USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 6
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DUTCH ADMINISTRATION.
Twiller seems to have been ill calculated to govern the colony, at so stormy a period as this. Addicted to the use of intoxica- ting liquors, he only resorted to heavier potations, when the emergency called for sober and vigorous action.
In the early part of his administration, the Dutch settlements, on the Connecticut, were established. In 1614, Adrien Blok, one of the most enterprising captains in the employ of the New Netherlands Company, had discovered this river, and named it the Fresh Water River.
In 1632, Hans Encluys, one of the servants of the West India Company, had set up the arms of the States General at Kievits Hoeck, now Saybrook Point, thus formally taking possession of the river. He had also purchased a tract of land, at that point, for the company, from the Indians.
On the Sth of June, 1633, Jacob Van Curler, under the direction of Van Twiller, purchased territory along the Con- necticut river, embracing most of the site of the present city of' Hartford, and several of the adjacent towns, of Tattoe- pan, chief of Sickenam (Little) River. On this territory he erected a fort or trading post, which he fortified with two pieces of cannon.
On the 16th of September following, a vessel commanded by Capt. Wm. Holmes, and sent by the Plymouth Colony, who had settled about Massachusetts Bay, ascended the Connecti- cut. On passing the fort, Capt. Holmes was ordered to stop ; but being in stronger force than the Dutch, he persisted ; and proceeded, (though not without repeated protests from the Dutch authorities at New Amsterdam,) to erect, a little above, the frame of a house which he had brought round in his vessel.
During this and the succeeding year, the contest between the Patroons and the Company continued to the manifest disad- vantage of both parties.
In 1635, the English at Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, sent several new colonies to the Connecticut river, one of which, under the command of Governor Winthrop, landing at Say- brook Point, tore down the arms of the States General, and carved a buffoon's face in its stead. They also refused to let the utch lan , on the tract they had purchased in 1632; and erected on the very same tract, Saybrook fort.
At the present site of Springfield, Mass., Mr. Pynchon estab- lished a trading house and a plantation: and the next year, 1636, Hooker and his followers located themselves in Hartford.
DIRECTOR KIEFT'S ADMINISTRATION.
In 1637, the mal-administration of Director Van Twiller having come to the ears of the company, William Kieft was
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appointed in his place. Director Kieft arrived in New Amster- dam in March, 1638, and found the fort greatly dilapidated ; the company's property wretchedly managed, and every thing be- tokening the prevalence of disorder. Director Van Twiller, however, had not suffered his own interests to be neglected ; his farms were well stocked, and his houses in good repair.
The new director began, with a strong hand, to reform abuses, and to improve his colony ; but he was a man of headstrong temper, who would not brook control or advice, and possessed, at the same time, a weak and ill balanced mind. Like his pre- decessor, he was addicted to intemperate habits.
In 1638, Peter Minuit, the first Director of the New Nether- lands, who had, after his dismission from that station, gone to Sweden, arrived on the coast with a Swedish colony, and settled upon the banks of the Delaware, within the limits of the territory claimed by the Dutch.
Having erected a fort there, which he named Fort Christina, after the Swedish queen, Kieft protested against his course, as an invasion of his territory : but from the weakness of his own colony, he was obliged to content himself with protesting.
In the latter part of the year 1638, the restrictions which hitherto had been placed, by the company, upon the trade to the New Netherlands, were taken off, and free traffic encouraged. This measure gave a new impulse to trade and emigration ; new farms were taken up; and a number of gentlemen of wealth and distinction removed to the colony.
Persecution, too, drove many, from New England and Virginia, to settle among the more tolerant Dutch, who, though firm in their adherence to their own creed, did not deem it necessary to persecute those who differed from them in religious tenets.
In the mean time the aggressive disposition of the English settlers still continued. They founded a colony at New Haven, notwithstanding Director Kieft's protests ; they occupied the fertile valley of the Tunxis (Farmington) river ; and even went so far as to plough and sow the company's lands around the Fort of Good Hope at Hartford, assaulting and severely wounding some of the men in charge of that post, whom they found at work in the fields.
The commander of the fort, Gysbert Op Dyck, promptly re- monstrated against this unwarrantable procedure, but the Eng- lish justified themselves on the ground, that as the lands were uncultivated, and the Dutch did nothing to improve them, "it was a sin to let such fine lands lie waste."
