History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 57

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 57
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 57

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Upon the arrival of Notelman, Director Minuit resigned the government into the hands of the Coun- cil, at the head of which was Van Remund, who had acted as secretary of the province since the departure of De Kasieres. Embarking ou board the " Eendragt" with several families of colonists who were anxious to return to HIollaud, the recalled director and the superseded schout set sail from New Netherland carly in the spring of 1632.

Minnit's Administration of New Netherland.3- Notwithstanding the abuses which had induced Min- uit's recall, his administration of the government of New Netherland was, upon the whole, prosperous and successful. Honest purchase had secured Man- hattan Island to the West India Company ; industry had fourshed around the walls of Fort Amsterdam ; the western shore of Long Island had become stud- ded with the cottages of its Walloon settlers; the bouweries and planters in what is now Hudson County were in a very prosperous condition, and peace and quiet reigned throughout all the borders

of New Netherland. During Minuit's six years of dictatorship the exports were trebled. The value of the commodities sent out from New Netherland in 1626 was about torty-six thousand guilders, while in 1632 it had increased to more than one hundred and forty-three thousand guilders, the imports from Hol- land being proportionately large.

Minuit's return to Holland did not quiet the differ- ences between the West India Company and the pa- troons, the company having intended to reserve all the peltry trade to itself, but found great difficulty in preventing, or trying to prevent, speculations in the business by the patroons, who felt that they had a moral, if not a legal, right to a share of the trade, al- though they had secured the patroonship with the understanding that they were not to interfere with the peltry trade.

To make the trathe more secure to themselves, November, 1632, they issued a proclamation forbid- ding all " private " persons in New Netherland from dealing in any way in sewan, peltries or maize, The patroons instantly protested against this decided step, claiming that they were " privileged," and not "private" persons.

Although Minuit left the colony in peace among themselves, and on terms of intimacy with the In- dians, it was but a short time before disturbances arose that brought ruin and desolation to many homes.

We will now give a brief notice of Minuit's sneces- sor,-Wouter Van Twiller, whose government was very unlike that of his predecessors.

Van Twiller Succeeds to the Directorship.‘ --- The person selected to succeed Peter Minuit as direc- tor-general of New Netherland was Wouter Van Twiller, of Niewkerke, one of the elerks in the West India's warehouse at Amsterdam. He had married a niece of Van Rensselaer, and had been employed by the patroon in shipping cattle to his colony. These were Van Twiller's recommendations,-the influence of kinsmen and friends, rather than acknowleged fit- ness for the important position under the West India Company. He was without experience in the details of the trade, except that which he had learned in a counting-room. Incompetent, narrow-minded, irreso- lute and singularly deficient in knowledge of meu, Van Twiller was rashly intrusted with the com- mand of a province. Embarking in the company's ship "Soutberg," of twenty guus, with a military force of one hundred and four soldiers, the raw Amsterdam clerk set sail to assume the government of New Netherland.

Van Twiller arrived at Manhattan in the spring of . 1633, and commenced his administration, assisted by the experienced secretary, Van Remund and Schout Notelman. The Council consisted of Jacob Jansen Hesse, Martin Garritsen, Andries Hudde and Jacques

Moulton (36") afirms that the fort " was a more block-house, sur- rounded with red cedar pa'mades "

1 Broadhead, i. 211.

" Broadhead, i 217.

4 Broadhend, i. 222.

905

NEW NETHERLAND IN 1629.

tieniyn. Cornelis Van Tienhoven, of Utrecht, was made the company's book-keeper of monthly wages at Fort Amsterdam, and Michael Paulusen wa- commissary of Paauw's " Colonie." at Pavo- nia,1

V'an Twiller's chief objects srem to have been the maintenance and extension of the commercial mo- nopoly of his principals. In many respects he was perhaps their faithful representative He was From the dealing with wares and the shipping of cattle he had been suddenly exalted to the con niand of men and the management of a province. It was only natural, that from the moment he began to add- minister the government of New Netherland, he Should have given constant proof- of the folly and danger of intrusting to inexperienced and incompe- tent hands the interests of a community and the well- being of a State.

Van Twiller's insolent conduct towards De Vries lost him that influential gentleman's friendship, or rather gained his ill will, which was one of the main causes of Van Twiller's removal from the dictator- ship. His little episode with the Englishman, Elkins, of the ship " William," of London, as it Mailed up the North River, contrary to his positive orders, made him the laughing-stork of his fellow- associates, and especially of the people generally. In the latter part of 1633 he finds himself in trouble with the English at Plymouth, who claim the terri- tory. Van Twiller puts in a counter-claim, which he does not sustain. He next has a tilt with the l'e- quods, where he is again brought to disgrace.

