USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 16
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proceeds no longer by words or letters, but by arrests and CHAP. stripes."1 X.
Though the government was thus opposed by the Dutch 1651. colonists, it found, on the other hand, warm supporters in the English inhabitants of Long Island. Those of Graves- Sep. 14. end, with Baxter at their head, voted another address, expressive not only of their entire confidence in the friendly dispositions of the Amsterdam Chamber, but of their great joy that the Directors had, after a full enquiry into the truth concerning the present administration, signified their satisfaction therewith, and their determination to uphold General Stuyvesant's authority, whom they requested to be continued over them. Had this address stopped here, no fault could have been found with its terms or tone. But its authors hesitated not, in opposition to their real principles, in condemnation of those institutions under which they saw their countrymen in New England pros- perous and powerful, and in a spirit of disreputable selfish- ness and sycophancy, to denounce the opponents of the administration for preferring an elective form of govern- ment to the miserable and oppressive system of irresponsi- bility under which the province suffered. "We willingly acknowledge that the frequent change of government, or the power to elect a governor from among ourselves, which is, we know, the design of some here, would be our ruin and destruction, by reason of our factions and the difference of opinion obtaining among us; as there are many here who are unwilling to submit themselves to any sort of government, be it mild or strong. It must be one of compulsion and force, until the governor's authority be finally established. For such persons will not only scorn and contemn, or disobey, authority, and by their bad example seduce others, whereby the laws will become powerless, but every one would desire to do just what pleased himself. In fine, the strongest would devour the
1 Hol. Doc. vi., 5, 7, 53-60, 67, 68 These were the Vice Director's words : " Noscenti et benescienti statum hujus regiminis multa scribere, est oleum perdere-AEthiopum lavare. Noster magnus Muscovi Dux antiquum obtinet et quod de lupo ; quo annosior quo mordacior. Non procedit ulterius verbis aut scriptis, sed apprehensionibus et plagis."
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BOOK weakest. As for elections, we should be subjected to IV. many inconveniences, inasmuch as we are not provided 1651. nor supplied with persons fit or qualified for such an office."
Having thus exhibited their loyalty, they considered it but fair to put in a claim for some special privileges. These were nothing less than the exclusive right to import settlers and goods into the province. The traders, who come and go solely for their own private gain and advan- tage, " were, in their opinions, the oppressors of the people." To rid themselves of these, they calculated, by and with the advice of the "Governor and others assembled with him," to hire some vessels in Holland and to import therein farmers and laborers, of which they were most in need, "provided the Directors will consent and permit these ships and no others to trade hither." Were this allowed for a certain time, " this country would be able to employ from five to six hundred every year, which would both strengthen the province, and increase the revenue." They demanded also a supply of negroes, at such prices as the Company might determine. For, they added, "it is not with us as in our Fatherland, nor as in kingdoms and republics already established and firmly founded through long and well experienced laws and constitutions, best agreeing with the condition of the people. Our small body, composed of divers pieces-namely, of people of divers nations-requires many things for the laying a foundation for which there are no rules nor examples, and which must, therefore, be left to the discretion of a well experienced governor ; for we are as a young tree, or plant, now sprouting, for the first time, into existence, which, if watered and cherished, may grow up hereafter Sep. 25. into a flourishing republic." Those of Heemstede followed with a similar address.1
1 Hol. Doc. ix., 240-248. The Gravesend letter was originally written in Eng- lish, and afterwards translated into Dutch, from which it is now rendered back into English again. It was signed by George Baxter, William Willkins, Nico- las Stilwell, Richard Gibbons, schout, James Hubbard, William Browne, assist's, and certified by John Tilton, clerk. That from Heemstede was certi- fied by " John Moore, clergyman of the church ot Heemstede."
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CHAPTER XI.
