USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 20
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1 Alb. Rec. ix., 57.
2 The names of those enrolled in this guard, will be found in Appendix E.
3 The following are the names of these citizens, and the sums they respec- tively loaned :-
Gl.
GL.
The Hon'ble Werckhoven,
200
Jacob Backer,
150
Joannes van Beeck,
200
Nicolaes Boodt,
100
Joannes van Brugh,
200 Isaak de Foreest,
100
Joannes de Peyster,
100 Abram Geenes,
100
Cornelis van Steenwyck,
200 Jacob Steendam,
100
Govert Loockermans,
150
Anthony Clasen,
50
Oloff Stevensen,
150
Jan Jansen, Jr.,
50
Jacob Schelling,
200
Borger Joris, 100
Pieter Prins,
100
Jan Vinje,
50
Antonie van Hardenberg,
200
Arent van Hattem,
100
Joannes Nevius,
100 Martin Krygier,
100
Gulian Wys,
200 P. L. van der Grist,
100
Pieter Buys,
100 Maximilian van Gheel,
100
Adriaen and Johannes Keyser,
100 Allard Anthony,
100
Paulus Schrick,
100
Abram de la Noy,
100
Jacob Gerrits Strycker,
200 Daniel Litschoe,
100
Francois Fyn,
100 Philip Gerardy,
50
Matheus de Vos,
100 Egbert van Borssum,
100
Adriaen Blommaert,
100 Hendrick Kip,
Evert Tesselaer's clerks,
200
guilders 5050-
216
HISTORY OF
BOOK the schepens, was dispatched to Holland, in the course V. of the summer, to obtain from the Chamber at Amsterdam 1653. further aid, at this critical conjuncture.
June 5.
Owing to the excessive cultivation of tobacco, the inordi- nate pursuit of the fur trade, and the increase of immigra- tion for the last two years, a scarcity of food now became imminent. In order to prevent this, and in view of the danger with which the country was threatened through the war with England, the export of breadstuffs was prohibited ; tobacco planters were ordered to set as many hillocks of corn as they did of tobacco, and the consump- tion of grain by brewers and distillers was strictly for- bidden. Finally a proclamation was issued appointing, until otherwise ordered, the first Wednesday of every month to be observed as a day of general fasting and prayer.1
1 Alb. Rec iv., 122, 165 ; vi., 58-67, 69, 71-73; vii., 323-325, 328 ; viii., 96, 97, 286.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
CHAPTER II.
Excitement in New England on hearing of the war-Rumors that the Dutch had bribed the Indians to cut off the English-Proceedings of the United Colonies in consequence-Issue a manifesto-Stuyvesant disclaims all knowl- edge of the plot-Calls for an investigation-Commissioners appointed by the United Colonies-Their proceedings-Quit the Manhattans suddenly-Capt. John Underhill raises the standard of rebellion on Long Island-His seditious address-Flies to New England-Stuyvesant writes to the United Colonies in vindication of his government-Result of the enquiries into the plot-Connec- ticut and New Haven insist on hostile proceedings against the Dutch-Mas- sachusetts opposes their demand-First instance of nullification-New Haven applies to Cromwell for assistance-Rhode Island commissions Dyer and others-Underhill seizes Fort Good Hope, and sells it-Thomas Baxter turns pirate-Embassy to Virginia-De Sille, Van Ruyven and others appoint- ed to office.
THE news of the war excited naturally some anxiety in CHAP. New England, as to the policy which the Dutch would II. pursue in America. This feeling soon assumed a graver 1653. character, especially in the more western colonies, in con- sequence of intelligence communicated to Governor Haines of Connecticut, by Uncas, a Mohegan chief, that Director Stuyvesant was stimulating the Indians of Narragansett to cut off the English. Information of a similar nature was communicated by other Indians to the people of Stamford, Mar. 27. under the jurisdiction of New Haven, who were assured " that the Dutch Governor did earnestly solicit, about a month previously, the Indians in these parts to kill all the English."
