USA > New York > New York City > A history of New-York : from the beginning of the world to the end of the Dutch dynasty > Part 1
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.
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
DE FOREST HUNT, M. D., GRAND RAPIDS.
MICHIGAN.
SIN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01800 4975
GENEALOGY 974.7 IR84HI
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofnewyork00irvi_5
A
HISTORY
OF
NEW-YORK,
FROM THE
BEGINNING OF THE WORLD
TO THE
END OF. THE DUTCH DYNASTY.
CONTAINING,
AMONG MANY SURPRISING AND CURIOUS MATTERS,
THIE UNUTTERABLE PONDERINGS OF WALTER THE DOUBTER. THE DISASTROUS PROJECTS OF WILLIAM THE TESTY, AND THE CHIVALRIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF PETER THE HEADSTRONG,
THE THREE DUTCH GOVERNORS OF NEW-AMSTERDAM;
Being the only Authentic History of the Times that ever hath been or ever will be published.
IN TWO VOLUMES. A NEW EDITION.
BY DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER.
VOL. I.
De waarheid bie in Duister lag, Die komt met klaarheid aan ben bag.
PHILADELPHIA: LEA & BLANCHARD.
... 1840.
ENTERED according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by WASHINGTON IRVING, in the clerk's office of the southern district of New-York.
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR, Page vil
ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC, . xix
BOOK I.
CONTAINING DIVERS INGENIOUS THEORIES AND PHILOSOPHIC SPECULATIONS, CONCERNING THE CREATION AND POPULA- TION OF THE WORLD, AS CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF NEW-YORK.
. P. I .- Description of the World, . Page 27 f ?. II .- Cosmogony, or Creation of the World; with nultitude of excellent theories, by which the creation
a world is shown to be no such difficult matter as common folk would imagine, . 35 CHAP. III .- How that famous navigator, Noah, was shamefully nicknamed ; and how he committed an un- pardonable oversight, in not having four sons. With the great trouble of philosophers caused thereby, and the discovery of America, . 46
CHAP. IV .- Showing the great difficulty Philosophers have had in peopling America-and how the Aborigines came to be begotten by accident-to the great relief and satisfaction of the Author, .
54
CHAP. V .- In which the Author puts a mighty question to the rout, by the assistance of the Man in the Moon- which not only delivers thousands of people from great embarrassment, but likewise concludes this introductory book, . 62
BOOK II.
TREATING OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF NIEUW-NEDERLANDTS.
CHAP. I .- In which are contained divers reasons why a man should not write in a hurry. Also, of Master Hen- drick Hudson, his discovery of a strange country-and
iv
CONTENTS.
how he was magnificently rewarded by the munificence of their High Mightinesses, Page 81 CHAP. II .- "Containing an account of a mighty Ark, which floated, under the protection of St. Nicholas, from Hol- land to Gibbet Island-the descent of the strange Ani- mals therefrom-a great victory, and a description of the ancient village of Communipaw, .
CHAP. III .- In which is set forth fie true art of making a bargain-together with the miraculous escape of a great Metropolis in a fog-and the biography of certain Heroes of Communipaw, . 102 CHAP. IV .- How the Heroes of Communipaw voyaged to Hell wl'in, and hogthey were received there, .. . 111 CHAPTI & QHow the Heroes of Communipaw returned OF some . ·'ser than they went-and how the sage Oloffe
dro am-and the dream that he dreamed, . .
CI
VI .- Containing an attempt at etymology-and of
the founding vi the great city of New-Amsterdam, . . 129 CHAP. VII .- How the city of New-Amsterdam waxed
great, unde, the protection of Oloffe the Dreamer, . . 138
BOOK III.
IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE GOLDEN REIGN OF WOUTER VAN TWILI ER.
CHAP. I .- Of the renowret" Wouter Van Twiller, his un- paralleled virtues-ds likewise ais unutterable wisdom in the law case of Wandle Schoonhoven and Barent Bleecher-and the great adiniration of the public thereat, 145 CHAP. II .- Containing some account of the grand council of New-Amsterdam, as also divers especial good philo- sophical reaso why an alderman should be fat-with
other particula . touching the state of the province, . . 154 CHAP. III .- How the town of New-Amsterdam arose out of mud, and came to be marvellously polished and polite -together with a picture of the manners of our great- grea .- grandfathers, . . . 165 CHAP. IV .- Containing farther particulars of the Golden Age, and what constituted a fine Lady and Gentleman in the days of Walter the Doubter, . 174
CONTENTS.
