USA > New York > New York City > Dutch New York (early history of the Dutch in New York) > Part 18
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surrounded by green, and flowers and tulips filled the many flower-vases on the table. The food was piled in pyramids on the dishes, - the beef and mutton in large pieces; the wild boar and venison in quarters ; the partridges, capons, and ducks in numbers from twelve to twenty-four. At rich weddings whole sheep, young goats, sucking lambs, and pigs were served, roasted on the spit, and stuffed, while poultry and venison, hares and rabbits were served by the dozen on one platter. The centre-piece or principal dish was always a beautifully dressed peacock with spread plumage or a turkey. Between the plates and platters were pyramids of fruit. According to an ordinance in 1655, it was forbidden to put fine candy on the table under a fine of $40, but no notice was taken of this. At many wedding-dinners there were piles of patties of hares, chicken, salmon, cheese, and fruit; flat apple, brown, and wine tarts. The centre of this course was marchpane. The smaller candies were made in mythological figures, hunts, or allegorical subjects, sometimes emblematic of the trade or position of the groom, or the arms of the couple. The larger pieces of sugar work represented scenes of Leda, Danæ, Noah's Ark, etc. At some weddings all kinds of com- fits were seen, for the most part French, such as candied peel of oranges, ginger, comfits of sugar, Spanish comfits of cherries, sweet and delicate melons, pears, pomegranates, etc. The wines were Ay-Fron- tenac, Chablis, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish, and Malmsey that cost two hundred ducats a barrel. Delft, Breda, Dordt, and Limburg beer were also drunk. Both wine and beer were poured out of cans with lids or spouts, some of great antiquity and strange inscrip- tions, which stood on the buffet or side tables, and from which the liquid was poured into the various drinking-
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vessels on the table and presented to the company. After the grace was said by a clergyman or, in his absence, by the father of the groom, the table-laws were read by the table-master. They were mostly in rhyme, and ended to the effect that anybody trans- gressing them would have to empty a large glass (pipe or whistle) as a fine.
The Dutch were generally considered as wasteful and lavish at fêtes and holidays as they were economical and staid in daily life. At the beginning of the feast everything was conducted with ceremony, but hardly were the official healths propounded when the drinking- vessels were brought on the table, and the merriment knew no bounds; people began with the smaller and ended with the larger bumpers (fluiten). Then were drunk the "clover-leaf " (see page 272), or rather the " clover leaf with the tail," the "friendship's beaker," and " the Arminian drink," the " drink on the country's prosperity," the " triple-drink," the "little mill," the "ship's sails," the "great and small fish- eries," "Hans in the cellar," "the abbot and his monks," "Alva was tolled out " (a reminiscence of the Spanish War), or " St. Gertrude's health," all with the accompaniment of the songs belonging to the various drinks. At important weddings it was the custom to present the guest with silver or golden wedding medals, struck for the occasion, all on the subject of love and increase of family. These medals later were replaced by silver shields, on which the names of the couple were engraved, with the usual emblems.
The wedding generally wound up with a dance for which a band of music was hired by the families. The farmers were satisfied with a fiddler and a bag-piper (doedel-zak).
There the bride was danced to bed, that is, she was
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brought to the bedroom where the mother and brides- maids were awaiting her.
Before going away the green was torn off the walls and mirrors and a dance round the bride's crown was held. This crown, under which the bride had been seated was placed on a chair or on the floor, and the guests danced around it, after which it was declared forfeited, torn to pieces, and all who could get any flower or ribbon from it would pin it to his or her dress as a trophy of the wedding, and wear it home. Sometimes the bride was blindfolded, and the little crown that she wore was taken from her head before she retired. The lucky one who had grabbed the crown was supposed to be the first to get married. The bride did not only part with her little crown, but she also gave away her garters. These were sometimes very costly, and were given away by her in her bedroom; for it was the custom for her escort to remain until she had loosened her garters or had one of her friends loosen them for her. The young man who had the good fortune to get them fastened them as a trophy to his waistcoat.
The groom's nightdress was generally kept hidden until he had promised to give a pleasure-party, which was held shortly after the wedding. Sometimes, to escape the annoyance of the friends and guests, the bedroom was prepared in the house of a relative or friend. If the guests discovered this, they would march thither in state, carrying a torch of burning candles. Then followed the couples with clanging shovels and tongs. When near the house the torch was laid on the ground and a dance was held around it until the couple appeared.
