USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. I > Part 33
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19. brown color, having fins on his back, and ejecting water in like manner, high in the air. Some seafaring people, "who had been to Greenland," now pronounced the strange visiter a whale. Intelligence was shortly after received that it had grounded on an island at the mouth of the Mohawk, and the people turned out in numbers to secure the prize, which was, forthwith, subjected to the process of roasting, in order to ex- tract its oil. Though large quantities were obtained, yet so great was the mass of blubber, the river was covered with grease for three weeks afterwards, and the air infected to such a degree with the stench, as the fish lay rotting on the strand, that the smell was perceptibly offensive for two (Dutch) miles to leeward. The whale, which had first ascended the river, stranded, on its return to sea, on an island some forty miles from the mouth of the river, near which place four others grounded, also, this year.2
1 The minute of the quarrel between Van Curler and Van der Donck, together with the minute of reference of the latter's claims, will be found in Appendix O.
" These particulars are taken from an old book kept by Antonie de Hooges,
347
NEW NETHERLAND.
CHAPTER VII.
States General order an inquiry into the condition of New Netherland-Pro- ceedings of the XIX .- Kieft recalled-Van Dinclage appointed, provisionally, in his place-Interesting report on the state of New Netherland-Recom- mendations contained therein-Proposed civil list-Modifications in the gov- ernment, trade, &c .- Some Indian tribes desire a cessation of hostilities- Several of the Long Island tribes come in-Kieft concludes a peace at Fort Orange with the Mohawks and Mohegans-General peace between the aborigines and the Dutch-Low condition of the colony-Thanksgiving or- dered-additional purchases on Long Island-Orders received to explore the country for minerals-Proceedings in consequence-The ship by which spe- cimens were sent to Holland, founders at sea, and all on board perish-Petrus Stuyvesant, Director at Curacoa, besieges the island of St. Martin-Is obliged to raise the siege-Receives a severe wound-Returns to Holland-Is appointed Director-general of New Netherland-Submits a plan for the bet- ter management of the company's transatlantic possessions-Further changes proposed regarding the colonial trade-Differences of opinion in the Assembly of the XIX .- Departure of Stuyvesant postponed-New Netherland continues under the mismanagement of Kieft.
THE affairs of New Netherland had now reached a crisis CHAP. which necessitated again the intervention of the States General. Complaint had followed complaint from that country-mis- management had accumulated on mismanagement in the ad- ministration of its affairs, and an inquiry could no longer be postponed. The country was a source of no profit to the West India Company ; the opening of the trade had not ad- vanced its settlement, for those whom commerce attracted thither, remained not in the province. They deranged the trade, but did not add to the population. Their High Mighti- nesses, in appointing deputies this year to the Assembly of the XIX., instructed them, particularly, to inquire whether it would not be better to confine the trade with the interior of
Secretary of Rensselaerswyck, endorsed, "Copye van eenige acten ende an- dere aenmerckelycke notitien," and from Van der Donck's Beschryv. van N. N. The island at the mouth of the Mohawk goes since by the name of Wal- visch, or Whale Island. De Hooges refers to the visit of a similar large fish " many years ago," which caused great wonder at the time, but he does not mention the year, nor furnish any further particulars of the circumstance.
VII. 1644.
348
HISTORY OF
BOOK New Netherland to the resident inhabitants of that quarter, 111. and to grant these the additional privilege of trading to Brazil, 1644. and thence back to the Manhattes ; and enjoined, at the same time, on those delegates, to report fully on the condition of the country, as well as to state what, in their opinion, was required to promote its welfare and prosperity.
The whole subject of the war between the Indians and the Dutch, its origin, progress, and unfortunate consequences, were discussed, accordingly, at this meeting of the various branches of the company, and the complaints of the colonists fully con- Dec. sidered. The immediate result was, the recall of Director 10. Kieft, in order that he should justify the various acts of his ad- ministration, and the appointment, provisionally, in his place, as Director, of Lubbertus van Dinclage, who had previous- ly served in New Netherland as schout-fiscaal, and was " well liked by the Indians."] It was further resolved, to refer all the letters and papers from the colonists, as well as those re- lating to the affairs of the colony, to the company's Rekenka- mer, or chamber of accounts, to examine the same, and to re- port to the next Assembly of the XIX. in what manner the in- juries which the colony had sustained could be repaired, its population advanced, and itself rendered profitable to the com- pany .?
