Schenectady Massacre

The Schenectady Massacre was an attack against the village of Schenectady in the colony of New York on February 8, 1690.

What do you know about the French and Indian Wars? Try this U.S. History Made Easy FUN Trivia quiz. You'll find the answers at the end of the quiz.

1) It was carried out by a party of over 200 French commandos and Sault and Algonquin Indian raiders that set out from Montreal to attack English outposts to the south, and was intended as retaliation for a series of devastating Iroquois raids for which the English had provided weapons and ammunition. Isolated northern and western settlements were the targets.

• True or False?

2) Late on February 8, when a scouting party reported that no one (save a few crudely built snowmen, fixed with hats and sticks meant to look like rifles) was guarding the stockade at Schenectady, a decision was made to attack at once. What was the weather conditions?

• Bitter cold
• Snow storm
• Mild winter day

3) When Schenectady was discovered to be defenseless the raiding party decided to attack here instead. What was the original target?

• Fort Blue (present day Utica)
• Fort Orange (present day Albany)
• Fort Oneida (present day Oneida)

4) In the bloody midnight massacre which followed, houses and barns were torched and men, women and children were slaughtered. Many were in night clothing and had no time to arm themselves. How many buildings were destroyed?

• 20
• 40
• 60

5) The 60 dead included 38 men and 10 women.. How many children died in the attack?

• 3 children
• 12 children
• 24 children

6) How many prisoners were taken?

• 17 people
• 27 people
• 47 people

7) John A. Glen, son of the founder of Scotia across the river from Schenectady, had shown previous kindness to the French. The Schenectady prisoners were taken to him, where he was told he could pick out his relatives as a gratitude. Glen took as many survivors as he could without raising suspicions, and the rest were taken prisoner to Canada.

• True or False?

8) One of those killed was Reynier Schaets, along with a son. Reynier Schaets was a son of Gideon Schaets, dominie of the Dutch Reformed Church at Albany. Reynier had been appointed Justice at Schenectady by Governor Leisler on December 28, 1689. What was Reynier's occupation?

• Surgeon
• Lawyer
• Minister

9) Schenectady was first settled when the area was part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. What was the year?

• 1661
• 1663
• 1665

10) When was Schenectady charted as a city?

• 1776
• 1798
• 1801

Schenectady Massacre Answers

1. True
2. Bitter cold
3. Fort Orange (present day Albany)
4. 60
5. 12
6. 27 people
7. True
8. Surgeon
9. 1661
10. 1798