USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
1 The names of the proprietors of Paponicuck, were Wanemankeebe, Askanga his brother, Skiwias, (alias Aepje,) and Wampumit, "chiefs of the Mahecan- ders."
2 " In manner, under restriction, stipulation, and condition as herein before particularly mentioned, [in the deed of Paponicuck,] hath the Honorable the Director sent deputies in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Megapolensis, in the name and for the account of the Honorable the Patroon of this colonie Rensse- laerswyck, and bought of Pewasck, being a squaw, and chief of Katskill, therein included, and her son Supahoof, through the medium and interpretation of Ski- wias, or Aepje, chief of the Mahecanders, a kill named Katskill, accounted to be nine miles from Fort Orange, and six miles from Beeren Island, together
160
HISTORY OF
BOOK IV. Wouter van Twiller was boldly laying claim to the con- trol and monopoly of the upper waters of the Hudson 1649. River, and publicly announcing his determination not to permit any merchant vessel to pass Beeren Island, or to trade in the vicinity of Rensselaerswyck. For he main- tained that Fort Orange had been built on the Patroon's territory, and that none-" not even the Company"-had a right to permit others to erect houses or pursue any branch of business thereabout. Feudal law and feudal privileges thus brought along with them, into these parts, the old feudal quarrels of Europe for the free navigation of Nature's highways to the ocean, and the question was, whether the North River should be open to all their High Mightinesses' subjects, or whether these should be de- barred from its use by the garrison on Beeren Island, now named "in such a lofty way, ' The place by right of arms.'" The absurdity of the claim to the soil on which Fort Orange stood, was clearly established by the fact, that that fort was built and garrisoned by the Company full fifteen years before the existence of Rensselaerswyck ; that up to the year 1644, the Company had the exclusive enjoyment of the fur trade, which the Company intended to reclaim " whenever it shall be able to provide its maga- zines with a sufficient store of goods." In view, therefore, of all these circumstances, and in order to correct a state 1650. of things, of which the merchants generally complained, Feb. 16. the Directors determined to use their sovereign right to the confusion of Van Twiller-" that ungrateful individual, who had sucked his wealth from the breasts of the Com-
with the land on both sides, that is to say, the kill with the falls, also along the north side of the kill three flat parcels of land, and on the south side two flats, extending on both sides, from the mouth of the kill unto the aforesaid fall, together with the wood and pasture of the woods on both sides, to hold all in peaceable possession. Whereof cession and conveyance are from this day made to the aforesaid Patroon. For the purchase thereof is this day handed to them, by the Honorable Director of this colonie, seventeen and one half ells of duffels, a coat of beaver, and a knife, and that in full without any further demand, all without fraud or deceit. In witness whereof the aforesaid Squaw as cedant, and her son, with witnesses, have signed this instrument with their own hands. Actum in the colonie Rensselaerswyck, this 19th day of April, Anno 1649. Skiwias for his services hath received 54 ells of duffels." [All these goods were valued at gl. 108, 16.]
161
NEW NETHERLAND.
pany whom he now abuses." They accordingly dispatched CHAP. orders to remove all obstructions to the free navigation of ~ X. the North River and commercial intercourse with Fort 1650. Orange. If Van Twiller should again plant guns near that river, they were to be seized ; and if any person dared to exact tolls, or salt duty, on any rivers, islands, or harbors within the Company's limits, to the injury of the inhabitants or traders generally, such were to be prevented by all means possible-even by force, if necessary-as it was the firm determination of the Directors never to part with these pre-eminences or jurisdictions to any colonists what- soever.1
Previous to this date Van Slechtenhorst had granted several leases for land in Katskill. But the Directors refused to admit the Patroon's pretensions to that section Mar. 17. of country, as it had already been granted to another. In conformity with his instructions, Stuyvesant now protested against those leases, and announced his resolution to op- pose these encroachments. The authorities of Rensselaers- wyck were, consequently, much embarrassed, and there- fore remonstrated : they had only obeyed the orders of June 15. their superiors in Holland : "as two opposite things can- not be made to approximate unless one give way," it is easy to see how impossible it had become for them to per- form their duty according to their oaths. "It is unbecom- ing natives of the United Netherlands," they added, "to loosen the bond of union by which they are joined ; on the contrary, they ought to use all possible means to tighten it." They therefore requested the Director-general to defer further proceedings in the matter, until they should communicate with their superiors, and promised in the meanwhile neither to send nor allow to be sent any settlers or cattle to the land in dispute .? Thus was impeded the early settlement of the present county of Greene.
