USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. I > Part 32
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The disinterested missionary continued now to solace his 1643. captivity by spreading the light of Christianity through the be- nighted region into which Providence had cast his lot. Though his labors were most signally blest, and numbers of converts were brought into the fold, the hearts of the principal savages continued hardened against him. In one of his visits with some Indians to Fort Orange, he learned that intelligence July. had been received that the Mohawks were defeated by the 29.
1 Daer leyt qualyck een halven daegh van den colonie, op de Maquaas Kill, dat schoonste landt dat men met oogen bezien mach. Van Curler's letter.
V1. 1642.
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BOOK French at Fort Richelieu, and that he, on his return, would III. assuredly be burnt. The commander of the fort counselled 1643. him, thereupon, to escape. A vessel was about to proceed to Virginia. There he would be safe. Father Jogues demand- ed until the morrow to consider this proposal, " which greatly surprised the Dutch." The offer was finally accepted, but it was not so easy to evade the vigilance of his savage compan- ions. Innumerable difficulties followed. He at length suc- ceeded in secreting himself in the hold of a sloop in the river, where close air and a horrid stench made him almost regret that he had not remained among the cruel Iroquois, who now, enraged at the escape of their victim, crowded to Beverswyck, and demanded, with violent gestures and angry words, the sur- render of their prisoner. The Dutch were much embarrassed. They could not consent to deliver over a Christian brother to the tortures and barbarities of the heathen. The States Gen- eral had sent ont orders that every means should be used to rescue from the savages those Frenchmen who might fall into their power. On the other hand, the colonie was too feeble to make any resistance. In this dilemma the offer was again renewed to ransom the fugitive ; after considerable wrangling, the Indians accepted this offer, and presents to the amount of about one hundred pieces of gold were accordingly delivered them. Father Jogues was sent to New Amsterdam, where he was most kindly received and clothed by Director Kieft, who Nov. 5. gave him a passage to Holland in a vessel which sailed shortly after. But misfortune was not yet weary of persecuting the Christian missionary. The vessel was driven in a storm on the coast of Falmouth, where it was seized by wreckers, who, as merciless as the savages, stripped Father Jogues and his companions of every article of their wearing apparel, and left them bruised and naked to pursue their journey as best they could.
1644.
In the course of the following year Father Bressani, another Jesuit missionary, fell into the hands of the Iroquois. “ Beat- en, mangled, mutilated ; driven barefoot over rough paths, through briers and thickets ; burnt, tortured, wounded, and scarred, he was eye-witness to the fate of one of his compan- ions who was boiled and eaten. Yet some mysterious awe
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protected his life, and he too was at last humanely rescued by CHAP the Dutch," who purchased his freedom at a large sum, and, with true Samaritan kindness, dressed his wounds and nursed him until he was perfectly convalescent, when they supplied him with clothing, " of which he stood in much need," and sent him to the Manhattans. Here he was received in the most hospi- table manner by the public authorities, who furnished him, at his departure for Europe, with the following letter of safe-con- duct :-
" We, Willem Kieft, Director-general, and the Council of Sept. New Netherland, to all those who shall see these presents, 20. greeting : Francis Joseph Bressani, of the Society of Jesus, for some time a prisoner among the Iroquois savages, com- monly called Maquaas, and daily persecuted by these, was, when about to be burnt, snatched out of their hands, and ran- somed by us for a large sum, after considerable difficulty. As he now proceeds with our permission to Holland, thence to return to France, Christian charity requires that he be humane- ly treated by those into whose hands he may happen to fall. Wherefore we request all governors, viceroys, or their lieuten- ants and captains, that they would afford him their favor in go- ing and returning, promising to do the same, on like occasion. Dated in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, this xxth Sep- tember, anno Salutis, 1644, Stylo Novo."
These and many other acts of similar kindness secured ever afterwards, for both the inhabitants and authorities, as well of Rensselaerswyck as of New Netherland generally, the warm attachment and regard of the Jesuit missionaries, who at the risk of health and life were disseminating the truths of the Gospel among the Indian tribes in the valley of the Mo- hawk, and along the shores of the great lakes, and who, it may be safely said, allowed no occasion to pass without giving ex- pression to their gratitude and respect.1
1 Van Curler's letter ; Megapolensis' Short Account of the Maquaas ; Charlevoix, Hist. de la Nouv. France, i., 240; Creuxius, Hist. Canadensis, 352, 386, 389, 391, 403 ; Bancroft's Hist. of the United States, iii., 132, 133, 134. The Rev. Father Jean Pierron writes to Mr. Van Rensselaer from " Tin- niontogen," 6th Nov. 1667 : " Je me tiens tellement obligé de l'honneur que j'ay reçu de vous à Schenecté qu'éternellement j'auray de l'affection pour votre
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1644.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK III. 1643.
