USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
1 Broadhead, ¿. , 150.
3 Winfield's Land Titles, 5.
2 O'Cal, N. N., ¿. , 112.
19
FIRST BUILDINGS ERECTED IN PAVONIA.
tions," or by individuals attracted hither for private gain or convenience, Michael Paulusen, an officer of the Company, was in charge of the colonie in 1633. On the afternoon of the twentieth of May in that year, Captain De Vries visited him, and has left this entry in his journal: "Coming to the boat on Long Island, night came on and the tide began to turn, so that we rowed to Pavonia. We were there received by Michiel Poulaz, an officer in the service of the Company."1 The latter part of this entry seems to indicate that Paulussen, or Pauluszoon, was not in charge at Pavonia as an officer of the patroon. Being in the employ of the Company, he prob- ably occupied a hut on Paulus Hoeck, and, for his employers, purchased peltries from the Indians. In the latter part of this year the Company gave orders for the erection of two houses in Pavonia.2 This, so far as evidence can be found, was the first step taken to erect regular buildings within this county. They were shortly afterward built. They were constructed and paid for by the Company, although Pauw may have furnished the means. One was built at Communipaw, afterward owned by Jan Evertse Bout, and the other at Ahasimus, afterward occupied by Cornelis Van Voorst.
1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., N, S., ¿. , 257. It is probable that Poulaz was the first Dutch resident in Paulus Hoeck, and left his name to the place. Broadhead, ¿. , 223. Judge Benson intimates that this place received its name from Paulus Schrick, who at one time lived in the " Town of Bergen." N. Y. Hist. Soc., 2d Series, ¿i., 111. It is true there was such a man, and he may have lived in Ber- gen, but what has his residence in one place to do with the name of another ? It was called " Pouwels Hoeck" before May, 1638. I have not been able to find Schrick's name in the records prior to 1652. The following are the different ways of spelling this name, adding in each instance its suffix of Hoeck, or Hook, viz .: Paulus, Paules, Poules, Poulus, Powels, Powlas, Poulass's, Powles, Powless, Poulis, Powley's. Dr. O'Callaghan, New Neth. Reg., 118, puts Poulusen down as a clergyman of the Reformed Church, residing in Pavonia in 1633. I very much doubt that he was a clergyman. After 1633 no more is heard of him in Pavonia. He returned to New Amster- dam, where he received a grant for a piece of land, Jan. 21, 1647. Land Papers (Albany), G. G., 163. He was admitted to the rights of a small burgher April 13, 1657. New Neth. Reg., 177. He made his mark thus :
2 O'Cal., N. N., i., 156. Broadhead, i., 244. N. Y. Col. MSS., i., 81.
41
-
20
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Paulusen was succeeded by Jan Evertse Bout, who arrived in New Netherland June 17, 1634, commissioned by Pauw to be his superintendent. He established his headquarters at Commu- nipaw, which thus became the capital of the colonie of Pavonia.1 He was succeeded in June, 1636, by Cornelis Van Vorst, who came out as Panw's "head commander," and took up his residence at Ahasimus, in one of the two houses erected in 1633.2 He had no sooner become settled in his new "mansion,"
1 Bout was a man of considerable importance in the early history of New Netherland. He was born in 1601, Valentine's Manual, 1863, 611, came from Barneveldt, N. Y. Col. MSS., iii., 58, and arrived here in the ship " Eendracht" in 1634. He was in the employ of the Dutch West India Company in Holland, whence he was sent by patroon Pauw to superintend his colonie at Pavonia. Valentine's Hist. of N. Y., 94 ; O'Cal., N. N., ¿. , 167. His wife's name was Tryntje Simons De Witt. N. Y. Col. MSS., iii., 58. He held the position of superinten- dent at Pavonia until the summer of 1636, when he was succeeded by Cornelis Van Vorst. Broadhead, i., 263; N. Y. Hist. Soc., N. S., i., 259. He continued, however, to reside at Communipaw. In 1638 his wayward affections brought hiim into more than donbtful relations with a daughter of Ham, in his service. This coming to the notice of the authorities in New Amsterdam, Schout Lupolt, in his official capacity, visited the jolly Jan to remonstrate with him abont the cause of the scandalum magnatum. But Bout was in no humor to endure for- eign intermeddling with the internal economy of the sovereignty of Pavonia. He flew into a passion, told the Schout in plain Dutch that he was een hond, een dief, een schobbejak (a dog, a thief, a rascal), snapped his defiant fingers in the face of the official, and said, " If you or any one belonging to you come to Pavonia, I will shoot you or them." N. Y. Col. MSS., i., 41. This blast was sufficient; the Schout beat a hasty retreat, and for the first time " State's Rights" were vindicated in New Jersey ! Bout was probably the first white settler at Communipaw, and was presented with the Bouwerie there after Pauw had parted with his interest in Pavonia. Col. Hist. of N.Y., i., 432. In 1641 he was one of the " Twelve," one of the " Eight" in 1643, and one of the " Nine" in 1647 and 1650. Shortly after the war of 1643 he became a resident in " Breucklen," where he was appointed Schepen in 1646. N. Y. Col. MSS., iv., 259 ; New Neth. Reg., 73. He soon arrayed himself in opposition to the gov- ernment, and signed the " bold memorial to the government of the fatherland." Col. Ilist. of N. Y., i., 271. In 1654 he was reappointed Schepen. He refused to accept, whereupon he was " directed to hold himself in readiness to return to Holland by the ship ' King Solomon.'" Alb. Rec. ix., 118. Threats of ban- ishment are no longer necessary to induce men to hold office ! He died at Gow- anus in 1670. Valentine's Hist. of N. Y .. 95.
