USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 1 > Part 8
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guns, some of the 30 men were sick, some ill-disposed, some had deserted, all were near- ly worn out with watching and working, pro- visions were failing, and some signs of mutiny were apparent among them.
So, as the Dutch, from eminences, had such complete command of the Fort, as that not a man could show himself on the ramparts in safety ; and Stuyvesant demanded 'a surren- der in 24 hours, on pain of receiving no quarter; so a council of war unanimously deter- mined to surrender to the Dutch on the best terms that could be obtained. These terms were the best a conquered people could receive, and they were altogether just and generous. The garrison were to march out to the sound of their own music, under their own flags and with their arms in their hands. Public and private property was untouched. Those who wished to remain, might do so, upon taking the oath of allegiance to the Dutch Government ; and those who left, might carry their property with them or have time to sell it, and be freely transported to Sweden. They should have the freedom of their own Lutheran worship and doctrine, and a minister to take care of their religious interests if they remained.
To Govenor Rising, money was loaned for his expenses home, by Govenor Stuyvesant, who treated him kindly and honorably. It is not likely that every particular was fully car- ried out ; and Rising entered many complaints against the Dutch. But he was bound to consider that his own sudden violence at Fort Cassimir had now brought a host of mer- cenary soldiers upon him ; and though deter- mined, as far as his wooden leg would allow, Peter Stuyvesant could not keep men, educa- ted in rough European warfare, from roving round, robbing roosts and killing pigs, and even entering and stirring up human nests with no gentle hand !
But whilst there is one record of a mob of Dutch on the evening of September 28th, assaulting and plundering, yet another may be produced in a letter sent to Sweden, 38 years later,in which the Swedes say, " we have been well and kindly treated, as well by the Dutch, as by his majesty, the King of England, and we live in the greatest union, amity and peace
Under all these hostile demonstrations, it was, certainly, boldly done, that the Swedes resolved to make the best resistance and the longest defense they could. But how this reso- lution could be carried into effect, it is impossi- ble to see since, as Rising says, their powder with each other." Ferris, page 104. Such is
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
the story of events by which Delaware ceased to bear the name of New Sweden, and was incorporated into the somewhat undefinable boundaries of the New Netherlands.
Late in the fall, the victorious Stuyvesant returned in triumph to New Amsterdam, leaving Captain Derk Smidt to act as Com- mandant of the Delaware Forts and settle- ments !
It may be added to this account of the con- quest of New Sweden, that some authorities assert that Stuyvesant offered to divide the Territory, giving to Sweden the portion north of the Christina Creek, and holding the part south of that stream for the Dutch. Whether this offer was really made or not, or was seri- ously proposed, no such division was ever made. If it was ever offered it was not ac- cepted by the Swedes.
CHAPTER XIV.
Delaware as a portion of New Netherlands- New Amstel -- Colony of the City-Colony of the Company-Causes of Failure-Maryland Colony of Lord Baltimore-Altona -- English Claims to Territory-Dutch authority over- thrown -- Passes into hands of English.
HE dominion of Holland over New Sweden lasted nine years ; from Sept. 25th, 1655 till Oct. Ist, 1664, and the whole history is a record of misfortune. Captain Derk Smidt, whatever were his qualities as governor, for administration, had but a short time allowed him for exercising them; for on the 29th November following. John Paul Jaquette was appointed his successor. Capt. Smidt was left simply for a time, to fill the place of a permanent commandant, and was ne- cessarily selected from the military. To this department he did honor by repulsing an at- tack of 500 Indians upon Fort Cassimir. He also showed his hand in the commercial line, by promising the natives an extension of trade and higher prices for their furs ; and if these promises were not made good, it seems to have arisen from the extravagant demands of the savages, who expected a dress of cloth for two deer. To their altercations, Jacquette gave forth the principles of free trade, telling
them that each party were at liberty to go where his purse and wares best suited. When the chiefs claimed the usual presents upon the confirmation of a treaty, Jaquette courteously told them the Dutch wished to live in friend- ship with them ; and although goods were scarce, they would do by them as liberally as they were able.
