USA > New Jersey > A civil and political history of New Jersey: embracing a compendious history of the state, from its early discover and settlement by Europeans, brought down to the present time > Part 9
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3 Bancroft's History, vol. 2., p. 295.
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96
NEW NETHERLAND.
This agreement was in the nature of a provisional treaty, to be confirmed by the respective governments in Europe. It gave to the English the whole of the territory on the Connecticut River, except such portions as were actually possessed by the Dutch. Long Island was also divided between the two nations.4
In regard to the interests of the New Haven claimants, the agreement was quite indecisive ; it left the matters in issue nearly in their original condition. It was stated that for the time, the .parties were left at liberty to improve their interests for planting and trading as they should see cause.5
. Frost's History, vol. 2., p. 47, Bancroft's History, vol. 2., p. 295. 'Articles of agreement made and concluded at Hartford upon Connecticut, September 19th, 1650, betwixt the delegates of the honored Commissioners of the United English Colonies, and the delegates of Peter Stuyvesant, Governor General of New Netherland.
1. Upon serious consideration of the difference and grievances propounded by the two English colonies of Connecticut and New Haven, and the answer made by the honored Dutch Governor, Peter Stuyvesant, Esq. According to the trust and power committed unto us as Arbitrators or Delegates betwixt the said parties, we find that most of the offences or grievances were things done in the time and by the order and command of Monsieur William Keift, the former Governor, and that the present honored Governor, is not duly prepared to make answer to them; we therefore think meet to respite the full consideration and judgment concerning thetn, till the present Governor may acquaint the High and Mighty States and W'est India Company, with the particulars, that so due reparation may accord- ingly be made.
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2. The Commissioners of New Haven complained of several high and hostile injuries which they and others of that jurisdiction have received from and by must of the aforesaid Monsieur Keift, in Delaware Bay and River, and in their totum thence as by their former propositions and complaints may more fully appar; and beside the English right claimed by a patent, presented and showed woweral purchases they have made on both sides the River and Bay of Delaware of several large tracts of land unto and somewhat above the Dutch house or fort there, with a consideration given to the said Sachems and their companies, for the same acknowledged and cleared by the hands of the Indians, whom they affirmed were the true proprietors, testified by many witnesses; they also affirmed that according to their apprehensions, they have sustained £1000 damages, Fantly by the Swedish Governor but chiefly by order from Monsieur Keift, and therefore required due satisfaction and a peaccable possession of the aforesaid lands to enjoy and improve according to their just right. The Dutch Governor
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97
NEW NETHERLAND.
Under these circumstances, the New Haven- colony resolved that another attempt should be made to establish themselves upon their territory, and early on the following year a company departed for the Delaware. They had received a commission from Governor Eaton, who also wrote an amicable letter to the Governor of New Netherland, giving him information of the object in view, and also stating, that in accordance with the agreement at Hartford, the set- ters would occupy their own lands, and give no disturbance to others. But Director Stuyvesant was resolved that no advantage should be drawn by his opponents from the treaty that had been made, and when the English presented themselves at the Manhat- tans, he immediately caused them to be arrested, and their vessel secured. He also compelled them to enter into an engagement not to proceed to the Delaware, and threatened, that if any English should be found there, they should be seized, and sent prisoners to Holland. The company were without the means of resistance, and were obliged to return to New Haven.
Directly upon their return, a petition was prepared and addressed. to the Commissioners of the United Colonies, setting forth the in- jury that had been done by the Dutch, and asking that some course should be adopted, for defending the property and persons of the petitioners, and for maintaining "the honor of the English nation."6
by way of answer, affirmed and asserted the right and title to Delaware or the South River, as they call it, and to the lands there as belonging to the High and Mighty States and the West India Company, and professed that he must protest against any other claim; but is not provided to make any such proofs as in such a treaty might be expected, nor had he commission to treat or conclude any thing therein; upon consideration whereof, we the said Arbitrators or Dele- zatrs wanting sufficient light to issue or determine any thing on the premises, se necessitated to leave both parties in statu quo prius to plead and improve their just interests at Delaware for planting and trading as they shall see cause; only we desire that all proceedings there as in other places, may be carried on in love and peace, till the right may be further considered and justly issued either in Europe or here, by the two States of England and Holland."