It became apparent now from the ill-feeling which existed between Sheriff Van der Donck and the other functionaries in the colonie, and which had already caused in two instances an exchange of blows, that the former could not comfortably pro- long his stay in Rensselaerswyck, or hold his office, very agreeably, much longer. He determined, indeed, to return to Holland in the course of the next year, as he was desirous to become a Patroon himself, with which view he proceeded, with several colonists, to Katskill, to purchase the lands there from the Indians, for the erection of an independent colonie. But the moment the Patroon of Rensselaerswyck received intelligence of this "dishonest" move on the part of " his sworn officer," he immediately forwarded instructions to Van Curler, couched in the following stringent terms :-
" The Patroon of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck having, on the sixth of this month, given a commission to Pieter Wyn- Sept. coop, commis. on board his ship, to purchase for a reasonable 10. price from the, natural owners and inhabitants, and from their chiefs, their lands lying about Katskill, in consequence of cer- tain information which he had that Adriaen van der Donck, his sworn officer, dishonestly designed to purchase for him and his, to the prejudice of him, the Patroon, his lord and master, the said lands, lying under the shadow of his colonie. Therefore he, by virtue of the sixth and twenty-sixth articles of his Free- doms and Exemptions, doth claim that no person shall, against his will, approach within seven or eight miles of him; also,
compagnie, et de l'inclination à l'obliger, ei jamais j'en ay l'occasion. Le noir et le blanc, ni la diversité de la réligion n'empêcheront pas cette amitié." And Father Joannes de Lamberville, who was a missionary at Onontague (Onon- daga) in 1685, addresses Jeremias van Rensselaer in terms testifying equal re- epect for his character, though he never saw him-" Illustrissime Domine, Et- si de facie nec ego tibi, nec tu mihi cognitus sis, tuum tamen mihi nomen, tuaque. mihi probe nota sunt merita, dignusque es cui quacunque datà obsequy tibi defe- rendi occasione, pronœ voluntatis specimen exhibeatur." Viceroy Tracy, writing to Gov. Nicolls in 1667, also hears testimony to the humane conduct of the Dutch in these words :- " The French nation is too much inclined to acknow- ledge courtesies, not to confess that the Dutch have had very much charity for the French who have been prisoners with the Maquaas, and that they have redeemed divers, who had been burnt without their succor. They ought also to be assured of our gratitude towards them, and to any others who shall exer- cise such Christian deeds as they have done."
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that he hath power to enlarge his colonie, on condition of CHAP. planting a proportionate number of colonists there, which num- ber was, even by this vessel, so increased that he hath already included the same, from Ransselaers-Stein down to Katskill, remaining on the same side, within his resort. And, further, having obtained certain information that such is, indeed, also true, the commissary-general, Arendt van Curler, together with the aforesaid Pieter Wyncoop, are charged not to inquire of the above-named Van der Donck if it be true, (inasmuch as the Patroon hath by him sufficient proof thereof,) but him to constrain, should he have done so, to desist, de facto, there- from, and to cede and to make over to him, the Patroon, all whatsoever he hath acquired, conformably to his oath, having sworn to be true and faithful specially to him, his injury to prevent and his advantage to promote, both which in this mat- ter have not happened ; and in case the said purchase be not yet effected, that he, in presence of the commissaries and council of the colonie, do promise, under oath, not to proceed therewith, but to respect him the Patroon, and to afford to his (agents) all favor and help, that they may be allowed to make the aforesaid purchase to the best advantage ; and should he refuse the one, or the other, to secure his person, inasmuch as he also endeavored, per fas et nefas, (met minne ofte onminne,) to return home in case the Patroon should not consent to dis- charge him; and inasmuch as the lease of his bouwerie, which he hath taken and agreed for in person with the Patroon, hath still long to run, which he cannot set aside without con- sent, but shall be bound to keep during that time. And in witness of the truth hath the Patroon subscribed these with his hand, and sealed them with his and the colonie's seal, in Am- sterdam, this 10th September, 1643.
