by Amy Modesti
Step back, sit down and take in the tale of the 1711 Kittelhuyn Massacre from the mouths of colonial settlers and an Indian at the Knickerbocker Historical Society.
Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30 was the historical society’s annual benefit, Knick at Night. This featured food, Souper Supper consisting of hearty soups served with cornbread/bread, molasses cookie/brownie and beverage. With the food came the educational entertainment, put on by volunteers dressed as local settlers, hunters and a Huron Indian, to tell the harrowing tale of 1711’s Kettelhuyn Massacre. The massacre wasn’t in K-Mansion, it took place a mile or so away from it.
Guests learned the historical background from Anna Quackenbush Knickerbocker who was born in 1681. In 1701, she and her husband Johannes were the first ancestors to live on the land of the mansion where Knickerbocker Mansion was eventually built. Anna’s parents were Dutch and settled in Fort Orange (present day Albany, NY) until 1656. Her family were brickmakers in Albany and made fireplaces. Through a lottery, Anna’s family was selected to move to Schaghticoke. It was in Schaghticoke where she met and married Johannes.
In 1676, New York’s Provincial Governor Andros called a Witenagemot, or peace meeting, to be held in Schaghticoke between the Dutch, Schaghticoke Indians and the British to trade fairly, work with each other and look out for each other. An oak tree was planted to signify peace, friendship and cooperation. It wasn’t until the Hurons arrived from New France (Canada) that trouble started to brew.
Jaques de Huron, a Huron French Indian, spoke next. Jaques explained in detail the Huron’s background, culture and their relationship to the French. Later in the conversation, Jaques further went into details about the Huron’s excursions into the New York Province as mercenaries taking scalps in return for money and goods.
Unfortunately, Daniel Kittelhuyn, a resident of Schaghticoke, was one of many killed on October 21, 1711, the day of the Kittelhuyn massacre. Kittelhuyn lived with his wife and five children a few miles west of the current Knickerbocker Mansion (and Historical Society). Traveling on horseback with his brother-in-law Johannes, a Huron Indian came upon the lands pretending to hunt when in fact, he was looking for English men to kill. Johannes was killed on his horse by the Indian and late that night, Indians set fire to Daniel’s house in which his family, three English soldiers and a few Schaghticoke Indians huddled together terrified, prayed and waited for help from Albany that never arrived. Daniel was shot dead by the Indians while his family was faced with the choice of burning to death inside the house or trying to flee for their lives.
The tour concluded with Daniel Kittelhuyn’s sister, Mariah, who discussed the aftermath of the massacre. She relayed the story of how babies, unborn babies and mothers were tragically killed by the Huron Indians. Some of the healthier women and older children were taken captive and marched to Montreal where they worked as slaves until their family arrived with ransom monies in January of 1712 to redeem them from the French, upon which they returned to Schaghticoke to resume their lives.
The early frontier Knickerbockers, Kittelhuyns and other Dutch settlers were tough individuals who lived hard lives and it’s a wonder they survived a horrific ordeal and kept on. These families have served the test of time and the Knickerbocker name is still relevant in present day.
On opening night, twelve groups and 134 patrons attended the tour, and 111 meals were served. Other guests took more soup post-event. This was the 19th year of Knick at Night.
The Knickerbocker Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that’s dedicated to restoring the Knickerbocker Mansion and informing visitors about the historic, cultural and literary impact of the Knickerbocker family. The mansion is open from May through October. Head over to The Knickerbocker Historical Society (knickmansion.com) for more info.