CHAP. V .- In which the reader is beguiled into a delecta- ble walk, which ends very differently from what it com- menced,. . Page 181 CHAP. VI .- Faithfully describing the ingenious people of . Connecticut and thereabouts-Showing, moreover, the true meaning of liberty of conscience, and a curious de- + vice among these sturdy barbarians, to keep up a har- mony of intercourse, and pronote population, . . . 187 CHAP. VII .- How these singular barba. ians turned out to be notorious squatters-how they built air castles, and attempted to initiate the Nede anders in the mystery of bundling, . 194
CHAP. VIII .- How the Fort Goed Hoc; was fearf. leaguered-how the renowned Wouter fell in :410- found doubt, and how he finally evaporated, . 20"?
BOOK IV.
CONTAINING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM THE TESTY.
CHAP. I .- Showing the nature of history in gene. 2, con- taining furthermore the universal ac wirements of Wil- liam the Testy, and how a man may leari. so much as :o render himself good for nothing, . 209
CHAP. II .- In which are recorde' the sage projects of a ruler of universal genius -the art of fighting by procla- mation-and how that the valiant Jacobus Van Curlet came to be foully dishonoured t Fort Goed Hoop, . . 220 CHAP. III .-- Containing the fearful wrath of William the Testy, and the great dolour of the New-Amsterdammers, because of the affair of Fort Goed Ho. and, more- over, how William the Testy did strongly fortify the city-together with the exploits of Stoffel Brinkerhoff, 229 CHAP. IV .- Philosophical reflections on the folly of being happy in times of prosperity-Sundry troubles on the southern frontiers-How William the Testy had well nigh ruined the province, through a cabalistic word- As also the secret expedition of Jan Jansen Alpendam, and his astonishing reward, . 238
A 2
VI
CONTENTS.
CHAP. V .- How William the Testy enriched the province by a multitude of laws, and came to be the patron of lawyers and bum-bailiffs-and how the people became exceedingly enlightened and unhappy under his instruc- tions, . Page 248 CHAP. VI .- Of the great pipe plot-and of the dolorous perplexities into which William the Testy was thrown,
by reason of his having enlightened the multitude, . . 258 CHAP. VII .- Containing divers fearful accounts of Bor- der Wars, and the flagrant outrages of the Moss- troopers of Connecticut-with the rise of the great Amphyctionic Council of the east, and the decline of William the Testy, . . 266
ACCOUNT
OF P
THE AUTHOR.
IT was some time, if I recollect right, in the early part of the autumn of 1808, that a stranger applied for lodgings at the Independent Columbian Hotel in Mulberry-street, of which I am landlord. He was a small, brisk-looking old gentleman, dressed in a rusty black coat, a pair of olive velvet breeches, and a small cocked hat. He had a few gray hairs plaited and clubbed behind, and his beard seemed to be of some eight-and-forty hours' growth. The only piece of finery which he bore about him, was a bright pair of square silver shoe-buckles, and all his baggage was contained in a pair of saddle-bags, which he carried under his arm. His whole appearance was something out of the common run; and my wife, who is a very shrewd body, at once set him down for some eminent country schoolmaster.
As the Independent Columbian Hotel is a very small house, I was a little puzzled at first where to put him ; but my wife, who seemed taken with his looks, would needs put him in her best chamber, which is genteelly set off with the profiles of the whole family, done in black, by those two great
vili
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
painters, Jarvis and Wood; and commands a very pleasant view of the new grounds on the Collect, to- gether with the rear of the Poor-House and Bride- well, and a full front of the Hospital; so that it is the cheerfulest room in the whole house.
During the whole time that he stayed with us, we found him a very worthy good sort of an old gentle man, though a little queer in his ways. He would keep in his room for days together, and if any of the children cried, or made a noise about his door, he would bounce out in a great passion, with his hands full of papers, and say something about " deranging his ideas ;" which made my wife believe sometimes that he was not altogether compos. Indeed, there was more than one reason to make her think so, for his room was always covered with scraps of paper and old mouldy books, laying about at sixcs and sevens, which he would never let any body touch ; for he said he had laid them all away in their proper places, so that he might know where to find them ; though for that matter, he was half his time worrying about the house in search of some book or writing which he had carefully put out of the way. I shall never forget what a pother he once made, because my wife cleaned out his room when his back was turned, and put every thing to rights ; for he swore he would never be able to get his papers in order again in a twelvemonth. Upon this my wife ven- tured to ask him what he did with so many books and papers ? and he told her that he was " seeking for immortality;" which made her think more than
1X
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
ever, that the poor old gentleman's head was a little cracked.
