USA > New York > Kings County > Williamsburgh > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 4
USA > New York > Kings County > Bushwick > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 4
USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 4
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1 The Wallabout Bay.
2 See chapter on "Early Settlers and Patents."
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
there, however, by the Dutch soldiery whom Kieft dispatched thither, they subsequently settled the town of Southampton, in the present county of Suffolk ; and shortly after Southold was occupied by a company from the New Haven Colony. Both of these English colonies were allowed to pursue their way unmolested by the Dutch government at Fort Amsterdam.
While thus adding to the company's domains, Kieft also gave to the administrative affairs of the province the attention which they had so long needed; instituted various charges in subordinate officers ; vigorously enforced discipline among the company's soldiers and workmen at Manhattan, and strictly forbade the selling of firearms to the Indians. This latter practice, indeed, was one of the growing evils which were now beginning seriously to disturb the friendly relations which had, heretofore, existed between the Dutch and their savage neighbors. Contrary to all existing orders, as well as to every dictate of prudence, a brisk traffic in guns and ammunition had sprung up between the Rensselaer- wyck colonists and "free-traders," and the Mohawks, until the latter could number some four hundred warriors thus armed, and, of course, became more insolent and oppressive to all the other tribes. To the River Indians, who, in consequence of the strict poliee regulations maintained in and around Manhattan, were unable to obtain these much-coveted weapons, this seeming partiality shown to their dreaded foes by the Dutch, was a just source of annoyance and jealousy. Then, again, the colonists, in their eagerness to pursue the fur-trade, frequently neglected their farms, and their cattle straying loose often inflicted serious damage upon the unfenced cornfields of the savages, who, finding their complaints disregarded, resorted to retaliatory measures, and thus hard feelings were engendered on both sides. In their dealings with the Indians, also, too many of the traders indulged in an "excessive familiarity" with them, which naturally bred in the minds of the latter a contempt for men who, despite their apparent friendliness, did not always treat them with perfect fairness. Many of the Dutch, moreover, employed some of these savages as domestic servants, and the Indians had thus become fully informed of the numerical strength, habits, and circumstances of the colonists.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
It will easily be seen, then, that but little provocation was needed to bring matters to an open rupture; nor was the occasion long wanting. Director Kieft, under the plea that the company's expenses were unusually heavy, demanded a contribution or tax of maize, furs, and sewan from the neighboring Indians. This act of mean- ness filled the measure of the red man's wrath to overflowing; and so sudden and imminent appeared the danger, that Kieft ordered the people to arm themselves and to be prepared against any sudden assault. Some depredations on the settlement at Staten Island occurred at this juncture, which were unjustly imputed to the Raritan Indians, and furnished an excuse for sending an ex- pedition against them, which killed a few of them, destroyed their crops, and sowed the seeds of a long and bloody war.
By this time, under the authority of the States-General, the long- existing differences between the patroons and the company had resulted in the formation of a new "Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions, for all patroons, masters, and private persons," which, on the 19th of July, 1640, was officially approved and promulgated. The main features of this important document, which materially amended the obnoxious charter of 1629, are thus ably presented by our latest State historian.1 " All good inhabitants of the Nether- lands" were now allowed to select lands and form colonies, which, however, were to be reduced in size. Instead of four Dutch miles, they were limited to one mile along the shore of a bay or navigable river, and two miles into the country. A free right of way by land and water was reserved to all ; and, in case of dispute, the director- general of New Netherland was to decide. The feudal privileges of erecting towns and appointing their officers ; the high, middle, and lower jurisdiction ; and the exclusive right of hunting, fishing, fowl- ing, and grinding corn, were continued to the patroons as an estate of inheritance, with descent to females as well as males. On every such change of ownership, the company was to receive a pair of iron gauntlets and twenty guilders, within one year. Besides the patroons, another class of proprietors was now established. Who- ever should convey to New Netherland five grown persons besides
1 Brodhead, i. 311-313.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