"KILIAEN VAN RENSSELAER,
[SEAL] " Patroon of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck.
" In case Van der Donck should prove obstinate, he shall be degraded from his office, and left on his bouwerie to com- plete his contracted lease, without allowing him to depart, and his office shall be conferred, provisionally, on Nicolaus Coorn,
VI. 1643.
340
HISTORY OF
till further orders, divesting him of all papers appertaining to
BOOK 111. his charge. But if he will desist, then his office, and his bou- 1643. werie, shall he be allowed to hold. Actum as above. " KILIAEN VAN RENSSELAER,
"in quality as herein above stated."I
Sept. 12.
This order, which had the effect of arresting Van der Donck's intended colonie at Katskill, was conveyed to New Netherland by the Patroon's ship, " The Arms of Rensselaers- wyck," which was dispatched with an assorted invoice of merchandise, consisting of woollen, linen, and cotton goods, ready-made clothing, silks, glass, crockery, leather, fruit, cheese, spices, brandy, gin, wines, cordials, tobacco-pipes, nets, looking-glasses, beads, axes, adzes, razors, knives, scissors, bells, nails, spoons, kettles, thimbles, pins, needles, threads, rings, shoes, stockings, gloves, combs, buttons, muskets, pis- tols, swords, shot, lead, canvass, pitch and tar, candles, station- ery, and various other commodities, valued at twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy guilders, to be bartered with the Indians and other inhabitants of the country for tobacco, furs, and other produce. To ensure entire success for this venture, the skipper, supercargo, and pilot of the ship were allowed a direct pecuniary interest in the proceeds of the voyage.
The system of licenses introduced by the Patroon, and the profits which resulted, had already incited a number of private individuals to embark in the fur-trade. As a consequence, this staple was altogether taken ont of the hands both of the Patroon's and the company's servants, who could purchase scarcely a skin, while private traders exported thousands of peltries. A number of unlicensed traders now resorted to the colonie, who drew the Indians away into " secret trading- places," where, by means of higher prices, they got possession of the most valuable furs, " not caring whether or not the trade was so injured as to render the Patroon unable to meet the expenses of his colonie." Having thus "debauched" the
? Naerder ordre aen Arendt van Curler en Pieter Wyncoop wegen Katskill. Rensselaerswyck MSS.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
savages, these interlopers succeeded next, by means of " wine CHAP. and strong drink, which they sold at an usurious rate," in " perverting" many of the colonists, from whom they got, not only peltries, but even large quantities of grain, which the farmers disposed of without either respecting the Pa- troon's pre-emption right, or paying the tenths, or accounting for the halves or thirds which they were bound by lease to pay.1
To arrest these illicit proceedings, the Patroon adopted two measures which would, he expected, put a stop to the injuries which his interests were sustaining from the competition that was then exhausting and impoverishing his colonie. One of these was the erection of a fortified post and trading-house at Beeren, or Bear's Island, the southern boundary of his estate, which, by commanding the channel of the river, would ex- clude all vessels, but his own and those of the West India Company, from the upper waters of the Hudson. The other was, to send out a stock of goods sufficient to supply, through his establishments at Beverswyck and Beeren Island, the Mo- hawks and river Indians, and all the neighboring settlers, with whatever they may require in barter for their produce, whether furs or corn.2 It was with a view to carry out the latter part of this project, that "the Arms of Rensselaerswyck" now sailed with the above-mentioned valuable cargo.
She arrived at the Manhattans while the war with the In-
1 Insinuatie, Protestatie ende Presentatie van weghen den Patroon 8th Sept., 1643. Appendix M.
" The twofold character of the Patroon's establishment at Beeren Island- fort and trading-house-as all such posts in those days were-is clearly estab- lished by the following entry in the account current with Coorn, who had charge of the establishment :- Groet Boek, No. F., 23:
For merchandise according to invoice for Rensselearstein, on which is charged cent. per cent. advance fl. 913.10 For materials for the armory ['t waepen huys] 671. 8 For carpenters' tools [timmergreetschap] . 71. 7
For ammunition 1094.10 For paper, pens, and a flag besides 44.19
For necessaries for the boat 171.15
Beeren island is a small precipitous island, containing eight or ten acres, situate immediately south of Coeyman's landing. It was recently sold by Mr. Van Rensselaer for $500.