He was a very inquisitive body, and when not in his room was continually poking about town, hearing all the news, and prying into every thing that was going on: this was particularly the case about elec- tion time, when he did nothing but bustle about from poll to poll, attending all ward meetings and com- mittee rooms ; though I could never find that he took part with either side of the question. On the con- trary, he would come home and rail at both parties with great wrath-and plainly proved one day, to the satisfaction of my wife and three old ladies who were drinking tea with her, that the two parties werc like two rogues, each tugging at a skirt of the nation ; and that in the end they would tear the very coat off its back, and expose its nakedness. Indeed, he was an oracle among the neighbours, who would collect around him to hear him talk of an afternoon, as he smoked his pipe on the bench before the door ; and I really believe he would have brought over the whole neighbourhood to his own side of the question, if they could ever have found out what it was.
He was very much given to argue, or, as he called it, philosophize, about the most trifling matter ; and to do him justice, I never knew any body that was a match for him, except it was a grave-looking old gentleman who called now and then to see him, and often posed him in an argument. But this is nothing surprising, as I have since found out this stranger is the city librarian ; and, of course, must be a man of
X
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
great learning : and I have my doubts, if he had not some hand in the following history.
As our lodger had been a long time with us, and we had never received any pay, my wife began to be somewhat uneasy, and curious to find out who and what he was. She accordingly made bold to put the question to his friend, the librarian, who replied in his dry way that he was one of the literati, which she supposed to mean some, new party in politics. I scorn to push a lodger for his pay ; so I let day after day pass on without dunning the old gentleman for a farthing : but my wife, who always takes these matters on herself, and is, as I said, a shrewd kind of a woman, at last got out of patience, and hinted, that she thought it high time "some people should have a sight of some people's money." To which the old . gentleman replied, in a mighty touchy manner, that she need not make herself uneasy, for that he had a treasure there, (pointing to his saddle-bags,) worth her whole house put together. This was the only answer we could ever get from him ; and as my wife, by some of those odd ways in which women find out every thing, learnt that he was of very great connex- ions, being related to the Knickerbockers of Scagh- tikoke, and cousin-german to the Congress-man of that name, she did not like to treat him uncivilly. What is more, she even offered, merely by way of making things easy, to let him live scot-free, if he would teach the children their letters; and to try her best and get her neighbours to send their chil- dren also : but the old gentleman took it in such
x1
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
dudgeon, and seemed so affronted at being taken for a schoolmaster, that she never dared speak on the subject again.
About two months ago, he went out of a morning, with a bundle in his hand-and has never been heard of since. All kinds of inquiries were made after him, but in vain. I wrote to his relations at Scagh- ¿koke, but they sent for answer, that he had not been there since the year before last, when he had a great dispute with the Congress-man about politics, and left the place in a huff, and they had neither heard nor seen any thing of him from that time to this. I must own I felt very much worried about the poor old gentleman, for I thought something bad must have happened to him, that he should be missing so long, and never return to pay his bill. I therefore adver- tised him in the newspapers, and though my melan- choly advertisement was published by several humane printers, yet I have never been able to learn any thing satisfactory about him.
My wife now said it was high time to take care of ourselves, and see if he had left any thing behind in his room, that would pay us for his board and lodging. We found nothing, however, but some old books and musty writings, and his saddle-bags which, being opened in the presence of the librarian, contained only a few articles of worn-out clothes, and a large bundle of blotted paper. On looking over this, the librarian told us, he had no doubt it was the treasure which the old gentleman had spoke about ; as it proved to be a most excellent and faith-
xii
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
ful HISTORY OF NEW-YORK, which he advised us by all means to publish : assuring us that it would be so eagerly bought up by a discerning public, that he had no doubt it would be enough to pay our arrears ten times over. Upon this we got a very learned school- master, who teaches our children, to prepare it for the press, which he accordingly has done; and has moreover, added to it a number of valuable notes of his own.
This, therefore, is a true statement of my reasons for having this work printed, without waiting for the consent of the author : and I here declare, that if he ever returns, (though I much fear some unhappy ac- cident has befallen him,) I stand ready to account with him like a true and honest man. Which is all at present,
From the public's humble Serv't.
