USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 1 > Part 4
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CHAPTER VI.
Time of arrival of Dutch Settlement -- Build- ings-Hosset -- Life at the Hoornekill-Death of the Colony.
UR adventurers arrived so early in the spring of 1631, that, finding ground already cleared, they might have tilled and sown for that year, and there is a record that they did gather crops the first fall. They had provisions, however, without doubt,
protection from the natives in case of attack must be the primary demand, it is more rea- sonable to contemplate them, as carpenters and masons, than foresters and plowmen. For this task we must go with them to the woods, and listen to the strokes of the axe, and the falling of limbs and trunks of trees, and then the shaping and cutting of logs, as the only accessible material of building. Laborious shoveling and digging were in demand, but rough and strong must have been the quali- ties of houses and furniture, rather than the refinements of mahogany and the velvety tread of Axminster carpets. These thirty men, the first to settle Delaware, are Dutch Protest- ants ; but how personal is their religious faith, and zealous and devotional their piety, we know not a word, nor the name of an individ- ual of them, with one exception. Their coming fate is doubly pitiful, that we can do no honor to their memory. Did some old papers turn up to give us the particulars of their history during the few months they lived, or some authentic and undoubted narrative of how the swift-coming disaster overtook them, the melancholy. might in part be lightened, though to relieve it were impossible. Having built themselves some separate cabins they go to work upon a strong building situated a little distance from the mouth of the creek, on the north side, which we cannot but suppose, commanded the fresh-water spring. This was to serve for a magazine and store house, and also as a defense.
De Vries seems to have placed extraordi- nary confidence in the Indians, he believing that, if they were kindly and justly treated, which he intended to make his policy, they would be friendly and faithful. It seems to be well ascertained that he gained the esteem and respect of the natives, and left them and the colonists, when he departed, in the best relations of amity and concord. To show his confidence, he built only a strong house for protection, and though it was called a Fort, it was surrounded simply with palisades, a strong sort of fence, instead of parapets and breastworks This fort was denominated Fort Uplandt.
Bancroft states, that De Vries spent more than a year in America, before he returned to Holland. Judge Houston says, he was obliged
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
to return on the Colony's business, before the close of the first summer, and that the assault was made by the savages, before or in the autumn fall of leaves ; and both Ferris and Vincent agree with him, as to the time of De Vrie's departure. We may be sure that, before he left, he saw every part of the enterprise well advanced and securely settled, and con- sidering the difficulties and labors connected with a new settlement, a year's residence on the part of the commander, whose personal reputation was so much at stake, would not give him too long a superintendence.
At his departure, he left Gillis or Giles Hosset as Director of the Colony, who, Vin- cent says, may be called the first Governor of Delaware. Hosset was not inexperienced in New World scenery and life, having formerly been agent for Van Rensselaer, on the Hudson, for the purchase of lands around what is now Albany. He may also have been the Com- pany's agent for the purchase on the Hoorne- kill. It is certain that, either before or after the departure of De Vries, he acted as com- missioner for Godyn and Blomaert, . to purchase a narrow strip of land on the New Jersey side of the Bay, extending several miles up the shore, from Cape May ; one writer suggesting that for the whale fishing they intended to make the Delaware a "mare clausum," for their own use. This purchase was made and the contract settled, on board the ship or yacht Walrus or Whale, in the presence of Hosset and Peter Huysen, the skip- per or captain of the Walrus. Hosset had, no doubt, been selected before-hand, to take charge of the Colony, and was believed tobe a compe- tent man for the important post; and these notices of him have been carefully - brought together, that all possible light may be thrown upon the dark history of the massacre that followed.
