USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. I > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
The inhabitants of the Low Countries, whom the physical condition of the territory which they occupied had from the earliest ages designed to be a maritime nation, and whom na- ture, education, and the circumstances in which they were placed, had directed to commercial pursuits, gave evidence, long before the voyage of Columbus, of a bold spirit of dis- covery. Sixty-eight years previous to the sailing of that expedition from Palos, Betencour, a native of the French Netherlands, had discovered the Flemish Islands, since called the Azores, and thus pointed the way to the western world.2
But when the triumph of Columbus placed it in the power of European monarchs to bestow unlimited territory on such 1510. of their favorites as would take the trouble of seeking it, Charles the Fifth granted, it is said, an island in America to the Sieur Beveren, who dispatched two armed vessels in search of his new estate. His were the first Dutch ships that had ever 1512. ventured on these seas. Two years afterwards Anthony Mo-
1 An account of Verrazzano's voyage will be found, at length, in N. Y. Hist. Soc. Trans., (new series) i. 37. Stuyvesant alludes to il in his Manifest to the Governor and Council of Maryland (N. Y. Hist. Soc. Trans., iii. 374) in these words: " The French were in the year of our Lord God Almighty, 1524, the second followers of the discovery in these northern parts of this America, by Johan de Verrazzano, a Florentine." See also Beschryv. van America, by Jan Huyghen van Linschotten, Amsterdam, 1635. Bancroft (Hist. Uni- ted States, i. 17) admits that Verrazzano visited the bay of New York.
2 Vaderlansche Hist., ix., 151 ; Thuanus, lib. i., 7.
27
NEW NETHERLAND.
lock sailed in a Dutch craft to the Cape de Verde islands, and CHAP. when Charles had succeeded to the rich inheritance of the ~
1. Spanish Crown, and became sovereign of the Low Countries, the Dutch, it is maintained, had already pushed their way to America, and become familiar with a part of its coasts. Con- trary to the general opinion, these voyages had preceded the revolution which took place under Philip the Second, and were only interrupted by that exciting event.1
Seven provinces of the Spanish Netherlands, borne down by the weight of oppression and tyranny to which they had been long subjected, had determined, a few years afterwards, to achieve 1566. their independence. To accomplish this they had recourse to arms. A long and bloody war ensued against the Spanish king, who, irritated now to the extremest degree against his re- bellious subjects, issued an edict prohibiting the inhabitants of Spain and Portugal from holding intercourse with the revolted provinces. The enterprising people of the latter coun- try were, by this royal decree, deprived of the advantages which they had hitherto enjoyed of carrying, from the countries lying around the Baltic, to the different ports in Spain and Portugal, great quantities of corn and naval stores, in return for which they received wine and fruit, the products of the South, the gold and silver of America, and the spices and other luxuries which the Portuguese imported from India.
The energies of the young republic were not, however, to be crushed by such vexations. Having so long acted as car- riers for the Portuguese, the Dutch well knew the demand which existed for the rich productions of the East, and that this demand was every year increasing. They forthwith turned their attention to secure, in some other way, the advantages which they had hitherto possessed, and with that view, deter- mined to compete with their oppressors even in the Indian seas .?
It was whilst men's minds were thus excited, that one Beets, 1581. an Englishman, who had already made five voyages to the West Indies, proposed to lead an expedition to that quarter for, and on account of, the States of Holland, provided their High
1 Recherches sur le Commerce des Hollandais in Voy. en Holland, par Sir John Carr ; traduit par Mme. Keralio Robert, t. ii., 233, 234.
2 Watson's Life of Philip III., ii., 85, 86.
28
HISTORY OF .
Mightinesses would place four ships-of-war at his disposal.
BOOK 1. Though this offer was not accepted, the desire for adventure 1584. continued, and several voyages were made, northward to Arch- angel, and westward to the Cape de Verde Islands.1
Stimulated now both by desire of gain, and by hatred of the Spaniards, it was resolved to make an effort to discover a pas- sage to India by the Northern Ocean ; and three ships, outfitted 1594. by some Amsterdam and Zealand merchants, sailed with that June 5. view from the Texel, under command of Willem Barentszoon and Jacob Heemskirk, shaping their course by the Straits of Weygat, and around Nova Zembla.