VI. 1643.
342
HISTORY OF
BOOK dians was at its height, and at the moment when Kieft was sorely III.
distressed for clothing for the troops which he had enlisted. A 1644. requisition was immediately made on Pieter Wyncoop, the supercargo of the ship, for a supply of fifty pairs of shoes to be distributed among the soldiers, payment for which was offer- ed " in silver, beavers, or wampum," at such price as the super- cargo might demand. But Wyncoop, perceiving that he could sell these goods to more advantage to the inhabitants than to the Director, injudiciously refused to comply with this requi- sition. A forced levy was the result, and as many soldiers were equipped with shoes from the ship, as " killed five hun- dred of the enemy." The evil consequences of Wyncoop's refusal did not stop here. The ship was immediately over- hauled by authority of the Director and council, and a consid- erable quantity of powder and a number of guns found on board, which were not enumerated in the manifest, and which Wyncoop was charged with intending to sell to the savages. These articles having been made contraband by law, and their introduction forbidden on pain of death, were, together with March the ship, forthwith confiscated.
Wyncoop now, too late, perceived the error into which either his instructions or his covetousness had plunged him. March In the hope, however, of retrieving his loss, he instituted 17. an action against Cornelis Van der Huygens, the Fiscaal March at Fort Amsterdam, against whom he protested, in strong 18. terms, for having unloaded his ship, which proceeding he pro- nounced an insult, a reproach, and a wrong inflicted on the Honorable Patroon, "the first and oldest patriot of the land," and for which aggression he now demanded redress from the Director-general and council. It was much fitter for the fis- cal, he added, to discharge and to confiscate such ships as came and traded hither without any commission, and thereby brought contempt on the country and its government, than to affront a Patroon who hazarded so much for his colonists and New Netherland. He finally maintained that the powder which he had on board was for the ship's use, and for the de- fence of "Rensselaers-Stein," or Castle Rensselaer, as the March fortification on Beeren Island was called. This plea profited 19. nothing. The powder was not mentioned in the mamfest, and
8.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
the explanation which was offered was merely used as "a CHAP. cloak" to cover the real design. " It is far from us," conclud- VI. ed the attorney-general, " to insult the Patroon. On the con- March 1644. trary, we are willing to aid him in promoting the welfare of 22. his colonie. But it is you who are endeavoring to frustrate his noble plans, by associating exclusively with private traders, and striving to take them with you to the colonie in direct opposition to the commands of the Patroon, who hath sent out this ship to keep free traders from that place. If your conduct is just, free merchants cannot be prevented trading thither, and they will be justified in so doing. I deny that any damage what- ever has been done. Are you of a contrary opinion ? Cite me before any court of justice, whenever you please."
Arendt van Curler, finding that no satisfactory issue was to Oct. be expected from this litigation, finally proposed that the 26. ship should be released, and the whole case referred to the Directors in Holland for their decision. As the vessel was suffering considerable injury from detention, this proposal was acceded to, " so that the Patroon should have no reason to complain ;" on the express condition, however, that no goods should be landed from the vessel until permission was ob- tained from the company, and that such articles as were al- ready seized by the attorney-general should remain confiscated, as they had not been included in the invoice. The vessel sailed soon after for Holland, whither Van Curler also pro- ceeded to give an account of his stewardship.1
In the mean time Nicolaus Coorn, " Wacht Meester," or commander in the service of the Patroon, had completed his fort on Beeren Island, on which he mounted a number of can- non, sufficient not only for its defence, but for the complete command of the river. A claim to " staple right" was then boldly set up ; a toll of five guilders, or two dollars, imposed on every trading-craft passing up or down, which were also obliged to lower their colors in honor of Rensselaers-Stein. And thus a sovereign jurisdiction was asserted over this navi- gable highway against all persons, save and except the ser- vants of the West India Company.
1 Alb. Rec. ii., 244, 246, 277 ; iii., 192, 193, 194, 195, 277. Rensselaers- wyck MSS.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK IU. 1644. It was in the summer of 1644, that the yacht the Good Hope, of which Govert Lookermans was master, sailed from Fort Orange for New Amsterdam. Passing Beeren Island, the craft was hailed, and peremptorily ordered "to lower his colors." On being asked for whom, the commander replied, "For the staple right of Rensselaerswyck." But the skipper refused, with an oath, to strike his flag "for any individual save the Prince of Orange and the Lords his masters ;" where- July 5. upon Coorn fired several shots at the vessel, one of which, says the record, " perforated our princely flag," about a foot above the head of the skipper, " who kept the colors constant- ly in his hand."
