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CHAPTER X.
Arrived on the Minquas (Christina)-Trade with the Natives-Building of Fort Christina.
S the Swedish voyagers come to this wide, open harbor, with such an interior prospect beyond the waters, all looking and eagerly scanning each mile of coast they pass-it may be imagined, how every heart is moved at this unrivaled picture ; and knowing that good soil underlies big trees, they cry out : " This is the place!"
Whether from some description and previous orders, they had before selected this spot, or were guided wholly by their own inspection, does not appear. Minuet may, possibly, have had some information to help him ; at any rate, the director is on the lookout. He stands on the high quarter-deck of the war vessel, 5
water at its base. This spot, now the foot of Sixth street, and in the midst of the city water- front, in the boy-days of those not very old, was far beyond the eastern limits of Wilming-
On the east side of the Rocks, according to the Christiana run northward, and opened into a harbor wide and deep enough to give the ships a commodious berth, safe from the cur- rent of the creek and the floating ice . This harbor is now mostly filled and dried, leaving nothing but a slight depression in the ground, to show where it once stood. The Brandy- wine, at first called the Fish-kill, had an out- let into the Delaware, as well as into the Chris- tiana, but the Delaware channel is now out of existence, and numerous inlets, runs and rivu- lets, once connected with the creek, have dis- appeared ; and whilst the Christiana, the Brandywine and Shellpot still throw their united contributions into the Delaware, the volume of their waters is most perceptibly diminished.
What different scenes from the present, were in agitation, on this spot, two and a half cen- turies ago! Upon the high, dry level floor of rock, they step ashore, men, women and chil- dren, to the number of fifty. Before they land their property, the little outfit of beds and fur- niture, we may be assured they erect some kind of cover to protect them from the weather; nor would such an experienced man as Peter Minuet, allow his little colony to be exposed to the assaulting enemies, whether they should come in the shape of Dutchmen or savages.
From the Governor at Manhattan, the paper protest against settling and building, early ar- rived; but as the paper is not put in the shape of cartridges, and Minuet knows it could not be, he pays no regard to Kieft's words.
.The Swedes take care to conciliate the In- dians ; they soon become good friends, and
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
continued on such terms, that it is not known, that, in Delaware, one, on either side, was mur- derously killed by the other ; whilst their ar- rival made a great day for the Swedes, and an eventful one to us, the immediate effect of their coming on the natives, must not be overlooked.
The sailing in of these monstrous shapes, though some of them had seen ships before, excited the unbounded wonder of the Ameri- cans, and the explosion of the great guns, with a sight of their execution among the trees, must have filled the bravest with dread. It is known how the West India natives were stupefied by the first sight of Columbus' vessels. When Henry Hudson first came into Manhattan bay and river, the Indians, it was afterward learned, knew not what to make of the ships. They could not comprehend, whether they were fishes or sea monsters ; whether they had come down from Heaven or were devils. No doubt, should one of those ships of the olden time come into our waters, of the same build. rigging and sails, with their ancient mariners, it would surprise the eyes of old tars themselves.
However, the Minquas and other neighbor- ing tribes gradually made their way to the new comers, and trade and barter, those natural inborn arts, were soon in lively operation.
It must not be said of the Swedes, what Diedrick Knickerbocker, in his veracious his- history, records of the Manhattan Dutch, that in making weight. the press of the hand was a pound, and that of a foot two pounds; there is reason to believe, the Swedes dealt fairly and to their mutual satisfaction ; for whilst the natives eagerly grasped the glittering trinkets, the Europeans as gladly took game, fish, corn and fruit, so much needed and so delicious, after the long voyage and the rough fare of hard tack and salt bacon. And, it must not be forgotten, they were wonders to each other. The Swedes had never seen such little; light, birch canoes, as now came skimming over the waters, down the Christiana, from the Brandy- wine and the river shores. And how strange their skin dresses, their bows and arrows and stone hatchets; the squaws carrying children in a basket, strapped to their shoulders; the girls and boys with black eyes, straight black hair and tawny skin ! How they managed to inter- pret their language to each other, we learn in a roundabout way.