The Governors of Connecticut and New Haven were never very friendly to General Stuyvesant, and were consequently open to entertain accusations even founded on looser evidence than this, against men whom they regarded with jealousy and suspicion, particularly when they recollected that they had already gravely wronged those whom they now suspected. An extraordinary session of the Commissioners of the United Colonies was
218
HISTORY OF
BOOK V. held towards the end of April of this year at Boston, " to consult and determine what is, or shall be judged convenient 1653. forthwith to be done, before the Dutch receive such re- cruits or aid as it is understood they expect, to prosecute so vile a design." Preparatory to this meeting, a com- mission was sent from Massachusetts to Narragansett, to enquire of the sachems there, whether Stuyvesant had not engaged, or did not endeavor to induce them to fight against the English ; whether, with that view, he did not present them with supplies of guns and powder; the com- mission was finally to learn the intentions of those sachems and their warriors, what other tribes had pledged them- selves to the Dutch, and to invite Ninnigret and the other Narragansett chiefs to repair to Boston to satisfy the council on these several points.
The sachems absolutely denied the existence of any real foundation for these enquiries, and consequently an- swered them in the negative. They professed, at the same time, to be the firm and sincere friends of the English. Nin- nigret boldly avowed that he had been at the Manhattans. "I am the man who hath been there. I am, therefore, responsible for what I have done. But I utterly deny any such acts having been done by me, or to my knowledge, at or with th Dutch." What, he asked, "are these great rumors that I hear ? That I am to be cut off, and that the English have a quarrel against me ? I know of no cause for it. Is it because I went thither to take physic ? I found no entertainment from the Dutch Governor, when there, to encourage me to stir in such a league. It was winter time, and I stood a great part of a winter day knocking at the Gov- ernor's door, and he would neither open it nor suffer others to let me in. I am not wont to find such carriage from my English friends." Not content with thus asseverating their innocence, the sachems sent messengers to the commission- ers, who were rigidly examined, but nothing could be ex- tracted from them, further than that "Ninnigret said that he heard some ships were to come from Holland to the Manhat- tes, to cut off the English." But this would not convince those who were unwilling to believe anything but their
219
NEW NETHERLAND.
own suspicions. " The Indians," they argued, " know not CHAP. God, but worship and walk after the Prince of the Power II. of the Air; serving their lusts and hating one another." 1653. Yet, in violation of all sound reasoning and rules of evi- dence, men were found ready to condemn their Christian Protestant neighbors, on the isolated testimony of those whom they themselves pronounced worshippers of the Devil! They began by impeaching the characters of their own witnesses, and then demanded that those whom they .accused should be found guilty on such evidence. In keeping with this design, a long manifesto against the Dutch was submitted to the commissioners, in which were em- bodied all the complaints that Connecticut and New Haven had been reiterating for the last thirteen years, and which, like old wine, lost apparently nothing either of strength or acerbity by keeping. " To add weight to the premises, treachery and cruelty," they continue, " are in bloody colors presented to us, and charged upon the Dutch Governor by many concurrent and pressing testimonies of the Indians, at least since the Hollanders, in times of treaty, began the unexpected war upon England ; and since, instead of giv- ing satisfaction, they have proclaimed their resolution to continue it. The Dutch Governor and his Fiscaal, as by evidence following may appear, have been at work, by gifts and promises, to engage the Indians to cut off the English within the United Colonies, and we hear the de- sign reaches also to Virginia. They may have used more instruments and baits than are yet discovered ; but the In- dians round about, for divers hundreds of miles circuit, seem to have drunk deep of an intoxicating cup, at or from the Manhatoes, against the English, who have sought their good, both in bodily and spiritual respects." They referred, then, to Ninnigret's visit to New Amsterdam, and repeated, that whilst there, he had entered into a league with the Director-general, to whom he had given a present of wam- pum, in return for which he had received twenty guns, with powder and shot in proportion; that whilst at the Hudson River, he had collected several sachems, whom he had urged to take up arms against the English, after which
220
HISTORY OF
BOOK he had returned home in a Dutch sloop, in company, as V. was reported, with a Dutch spy. From Providence, and 1653. the traders of Rhode Island, information was received, that the Narragansett Indians had made peace with those tribes with whom, heretofore, they had been at war; that their whole discourse is in disparagement of the English, and in praise of the Dutch, who promise to supply them with goods at half the English prices ; that they are plentifully supplied with powder " as if it were sand ;" that Ninnigret had bought "wildfire from the Dutch, which, being shot with arrows, will burn anything ;" that he had charged his men to lay in a stock of ammunition, and that he had promised them strong drink without limit. Reports of the same sort are brought daily from the north and east, where the Indians grow generally more insolent, so that the Eng- lish throughout the whole country are wearied with ex- traordinary watchings, and hindered in their agricultural labors. In addition to this, some of the Dutch, at or about the Manhatoes, tell the English " they shall shortly have an East India breakfast, in which, it is conceived, they allude to the horrid, treacherous and cruel plot and execu- tion at Amboina." After enumerating various other char- ges of a similar description, all based on Indian testimony, reference is made to several letters the Director-general had written to the Governors of Massachusetts, Plymouth and New Haven, stating that he was instructed by his superiors to observe peaceful relations, or at least neutral- ity, with the English colonies ; wishing for free commerce, " though himself hath distrained all the corn transported hence in those parts," and expressing a desire to treat for peace, if time and place were appointed. But as he would send none but his Fiscaal, " who in reference to the prem- ises is much distrusted by many of the Dutch there, and cannot be trusted here ;" and as the Dutch Governor ac- knowledges that whatever is concluded can be binding only until he receive contrary commands from his superi- ors, which may be interpreted,-until he hath strength and opportunity to inflict mischief ; it becomes a matter of seri- ous consideration, whether, in the present state of the rela-
221
NEW NETHERLAND.