The morning after the wedding, the young wife received from her husband the "morning gift," gen-
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erally a jeweled ring, a costly fur, or an ornament for the home. The parents on both sides also gave them " morning gifts." The remnants of the wedding-feast were given to the playmates unless they did not want them; in that case they were given to the poor or to the orphan-house. The "after-fun " (Napret), consisting of excursions and parties, was kept up for three weeks after the wedding.
Poorer people were often married in numbers on the appointed days, and went on foot, sometimes pre- ceded by the strewers, who continually strewed flowers and green from a basket. So accompanied by a crowd of people they would walk to the church and back again.
With even a greater abundance of fish, flesh, and fowl in New Amsterdam, the colonists lavishly enter- tained on such occasions as weddings and ceremonial dinners. Oysters, crabs, lobsters, and game of all kinds were plentiful, fruit was abundant, and bakers and pastry-cooks numerous and efficient. In 1654, Jacob Stoffelsen went to court with Ide Van Vorst because she laid claim to "half a negro whom he re- ceived from Captain Geurt Tysen and his company in return for a feast given to him at which two sheep were eaten, and Ide van Vorst had also two sheep at her wedding." Ide insisted that the cost of the sheep was to be shared by both sides.
The same ostentation and extravagant expenditure, often far beyond the means of the hosts, prevailed here as in the Fatherland. The bride received from her parents a generous trousseau, and it was customary for the bridegroom's parents also to dress him hand- somely ; for instance, Mrs Anna Cuyler (1702) leaves to her daughter Mary £200 and to Eve £120, " it being my custom to give so much to each of my daughters
x
PORCELAIN AND EARTHENWARE RIJKS MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM
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COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE
at their marriage for their wedding, which they have had." Also, in 1684, Jacob Delany leaves to his daughter, Cornelia, " 200 guilders Holland money for her outsetting, before any division."
On the wedding-day, open house was kept, and in the small city of New Amsterdam practically everybody was welcomed. The amount of liquor consumed at the wedding of an ordinary burgher's daughter was considerable. This we gather from more than one entry in the records, which show that the parents were not over-particular in paying the excise when making provision for the entertainment. Thus, on Jan. 2, 1660, Peter Pia was sued for excise on beer laid in for his daughter's wedding; and on Jan. 4, 1661, Marten de Werft laid in three barrels of beer for his wedding and paid excise on only five half-barrels.
It will be remembered that it was at the wedding- breakfast of Sara Roeloffse, daughter of Anneke Jans to Hans Kiersted, the surgeon, that Director- General Kieft, taking advantage of the general merri- ment after the first four or five drinks, induced the guests to subscribe liberally towards the funds for building the new church in the Fort.
It was by no means unusual for the merry-making to end in a drunken orgy, as was frequently the case at funerals, christenings, and the fairs and festivals. For example, on July 5, 1655, Borger Jorisen, being lately at the wedding of Nicolaes de Meyer, insulted Burgomaster Allart Anthony in presence of several friends. Jorisen acknowledged the fault, but pleaded that the words were spoken in drunkenness.
Sometimes practical jokes were played, and if for any reason the bride and groom were unpopular they were insulted. For instance, on Feb. 6, 1663, Johannes La Montagne, sheriff of New Haerlem, complains of
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divers persons for riot, in planting a May-pole deco- rated with rags before the door of a newly married couple and assembling around the house, horning, etc. The couple were Pieter Jansen Slot, son of the ex- schepen, and Marritie van Winckel of Ahasimus. The banns were published on February 2, and the villagers indulged in horse-play to the great annoyance of the young couple. Also, on Apr. 23, 1678, we learn that William Loveridge writes to Captain Brockholls, com- plaining of a fine imposed on him for setting up a tree in Albany before Mr. Thompson's door when he was married, the same being the manner and custom of the place. Loveridge was sent to jail for the offense, but was released on giving bonds for good behavior.
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CHAPTER XI
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS - BIRTHS AND DEATHS
W HILE the Dutch clergy in general belonged to the poorer classes, the doctors, on the contrary, belonged to the higher burgher class and sometimes even to the nobility. They were educated first in the Greek and Latin schools of their native towns, and then proceeded to one of the uni- versities. Later they went abroad to become acquainted with the celebrities of their profession in the principal cities of Europe and to complete their education under their tuition and to attain the dignity of Doctor of Medicine. Some settled abroad, others were called to a professorship or were appointed personal physicians to royalties or other dignitaries, and returned laden with honors and fame to their Fatherland, where they were appointed to positions of honor. Sometimes they even became burgomasters. Like the clergy, many doc- tors were learned in a variety of sciences. There were astronomers, lawyers, and able writers among them. The doctors were ranked among the notables of the cities, and were generally held in high esteem. On great occasions they were honored with presents from the cities, and the municipal doctors were presented with " tabbard cloth " (cloth to make a cloak) every year. At the civic dinner they yielded precedence to the clergy; but the dinners they themselves gave were
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sometimes so splendid that the Burgomasters became jealous and they were consequently fined by the " Schouts."