The local authorities were now earnestly besought to provide the inhabitants with a proper schoolmaster. "Per- ceiving how necessary such a person was to the establish-
1 Alb. Rec. iv., 44, 46, 49, 50.
2 Gerechtsrolle der Colonie Rensselaerswyck.
VOL. II. 11
162
HISTORY OF
BOOK ment of a well-constituted republic," a committee was IV. appointed to build a school-house and to collect funds for 1650. defraying whatever expenses might be incurred. Andries Sep. 9. Jansz. was appointed to take charge of this institution in the course of the following year, and received a present, on entering on the discharge of his duties, of twenty dollars.
Whilst engaged in this praiseworthy undertaking, the settlers were thrown into great consternation by a report that the Mohawks were meditating an attack upon them. Sep. 20. An Indian from Tappaan had arrived "unasked and unex- pected," and said, " Ye Dutchmen have now been selling guns long enough to the Maquaas. They have been among us, and, by presents, engaged us to assist them to kill you when the river takes. They have been likewise among the Southern Indians, who have promised also to lend them a hand." When closely questioned he persisted in his statement. "Come and take me, and bind me fast ; and if it do not happen at the stated time, as I have said, then strike me dead !" Asseverations so strong could not Sep. 21. fail to convince. The settlers were called together, and the whole matter was laid before them. Opinions, how- ever, differed. Some were for repelling force by force ; others recommended negotiation. The latter and wiser Sep. 23. policy prevailed, and the authorities passed, accordingly, the following resolution :-
" The insecurity of our lives and property forces itself continually upon us, living, as we do, under the licentious constraint of inhuman men and cruel heathens. Of this we had, last year, a suspicion, but now it has really mani- fested itself by evident demonstration and truthlike pre- dictions and advices communicated to us, not by the parties implicated, but by warnings and premonitions from far distant Indians. Though some have advised a recourse to arms and resistance, and to measure our weakness with their strength, the Director, commissaries and council, weighing the necessity of the case, have concluded and resolved to commission and empower Mons. Arendt van Curler, Gerrit van Wencom, Cornelis Teunisz. van Breuckelen, Thomas Chambers, and Volckert Hanz, (being
163
NEW NETHERLAND.
thereunto requested,) to repair, with a suitable present, CHAP. to the Mohawk country, and to renew former friendship ~ x. and alliance, for the welfare of the Patroon's colonie, the 1650. safety of the common weal, and the protection of our wives and children, all which they willingly undertake."
Labadie, the French commissary at Fort Orange, who was well acquainted with the Mohawk tongue, was invited to accompany this embassy ; but he refused. Would it not be better, he was asked, to embrace peace than war ? " It matters little to those in the fort," he selfishly replied, "how it goes-whether it be war or peace ;" and truly they could not but feel secure. In addition to whatever arms they might have belonging to the Company, the com- missary, to render his position stronger, had borrowed three pieces-one a six, another a five, and the third a three pounder-belonging to the Patroon. With these, therefore, it mattered little with him what the relations with the Indians were. But it was far different with the mass of the unprotected colonists.
The ambassadors departed in the beginning of October, Oct. 2. solemnly assuring the authorities of Rensselaerswyck that they should do all in their power to promote peace. To remove all cause of future misunderstanding with the Indians, a placard was issued abolishing licenses to trade in the interior, as well as " bosloopers" or runners-called by the French " coureurs de bois"-" a fountain of mischief, trouble and animosity ;" " but as this could not be properly or effectually accomplished without the consent of the people, the latter, in confirmation of their good inclination, have, as far as they were concerned, assented thereto, in Fort Orange, under their own hands."
The embassy to the Mohawks was successful. Presents were distributed among them to the amount of five hundred and seventy-five guilders; the expenses of the delegation amounted to eighty-one and a half guilders, or about thirty dollars, the whole of which sums were paid by the authorities of Rensselaerswyck.1