Acrelius tells us, that the deed of the great purchase of land, from Henlopen to Trenton, was written in Dutch, because no Swede was yet able to interpret the language of the hea- then. It follows from this, that some of the Indians understood the Dutch, which, again, implies that they had held much intercourse with that people ; and Minuet, being a Hol- lander, could negotiate between them by means of this common tongue.
It is not known from records, whether the purchase was made whilst they tarried at Para- dise Point, or after they landed at the Chris- tiana ; but when done, Acrelius says the Ind- ians subscribed with marks, each chief having a different symbol, and this deed was sent to Sweden.
As posts were set up to mark the boundaries, the contract could not have been consummated before the land was surveyed, and as Vincent tells us page 151, that a Swedish ship was sent up the river, as early as the 28th of April, as if to observe the shores, the bargaining may be placed at a later date, than their first landing on the Delaware. Whenever, wherever and from whomsoever, the grant was made, a curious little transaction is recorded by Vincent, out of ()'Callighan, Vol. Ist. It seems that an Ind- ian Sachem named Mattahoon lived on the Christiana, near the place of settlement; no doubt, on ground necessary for their accom- modation ; and instead of driving the native away, although it was included in the general purchase, they wisely bought the land. This they could well afford, as, with all the improv- ments, it cost the Swedes no more than a cop- per kettle and some other small articles. They. also bargained with the same chief for another parcel of ground, promising him half the. to- bacco it should produce, which, the poor Indian said, he never got. Must it be that the tobacco crop was a failure that year ?
The Swedes, doubtless, took every precau- tion to keep the peace; yet, as a defense against any treachery that was possible on the part of the savages, until the Fort was built, the war ship with guns loaded, was no doubt, so moored as to cover themselves from assault.
Very early, however, the work on the fort was begun and the erection was made close to the Rocks, within a few feet of the Christiana, and by the side of the little harbor, on the
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
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east, of which we have already spoken. plan was thoughtfully laid out.
The enclosure must be large enough to give shelter to the whole colony in case of alarm ; it must be commodious enough to furnish a market place for the trade and sale of mer- chandise; to hold the Governor's residence, and the great central storehouse in which to stow all their goods. Besides these accommoda- tions, the public worship was held, at first, inside the fort, for which service, it is learned from Miss Montgomery's "Recollections of Wilmington," a chapel was built within the en- closure. Among the Rocks and perhaps within the lines of the fort, was a cave, large and clean, over six feet high, enriched with a deli- cious spring of fresh water, rising in a corner, and flowing over the smooth rock bottom, till it found an opening, to carry it off.
In the neighborhood, was an Indian burial place, in the shape of a mound, long preserved from injury, in which the children of a later generation found many Indian relics, viz; tomahawks, hatchets and wampum, as their bead work was called.
The fort, it is seen, necessarily covered much ground and was a laborious undertaking; but, however arduous, it was finished before the 31st July of the year they landed.
The works were scientifically directed ac- cording to military engineering, being fur- nished with bastions, parapets and breastworks, mounted with cannon taken from the ships, and stocked with ammunition and muskets.
For lack of bricks and shaped stone, both of which materials were at first brought from the Old World, they were obliged to use some- thing that proved far better for their purpose, which they found in the shape of pines and hemlocks,abounding on the shores of the creek. Lindstrom's map of these localities furnishes an agreeable piece of information, in having "Pine wood Point" laid down as a feature of the country. It is, evidently, but a little way up the Christiana, on the south side, as if growing just back of the spot where the old Jacquett house still-stands. Logs were the only material for many years, for all sorts of buildings, churches and dwellings ; these last, being at first, only two stories high, having the upper rooms furnished with long, narrow slits, not very servicable for air or light, but good to
The put the barrels of muskets through, in case of an attack from the savages.