The agreement made by the colonies was never ratified. It was assented to . by the Government of Holland, but was not confirmed in England .- Bancroft. * * To The Honored Commissioners for the United Colonies now assembled at New Haven:
" The Honorable Petition of Jasper Graine, William Tuttill and many 13
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-98
NEW NETHERLAND.
After considering the matters presented in the petition, the Com- missioners resolved, that a letter should be directed in their name, to the Director of New Netherland. In this communication they stated, that the conduct of Stuyvesant was regarded by all the colonies as directly contrary to the agreement he had made .; that the New Haven settlers had only designed to improve their just rights, and that the terms of the treaty expressly allowed of plant- ing and trading upon lands, as the parties might choose .. They also demanded that satisfaction should be made to their friends and confederates, for the damage that had been done. But the Commissioners. informed the people of New Haven, that they did not think meet at the time, to enter into any engagement against
. other inhabitants of New Haven and Sotocket." After some preface the Petition proceeds, "and whereas your petitioners streightened in the respective planta- tions, and finding this part of the country full, or affording little encouragement .to begin any new plantations for their own comfort and convenience of posterity, did upon a serious consideration of the premises and upon encouragement of the treaty between the honorable Commissioners and the Dutch Governor, the last year at Connecticut by agreement. and with consent of the said merchants and . others, resolve upon a more difficult remove to Delaware ; hoping that our aims . and endeavours would be acceptable to God and to his people in these colonies, being assured our title to the place was just; and resolving (through the help of God) in all our carriages and proceeding, to hold and maintain a neighborly cor- respondence both with the Dutch and Swedes, as was assured them both by the tenor of the Commissioners, and by letters of the honored Governor of this jurisdiction; to these ends, and with these purposes preparations were made, in the winter, a vessel was hired, and at least fifty of us set forward in the spring and expecting the fruit of that wholesome advice given at Hartford the last , year in the case by the Manhattoes, which we might have avoided, and from our honored governor presented a letter to the Dutch Governor, upon perusal whereof, (without further provocation) he arrested the two messengers and committed them to a private house, prisoners under a guard, that done, he sent for the master of the vessel to come on shore to speak with him, and committed him also, after which two more of the company coming on shore and desiring to speak with their neighbors under restraint, he committed them as the rest, then desiring to see our commissions and copy them out, promising to return them the next day, though the copies were taken, and the commissions demanded, he refused to deliver them, and kept them, and the men imprisoned till they were forced to engage under their hands not to proceed on their voyage to the Delaware, but with loss of time and charge, to return to New Haven." &c.
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99
NEW NETHERLAND.
the Dutch, choosing rather "to suffer affronts for a while than to seem to be too quick;" yet if the petitioners should think proper to attempt the improvement of their lands at any time within twelve months, and for that purpose, should, at their own charge transport together one hundred and fifty, or at least one hundred able men, armed in a proper manner, that in case they should meet with any opposition from the Dutch, or the Swedes, the . Commissioners would assist them with such a number of men as should be thought meet.
But the Director of New Netherland stood firm to his purpose. . He insisted that according to the terms of agreement, affairs were · to remain in their former state, and that no improvement should be made which would change, in . any respect, the rights of the . claimants ; and he declared in a letter to Governor Eaton, that he would resist, even to the last extremity, any attempt to settle or · plant upon the lands in dispute.
The people of New Haven made various attempts to strengthen their interests, and to maintain their claims, they applied to their confederates both singly, and in union; but no decisive result was. obtained; the opposition between New England, and-New Neth- erland was constantly increasing in strength, but the period of crisis had not yet arrived.
