USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. I > Part 40
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the commonalty protested against the Director and the aforesaid three persons on account of these hasty and severe proceedings, as having taken place without their knowledge or consent, they were, notwithstanding, obliged to declare open war against full eleven tribes of Indians, who rose up in arms on that account. The con- sequence was, that about one thousand of these, and many soldiers and colonists be- longing to us, were killed. All the bouweries almost were moreover destroyed, so tbat only three remained on the Manhattes, and two on Staten Island, and the greater part of the cattle was destroyed. Whatever remained of these were obliged to be kept in a very small enclosure, except in Rensselaer's colonie, situate on the North River, in the neighborhood of Fort Orange, which experienced no trouble, and enjoy- ed peace, because they continued to sell fire-arms and powder to the Indians, even during the war against us.
The company thus experienced the greatest loss and destruction, both by the con- sumption of their ammunition, and ready money expended in the purchasing this at a dear rate, as well as by reinforcing the garrison by tbe enlisting of as many English- men as could be hired in that country, fifty of whom the colonists solemnly engaged to pay, but the payment not having followed, it remained as a charge on the compa- ny. Those indebted to the company were hereby finally reduced to such a state, that they had no means to pay their debts.
To remedy this great decay, various suggestions were proposed by the Director and Commonalty :
Firstly, that to restore peace and quiet throughout the country, the Indians, who waged war against us, should, by force of arms, be utterly destroyed and exterminated. The Director demanded for that purpose, one hundred and fifty soldiers, armed with arquebuses aud coats of mail, and provided with sufficient munitions of war, as he estimated the numbers of the Indians, our enemies, not to be above three hundred strong. The Commonalty, maintaining their force to be some thousands strong, con- sidered their extermination impossible, and were of opinion that it would be wiser to establish universal quiet by a general peace. Of this they have but little hope, so long as the present administration remains there, because the Indians will no way be pacified, as they themselves declare to some of ours, until the Director be re- moved ; for their daily cry everywhere is-Wouter, Wouter,-meaning Wouter van Twiller.
Secondly, in order to prevent future wars, the colonists should be settled in a proper situation, near to each other, so being brought everywhere into villages and towns, they would be in better circumstances, in time of need, for self-defence. Thus being separated from the Iudians, tbe cattle would not cause any injury to the crops of the Indians, whereby, heretofore, trouble has frequently arisen ; and too great familiarity with the savages avoided, none of these being employed in domestic service.
Thirdly, for better defence against enemies, and to ensure respect from neighbors, that it would be advisable to construct, of stone, Fort Amsterdam, which is now in such a state of decay, that men, without using the gate, pass over the walle. This, according to the estimate of the Director, would cost but from twenty to twenty-five thousand guilders.
Fourthly, that the boundaries between the English and our nation, should be ar- ranged by the crown of England and this state, so that all difficulties with the former people may be prevented. Whereas the Fresh River has been usurped by them since the year 1633, notwithstanding the company had previously taken possession of the whole
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thereof, and on the 8th June, anno 1633, when no Englishmen had ever been on, or in the neighborhood of that river, had purchased twenty miles of territory from the Indians, and erected Fort Good Hope thereupon, and maintained possession of it with our people. After which, namely, on the 16th September, the English first came from New Plymouth and Mathuses Bay before the said fort, and declared that they would erect a house three miles above the same. The commissary residing there, opposed this so long as he could, but was forced to permit the same, according to instructions, under protest. In the mean time, sundry letters, protests, and sum- mons, passed on both sides between their governor and our director. It finally came to pass, that they arrived on the above-mentioned river in the years 1635 and 1636, with numbers of families and cattle, establishing themselves there, far and near, even on the land situate around and by our fort, and belonging to us. Which land they have divided among themselves, endeavoring to prescribe laws to us, because they having built a house or two at the mouth of the river, pretended thereby to have the key thereof.
Fifthly, that it would be advisable for the benefit of that country all around, to facilitate emigration to New Netherland, as has been done heretofore for a long time, or at least to credit the emigrants for a time, in order to allure colonists thither, and afterwards to introduce a considerable number of farm-servants and negroes into the country, through whose labor agriculture would be so much promoted, that a large quantity of provisions could be transported thence to Brazil.