Not satisfied with these aggressions, the Plymouth company proceeded to grant the whole of Long Island, to the Earl of Stir- ling ; and a settlement was soon afterwards effected, by Lyon Gardiner, at Gardiner's Island.
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DUTCH ADMINISTRATION.
The Dutch, meantime, were active in establishing settlements, at the western extremity of the island. Lands were granted to settlers in Brooklyn, then called Breuckelen; at Gowanus, and at Gravenzande, now called Gravesend.
In May, 1640, a company of emigrants from Lynn, Mass., claiming authority under the Earl of Stirling's patent, com- menced a settlement near Cow Neck. The Director having learned this fact, despatched the Schout, or Sheriff, with a band of soldiers, to investigate the matter ; and, if they had actually commenced a settlement, to take them prisoners. This was ac- complished ; and after examination, they were dismissed, on con- dition, that they should leave the territory of their High Mighti- nesses, the S.ates Generi.l.
In the autumn of the same year they returned, and founded the town of Southampton, L. I. Other settlers, from the same quarter, soon after founded Southold. These settlements were not disturbed by the Dutch.
This year, a most sanguinary contest commenced, with the Indians, which continued to disturb the colony for five years; and had well nigh depopulated it. The causes of this war were many. The Indians saw, with daily increasing envy and dis- like, the heritage of their fathers occupied by strangers. The settlers, often arrogant and selfish, deprived them of their real . or imagined rights.
In addition to this, Director Kieft, acting, as he alleged, under instructions received from Holland, proceeded to lay a tax on the Indian tribes for the support of the colony. This aroused their indignation ; and unfortunately, about this time, a robbery, committed by some of the servants of the colonists, was attrib- uted to the Indians. Kieft's imprudent disposition led him to send a body of soldiers, to execute summary vengeance upon the supposed offenders. A number of them were inhumanly butchered, and their crops destroyed.
This produced deep hostility of feeling, on the part of the Indians; and the following season, with the cunning character- istic of their race, they took measures for revenge. Unexpect- edly, they attacked Staten Island, and killed several planters. Kieft sought satisfaction, by exciting a war between the Indian tribes.
Early in 1642, he determined to avenge a murder, which had been committed by one of the Indians. He accordingly called a council of twelve men, from among the citizens of New Am- sterdam, to aid him, in deciding upon the proper course to be pursued.
This council advised patience and forbearance ; and then pro- ceeded to take up the abuses of his government, and to ask for reforms. Kieft soon dismissed them, forbade their meeting
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
again, and disregarding their advice, sent a company of soldiers to attack the Indians. They were unsuccessful in finding them, and a hollow peace was concluded between the two parties. This however did not long continue.
In 1643, one of the Hackensack tribe, having been robbed by some of the Dutch, killed two of them in revenge. Kieft de- manded the murderer, but the Indians refused to deliver him up. At this juncture the Mohawks, the most formidable tribe, in the territory bordering on the Hudson and the Lakes, de- scended the river for the purpose of levying tribute from the weaker tribes, in the neighborhood of New Amsterdam.
These, terror stricken, fled to the Dutch for protection, and might have been won to sincere friendship, by kindness; but having been received kindly for a few days, they left the colony, and scattered themselves among the adjacent tribes.
It was at this period that Kieft, forgetful of the dictates of humanity, suffered himself to authorize a transaction which stains, most foully, his whole administration. At a drunken revel on the 22d of February, 1643, a petition was presented to him by some of the most blood thirsty of the inhabitants, re- questing him to order the extermination of these Indians, thus deprived of a shelter and a home. Kieft readily complied, and when the season of debauchery was past, refused to recall his order.
Two parties of soldiers were sent out at night to surprise and destroy the unsuspecting red men. One hundred and ten were killed, and thirty taken prisoners. Nor were these all warriors, who were thus butchered in their sleep. Women and children were cut to pieces, by the swords of these ruthless exterminators ; and neither age, nor sex were spared.
The consequences, as might have been expected, were, that the farms and buildings of the Dutch were burned by the exas- perated Indians ; numbers of the settlers were killed ; and in a few weeks Kieft was compelled to receive the inhabitants into the fort, as the only place which afforded protection, against the assaults of the savages. His course aroused the prejudices of the people against him; and endeavoring to throw the blame of it upon others, he was threatened with assassination.