As the new settlers have to cut down trees and transport them to the building place, those of the present day can sympathize with their satisfaction, that they find a pine forest so near, and by the side of the water; over which, by means of rafts, they may float them, like Solo- mon's cedars, and land them, at high tide. on the Rocks, where they are to be used. By the aid of a little imagination, we can almost see them in their great engagement. It is in the pleasant season of spring and early summer, that invites onlookers to go out with the wood choppers and view an operation that embraces the nicest calculations of art ; and though laborious, is attended with romantic sounds and fanciful music. Such, at least, is its cast in the poet's ears, who tells of stroke on stroke resounding, cutting into the majestic trunk, that must humbleitself under the sharp axe of the early settlers. "Then, rustling, crackling, crashing, thunders down."
It may be, there was more of prose than poetry in those hard working days ; though the Swedes and Fins were alive to imagina- tion, and could be touched by what played upon the feelings. They were not illiterate ; they were religious and strictly attentive to their day of rest and worship; they had not come without their good pastor ; they had, at least,a clerk to pitch the tunes, who, in general, acted as the schoolmaster. The young were required to be instructed, church discipline was to be maintained ; and on the Sabbath they would recall the past and tax their memories to produce the old tunes and songs, and re-pe- ruse the books, on which their younger days had been nurtured. Those of the higher order, coming over in later days, brought valuable plate, for household use, showing tasteful culti- vation. In the earliest days, also, they kept up all the pretty, simple and decent fashions of dress and manners, they had known in the fatherland ; maintaining them for so many years, that, to the eyes of new comers from Sweden, in very late times, the good people in Delaware showed just like the same classes of men, women and children, living at home.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE,
CHAPTER XI.
I the roads, over sharp grey stones, swamps, . Colonists Build Houses-Christinaham- Tranhook-Trading visits to natives -- Discour- aged-Arrival of Friends from Sweden- Other Settlers-Arrival of Printz-Tinicum. brooks, and unbridged streams. The bartering articles on the Indian side, were beaver skins, raccoon and sable, grey fox and wild cat, lynx and bear and deer. For these, they re- ceived from the Swedes, awls and needles, scissors and knives, axes, guns, powder and HEN the Fort was finished the Colo- nists gave their uninterrupted atten- tion to building and furnishing their family houses. As the water, at high ball, beads and blankets of felt or frieze. The Swedes acquired the confidence of the Indians and took care to put prices down, so as to undersell the Dutch traders who came from tide, overflowed the meadows, on the east and the Jersey side and from Manhattan ; by which west sides of the Fort, and the creek flowed on means they injured their business to the the south, no spot very close to the fortifica- amount of 30,coo florins ; and were so success- tion, remained, fit for building on, but the ful, that, during the first year, notwithstanding tract on the north towards the Brandywine. all their extraordinary labor, they exported In this direction the little town of Christina- as many as thirty thousand peltries. ham gradually made its appearance, but as
But notwithstanding their success and the that region was at first overgrown with timber, zeal with which they set out to people the it was long before clearings were made, and even in Acrelius' time, a century later, some of the woods were still standing.
The people, however, were not afraid to dwell wherever an open place gave a building lot, even if it was across the kill, as the Christ- iana was called, on the south, in the suburb, called Tranhook. Here the royal surveyor | Kling, built his dwelling, facing the Delaware, having a meadow on the left sweeping down to the creek, and a young orchard planted on the right ; and it may be supposed, many followed his example. Thus in time, the Colonists became sprinkled over the adjoining regions, in such localities as best suited their calling, whether in hunting or cultivation; and as they extended their farms and dwellings, the Indians withdrew deeper within the forest shades to denser retreats.