These enterprising navigators proceeded as far as 77º 45' north ; and having held out hopes on their return of eventual success, the States of Holland, and Maurice, Prince of Or- 1595. ange, equipped several vessels, which they placed under the same commanders, who came home, after an absence of four months, without accomplishing their design. The city of Amsterdam, no way discouraged by these failures, ordered two vessels to be equipped the following year. These sailed 1596. on the 18th May, again under Heemskirk, who was accom- panied by Jan Cornelissen Ryp. Having reached the latitude of 80° 11', they discovered land, along which they coasted for some time, and at length turned back. The ships separated at Beeren Island ; Cornelissen returned home, and Heemskirk proceeded to Nova Zembla, where, at the last of August, he became so embayed in ice that he could proceed no farther, and was obliged to pass the winter in those Arctic regions, exposed to all the perils arising from an inclement season, fero- cious animals, and scanty provisions. He finally succeeded in 1597. extricating himself and companions in the course of the follow- ing summer, and arrived safely at home, where every hope was now abandoned of finding a passage to China by the North.2
May 18.
In the mean time, the project of participating in the West India trade continned to engage the attention of adven- turers in the Netherlands ; Gerrit Bikker, alderman and councillor of the city of Amsterdam, and Jan Cornelissen
1 Vaderlandsch. Hist. ix., 152. Wagenaar Beschryving van Amsterdam, i., 407.
" Van Meteren Nederlansche Geschiedenis, vi., 410, 411, 412.
29
NEW NETHERLAND.
Leyen of Enckhuyzen, dispatched, separately, some vessels to CHAP. that quarter in the course of the last mentioned year, but with
I. what result is not stated.1 Several vessels were again sent to the West Indies from the city of Amsterdam in 1598,2 in the course of which year, it is said, some Dutchmen 1599. in the employ of a Greenland company, resorted to New Netherland, without any design, however, to make a settle- ment there, but with a view of having a place of shelter during the winter months ; for which purpose, it is added, they built two small forts, one on the North, and one on the South river, to protect them against the attacks of the Indians.3
Some Amsterdam merchants who had formed a private trading association, entitled " The Company of Foreign Coun- tries," while occupied in considering the best course to pursue in order to reach India, received an application from one Cor- nelis Houtman, a native of Flanders, then in prison for debt at Lisbon, who represented that, having made several voyages with the Portuguese to India, he was not only well acquainted with the navigation thither, but likewise with the details of the India trade. He offered, in case they would furnish him with means to purchase his liberty, to communicate to them all necessary information, and to undertake in person the conduct of their ships. This proposal was gladly accepted. His release was immediately purchased, and so satisfied were the merchants with the information which he gave on his arrival at Amsterdam, that they equipped a squadron of four ships, which they put under his command. After an absence of two years and four months, this expedition returned, to the great joy of the country, completely successful in all its objects.
1 Wagenaar Beschryv. i., 408 ; Vaderlandsch. Hist. ix., 152.
2 Wagenaar Beschryv. i., 416.
3 Nieuw Nederlandt, gelegen aen de landen van America, tusschen de Eng- elshe Virginies en N. Engelandt, streckende van Zuydt Revier, gelegen op 383 graeden, tot Cabo Malubaer, op de hoogste van 41} graeden, is eerst bevaren door de Ingesetenen van desen Staat in den jaer 1598, en insonderheyt by die van den Groenlantsche Compaine, doch sonder vaste habitatie te maaken, als alleen tot een verblyff in de winter. Tot welcken eynde, aldaer twee fortjeens aen de Zuydt en Noordt Revieren tegens den aenloopden Wilden hebben geworpen. Rapport en advys over de gelegentheyt van Nieuw Nederlandt getrokken nyt de stukken en papieren by Commissie der Vergaderinge der XIXe in dato 15 dec 1644. Hol. doc. ii., 368.