himself, was to be recognized as a 'master or colonist ;' and could occupy two hundred acres of land, with the privilege of hunting and fishing. If settlements of such colonists should increase in numbers, towns and villages might be formed, to which municipal governments were promised. The magistrates in such towns were to be appointed by the director and council, 'from a triple nomina- tion of the best qualified in the said towns and villages.' From these courts, and from the courts of the patroons, an appeal might lie to the director and council at Manhattan. The company guar- anteed protection, in case of war, to all the colonists, but each adult male emigrant was bound to provide himself, before he left Holland, with a proper musket, or a hanger and side-arms. The commercial privileges, which the first charter had restricted to the patroons, were now extended to all 'free colonists,' and to all the stock- holders in the company. Nevertheless, the company adhered to a system of onerous imposts, for its own benefit, and required a duty of ten per cent. on all goods shipped to New Netherland, and of five per cent. on all return cargoes, excepting peltries, which were to pay ten per cent. to the director at Manhattan before they could be exported. All shipments from New Netherland were to be landed at the company's warehouses in Holland. The prohibition of manufactures within the province was, however, abolished. The company renewed its pledge to send over 'as many blacks as possible,' and disclaiming any interference with the 'high, middle, and lower jurisdiction' of the patroons, reserved to itself supreme and sovereign authority over New Netherland, promising to appoint and support competent officers 'for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the wicked.' The provincial director and council were to decide all questions concerning the rights of the company, and all complaints, whether by foreigners or inhabitants of the province ; to act as an Orphan's and Surrogate's Court ; to judge in criminal and religious affairs, and generally to administer law and justice. No other religion savo that then taught and exercised by authority, in the Reformed Church in the United Provinces, was to be publiely sanctioned in New Netherland, where the company bound itself to maintain proper preachers, schoolmasters, and com- forters of the sick."
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
The prosperity of New Netherland was greatly quickened by this charter. New colonies were successfully founded on the North River, in the Valley of the Hackensack and on Staten Island; the municipal affairs of New Amsterdam were better regulated, and the currency of the province was reformed. This consisted, at the time, almost exclusively of sewan or wampum, of which that manufactured on Long Island and at Manhattan was esteemed the most valuable. Of this " good, splendid" variety, four beads were deemed equivalent to one stiver ; but, by degrees, a large quantity of inferior wampum, loose and unstrung, had got into circulation, which had so far depreciated in the market, as to call for legislative interference. The council, therefore, ordered that thenceforth the loose kind should pass at the rate of six for a stiver ; and the only reason that it was not wholly prohibited, was "because there was no other coin in circulation, and the laborers, boors, and other common people having no other money, would be great losers." Two annual fairs, one for cattle and another for swine, were also established at Man- hattan, in September, 1641.
At this juncture, a sudden attack made by the Raritans upon the settlement at Staten Island, together with certain hostile demon- strations on the part of the Weckquaesgeeks, gave indication that the smouldering fires of savage resentment were about to burst forth in flames of war and destruction. The director, appalled at the imminence of the danger, was yet unwilling to take the responsibility of the initiative step of retaliation, from fear of the people, who already reproached him with folly in provoking the war, as well as . with personal cowardice. He, therefore, convened all the masters and heads of families at Manhattan, on the 23d of August, and sub- mitted to them the question of declaring war against the savages. The assembly promptly chose " Twelve Select Men," all Hollanders, to consider upon his propositions.1 Their counsel was for pre- serving peace with the Indians as long as possible ; or, at least, until the Dutch settlements throughout the country should be more numerous and better able to maintain and defend themselves. Dis-
1 Among these "Twelve Men" were Jacques Bentyn, the Gowanus settler ; Frederick Lubbertsen, a large landholder though not a resident, in the same vicinity ; and George Rapalie, of the Wallabout.
3
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
appointed in their verdict, the director endeavored, in various ways, to secure their unconditional consent to his plan of an aggressive war; but the Twelve Men remained unshaken in their opinion, and succeeded in averting actual hostilities until the beginning of the following year. Early in January, 1641, Kieft again convened the Twelve Men, and, finally, wrung from them a consent, " conditional, specific, and limited," to the sending out of an expedition against the Weckquaesgeeks. But, while the representatives of the people unwillingly conceded this much to the director's wishes, they seized the opportunity to demand certain reforms in the colonial govern- ment : viz., that the council should be reorganized and its numbers increased to five; that, in order "to save the land from oppression," four persons, elected by the commonalty, should assist at the council, two of which four should be annually elected by the people ; that judicial proceedings should be held only before a full board ; that the right of free trade should be granted to all colonists, on payment of the company's imposts; that the militia should be re- organized and properly equipped ; and that, to prevent the currency of the colony from being exported, its nominal value should be increased. Jealous of his own rights, which he saw to be limited by these popular demands, Kieft was aware that some concessions must be made, in order to secure their acquiescence in the war which he was so anxious to commence. He, therefore, partially granted some of the least important points demanded ; and, with a significant hint that he thought they had somewhat exceeded the powers for which they had been especially convened, he dissolved the Twelve Men, thanking them for their advice, and forbidding, in future, any calling of assemblies of the people, without the express order of the director. Early in March following, the expedition against the Weckquaesgeeks set forth, and though it was partially futile, it had the effect of inducing the savages to sue for a peace, which, however, proved to be but a temporary respite.