In the autumn of 1643, the savages united together to drive the Dutch from New Amsterdam ; and almost daily, murders were committed by them. Kieft was again compelled to submit to the association of the representatives of the people, with him- self in the government.
Having received a reinforcement, from the English settlers at Westchester, in 1644, under the command of Capt. Underhill, several expeditions were undertaken against their common enemy, in which some eight hundred were slain. These re-
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DUTCH ADMINISTRATION.
sults led the Indian tribes of Long Island, and the shore adja- cent, (cast of New Amsterdam,) to sue for peace ; but it was not of long continuance. In 1645, however, a treaty was con- cluded, through the powerful intervention of the Mohawks, with most of the Indian tribes.
During this whole period, from 1640 to 1645, the English colo- nists were constantly pursuing a course of aggression, upon the territories claimed by the Dutch. Determined to harass the commander of the fort at Hartford, till he should be compelled to leave his post, they neglected no means of carrying into effect their resolution. They also proceeded to establish settle- ments, west of the Connecticut, wherever they could obtain a foothold.
On their southern frontier, too, the Swedes were depriving them of their trade with the Indians, and securing the fairest lands, watered by the Delaware and its tributaries, for their farms, notwithstanding these had been previously purchased of the native proprietors, by the Dutch.
The " Colonie" of Rensselaerwyck, meanwhile, removed from these troubles, and cultivating a friendly relation with the In- dian tribes, was peaceful and prosperous. The Patroon com- plained, indeed, that his rents were not punctually paid; but the number of his bouweries, or farms under cultivation, and the amount of exports, showed conclusively, that its interests were, on the whole, well managed.
Mindful of the religious improvement of his colonists, the Pa- troon sent over in 1642, the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, as minister of the "Colonie," who labored among them efficiently and successfully for many years.
Mr. Van Rensselaer never resided in his colony ; but confided its management to a Commissary General, or Superintendent ; which office was filled by Arendt Van Curler or Corlaer, a most worthy and excellent man; and after him by Anthony de Hooges.
The office of Schout Fiscal or Sheriff and Attorney General, was also one of great importance, and was filled by Jacob Albert- sen Planck, and afterwards by Adriaen Van der Donck.
In 1643, a church was erected on what is now Church street, near Market street, or Broadway, Albany.
In 1646, the venerable Patroon, Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, died at Amsterdam. His son Johannes succeeded him as Patroon.
In 1647, two whales ascended the Hudson, one of which grounded on an island at the mouth of the Mohawk, causing great consternation among the honest burghers.
The Assembly of the XIX. finding their colony at New Am- sterdam decreasing in numbers and wealth, and verging towards
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
destruction, under the mismanagement of Director Kieft, resolv- ed to recall him; and in 1645 appointed in his place General Peter Stuyvesant, formerly Director of the Island of Curacoa.
GOVERNOR STUYVESANT'S ADMINISTRATION.
Peter Stuyvesant, the successor of Kieft, in the government of New Netherlands, had been Director of the Dutch settlement at Curacoa and the adjacent islands ; and had acquired a high reputation for military prowess. Having been wounded in the siege of St. Martins, in 1644, he returned to Holland for surgical aid. In 1645, his health having been partially restored, the West India Company appointed him Director of their colony of New Netherlands.
Changes, however, made at his suggestion, in the organization of the colony, and the difference of opinion which existed between the different chambers of the company, relative to the propriety of these changes, prevented him from proceeding immediately to take charge of his post; and it was not till the 27th of May, 1647, that he entered upon the duties of his office. Meanwhile, the colony continued under the misrule of Director Kieft.
Though possessed of stern integrity and honesty of purpose, yet the strict military education which he had received, had im- pressed Governor Stuyvesant, with ideas of the necessity of rigid discipline, which soon involved him in contentions with the citizens. These, having tasted in their own country, some of the blessings of freedom, and witnessing, daily, the liberty enjoyed by their English neighbors, were desirous of making trial of a liberal form of government.
His first controversy was with the guardians of Johannes Van Rensselaer, son of the first Patroon, Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, who had deceased in 1646, leaving his son Johannes, then a minor, to the guardianship of Wouter Van Twiller, (the second Director,) and one Van Sleightenhorst. This controversy was kept up for a long period, and finally terminated, by a reference to the States General.