Sixtbly, that a rendezvous for vessels of war should also be established in New Netherland, which is better adapted than the island of Curacoa, in consequence of the abundance of provisions and building-timber there ; besides, that men can pro- ceed thence safer and quicker to all the points in the West Indies, and discover the designs of the enemy.
Seventhly, that it would be profitable for the company to keep a well-furnished store and cellar there, from which the inhabitants around could be accommodated at a certain reasonable price, for money or produce, which will otherwise be overvalued and exhausted through private traders. But as private individuals have been permit- ted to carry on trade, let their imported wares be fixed at a certain price.
Finally, it is proposed by them, that the council be composed of four to five persons, in order to maintain justice and the authority of the company, together with the re- spect of neighbors.
From all which 'tis to be seen into what confusion and ruin New Netherland is now fallen, such being caused by the rash undertaking of so unnecessary a war, without the knowledge, much less the order of the Nineteen, and against the will of the Com- monalty there-besides what excessive expense is now required from the company both for succor and redress. There does not seem that any apparent profit can be expected from there for some years. On the contrary, it is found by the company's books in the Department at Amsterdam, that in place of being a source of profit, this district of New Netherland has cost the company from the year 1626 to the year 1644 inclusive, over 550,000 guilders, deducting the returns which have been received from there. It would, therefore, be worthy of consideration if it would not be better for the company to rid themselves, by the abandonment of New Netherland, of such heavy expenses altogether, than by retaining it, to continue them.
But inasmuch as the company has promised, in its conceded Freedoms, to take all colonists, as well freemen as servants, under its protection, and to aid in defending
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them against all internal wars; and as the improvement of matters by good manage- ment here, and better direction there, is not beyond hope, so that this place may be maintained in the first instance with small profit, or at least without loss, it is therefore our opinion, under favor, that the company cannot decently or consistently aban- don it.
In order to introduce such regulation and improvement, we submit to the conside- ration of the Noble Assembly the following points :-
Firstly, The establishment of the boundaries with the English should speedily and first of all be agreed upon, for it is found that they, in consequence of their great popu- lation, usurp daily more of our territory. This being first settled, it should be condi- tioned, that the English who find themselves in our district, or should come in there, should be subject to our government, aud not be acknowledged otherwise than as original subjects.
Secondly, The country should he brought, in every respect, into peace and quiet- ness ; and the advice of the present Director utterly to exterminate all enemies hy force, by no means be adopted, uot only because such is impracticable and unchris- tian, but it would be injurious to the company, necessitating, as it would, so heavy an expenditure ou so uncertain an event, and so little appearance of profit. It would not be impolitic, therefore, to adopt the advice of the Commonalty, and to endeavor by all means to appease and satisfy the Indiaus, aud to order hither the Director and coun- cil, who are responsible for that bloody exploit of the 28th February, 1643, to justify and vindicate their administration before the Noble Assembly of the Nineteen. In place of whom a person should be sent back as Director, sufficiently qualified to pro- mote the interests of the company and the prosperity of the commonalty on the one hand, and to maintain on the other good correspondence with the neighboring people, especially with the Indians.
Thirdly, It would be advisable to carry into effect and to execute the proposition of the Director previously alluded to-that the colonists should settle on some of the best adapted places with a certain number of householders, in the manner of towns, vil- lages, and hamlets, as the English are in the habit of doing ; they thereby will live more secure, according to the intention of the company in the granting of the printed freedoms and the amplification thereof.
Fourthly, It shall be necessary, first of all, to hasten the repairs of the fort, and we are of opinion that this shall be done in a proper manner, and at the least expense, with good clay, and firm sods. The soldiers should be urged thereto by some presents, and obliged to keep it for the future in continual repair. The Director should be strictly commanded to take good care of this.