1 Mr. Van Dinclage had been dismissed from office, it will be recollected, by Van Twiller, in 1636. He had been since that time a yearly applicant to the XIX. and to the States General for redress, his salary during three years that he had been in office having been withheld. He had, in the interim, sued the company for his wages ; without any success, however, for we find him, even now, eight years after his dismissal, still petitioning for his pay. A compro- mise seems to have been, at last, effected with him, though the Amsterdam chamber of the company does not appear to relish his appointment as Kieft's successor, even provisionally. Full details of his struggles against the company will be found in Hol. Doc. u., 167, 169, 171, 173, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 232, 275, 313, 316, 318, 321, 322.
2 In order to remedy various disorders which had crept into the affairs of the West India Company, a bureau, or board of accounts, was established in 1643, consisting of six accountants ; two from the Amsterdam chamber, and one from each of the other departments. It was the duty of these to consider what should be prepared for the meeting of the XIX., and to assist that Assembly with their advice ; to keep accounts with all the chambers in the United Provinces, and the foreign conquests, and therefrom to form a general book, which should at
349
NEW NETHERLAND.
A copious and most interesting report followed this refer- CHAP. ence. Tracing the growth and progress of New Netherland VII. from its discovery to the incorporation of the West India Company ; thence to the passing of the charter to the Pa- troons ; after that, to the breaking out of the war, and then detailing the ruin which this involved on that fertile country, it proceeded to pass in review the various propositions which Director Kieft and the Eight Men had submitted, to correct, as well as to prevent the recurrence of the existing unfortunate state of things. The former, estimating the Indians only at three hundred strong, advised their extermination, and demand- ed, for that purpose, a force of one hundred and fifty soldiers. The others, calculating the enemy at some thousands, were of opinion that their destruction was impossible, and that the tranquillity of the country would be better secured by a gen- eral peace, of which, however, they entertained but slender hope, so long as Kieft remained at the head of affairs, as the Indians entertained a particular aversion against him. They recommended that colonists, in order to obviate future wars, should be obliged to settle nearer each other in towns and villages, so as to be better able to assist one another in time of danger ; that Fort Amsterdam should be repaired, as it was now in such a ruinous condition that men strode over the walls instead of going through the gate ; and that it should be built of stone, the expense attending which, was estimated at from twenty to twenty-five thousand guilders, or $10,000. The settlement of the bounds between the English and Dutch possessions was particularly urged, as well as the promotion of the population of the country, by crediting emigrants with the cost of their passage, and by the introduction of a large number of field-laborers and negroes. New Netherland, it was next advised, should be made a rendezvous for ships of war, being better adapted for that purpose than Curaçoa, by its abundance of provisions and building-timber, and the
all times exhibit the condition of the company; to make a repartition of the expenditure and income, and decide all disputes arising therefrom ; also, to maintain good correspondence between all the chambers, and to cause the reso- lutions of the XIX. to be immediately and diligently executed. Hol. Doc. iii., 321.
1645. March.
350
HISTORY OF
1645.
BOOK readiness with which vessels can thence reach the West In- 111. dies, and there discover the designs of the enemy. It was further demanded that the company should maintain a well- furnished store and cellar at New Amsterdam, for the supply of necessaries, at certain reasonable prices, for cash or barter, to the inhabitants, who otherwise would be seriously imposed upon by private traders. Should these private traders be, however, allowed to remain, it was urged that they should be bound to dispose of their goods at a certain fixed price. Finally, the colonists demanded that the Director's council be composed of four or five members, in order that justice and the authority of the company may be efficiently maintained, and the respect of the neighboring provinces properly se- cured.
It will be seen from the preceding review, continues this report, into what ruin and confusion New Netherland has fall- en, in consequence of foolishly waging an unnecessary war without either the knowledge or the authority of the XIX. here, and in opposition to the will of the commonalty there ; and what excessive advances are now required to repair ex- isting misfortunes. No returns have been made for several years. That country, on the contrary, has cost the company, as it appears from their books, over half a million of guilders, [$220,000,] from the year 1626 to the year 1644 inclusive, over and above the returns received from thence ; so that it is very questionable if the company would not be more bene- fited by the loss altogether of New Netherland, than by the continuance of these heavy expenses. As it was impossible for the directors, however, to disembarrass themselves of this charge consistently with their obligations, and as there was still a prospect that matters were not irremediable, it was recommended that some effort should be made to improve the country, by settling such questions as were still undecided, and by introducing such reforms as prudence and experience might suggest.