The laying out of streets and lots and the building of private and public houses, seems to have demanded Jaquette's first attention ; and by working in such a direction, he laid the foundation of the town they called New Ams- tel, after the original name of Amsterdam in Holland, and which the English afterward named New Castle. It seems that Fort Cassi- mir was located on the north of the present Town, on a promontory of land, long ago washed away. The Regulations required a street to be laid out on the south side of the Fortress, four or five rods wide, making a breadth from 66 to 82 feet. The lots were to be forty or fifty feet wide by one hundred in depth, and no doubt these directions were observed. The surveying and building were in full op- eration by the spring of 1656, and it is record- ed, that in a year, one hundred houses were erected. Most of these were dwellings for families, but among them was a City Hall, of logs, 20 feet square and two stories high ; a Parsonage, a Bake house, and Magazine for goods ; a Guard house and Forge, with dwell- ings for the public officers. Besides these structures, wharves were built on the river front; the fort was put in good repair, and bar- racks, 119 feet long by 16 wide, were put up adjoining the Fortress. A house already built by some one, was bought and enlarged and made convenient for religious worship. It is to be noted that bricks were made and stone shaped at New Amstel, so that all materials necessary for building, were on the ground.
In the spring of 1656 numbers of Dutch settlers came from New Amsterdam to New Amstel, and by August, seventy-five deeds for lands and lots were assigned. About this time the Ship Mercurius, with a large number of Swedes arrived in the river, having left home before news of the conquest had reached Sweden ; and when Jaquette would have pro- hibited their landing or passing the Fort, they took some Indians on board and passed safely; the Dutch being afraid of killing the natives,
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
if they should fire on the ship. By such a strat- | over in the ill fated Prince Maurice with agem, the Swedes went up the river and landed Alricks, and shared the perils of shipwreck on the Coast of Long Island, with him and Cap- tain Krygier, and the company of fifty soldiers under their command. He was a determined man, and noted for good and evil report. with their goods and cargo at Marcus Hook, having in their company a Swedish Clergy- man named Matthias This is counted as the roth Expedition. In the spring of 1657, Evert Pieterson came over as school-master and comforter of the sick; from whose letter in August following, we learn that he had 25 scholars, and that the population, south of the Christina, consisted of 20 Swedish and five or six Dutch families ; but so many Dutch were subsequently sent, that in the fall of 1658 Governor Alrich reported 600 souls within the same boundaries.
Soon after the conquest of New Sweden, the Dutch West India Company found them- selves greatly embarrassed with debt. They had borrowed money from the City of Am- sterdam in Holland, to furnish their great expedition, and now, as a balance to their in- debtedness, they made over to that City, the southern part of Delaware, which extended from the Christina to Bombay Hook. This portion of the Territory was called the Col- ony of the City, as the remainder on the north was called the Colony of the Company ; and the name of Christina settlement was changed to Altona. On the 12th of April 1657, Stuyvesant, by direction of the Company, formally ceded to the City of Amsterdam, the portion purchased by them, and placed the Grant in the hands of the Hon. Jacob Alricks, the new Governor of the City's Colony, who immediately sailed from New Amsterdam for New Amstel. When he arrived, Jaquette removed to Altona as the Governor of the Com- pany's Colony on the north of the Christina Creek. On the 20th of April following.however. Jaquette, having been charged with serious faults, was removed from office: and in Octo- ber 1658, Wm. Beekman was sent from New Amsterdam to Altona as the Governor, who seems to have been allowed to reside at New Amstel.
