USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. I > Part 45
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Concerning the bark, about the building which the Patroon had written, so that I might employ it in the colonie to advantage, which was my intention and meaning,
463
APPENDIX.
but I was dissnaded therefrom. It should be well adapted in breadth to convey cat- tle, and that abont to be built would have been too crank. I have purchased another for 1100 guilders, which is a very tidy bark, provided with new sails, with anchor and cable ; can carry at sea, 7 lasts ; inland, 8 lasts. It has been this spring to the north, and there traded a good deal of seawan, [wampnm.] "is now at the Sonth River to trade. I have spoken to Cornelis Leendertzen and Manritz Janssen van Broeckhuysen, who returned from that quarter over two days ago, and they told me that it would be a good speculation, for neither the company nor the Swedes had any cargoes there, and there were still there 7 to 800 beavers, which lay there expecting seawan and other goods, with all which was well provided our bark, which Cornelis Leendertsen spoke in the mouth of the river. So that I hope good profit will result there. So soon as she returns, I will, if I can accomplish it, send her with wheat to Virginia, to see if that can be traded there for tobacco. Inquiry shall be then made what merchandise is admitted there, and shall then advise your Honor thereof.
As the Heer Master orders that the day of accounts shall not be changed, his Honor's letter shall be attended to. The Heer Patroon is very much surprised that no mention has been made in the inventory of sheep and swine. This will inform him that the farmers have frequently been spoken to. They say that the swine stray into the woods. We do not know ourselves how many pigs we have. We were obliged to give a number to other freemen, which were forwarded on payment ; but your Honor must know that many mishaps have occurred to these. As to the sheep, to count which Mauritz Janssen was appointed, they were correctly counted ; but the year after, they died off like mice. A part of them were destroyed by the wolves. There are at present in the colonie, young and old, about 15 to 16 sheep.
Further, may it please the Lord to understand, that three islands lie between Broer Cornelissen and the Flatt, [de Vlachte,] one of which, right opposite the Flatt, is abont 20 to 25 morgens in extent, which have not been yet purchased from the own- ers. I shall allow that island opposite the Flatt, and a portion of fallow, to be plough- cd, in order to be sowed next harvest with wheat ; for on the Flatt I have only 16 to 17 morgens which I can have under the plongh this year. Because there is so much to regulate, and I do not wish to have the time of the servants wasted, I have begun on the aforesaid island. By regularity, every thing can be done at a proper season ; as men have more leisure at present than at any other time, so please God, there will be fully 30 morgens sown next fall with winter grain. I shall therefore be obliged to purchase the said islands from the Indians, though they will ill bear to part with them. For we are bound now and hereafter [schier of morgen] to give the Iodians no provocation to rebel.
I have been on horseback with Labbatie and Jacob Janssen van Amsterdam, last year, to the Mohawk country, where three Frenchmen were prisoners ; one of whom was a Jesuit, a very learned scholar, who was very cruelly treated, his finger and thumb being cut off. I carried presents there, and requested that we should preserve good neighborship, and that no injury should be done, either to the colonists or to their cattle, which all the Indians at the three castles have thankfully accepted. We were entertained right well in every friendly manner there. We were obliged to halt a quarter of an hour before each castle, until the Indians there saluted us with divers musket-shots. There was also great joy among them because I had come there. Indians were immediately ordered to go out to shoot, who brought us in excellent tur- keys. I then thoroughly visited all their castles, and invited all the chiefs of all the
464
APPENDIX.
three castles to assemble together, and proposed to them to release the French prison- ers. But there was no appearance of this, which they refused with good reason. Said they, " We shall manifest toward you every friendship that is in our power, but on this subject we will be silent. Besides, you well know how they treat our people who fall into their hands. Had we delayed to reach there three or four days longer, they would have been burnt." I presented them, for the ransom of the Frenchmen, about 600 guilders in goods, to which all the colonie will contribute. But they would not accept them. But we persuaded them so far, that they promised not to kill them, and to convey them back to their country. The French captives ran scream- ing after us, and besought us that we would do all in our power to release them out of the hands of the barbarians. But there was no likelihood at all of this. On my return, they gave me an escort of 10 to 12 armed men, who conducted us back home. Within half a day's journey from the colonie, lies the most beautiful land on the Mo- hawk River that eye ever saw ; full a day's journey long, and mostly contiguous the one to the other. But it is impossible to reach there in a boat, on account of the strength of the stream which runs there, and on the other hand, of the shallowness of the water ; but I think that it could be reached with wagons. Two of these Frenchmen, of whom the Jesuit was one, have been to my house last May. They said they hoped that means could be found now to procure their release. So soon as the Indiaus return from hunting, I shall endeavor to obtain their freedom. I shall send your Honor, by the first opportunity, the journal of my journey.