With this view, it was advised that the differences between the Dutch and their English neighbors at the east should be settled as early as possible, and then that such of the latter as were found to be on Dutch soil, should be obliged to submit
-
351
NEW NETHERLAND.
to Dutch jurisdiction and government, and be considered as CHAP. original subjects. Immediate peace with the Indians was, above all things, advised, as it would be "not only impossible but unchristian" to adopt the exterminating advice of the Director-general, whose recall, as well as that of his council, is particularly insisted upon, in order that they may show cause for, and justify to the Assembly of the XIX., the man- ner in which they administered the public affairs, especially " the bloody exploit of which they were guilty on the 28th February, 1643;" and that a person be sent out, as Di- rector, duly qualified, on the one hand, to advance the in- terests of the company, and the welfare of the commonalty ; on the other, to maintain a good understanding with the Eng- lish, and more particularly with the Indians.
The plan of forming hamlets and villages in New Netherland, after the manner of New England, was highly approved of ; it was advised that Fort Amsterdam should be repaired "with good clay and firm sods" by the soldiers, at the smallest pos- sible expense, and a schedule was submitted with the report, of the establishment which it was considered advisable to maintain in the colony for the administration of its affairs as well as for the garrisoning of the above fort, the total annual expense of their support being estimated at twenty thousand and forty-six guilders, or eight thousand and sixteen dol- lars of our currency.1 This force amounted in all to sixty-nine
' Estimate of the expenses to be defrayed by the West India Company, ac- cording to the above plan :--
1 Director,
Yearly, fl. 3,000
1 Second, to act as koopman and receiver,
1,440
1 Fiscaal, ¥
720
1 Secretary and bookkeeper,
¥ 720
1 Clerk of Merchandise,
720
1 Assistant,
300
1 Clergyman,
1,440
1 Schoolmaster, reader, and sexton,
360
1 Constable,
66
240
1 Provost,
180
1 Corporal, to act as gunsmith,
180
1 Commander,
720
Carried forward, 10,040
VII. 1645.
352
HISTORY OF
BOOK persons, fifty-three of whom were military ; but to make up for III. the small number of the latter, the colonists were to be bound to 1645. provide themselves and servants, under certain penalties, with fire-arms and other weapons, to act, in case of need, as a rein- forcement to the garrison, for, hereafter, the Director, colonists, and all others, were to be expressly forbidden to engage any soldiers, whether few or many, at the expense of the com- pany.
It was next advised that the Council of the New Nether- lands should consist of three persons ; namely, the Director- general, as president ; the Second, or Vice-director ; and the Fiscaal, as adjoined counsellor, by and before whom all mat- ters touching police, justice, the sovereignty and rights of the company should be treated and decided; with the under- standing, however, that in criminal affairs the commander take the place of the fiscaal ; two capable persons being ad- joined to the court from among the commonalty. As the re- spective colonies were allowed, by the 28th clause of the char- ter of 1629, to depute one or two persons, at least every twelve months, to acquaint the Director and council of the state and condition of their colonies, it was now suggested that those deputies should, at the summons of the Director-general, hold an Assembly every six months, for mutual intercommunica- tion, and the general advancement of the welfare of the people, with power, moreover, to deliberate on all questions which might concern the prosperity of their colonies, the propitiation of the Indians, and the neighboring provinces, the mainte-
Brought forward,
10,040
1 Ensign,
. Yearly, .
540
2 Sergeants, .
600
2 Corporals, .
432
1 Drummer, .
156
4 Cadets, .
"
720
40 Soldiers,
6,240
1 Surgeon, .
6€
300
1 Skipper,
300
4 Sailors,
¥
624
1 Boy,
108
A. 20,046
$8,016
----
353
NEW NETHERLAND.
nance of free privileges, the correction of abuses, and the up- CHAP holding of the statutes and the laws. The Amsterdam stand- ard of weight and measure only, was, however, to be used
1645. throughout the whole country.
Emigration from Holland was recommended to be facilita- ted by every means, in order to promote the peopling and set- tlement of the New Netherland, especially of the island of Manhattans, where settlers, it was suggested, should obtain as much land as they could cultivate, either by planting tobacco, " for which the soil was considered well adapted," or grain, or other produce, as they might find most profitable. And it was further added, that it would be wise to permit the Patroons, colonists, and other farmers, to import as many negroes from the Brazils as they could purchase for cash, to assist them on their farms ; as (it was maintained) these slaves could do more work for their masters, and were less expensive, than the hired laborers engaged in Holland, and conveyed to New Nether- land, " by means of much money and large promises."