The attention of Governor Stuyvesant was now directed to making provision for the vindication of the claims of the Dutch, against the demands and advances of the Swedes. The latter people continued to hold possession upon the Delaware; they had secured a great portion of the trade of the country, and had com- pelled the Dutch to submit to numerous indignities. But Stuyvesant was little disposed to passive submission, or further forbearance. By his direction, a tract of land was purchased from the Indians, in the name of the States General and the West India Company, lying between Christina Creek and Bomptie's Hook, and by this move- ment an opportunity was given to the Dutch, to penetrate nearly to the heart of the Swedish settlements.7 Preparations were also made for erecting a fort.
" This purchase was made on the 19th of July, 1651.
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100
NEW NETHERLAND.
These vigorous proceedings gave much alarm to the Swedish authorities; and Governor Printz immediately protested against them; the lands, he said, were the property of the Swedes, by rightful purchase. But no more regard was paid to the Swedish protest, than a similar instrument had formerly received, from the Swedes themselves ; the Dutch persisted in their course, and soon completed their fort; it was placed but a few miles from the primitive seat of Swedish authority. It was called Fort Casimer.
Governor Printz had sufficient discernment to perceive, that his authority would be wholly and quickly subverted, unless the movements of the Dutch could be checked; he therefore des- patched some agents to Sweden, with orders that full information should be given to the government, of his perilous condition.8 But before the support he required, could be expected to arrive, the Governor, who was hasty and impatient, became wearied with delay, and resolved to depart from the province. He had formerly intimated a desire to relinquish the government, and his present departure was probably in pursuance of his previous design, yet the abandonment of his post at the present conjuncture, was not calculated to confirm the opinion which his superiors seem to have held, in favor of his character and conduct. He had rendered himself unpopular in the province by his rigorous exercise of power. . He departed in 1653, and deputed his authority to his son-in-law, John Pappegoia." .
In the mean time, before it was known in Sweden, that Printz had surrendered the government, measures were adopted for the releif of the province, and an assistant to the Governor appointed. The individual who was chosen for this situation was John Rysing.10 He received his commission in 1653, and ample in-
' Ferris' Settlements, p. 79.
' Clay's Annals, p. 25. 10 " Upsul, Dec. 12th, 1653.
" We Christina, &c. make known that having elected our very faithful sub- ject John Rysing, formerly Secretary of the General College of Commerce, to make a voyage to New Sweden, in order there to aid for a certain period our present Governor of the said country, agrecably to the orders and instructions which he has received from the said College, and being willing that in conse- quence of the hazard and fatigue he will experience during so long a voyage-
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101
NEW NETHERDAND.
structions were also given, directing the course to be pursued by the government.
The Governor was directed to be careful that the South River should be fortified, protected and defended, as far as practicable. He was to extend the limits of the country, if this could be done with prudence and propriety, without hostility, or any risk to what was already possessed. With respect to the fortress that the Dutch had built upon the coast, (Fort Casimer,) if he could not induce them to abandon it by argument, and serious remon- strances, and without resorting to hostilities, he should avoid the latter, and confine himself solely to protestations; suffering the Dutch to occupy the fortress, rather than it should fall into the hands of the English, who it was said were more powerful, and therefore more to be dreaded in the country. But it would be proper to construct a fortress nearer the mouth of the river, below that of the Dutch, in order to defend the passage, and render theirs useless. But the mildest measures only, were to be em- ployed.
To encourage the cultivation of land in New Sweden, her Majesty resolved and ordained, and the Governor on the part of her Majesty, was to give assurance, that all who should wish to purchase either from the company, or the savages, as her subjects, recognizing the jurisdiction of the Crown of Sweden, should enjoy in respect to the lands thus purchased, all franchises and allodial privileges, both themselves and their descendants, forever; being assured that they should be admitted into the company, or other- wise secured in the franchises aforesaid. Nevertheless, no one should enter into possession of land without the sanction of the Governor, in order that no one should be deprived improperly, of what he already possessed.
that his pay and support be there rendered therein, we command that the Suur John Rysing, in virtue of this letter patent, and in the capacity of Com- Rimary of the said General College of Commerce, shall receive annually the wum of Twelve Humdred Dollars in silver, in addition to the special appoint- cents which he may receive from the Company of the South." Rysing also received the sum of One Hundred Rix Dollars for his equipment and voyage.