I have purchased at the mill-kill from Jan Michaelsen, a house, and a large oblong building, which he bought from Sander Leendertsen, for 600 gl., according to his receipt. But I shall pay for it mostly through his account. As a passable barn stands thereon, a good bouwerie can be made there. In the same way, as there is a good barn by the house of Cornelis Teunissen on the Fifth kill, where also a good bouwerie can be established.
Cornelis Teunissen goes also over. He hath given in his account, both debit and credit. There is to his credit, an item of 20 pieces of timber [balken] which come on account of the yacht. They were sold again at the Manhattans for 100 guilders. There is also a parcel of 100 pieces of timber, which I delivered to the company for 2 sloops' freight. Each sloop's voyage lasted six weeks, which should have greatly swelled the freight.
Of the 30m. stone which your honor sent out last year per the Houttuyn, I have not received above 10 thousand, as I'm told by my skipper Louwerus and others. The skipper of the Houttuyn retained them for ballast. Your honor will be pleased not to send any more stone, for we can purchase them cheaper at the north than those cost which your honor sent, and they are as large again. The four thousand tiles which your honor sent are not worth the freight ; for they crumble all away like sand. I have not had from these more than 10 to 12 hundred good tiles. The rest are good for nothing. The broker who purchased the tiles for your honor hath grossly cheated you.
I am, at present, betrothed to the widow of the late M. Jonas Bronck. May the good God vouchsafe to bless me in my undertaking, and please to grant that it might conduce to His honor, to our mutual salvation. Amen.
I expect to send the Heer (Lord) by the next opportunity the accounts ; and I in- tend, if his honor please to consent, to go over (to Holland) next year, as soon as I shall have received his honor's answer, to request of his honor a favorable lease of a
465
APPENDIX.
bouwerie, there to fix my residence in the colonie for a good number of years, if the Lord spare my life. If your honor should please to permit me to return home, as I hope, I request, with all submission, that the noble Lord will please to grant my future wife leave to reside until my return in his honor's house, by Anthonie de Hooges. I trust that the noble Lord will not receive damage thereby, for she is a good house- keeper, as I hope the noble Lord ehall learn from others. I should not altogether wish to take her over and hither with me; for we are subject to divers dangers from the sea. Otherwise, I hope to make my journey to Patria as short as possible.
Neither I nor the company have scarcely had any trade this year. I believe the residents have conveyed fully 3 to 4,000 furs from above. So great a trade has never been driven, as this year, and it would be very profitable if your honor could bring about, with a higher hand, that the residents should not come to the colonie to trade Otherwise your honor will never derive any profit.
Herewith ending, I beg to advise the noble Lord, if I have used any boldness, to be pleased to take it in the best part. Happiness to your honor, and your honor's be- loved wife and children, and that God may preserve you in His grace, is mine, and my future partner's greeting.
Your Honor'e dutiful and obliged servant,
ARENDT VAN CURLER.
59
466
APPENDIX.
M.
Insinuation, Protest, and Presentment, on behalf of the Patroon of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck.
[From the Rensselaerswyck MSS.]
I, NICHOLAS COORN, Wacht-meester over Rensselaers-Steyn, and on behalf of the noble Lord Kiliaen van Rensselaer, under the High Jurisdiction of the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and the Privileged West India Company, Hereditary Commander of the Colonies on this North River of New Netherland, and as Vice Commander thereof in his place, let you
know that you shall not presume to abuse this river to the in- jury of the acquired right of the aforesaid Lord, in his quality as Patroon of the Colo- nie of Rensselaerswyck, the first and oldest on this river.
Which right he hath obtained on the 19th November, 1629, pursuant to his free- doms and exemptions from the Assembly of the XIX. of the Privileged West India Company, by the fifth article of which it was promised that care would be taken that the first occupiers (heing he the Patroon) should not be prejudiced in the right which they obtained.
Which by the High and Mighty Lords States General aforesaid was further con- firmed and enlarged by their High Mightinesses' sealed letters, dated fifth Feb. 1641, which were granted to him and to his heirs for ever.
