waded up to their middles in water through Hudson's river to Fort Edward with all the life and courage imaginable. Scarce could any be persuaded to stay in the camp to take care of what was left there, no one examining into the probability of success, but placing a confidence in the

judgment of the commanders, left that to them. The last of the militia had not got well through the river before the attempt was thought too hazardous, whereupon we were ordered back to our camp. This sudden change created great uneasiness in the minds of the men who now soon began to complain of the intolerable hardships they suffered lying in camp, and the danger they were in of catching the small-pox, etc. One general complaint was want of kettles to boil their victuals in, so that they could use none of their allowances but hard bread and salt pork and that they must eat raw three times a day, or roast it on the coals. I don't doubt but the officers of every regiment had enough to do to quiet the minds of their people and can safely say for those of the second regiment of Ulster (and which hundreds can witness) that they left no arguments unmade use of to persuade their men to stay from day to day, and at last made them ashamed to complain of their hard living which their officers underwent the same in every manner that they did, and told them they could live so for a fortnight if the good of their country required it. But what had the greatest weight on the minds of our people and the most difficult to be removed was the apprehension that the French might take the opportunity to send Indians upon the frontier settlements in order to throw the country into confusion and thereby prevent the militia from marching to the assistance of the fort, or at least when they were there to destroy their wives and children at home. So that after laying five days in camp and hearing that the French were destroying and abandoning Fort Wm. Henry, it was impossible to prevail with the men to stay any longer by which it seems they have incurred the censure of disgracing the country, while those who have never been within one hundred miles of the fort have done honor to it. Strange partiality! indeed Mr. Gain to make so much ado about the populous city and county of New York on so extraordinary an occasion turning out only five hundred men, a good part of whom it seems they were obliged to the privateers for. For when some had been told of the shameful behaviour of many of them in the country through which they passed, as far as they did go, the answer was, they were privateer's men and what could you expect of them.

From the principles you published (in this very appendix to your almanac) of the advantage of the liberty of the press, I cannot doubt of your giving this a place in your Mercury and which will be insisted upon by many. The vile reflection you have cast on all the officers of the militia except those of New York, West Chester and Albany have made it necessary to relate facts which have drawn out this paper to rather

too great length. The militia of Albany stayed but one day at Fort Edward after those of Orange and Ulster left it, and it ought to be considered that while they were there they were standing sentry as it were at their own doors, while at the same time the poor people of these parts did not know but the Indians might be cutting the throats of their wives and children. It is to be hoped that if ever there should be the like occasion, the militia may be drafted from parts not too much exposed. The advantage the city of New York has in that way is that they may collect their men and have vessels to transport them in two hours time,

making it possible to them to give much readier assistance than those of a scattered settlement though nearer at hand.

THOMAS ELLISON."

Colonel Ellison had eleven children, five of whom married. The eldest, Elizabeth, born in 1726, married Cadwallader Colden, Jr., a member of the distinguished provincial family of Coldens, and son of the lieutenant-governor. Mr. Eager in his history of Orange county publishes an amusing letter from the above-mentioned gentleman, Cadwallader Colden, Jr., written in 1796, part of which will bear repetition, as it evinces great ingeniousness in dealing with the lady's family. He says:

"After clearing a little land, commencing a barn and house, I thought it was proper to look for a housekeeper; and before my house was finished, I had got one in the neighborhood, for I could not spare time to go far, and if I had I should have fared no better-she making as good a wife as if she had been brought up by my own mother. She is of the name of Ellison, an English family, the most respectable then in this neighborhood and also wealthy. We have now lived together above fifty years, and I believe no fifty years were spent happier by any one pair. While I am writing she is as busy at her needle as if just beginning the world, and looks almost as young, although the mother of twelve children -six only of whom are living."

These children were Cadwallader, Thomas, Alexander, David, Alice, and Margaret.

Margaret, the second daughter of Thomas Ellison, born in 1728, married John Crooke of New York, and had only one child, who married the Rev. Charles Inglis, curate of St. Paul's church before the Revolution, in New York city. When hostilities broke out, this reverend gentleman, like most of the colonial clergy, adhered to the crown and refused the request to omit prayers for the king on the occasion of Washington's visit to Trinity. Pending the outbreak of hostilities he removed, in 1775, his family then consisting of his wife and three children, Mrs. Crooke, his mother-in-law, and four servants, to Goshen. In 1776 he obtained permission from the provincial convention for their return to New York by flag of truce, and they accordingly returned, vid New Windsor, in one of Mr. Ellison's sloops. Having been included with his wife in the act of attainder of 1779, the return of peace rendered it obligatory on Mr. Inglis to leave the states. He accordingly accompanied some loyalists of his congregation to Annapolis, Nova Scotia. He was consecrated bishop of that province August 12, 1787, and was appointed member of the provincial council in 1809. He died in 1816, aged eighty-two years. His son John was the third English bishop of Nova Scotia.

One of the daughters of the first Bishop Inglis married the wellknown Judge Haliburton, celebrated as the author of Sam Slick.

Of the children of Colonel Thomas Ellison of New Windsor, the eldest son, Thomas Ellison, Jr., was born in 1732 at New Windsor; he married Miss Mary Peck of New York, whose family name is still associated with their property at Peck's Slip in New York; the second son, John, born in 1736, married Catharine Johnston of Kingston; while the third son, William, born in 1739, married Mary Floyd, daughter of Benjamin Floyd of Brookhaven, Long Island. William Ellison was a

captain in his father's regiment of Ulster county militia, his commission bearing date December 17, 1772. Thomas Ellison, Jr., became his father's factor in New York city, and from 1762 throughout the Revolution carried on a correspondence with his father at New Windsor. As the younger Ellison was a member of the "Committee of One Hundred," and his letters throw

much light upon the effect of the Stamp Act and the events of those troublesome times, the following extracts will have permanent public interest:

"Sept. 5th. 1765. By report there is a great disturbance at Boston about the Stamp Act &c. It is said they have pulled the Lieutenant-governor's house down-taken what money and plate he had in the house and destroyed all his papers

They have

they could come at, and have ransacked two other houses. also pulled down two other houses at Rhode Island. The flames seem to be coming westward and there is a good deal of talk in town."

"Sept. 11th, 1765.

The authorities are carrying provisions and ammunition into the fort and the governor's family are moving in. There has been nothing done here, but there is a good deal of talk and I do not think there will be any disturbance unless it be when the Stamps arrive. It is reported there are two men of war lying at the Hook to guard the ship up that brings them."

"Oct. 23d, 1765.

Captain Davis has come at last who has the disagreeable Stamp papers on board. Most of the vessels in the harbour had their colours half hoisted. She was guarded up by two men of war who have carried her in the North river to land the Stamps at the fort."