SETH HANDASIDE. 1
independent Columbian Hotel, New-York.
THE foregoing account of the author was prefixed to the first edition of this work. Shortly after its publication a letter was received from him, by Mr. Handaside, dated at a small Dutch village on the banks of the Hudson, whither he had travelled for the 'purpose of inspecting certain ancient records. As this was one of those few and happy villages, into which newspapers never find their way, it is not a
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
matter of surprise, that Mr. Knickerbocker should never have seen the numerous advertisements that were made concerning him ; and that he should learn of the publication of his history by mere accident.
He expressed much, concern at its premature appearance, as thereby he was prevented from mak- ing several important corrections and alterations; as well as from profiting by many curious hints which . he had collected during his travels along the shores of the Tappaan Sea, and his sojourn at Haverstraw and Esopus.
Finding that there was no longer any immediate necessity for his return to New-York, he extended his journey up to the residence of his relations at Scaghtikoke. On his way thither, he stopped for some days at Albany, for which city he is known to have entertained a great partiality. He found it, however, considerably altered, and was much con- cerned at the inroads and improvements which the Yankees were making, and the consequent decline of the good old Dutch manners. Indeed, he was in- . formed that these intruders were making sad innova- tions in all parts of the State; where they had given great trouble and vexation to the regular Dutch settlers, by the introduction of turnpike gates, and country school-houses. It is said also, that Mr. Knickerbocker shook his head sorrowfully at notic- ing the gradual decay of the great Vander Heyden palace ; but was highly indignant at finding that the ancient Dutch church, which stood in the middle of the street, had been pulled down, since his last visit. Vor I
B
xiv
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
The fame of Mr. Knickerbocker's history having reached even to Albany, he received much flattering attention from its worthy burghers, some of whom however, pointed out two or three very great errors he had fallen into, particularly that of suspending a lump of sugar over the Albany tea-tables, which, they assur ed him, had been discontinued for some years past. Several families, moreover, were somewhat piqued that their ancestors had not been mentioned in his work, and showed great jealousy of their neighbours who had been thus distinguished ; while the latter, it must be confessed, plumed themselves vastly there- upon ; considering these recordings in the light of letters-patent of nobility, establishing their claims to ancestry-which, in this republican country, is a matter of no little solicitude and vain glory.
It is also said, that he enjoyed high favour and countenance from the governor, who once asked him to dinner, and was seen two or three times to shake hands with him, when they met in the street ; which certainly was going great lengths, considering that they differed in politics. Indeed, certain of the governor's confidential friends, to whom he could venture to speak his mind freely on such matters have assured us, that he privately entertained a con siderable good-will for our author-nay, he even once went so far as to declare, and that openly too, and at his own table, just after dinner, that " Knick- erbocker was "a very well-meaning sort of an old gentleman, and no fool." From all which, many have been led to suppose, that had our author been
XV
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
of different politics, and written for the newspapers, instead of wasting his talents on histories, he might have risen to some post of honour and profit ; perad- venture, to be a notary public, or even a Justice in the Ten Pound Court.
Beside the honours and civilities already mention- cd, he was much caressed by the literati of Albany ; particularly by Mr. John Cook, who entertained him very hospitably at his circulating library and reading- room, where they used to drink Spa water, and talk about the ancients. He found Mr. Cook a man after his own heart-of great literary research, and a curious collector of books. At parting, the latter, in testimony of friendship, made him a present of the two oldest works in his collection ; which were the earliest edition of the Hiedelburgh Catechism, and Adrian Vander Donck's famous account of the New- Netherlands : by the last of which, Mr. Knicker- bocker profited greatly in this his second edition.
Having passed some time very agreeably at Albany, our author proceeded to Scaghtikoke; where, it is but justice to say, he was received with open arms, and treated with wonderful loving-kindness. He was much looked up to by the family, being the first historian of the name ; and was considered almost as great a man as his cousin the Congress-man-with whom, by-the-bye, he became perfectly reconciled, and contracted a strong friendship.
In spite, however, of the kindness of his relations, and their great attention to his comforts, the old gentleman soon became restless and discontented.
XVI
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR
His history being published, he had no longer any business to occupy his thoughts, or any scheme to cx- cite his hopes and anticipations. This, to a busy mind like his, was a truly deplorable situation ; and, had he not been a man of inflexible morals and regular habits, there would have been great danger of his taking to politics, or drinking-both which pernicious vices we daily see men driven to, by mere spleen and idleness.