Of all the various tribes that inhabited New Sweden, the settlers were on the best terms of friendship with the Minquas. They lived somewhat intermingled, and Miss Montgom- ery, p. 46, tells of an ancient Swede, who built his Cabin and lived, securely, amid the red men, in Bandywine hundred. Some of the Ind- ians were with the Colonists, every day; and at certain seasons of the year, mainly after plant- ing their corn, in June, they came in great numbers to trade. In like manner, after affairs were settled and ways opened, the Swedes, once or twice a year, made journeys to the wigwams in the Indian country, carrying their wares ; but having bitterly to complain of the
wilderness and Christianize the heathen ; ac- cording to Dutch accounts, the Colonists became much discouraged. They were few in number to begin with : some must have depar- ted this life ; they had to toil hard and saw no end of labor in their day. But worst of all, they felt themselves cut off from home; and for two years they had received no word to cheer them, nor any fresh supplies, nor any new forces of men, to relieve the unceasing watch- ing and working. Despondency paralyzed their hands and despair seized upon their hearts; and, it is said, they came to the full determination to forsake the ground they had so far subdued ; and so Delaware came into sore jeopardy of being once more left a country, without Euro- pean inhabitant. They had no ship, it seems, in which to return to the Fatherland ; but they could walk up the Delaware banks and cross to Manhattan and live among the Dutch ; and this was their purpose. They determined to emigrate ; every preparation was made ; they would start the next day ! But lo ! by a good Providence, they were stopped. That very evening, on the 17th of April, 1640, Fort Christina was startled by the sound of can- non, from the river, and presently, to their great joy, they are aware of the approach of a ship with the colors of Sweden streaming from her masts. She proves to be their old acquaint- ance, Key of Calmar, Captain Jansen, fresh from Sweden, bringing their new Gov. P. Hollen- dare, with several companies of emigrants, and laden with cattle and implements of hus- -
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
bandry. She was also the bearer of a letter from [ and, no doubt, many now living in the State, the home authorities, informing them that two are their descendants. more ships would soon be on the way. This In the Spring of 1642 some English families settled on the Schuylkill, "with a view to trade," says Trumbull, in his history of Con- necticut, " and for the settlement of churches in Gospel order and purity"; vol. I. But out of jealousy they were violently interfered with, as intruders, by both Dutch and Swedes, and, probably entirely driven off. is called the Second Expedition, whose arrival necessarily, made a change in their plans : they gladly gave up their design of passing over to New Netherlands, and the Dutch were disappointed in their hope of the breaking up of the Swedish Settlement. Instead of this, New Sweden was soon augmented, and good neighbors placed within supporting dis- tance, by the arrival, Nov. 2nd, 1640, of many Hollanders from Utrecht, to live under their government. It seems that a charter was given by the Swedish government to a com- pany in Holland, composed of Gothbert de Rehden, William De Horst and others, after- ward assigned to Henry Hockhammer and others, for the purpose of sending out and estab- lishing a Colony on both sides of the South- River,i.e. the Delaware. By the same authority, Jost de Bogart was appointed chief Director of all the Hollanders, that might come, who bound himself to be faithful to the interests of the Queen of Sweden and obey Swedish laws and regulations. This Dutch Colony might have been numerous enough to fill two or three vessels, with many cattle and abundant neces- saries. They were required to settle, at least, 18 English miles south of Fort Christina and, probably, occupied land only on the Delaware side of the river ; but the actual number and names of the settlers are not known, and so bare are all records and footprints of these comers, that it is impossible to determine the localities where they lived ; . the closest search pointing to the neighborhood of French- town, Delaware City, and the region of St. George's, in Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle County. The terms of the Charter were exceedingly liberal for that day ; for, although the Dutch were of the Reformed Calvanistic form of worship, it is pleasing to see religious toleration maintained by the Lutherans of Sweden, in allowing them to teach and worship, on Swedish soil, according to their own doctrines. They were even required to support as many ministers and Campanius arrived opportunely, to take the place of Pastor Torkillus, who died at Fort Christina, September 7th, 1643, and was, undoubtedly, buried in the ancient cemetery in the midst of which the Swedes church of Wilmington was built in 1698. schoolmasters as the inhabitants needed, and should be concerned for the conversion of the natives to Christianity. They came in the Fredenburg, Capt. Jacob Powelson, and helped to fill the empty places with people.