1 Gerechtsrolle der Colonie. The items of expenses are stated in Slechten- horst's accounts.
164
HISTORY OF
BOOK IV. The winter at the Manhattans had passed over without any occurrence of moment, and Stuyvesant was almost 1650. persuaded that his Hartford treaty had put a final rest to all difficulties between him and his eastern neighbors. But if he ever indulged in such a dream, the spring dis- pelled it. The people of New Haven, still hankering Dec. 27. after the rich and fertile banks of the Delaware, re- solved to attempt another settlement in that quarter,1 and hired a vessel, in which they embarked to the number of fifty, under a commission from Governor Eaton. In the 1651. course of their voyage they touched at New Amsterdam, to exhibit letters of recommendation with which they had been provided. Having so recently made known his determination to oppose any intrusion on the South River, the Director-general was taken rather by surprise when made acquainted with the intention of the adventurers. He immediately caused them to be arrested ; sent next for the master of the vessel, whom he also committed, with two others of the party who had come on shore to speak with their companions. He now called on them to exhibit their commission, which he retained, and released them from duress only on a written pledge to abandon their expedition and return home. He warned them, at the same time, that if they should be found trading on the Delaware, their goods would be seized and them- April11. selves sent prisoners to Holland. He also wrote to Gov. Eaton, protesting in strong terms against the infraction of the provisional agreement entered into with the United Colonies, and took occasion to reiterate his determination to oppose, "even unto bloodshed," all intruders on the Company's possessions at the South River. Not knowing, however, to what length his neighbors might proceed, he thought it best to be prepared for every contingency. He, therefore, sent an express to Rensselaerswyck for pecuniary aid, and earnestly represented to the authorities at that place, that the intention of the English to seize on the whole of New Netherland was merely foreshadowed by their design on the South River.
Records of the Town of New Haven, 40.
165
NEW NETHERLAND.
The position of the Dutch, in the latter district, during CHAP. the past year, was in no way improved. The Swedes were suspected of an intention to purchase the lands 1649. around Fort Nassau, with the design to cut off the com- munication between the Delaware and Fort Orange. Hudde, to anticipate them, proposed purchasing it for the Dutch. Stuyvesant approved of the project, and gave May 23. Thomas Broen permission to buy Mantuashoeck, a little above Fort Nassau, and establish himself thereupon. But this Printz would not allow, unless the Dutchman heid under Swedish jurisdiction. Broen refused the terms, and the Swede is said to have erected the arms of his govern- ment thereupon.1 He still remained, to all intents and purposes, master of the river, and continued to overhaul Dutch vessels. Trusting now to his superior numbers, he 1650. forbade his people to trade in any way with the Dutch, or to pay what they owed them ; and issued strict orders to the latter, not to lay down any bouweries or plantations between Fort Beversreede and the Swedish post. Hudde 1651. disregarded these pretensions, and granted several lots April 15. to Dutch settlers. But all these improvements were stopped by Printz, whose servants "chopped into fire- wood " the timber which the parties had placed on the ground. Suffering from these and similar hardships, the people sent a strong remonstrance to the Director-general, claiming his and the Company's protection. Stuyvesant, though without instructions, found himself under the neces- sity of repairing to the spot. It was a matter of impor- tance to terminate these feuds, and of wisdom to establish terms with Printz, by means of which the English-un- friendly to both parties-could be kept out of that country.
1 Hol. Doc. viii., 37, 61, 62 ; Alb. Rec. xvii., 267, 272-274. In the translation of Acrelius, (New York Hist. Soc. Coll.) it is represented that Broen obtained his license in 1646, from Stuyvesant. This is an error, perhaps typographical, as Stuyvesant was not in the country in 1646. His letter is in Alb. Rec. ut supra, with the correct date. Another error is committed on the next page of the above translation, where the Director-general's letter is connected with the operations on the Schuylkill, in 1648; and Stuyvesant is represented as prom- ising " money to buy the land," which, it said, "never happened." Stuyve- sant's letter does not justify any of these assertions.