2 For the history of Van Vorst, ride " Van Vorst Family."
*
21
ENTERTAINMENT AT VAN VORST'S.
which was a frame house thatched with cat-tail, than the digni- taries of New Amsterdam, representing both church and state. resolved to pay him a visit, as well to assure him of their dis- tinguished consideration as to "sample" his newly arrived Bordeaux. On the 25th of June, 1636, Wouter Van Twiller, who was always " glad to taste good wine," but on whose shoulders rested the weighty cares of the New Netherland state, and Domi- nie Everardus Bogardus, the bold Dutch preacher and husband of Anneke Jans, accompanied by Captain De Vries, came over to Pavonia. Van Vorst entertained them with princely hospitality from his newly filled wine cellar. As time passed on and the sampling of the wine was repeated, the Governor and the Dominie grew warm and disputatious, if not angry with their host. The modest entry in De Vries' journal, that they " had some words with the Patroon's Commissary," plainly means that they quarreled with him. The subject of the dispute was a murder which had been recently committed in Pavonia. Although the discussion ran high and bad blood for a while threatened the peace of the occasion, yet another bumper or two was like oil on the troubled waters, for " they eventually parted good friends." Leaving their host and his good Vrouwtje, they entered their boat and started for Fort Amsterdam. Van Vorst, determined to deepen their im- pression how royally the representative of the patroon of Pavonia could entertain such distinguished guests, fired a salute from a swivel' mounted on a pile? in front of his house. How the reverberations of that primal salute must have rolled over the hills of Ahasimus ! and what a brilliant illumination fol- lowed to light the way of his parting guests. "A spark unfor- tunately flying on the roof, which was thatched with reeds, set it in a blaze, and in half an hour the whole building was burned down."3 Thus ended the first recorded entertainment in Pavonia.
In the mean time the dissatisfaction existing among the direc-
1 Steen-stuk, a stone gun.
2 " Stood on a pillar" is the language of De Vries.
3 N. Y. Ilist. Soc., N. S., ¿. , 259. Broadhead, i., 263.
22
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
tors of the Company that a few of their associates had seized upon the best and most desirable portions of the country was increas- ing, and they became divided into two parties. They were at variance as to the interpretation to be given to the articles of the "Freedoms and Exemptions." The Company, through those di- rectors who had not become patroons, claimed a monopoly of the fur trade, and would restrict the patroons and their retainers to agricultural pursuits. On the other hand, the patroons claimed an unrestricted trade along the coast and in the rivers, and exclu- sive commerce and jurisdiction within their colonies, within which they would not suffer any exercise of authority by the officers of the Company. This condition of affairs could not long exist without producing trouble.
On the 17th of December, 1633, the Assembly of the XIX resolved that Pauw, with the other patroons, should give to that body an account of their purchases. On Monday, the nine- teenth of the same month, the patroons appeared according to the resolution and defended their rights. It was easy enough to satisfy themselves that their position was impregnable, but to satisfy those who felt themselves aggrieved by the condition of things in New Netherland, and especially in Pavonia, was no light task. These were not convinced, and therefore appointed a committee of five to negotiate with the patroons and to defend the claims of the Company ; and in case no agreement concern- ing the points in dispute could be arrived at between them, then they resolved that the subject should be referred to a " Commit- tee of their high Mightinesses, or one of the high courts of Justice."1 The committee and patroons failed to agree upon a compromise, and the whole matter in dispute was, by resolution of the Assembly of the XIX, adopted March 27, 1634,2 referred to their High Mightinesses, who appointed a committee of six to examine carefully into the cause of the dispute, and at the same time issued the following summons to Pauw, and, mutatis mutandis, to the other patroons :
1 Moulton, i., 421.
2 N. Y. Col. Hist., i., 90.
23
PAUW SUMMONED TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS PURCHASE.