30
HISTORY OF
BOOK 1. The way having thus been at length opened, different com- ~ panies sprang up to participate in the wealth of the East. But competition has its evils as well as its advantages. The Indian market was in danger of being glutted, and the trade conse- quently injured ; to prevent which, the States General called a meeting of the directors of all these companies, and obliged them to unite in one body, as a measure of policy, and a means of mutual protection against the enemy. This was accord- ingly done, and these private adventurers were shortly after- 1602. wards incorporated under the style and title of "The East India Company," one of the most powerful commercial socie- ties of which we read in history.1
The voyages to the East Indies having produced large returns to those in the United Provinces engaged in that commerce, some were now of opinion that similar results would follow the erection of a well-regulated West India com- pany, established on the same basis as that chartered in 1602. WILLIAM USSELINCX, an Antwerp merchant who had been in the habit of resorting to Spain and her islands, and who was well acquainted with the West Indian trade, was the principal of these projectors. Having communicated his ideas to some of the most influential citizens of Amsterdam and Middle- burgh, he, at their suggestion, drew up proposals for the establishment of a West India Company, to be circulated among the merchants generally, in order to ascertain how far these would co-operate in carrying out the design. Having 1604. prominently set forth the various complaints entertained against the Spaniards, on account of the efforts which they had made to exclude the Netherlanders from the seas, and from all foreign traffic, Ussclincx proceeded to call public attention to the re- cent discovery of several fertile and temperate countries and islands inhabited by friendly people, who, he represented, were desirous of entering into alliance with the Dutch nation, then at war with the Spaniards, against whom they also entertained feelings of enmity. In this way, another opportunity was offered to attack the common enemy in his weakest quarter. The inhabitants of these countries, he said, were not na-
1 Watson's Philip ii., 86, 87, 91. Van Meteren, lib. xvii., xviii.
31
NEW NETHERLAND.
ked savages, but well-favored, well-clad people ; apt to learn, and CHIAP. among whom it would be advantageous to send colonists to teach them agriculture, as the land was found well adapted for the rais- ing of sugar, ginger, oil, wine, indigo, cotton, hops, dye-woods, and other products, as well as for obtaining gold and silver, and other minerals, "which are the sinews of war." He further rc- presented that salt was to be found, in great abundance, in these countries, which would afford, in return, a good outlet for Dutch manufactures and merchandise. Apart from these commercial advantages, it was, moreover, to be hoped that in course of time the saving faith and gospel of Jesus Christ might be planted there, whereby the heathen would be rescued from the dark- ness of actual idolatry. The circular concluded by an invita- tion to all those who were friendly to the project, to subscribe what amount they should invest for the purpose of fitting out a fleet, as it was intended to choose directors forthwith, and to apply to the States General for a charter. It was, however, stated, as a preliminary, that no person should have a vote in the election of directors, unless such as had shares to the amount of two hundred pounds Flemish.
The project met general approval. The States of Zealand sent delegates to consult with deputies from Amsterdam, Dord- recht, Delft, Rotterdam, Harlem, Leyden, Gouda, Schiedam, Hoorn, Enkhuysen, Alkmaar, Edam, and Monnikendam, by whom, finally, a draft of a charter was drawn up, and submit- ted to the States General, for the incorporation of a Dutch West India Company, totrade exclusively, for and during thirty- six years, to the coast of Africa, from the tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope, and to America, from the Straits of Magellan to Terra Nova, the islands thereabout included.
This charter was duly considered by their High Mightinesses, and on the point of being completed, when proposals for a gen- eral peace, or a temporary truce, were received from the Archduke, which interrupted any farther progress in the project that Usselincx had thus brought well nigh to perfec- tion.1
1 Van Meteren, ix., 185, 186, 187, 188, 193, 194. Vaderlands. Hist. ix., 227, 228, 229, 230.
32
HISTORY OF
BOOK I. 1607.
In the mean time, Dutch vessels continued their explorations into distant seas, and were to be found this year searching for furs among the Indians on the River of Canada, whither they had been conducted by a treacherous Frenchman.1 But the hope of effecting a passage by the north to China, princi- pally absorbed the attention of scientific men, who earnestly discussed new projects and suggested new routes, in the vain expectation of working out, successfully, this great problem. A private association was formed in London, to attempt a northwest passage, at whose expense an expedition was placed under the direction of HENRY HUDSON, an intrepid English mariner, whose name has been immortalized by his valuable discoveries.
Of the early life of this celebrated navigator little is known, further than that he was a native of England, had received a thorough maritime education, and was a distinguished seaman. Under the auspices of the above society, he made two voyages 1608. to the north in the course of 1607 and 1608 ; but having, like, all those who preceded him, failed in attaining the object con- templated by his patrons, the latter suspended operations, and Hudson shaped his course to Holland ;2 encouraged, probably, by the efforts making in that quarter to form a new commer- cial association to trade to the West Indies.
1609.