Fifthly, We consider, under favor, that for the security of the aforesaid fort, and as elsewhere required, the persons specified in the annexed list should be sufficient, on such allowances, as there, moreover, drawn out-adding thereto that the colonists and their servants should be bound, under certain penalties, to provide themselves with good fire-arms and other weapons for self-defence ; aud to secure themselves in time of need, independent of the garrison, against a general attack, without the Director, colonists, or whosoever it might be, being permitted to hire any soldiers, be they few or many, at the company's expense.
Sixthly, A council should he established there, consisting of three persons ; namely, the Director as president ; the Second and the Fiscaal as councillors adjunct. Through which council all cases arising relating to the police, justice, diguity, and
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rights of the company should be treated and administered. With the understanding, nevertheless, that the Commander should take the place of the Fiscaal in criminal matters, with the addition moreover of two capable persons from the commonalty. Further, as by the 28th article of the Freedoms, the respective colonies were allowed to delegate one or two persons to inform at least, once a year, the Director and coun- cil of the state and condition of their colonie, so are we of opinion that the said dele- gates should moreover assemble every six months, at the summons of the Director and council, for mutual good understanding and the common advancement of the welfare of the inhabitants ; besides to assist in advising the same upon all affairs relating to the welfare of their colonies, the preservation of peace with the Indians and neighboring people, the maintenance of the Freedom and privileges, and the redress of all abuses, besides the maintenance of the statutes and the laws ; bearing in mind, always, that throughout the whole of that land the Amsterdam measure, ell, and weight shall be used.
Seventhly, It must be especially attended to that the population and cultivation of the country should be strengthened. It would be serviceable thereto to facilitate, as much as possible, the emigration of the colonists and freemen who intend to proceed thither to settle there, and to cause them to establish themselves, first of all, on the island of Manhattans ; allowing them as much land as they were able to cultivate, whether in planting of tobacco, for which that island being very fertile is considered well adapted ; or of graiu or other crops, from which they may expect to derive the largest profit.
And for the advancement of the reclaiming of the country, it would be wise to allow, at the request of the Patroons, colonists, and other farmers, the introduction from Brazil there, of as many negroes as they would be willing to pay for at a fair price ; which negroes would do their masters more service, and at less cost, than farm-servants, which must be hired here with a great deal of money and much prom- ises to be sent thither.
Eighthly, To increase the population still more, we would advise, that it would be best to reserve the Indian trade exclusively to the Patroons, colonists, and free farm- ers residing there, without permiting any licensed traders to trade in any manner with the said Indians ; but to be satisfied to exchange their cargoes with the free inhabit- ants for peltries, tobacco, wheat, and other produce of the country. But it should be absolutely forbidden, that either the freemen should sell to the Indians, or the licensed traders to the freemen, any arms or munitions of war, on pain of a heavy punishment to be inflicted therefor, lest the Indians, being strengthened thereby, may hereafter be encouraged to do us more injury than they can now, in their impotency, inflict. But it shall be obligatory on the freemen to be provided, each with a good musket and side-arms for self-defence, as already mentioned in the 5th point. An inspec- tion thereof shall be had by the Director every six months.
And in order to encourage the good people of New Netherland the more, the No- ble Assembly of the Nineteen should, under favor, consider if it would not be advan- tageous and beneficial to the conquered province, to allow the Patroons and colonists, there resident, to export their produce to the Brazils, under proper recognitions and tolls, as there are there flour, oatmeal, peas, beans, pipe-staves, planks, square timber, and other wood fit for ship and house-building. Also to encourage the fisheries there around, that they and no other persons should be permitted to salt and preserve the fish and caviare which can be caught there, to sell the same at the Reciff, [Pernam-
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buco ;] and that it should also be allowed, that the New Netherlanders should take salt on the Brazil coast around Siara, or in the West Indies, for the purpose of salting wet and dry fish ; and to erect salt-pans in New Netherland to refine the same, and to render it fit to use as fine salt with fish and meat. And, arriving at Brazil, that they shall be bound to deliver all into the company's store, and on payment of the proper duties and tolls, whether in money or specie, to dispose of the same without exporting any money thence, but to take as a return cargo, staves, sugar, confection- ary, ginger, tobacco, cotton, and other country produce, with proper entries thereof, both as to quantity and quality ; and therewith to sail straight to New Netherland, without touching at any port, while on the way, to barter or to sell any part thereof, under any pretext whatsoever. Wherefore they should receive on the part of the company a supercargo, to make a report of the whole to the company, and to re- turn in the next ship from New Netherland to the Brazil. And as all further smug- gling must be prevented, the skippers must be obligated (on pain of loss of ship and goods) after being visited at the Reciff,* to touch at Paraiba, to be there visited again on the part of the company.