The Patroons, colonists, and freemen inhabiting the country, should, it was further recommended, have the exclusive right to trade with the natives, from which all commission-merchants should be rigidly excluded, contenting themselves with the privilege of being allowed to exchange their cargoes with the inhabitants for peltries, tobacco, wheat, and other produce of the country. But on no account were munitions of war to be sold by the freemen to the Indians, nor by the importers to the freemen. The latter, however, were, as already suggested, to provide themselves for self-defence with one good musket and a set of side-arms, which were to be inspected every six months by the Director-general.
The Assembly of the XIX. were strongly advised to con- sider, if it would not be for the advantage of the colonists to permit them to trade directly with the Brazils, as they could export thither meal, groats, peas, beans, pipe-staves, plank, and other timber useful for ship and house-building ; and to encourage the fisheries by allowing them, and none other, to sell the fish and caviary caught, salted down and pickled there; with the privilege of taking salt on the coast of Brazil, about Siara, or the West Indies ; to use the same for the preserving
45
354
HISTORY OF
BOOK
1645.
of green and dry fish ; also to erect salt-pans in New Nether- JII. land to refine the above, in order to furnish fine salt for the cure of fish and meat ; on the condition, however, of delivering all such exports into the company's stores at the Brazils, and on paying, in specie or coin, the proper duties, to sell their cargoes, without, however, being allowed to take away any money or specie in return, but only slaves, sugars, confection- ary, ginger, tobacco, cotton, and other produce of the country, after having duly entered the same; to sail therewith to New Netherland direct, and neither to sell or exchange any part thereof on any pretext whatsoever, receiving a supercargo from the company to furnish a correct report of the voyage, and binding themselves to touch at Paraiba, to be there visited by the company again, so that all chance of smuggling may be obviated, and the payment of the proper duties secured, which now, the report concluded, should be strictly enforced on all imports and exports, in order that the increased expenses may be met and defrayed, and that some profit may accrue after- wards to the company on account of the increase of popula- tion.1
Spring, in the mean time, brought with it, as usual, a desire on the part of the Indians for a cessation of hostilities. Some tribes presented themselves at Fort Amsterdam with whom a April peace was concluded, in honor of which "a grand salute of 22. three guns" was fired by Jacob Jacobsen Roy, who, however, unfortunately received a severe injury in the discharge of this duty, by the explosion of one of these pieces, which caused him to be a long time under the care of Surgeon Kierstede, and ultimately deprived him of the use of his arm. A large number of the enemy still continued the war, and it was therefore resolved, at a meeting of the council, at which the Director-general, M. La Montagne, the attorney-general, Cap- tains Underhill and De Vries, Ensign de Leeuw, Oloff Ste- vensen, and Gysbert Op Dyck, commissaries, and Jan Evert- sen Bout, and Jacob Stoffellsen, delegates, attended, to take some of the friendly Indians into the public service, and employ
1 Hol. Doc. ii., 368-395. A translation of the above report will be found, at length, in Appendix E.
355
NEW NETHERLAND.
them against the enemy. Whiteneywen, sachem of the CHAP. VII. 1645.
Mockgonecocks, from Long Island, was therefore engaged, with forty-seven of his warriors, and dispatched by water, May with a commission to do all in his power " to beat and destroy 24. the hostile tribes." He returned in a few days, empowered May by Rockow, surnamed the Greatest, chief of the Cotsjewan- 29. nincks; Mamawicktow, chief of Cotsteyick ; Weyrinteninck, chief of Meranta-hacky, to declare that he and they had taken under their protection the villages of Ouheew-hacky, Suchta- hacky, Sichetany-hacky, Nisingqueeg-hacky, (at which place the Matinecocks were then residing,)1 and Rechou-hacky, all which desired to make peace with the Dutch, for whom he pledged himself, that neither they nor any of their tribes should in any way injure the Christians ; but, on the contrary, treat them with respect, and as a proof of his sincerity, he now proffered " the head and hand of one of our enemies." A treaty of peace was accordingly entered into with the forego- ing tribes, in ratification of which a present was made to the Sachem Whiteneywen, and pledges exchanged of eternal amity.2
Having thus succeeded in creating division among his ene- mies, Kieft turned his attention to the propriety of securing the friendship of the dreaded Mohawks residing around Fort Orange, whose name alone inspired terror among all the tribes west of the Connecticut, over whom they claimed to be sove- reign, and from whom they exacted tribute. With this view, he repaired, with Counsellor La Montagne, to that post. Here, assisted by the officers and authorities of Rensselaers- wyck, he succeeded in negotiating a treaty not only with that powerful nation-the strongest and fiercest of the country- but with the Mohegans, or Mahicanders, and the other neigh- boring tribes. To make suitable presents to the savages, in token of the ratification of this peace, Kieft was, however,
1 The Matinecock Indians claimed jurisdiction over the lands east of New- town as far as the west line of Smithtown, and probably to the west side of Nissaguag River, which falls into Smithtown Bay in ibe Sound. They had large settlements at Flushing, Glen Cove, Cold Spring, Huntington, and Cow Harbor, and were considered a wealthy tribe.