tions between England and the Netherlands, such a treaty CHAP. would comport with the honor and satisfaction of the Eng- lish nation, and the safety of the United Colonies.
This declaration excited considerable debate, and it was found necessary to call on the Council of Massachusetts and the neighboring Elders for advice. These function- aries were very cautious in their conclusions, and avoided as much as possible compromising themselves by a deci- sive opinion. The presumptions against the Dutch Gov- ernor were, they admitted, very strong, but they considered it most becoming a people professing to walk in the Gospel of peace, and having to do with a people of like religious profession, to give the Dutch Governor an opportunity to answer the charges against him. This was, in truth, a common-sense view of the matter. . But those who were accused, and all but condemned in their absence and with- out a hearing, did not wait to be summoned or arraigned. Letters were received from the Director-general, one May S. addressed to Governor Eaton, the other to the Governor of Massachusetts, both containing an absolute denial of the plot, together with offers either to come to Boston in per- son, or to send an attorney to clear his character. He demanded, at the same time, that some persons be dele- gated to enquire at the Manhattans into the truth of the prevailing rumors, and to receive his replies. This offer was accepted, and Mr. Francis Newman, magistrate of New Haven, Capt. John Leverett and Lieut. William Davis, of Boston, were appointed delegates accordingly. May 12. The commissioners wrote to the Director and Council at the same time, referring to "the late treacherous conspiracy against them, their wives and children, at a moment when overtures were making for a treaty of peace." To show that necessity alone impelled them to other remedies, they once more enumerated their former wrongs, and the reasons they had to charge "this bloody plot" on the Dutch. They concluded by stating that they sent three commissioners to submit the evidence they possessed in support of the charges against the Director and his Fiscaal. They expected, in return, " speedy and just satisfaction for
11. 1653.
222
HISTORY OF
BOOK all former grievances, and due security for the future." v. Five hundred men were then voted to take the field, "if 1653. God called the Colonies to make war against the Dutch ;" and Capt. Leverett was appointed commander-in-chief of these forces, in consequence " of the opportunity he now hath to view and observe the situation and fortifications at the Manhattoes."
May 22. On the arrival of these agents at New Amsterdam, they proposed to General Stuyvesant to fix on some place, within New England, for the production of their evidence. May 23. But to this the Director-general, for obvious reasons, de- murred. They then suggested Flushing or Heemstede, or both these places, and demanded power to summon such witnesses as they thought proper ; that the local magis- trates be ordered to administer the oath to these persons, and that no Englishman, Indian, nor any other who may testify, should be disturbed, during his residence under Dutch jurisdiction, for any testimony he might give. The Director and Council, " together with those representing the courts of justice in the colonies of New Netherland," replied to these propositions by avowing that, as they felt themselves guilt- less of any plot against the English nation, they desired nothing more than that the matter be truly and thoroughly examined, the authors found and the accusation proved, so that the guilty may be punished, or the innocence of those accused established. They, therefore, assented willingly to the propositions, on condition that the examina- tion of the witnesses be conducted in presence of Messrs. De La Montagne, " first counsellor," David Provoost and Govert Loockermans, " who all jointly, or in some measure, understand the Dutch, English and Indian languages." In case any man were found to stand to the accusation, he should be examined on interrogatories, "and according to the custom of our laws of New Netherland, touched [tor- tured] and heard in the presence of the gentlemen sent hither, of the Governor-general and Supreme Council, and those that represent the aforesaid particular colonies and courts of justice of this province." An order was annexed to this reply, commanding all magistrates to cite
223
NEW NETHERLAND.