On the death of Alricks on the 30th De- cember 1659, Lieutenant Alexander D'Hino- yossa took the acting administration at New Amstel by appointment of the late Gov- ernor ; and being afterward confirmed in his office by the City of Amsterdam, he con- tinued to rule the Colony as long as it was in the hands of the Dutch. D'Hinoyossa came
It shows the unprofitable condition of both the Colonies of Delaware, that, in 1659 the City wished to transfer their purchase back again to the Company, and the Company was willing to part with their Territory to the City; the conference ending in 1664, by the City of Amsterdam becoming master of the whole of Delaware. By this transaction, Beekman was thrown out of employment and D'Hino- yossa became Governor of the United Colonies. It is painful to study the narrow policy of the supreme authorities, in their trading regu- lations and their hard terms with the settlers; as well as the incapacity, or injustice of the local rulers ; all which aided to produce the unfortunate condition into which the Colony fell. One strongly operative cause for such a result, must be found in the obstinacy, if not the rapacity, of the Governors. Serious charges of this nature lie against them; but as no court ever determined the matter, and the records are fragmentary and conflicting, it would be unfair for us to pass judgment upon their adminis- tration. Another source of weakness arose from the conflicting claims of authority, on the part of the two Governors of New Amstel and Altona; resulting in constant quarrelling and mutual accusations before the higher authori- ties. Another, still, arose from the character and qualities of the settlers sent over from Hol- land, especially those of the City's Colony. Many were women and children, many of the men had no trades or business ; they were me- chanics without skill or knowledge of work ; many were vagabonds swept from the streets and drafted from the almshouses, sprinkled with very few practical farmers and able bodied and industrious citizens. In consequence, little was done in the way of clearing, planting and harvesting; and the stock of horses, cows, sheep, and swine, was suffered to deteriorate and die out for want of attention and diligent care. Scarcity of provisions was a constant attendant, and often famine and starvation in- vaded their homes. To give weight to the heavy hand of want, the home company would send out hundreds of people without a pound
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
of extra provision, and these must share the ! object of their constant suspicion and jealousy. crumbs of food with those, already on the verge Their fidelity was unfaltering, yet the Holland Government was constantly vexing them with attempts to remove them from their scattered dwellings, and improved farms or bowers, to live in villages among the Dutchi. To this they constantly refused their consent ; and it was but natural for them to consider it a piece of good fortune, when their much loved New Sweden fell into the hands of the English. of perishing. In addition, an almost annual visi- tation of fever made its grim appearance ; the malaria from undrained marshes, and the open- ing of new ground, giving to the sickness the fatal forms of bilious and typhoid, to hurry multitudes into graves, amid the Greenwood, where they had fondly hoped to find Arcadian Homes ; the mortality in the fall of 1658 reaching the number of one hundred deaths. They were, also, hemmed in closely by the savages of 12 different tribes, and although public peace between the parties prevailed, yet the tribes were at war among themselves; frequent murders of the colonists took place, and now and then, alarms of an Indian uprising drove the poor people to the shelter of the di- lapidated fort. As if all these drawbacks were not enough to cripple the energy and reduce the spirit of enterprise, the Maryland Colony of Lord Baltimore put forth claims to Delaware soil, and seut arrogant and unfriendly Ambas- sadors, warning them off the ground, under thrreats of invasion and bloodshed if they did not vacate their homes; and to such lengths did they proceed, as to make an attack on the Hoornekill Fort, from which the Dutch were obliged to remove. Still further, the operation of the narrow policy and severe regulations of the Holland authorities, joined to the tyranny of the local rulers, and aided perhaps by a restless disposition on the part of the people, . resulted in the removal of many to Mary- land. Soldiers deserted and servants ran away, reducing the Colony of New Amstel, at one time, to the verge of ruin. A re- view of all these hardships and calamities, should make an abiding impression on those who are enjoying the fruits that grew from such a laborious planting, which were so many and so formidable as cannot but excite surprise that the colonies continued in exis- tence -- that life was bridged over-till better times gave room and opportunity for our little Delaware to lift her head from the waves, and give firmness and prosperity to the Territroy of New Sweden.
Altona seems to have enjoyed a happier for- tune than New Amstel. The Swedes formed by far the best settlers, who, in 1660 could number 150 men capable of bearing arms. They were true to the Dutch rulers, yet the
The Dutch, on the Delaware liad, now, two different Governments planning against their possessions.
Sweden, it seems, had never submitted to the loss of the country they had planted. From time to time they sent over new com- panies of settlers; and in the winter and spring of 1664, they made a determined effort to re- gain possession by equipping and starting a frigate and a war yacht, under a Vice Admiral, for the Delaware. Both vessels, however, being wrecked on their own coast, the expedi- tion was relinquished and the attempt byforce of arms, was transferred to the use of diplo- macy ; and whilst negotiations were going on, between Sweden and Holland, a third power came between the parties and laid its victori- ous hand upon the prize !