Further collision between the Director-general and Rensselaerswyck-Causes thereof-Van Slechtenhorst visits New Amsterdam-Is placed under arrest- Departs without leave-Sends his son 10 explore the Katskill Mountains for silver-Result of the expedition-Stuyvesant claims a separate jurisdiction for Fort Orange-Opposed-Consequences of the conflicting pretensions- John Baptist van Rensselaer-Dyckman-Schuyler-Progress of the difficul- ties-The Beverwyck limits staked out-The court of Rensselaerswyck order the stakes to be pulled up, and remonstrate-The Director-general lampooned -Dismisses Attorney-general Van Dyck-Visits the colonie-Calls on the authorities there to define their bounds-Orders the Patroon's flag to be struck -Van Slechtenhorst resists-A court of justice erected in Fort Orange-Van Slechtenhorst offers further opposition-Is arrested and removed to Fort Am- sterdam-Changes in consequence-Dominie Schaets appointed to Rensse- laerswyck-New regulations relative to the purchase of Indian lands-Katskill and Claverack excluded from the burthens of patroonship-Van Werckhoven's colonies on the Raritan and Long Island-Further proceedings of Van der Donck in Holland-His remonstrance against the Hartford treaty-Represen- tations on the part of the several chambers-The Amsterdam Directors con- ciliate the colonists-Trade with Africa opened-Another clergyman sent out- NEW AMSTERDAM INCORPORATED-Reflections-Proceedings of the States Gen- eral on Van der Donck's remonstrances-Stuyvesant recalled-The Amsterdam Chamber opposes his recall-The resolution reconsidered-Causes thereof.
THE call for a subsidy from Rensselaerswyck brought CHAP. on a collision between the authorities of that colonie and XI. the provincial government. The latter had, already, 1651. peremptorily demanded the excise on wines and strong liquors consumed in the Patroon's district, which was refused. It was considered an invasion of the freedoms, and in direct opposition to the custom of Fatherland. The Patroon had defrayed, from his own resources, the salaries of the minister and other public servants, as well as the general expenses attendant on the settlement of the country. These had amounted, on the 30th of June, 1650, to the sum of twenty-five thousand seven hundred and seventy-three guilders, or more than ten thousand dollars, no part of which had been paid either by the Company, or the co-directors of the colonie.1 It would be, therefore,
1 This expenditure is stated in a letter, signed by Johan van Wely and John B. van Rensselaer, and dated 7th April, 1671. Rensselaerswyck MSS.
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BOOK submitting to a wrong to consent to the demand now put IV. forth. As it was a matter, however, that concerned the 1651. common interests of the country and the privileges of the colonie, Commander Van Slechtenhorst was commissioned to proceed to New Amsterdam, to remonstrate with the Director and Council against it.
April 29.
He arrived at the Manhattans towards the close of the month of April, and took the earliest opportunity to represent how contrary to reason, law and usage were the proposed exactions. But Stuyvesant was inexorable, and Slechtenhorst, on his side, was equally unyielding ; " for it was a matter of great importance, which may cause not only tumult but bloodshed in the country." The parties separated, but Slechtenhorst had not yet finished his dinner, when a messenger summoned him before the Director-general and Council. Immediately on his appear- ance the authorities proceeded to pronounce sentence against him, animadverting in strong terms on his conduct, especially in reference to the settlement of Katskill. Slechtenhorst, no ways daunted, demanded if a man could be condemned unheard ? The only answer he received May 1. was an order for his arrest. He was detained four months at the Manhattans, notwithstanding he repeatedly pro- tested against his detention, and the authorities of Rens- selaerswyck made several applications for his release. Finally, seeing no prospect of obtaining permission to de- Sep. part, he embarked in a sloop, and returned to Fort Orange, having given a guarantee to the skipper to see him harm- less, should he be prosecuted for having received him on board. It was well for the skipper that he had taken this precaution ; for, on his return to the Manhattans, his vessel was arrested, and he was fined two hundred and fifty guilders and costs. Van Slechtenhorst estimated his expenses in consequence of these proceedings at about four hundred dollars.
Sep. 10. In conformity to instructions from Holland, he dispatch- ed, on his return, his son to Katskill to explore the moun- tains in that vicinity for precious metals, a maiden of one of the boors having accidentally found a substance thereabouts
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" which some thought was silver." The expedition well BOOK nigh proved fatal to the young man ; for on his arrival at IV. the Patroon's farm, heavy rains set in and continued a day 1651. and a night. The mountain torrent became swollen, in the space of three hours, to the unprecedented height of thirty feet. The farm house with all its contents, whilst the inmates were basking in fancied security, was swept into the kill, and the horses and cattle had well nigh perished had not young Slechtenhorst, " who was an excel- lent swimmer," afforded such efficient aid as to succeed in rescuing them. All idea of looking after the silver mine in the Katskill mountains was of necessity abandoned, in consequence of this misadventure.1
Three years had now elapsed since Director Stuyve- sant set up a claim for a separate jurisdiction for Fort Orange, distinct and independent of that of Rensselaers- wyck. Yet the question remained still unsettled. Lines were not drawn in those days with as much precision as in our times. The Indians measured by the day's journey ; Stuyvesant by the cannon ball. The jurisdiction of the fort, as claimed by him, extended over a circumference within the range of gun shot, which he estimated at six hundred paces of five feet to a pace ;2 a distance sub- sequently estimated at one hundred and fifty rods. As the hamlet of Beverwyck, now becoming every day more populous and valuable, would, by this operation, be severed from the colonie ; and as the Company could not fail, in consequence, to secure the greater part of the fur trade, to the serious injury of the Patroon, considerable opposition was manifested to Stuyvesant's pretension. The authori- ties of Rensselaerswyck maintained that the fort stood on the Patroon's soil ; that the whole territory from Beeren island to the Cohoes was his ; and that, consequently, the fort could have no jurisdiction beyond its walls. As for trading in furs, or cutting timber, it was, they insisted, a flagrant spoliation of the Patroon's property.