and bring before this joint commission all such persons as CHAP. they shall require.1
To this proposal the New England commissioners offered 1653. sundry objections. Those by whom it was signed, were May 24. not the persons with whom they were instructed to nego- tiate ; the question of clearing himself of the plot seemed to be altogether changed by the Director-general ; two of the commissioners named by the Dutch had rendered themselves justly incapable of such employment ; and, finally, they objected to restricting the enquiry to New Netherland ; from the whole of which they inferred, that the letter was got up for show and delay. They concluded by demanding, in the name of the United Colonies, satisfac- tion for the various affronts offered to these "in former and latter times," and security for the preservation of peace for the time to come.
This haughty communication would have justified the or- dering these delegates out of the province ; but the Director- general contented himself with stating that he had hoped his propositions would have been considered satisfactory, as he was sure they would afford, before all Christian people, evidence of a sincere desire that the enquiry should be prosecuted according to law. If there were any defect in the answer, he was willing to correct it, and to submit himself to the judgment of indifferent persons, as to what related to claims for pretended injuries. What form of
security was expected by the United Colonies for the fu- ture he knew not, but he was willing to agree to a treaty which would guarantee a continuance of peace and com- merce as heretofore, irrespective of all existing differences in Europe, and mutual justice against all such as should seek to defraud their creditors on account of the present war; including an alliance offensive and defensive against all Indians and other enemies and disturbers of the peace of both provinces. If the present commissioners had not
1 Signed, Petrus Stuyvesant, Werckhoven, Bryan Nuton, Martin Krygier, (Burgomaster,) John Baptist van Rensselaer, Pieter van der Grist van Carloe, Willem Beekman, Pieter Wolfertsen, Allard Anthony, (Schepen,) Rutger Jacobsen.
224
HISTORY OF
BOOK power to conclude a treaty on this basis, the Director- V. general expressed his willingness to delegate one or two 1653. agents to the United Colonies to agree in his name to such an arrangement, on these being provided with letters of safe conduct.
Instead of taking advantage of this reasonable proposi- tion and amicable advance, the New England delegates looked upon it as closing all correspondence with the May 25. Director-general. They immediately charged him with duplicity : they had expected clear, full and satisfactory answers to their proposals, yet they received none but dilatory and offensive replies. It was their intention to refer the propositions he had last communicated to their superiors, and then warned him, in the name of the United Colonies, that if he, by himself or Indians, offered any injury to the English in these parts, either on account of the national quarrel or differences with the United Colonies, they would not suffer their countrymen to be oppressed on any such grounds. Having shot this Parthian arrow, they left the Manhattans at nine o'clock at night, without the ceremony of leave-taking, or waiting for a reply, and repaired to Long Island.
Among the most active in this section of the prov- ince, in insisting on the reality of this "plot," was Capt. John Underhill, the leader of the Dutch forces in the Indian war. On receipt of letters from Gov. Eaton and the New England agents, he forthwith set about collecting evidence from the Indians and neighboring settlers against the Dutch, and openly charged Van Tienhoven with con- spiring against the English. He was hereupon arrested, and removed to New Amsterdam under a guard of soldiers. He was, however, dismissed without trial,1 and returned to Long Island the determined foe of his former friends. Having succeeded in seducing some of his countrymen in Flushing and Heemstede from their allegiance, he hoisted May 20. the Parliament's colors," and issued a seditious address to the
1 Record in Secretary of State's office, Hartford, endorsed "Towns and Lands," i., 81.
2 Those of Heemstede and Flushing connived when the Parliament's colors
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NEW NETHERLAND.