It is true, he sometimes employed himself in pre- paring a second edition of his history, wherein he endeavoured to correct and improve many passages with which he was dissatisfied, and to rectify some mistakes that had crept into it; for he was particu- larly anxious that his work should be noted for its au- thenticity ; which, indeed, is the very life and soul of history .- But the glow of composition had departed -he had to leave many places untouched, which he would fain have altered ; and even where he did make alterations; he seemed always in doubt whether they were for the better or the worse.
After a residence of some time at Scaghtikoke, he began to feel a strong desire to return to New-York, which he ever regarded with the warmest affection; not merely because it was his native city, but because he really considered it the very best city in the whole world. On his return, he entered into the full enjoyment of the advantages of a literary reputation He was continually importuned to write advertise ments, petitions, hand-bills, and productions of simi lar import ; and, although he never meddled with the
xvii
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
public papers, yet had he the credit of writing innu- merable essays, and smart things, that appeared on all subjects, and all sides of the question ; in all which he was clearly detected " by his style."
He contracted, moreover, a considerable debt at the post-office, in consequence of the numerous let- ters he received from authors and printers soliciting his subscription ; and he was applied to by every charitable society for yearly donations, which he gave very cheerfully, considering these applications as so many compliments. He was once invited to a great corporation dinner; and was even twice sun- moned to attend as a juryman at the court of quarter sessions. Indeed, so renowned did he become, that he could no longer pry about, as formerly, in all holes and corners of the city, according to the bent of his humour, unnoticed and uninterrupted ; but several times when he has been sauntering the streets, on his usual rambles of observation, equipped with his cane and cocked hat, the little boys at play have been known to cry, " there goes Diedrich !"-at which the old gentleman seemed not a little pleased, looking upon these salutations in the light of the praises of posterity.
In a word, if we take into consideration all these various honours and distinctions, together with an exuberant eulogium, passed on him in the Port Folio -- (with which, we are told, the old gentleman was so much overpowered, that he was sick for two or three days)-it must be confessed, that few authors have ever lived to receive such illustrious rewards,
B 2
xviII
ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR.
or have so completely enjoyed in advance their own immortality.
After his return from Scaghtikoke, Mr. Knicker- bocker took up his residence at a little rural retreat, which the Stuyvesants had granted him on the family domain, in gratitude for his honourable mention of their ancestor. It was pleasantly situated on the borders of one of the salt marshes beyond Corlcar's Hook: subject, indeed, to be occasionally over- . flowed, and much infested, in the summer time, with musquitoes ; but otherwise very agreeable, producing abundant crops of salt grass and bull-rushes.
Here, we are sorry to say, the good old gentleman fell dangerously ill of a fever, occasioned by the neighbouring marshes. When he found his end ap- proaching, he disposed of his worldly affairs, leaving the bulk of his fortune to the New-York Historical Society ; his Hiedelburgh Catechism, and Vander Donck's work, to the city library ; and his saddle- bags to Mr. Handaside. He forgave all his enemies, -that is to say, all who bore any enmity towards him ; for as to himself, he declared he died in good- will with all the world. And, after dictating several kind messages to his relations at Scaghtikoke, as well. as to certain of our most substantial Dutch citizens, he expired in the arms of his friend the librarian.
His remains were interred, according to his own request, in St. Mark's churchyard, close by the bones of his favourite hero, Peter Stuyvesant: and it is rumoured, that the Historical Society have it in mind to erect a wooden monument to his memory in the Bowling-Green.
TO THE PUBLIC.
" To rescue from oblivion the memory of former incidents, and to render a just tribute of renown to the many great and wonderful transactions of our Dutch progenitors, Diedrich Knickerbocker, native of the city of New-York, produces this historical essay."* Like the great Father of History, whose words I have just quoted, I treat of times long past, over which the twilight of uncertainty had already thrown its shadows, and the night of forgetfulness was about to descend for ever. With great solici- tude had I long beheld the early history of this ven- erable and ancient city gradually slipping from our grasp, trembling on the lips of narrative old age, and day by day dropping piecemeal into the tomb. In a · little while, thought I, and those reverend Dutch burghers, who serve as the tottering monuments of good old times, will be gathered to their fathers ; their children, engrossed by the empty pleasures or insignificant transactions of the present age, will neglect to treasure up the recollections of the past, and posterity will search in vain for memorials of the days of the Patriarchs. The origin of our city will be buried in eternal oblivion, and even the
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.