This was accomplished by the successful expedition made by England, in 1664. On the ground of their ancient claims from dis- covery, a grant of the whole territory from the St. Croix river on the north, to the east side of Delaware Bay, was made by Charles II, to his brother, James, Duke of York. This was done on the 12th of March, shortly before the declaration of war against Holland, and by September 9th, New Amsterdam, of 1,500 population, with all the adjoining Dutch ter- ritory was an English possession. Although the west side of the Delaware, holding new Sweden, was not included in the grant to the Duke of York; yet, as the Dutch ruled it, the English thought it high time to make them incapable of doing them mischief, as they had done in other places, and an expedition was fitted out against the Delaware settle- ments, immediately after the conquest of New Amsterdam. This important step was taken under the authority of the three English Commissioners, Nicholls, Cartwright and Maverick. By their instruction, two frigates sailed from New York, as New Amsterdam
hewas
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
was now called ; the Guinea, Capt. Hugh Hyde, and the William and Nicholas, Capt. Thomas Morlay, with all the soldiers that could be spared, under the command of Sir Robert Carr, to reduce the Forts, Cassimir and Christina. The frigates liad a long and troublous voyage, occasioned by the shoalness of the water, and the want of good pilotage ; and it was not till the last day of September, old style, that they arrived at New Amstel. The Swedes were already friendly; and as no hope of successful resistance remained to the Dutch citizens, they,after some days of negoti- ation, agreed to give up the town : the agreement being signed the first day of October, by Robert Carr on the one side, and six citizens on the other, viz ; Hout, Johnson, Van Tiel, Block, Peterson and Casturier. The Gov- ernor, D'Hinoyossa and the soldiery refusing to surrender, and taking to the Fort, the Eng- lish ships had to bombard it: and the troops made an assault, when the Fort was carried,
with a loss to the Dutch of three killed and ten wounded. The articles of capitulation were exceedingly liberal and favorable, as were those made to the Dutch of New Am- sterdam; but the immediate treatment of the captured people was extremely rigorous. A scene of general plundering and wasting followed the surrender; all the provisions and cattle were seized; and in addition to the hardships that might have been laid to the license of the soldiers and sailors, all the Dutch soldiers and many of the citizens were sold into the Maryland colony for slaves, with some of the negroes of New Amstel. By such steps, and such cruelty was Delaware gained by the Duke of York,and so the whole of the North American Seaboard, from Maine to Georgia, came under the power of England; our territory now being destined to a more illustrious history and happier times.
In the year 1673 the Dutch recovered posses- sion of New Sweden, but held it for a short time only: it being restored to the English by the peace established in 1674 between Eng- land and Holland.
With this exception, Delaware was an English Colony for more than a century, till in 1776, it became an independent State, and one of our great Union of States.
CHAPTER XV.
Delaware as in English Colony-Duke of York-Koningsmark -- New Castle-Courts of Fudicature-Pennsylvania and Delaware come into the hands of Wm. Penn.
AD New Sweden remained in the hands of the Swedes, it would not have been attacked by the English: but now they were determined to make a clean sweep of the whole coast, and leave the Dutch no foothold in the land. The capture ought to have been made without bloodshed, and would have been, had not the soldiers made their defense a piece of reckless bravery ; for how could 10 or 12 men behind dilapidated fortifica- tions, resist the broadsides of two frigates and a storming party, made up of hundreds of soldiers and sailors ?
Up to this time, but little progress had been made in the settlement of the country; and six years later, in 1670. the record testi- fies to very few inhabitants, and these mostly Swedes, Finns and Dutch, located for 60 miles up the river, from New Castle, which was the principal town and the rival of New York.