First House at Pavonia .- From his first appear- aner at Manhattan he seems to have formed an ex- travagant estimate of the wealth and resources of his commercial employers. They had authorized him to make large expenditures at the points where their fur trade centred, and where their revenue offices were stationed. Besides other costly works which he undertook at Manhattan, two houses were ordered to be built at Pavonia. These were the first houses ererted on the west side of the river, or in what is now Hudson County

Van Twiller Succeeded by Kieft .- From the day that Van Twiller landed at Manhattan, in the early part of 1633, to the day of his supersedence, in the latter part of 1637, his path was not a bright and shining one. He developed no ability whatever as one worthy the position he held, and it became appar- ent, even to the Amsterdam Chamber, that a change must be made in the government of New Netherland. The constant charges against their chief provincial officer damaged the reputation of the company at home and abroad, and finally the College of XIX. resolved to remove him at once and appoint a succes-

sor, who, perhaps with more capacity and experience, seems to have been quite as uufit to direct the affairs of the province as his predecessor.

CHAPTER V.

Now Sutherland to 1020 Patroon and their Privilege-Pusuw . Pur- tham Patent given Paauw for 11 k n H kis ! Pat ist for Staten Island grandes to Paron -Patent granted to l'anno for Ahard- mit and Island of frelek-Fret Fort of Guvern o it in New Netherland

WE here leave Manhattan intrenched behind the walls of what the inmates thereof supposed to be an impregnable fortress, and cross to the west bank of Hudson River, where we will take a bird's-eye view of the first purchase of real estate in the municipality now known as Hudson County, N. ...

First, it will be proper to state that up to 1629 the Dutch territories in America were enormously ex- pensive, and thus far the colonists who were settled in New Netherland had been " not a profit, but a loss to the company," and did not by any means meet it- expectations. The Manhattan population had not increased as desired, and the trading at the two other important points, viz., South River and Fort Orange, was insignificant compared with the expense that had been incurred. The cultivation of the soil was a thing unknown, save here and there a small patch, just enough to partially supply those in and around the forts. Plaus were now devised for larger colonization schemes and the development of the re- sources of the country. On June 7, 1629, the Assem- bly of the XIX. granted ' to all such as should plant any colonies in New Netherland" certain " free- sloms and exemptions.": It was obvious, however, that the rural tenantry of Holland did not possess the requisite means to sustain the expense of emi- gration. To private persons disposed to settle them- selves in any other part of New Netherland other than Manhattan the company offered the absolute propriety of as much land as the emigrant might be able " properly to improve."

Patroons and their Privileges .- The associated dirretors thought that the permanent agricultural settlement of their American province could be best aromplished by the organization of separate suber- dinate "colonies," or manors, under large proprieta- ries. To tempt the ambition of capitalists, peculiar privileges were offered to them ; these, however, were carefully confined to members of the West India L'ompany. The charter provided that any such member who should, within four years, plant a colony of fifty adults in any part of New Netherland other than Manhattan Island should be acknewl- edged as a " Patroon," or feudal chief of the territory he might thus colonize.

" For full text of theme " Freedoms and Exemptions,' are " Ilist of New Netherland, " by U't'allaghan, vol I. p. 112.

1 De Vries, 113, Hol, Inc., H. 88 ; will, 32 ; ix. 1x7. " Paulus Homok " (now Jersey City) derived its name from this Michael Paulsen, the commissary at l'avonin.

906

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

The most prompt to act in this matter were Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blommaert, who were shrewd vuongh to purchase of the Indians a tract of land on the south corner of the bay of South River, "extend- ing northward about thirty-two miles, from Cape Henlopen to the mouth of the said River," and inland about two miles in breadth. The formal patent for the territory thus secured was attested July 15, 1630, by the director and Council at Manhattan,1 and was the first European title by purchase from the abo- rigines within the limits of the present State of Dela- ware, and bears date two years previous to the charter of Maryland.

Under this arrangement, Killiaen van Rensselaer secured a tract of land at Fort Orange, covering nearly all of what is now Albany, Columbia and Rensselaer Counties, New York.