Which trade being thus adjusted, it shall not be necessary for the company to be burdened with any equipages, or purchases of cargoes, and thereby be relieved from numerous servants required therefor. The garrison being established to board them- selves, they will be amply provided therein, and with other necessaries, by the freemen and inhabitants there.
But in order to furnish the expenses which the company have to defray for the support of that garrison and other servants, it will be necessary that the receipts of the recognitions, tolls, aud other duties, as well on the exported as on the imported goods, already established and hereafter to be imposed, should be sharply attended to ; wherefrom we think that the expenses to be met by the company can be amply re- ceived, with the hope that the population increasing, greater and more ample profits can be derived therefrom.
* Nearly south of Pernambuco city, between the river Bibiribe and the sea, a small tongue of land extended, on which stood a village named Reciffe : there all goods were shipped and unship- ped. De Laet, Verhael van West Indien, 191.
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F. Patent of Mespath, or Newtown, L. I.
[Translated from Book of Patents GG., p. 49.]
WE, WILLEM KIEFT, Director-general, and council of New Netherland, for and in behalf of the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General of the United Netherland Provinces, his Highness the Prince of Orange, as well as the Most Noble Lords the Lords Directors of the General Privileged West India Company, To all those who shall see these Letters, MAKE KNOWN, that We have given and granted, as by these Presents We do give and grant, unto Francis Doughty and associates, their heirs and assigns, in real, actual, and perpetual possession, all and every that certain parcel of land situate on Long Island, in this Province, with the pastures and whatever else it includes, containing in superficies six thousand six hundred and sixty- six Dutch acres, or thereabouts, comprehended within four right lines, each two thou- sand Dutch perches long, the first whereof extends from the east angle of Hans Hans- sony's (Jan Janssen's) meadow, dividing, according to the creek, the marsh into two unequal parts, unto the plantation of Richard Britnal, and thence proceeds towards the northeast, passing through the middle of the fresh marsh to the rivulet surrounding the south part of the lands of Henry the Farmer, [Henrici Agricola,] and following the same even to its mouth : the other line, taking its origin from thence, bends towards the south- east according to the main bank, going along the same unto the other creek, [fluviolum,] following the course of which from its month until it attains the eastern extremity of the said marsh, (from whence the aforesaid creek arises,) thence turns again towards the southeast, until it has gained the length of two thousand Dutch perches ; the third line taking its rise from the end of the latter, tends towards the west, of an equal length with the others ; finally, the fourth running from the last-mentioned point towards the northwest, terminates at the above-mentioned eastern angle of Hans Hanssony's meadow, at which angle a large stone is erected for the greater certainty of the boundaries ;
With power to establish, in the aforesaid tract, a town or towns ; to erect a church or churches ; to exercise the Reformed Christian Religion and church discipline, which they profess ; also, to administer, of right, high, low, and middle jurisdiction ; to decide civil suits not exceeding fifty Dutch florins ; to impose definitively and without appeal in criminal matters, fines to an equal amount ; to pronounce the first sentence in other civil and criminal actions of greater moment, and to execute the same, subject, how- ever, to such exeention being deferred, should an appeal be made to the supreme court of New Netherland : Finally, to exercise all rights belonging to the aforesaid jurisdiction, with power, moreover, to nominate some of theirs, and to present them to the Director of New Netherland, that a sufficient number may be chosen from them for political and juridical government: together with the right of hunting, fowling, fishing, and of trading, according to the immunities granted, and to be granted, to the colonists of this province, without any exception :--
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Wherefore the aforesaid F. Doughty and his associates, their heirs and assigns, shall be obligated, so long as they are in possession of the above-mentioned lands, to ac- knowledge the aforesaid lords for their sovereign Lords and Patroons; to pay, after the lapse of ten years, the tenth part of the produce of the land, whether cultivated with the plough, hoe, or otherwise, orchards and kitchen-gardens, not exceeding one Dutch acre, excepted. Finally, to uso no other standard than that of Holland ; and so as to avoid confusion, to nse Dutch weights, the Dutch ell and all other Dutch measures.