And, whereas he declares to he greatly prejudiced ;
Firstly, Inasmuch as you frequent this river withont his knowledge, and have come thus far against his will ;
Secondly, Endeavoring afterwards to withdraw from him and allure to yourself the tribes round about, who for many years have been accustomed to trade either at Fort Orange with the Company's Commis, or with his Commis in particular ; and if possi- ble to divert them away to his injury, and to show these tribes other secret trading places, greatly to the prejudice of the West India Company and of him the Patroon ;
Thirdly, That you have destroyed the trade in furs by advancing and raising the price thereof on the Company's commis at Fort Orange, as well as on his, the Patroon's commis ; that you are satisfied if you get merely some booty from it, not caring afterwards whether or not the trade be so ruined that the Patroon will thereby be unable to meet the expenses of his colonie, the same being greatly prejudicial to him, the Patroon.
Fourthly, That you sought to debauch and pervert his own inhabitants and snb- jects against their lord and master, furnishing them, among other things, with wine and strong drink, and selling this to them at an nsurious and high price, against his will ; causing yourself to be paid in peltries, which they, contrary to his orders and their own promise, trade for, or in wheat, which they purloin from their lord ; whereof they have given no account ; whereof the lawful tenths were not legally drawn ; whereof he, the Patroon, hath not even received his third part or half according to contract ; and
467
APPENDIX.
whereof he hath not refused the right of pre-emption, obliging the Patroon, whom his people hath assisted with little or no advances, considering his ontlay, to enter these on his books, while you pass away with that, yea, with his share, whereby he is ren- dered unable to provide his people with all they require, because you so exhaust them and impoverish his colonie, which is highly prejudicial to him the Patroon.
All which not being bound to suffer from any private individuals, he doth warn you entirely to refrain therefrom. Protesting in the name aforesaid, should you presume, in defiance of law, to endeavor, contrary to this protest, to pass by force, that I am directed to prevent you. Nevertheless, with power under this presentment, to trade with his commis, but in no wise with the Indians or his particular subjects, as is fur- ther to be seen and read in the admonition and instruction given by him, the Patroon, to Pieter Wyncoop, as commis, and Arendt van Curler, as commissary-general, and that in conformity to the restrictions of the Reglement therein contained.
And to declare to you, should you use force, that you will be guilty of,
Firstly, Crime against the High and Mighty Lords States General.
Secondly, Crime against the West India Company, and their Governor.
Thirdly, Crime against him, the Patroon, and his command, under whose jurisdic- tion you at present are residing in his despite and against his will, obliging us to neces- sary resistance.
Wherefore, I, in the name aforesaid, shall await what you will answer, do, or per- mit, to regulate myself accordingly, still fully admonishing you that yon can have no Acte (except from the High and Mighty Lords the States General, themselves) which can deprive him of this his right, and that in case of loss you will have to indem- nify him the Patroon.
Which aforesaid Acte passed by the aforesaid Lord Patroon and Commander, he hereby approves with the signature by his own hand, and by the sealing with the seal of him the Patroon, and of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck, this 8th of Septem- ber, 1643. In Amsterdam,
Was subscribed,
KILIAEN VAN RENSSELAER.
N.
Statement of the Assets belonging to the first Patroon at his death. [From the Rensselaerswyck MSS.]
COPIA. Balance of the Estate hereinabove more fully described. CREDIT.
DEBIT.
To Moneys in deposite, folio 7 and 8, amount to
fl. 192,360
103,156
By Real Estate hereinbefore (folio 1) amounting, according to valuation thereof By purchase of Pearls, (folio 2, 3 and 4,) amounting to By debts to be received, (folio 6)
A. 154,761
To Current debts to be paid (96) amount to
189,925
295,516
58,824
To so much this Estate is in advance
107,994
fl. 403,510
fl. 403,510
From the opposite side the surviving widow must draw her ad- vanced marriage portion. amounting to And for her jointure by marriage contract
fl. 18,000 6,000
After the death of the deceased is paid for interest of the moneys in deposite And for the agio of the bank money, as all the moneys in deposite were to be paid in banco, and when the goods per cassa were sold
29,668
After the death of the late Van Rensselaer, and sale of his pro- perty and payment of debts, there was still found in his Corpse house remaining . fl. 107,994 Deduct the items at the opposite side from the surplus of his Estate 67,471
Remains for Father's Estate
[Equal to $16,207.] ยท fl. 40,523
And with the equipage of the ship The Arms of Rensselaerswyck is carried
5,912
For the sold jewels of the surviving widow, wherefrom cash has come into the common estate :-
1 Diamond ring . A. 800
Bracelets 1 Collar that is not to be found
2,000
2,800
Al. 67,471
N. B. Which aforesaid Father's property must be divided into ten parts, to wit :- For one child by the first marriage, and eight by the second, whom their father has left, whereof two deceased have made their mother their heiress ; and then still a child's share for mother herself, make altogether ten parts,