Hazard's Register.
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102
NEW NETHERLAND.
Some changes were also made in the Constitution.of the Go- vernment. The military, was separated from the civil department, and provision was made for a permanent Council, to act with the Governor.
It was ordered, that before the present Governor should leave the country, he should render to the Commissary Rysing, an exact account of all the affairs of justice and police, and of the revenues of the company, and all similar matters. That he should in the . mean time, and until new orders were received, resign into the hands of John Amundson, (who went out at the same time with Rysing,) all that relates to the military, and to the defence of the country ; establishing also a Council formed of the best instructed. and most noble officers in the country, of which Rysing should be Director, in such manner however, that neither he in his charge, or John Amundson, as governor of militia, in his, should decide or approve any thing without reciprocally consulting each other. The Governor, in case of his leaving the country, should give written instructions to the subordinate officers, in order, that the government might be duly administered .. But if the Governor should remain longer in the province, he should accept as Com- missary; and Assistant Counsellor, the aforesaid John Rysing, and for the Council those whom he should judge the most proper; and that all affairs should be decided after due deliberation, and with unanimous agreement.
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Upon the arrival of Rysing, it was found that the Governor had already departed, and had left authority in the hands of Pappegoia. The latter was superseded upon the arrival of Rysing, and after remaining for a time in a subordinate situation, departed from the province.
Rysing, who was now the principal in command, assumed the title of Governor, or Director General, and with it, a degree of authority not warranted by the instructions that had been given. The direction of military affairs, and all that related thereto, had been expressly assigned to another individual, but Rysing retained the entire control; he also proceeded to exercise his powers in a prohibited case. The instructions he had brought to the province, directly forbade that any hostile attempt should be made to effect the removal of the Dutch, from their fort on the coast. But Rysing
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103
NEW NETHERLAND.
resolved upon a different course, and an attack upon Fort Casimer was one of his earliest acts.11 He landed a company of thirty men, advanced to the fort, and gaining admittance either by false- hood or force, demanded an immediate surrender.12 The Com- mander was not in possession of the means of resistance, and was - compelled to yield up the post; all persons in the fort were allowed to depart, but if any should choose to remain, they were promised. that full protection should be given them, upon taking an oath of allegiance to the Crown of Sweden. The reduction of Fort Casimer having been effected on Trinity Sunday, the captors gave to the works the name of Trinity Fort.
After this conquest, Commander Rysing. applied himself to strengthen and secure the Swedish authority, in the province. Fort Casimer, or Trinity Fort, was rebuilt and extended, and measures were adopted for placing the people in friendly relations with the Indian tribes. To these transactions a period of calm succeeded, which some historians have interpreted as a proof, that an agreement had been entered into between the Dutch, and the Swedes, in which the several matters in dispute were fully ad- justed.13 But the calm was only the precursor of storm.
The Governor of New Netherland had been deeply moved by the injury which he conceived to have been done, in the attack upon Fort Casimer, and he only awaited the reception of the proper authority, and the completion of the needful preparations,
" Acrelius and other authorities represent, that the attack on Fort Casimer was made by Rysing at his first appearance in the Delaware. But then, he could not have been ignorant of the tenor of the instructions that had been given, and if such a step was ventured upon before he had become properly invested with authority, or had entered upon office, the act was only the more im- prudent and improper.
" By some it is said, that the place was taken by storm, others assert, by stratagem.
"Campanius says that the differences between Rysing and Stuyvesant in the year 1654, appear to have been amicably settled; and this view is also adopted ty Clay, who remarks in reference to subsequent movements, " that there seems to have been a want of good faith, or at least the practice of some deception, on the part of the Dutch." Nothing is known to warrant the imputation of Ucachery, except the apparent quietude of the Dutch.