When De Vries left, it was with the promise of returning shortly with additional settlers ; and it must have been a source of unbounded satisfaction to the lonely Colony, that the Walrus yacht was left behind. Although this vessel was not to stand guard on the Hoornekill, but must run out into the Ocean, and try her fortune at whale catching, yet she would be looked upon as some great parent bird, ready, upon any emergency, to cover the people with protecting wings, or
even give them shelter from sudden assault. As Hosset had received strict orders to keep peace with the natives, and his own prudence would dictate the same conduct, it would ap- pear that the Colonist's lived in complete security, and, in the absence of all records, we must necessarily suppose that it was, whilst the Whaler was out of sight, and far off on one of her expeditions, that the uprising of the Indians took place which ended in the entire destruction of all the Colonists. Imag- ine the scene, as upon returning from their cruise to the Roadstead, before the mouth of the creek, the crew of the Walrus are sur- prised to miss the usual tokens of welcome .. The pillar, surmounted by the arms of the United Provinces of Holland is gone, no noise whatever is heard, no smoke is seen rising from forest clearings or curling over the tree tops, from the cabin chimneys. Cautiously they sail nearer, to find nothing but the blackened remains of their buildings, and landing with swords and muskets in hand, they soon dis- cover the limbs and heads of their murdered countrymen lying separately, as though sur- prised whilst laboring here and there in the fields. Struck with horror, filled with sickening sorrow, and not knowing the further designs of the savages, they stay not to bury the sacred remains, but take at once to their ship ; and thinking it their duty to carry the bad news, speedily, to the authorities, they sail away to Manhatten. From thence, either by the Walrus returning to Holland, or by some other vessel, the news reaches De Vries before he is ready to set out on his projected return to the Delaware. It is said, the commander was so shocked and disheartened by the disaster, that,for a consid- erable time. he was unable to give attention to business. His fidelity to his engagement, however, forced him to visit the spot and verify the sad report. Judge Houston has no doubt but that he brought new Colonists with him in the winter of 1632, yet it would seem impossible that any could be induced to venture, till all the facts of this murderous case were settled.
He arrived at the entrance of the Bay, Dec. 3rd. On the 6th he reached the Roadstead, and in a small boat sailed into the Hoornekill, to the spot where Fort Upland had stood. All the sad story was confirmed. The bleached bones and skulls were still unburied. These he
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
carefully collected and committed the sacred man, and afterward made for the faithful dog, relics of life, to the keeping of mother-earth. He who resisted with yells and biting, till twenty- then proceeded to gain some intercourse with five arrows had riddled his body. After this, the Indians and find out the causes of the with the appearance of friendship, they bloody work. But the savages, without show- approached the laborers, and left not one to ing hostility, were, nevertheless, very shy. At tell the story of the murder."
This account of the Indian, most writers regard as a pure fiction. Mr. Ferris calls it a very improbable story, fabricated by the Indians, and then expresses but little doubt
their desire, however, De Vries run his yacht up the creek, and with much persuasion, one of the natives was made bold enough to come on board. As a reward for his confidence in the Dutch, he was habited in a cloth dress, that Hosset had wantonly, or for some trifing the sight of which drew others, in the hope of offense, killed an Indian chief, and this led to receiving a similar reward ; but their tardy ' the bloody consequence. But, it is impossible confidence received nothing but some trinkets. to suppose such an error, on the part of Hos- set. Many barbarous acts were committed on the natives, by roving and irresponsible bands of adventurers, as Mr. Ferris asserts ; but we must suppose that a feeble Colony settled in the midst of the natives, would be careful to maintain the peace. One of them was induced to remain all night on board the vessel, from whom De Vries learned the only particulars of the massacre that could be obtained, or that has been rescued since then from the silence set- tling around the massacre of Swanendale. The Indian's story was this : "A piece of tin or cop- per on which the arms of Holland were engraved was taken from its place by a chief and turned into a tobacco pipe ; he not know- ing the impropriety and thinking no harm of the deed. But the officers of the garrison expressed much dissatisfaction at the act, and the Indians not knowing in what way to make amends, went away seized the offender · and put the guilty chief to death. They then brought a proof of what they had done, to the Colonists which was, probably, his dissevered head or bloody scalp. They were told, how- ever that they had gone too far that they should have