At Manhattan, which was now becoming, more than ever, a stop- ping-place for transient visitors from New England and Virginia, the director built, in 1642, a "fine hotel," and also a church, both of stone; and, in consequence of the 'large number of Englishmen who were now flocking to New Netherland-rendering necessary
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
the services of an interpreter-one George Baxter was appointed " English Secretary" with a handsome salary.
A public ferry was, by this time, permanently established between Manhattan and Long Island. The landing-place on the New Amsterdam side was at the present Peck Slip, where was a ferry- house, kept by CORNELIS DIRCKSEN (HOOGLANT) the ferryman. The landing-place on this side of the river was at the foot of the present Fulton-street, Brooklyn, near which Dircksen also owned "a house and garden." Southwardly from " The Ferry," along the present "Brooklyn Heights" and the East River shore, stretched the farms of CLAES CORNELISSEN VAN SCHOUW (MENTELAER), JAN MANJE, ANDRIES HUDDE, JACOB WOLPHERTSEN (VAN COUWENHOVEN), and others ; while Red Hook had become the property of ex-Governor VAN TWILLER.
1136724
Religious persecution was, at this time, driving from New England, many pure-minded and gifted men, who found in New Netherland the toleration denied them by their own country and brethren. Thus, courteously treated and favored with liberal patents of land from the Dutch Government, the Rev. John Doughty, with his fol- lowers, settled at Maspeth (now Newtown) on Long Island ; Throg- morton settled at Throg's Neck, Westchester County; and the celebrated Anne Hutchinson and her family, driven from New Haven, found refuge at New Rochelle.
On the South River, by the combined efforts of the Dutch and Swedes, who, in this, made common cause, the English were effectu- ally cleared out ; but, on the Connecticut, the Dutchman was sorely pressed to hold his own against the colonists of Massachusetts.
The year 1643 was to New Netherland, as to New England, "a year of blood." Indian uprisings and "rumors of wars" were on every side. Anxiety and terror hung like a cloud over Fort Amsterdam and the neighboring settlements. An Indian murder at Hackensack was followed by a descent of the dreaded Mohawks upon the River tribes, which sent the latter rushing for refuge to the vicinity of the white settlements at Vriesendael, Pavonia, and even Manhattan Island, where at "Corlaer's Bouwery" a few Rockaway Indians from Long Island, with their chief Nainde Nummerus, had already established their wigwams. Had the
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
counsels of wisdom prevailed, these River Indians-now panting fugitives, and grateful for the shelter afforded them by the proximity of the white man's settlements-might easily have been gained over to a lasting friendship. It was, however, the old story of the dove flying to the eagle's nest for protection. At a supper at which Kieft was present, a petition was handed to him by two or three of the Twelve Men of the previous year, urging him to avenge the wrongs of the Dutch by an immediate attack upon these unsus- peeting refugee Indians. Delighted with the prospect of, at last, accomplishing his darling wish, he gladly accepted the advice of the Twelve; ignoring the fact that they had been dissolved, and that he had pronounced their functions limited. In vain, Dominie Bogardus counselled peace and humanity ; La Montagne begged him to wait for the arrival of the next ship from home before pro- eceding to extremities ; and De Vries contended that no warlike step could be taken without the full consent of the people, and pro- tested that the petition upon which he was acting, was not the expression of the Board of Twelve. The dogged director would not yield ; two expeditions were secretly sent forth, on the night of the 25th of February, 1643, against Pavonia and Corlaer's Hook ; and, at midnight, these poor Indians, sleeping safe, as they thought, from attack by their mortal foes, the Mohawks, were remorselessly butchered, to the number of eighty at the former place and forty at the latter. The story of that night is one of the saddest and foulest, because the meanest, upon the pages of New Netherland's history.