166
HISTORY OF
BOOK IV. On his arrival, therefore, he immediately opened a cor- respondence with Printz, to whom he communicated 1651. the unquestionable title which the Company had to those July. lands, demanding, at the same time, exhibition of that of the Swedes. Printz claimed a considerable tract, but was not prepared to show his deeds, as these, he said, were in the chancery office at Stockholm. Considerable doubt was thrown on the Swedish right by one of the Indian sachems, who informed Stuyvesant, shortly after, that Printz was endeavoring to purchase the whole of his lands, though he had already maintained that he had pre- viously bought them. The tract in question lay on the east and west sides of the South River, and extended, on the former, from the Narraticonsche or Raccoon creek, down to the Maetsingsing ; and on the latter, from Necka- toensing Kill westward from the river to Settoensoene, other wise called Minquaas Kill, where Fort Christina stood. These the Indians now conveyed to "the grand Sachem of the Manhattans." For greater security and July 19. better understanding, a solemn council was called at Fort Nassau. It was attended on the part of the Indians by all the chiefs of these parts ; and on the part of the Dutch, by the Director-general, the Rev. Mr. Grasmeer, Isaac Aller- ton, Cornelis de Potter, Capt. Newton, Ensign Baxter, Isaac de Forrest, Capt. Krygier, and Surgeon Abraham Staets. The sachems, after a long and full explanation, in which they maintained that the Swedes had usurped all the land they claimed except the spot on which Fort Christina stood, presented the Dutch, " as a free gift," with all the territory extending from the west point of the Min- quaas Kill to Boemties Hook, called by them Neuwsings ; " the Chief, Pemenatta, only conditioning that they should repair his gun, when out of order," and give the Indians, when they required it, " a little maize."1
1 Bozman, (Hist. of Maryland,) copying Chalmers, (Polit. Annals, 632,) says, that Hudde made this acquisition. But this is a mistake. It was made by Stuyvesant in person. Acrelius states that it was the only contract made in the name of the States General and the West India Company. Is not this asser- tion contradicted by the deed to Arent Corssen, confirmed to Van Dinclage and La Montagne, in 1618 ?
167
NEW NETHERLAND.
Fort Nassau being situate too high up and too inconven- CHAP. ient, was now demolished, and a new fort, called "Casimir," x. erected on the opposite bank of the river, " about a mile 1651. from Fort Christina."1 Though Governor Printz protested against its erection, Stuyvesant and he mutually agreed to avoid all quarrels, and henceforward cultivate good corre- spondence and live together as friends and allies. The Director and suite then returned to New Amsterdam.
The intelligence of these operations was, however, quite unexpected by the Chamber at Amsterdam. Stuyvesant had not given "as much as a hint " of his intentions. The Directors abstained from any opinion on the proceeding until they should hear how the court of Sweden would receive the news. Neither would they say whether it was an act of prudence to destroy Fort Nassau, especially as the Company's title to it was unexceptionable. As for Fort Casimir, they were "at a loss to conjecture why it had received that name." It turned out afterwards that these operations were rather embarrassing in a financial point of view ; for the authorities at the Manhattans, owing to the heavy expenses they entailed, paid the following year, only fifty per cent. of their debts.
The people of New Haven were, in the meanwhile, seri- ously disappointed by the result of their expedition. They took the earliest opportunity to complain to the United Colonies of the injury they sustained, which they estimated at three hundred pounds, and demanded satisfaction for their imprisonment, as well as protection in the settlement of the lands they claimed as justly theirs. The Commis- sioners wrote to the Director-general protesting against Sep. 15. his proceedings, and insisted that he acted in direct contra- vention to the Hartford treaty. They affirmed, moreover, that they had as good a right to the Island of Manhattan
1 Bozman, ii., 481, fixes 1650 as the date of the erection of this fort. He anti- cipates by a year. Chalmers represents that it was called Casimir by the Swedes, after its reduction in the course of the next year, and that Fort Chris- tina was erected subsequently. All these are only additional misstatements. Fort Casimir stood near the present site of New Castle, five miles below Wil- mington, Del., called Sandhook by the Dutch previous to the erection of the fort.
168
HISTORY OF
BOOK IV. as he to the English lands on the Delaware ; and declared, that he, alone, should be held responsible for any mischief 1651. that might result from his unneighborly and unchristian conduct. For the encouragement of those who had now complained, they further resolved, that if at any time within twelve months, the petitioners should undertake, with a vessel and at least one hundred well armed men, authorized by a commission from New Haven, to settle their lands on the Delaware, the United Colonies would then afford them a sufficient force for their defence, in case they experienced any opposition from the Dutch or Swedes. They also declared all English planters on the Delaware, whether from New Haven or any other of the United Colonies, to be under the jurisdiction of the former govern- ment.1
In Holland, Van der Donck was still hot on the heels of Van Tienhoven. Prevented by the order of the States General from returning to New Netherland, the latter passed the winter in Amsterdam, where he succeeded in seducing a young woman, named Elizabeth Jansen Croon van Hoochvelt, under a promise of marriage, having rep- resented himself as a single man, though he had a wife and family at the Manhattans. With this "decent man's child" he passed his time "in open shame." The spring fleet was now about to sail. In return "for his long and faithful services," he had received the appointment of Receiver-general of the Company's domains and revenues, and was now about to return home with a renewed com- mission also as Provincial Secretary, and a grant of a well- stocked farm, when Van der Donck procured an order for him to repair to the Hague to answer the interrogatories with which he had been served during the preceding August ; and the captain of the ship in which he had taken April21. passage was forbid to receive him on board without their High Mightinesses' permission. Van Tienhoven was ob- April23. liged to obey. On his arrival at the Hague, he was arrested
1 Hol. Doc. viii., 38-44, 63, 67, 77; Alb. Rec. iv., 73; vi., 6; ix., 264, 269 ; Rensselaerswyck MSS. ; Hazard's State Papers, ii., 192-196 ; Trumbull's Conn. i., 196-198.