brought the criminal to the fort and they would have exhorted him to do so no more. The death of this man, however, inspired revenge on the part of his friends, but instead of punishing the murderers of the chief, they came upon the Dutch, who would have forbidden the deed, and made them the objects of their savage fury. On the fatal day, the Colo- nists had gone out as usual to the fields, leaving a sick man at home, a large bull dog chained outside, and a single guard, standing at the door. The Indian party came treach- erously, as if to barter some beaver skins, and succeeded in entering the house. The senti- nel went into the loft to procure goods for payment, and whilst descending the rude steps, one of the Indians, perhaps from above, clove his head with an axe, sending the bloody corpse to the floor. They then killed the sick
Some necessary or almost unavoidable tres- passes were made upon the aborigines, and rough friction ensued, as the settlements pushed themselves out further and further into the forests, of which we have particulars in the history of Manhattan ; and after ardent spirits were introduced, and the Indians acquired the taste, and felt the effects of the fire-water, their quarrelsome and murderous passions were aroused as not unusually is the case with white men, to this day. But cases are recorded of In- dians being threatened and punished by their own chiefs, for their excesses and crimes; and not unfrequently did wise Sachems request the white authorities to interpose, and not allow the fire-water to be sold or given to their young men. It may be added to the evidence, on this tragic affair, that Adrian Van der Donck, who published a history of New Netherlands in 1655 is quoted by Acre- lius, in his history of New Sweden, page 25, as saying, that the arms of the state were pulled down by the villiany of the Indians, when the commissary demanded the head of the traitor to be delivered. But this history shows marks of being only of traditional authority, and the translator of Acrelius accuses Van der Donck, of not being entirely devoted to truth and justice. Bancroft says, volume II., page 282, "contests arose with the natives, in which a chief lost his life, and the relentless spirit of revenge prepared an ambush which resulted in the murder of every emigrant."
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
De Vries himself must be considered the [ Dutch to settle our shores, and showing, so most reliable witness in relation to the mas- far, that they were destined by a Ruling Prov- idence, for a different fortune than as the area of a dependent Province of the States General of Holland. sacre. Eleven years later, he had discovered no more against Hosset than what he called "jangling" with the Indians, "by which," he said, "we lost our settlement on the Hoorne- kill." This was a part of his remonstrance with Kieft, the Governor of Manhattan, against CHAPTER VII. his contemplated plan of murdering the New Sweden-Importance in History-Gus- tavus Adolphus-Oxenstiern-Usselinx-Prep- arations in Sweden-How New York was founded. Indians of Pavonia. De Vries had, already, in 1641, lost a Colony that he had settled on Staten Island, in retaliation for_Kieft's unjust murders, yet he still maintained, "they will do no harm, if no harm is done to them." It seems certain that De Vries sought no retalia- tion against the Indians of the Hoornekill, but, although he made no attempt at a second Colony, he used all the means in his power, to restore harmony and confidence. Deter- mined to make a full trial of the whale fishery, he went so far in trusting the natives as to put up timber lodges on shore, at Cape Hen- lopen, for boiling the oil He remained some weeks in the neighborhood,and whilst his men were trying their luck with the whales embarked in his yacht on the Ist, Jan. 1633, and sailed up the Delaware as far as Fort Nassau, where he found none but Indians. On his return to the Hoornekill, finding the whale fishery unproductive, he gave up the business and sailed, first to the Virginia settle- ment for provisions, and thence made his way And still further, because of their peaceful policy toward the Indians, which made it easy for Wm. Penn to adopt the same meas- ures, with a warmer application of the princi- ple, and a more emphatic effect. to Manhattan. He remained in active service for several years, passing between the Old and New Worlds, earnestly engaged in planting new Colonies, but never, that is known, returned to the Delaware Territory, which, The possession of our State by the Swedes, which they held for 17 years. gave it for that time, the name of New Sweden. with the purchase on the opposite side of the Bay, was sold by the Patroons in 1635 to the City of Amsterdam, for 15,600 guilders.
Can it throw any light upon this obscure affair, to suppose the Chief, who commit- ted the trespass,to have been a stranger? This would account for his ignorance of the gravity of his offense, and perhaps allow the local Indians to be ready to take his life, as a means of satisfying the angry Dutch, whilst his own people, necessarily seeking revenge in some direction, would inflict their wrath on the exposed settlers, rather than injure and pro- voke their fellow savages !