The salaries of the city doctors varied from four hundred to twelve hundred florins; and besides this they charged the burghers a fee of twelve cents and poor patients eight cents (four stivers). Those who were unable to pay were treated free of charge. The preachers, city lawyers, and apothecaries were also treated at the city's expense. Like the apothecaries, the doctors had the name of the place from where they had their diploma mentioned on their name-plate on the door. Doctors of the Seventeenth Century fol- lowed their own theories and disputed as ardently among themselves as did the clergy. Like the preacher, the doctor always had his "study." This was gen- erally arranged with an eye to effect. Contemporary prints and paintings usually show him in a sort of cavernous room, seated at a table surrounded by quar- tos and folios. He wears a fur-lined coat, has a skull- cap on his head, and is writing a prescription, although this was generally done at the counter in the apothe- cary's shop. Before him stand a pewter inkstand, an hour-glass and a skull, and at his feet sit two cats. In the back are a bookcase and a table with all kinds of surgical instruments. Patients are crowding in at the door.
The physician of the period is a well-known figure in the pictures of the Little Dutch Masters, particularly Jan Steen, who represents him in all the gravity and sometimes pretentious pose he so often assumed. He always appears in a black costume with pointed hat like that worn by Sganarelle in Molière's Médecin malgré lui
There were many quack doctors in this age, who had
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various elixirs and could even remove " stones from the head," and who professed to be able to make gold and to lengthen life. Other "wonder doctors " could " read off " fevers and drive out devils. Many also sold blessed images, pennies, and scapularies.
In the Seventeenth Century the barber was not yet separated from the surgeon. Phlebotomy was still re- garded as a cure for fever and many other diseases, and the barber did the necessary cupping and bleeding. His calling was far more dignified than at present, both in Holland and England. In the latter country the barbers and surgeons did not part company to form separate corporations till 1742. In 1627, we find that one of the officers of a London charitable foundation was " One chirurgeon barber who shall cut and pole the hair of all the scholars of the hospital; and also look to the cure of all those within the hospital who anyway shall stand in need of his art." Similarly, in New Netherland, in 1664, Sybrandt Cornelissen from Flensburgh was appointed assistant surgeon, to be em- ployed in shaving, bleeding, and administering medi- cines to the soldiers. Dr. Jacob De Lange was one of these barber surgeons, who had attained to wealth at the end of the century. His inventory contains an " iron stick to put out to hang the barber's bason."
As in so many other fields, the practice of medicine was almost identical in England and Holland; charla- tanism was rampant, and the barber was the surgeon. The first doctors sent to New Netherland were those who ministered to the ills of the crews and passengers in the West India Company's ships, and those who were hired to stay here and heal the sick among the Com- pany's servants. The resident doctors appointed by the Company charged the independent settlers for their services. Sometimes they charged a lump sum for an
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accident case or an illness, but it was more usual to contract with a family or an individual for an annual payment. The duties of the ship's surgeon are plainly set forth in the regulations of 1656:
The barbers, whether on board a ship or ships or on land, shall be bound to give their services cheerfully, and to use all diligence to restore the patients to health, without receiving therefor any compensation except their monthly pay, and, in case any of them receive any money or prom- ise of payment, they shall be obliged to restore what they received, and the promise shall be null and void.
The Company moreover gave an express promise that
the wounded shall be properly taken care of by means of good Surgeons; and if any persons in the employment of the City, and in the execution of their command, office, or service, happen to be maimed, lamed, or otherwise be deprived of their health, they shall be remunerated as follows, To wit:
For the loss of the right arm fl. 333
left arm 266
a leg 240
66 66 " both legs
533
one eye
240
" both eyes
1066
" the left hand 240
66
" the right hand 266
" both hands 933
For the loss of all other members and lameness, whereof any person being fully cured and healed, yet may not be restored to his former health, or may be maimed or thereby disabled from the use which he previously had of his limbs, he shall therefor be proportionally indemnified at the discretion of the Commissioners or Directors, according to previous inspection of the Doctors, Surgeons, or other competent judges. Provided, always, that he show and
" "
"
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PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS
produce a certificate from his superior officer, who, at the time of his being wounded and maimed had the com- mand, and of the entire Ship's Council, that he had re- ceived the wound in the execution of his office and em- ployment in the service of the City.