The success of this discreditable exploit naturally provoked emulation, and some of the settlers residing within the limits of the present city of Brooklyn sought permission from the director to attack the Marechkawieeks, who still retained some of their planting-grounds in that neighborhood.' Kieft, however, yielding to the counsels of Dominie Bogardus and others, refused his assent on the ground that the Marechkawieeks had always been very friendly to the Dutch, and, moreover, were "hard to conquer," and
1 Brodhead says (i. 353) : " Wolfertsen and some of his neighbors at New Amersfoort" were the actors in this outrage. The petition, however (see Appendix No. 3), is signed by five persons, three of whom, at least, were, at this time, residents of territory included within the subsequent towns of Brooklyn and Bushwick.
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
that it was not wise to add to the number of their declared foes. If, however, the Indians showed any signs of hostility, each colonist might adopt such measures of defence as he saw fit. The proviso was an unfortunate one; for, to those who seek a quarrel opportunity is never long wanting ; and, ere long, some movements of the Marechkawiecks were conveniently construed into signs of hostility. Straightway, a secret expedition plundered two wagon- loads of corn from the Indians, three of whom were killed in the attempt to rescue their property. Up to this time, the Long Island Indians had been the constant friends of the Dutch, but this crowning act of injustice filled them with bitterest contempt and hatred. They immediately made common cause with the River Indians, who, by this time, had discovered that the midnight massacres at Pavonia and "Corlaer's" were the work of the Dutch ; and war was declared against the faithless whites. From the shores of the Raritan to the valley of the Hackensack, the tomahawk was dug up and the war-paint was put on. Eleven tribes rose, as one man, and throughout the length and breadth of New Netherland, Death, Fire, and Captivity threatened unspeakable horrors to farmer and soldier, to women and children, to old and young, to rich and poor alike. From every outlying settlement the terrified colonists fled to Fort Amsterdam, and crazed by their despair and reproaches, the director hurriedly adopted such measures as he could for the common safety. He found himself obliged to take all the males into the company's service, as paid soldiers, for two months. He, also, sent a friendly message to the Long Island Indians, to which the indignant savages would not listen. Standing afar off, they derided his messenger, calling out, "Are ye our friends ? Ye are merely corn-thieves." Amid the general distress, cooped up in the fort together with trembling fugitives, the victims of his own rashness, and compelled daily to hear the reproaches which his conscience told him were merited, the valiant director scarce knew which way to turn; and so, he proclaimed a day of general fasting and prayer. But, while the people humbled themselves before the Almighty, they held the director strictly responsible; and, alarmed for his own safety, he endeavored to foist the odium of the situation upon the freemen, whose advice he
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
claimed to have followed. The indignant burghers, however, re- minded him that he had dissolved the Board of Twelve and for- bidden all assemblies of freemen.
" Meanwhile," says the historian,1 " the Long Island Indians had begun to relent. Spring was at hand, and they desired to plant their corn. Three delegates from the wigwams of Penhawitz, their 'great chief,' approached Fort Amsterdam, bearing a white flag. ' Who will go to meet them ?' demanded Kieft. None were willing but De Vries and Jacob Olfertsen. 'Our chief has sent us,' said the savages, 'to know why you have killed his people, who have never laid a straw in your way, nor done you aught but good ? Come and speak to our chief upon the sea-coast.' Setting out with the Indian messengers, De Vries and Olfertsen, in the evening, came to 'Rechqua-aike,' or Rockaway, where they found nearly three hundred savages, and about thirty wigwams. The chief, ' who had but one eye,' invited them to pass the night in his cabin, and regaled them with oysters and fish. At break of day, the envoys from Manhattan were conducted into the woods about four hundred yards off, where they found sixteen chiefs of Long Island waiting for their coming. Placing the two Europeans in the centre, the chiefs seated themselves around in a ring, and their 'best speaker' arose, holding in his hand a bundle of small sticks. ' When you first came to our coasts,' slowly began the orator, ' you sometimes had no food ; we gave you our beans and corn, and relieved you with our oysters and fish ; and now, for recompense, you murder our people ;' and he laid down a little stick. 'In the beginning of your voyages, you left your people here with their goods; we traded with them while your ships were away, and cherished them as the apple of our eye; wo gave them our daughters for companions, who have borne children, and many Indians have sprung from the Swannekens; and now you villainously massacre your own blood.' The chief laid down another stick ; many more remained in his hand; but De Vries, cutting short the reproachful catalogue, invited the chiefs to accompany him to Fort Amsterdam, where the director 'would give them presents to make