A Third Expedition is now to be noted under surveyor Kling who went to Sweden in 1640 and returned in 1641. During the year 1642, much sickness and mortality afflicted the set- tlers on the Delaware, but in the next year, they were encouraged and strengthened by the coming of a Fourth colony from Sweden. This formed the Expedition sent in company with Governor, Lieutenant Colonel John Printz, who, with his appointment, received from the Swedish Council of State, many definite items of instruction for his adminis- tration. in all directions. But before all other interests, the eminent men then forming the Royal Council, required the Governor to consider and see that true and due worship be paid to the most High God. Two vessels of war, the Swan and Charitas, and an armed transport called the Fame, formed the squadron that brought over the new Governor, his wife and daughter, and a large number of emigrants, with troops, arms, am- munition and all necessaries. With this arrival came an eminent clergyman, Master John Campanius, selected by the Swedish Council, to act as government chaplain, and watch over the Swedish congregation. He remained in the country six years, laboring diligently, both for his own people and the Indians, whose' language he learned, and for their benefit trans- lated the Lutheran Catechism, which was after- ward printed and used. Of his residence in New Sweden, he kept a journal, out of which his grandson, Thomas Campanius compiled his "Description of the Province," which is held to be of great value, although the book is evidently marred with many mistakes.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
There, too, it had generally been supposed the first Governor, Peter Minuet was buried, having died, it was said, at the same place, after three years' faithful service for the Colony. Later information, however, brings us sorrow for the real fate of this noted man. In the summer or fall of the same year in which he arrived, it seems he em- barked in the Key of Calmar to return to Sweden. Stopping at the West Indies, he went on board a Dutch ship to dine, when, by a passing hurricane, the ship and all on board were buried in the sea. This account is sup- ported by the fact, that a new Governor came over so soon afterward, and, until his arrival, the Governmental affairs seem to have been in the hands of Kling and Henry Huygheu as an associate. This second Governor was Peter Hollendare, a Swedish Knight and Lieutenant in the Army. He ruled till the arrival of the third Governor, which gave him an adminis- tration of more than three years ; but of this long period, no records whatever have come to hand, unless, by his efforts the boundaries of the Colony were carried to Trenton Falls, of which some evidence is to be found. He satis- fied the Swedish Government; for, upon his return, he was appointed commander of the Arsenal at Stockholm.
Printz, the 3rd Governor, was accompanied by the largest military force that had yet entered the Delaware. Arriving the 15th Feb., 1643, Governor Printz made himself famous by his sharp practice with the Dutch, in strictly following his instructions to hold the Delaware on both sides, for the crown of Sweden. He had a strong will ; was probably somewhat rapacious, but acted with boldness, energy and perseverance. According to Dutch report, he was great in other respects, being so large in body as to weigh 400 lbs., and stout enough to bear three drinks at a meal, and how many meals a day, it is not said. He was allowed to choose any spot, in New Sweden, for his residence he deemed most convenient for the administration of his office. The old Fort Christina had been the place of resort for every kind of business, and the residence of the two former Governors ; but having an enlarged policy to handle and large forces at his command, Printz comes out from the creek upon the broad river and chooses Tinicum Island, as it is now called, and the | to ruins in the year 1811.
present Lazaretto Station, for the new Capitol; where, on the northern extremity of the Island, he builds a stately house, called " Printz Hall." For the time and place, and indeed, for any time and place, it would be a grand mansion. It is built of brick. having a wide entrance, long corridors and spacious wain- scotted rooms, with folding doors ; the panels hung with stiff looking portraits, the stairs broad and defended by liigh balustrades. The house is surrounded with orchards, having two locust trees planted before the door, and adorned with gardens, well laid out, and furnished with summer houses, and walks, and whatever else hard labor can accomplish to make a graceful and luxurious retreat. Here the Governor lives in state assisted by his stylish daughter, Madame Armagot, married to John Papegoija ; and such is the drawing influence of his presence and fashionable way of living, that in time, all the free and richer classes are moved to make their residences and plantations upon the same beautiful island. On the manor grounds, a handsome, wooden church was built, which Master Campanius consecrated, Sep. 4th, 1646, and which served for many years as a place of worship. There, too, as a matter of equal necessity, a grave yard was laid out, the first interment in which, was the body of Catharine, daughter of An- drew Hanson, buried Sep. 28th, of the same year.
A curious feature of the church erections of that day, told by Acrelius, page, 176, makes them "militant" in another sense than what is generally understood by the expression. Not being sure of the Indians, a projection was run out, at a suitable height, and built up with a few layers of logs, whence the Swedes could shoot down upon the heathen, should they fall upon them whilst at worship ; who, using only bows and arrows could do them little or no injury.
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