1 Rensselaerswyck MSS.
2 De forts gerechticheyt synde, naer gemeene ordre ende gebruyck, ontrent de doel van een gotelings schoot, gereckent op ses hondert geometressche passen.
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. XI. Jean Baptiste van Rensselaer, the first of that family who visited this country, was elected one of its magistrates, 1651. whilst this controversy was at its height. Shortly after- Nov. 23. wards, an order was issued that all the freemen and Oct. 18. inhabitants should take the oath of allegiance to the Patroon and his representatives.1
I FORM OF OATH TAKEN BY THE COLONISTS OF RENSSELAERSWYCK TO THE PATROON.
"I, N. N., promise and swear that I shall be true and faithful to the noble Pa- troon and Co-directors, or those who represent them here, and to the Hon'ble Director, Commissioners and Council, subjecting. myself to the Court of the Colonie ; and I promise to demeam myself as a good and faithful inhabitant or Burgher, without exciting any opposition, tumult or noise ; but on the contrary, as a loyal Inhabitant, to maintain and support offensively and defensively, against every one, the Right and Jurisdiction of the Colonie. And with rever- ence and fear of the Lord, and uplifting of both the first fingers of the right hand, I say -- So TRULY HELP ME GOD ALMIGHTY."
This date, 15th July, 1649, hath Steven Jansen Carpenter taken the Oath of allegiance from the hands of the Honorable Director before the commissioners of the colonie. Witness, A. DE HOOGES, Secretary.
23d Nov., 1651. RESOLVED, that all Householders and Freemen of this Colo- nie shall appear on the 28th day of November of this year, being Tuesday, at the house of the Honorable Director, and there take the Burgerlyke oath of Allegiance.
The following persons have taken the Oath at the appointed time, according to the foregoing formulary :-
Mons'r Arendt van Curler,
Everardus Jansz.
Mons'r Johan Baptist van Rensselaer,
Adriaen Pietersz. van Alkmaer,
Thomas Jansz.
Jochim Wessels Backer,
Sander Leendertsz, (Glen.)
Gysbert Cornelisz. van Weesp,
Willem Fredericksz.
Jan Michelz.
Evert Pels, Hendricksz. Verbeeck,
Rutger Jacobszen,
[One name defaced here,] Van Es,
Andries Herbertsz.
Hendrick Westercamp,
Cornelis Cornelisz. Vos,
Thomas Keuningh,
Jan van Hoesem,
Cornelis Segersz.
Jan Thomasz.
Cornelis Cornelisz. van Voorhout,
Pieter Bronck,
Jan Ryersz. Jan Helms,
Jacob Jansz. van Nostrandt,
Harmen Bastiaensz.
Aert Jacobsz.
Teunis Cornelisz.
Guysbert Cornelisz. aende Berg,
Jacob Adriaensz. Raedmacker,
Evert Jansen Kleermaker,
Teunis Jacobsz.
Dirck Jansen Croon,
Rutger Adriaensz.
Jacob Simonsz. Klomp,
Casper Jacobsz.
Abraham Pietersz. Vosburg,
Volcker Jansz.
[21st May, 1652. Renss. MSS.]
Pieter Hartgers,
Jan Verbeeck,
Jacob Luyersz. Thomas Sandersz Smith,
Goosen Gerritsz.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
These conflicting pretensions were necessarily produc- CHAP. tive of a bad state of feeling between the opposing parties.