2 Alb. Rec. ii., 298, 300, 301.
356
HISTORY OF
BOOK obliged to borrow money, so low were his funds at this period,
III. among others, from Adriaen Van der Donck, sheriff of Rens- 1645.
selaerswyck.1
July
These precautions had the effect of persuading the remain- 21. ing outstanding tribes of the utter hopelessness of any further opposition. Philip de Truy, the court-messenger, was short- Aug. ly after ordered to invite the citizens to assemble in the fort 29. on the next day, at the hoisting of the colors and the ringing of the bell, to hear the articles of the proposed treaty of peace read, when, they were assured, "if any one could give good advice, he might then declare his opinions freely." All the citizens answered kindly " except one Hendrick Kip, a tailor." He had already suggested the propriety of deposing Director Kieft, and the sturdy burgher was not now willing to do him any honor.
Aug. 30.
At the hour appointed, the sachems of the surrounding tribes ; Oratany, chief of the Hackingsacks, Sessekennick and Willem, chiefs of the Tappaans and of Rechgawawank, Pa- cham and Pennekeck, who answered for Onany, Majanwette- nemin, Marechhawick, Nyack, and their neighbors on Long Island, and Aepjen, chief of the Mohegans, who spoke for the Wappinecks, the Wechquaesqueecks, the Sintsings, and the Kichtawancks, seated themselves, silent and grave, in front of Fort Amsterdam before the Director-general and his council and the whole commonalty ; and there, having religiously smoked the great calumet, concluded, "in the presence of the sun and of the ocean," a solemn and durable peace with the Dutch, which both the contracting parties reciprocally bound themselves honorably and firmly to maintain and observe.
By this treaty, the Indians pledged themselves to apply, in case of difficulty or difference with the Christians, to the au- thorities at New Amsterdam for satisfaction, while the latter promised to complain to the proper sachem, should any Indian be guilty of aggression, so that justice may be directly ad .. ministered on the guilty. No Indian should for the future approach, armed, the dwellings of the Christians on Manhat-
1 Van der Donck's New Neth. N. Y. Hist. Soc. Trans. (2d Ser.) i., 127, 161 ; Alb. Rec. viii., 80.
357
NEW NETHERLAND.
tan Island ; and the Dutch, on their part, engaged not to visit CHAP. the Indian villages with their guns, except conducted thither VII. 1645. by one of the aborigines. Finally, the latter promised to con- duct the English girl, the daughter of the late Mrs. Hutchin- son, whom they retained in captivity, to Stamford, to be sur- rendered to the inhabitants of that place, or else to convey her in safety to Fort Amsterdam, where the Dutch guarantied to pay the ransom which the English had promised for the maiden.
The ratification of this important treaty terminated, to the great joy of high and low, the disastrous and unrighteous war which had been waged, with but a short interval of five months, between the Indians and the Dutch, from July, 1640, to August,'1645, to the incalculable injury of the colony, to the manifest displeasure of the authorities in Holland, and in violation of the received laws of nations. At its conclusion, there were found around the Manhattans, besides private tra- ders, no more than one hundred men, so desolating were its effects on the population ; while the Indians were several thou- sands strong, and the New England colonies contained be- tween fifty and sixty thousand souls. In celebration of the happy event, and in order "to proclaim the good tidings throughout New Netherland," the sixth of September was Aug. ordered to be observed, in the several English and Dutch 31. churches, as a day of general thanksgiving, that God Al- mighty might be praised for the numerous blessings which he had been pleased, by his grace and mercy, to bestow on the country.1
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