" To Mr. Michiel Pauw, Lord of Achtienhoven, Co-Patroon in New Netherland, the 13th May, 1634. THE STATES.
" Whereas we have this day deputed some Lords from our Assembly, to hear and examine you and the other interested patroons, planters in the Colonies in New Netherland, on the one part, and the delegated Directors of the West India Company and the authorized stockholders on the other part, relative to the differences which have arisen, with power afterwards to deter- mine the said differences, as by phirality of votes they shall find equitable ; and the 22d instant having been fixed and appointed by the said Lords, our Deputies, as the day for the business ; we have therefore resolved to notify you thereof, commanding you to attend here at the Hague, duly provided in all things, as the case requires, on the evening of the 21st instant, in order to appear on the next day, for the purposes aforesaid, before the above mentioned Lords, our Deputies, who will then proceed to busi- ness. Wherein fail not; giving notice hereof to the other patroons, planters who are also interested in the aforesaid differ- ences. Done 13 May, 1634."1
The investigation was postponed until the 14th of June. On the sixteenth the patroons put in their defence. It was in writing, of considerable length, and its demands for themselves and charges against the Company of an extraordinary charac- ter .? Neither their claims nor their charges could be passed in silence by the Company. On the twenty-second of the same month they exhibited their replication "to and against the pre- tension and claim of Michael Pauw, Kiliaen Van Rensselaar, and Samnel Blommaert, Patroons in New Netherland, handed in and delivered to their High Mightinesses' deputies," in which they protested against the joint action of the patroons and claimed that as the right of each depended on its own peculiar merits,
1 Col. Hist. of N. Y., i., 70.
2 Ibid, i., 83. Here also may be found a copy in extenso of their points of defence.
24
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
their defence should be several.1 The patroons forthwith re- joined, asking their High Mightinesses to construe the "Free- doms and Exemptions " that it might be known which party was in fault, and declared that the continuation or abandonment of their colonies depended on their Lordships' judgment.2 On the 24th of June the deputies resolved to postpone their decision for twelve days, in order that the parties might amicably settle their differences.3 In August following the Assembly of the XIX commissioned some of their directors " to treat and trans- act with all the Patroons and colonists in New Netherland " for the purchase of their rights.4 Shortly afterward (in either 1634 or 1635, for the same is without date), a new "project of Freedoms and Exemptions " was promulgated by the States General.5 The fifth article contained the following language : " But every one is notified that the Company reserves unto itself the Island of Manhates, Fort Orange, with the lands and islands appertaining thereto, Staten Island, the land of Achassemes, Arasick and Hobokina." The domains of Pauw were included in this reservation, on condition that the Company should make the reservation good. The Company continued the negotiations with the patroon, and finally succeeded in purchasing the colonie. They paid Pauw 26,000 florins6 for his interest in Pavonia. Thus he ceased to be a patroon in New Netherland, and the annoyance which his colonie had caused no longer ex- isted.7
During these long and bitter contentions between the Com-
1 Col. Hist. of N. Y., ¿. , 89. 2 Ibid, i., 90. 3 Ibid, i., 91.
4 Broadhead, i., 249.
5 Col. Hist. of N. Y., i., 96.
6 Ibid, i., 423. A florin is equivalent to forty cents.
7 Dr. Koenen says the colony was in Pauw's name at the time of his death, and that his son, Dr. Isaac Pauw, having removed his residence in 1652, and thereby lost the privileges of citizenship in Amsterdam, afterward lost his in- terest in the colony of his father. N. Y. Hist. Soc. Proc., 1860, 35. This is a great error.
In accordance with the "Freedoms," etc., Harsimus (in part) was reserved, and became known as the West India Company's Farm, but Aressick and IIo- boken were disposed of at an early date, without regard to the reservation.
25
BACKWARD STATE OF THE PROVINCE.
pany and patroons, Pavonia, in common with the rest of the country, was retrograding instead of advancing. Dissensions within had been productive of difficulties without. The charac- ter of those who had come hither to seek their fortunes was not in all cases of the best. Disregarding the exclusive privileges of the Company, many of them, prompted by a desire of gain, had unlawfully entered into trade with the Indians, exchanging guns, powder and lead for peltries. The savages were not slow to learn that these weapons were more deadly than the bow and arrow, and a general feeling of uneasiness and alarm began to spread among the settlers.