HE importance of this movement with its accomplishment, can hardly be rated above its merits, for its beneficial influ- ence on the subsequent prosperity of Delaware and of the whole land to which the settlers came. This estimation of its impor- tance arises, in part, from the fact that the settlement was permanent. Then. too, that the original Swedish colonists were honest and religious people, elements of highest moment in laying the foundations of a State. Further, because it resulted in bringing to Ameri- can shores, vast numbers of those whose in- tegrity and industry make them most helpful to form national character, and develop national material resources, and are, therefore, most welcome.
Before reciting the actual History, some account of the principal characters engaged in the enterprise, is demanded ; and who can think of this event, without at once bringing before his vision, the renowned and exalted Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and his friend, the distinguished statesman, Axel Oxenstiern ? But in the vastest machinery, there are little hidden springs and cogs, as essential to the motion, as the biggest wheels. It would not be fair, therefore, under this head, to omit the names of Usselinx and Minuet, two Hollanders, of inferior worldly standing
With all that can be said, a bloody mystery remains ; making futile the attempt of the and less glorious memory, but for Delaware
4
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
affairs, of vital influence, whose instrumentali- ' that he had intercourse with Hendrickson, the ty was the efficient power. hero of Delaware exploration in 1616, whose
William Usselinx, was a native and mer- merits and rights he may, out of justice and chant of Antwerp, a very ancient city of Hol- friendship, have upheld. In all his search for land which, when Usselinx was born, was the information and investigation of the great centre of European commerce, and comman- world opening to all eyes, presenting attrac- ded an extended trade with foreign nations. tions to move every kind of human passion, his After being taken by Alexander, Prince of chief point had been the study of such parts Parma, in 1585, its trading ability was and points, in Africa and America, as were greatly reduced and many of the business best adapted to trade and colonization ; and houses transferred to Amsterdam and other being thus enriched with knowledge, and towns ; and this may have influenced the re- moved by the spirit of enterprise, he was the moval of Usselinx to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, where he established himself as a merchant, before the year 1624.
But Usselinx was much more than a merchant ; and looked further than bartering hides and piling up Dutch guilders. He resided, at different times, in Spain and Port- ugal and at the Azores, then on the high road to the New World ; and it is evident, that his
Being patriotic, he first made his knowledge and enterprise tell upon his own countrymen. As early as 1604 he proposed the formation of a Dutch West India Company, and of that which was organized 17 years later, in 1621, he was the chief promoter, and for a short time, a director, by whose wisdom, and energy, we are assured, from the testimony of the State of Flanders, and Maurice, Prince of Orange, its administration was greatly aided. Unless we suppose he had been to America, it is surpris- ing how much he knew of the country, and to those interested in Delaware, it is gratifying that he was able to speak of her Territory in such glowing and favorable language, as he used in making his representations.
But it must be remembered, to account for his knowledge, that he sought information, even in foreign lands. To Antwerp and Amsterdam, where he lived for a time, the American adventurers were contantly resort- ing, from whom he could learn much ; his con- nection with the West India Company would give him access to all business documents and reports ; and to account for his special knowledge of the Delaware, it bears not the slightest tinge of extravagance to suppose
very man to fire the heart of another as grand and glowing as himself, and as suscep- tible of being moved by high considerations !
How long he resided in Sweden we are not nformed, but he could not have settled in Stockholm much earlier than 1624.
That, however, was an auspicious year for presenting colonial plans. Gustavus Adolphus, from his accession to the throne, 1611, when object was to get all the information he could only 17, to his death at 38 years, was almost gather from those who, out of these countries, had navigated the new seas, and cultivated the spirit of foreign adventure, in lands where such a spirit pervaded all classes of society. constantly engaged in wars with Poland, Russia and Germany ; but the Swedish histor- ian Geijar quoted in Dr. Reynold's, Introduc- tion to Acrelius, says, "This was one of the few years that the King was able to devote to the internal development of the realm, and at this season, Usselinx found his way to the King and proposed his plan.