Paauw's Purchase .- Another director of the Am- sterdam Chamber, Michael Paauw (of Achtienhoven, near Utrecht), finding that Van Rensselaer had already monopolized the lands in the neighborhood of Fort Orange, hastened to secure for himself the tract called " Hobakan-Hackingh, lying opposite the Island Manhatas," and bounded on the east by the

North River and on the south by Ahasimus.2 A few i quantity of merchandise, which they herewith acknowledge to have re-

day- afterward Paauw also procured from its Indian owners the cession of the whole of Staten Island, "on the west shore of Hamel's Hooftden "3 (now called the Narrows). The purchase of Staten Island was suc- ceeded, in the following autumn, by the still more advantageous investure of "Ahasimus" and " Ares- sick," extending "along the River Mauritis and Island Manhatas on the vast side, and the Island Ho- bakan-Hackingh on the north side, and surrounded by marshes, serving sufficiently for distinct bound- aries."+ The spot was a favorite resort for the Indians, who were in the habit of conveying their peltries from that point directly across the river to Fort Amster- dam. This desirable purchase included the whole neighborhood of "Paulus Iloeck," or Jersey City, and the sagacious Paauw, Latinizing hi- patrony- mic, gave the name of "Pavonia" to his embryo colony.5

Thus the most important points on the North and

1 Mol. Doc., i. 176 ; O'Call., i. 122. " The original pustent to Godyn and Blommaert-which I found in the West Judia Houve, at Amsterdam, in 1841-is now deposited in the secretary's office at Albany. It has the only ngnature known to exist of Miunit and his Council. '-Broudhend.

" This name is probably Indian. It was applied to that portion of the ngland of Jurary City which lies east of the hill, excepting Paulus Hoch, which was separated from Ahaimas by the walt march extending from Communipaw Cove to Harsimus Cove, and generally from Warren to near Grave Street. The name has received many spellings, viz. Ahummus, Alayman, Chasima, Ahary nes, Whyamnes, Acharemes, Harsi- sus, Horsemua, Horaimena, Horaman, Hassemna, Hazine, Hummus, Hansence, Hausenun, Homenous, Horrensemere .- Winfield' a Hut. Hud. tb.

"There "hooftden," or bowllands, were or named after Hendrick Hamel, one of the members of the Amsterdam t'hamber.

4 Broadhead's " History of New York, ' p. 202.

" Alb. Rec., G.G , 7-30 ; De Vries, 162 ; Moulton, 402-43 ; 0''all., i. 1261. The patent to Michael Pauw for Staten Island, which was attested by

South Rivers of New Netherland were caught up by astute managers of the Amsterdam Chamber. But in all monopolies there is a selfishness which repels the disinterested.

The several patroonships, however, had been acquired by the adroitness of a few directors, who "helped themselves by the cunning tricks of mer- chants," and it was soon found necessary to couciliate the good-will and co-operation of those less wary associates who had been anticipated by their prompt proceedings.

The following is a copy of patents for Hoboken to Michael Paauw in 1630, also copy of patent for Staten Island, granted to Paauw, and the patent for " Ahasi- mus" and " Aressick :"

" PATENT FOR HOBOKEN, N. J., GRANTED TO MICHAEL P'AAL W.

"We. Directors and Council of New-Netherland, resiling on the Island of Manulatas and at the Fort Amsterdam under the authority of their High : Might : the Lords States-General of the t'aited Netherlands and the Incorporated West India Company, Department of Amsterdam, do hereby testify and declare, that on this day, date underwritten, appeared before us personally Arri aneanw, Tek wappo, and Sackwomerk, inhaltanto and joint ow ners of the land, called Hobocani Hackingh, lying opposite the afuresaid Island of Manahatay, who both for themselves and pro rata for the other joint owners declared, that for and in consideration of a certain ceived to their full satisfaction before the passing of this act, they have sold, transported, ceded and delivered as true and lawful freeholl, as they herewith according to u bill of sale und routrart, transfer, vede, con- vey and deliver to and for the benefit of the Honble Hr. Michiel Paunw, ? in whose aberuce we receive it er officer under the usual conditions. tho aforesaid land by ns called Hoboenn Hus king extending on the south aide to Almaimus, castwards along the River Mauritius and on the west side surrounded by lowlands, which sufficientl. designates the hanulary of this land with rights and jurisdiction, belonging to them individually or collectively, or which they might derive hereafter, constituting and sub- rugating the afor suid Honble Mi Paauw, in their stead and place, giving him actual and real possession thereof, as well as complete and irrevocable anthority and special power. that he, the aforesaid Hondle Mr. Paanw lunquem veto el producenter in rem sanou de program of his hours and suc- censors many take pression of the aforeand land, live on it in prace, in-

Minnit and his Council on the I5th July, 1631. recites that the inhabit- ants, owners and heirs of the land "called by us (the Dutch the Staten Island, on the west shore of Hamel Hooftden," appeared before the di- rector and Council of Nrw Notherland, and declared that " in consider- ation of certain parcels of goods" they had soll the island to Michael Panw, in whogr behalf Minuit and his Conneil accepted the conveyance. This patent wemy to have been the first Indian conveyance of the island, and it would scarcely have been signed by Minuit if the island had been already bought by him in 1626 for the West India Company, & affirmed by Đ't'all , i. p. 104.