All which we promise, under the foregoing conditions inviolably to preserve, and bind our successors to the faithful observance of the same. by virtue of the commis- sion and supreme authority granted to us by the Most Mighty Prince of Orange, Gov- ernor of the United Belgic Provinces. In testimony whereof, we have subscribed these presents with our own hand, and caused them to be countersigned by the Secre- tary of New Netherland, and the seal of New Netherland to be affixed thereto. Given at Fort Amsterdam, on the island Manhattans, in New Netherland, in the vear 1642, the 28th of March.
By order of the Director and Council,
WILLEM KIEFT.
CORNELIS VAN TIENHOVEN, Secretary.
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Ff.
The Rev. Mr. Doughty.
[From Van der Donck's Vertoogh van N. Nederlandt.]
" THIS minister, FRANCISCUS DOUGHTY, in the time of the first troubles in England, came, in order to escape from them, to New England, and found himself out of the frying-pan in the fire. In order to be able to enjoy freedom of conscience, according to the Dutch Reformation, which he certainly missed in New England, he hetook himself under the protection of the Dutch ; and an absolute patent, with privileges for a colonie, was granted and conferred on him by the Director. He had reinforced himself now in one year with some families, but in consequence of the breaking out of tbe war, they were all driven from their lands, with loss of some people, and the de- struction of much cattle, losing for the most part all their houses and whatever they possessed. After they had remained awhile, and cousumed more than they could col- lect, they came to the Manhattans, where all the refugees resorted at the time, and Master Doughty was minister there. After the flames of war were spent, and peace was concluded, though in such a way that nobody trusted much to it, some people re- turned to their lands. The Director perceived clearly that this man would have liked, were every thing well settled, to have gone back also to his land. But inasmuch as the peace was doubtful, and Master Doughty had nothing wherewith to make a com- mencement, he was not in a hurry. Nevertheless, he proceeded thither, some time after, and dwelt there half a year. But he left it again at Thanksgiving. In the ex- pectation that some others would make a village there, a snit was entered against the clergyman, and managed so that the place was confiscated. Master Doughty finding himself aggrieved, appealed from the sentence. The Director answered, that no ap- peal lay from his judgment, but that it must be absolute, and condemned the minister thereupon to imprisonment, in which he must remain for 24 hours, and then pay 25 guilders. Such an act we have always considered one of oppression, and looked upon it as a mark of sovereign power.
At first, while Director Kieft was still here, the English preacher requested, as he had lived and done duty a long time without suitable sup- port, and as his land was now confiscated, to be allowed to proceed to the Islands [West Indies] or to the Netherlands ; but he always received unfavorable answers, and he was threatened with this and that. Finally he was permitted to depart, on condition that he promised, under his hand, neither to mention nor to complain, in whatever place he should go to, of what Director Kieft or Stuyvesant had done to him here in New Netherland. This the man himself has declared. The Honor- able Dincklagen and Commander Looper, who then lived together, say likewise that it is true."
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[From Van Tienhoven's "Cort bericht," being a reply to Van der Donck's "Vertoogh."]
" FRANÇOIS DOUGHTY, Adriaen van der Donck's father-in-law, an English clergy- man, was granted a colonie at Mespacht, not for himself alone, as Patroon, but for him and his co-associates, by whom he was empowered, and who then resided in Rhode Island, at Cohannock and other places, of whom a Mr. Smith was one of the principal. For the said preacher had, of his own, scarcely means enough to build a hut, let alone to people a colonie at his own expense, but was to be employed as min- ister by his associates, who were to prepare a Bouwery in said colonie for him, in re- turn for which he should perform the duties of preacher, and support himself on the produce of the Bouwerie.
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