Such an outrage as this could not fail to create excite- ment at New Amsterdam, when the particulars became known. Philip de Truy, "marshal of New Netherland," summon- Aug. 2. ed Coorn to appear immediately at the Fort to answer for Oct. 8. his conduct. The latter pleaded the authority of his Pa- troon. But this was considered no justification. He was condemned in damages, and forbidden to repeat the offence on pain of corporal punishment. He was further required to obtain Van Rensselaer's approval of the sentence, which should be executed on him without fail, if that approval were not forthcoming. This proceeding was followed soon after by a strong protest from Attorney-general Van der Huygens, against the establishment on Beeren Island, which was declared to be inconsistent with the privileges granted to Patroons and lords of manors. No Patroon, it was maintained, could ex- tend his colony, by the fifth article of the charter, more than four miles along one bank, or two miles on both sides of the river, while Beeren Island was more than two miles from the limits of the colonie. The bold attempt to construct a fort there, to command the river, and to debar Fort Orange from free navigation, would, it was added, be ruinous to the com- pany ; it was therefore peremptorily ordered that no building whatsoever, much less a fortification, should be constructed beyond the limits of Rensselaerswyck, and Coorn was for- mally threatened with further prosecution should he persist in his lawless transactions.
But Nicolaus Coorn, commander of Rensselaers-Stein,
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NEW NETHERLAND.
was not to be intimidated by the paper bullets of Director CHAP. VI. 1644. Nov. 18.
Kieft's attorney-general. "As the vice-commander of the Honorable Van Rensselaer," he replied, " I call on you, Cor- nelis van der Huygens, attorney-general of New Netherland, not to presume to oppose and frustrate my designs on Bear's Island ; to defraud me in any manner, or to cause me any trouble, as it has been the will of their High Mightinesses the States General, and the Privileged West India Company, to invest my Patroon and his heir with the right to extend and fortify his colonie, and make it powerful in every respect. . . If you persist in so doing. I protest against the act of violence and assault committed by the Honorable Lords Majors, which I leave them to settle, while this undertaking has nothing else in view than to prevent the canker of free traders entering his colonie."1
In the spirit in which this protest was drafted, were the feudal pretensions of the Lord of Rensselaerswyck asserted and maintained, notwithstanding the conviction of Coorn and the warning of Van der Huygens, during the remainder of the Patroon's life. The same policy was steadily continued by his executors for several years after his death, which event took place in Amsterdam, in the year 1646.2
With the demise of the first Patroon terminated, also, Van 1646. der Donck's connection with the colonie. He was succeeded in his office of "fiscaal" by Nicolaus Coorn. He did not, however, quit Rensselaerswyck before experiencing a heavy loss in the destruction of his house on Castle Island by fire, Jan. in consequence of which he and his wife temporarily removed 17. to Van Curler's residence, the hospitalities of which were generously offered to him by its proprietor. Differences of opinion now arose between him and Van Curler, as to the party on whom the loss of the house should fall ; one main- taining that the property was at the risk of the Patroon ; the other, of the lessee. A quarrel ensued. Van der Donck gave Van Curler the lie, whereupon the latter ordered him out Feb.23.
1 Alb. Rec. i., 90 ; ii., 2, 35, 192, 234, 235, 263, 273, 275; iii., 187, 188, 219. Van Tienhoven, Corte berichte. Hol. Doc. v., 364.
" A debit and credit account of Kiliaen van Rensselaer's estate in Holland, at the time of his decease, will be found in Appendix N.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK of his house. Van der Donck removed immediately to Fort III. Orange, where he remained until the opening of the naviga- 1647. tion, when he proceeded to the Manhattans. In the mean April time, his claims were referred for adjustment to the proprietors
28. in Holland.1
The winter which had just terminated, was remarkably long and severe. The North River closed at Rensselaerswyck on the 25th November, and remained frozen some four months. A very high freshet, unequalled since 1639, followed, which destroyed a number of horses in their stables; nearly car- ried away the fort, and inflicted considerable other dam- age in the colonie. " A certain fish of considerable size, snow-white in color, round in the body, and blowing water out of its head," made at the same time his appearance, March stemming the impetuous flood. What it portended, "God 29. the Lord only knew." All the inhabitants were lost in wonder, for " at the same instant that this fish appeared to us, we had the first thunder and lightning this year." The public astonishment had scarcely subsided, when another monster of April the deep, estimated at forty feet in length, was seen, of a
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