The celebrated truce between the Dutch and Spaniards hav- ing been nearly completed, about this time, the more promi- nent reasons for the incorporation of a West India Company were removed ; and Hudson, on his arrival in Holland, made proposals to the East India Company to renew the search after the long-desired passage to India by the north. Discour- aged, however, by former fruitless attempts, and persuaded by the representations of Balthazar Moucheron, who had already been on a similar expedition, the Directors of the Zealand de-
1 Belknap Biog. i., 337. " The avarice of these Hollanders," says this author, " was so great that they had opened the graves of the dead, and taken the beaver skins in which the corpses had been buried. This outrage was so highly resented by the savages at Canseau, that they killed the person who had shown the places where the dead were laid."
$ Van Meteren, ix., 185. Moulton's Hist. New York, 195, 198, 200. Sparks' Amer. Biog. x., 188, 209.
33
NEW NETHERLAND.
partment opposed the Englishman's proposition ; but the Am- CHAP. sterdam Chamber encouraged the enterprise, and furnished, -
I. for this important voyage, a yacht, or fly boat, called " The Half-Moon," which they manned with a crew of from sixteen to twenty men, partly English and partly Dutch sailors.1
CHAPTER II.
Hudson sails from the Texel-Arrives off Newfoundland-Reaches the coast of America in the lat. of 41º-Proceeds thence south to Cape Cod, which he calls New Holland-Arrives at the Chesapeake-Returns north and dis- covers a great bay in latitude 39º-Continues his northward course- Descries the Highlands of Navesinck-Rounds Sandy Hook and enters the Great North River of New Netherland-Has communication with the Indians on the west side of the bay-Appearance of the country-Continues his course npward towards a narrow river-Sends his mate to sound the chan- nel, who comes into collision with the natives and is killed-Hudson retains two Indians as hostages-Explores the river-Goes ashore in the neighborhood of Castleton on a visit to an Indian chief, by whom he is hospitably entertained- Concludes his exploration of the river, and turns back-Tries an experiment on some of the natives-Is the first European who introduces intoxicating liquors among the Indians-Continues his downward course-Gets again into collision with the savages, several of whom are killed-Leaves the mouth of the Great River, and arrives in England-Sends an account of his discovery to Holland -Proposes to undertake a new voyage-Is ordered to Holland, where he arrives in the following year-The Dutch decline his proposition, and he re-enters the service of the London Company.
HENRY HUDSON took his departure from Amsterdam on the 1609. fourth, and sailed from the Texel on the sixth of April, 1609. April 4. He doubled the North Cape in the course of a month, but the ice and the fogs preventing him reaching Nova Zembla, he determined to abandon his original plan, and to endeavor to discover a passage by the Northwest. He accordingly directed
1 Vaderlands. Hist. x., 7. Van Meteren, x., 203. Lambrechtsen Kort Bes- chryv. van N. Nederlant. Moulton, 203. Van der Donk Vertoogh van N. Ne- derl. ; also Beschryv. van N. Nederl. " The only trace of this voyage that was discovered in the papers of the East India Company," says Mr. Brodhead, " consisted of a memorandum of a single line in one of the ships' books, staling the fact that the yaght Halve Maan of forty lasts burden had been sent toward the north in the year 1608." Report, Assembly's Docs. 1842, i., 150.
5
34
HISTORY OF
BOOK his course towards America, and after various vicissitudes I. 1609. through storms and ice, loss of foremast and sails, arrived off July 2. the banks of Newfoundland, in the beginning of July, where he refreshed his men by a heavy "catch" of cod. He con- tinued his course westward for some days, when he first July obtained sight of the coast of North America. The fog was 12. so thick, however, that he did not venture to near the land for several days. The weather at length cleared up, and he July 17. ran into a bay at the mouth of a large river in the latitude of forty-one degrees. This was Penobscot bay, on the coast of Maine.
Having remained here for the space of a week, during which he had frequent and friendly intercourse with the natives, and succeeded in cutting and rigging a new foremast, he took his July departure, and continued his voyage southward, having for- 26. merly learned from his friend, Captain John Smith, that there was a passage to the Western Pacific Ocean, south of Vir- ginia. In a few days he saw land trending north, and ter- Aug. 4. minating in a headland, which was recognised to be Cape Cod ; but to which, under the supposition that it was an island, Hudson gave the name of New Holland, in compliment to the country of his employers, by whom it was afterwards dis- tinguished as Staaten Hocck, or States' Point. Here he experienced further friendly reception from the Indians, some of whom came on board, and were kindly treated. They were observed to have green tobacco ; pipes, the bowls of which were made of clay, and the stems of red copper.