In 1652, the surgeons petitioned that nobody but they shall be allowed to shave others. To this the director and Council replied that shaving was properly not in the province of the surgeons, but only an appendix to their calling; that nobody could be prevented from pleasing himself in that matter, or serving anybody else for friendship's sake or out of courtesy, without receiv- ing payment for it or keeping a shop to do it in, which was expressly forbidden. The authorities added :
Whereas we are informed that last summer two or three grave mistakes have been made by the inexperience of some ships' barbers, therefore the Director and Council order herewith that such ships' barbers shall not dress any wounds or prescribe for any one on land, without the knowledge and special request of the above petitioners or at least Doctor La Montagne.
The names of the petitioning surgeons were
Jan Croon, Van der Bogaert, Aldart Swartout,
Hans Kierstede,
Jacob Hendricksen, Varre Vanger,
Jacob Hughes.
The following is a list of doctors appointed by the West India Company to practice in New Netherland :
1630. Herman Mynderts van den Bogaert.
1637. Johannes La Montagne: Member of the Supreme Council and Vice Director of Fort Orange.
1638. Hans Kierstede (died in 1671). Peter van der Linde.
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Gerrit Schut.
1644.
Jan Pietersen van Essendelft (died in 1640). Paulus van der Beeck from Bremen. (He had served in Curaçao and on board the Com- pany's ships : settled in Breuckelen.)
1647. William Hays of Barry's Court, Ireland (served since 164I as chief surgeon in Curaçao). Peter Vreucht.
1649. Jacob Hendricksen Varrevanger ( entered the Com- pany's service in 1646, discharged June, 1662). Isaac Jansen (ship).
Jacob Mollenaer (ship).
Jan Pauw (ship).
1652. Jan Herwy (Hervey). William Noble (ship).
Gysbert van Imbroch.
Jacobus Hugues.
Johannes Megapolensis, jr (returned to Holland about 1656). M. Cornelis Clock.
Nov. 18, 1658. Peter Jansen van den Bergh. Jacob L'Oragne.
1659. Alexander Carolus Curtius.
I660. Harmen Wessels.
1662. Jan du Parck (military).
Samuel Megapolensis. Cornelis van Dyck (died 1687).
1673. Henry Taylor.
FORT ORANGE
1642. Abraham Staets.
1655. Jacob d'Hinse.
ESOPUS
I660. Gysbert van Imbroch.
1664. Sybrandt Cornelissen van Flensburgh.
1662. James Clark.
Folcks Mespath.
1663. William Leverich.
DUTCH CLOCK IN THE VAN CORTLANDT MANOR HOUSE
24I
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS
Dr. Hans Kierstede arrived with Governor Kieft in 1638, and married, in 1642, Sara Roelofs, the daughter of Roelof Jansen and Anneke Jans.
When Mr. Kierstede sued the estate of Solomon La Chair for services, an important precedent was estab- lished, for the court held: " Mr. Hans is to be pre- ferred before the other creditors as the same is for surgeon's service." Again, on Sept. 29, 1670, the court ordered the curators of the estate of Jan Steelman " to pay 388 gl. 4 st. in zeewan for burial and to Mr. Hans Kierstede for medicines 27 gl. in zeewan as preferred funeral expenses before all others from the first effects."
The surgeons did not limit their activities to prac- tising medicine, but engaged in trade and various kinds of business like the other burghers. Thus, in 1656, we find a report on the repairs done to the Company's house by Surgeon Varrevanger. In June, 1654, we read :
Jacob Hendricksen Varrevanger showed by his petition that the term of his engagement had expired and that for some years he had imported at his own expense from Holland all his medicines. He requested that some com- pensation should be given to him for the use of his medicaments.
The Commissary ordered "to credit to the said Mr. Jacob 12 fl. per month from I July, 1652 in his account for use of his medicines and to increase his salary."