Until the granting of Pennsylvania and Del- aware to Wm. Penn, very little had hap- pened worthy of going into History and noth- ing of startling importance. It remained for Penn's administration to people the Terri- tories, give unity of language, customs and Institutions, with good and stable laws and abiding and growing prosperity. Penn's Pat- ent for Pennsylvania was signed the 4th of March 1681; and by two different Deeds of Feoffment, signed by the Duke of York, the 24th of August 1682, the whole of Delaware was made over to him; although the Duke did not obtain his own regular conveyance of Delaware from King Charles, till March 22nd, 1683. During this intermediate period of 18 years, the English possessions of the Duke of York were managed by three successive Governors, viz: Col. Richard Nicholls, Col. Francis Lovelace and Sir Edmund Andross. Under these Governors, whose residence was New York, a commander of Delaware was stationed at New Castle, amomg whom we find the names of Capt. John Carr, Wm. Tom, Peter Alrich, the nephew of the old Dutch Governor, Capt. Collier and Christo-
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
pher Billop ; and it may be said, in a word, | laws from England, both for Governor and that the Duke's administration was conducted people; a few fragmentary regulations were sent, from time to time, to the Delaware from the Governor and Council at New York, for the direction of the commander and his coun- cil of five or six men ; who, however, were re- quired to refer all matters of difficulty and im- portance to the New York authorities. Fear of Indians, and occasional riots among the citizens, with some apprehensions of "the Long Finn " conspiracy, induced the authorities at New Cas- tle, in 1668, to order a garrison of 20 men, with one commissioned officer, to keep the fort: of whom, two-thirds were required to stay in New Castle, or near it at all hours. Koningsmark, or the Long Finn, gave much trouble to the settlement and was considered so dangerous, that at length, he was apprehended, whipped and branded, and sent to Barbadoes, to be sold as a slave. kindly and considerately toward the Dela- ware settlement. Governor Lovelace suc- ceeded Nicholls in the beginning of 1667, and held his office till New York and Delaware were retaken by the Dutch, July 1673, when he returned to England. When these lands were restored by the Dutch the next year, the Patent to the Duke of York was renewed on the part of his brother, King Charles, and by the 31st of October 1674, Andross arrived and quietly resumed possession of all the forts and territories. The great Revolution from Eng- lish to Dutch possession, and the transfer back again, scarcely produced a ripple in the cur- rent of affairs on the Delaware ; for the people cared but little which of the two powers ruled, though the Swedish preference fell to the side of the English. New officers were, indeed, appointed by the Dutch authorities, By the year 1671, the fort at New Castle was found to be in such decayed and ruinous con- dition, through the neglect of Commander Carr, that a new Block House was called for and erected at the expense of the inhabitants ; be- ing set in the western part of the town ; and this again was replaced in 1675 by a new fort of the same kind, which was built in the mid- dle of the town, for a perfect outlook and to defend both ends of the settlement. but when the English came in again, all the grants of land previously made were con- firmed, as well as the Judicial proceedings; the English laws were restored with the cus- tomary administration, and all the old magis- trates were reinstated, except Peter Alrich, the former sheriff and commander on the Delaware; who was thought to have played too readily into the hands of the Dutch, and acted violently as their Chief Officer. The Those "forest days" were times of small things, but the beginning of great affairs are not to be despised ; and it was doubtless looked upon as an important and exciting event, when in 1671 a little vessel called a Ketch and named "Prudence," received a pass to run between New Castle and New York. That morning hats were waved and good luck invoked, when both masts were spread with sails and the fair wind long waited for, wafted the Prudence down the Delaware. And no less exciting was the news, that Gov. Lovelace, early the next year, would make an overland journey from New York to the Delaware settlement. year 1667 under Lovelace was happily marked by the building of a new church. After using the chapel built in the fort at Christina for 29 years, it became more convenient to hold worship on the south side of the creek; and there a new, wooden church was put up, at Crane Hook, where Rev. Mr. Lock officiated for several years. He also preached at Tini- cum, and these two churches with that at Wicaco seem to be the only places of worship on the Delaware, up to the year 1675. We find notices in the records, of roads being opened from point to point, and numerous grants given to individuals and companies, for We, taking our three hours ride from New Castle, behind a locomotive, may smile at the multitudinous precautions and preparation. Boats are to be ready at the New York ferry, to carry his Excellency and retinue over to the Neversink, which is made the general ren- dezvous. As many as twenty men with their officers must be ready in each town, with settlement; the most noticeable of which is a provision for Finns and other families from Maryland, to settle on Appoquinimy ; a colo- ony that grew rapidly into a large commun- ity. The Hoornekill settlement also grew so largely as to demand very early the appoint- ment of officers, both for judicial, and mone- tary affairs. Whilst waiting for a body of horses and arms. Capt. Nicholls is to summon 7
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