6 This is the first time the name Hoboken is met with. It is an Indinn word, nud is said to mean tobarco pipe. The name as given in this deed, with its suffix, " Ha kingh, " signifying land, gives ns the land of the tobacco pipe." Hero the natives were accustomed to procure a stone, out of which they carved piju's. " As tobacco was a natural production of the country, the natives were great smokers. Tobacco pouches hung at their vides or bucka, and pipes were their inseparable companions." (Truni- bull's "History C'hited States, " 1. 24. Judge Benson thought that Hoboken war n Dutch nanie, New York Historical Society, 2d Series, H. 112.) The name do spelled in different ways, as: Hohecan-Hacking, Hubocan, Hoboken, Hobocken, Hobacken, Hoburkina. Hobugnin, Hukuk, Hveruck, Holek, Howback, Honbock, Hoabook, Harbuaken. (Winfield's " History Undson Cu,, . p. 1 .. )

7 Lord of Arbtienhoven, in Holland, co-patroon of New Netherland ant one of the directors of the West India Company.

* (1'('all., 1.

907

NEW NETHERLAND IN 1629.

hablt, owu and use it, ulm do with it, trude it off or dispose of it, as his Heger would do with his own lawfully obtained lands und ih minions. without that they, the conveying party, shall have or retain the leunt pretension, right, power of authority with concerning ownership or serrigny, but herewith they domint, abandon, withdrew and romance in behalf un aforesaid now and forever totally and finally, promising further not only to fulfil in perpetunm, firmly and safely, Inviolably and irrevixcully, this their conveyance and trustsfer mint what may be done by its authority, but at , to deliver the said land and to keep it from fre m all «Inim , prete Dar ne, suite, challenges and troubles, ali under the obligatiute of the lawa referring hopeto, a bona fide mme fande Intention ny where if we have affirmed this with our signatur and allixel our wat there- unto. Done m the Island of Mammabutas it Fort Amsterdam the 120 of July, in th year Itudt."

" PATENT FOR STATEN ISLAND, GRANTED In MICHAEL P'SAPW

" We, Iproctor und Council In New - Nethethin, reaching en the Island of Manhattan under authority of Then High Mightinewes, the Stairs- General of the I nited Netherlands and the Priviledge I West Jardin ( In- jany, Department of Suinterdum testify and d clare herewith, that to- dlay, diste us Indlow perm nulls apgwired hish rat, Tatushap, Temu k- wennuna, Wieromics, surarewach Sackwowww. Wirsigman , Scheintom, or the young one, inhabitants owners and laboratory of the island exited by us Staten Island on the west nile of Hamel's Mark, who declare, that IT a certan lot of merchandise, delivered to and received by them If we the pasing of this art, they have a bit, traund red aled and deliver al na true and Jawful frecholl, ux they herewith ac nilug to a bill of rule and com- tract, transfer, cede, seutry and deliver to and for the benefit of the Hon' Mr. Michiel Pasuw in where aleen e we re envie it er offre under the usual conditions, the aforerand la it with its forests, appendencies and dependencies, rights and jo idictions, belonging to them individually or collectively, of which they might derise hereafte constituting and subrogating the atreand Hate Me Pasan, in their stond and place, giving him actual and real poemsjon therent, as well as complete and irrevocable authority and special power, that he, the aforerand Humble Mr. Frans may take person of the atre ad land, live on it in peace, in - habit, own and use it, also do with it, trate it , it or degree of it, as his Honor, hke anybody else, would J . w th his own lawfully obtained lands and dominions, without that they, the conveying party, shall have or retain the least pretension, right, power of authority other concerning ownership of sovereignty, but herewith they desist, abandon, withdraw and renounce, in behalt as aforesaid now and forever totally am finally promising further not only to fulfil in perpetuum, firmly and safely, in- violably and irrevocably, this their conveganer and transfer and what may be done by its authority, but also to deliver the said land and to keep it free from all claims, pretensions, suite, challenges and troutdes either against the noraid Wiwsponek, when he has reached his majority or agnit at other claimants, all under the obligato ns of the laws referring hereto, a hona fide sine frunde. In testimony whoroot we have affirmed this with our signature und affixed our seal thereunta. Done on the Island of Manahatas in Fort Ansterdam the life of August in the year 1630."

