses. 

With these changes in place the work in the pine fields began again.  The men continued to strip bark from the trees, but now they were also able to begin the process of making tar and pitch utilizing the pine knots gathered by the children.  The summer of 1712 was much quieter and more productive in the pine forests.  Back at the Camps the women were becoming accustomed to growing crops, such as corn, which had been previously unknown to them.  The Palatines were finally settling in.

For Governor Hunter, however, the problems continued.  His credit had run out and he had no more money.  Just as things were beginning to go well, he was forced to give up.  On September 6, 1712 the Palatines were told that the naval stores project was officially over and the government would no longer support them.  

 

Reference:  “Becoming German” by Phillip Otterness