1 Brodhead, i. 358, 359
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
a peace.' The chiefs, assenting, ended their orations, and present- ing De Vries and his colleague each with ten fathoms of wampum, the party set out for their canoes, to shorten the return of the Dutch envoys. While waiting for the tide to rise, an armed Indian, who had been dispatched by a sachem twenty miles off, came running to warn the chiefs against going to Manhattan. 'Are you all crazy, to go to the fort,' said he, 'where that scoundrel lives, who has so often murdered your friends ?' But De Vries assured them that ' they would find it otherwise, and come home again with large presents.' One of the chiefs replied at once: 'Upon your words we will go; for the Indians have never heard lies from you, as they have from other Swannekens.' Embarking in a large canoe, the Dutch envoys, accompanied by eighteen Indian delegates, set out from Rockaway, and reached Fort Amsterdam about three o'clock in the afternoon." A treaty was presently made with these Long Island savages, and, through their aid and influence, with the River tribes. But confidence was not fully restored ; and in September following, hostilities again broke out, and the atrocities committed by the savages on the North River struck consternation to the hearts of the Dutch at Fort Amsterdam. Kieft again summoned the people to council, and they elected Eight Men to represent them in the deliberations concerning "the critical condition of the country." They advised that peace should be maintained with the Long Island Indians, and that they should be encouraged to become allies in war; but, that war should be actively prosecuted against the River Indians; and that a large force of militia should be forth- with enlisted and equipped. Before these preparations could be effected, however, the Indians fell upon the Westchester settlements, Maspeth, and Gravesend, all of which, except the latter, were laid waste. Long Island, in the language of an eye-witness, was "almost destitute of inhabitants and stock;" while from the Highlands of Neversink to the valley of Tappan, the Indian rule became more supreme. Even Manhattan Island was daily threatened; and seven allied tribes, " well supplied with musket, powder, and ball," hovered menacingly around the insufficient fort at New Amsterdam, where trembling families were closely huddled together, and the cattle were beginning to starve for lack of forage. "Fear coming more
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HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
over the land," the Eight Men were again convoked, but the director adopted only one of their sensible suggestions : viz., that armed assistance should be sought from their English neighbors. The New Haven Colony, however, to whom application was made, declined, alleging among other reasons that they were not satisfied " that the Dutch war with the Indians was just ;" but they offered supplies of provisions to the harassed New Netherlanders. Again, October 24th, the Eight Men met, and, for the first time, resolved to speak directly to their superiors in Holland. They sent a letter to the College of Nineteen, which, in simple and pathetic yet manly words, rehearsed the terrible situation of the province. In addition to this, on the 3d of November they addressed a remonstrance to the States-General, begging for immediate assistance, provisions, etc. While awaiting an answer from the Fatherland, the winter of 1643-44 was improved in disciplining the numbers congregated at Manhattan, and in various foraging and military expeditions against the Indians on Staten Island, and at Stamford and Westchester. Early in 1644, trouble arose between the settlers of Heemstede, a recent English colony in the present Queens County, on Long Island, and the Canarsee tribe in that neighborhood, whose chief, the one-eyed Penhawitz, was suspected of treachery. Expeditions dispatched from Fort Amsterdam against the Canarsees and against the Indians near Maspeth, both resulted in the complete discom- fiture of the savages, with but slight loss to the whites. This was followed, February, 1644, by another attack upon the Con- necticut Indians near Greenwich, in which the Dutch were again completely victorious. Planting season being again at hand, some of the hostile tribes began to sue for peace, which was concluded with the Long Island Indians, who had been pretty thoroughly intimidated by the affairs at Heemstede and Maspeth. The River tribes, however, remained implacable, and the settlers were kept in a constant state of alarm and incertitude, which totally prevented the progress of the settlements. Again, on the 18th of June, 1644, the director felt obliged to convene the Eight Men, whose advice he sought concerning the imposition of a tax upon svines, beer, brandy, and beaver-skin. To their better judgment, this measure seemed to be, in the impoverished state of the province, unwise, oppressive,
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