104
NEW NETHERLAND.
to make a decisive vindication of his claims. Hostilities were not to be entered upon without the assent of his superiors, but this assent was readily gained, the West India Company trans- mitted an order directing the Governor to "revenge their wrong, to drive the Swedes from the river, or compel their submission." 14 Stuyvesant prepared to obey the direction ; he collected a force of seven vessels, with more than six hundred men, and assuming the command in person, departed for the Delaware. In September, 1655, the squadron arrived, and the Commander directly presented himself before Trinity Fort, and demanded a surrender. Resis- tance against such a force would have been fruitless, and honor- able terms of capitulation were granted. Not long afterwards Christina fell in a similar manner.15
The Island of Tennekong was next approached, and Gottenberg the fort, with the Governor's residence, and all the improvements on the Island, fell into the hands of the conquerors. New Sweden was completely subjugated, and the change of condition that followed, was quietly submitted to. No measures of active resistance are known to have been taken, either in the province itself, or by the government of Sweden, excepting only the publi- cation of a protest, in the following year, by the Swedish Em- bassador at the Hague.16 But this declaration was productive of no effect. The province was lost.
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14 Bancroft, vol. 2, p. 297.
" For the terms of surrender, see Acrelius. They are also given in full in Ferris's Settlements, p. 94.
" [Protest.] "The underwritten resident of Sweden doth find himself obliged by express order, to declare unto their High and Mighty Lordships herewith, how that the Commissioners of the West India Company of this country in the New Netherlands, now the last summer did unexpectedly assault by force of arms the Swedish colony there, taking from them their forts, and drove away the inhabitants, and wholly dispossesed the Swedish Company of their district. It is true and without dispute, that the Swedish Company did acquire optimo titulo juris that part which they possessed, and did buy it of the natives, and consequently had possession of it for several years; without that the West India Company of these countries did ever pretend any thing. Wherefore the said resident doth not doubt but these hostilities will very much displease their High and Mighty Lordships, and doth desire in the name of his most Gracious King
105
NEW NETHERLAND.
The attempt of the 'Swedish Government to settle their people before any assurance had been gained of a right to the territory they entered upon, was hazardous and unwise. If some feeble attempts at negotiation had been made with the previous claimants, there is nothing to show that any positive agreements were ever concluded with them ; no such agreements were afterwards urged ; the Swedes defended their claims entirely upon the ground of the native right; even in their last protestation, they set forth their title as being derived "optimo titulo juris," a purchase from the natives .. But this had never been acknowledged by European nations as giving a sufficient right, and in the present case, it had also passed, to a great extent, into other hands.
Beside their first and principal error, the conduct of the colonial authorities was not such as was favorable to a quiet establishment in the country. Minuet treated the protest of the Dutch with utter. disdain; Printz was imperious and provoking, and Rysing, in the face of positive instructions to. the contrary, entered upon a course of actual hostilities. As has been well remarked, New Sweden took the sword, and it perished with the sword. 17
Arrangements were immediately made by Director Stuyvesant for the government of New Sweden. Before his departure from the Delaware, he placed a Commissary in temporary command, but on his return to New Amsterdam, he gave a commission to John Paul Jacquet to be Governor; he was instructed to take care of trade, and keep order among the people. He chose Fort Casimer for his residence, and Andrias Hudde, the former Commissary at Fort Nassau, was appointed his Counsellor. 18. .
. During these proceedings on the Delaware, events had occurred in another direction which now required . the attention of the Director of New Netherland. It has been seen that the provi-
and Lord, that their High and Mighty Lordships would be pleased to take some speedy order for the redressing of such unlawful proceedings, as the justice, the mutual amity between both nations, and the consequence of the business require, and is expected from their high wisdoms, whereby the Swedish Company may be restored undernified. H. APPLEBOOM.
" Done at the Hague the 22d March, 1656, (N. S.)" . " Ferris's Settlements.
" Acrelius.
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