CHAPTER II .- 1638-1646.
Arrival of Kieft-Settlement in the County-Difficulties with the Indians- Murder of Smitz-The people assemble-The twelve chosen-Van Vorst killed by an Indian Chief-The river Indians flee to Manhattan-Thence to Pavonia-Description of the settlements in the County-The Indians encamp near Communipaw-Kieft orders their destruction-Attacked and slain by the Dutch-Communipaw Massacre-Terrible revenge- Pavonia a desolation-Treaty of Peace-Savages again on the Warpath -Van Vorst taken prisoner-Peace declared.
WILLIAM KIEFT arrived here as Director-General on the 28th of March, 1638. At that time there were in all New Nether- land only seven bouweries and two or three plantations.1 This backward state of the province may be attributed to the unfortunate disagreements between the Company and the patroons, and the many irregularities which in consequence grew up among the settlers. Kieft reformed the government in many respects, and put a stop to certain wrongs which some of the Dutch were prac- tising toward each other and toward the Indians.2 Under the new order of things prosperity seemed to revive. Abraham Isaacsen Planck purchased Paulus Hoeck on the first of May, 1638, for two hundred and fifty guilders.3 Jan Evertsen Bout took a lease of the " Company's farm in Pavonia,"# and De Vries took Staten Island and established a colonie there. Other parts of New Netherland were active and thriving. And yet of all men who ever ruled over the country Kieft knew the least of Indian character, or how to tame the wild natures of the sons of
1 A bouwerie was the home farm on which the farmer resided ; a plantation was an out-farm, tilled, but not occupied.
2 O'Cal., N. N., ¿. , 183 ; Broadhead, i., 277.
3 N. Y. Col. MSS., ¿. , 13, 14, 22.
4 N. Y. Col. MSS., ¿. , 53 ; Winfield's Land Titles, 48.
Afterward known as
"Gamoenepaen."
26
27
KIEFT DEMANDS TRIBUTE.
the forest. They beheld the thrift and enterprise of the whites with jealousy, looked upon their growing power with dread, and hoped for the time when they might glut their revenge for the wrongs they had endured. This feeling was not without cause. For in their social intercourse they had been seorned, in their commercial transactions they had been cheated, and without law or justice they had been plundered and slain by the hated Swannekins.1 Well might they live in fear of the coming time when, unless they defended themselves now, while their enemies were yet few, they should be driven from their homes and the graves of their fathers. Regardless of the situation of affairs, Kieft put a match to the train and hastened the explosion. On the 15th of September, 1639, he resolved to exact a tribute of maize, furs, and wampum from the Indians, and in case of their unwillingness to pay, he proposed to employ all necessary force to remove their reluctance .? These wild men of the forest, who were born freemen and had never been taught in the school of subjection, were filled with indignation at such an unjust meas- ure. " He must be a mean fellow," said they, for " he has not invited us to live here, that he should take away our corn."" They had extended freely their simple, yet hearty hospitality to the strangers who had come from an unknown land, and now their guests would impose upon them a degrading tribute. They had endured many rebuff's, and suffered many inexcusable encroachments from the domineering and grasping disposition of the whites, and now they were to be forced to contribute what before they had willingly given or sold.
To meet the impending danger and resist the threatened imposi- tion, the Indians were not wholly unprepared. Commercial in- tercourse, social familiarity, and domestic service among the set- tlers had acquainted them with the habits, dispositions, and numbers of the whites. Their skill in the use of the guns they
1 From Schwonnack, " the salt people," because they came across the salt wa- ter. Moulton, i., 255. At first the Indians called the Dutch Woapsid Lennappe, that is, " the white people."
2 N. Y. Col. MSS., iv., 49.
3 Valentine's Hist. of N. Y., 41.
28
IIISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
had obtained in exchange for peltries made them confident in their strength, and their sense of right convinced them of the justice of their cause.1 Hence they were not in a mood to sub- mit to every indignity and outrage which the impolitic Kieft would heap upon them.
Added to the general sense of wrongs endured, the Weekqua- esgeck boy, whose uncle had been robbed and murdered by Minuit's servants in 1626, had now (1641) become a man. The great outrage done to his relative had not been forgotten. Dur- ing all these long years he had kept the fire alive in his heart. The time had come for it to burst forth with the destructive- ness of a " consuming fire." " An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" was the law of his race. The deep damnation of his uncle's taking off' demanded a just and full atonement. Its ob- ligations could not be avoided, neither could it be satisfied with a slight retaliation. In the execution of this law he was " right resolute to die."