While it was pending, in 1649 and 1650, the Gemeente, or Commonalty of New Netherlands, instigated by Adriaen Van der Donck,* already mentioned as the first Attorney General of Rensselaerwyck, sent repeated remonstrances to the States General, concerning the administration of Stuyvesant, and earnestlv solicited his recall.
The States General, unwilling to act hastily, in a matter of so much importance, repeatedly appointed committees to investi- gate the charges made against him ; and on the 27th of April,
* Van der Donck seems to have been a man of considerable ability and learn- ing, but possessed of a restless and ambitious spirit. He had, previously to this period, created some disturbance at Rensselaerwyck. He evidently possessed the art of enlisting the populace in his schemes.
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1652, passed an order for his recall. Just at this juncture, a war with England commenced, and the States General, esteem- ing it highly important, that their interests in the New World should be protected, by an officer of courage and ability, on the 16th of May, rescinded their resolution of the 27th of April, and Stuyvesant retained his station.
In order to compensate, as far as possible, for this slighting the wishes of the people, the States General, in 1653, granted to the city of New Amsterdam, a charter of incorporation, making the city officers elective, and giving them jurisdiction, except in capital cases.
During this period the English, against whom Kieft had so often protested, encroached still farther upon the bounds of the Dutch. They established settlements upon the Housatonic river, and at Greenwich, upon the main land ; and crossing over to Long Island, organized colony after colony, upon its fertile lands.
In vain Stuyvesant remonstrated; in vain he attempted to remove their settlements by force, or compelled the inhabit- ants to swear allegiance to Holland. For every remonstrance they had a reply ; and against the employment of force they made threats, which the more flourishing state of their colonies, he well knew, would enable them to fulfil. They seemed as much offended at his resistance, as the Dutch were by their aggressions ; and frequently, in their controversies, laid claim to the whole territory under the king's patent, or on account of Cabot's discovery.
Wearied with these protracted disputes, Governor Stuyve- sant repaired to Hartford, in September, 1650, where the com- missioners of the colonies were in session, to adjust their diffi- culties, by a personal interview. Unsuccessful in this, he left the settlement in the hands of four deputies, two to be chosen by each party ; and, secure in the justice of his cause, appointed as his commissioners, two Englishmen, Willet and Baxter.
On the 29th of September, the commissioners reported arti- cles of agreement, relinquishing to the English, half of Long Island, and all the lands on the Connecticut, except those actu- ally occupied by the Dutch, and prohibiting the Connecticut col- onists from settling within ten miles of the Hudson.
Hard as were these conditions, Stuyvesant having once agreed to them, determined to maintain them in good faith, and obtained their ratification, from the States General, in February, 1656. The English government never ratified them, nor did the English colonists pay much regard to them, in their subsequent treat- ment of the Dutch, for in 1655 they seized, (under Cromwell's orders,) the fort at Hartford, with all its effects ; thus termina- ting, by force, the existence of that colony.
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
In 1653, a charge of conspiracy between Governor Stuyve- sant and the Indians, to massacre the inhabitants of all the New England colonies, was falsely preferred, by Connecticut and New Haven; and but for the firm resistance of Massachusetts, to so iniquitous a transaction, they would have proceeded im- mediately to destroy New Amsterdam. When this foul charge reached the ears of Governor Stuyvesant, it met with an in- dignant denial; a denial, to the truth of which, his whole life gave the fullest evidence.
In 1659, Massachusetts, pretending that the agreement made at Hartford, did not extend farther than twenty miles from the coast, claimed the land on the Hudson, above the parallel of 42ยบ, and demanded the right of free navigation of that river.
On the southern frontier, too, the Swedes were not idle. To prevent their encroachments, Stuyvesant, in 1654, erected and garrisoned fort Casimir, on the Delaware, at the site of the present town of New Castle. Risingh, the Swedish governor, soon visited it; and, having, under the guise of friendship, ob- tained admission, treacherously possessed himself of the fort.