N. B. This is independent of our share in the Colonie, which is besides.
This above stated account or balance is made up by Johan van Wely, as Executor and Administrator of the Estate (Sterfhnys) of Father Kiliaen van Rensselaer, deceased.
468
APPENDIX.
5,091
469
APPENDIX.
O.
Van Curler's Account of the Quarrel between himself and Van der Donck.
[From the Rensselaerswyck MS.]
WHEREAS, I have great reason to presume that Adriaen van der Donck, in my ab- Bence and when I am away, may seek, by backbiting, to blame me, (for I know well his disposition, Mel in ore, Fel in corde,) and in other ways to impute lies; so have I thought well to note the following by way of memorandum, in order that the time, the recollection, and the truth may not be obscured.
It happened then at the house of our worthy pastor Dominie Megapolensis, that Van der Donck was in treaty with Michael Jansen about hiring him his bouweric for so long as his lease was concerned, for which purpose they had come together at the aforesaid place. And as I had also come there, I mentioned to him that before he gave it up, it was to be remarked, that he must resign it on the conditions of De Vos and Van Es, which he denied, maintaining that after-writing broke not a contract. But this afterwards appeared otherwise, which is too long here to detail. Secondly, as Michael would first insist, as was right, that he should have nothing to do with for- mer questions and losses, but every thing must be given to him clear, 80 Van der Donck and I fell to talk over the late burning of his house. He maintained firmly that the loss of the house should fall on the Patroon, as he undertook to prove out of books. I, on the contrary, said, no; and that I should prove it from his contract, which excluded all law, and contained a special condition as it happened, as I after- wards showed him. Many other reasons were given, not worth recapitulating. No particular question grew out of them, so they may be passed over as irrelevant.
Out of the foregoing words then we fell into a quarrel, and one word borrowing another, I stated to him some things which he had reported of me behind my back, whereupon, in the presence of some honorable people, he gave me, who told him so, the lie. Here came the wolf out of the sheep's clothing ! Here hypocrisy removed the mask from her own face ! Here he showed that he undoubtedly, long before this time, had fed his ingratitude in his breast, which is also apparent from the censure which he had reported of me. I always had done him good. The day after that misfortune had happened him-namely, the 18th January, 1646-I sent him a ton of meat. I had beside brought him and his wife to my house, and let them share whatever I had, good or bad, to the date 23d February aforesaid. I say this not through hoasting; only to show his mask. To come to the point :-
Having given me the lie, for my blood was warm, I took occasion to tell him im- mediately, that he should quit my house, being unwilling to sit at the table with such a man ; and therefore, hesides, that if he did not remove his chest to some place by Wednesday the 21st, (this conversation passed on the 19th of Feb.,) I should put it out of doors. But he had it removed.
He remained another day. But as I had sworn that he should not eat six meals in
470
APPENDIX.
my house, he was present at mealtimes only once. Pretending much sorrow, he then came to me and would have an account of all that he was indebted to me. To which I answered-that his cunning was well known to me-that he intended one thing or the other with it, as I had fully considered. But, I said, that he required this for a had purpose. For the Lord the Patroon had charged him to render an account to the commissary, and he wished me first to render him an account. But that I should keep my finger well out of his mouth.
I gave him, at the same time, these reasons why I had told him to quit :-
I. To avoid trouble.
II. That my stock of provisions was nearly exhausted.
III. On account of my freedom. For I sometimes had something to write or to say which I was not willing that all men should know.
That I had fixed a day for his leaving.
Because I had already told him twice that he should depart, but that as yet I had seen no preparations for so doing.
That I was so particular as to the day because I had sworn, for which he had al- ready given me cause.
That I now had noted these things so closely, and no man should think it strange if their craft and practices were known.
And hereupon, forthwith, he proceeded from my house to Mr. Harmanus [Van der Bogaerd,] in the fort, and crept there into a cottage, or hut, into which no one would scarce be willing to enter. Forsooth, 'twill be seen at once how I am turned out ! When one misfortune overtakes me, then it is that I am smote upon the head ! Miserere mei !