The Half-Moon hence pursued a course south and west for the next ten days, and at length arrived, about the middle of Aug. 18. August, at the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay, where the first effectual attempt to plant an English colony had been com- menced only two years before. Hudson now retraced lis Aug. steps, and in a few days afterwards discovered, in latitude thirty- 28. nine degrees five minutes, a great bay, which has since been called Delaware. Here he anchored the Half-Moon in eight fathom water, and took possession, it is said, of the country.1
1 Vanderdonk, speaking, in his Beschryving van Nieuw Nederlandt, of the South River or Delaware, says :- " This is the place where the ship Half- Moon first took possession."
35
NEW NETHERLAND.
From this place he coasted northward, the shore appearing CHAP. low, like sunken ground, dotted with islands, and at length descried the Highlands of Navesinck, which, the journalist re- 1609. marks, is a very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land Sept. 2. to see. He found himself, on the following day, at the mouth of three great rivers, the northernmost of which he attempted to enter ; but having been prevented by a shoal bar at its mouth, he cast about to the southward, and after due examina- tion of the sounding, rounded a low "Sandy Hook," and moored the Half-Moon, on the following morning, in latitude Sept. 4. forty degrees thirty minutes, at a short distance from the shore, in the waters of "The Great North River of New Nether- land."
1139042
While the ship lay here at anchor, the natives from the western shore came on board, and seemed to be highly pleased at the arrival of the Europeans. They brought green tobacco, which they desired to exchange for knives and beads. They had divers ornaments, as well as pipes, made of copper ; plenty of maize, or Indian corn ; dresses of deerskins, well cured, hung loosely around them.
The next day soms men were sent in the boat to explore Sept. 5. the bay further up. They landed on the western bank, which was lined with men, women, and children, by whom they were very kindly received, and presented with tobacco and dried currants. They found the land covered with dried oaks. The natives continued to flock on board the ship, dressed in mantles of feathers and fine furs ; their necks adorned with ornaments of copper, and some of the women had hemp.
IIudson, discovering now that the bay was the entrance to what appeared to be an extensive river, sent five of the crew Sept. 6. forward to make a more particular examination of the chan- nel. They passed through the Narrows, sounding as they went, and saw " a narrow river to the westward, between two islands," which are now supposed to be Staten Island and Bergen Neck. They described the land as covered with trees, grass, and flowers ; and the air filled with delightful fragrance. After proceeding upward for six miles, they turned back ; when, from some unaccountable cause, the boat was attacked by two canoes containing twenty-six Indians, by whom John
36
HISTORY OF
BOOK Colman, an Englishman who had accompanied Hudson in 1. his polar voyages, was killed by an arrow shot into his throat. 1609. Two others of the crew were wounded at the same time.
This was the first European blood that was shed in these Sept. 7. waters. Hudson's companion was interred at Sandy Hook, and the spot where his remains were deposited has since pre served, in memory of the event, the name of Colman's Point.
Additional precautions were now taken against any sudden attack ; but though the ship was visited on the following day by numbers of Indians, they did not manifest any knowledge of the fatal affray which had taken place. The day after, Sept. 9. however, two large canoes, one of which was filled with armed men, came off to the vessel ; but Hudson, suspicious of their intentions, would allow only two of the savages to come on board. These he determined to detain, and dressed them in red coats, whereupon the remainder returned on shore. Presently another canoe with two men came to the ves- sel ; one of these was also detained on board, probably as a hostage, but he contrived to jump overboard soon after, and swam on shore. Thereupon Hudson weighed anchor, stood Sept. 11. up through the Narrows, and finally reached New York har- bor, where he rode all night. He was here again visited by the natives, who made a great show of love, giving tobacco and Indian corn ; but they could not be trusted.
Hudson having ascended thus far, prepared now to explore the magnificent river which rolled its waters into the sea from unknown regions, in the probable hope that it would lead him to the long-sought-for passage to the Indies. He accordingly weighed in the afternoon of the 12th September, and com- menced his memorable voyage up that majestic stream, which has since handed his name down to posterity.
Sept. 12.
Sept.
But the wind was so light that it permitted him to proceed only a few leagues. The moment he anchored, the natives again renewed their visits in increased numbers, bringing oys- ters and vegetables. None, however, were allowed on board. The wind sprang up the next day, and the ship succeeded in making nearly forty miles. The land now began to grow very high and mountainous, and she reached soon after the 14. entrance of wild, but sublime, highlands.
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.