Gustavus Adolphus, with whom he now became associated, was well disposed to meet, sustain and set forward the objects which the enthusiastic spirit of Usselinx suggested and his wise plans embraced. The King possessed what was lacking on the part of Usselinx ; the rich and powerful being always necessary to supplement the ingenuity, the · desires and zeal of those who have nothing more substan- tial to contribute, to bring about great ends.
Sweden had not been a commanding power in the European circle of States, and Gustavus. whose passion was strong for glory and honor, desired to advance and exalt her Name, whilst he made his own illustrious. His per- sonal presence was made grand, by reason of a large person and noble countenance ; having the bearing of his grandfather Gustavus Vasa, who had freed his country from the dominion of Denmark, and whose mental accomplish- ments and eloquence of speech, the grandson inherited. His good qualities gained the es- teem even of his enemies; his wise ruling
-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
advanced the political standing of his country riches and of the inviting climate of the soft and her material interests, whilst his warlike Italian skies, started the valorous northern races from their cold, dark forests, for the sunny south. The Spaniards clung to Central and South America for the sake of its gold. California and the rich interior of Montana and Colorado are hurrying emigrants to her Plutean mines. By waving the same golden bait from over long oceans, . Australia has become settled into a mighty colony; and her diamond fields have drawn multitudes of ad- venturers to South Africa. genius and military successes inspired his soldiers with irresistible ardor. He was the greatest Prince of his times, renowned as a Protestant christian,a statesman and a soldier, and the largest benefactor of Humanity, in the line of the Swedish sovereigns. As the religious differences of the age shaped themselves, and secular violence was aimed against the Refor- mation, he was drawn in to be the leader of the protestant nations of Europe, in the 30 years' war with the Roman Catholic powers, and was killed at the battle of Lutzen Novem ber 16th, 1632, "where" says Bancroft, human- ity won one of her most glorious victories, and lost one of her ablest defenders."
Usselinx was large in his representations, and cloquent in his descriptions when he laid his plans before the King, and having acquired special knowledge of the Delaware region, he called his particular attention to that locality, who scorned to take up corner lots on Broad- and recommended it for its beautiful aspect and fine land ; for its advantages as a place of residence and trading, as well as fertility to produce all the necessaries and comforts of and Indian traders, drawn by such baits, life in overflowing abundance.
The King. having a comprehensive mind, able to take in something of the grand results that are now being reaped, entered upon the plan with all his soul, and succeeded in inspir- ing all about him with similar ardor.
His mother, Christina, his sister's husband John Cassimir, Prince Palatine of the Rhine the great Chancellor, Oxenstiern, them embers of the Council, 'the principal Nobility, the army generals, Bishops and Clergy, Burgo- masters, citizens and people generally, of Sweden, Finland and Livonia, were all carried away, and all ranks subscribed largely and readily, according to their means, to carry out the enterprise of settling a colony on the Delaware shores ; the government contribu- ting 400,000 Swedish dollars.
It will reflect honorably on the Swedish settlement of Delaware, if we contemplate some of the many and various motives held out by Providence and followed by men, to draw them from their old haunts and homes, to settle and populate distant regions.
Our great city of New York had no such dazzling prizes to give her a foundation. Muskrats, Otters and Beavers, whose natural work is to undermine, and not like the little coral insect of the South Pacific, to build up fairy islands from the ocean depths. Such gioss animals, strangely operated to found that world-wide emporium of commerce and wealth. At first, agents and their subordinates, . way and building spots on Fifth Avenue, made the strand their temporary residence. Hunters explored the woods of Manhattan,
scudded about the North and East rivers, coasted the bay. crept into the little creeks and inlets of Staten Island and Long Island, and the New Jersey shores, navigating in skiffs and yachts, to find the natives and load themselves with game and peltries. And when some came to stay awhile, and others to settle, New York grew up, out of Manhattan and New Amsterdam, a town of straw roofs and wooden chimneys, garnished, on the good ex- posures with wide-winged wind mills; she growing on through ages and even centuries, to reach her present stately proportions and wide-spread renown.
CHAPTER VIII.
Purposes and promptings of Swedish Settle- ment-Peter Minuet-History of Qualifications.
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