This is plausible. But when we view it right, it is not altogether so. For I have presented, and still present him with a suitable house, wherein Officier Coorn resided, into which he can move. But he must do something in the way of penance. That he had rather inhahit a hut under the wings of the company, than live in a decent house in the colonie, hath apparently its object. God knows that. Practica est multiplex.
In troubled waters, 'tis said, there is good fishing. So it happened on the occasion above narrated. For the following persons warm themselves by the coals of the burning fire.
[The MS. terminates abruptly here.]
Minute referring Van der Donck's claims to Holland.
[From the Rensselaerswyck MSS.]
Whereas I have seen the credit which Adriaen van der Donck pretends to claim, according to his account, from the Lord Patroon ; and, again, his debit set off against the same ;
So his credit is found to amount to
fl. 6097.17
And his debit to
3039. 1
Amount claimed by him, fl. 3058.16
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APPENDIX.
But as the house has been hurnt, and some other things which increase a large portion of his credit, and which in my opinion ought, according to his contract, be charged to him ; also, as some items belong to his debit, such as sixteen guilders per annum for each servant, [knecht,] together with the pay for their board on coming over.
On the other hand, Van der Donck thinks that he was to be held free from loss and expenses ; it is therefore resolved to let the matter rest so, and to transmit it as it is to the Honorable Masters, so that their advice might be learned thereupon.
Actum, Rensselaerswyck,
28th April, anno 1646.
ADRIAEN VAN DER DONCK.
Note of Hand to the Deacons of the Church of Rensselaerswyck, Anno 1647.
I, the undersigned, Anthonie de Hooges, have, on the part of the Noble Patroon of the Colonie Rensselaerswyck, borrowed from the Diaconie of the aforesaid place, for the term of one year, to be repaid in cash, at the option of the lenders, with ten per cent. interest per annum, the sum of three hundred guilders in seawan, whereof one hundred and twenty is in ordinary seawan, promising thankfully to produce at the aforesaid time, in stated specie aforesaid, to the Diaconie of the aforesaid place. In testimony whereof, have I subscribed this Acte with mine own hand. Actum R. Wyck, 9th May, 1647.
472
APPENDIX.
P.
Tenths of those who still reside with the Patroon on the common domain. [From the Rensselaerswyck MSS.]
NAMES OF SETTLERS.
Year.
Wheat.
Oats. Schepels. Schepels. Schepels. Schepels.
Rye.
Barley.
Buck- wheat. Schepels.
Peas. Schepels.
Michel Janssen.
1645
20
20
Teunis Dircksen van Vechten.
1642
32
48
1643
18
1644
22
44
1645
16
54
1646
24
25
1647
30
30
Cornelis Maessen.
1644
12
30
8
1645
17
22
4
12
2
3
Simon Walinghen.
1644
24
26
1645
10
20
1646
16
10
Cryn Cornelissen.
1645
12
30
1646
16
24
Cornelissens Clerk.
1646
36
24
The tenths of Broer Cornelissen for 1645 are not ascertained.
Composition for Tenths and Thirds for those who hold under that contract.
NAMES OF SETTLERS.
Year.
Wheat.
Oats. Schepels. Schepels. Schepels. Schepels.
Rye.
Barley.
Buck- wheat. Schepels.
Pens. Schepela.
Adriaen van der Donck.
1643
28
1644
112
55
12
Cornelis Segers.
1645
100
150
50
1
Cornelis van Es.
1642
60
1643
30
64
1644
120
1645
70
55
35
5
Andries de Vos.
1642
100
1643
30
6
1644
188
1645
105
95
35
2
Rutger Jacobsen, [tenths.]
1645
9
20
1
Willem Fredericksen.
1645
8
Adriaen Hybertzen.
1646
6
Christoffel Davits ..
1646
45
50
20
2
1646
16
35
1646 |fl. 30 for tobacco and oats.
N. B. Willem Fredericksen quit his houwerie after a year, because it did not suit him. The bouwerie heretofore occupied by A. Van der Donck, has, by purchase of whatever belonged to him, and of his lease, heen transferred to Cornelis Segers. So this year [1646] it brings little or no rent because no seed of aoy account has been sown there.
1645
145
1644
276
320
1646
60
66
1646
Al. 140
in grain
1
1646
10
16
2
2
473
APPENDIX.
Q. Two ancient Leases for Land in the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck.
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