Notwithstanding which clear and manifest Riglit on the part of this Government, the said persons not content with their former Intrusions on liis Majesty's Lands within the same, first began to carry their desi^-ns into Execution by endeavouring to Corrupt and turn M^ Livingston's own Tenants against him, in whicli they so far succeeded that several Persons wlio till within a few years held Lands as Tenants under and paid their Rents to him now keep Possession of the Lands in defiance of, and set up a pretended Right against him, under tlie Government of tlie ISfassachuset's Bay, and the aforementioned Indian purchase : By w^hich illegal pi-oceedings, supported with Force, the Course of Justice hath been obstructed, the Lives of several of his Majee^ty's S:i;.bjects

822 PAPERS RELATING TO THE

lost, and private property infringed and greatly injured. And Whereas thirty one of such Evil minded persons, in order to prosecute their unjust designs, on the Seventh day of May last, Armed and Riotously assembled themselves at Tackhanick, at the House of Jonathan Darbie, which stands at the distance of not more than Eighteen Miles from Hudson's River, among whom were the said Jonathan Darbie, also Johannes Reese Hendrick Brusie, Joseph Van Gelder, and his Brother said to be Andries Van Gelder, Samuel Taylor, Ebenezer Taylor, and Andries J" Reese, and being so Riotously assembled, were Commanded to disperse by the Deputy Sherif of tlie County, in the presence of one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, two Constables, and other persons, who came thither with the said Robert Livingston, to suppress the Riot and disperse the Rioters, four only of whom went off, the others shutting themselves up in the said Darby's House, in which there were Loop holes, Fired through the same, and before they dispersed, several were wounded on botli sides one of whom died in about an hour thereafter, and another some time after of the wounds they then Received ; In Order therefore to put a stop, as much as may be, to proceedings, the consequences whereof have already been Fatal to some, and wliich if not timely prevented may still be productive of the worst Evils to others ; and to Establisli and keep up peace, and a good understanding among the Borderers, til this unhappy Controversy shall be settled