XI. On New Year's night, some soldiers, armed with match- 1652. locks, sallied from the fort, and fired a number of shots at Jan. 1. the Patroon's house. Several pieces of ignited wadding settled on the roof, (which was of reed,) and had caused the destruction of the building, had not the inmates been on the alert. On the following day, the soldiers assaulted young Slechtenhorst in the street, "and not only beat him black and blue, but dragged him through the mud and mire in the presence of Joannes Dyckman, the Company's com- missary,1 who cried out all the time, " Let him have it now, and the d -- l take him !" Philip Pietersen Schuyler2 en- deavored to save his brother-in-law. Dyckman, hereupon, drew his sword and threatened to run Schuyler through, if he interfered. The soldiers struck others of the com- mander's children, and threatened to shoot them, but were prevented. The friends of the family were justly incensed at this outrage, and menaced revenge. This coming to Dyckman's ears, he, it is represented, ordered the guns of
1 Dyckman had been first clerk to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, and sailed in the Waterhound, in the spring of this year, for New Netherland, having been appointed bookkeeper, at a salary of 30 fl. per month and board. On his arrival he was sent as Commissary and Vice Director to Fort Orange, which offices he filled until 1655, when, having become deranged, he was superseded.
2 This was the first of the Schuyler family who settled in this country. He came from Amsterdam to America in 1650, and was married on 22d December of that year, to Margritta van Slechtenhorst, aged 22, daughter of the Director of Rensselaerswych, by Anthonie de Hooges the secretary of the colonie, "in presence of the officers both of Fort Orange and Rensselaerswyck, and of some of the principal inhabitants thereof." By this lady he had ten children, viz. : Guysbert, Gertrude, (who married Stephanus van Cortland ;) Alida, (who mar- ried, first, Rev. Nicholas van Rensselaer, second Robert Livingston ;) Pieter, Brant, Arent, Sybilla, (died, aged four weeks,) Philip, Johannes, and Margritta. Peter Schuyler was the first mayor of Albany. John, the youngest son, held a captain's commission in 1690, when he led an expedition into Canada, and penetrated as far as La Prairie, being then only twenty-two years of age. He possessed great influence among the Indians, and is referred to frequently in La Potherie's History of North America. His grandson, General Philip Schuy- ler, occupies too high a place in the history of this State, to need further remark here. Philip Pietersen Schuyler died at Albany, on the 9th March, 1683-4, and was buried on the 11th of the same month in the church of that place, then sit- uated at the junction of State street and Broadway. His will bears date Tues- day evening, 1st May, 1683, O. S.
VOL. II.
12
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HISTORY OF
BOOK the fort to be loaded with grape, with the intention of IV. blowing down the Patroon's house.
1652. Things were in this unpleasant state when Stuyvesant Jan. 29. sent up some placards relating to the limits of Fort Orange, which he ordered to have published in the colonie. Dyck- man, accompanied by six followers and three soldiers Feb. 8. " armed with carbines and pistols," proceeded to the house where the magistrates were in session, and demanded of Slechtenhorst to make a minute of what he was about to require. As it was contrary to law for any man to enter another's jurisdiction with an armed posse, without the previous consent of the local authorities, Dyckman's con- duct was looked upon as an additional insult, against which Feb. 22. Slechtenhorst protested, ordering the commissary at the same time to quit the room. Dyckman retired ; but " as Feb. 24. force hath more to say here than justice," he returned with increased numbers, and demanded that the placards should be published throughout the colonie by the sound of the bell. "It shall not be done so long as we have a drop of blood in our veins," replied the court, "nor until we receive orders from their High Mightinesses and our honored masters." But Dyckman, nevertheless, persisted, and ordered the porter to ring the bell. This was opposed also. Dyckman now proceeded to the fort ; ordered the bell there to be rung three times ; then returned to the Patroon's court-house ; ascended the front "stoop," or steps, with his armed followers, whilst the wondering burghers stood around, and directed his deputy to make proclamation of the placards. The latter was about to obey, when Van Slechtenhorst, rushing forward, tore the placards from his hands, " so that the seals fell on the ground." Another long protest followed from the authori- ties of the colonie, whilst young Van Rensselaer said to the crowd, " Go home, good friends ! 'tis only the wind of a cannon ball fired six hundred paces off."