" What doth the Indian love ? Revenge. What doth he fight for ? Revenge. What doth he pray for ? Revenge. It is sweet as the flesh of a young bear ; For this he goes hungry, roaming the desert, Living on berries, or chewing the rough bark Of the oak, and drinking the slimy pool."
The perturbed spirit of the slain was not at rest, for his mur- der was unavenged. The voice of the dead was heard in the moaning of the sea, in the rattling of the thunder, in the roar- ing of the storm, in the rustle of the leaves, in the sighing of the wind, chiding the tardy soul of the living. Many moons had come and gone since the old man was sent to join his fathers ; many winters had whitened and springs and summers adorned his rude resting place, and yet the heaven that he had hoped for was not his, for his nephew's duty was unperformed. The one must satisfy vengeance, or the other could never enter the hunting grounds which lie in the Hereafter. Urged onward by this feeling, the young man sought his victim, indifferent as
Broadhead, i., 308.
29
SMITS, THE RAADMAKER, KILLED.
to whom it might be. It happened to be an inoffensive old man, Claes Cornelisz Smits, a " Raadmaker," living in the vicinity of Canal street. Pretending a desire to barter some beavers for duffels,1 he watched his opportunity, killed Smits, robbed the house, and escaped with the booty .? Satisfaction and the sur- render of the savage were promptly demanded. But as he had only acted in accordance with the custom of his race, the Sachem refused to surrender him. Kieft wished to seize upon this occa- sion to punish the natives, but feared the people, whose interest lay in maintaining peace with the savages. He called them together for consultation. After deliberation they came to the conclusion that the murderer should be punished, " but subject to God and opportunity," after making all necessary preparations.3 They then chose "Twelve Select Men," and " empowered them to re- solve on everything with the Director and Council." This was the first representative body in New Netherland. In it were Maryn Adriaensen, Jacob Stoffelsen, and Abraham Isaacsen Planck, three men who were prominent in the early history of Pavonia. The " Twelve " were true to the views of their con- stituents, and counseled delay.4 They gave their opinions sepa- rately, but were unanimous in advising the Director to consult " time and opportunity" in executing any measure that might be resolved upon, and that before any action should be begun the Twelve were to be notified. Thus peace was for the present maintained, but confidence was not restored. Yet a little longer the fires which were soon to burst forth in a consuming confla- gration smouldered.
The year 1642 closed gloomily. Universal uneasiness mani- fested itself. Wild stories were circulated and believed. Captain De Vries, who had established a new colonie called Vriesendael, at Tappaen, in passing through the woods toward "Ackensack,"5
1 A coarse kind of cloth. 2 Broadhead, i., 316.
3 N. Y. Hist. Soc., N. S., ¿. , 277.
4 Broadhead, ¿. , 329.
5 An Indian word and said to signify low land. Hist. Magazine, str., 85. It is written in many ways: Ackensack, Ackingsuek, Ackinghsack, Akkingsakke, Ackenkeshacky, Ackinkeshacky, Higensack, Haghkinsack, Hackensacky, Hack
30
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
met an Indian who said the whites had "sold to him brandy mixed with water " and had stolen his beaverskin coat. He said lie was going home for his bow and arrows, and would shoot one of the " roguish Swannekins."1 He kept his word and shot Garret Jansen Van Vorst, who was roofing a house in "Achter Col."2 Another account is, that one of the "Hacquinsacq " chiefs, a sort of shiftless fellow, being drunk, was tannted by the Dutch and asked if he could make good use of his bow and arrows when in that condition. He answered the question by killing Van Vorst with his arrow, and then asked if he was able or not.3 The chiefs were alarmed at what had been done, and hastened to their friend De Vries for advice. They offered to pay two hundred fathoms of wampum to Van Vorst's widow, in order to purchase their peace.4 Kieft would accept of nothing less than the murderer. Him the chiefs could not, or would not surrender. Their excuse was that he had gone two days' journey off among the Tankitekes, "and besides, he was the son of a chief."5
The year 1643 opened as the last year had closed-full of doubt and gloom. In the depths of the winter the fierce Mo- hawks came down upon the Weckquaesgecks, Tankitekes and
ingkeshacky, Hackinkasacky, Hackensack, Hackinsack, Hackquinsack, Hacquin- sacq, Hackinsagh, Hachingsack, Haghkingsack, Hakkensak.
1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., N. S., ¿. , 266.
2 The name here seems to be applied to the country lying between Newark Bay and Tappaen. It was the colonie of Myndert Myndertsen van der Horst the headquarters of which were at Hackensack, " an hour's walk from Vries endael." Broadhead, i., 313.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.