" PATENT TO THE BANK FOR THE TRAIT OF LAND CALLED AHASIMUS AND Tur. ISLAND OF AREARICK NEW JERSEY !.

" We, Director and Council of New Netherland of ot., testify and declaro herewith, that on this day personally appeared before us Arkito- auw and Aunnw, Virginians, inhabitante nude -ow ners uf the land called Ahimnus and the little island Areack, who tor themselves and in projmir. tion for the other proprietors, Winym, Matkath, aind C'unn ins Jeclure lu thear mid capacity ofowners, that for n cortom bot of merchandise, which they wknowledged to have received and accepted to their sattsfur tion before the passing of this act, they have roll, transferred, ceded and con- veyed by a certain deed aun contract of sale, as they herewith transfer, cede aldl convey to and for the benefit of the Honbbe Mr Mu hiel Punow, In whone almence we er ofrio rerrive it under the u nul stipulations the aformaid truet Ahasimus and Arewick, called by us the Where Houk, stretching along the river Maur usand the Island of Manahntax on the East side, Homekan Backingh on the North, surrounded by swans, which servons distinct boundary times and that with all rights, titlerete listen Novbr. 524, 16:30.

Purchases of Paauw Unpopular .?- The purchase

" The Narrows, called " Hamel's Hoofden,' after Henrick Hamel, one of the patriots of New Netherland.

3 Winflehl's " Hist. Ilud. Co., . p. 17.

of Nov. 22, 1630, was one of vast importance. Then, as now the shore between Communipaw and Weehawken was of great commercial valne. The Indians held it in high estimation as a place of resort, from which they conveyed their peltries directly across to the fort. The purchase was unpopular with the company, and his ownership of the tract " occasioned much quarrel- ing and jealousy, and prevented the colonies prosper- ing as they would have done." Those of the directors of the Dutch West India Company who had failed to obtain a share of the newly acquired spoils looked with a jealous eye upon those who, by reason of their large and well-selected possessions, had become pa- troons. This strife between the " ins and outs" waxeil warm and warmer, until finally the fortunate di- rectors (except the patroon of Pavonia), preferring prace to their wild aeres in New Netherland, divided with their elamorous associates.

U'p to this time there is no evidence that a settle- ment had been made on the west side of the Hudson. Some writers have supposed that buildings were erected within this county as early as 1618.3 It is, however, mere supposition. It will be borne in mind that in 1623 there were only a few bark huts erected on the lower end of Manhattan Island, and it is not at all likely that the very few whites then in thecountry would have weakened their power of defense by separate settlements.

Michael Paauw Summoned to Appear .- The feel- ing continued so strong in the minds of those inter- ested, and the prejudice so great and the clamor of the people so loud, that coming to the ears of the Assembly of the XIX., they resolved, on Dec. 17, 1633, to call Paauw and the other patroons to give an account of their purchases to that hody. It was an easy matter for the patroons to satisfy themselves that the position they beld was an impregnable one. But to satisfy those who thought they had reason to feel aggrieved by the unhappy condition of things, as they appeared to them, and especially in Pavonia, was another thing ; therefore a committee of five was appointed to negotiate on the part of the West India Company with the patroons, the result of which was to call Mr. Paauw to an account, as follows :

" TO MR. MICHAEL PAUW, LORD OF AVHTIENHOVEN, CO-PATROON IN NEW NETHERLAND, THE 13TH MAY, 1634.

THE STATE

"The West India Company AKullet The l'arroous of New Netherland İtema - --- Mutatis mutandis, Sunuel Blumnieart. " Il'hereas w- liave this dur depoted conte Lor a from our Ametutdy to hear and examine yen and the other inter- este justruns, planters of the colonies In New Netherland, cu the vue part, and the delegated lirertere of the West Inen Company and this authorized Killisen de Henne tuer, Hendrick Hantel. stockholders ou the other part, relativo to the differences which baro artsun, with power afterwards to determine the said differences as by plurality of votes they shall fad oquible And the 22d instant having been fixed and appointed by the mil Lorde

1 |ruwithend, 1 x9 , Whitehond, ' Est Jersey, ' 16.

905

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 57

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830