On receiving the report of these occurrences, the Di- Mar. 5. rector-general immediately dispatched another placard to Dyckman, again declaring the jurisdiction of Fort Orange to extend within a circumference of six hundred paces of
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said fort, "and in order that no man shall plead ignorance, CHAP. we further charge our commissary, after publication here -~ of, to erect on the aforesaid limits, north, south, and west 1652. of the aforesaid fortress, a post, marked with the Com- pany's mark, and to affix on a board nailed thereto, a copy hereof." Within these bounds, no house was, for the future, to be built, except by consent of the Director and Council, or those authorized to act for them.1 This violent and illegal act, violating at once the rights of prop- erty and the sixth article of the charter of 1629, severed, now and for ever, the town of Beverwyck from Van Rensselaer's colonie .? It was not, however, quietly sub- mitted to by the authorities of the latter, for they immedi- ately ordered their constable to remove the posts forth- Mar. 19. with, "protesting before Almighty God and the States General, against all open force and violence, and insisting on reparation for all losses and damages which might accrue, or be caused thereby." On the same day, the court drew up a long remonstrance "against the unbe- coming pretensions and attacks of the Director and Council of New Netherland," in which they denied that the latter had any authority over the colonie ; they had never sworn allegiance to the Company, much less to Monsieur Stuyve- sant, and owned no masters but the States General and their own immediate superiors, whose lands have been erected into a perpetual fief, with high, middle, and low jurisdiction ; and he who would now destroy this, must be
1 Rensselaerswyck MSS.
2 The Patroon and Co-directors of Rensselaerswyck never ceased to protest against this high-handed proceeding, and to demand the restitution of the prop- erty thus unlawfully taken from them. They succeeded at length in 1673, (when the country fell a second time into the hands of the Dutch,) in obtaining tardy justice. On the 3d of April of that year, the Directors of the West India Company acknowledged, by a notorial acte, after having examined the original Indian deeds, that the proprietors of the colonie were also right owners of the town, then called Willemstadt ; that the aggression committed against them by Director Stuyvesant, was in special violation of the 6th Art. of the Charter of 1629, and could neither take away nor diminish the proprietorship claimed by the parties. The Company at the same time declared that they had no right or claim to any part of the said colonie. This view of the case was admitted also by Gov. Dongan, in 1686, who considered it necessary to obtain a release from the Patroon of all his claims, before he could legally incorporate the city of Albany.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK more powerful than the Company, "yea, than their High IV. Mightinesses." The late Director Kieft understood the 1652. law better than those who administer it now-a-days, and this will be made manifest when the matter shall be sub- jected to that touchstone.1
This paper was declared, by the Director and Council, " a libellous calumny." Secretary de Hooges was called on to furnish the names of the magistrates who had voted in favor of it, and threatened, in case of disobedience, to prosecute him for contumacy.
In the meanwhile the question of jurisdiction presented itself in a new shape to agitate and disturb still further this infant hamlet. A negress belonging to Sander Leendert- sen Glen, charged with theft, caused several " decent persons" to be prosecuted as receivers of stolen goods. She was ordered to be arrested for defamation, and Dyck- Mar. 21. man proceeded to take up the wench. Her master refused to surrender her that evening. Dyckman, offended at this, told the burgher that he had power to send him and all his family to jail ; to pull his house down about his ears, and trample it underneath his feet, " as it was erected on the Company's soil." "I have nothing to do with you," replied Glen ; "I cannot serve a new master until I am discharged from the one I live under." The commissary threatened him with Stuyvesant, but the other thought he should fare as well at the Director-general's hands as he. This retort overthrew Dyckman's temper. He drew his rapier and threatened to run his adversary through. But Glen was not afraid. He seized a stick to repel his assail- Mar. 22. ant, who then retired. Next morning he was summoned to the fort, and placed under arrest. Rumors now be- came rife that Stuyvesant was about to visit the place, and the commissary went so far as to give out that a new gallows was building for Slechtenhorst and his son, and
1 On the 13th of this month, the authorities of the colonie purchased from the Indians two tracts of land on the east side of the Hudson, and situate north- east of the flatts. One of these was called Paanpaack, (on which the city of Troy now stands,) the other Pan-hoosick, or " Hoosick," as it is now called, which adjoined the first mentioned on the north. It is described as running landward in " unto the Wappenakicks, or otherwise to the Fresh River."
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NEW NETHERLAND.
for young Van Rensselaer, who were put down as the CHAP. fomenters of this "rebellion."1 XI.
The Director was at this time occupied in ridding him- 1652. self of all that remained of his opponents at New Amster- dam. Melyn was in a manner outlawed; Van Dinclage had retired to Staten Island to brood over his contumelies ; Van Schelluyne durst not exercise his profession, and the Nine Men were under ban. The only one undisposed of was Attorney-general Van Dyck, and his hour had now arrived.
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