169
NEW NETHERLAND.
by the local authorities on a charge of living in a state of CHAP.
public concubinage, and fined eighty-two rix-dollars. The x. air of the place no longer agreed with him. Notwith- 1651. standing their High Mightinesses' injunctions, he embarked May 5. in the Waterhound, accompanied by the victim of his lust, whom he still flattered with the prospects of marriage on his arrival at New Amsterdam. The unfortunate young woman finding at length that she was duped, instituted an action against her seducer, who, however, escaped all punishment The Amsterdam Directors had already de- clared that he had suffered, whilst in Holland, from " the manœuvres of miscreants and perturbators of the public peace," and, now, through the influence of men high in office, " whose mouths were besugared " from the cargo of a Portuguese prize which the Waterhound had captured, " Van Tienhoven became so sweet that there remained no longer any bitterness in him." The advocate of the Director-general, like all such characters in colonies, was the favorite with those in power, and justice was denied to the poor mantuamaker's daughter.2
The popular party persevered, notwithstanding the dis- advantages under which they labored, in their demands for redress. The state of things against which they had so long and so loudly complained remained unchanged, and nothing they could do could induce Stuyvesant to swerve from the line of policy he was pursuing, and which, it is but justice to him to say, accorded now with the ob- stinate and mistaken opposition to right and adherence to wrong, which dictated the private instructions that he re- ceived, from time to time, from his superiors at Amsterdam. Finding that it was idle to expect a change, the Vice Director and Van Dyck drew up a long protest against Feb. 28. the Director-general, unsparingly commenting on and con- demning the acts of the administration from its commence-
1 " Many goods from this cargo have been pilfered, particularly the loaf sugar, a quantity of tobacco, silver plate, and a few gold coins." Directors' letter to Stuyvesant, 4th April, 1652. Alb. Rec. iv., 70.
? Hol. Doc v., 310, 312, 344, 408, 412, 413 ; vi., 6, 33, 45, 56, 59, 246, 267, 279, 280
170
HISTORY OF
BOOK ment to the present time. This bold proceeding called IV. forth a peremptory order for the expulsion of Van Dinclage 1651. from the Council. This he refused to recognize. He held a seat at that board in virtue of a commission as valid as that of Stuyvesant. A sergeant and a file of soldiers, under the command of Newton and Baxter, dragged him, by force, from the chamber and lodged him in the guard- house, where he remained incarcerated for several days, " whilst foreigners, English as well as French, were con- tinued and employed in the public service." Dirck van Schelluyne, who in his capacity as notary acted as the official channel through which the protest was conveyed, was, at the same time, interdicted the practice of his pro- fession. The popular leaders were now made again to feel all the weight of executive displeasure. Govert Loock- ermans, on a charge of violating the revenue laws, was sentenced to be banished ; but the execution of this sen- tence was staid on condition, it is represented, that he should " say nothing against the Director-general." Augus- tine Heermans was menaced with like ruin, whilst Van Schelluyne " durst not keep his papers in his house, lest Stuyvesant should come, as he had threatened, and seize them." It was useless for any of the obnoxious party to remain in the country. "We live here like sheep among wolves ; one friend cannot speak to the other without being suspected." The letters of safety with which the delegates had been provided by their High Mightinesses availed them nothing. "The Directors had instructed Stuyvesant to take no notice of them," and the leading citizens were "reduced to such straits that they put their trust in God alone, for they had lost all confidence in men." The return of Van Tienhoven made their position worse, if such could be possible. "That evil spirit scattered lighted fire-brands through the community." "To describe the state of this government to one well acquainted with Sep. 19. it," writes Van Dinclage to Van der Donck, "is a work of supererogation ; it is washing a black-a-moor white. Our grand Muscovy Duke goes on as usual, resembling some- what the wolf-the older he gets the worse he bites. He
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.