The West India company, indignant at this perfidious act, sent orders to Stuyvesant, to reduce the Swedish settlements on the Delaware. Accordingly, in September, 1655, he left New Amsterdam, at the head of a force of nearly 700 men; and on the 16th, Fort Casimir, and on the 25th of September, Fort Christina, the head quarters of the Swedish governor, capitula- ted, without bloodshed. The terms offered by the Dutch, to the conquered, were so favorable, that most of them remained in the colony.
During Governor Stuyvesant's absence, upon this expedition, a large body of Indians, deeming it a favorable opportunity to plunder, came upon the defenceless plantations, murdered a number of the inhabitants, and robbed several farms. The re- turn of the Governor, however, put an end to their incursions.
Fort Casimir, after its recapture, became the nucleus of a colony, founded by the city of Amsterdam, and called New Am- stel. The terms offered to emigrants were so favorable, that it soon became a place of importance; and in 1657, one Alricks, was appointed Lieutenant Governor of that, and the other Dutch possessions, on the Delaware.
In 1656, Governor Stuyvesant, who was a zealous and some- what bigoted supporter of the Reformed Dutch church, impris- oned some Lutherans, who had come into the colony, and per- sisted in the observance of their own forms of worship. In 1658, he banished from the colony, a Lutheran preacher, who attempted to establish a church of his own persuasion. At Vlissingen, (now Flushing,) where the doctrines of the Qua- kers had made some progress, he attempted, but, of course, un-
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successfully, to eradicate them by fines, imprisonment, and ban- ishment. Their numbers increased with their persecution.
In 1659, Lord Baltimore protested against the settlements on the Delaware, as being within the bounds of his patent. To this protest, Stuyvesant replied on the 6th of October, setting forth the claims of the Dutch to the South, or Delaware river, and its coasts.
In 1663, a body of Indians attacked Fort Esopus, now Kings- ton, and killed sixty-five persons. Suspecting that several tribes were leagued together in these hostilities against the colo- nists, Stuyvesant assembled the magistrates of the adjacent towns, to confer on the measures necessary for the defence of the colony. Having recommended such measures as they thought advisable, the magistrates turned their attention to the civil condition of the colony, and urged in forcible language, upon the governor, and the West India Company, the right of the people to a share, in the administration of the government.
In 1653, a convention of delegates from the different towns had met in New Amsterdam, and in similar terms had remon- strated with the Governor and Company, against the abridge- ment of their rights, as citizens of Holland. But Stuyvesant, true to his military education, regarded such remonstrances, or petitions, with little favor.
On the 30th of March, 1664, Charles II., King of England, regardless of the rights of Holland, granted to his brother James, Duke of Albany and York, the whole of the New Neth- erlands. The Duke forthwith despatched Colonel Nicolls, with three ships of war, and a sufficient force, to conquer his province.
Governor Stuyvesant hearing of their approach, attempted to put the fort and town in a state of defence, but the sturdy burghers, tired of an arbitrary and despotic government, refu- sed to second his exertions. When, therefore, the fleet ap- peared before the city, and offered favorable terms, they insisted upon a capitulation. Governor Stuyvesant, angry at their want of spirit, tore the letter of Colonel Nicolls in pieces before them ; nor could he be induced to sign the articles of capitula- tion, till the 6th of September, (1664,) two days after they were prepared.
These terms were, perhaps, the most favorable ever offered to a captured city. The inhabitants were permitted to remain in the colony, if they chose, upon taking the oath of allegiance to the English crown; to retain or dispose of their property ; to elect their own local magistrates; and to enjoy their own forms of religious worship. The name of the colony and city was changed to New York.
Governor Stuyvesant, soon after the capitulation, went to Holland, but returned to New York in a few years, and spent the remainder of his life there.
4
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STATE OF NEW YORK.
THE ENGLISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
COLONEL NICOLLS having thus acquired the peaceable posses- sion of the New Netherlands, was appointed by the Duke, Gov- ernor of the province, in the autumn of 1664.
He appears to have been a man of prudence, moderation, and justice ; and though vested with almost absolute authority, used it in promoting the good of the province. During his administration, an effort was made, but unsuccessfully, to determine the boundary between New York and Connecticut.
In January, 1665, a law was passed, requiring the approval and signature of the Governor, to all deeds of lands purchased from the Indians, in order to render the titles valid. This was necessary, as the Indians frequently sold the same tract of land to different individuals.
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