The clergy were sometimes curers of bodies as well as of souls. A supply of drugs was sent from Holland in the spring of 1663 for "an English clergyman versed in the art of Physick and willing to serve in the capacity of Physician." It is supposed that this was the Rev. William Leverich, who sailed in October, 1660, in The Spotted Cow from Amsterdam, and who
16
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returned in 1662. In 1661, the Rector, Alexander Carolus Curtius, appeared in court setting forth that the Farmer had spoken to him about payment of the excise; "and whereas Professors, Preachers and Rec- tors are exempt from excise in Holland, he maintains he also is exempt, the rather as the Director General has granted him free excise." The court, however, decided against him.
The expenses of a serious illness are shown in the following itemized bill :
Robert Hammon Esq. Dr. 1689
To his chamber 4 months
I 5 O
To firewood in time of his sickness night and day I 4 0
To candles
9
0
To cash lent and paid for him
5
3
To diet when he retired himself from town
15 O
To his attendance and extraordinary trouble during his sickness 2 IO O
To washing his bedding and linen several times a week during his sickness I IO O
To strong drink and rum at several times to the watchers
7
6
To John Jewett for watching several times
6
To a woman to clean the house
3
To paid for him at old Mr. Davenport
IO
06
Katharin Coleman
£9 5 3
The surgeons frequently took payment in shop goods. Thus, on Oct. 31, 1656, Aldart Swartwout demands delivery of a kettle promised for curing Jacob Schel- tinger's leg. The latter acknowledges the promise but not the cure. Both parties acknowledge to have agreed to a perfect cure or no pay, so the matter is referred to Mr. Hans Kierstede and Mr. Jacob Varre- vanger, "both old and experienced surgeons," to in- vestigate and report. On Feb. 11, 1662, the curators of the bankrupt estate of Dirck Houthuyzen sued Mr. Jacob Huges for 6 gl. II st. The doctor said he attended Dirck one year; and the court set the one off
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PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS
against the other. In 1674, Jan de Forest sued Jan- nettie Cregier for medical attendance after an accident : he had overcharged and had to pay back twelve pounds of butter. Gerrit Huygen married Herman Wesselsen's widow. In August, 1673, he sued Manuel Sanders, a negro, for 261/2 schepels of wheat, being the yearly salary of his deceased predecessor.
The Court Records supply ample evidence that the doctors of the day supplied their professional services to private families or individuals by the year, and often had trouble to collect their annual stipend. In October, 1661, for example, Mr. Jacob Huges sued five patients for unpaid fees. First came Jan Janzen van de Lange Straat, who was ordered to pay the doctor " six guilders for labour." Then Ludowyck Post was ordered to deposit "twenty guilders for services" with the Secretary of this City. Pelgrum Clock, who owed " nine guilders yearly salary," received a similar judg- ment. Martin Clazen denied owing eight guilders for service rendered, saying that his wife lay with a severe accident and agreed with the surgeon for a year, but that Mr. Jacob did not once come to see after his wife, and therefore he had been obliged to call in Mr. Hans Kierstede to whom he must pay three times as much.
From Josentje Virhage the doctor demanded ten guilders yearly money for account of her husband. Josentje says she is married only two years to her hus- band and cannot know what that is for, and he is long since gone to dwell at Fort Orange, and has sent the doctor a beaver. The latter acknowledges having re- ceived the beaver, but the bill is more. Josentje says she has not the money now, but promises to send it at the next hunt; with which the doctor is content. In 1660, Gysbert van Imburch, surgeon at Fort Orange,
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DUTCH NEW YORK
treated a soldier who had eighteen wounds, sued the Company for payment, and got judgment for fifty guilders in beavers. On Sept. 9, 1659, Jacob Huges had to sue Hendrick the Spaniard for half a beaver in payment for some medicaments. Hendrick pleaded that the doctor did not tell him how often he should take them !
On June 22, 1660, Harmen Wessels sued William Bredenbent for thirty florins in zeewan or twenty florins in beaver, or fifteen florins in silver money, for curing a sore in Mrs. Bredebent's shoulder, and says that defendant allows him only six guilders in zeewan. William pleads that it is quite enough, as he can hire the doctor a whole year for twelve guilders. The case was referred to Messrs. Kierstede and Varre- vanger for arbitration. On March 18, 1664, Harmen Wessels sued Hendrick Arenzen for seven beavers or one hundred and forty guilders in seawant for sur- geon's fees. June 18, 1667, he got judgment against Mme. van Leeuwen for two hundred and twenty-nine orins zeawant, refusing to wait for payment till her husband's arrival. Dr. Henry Tailor ( 1672) recovered one hundred and fourteen florins wampum from Egbert Mynders, on Dr. Jacob Varrevanger's award.
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