commonalty of the Manhattans, " on behalf of as many CHAP. of the English and Dutch as were interested therein,"~ II. declaratory of the motives " which impelled them to abjure 1653. the iniquitous government of Peter Stuyvesant over the inhabitants living and residing on Long Island in America, and maintaining the justice and lawfulness of defending themselves and their rights, in a manner becoming a free people, against the oppressive administration of the said government." This paper was couched in these bold and unscrupulous terms :-
"I. We have transported ourselves hither at our own cost ; and many among us have purchased their lands from the Indians, the right owners thereof: But a great portion of the lands which we occupy being as yet unpaid for, the Indians come daily and complain, that they have been deceived by the Dutch secretary, called Cornelis, whom they have characterized, even in the presence of Stuyvesant, as a rogue, a knave and a liar ; asserting that he himself had put down their names in the book, and saying that this was not a just and lawful payment, but a pretence and fraud similar to that which occasioned the destruction of Thomas Hutchinson, Mr. Collins, and nine other persons :
" II. He hath unlawfully retained from several persons their lands which they had purchased from the natives, and which were confirmed to them under the hand and seal of the previous governor :
" III. He hath unlawfully imposed taxes, contrary to the privileges of free men ; namely, six stivers per acre, chimney money and head money ; the tenth part of all our grain, flax, hemp and tobacco ; the tenth part of butter and cheese from those who pasture cattle ; excessive duties on exported goods-fifteen stivers for a beaver ; all which taxes are to be paid by the poor farmer, to maintain a lazy horde of tyrants over innocent subjects :
"IV. He hath, in violation of liberty of conscience, and
were hoisted there by an English captain, (Underhill,) which example cannot imbue us with great confidence in the individuals of that nation, who reside in our territory. Chamber of Amsterdam to Director Stuyvesant. Alb. Rec. iv., 121.
VOL. II.
15
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HISTORY OF
BOOK contrary to hand and seal, enforced articles [of belief] V. upon the people, ordering them otherwise, against the laws 1653. of God and man, to quit the country within two months :
" V. He hath imprisoned both English and Dutch, with- out trial, setting them at liberty again, after a popish in- quisition, to their great sorrow, damage and loss of time, himself not having any Patent from King James of Eng- land, the right grantor thereof :
" VI. He hath, also, imposed general laws forbidding the inhabitants to sell their goods, or to brew their grain, without the approbation of his government :
"VII. He hath neglected to avenge English and Dutch blood shed by the Indians since the peace :
" VIII. He hath treacherously and undoubtedly con- spired, as proved, to murder all the English :
" IX. He hath been guilty of barbarous cruelty towards Mr. Jacob Wolfertsen and his wife, at the time of the birth of their child :
. " X. He hath acted treacherously towards Thomas Newton ; for, notwithstanding the government had prom- ised him safe and secure conduct, he hath ordered his arrest and surrendered him :1
" XI. He hath been guilty of the unheard-of act of strik- ing with his cane an old gentleman, a member of his Council, and hath publicly threatened every freeman who does not conform to his pleasure :
"XIII. He hath, moreover, imposed magistrates on free- men without election and voting. This great autocracy and tyranny is too grievous for any brave Englishman and
1 This man Newton was " some time a capital offender in one of the N. E. Colonies," whose surrender the commissioners had demanded by virtue of the treaty of Hartford. We find it recorded of him, that he was married in April, 1648, at Flushing, to Joan Smith, by Wm. Hark, (or Hart,) then sheriff of that place, against the consent of the woman's parents, and without being legally authorized so to do by the supreme authority. "As this is an indecent and never heard-of manner of marrying," the sheriff was fined 600 carolus guil- ders, and " the indecent marriage" was declared null and void. To prevent the daughters of honest and respectable inhabitants being married against the will and without the consent of the parents, by unlawful and unauthorized per- sons, the bride and bridegroom were fined 300 gl. and ordered to have their marriage again solemnized after three previous proclamations of banns, which was accordingly done. Alb. Rec. vii., 141-145.
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NEW NETIIERLAND.
good Christian any longer to tolerate. In addition to all CHAP. this, the Dutch have proclaimed war against every English- 1I. man, living wherever he may wish or like. 1653.
" The above grounds are sufficient for all honest hearts that seek the glory of God and their own peace and pros- perity to throw off this tyrannical yoke. Accept and sub- mit ye, then, to the Parliament of England, and beware ye of becoming traitors to one another, for the sake of your own quiet and welfare.
" Written by me, JOHN UNDERHILL."1
The government could no longer suffer, with safety to itself, the residence within its jurisdiction of the author of this inflammatory paper. Underhill was ordered to quit the province forthwith. As necessity had no law, he was forced, like Jephthah, to put his life in his hand, and offered June 2. his services to the Commissioners of the United Colonies, in the interests of the Parliament, to save English blood and vindicate the rights of the English nation." He applied, also, to Rhode Island for assistance. The people of Heem- stede and Middleburgh wrote, at the same time, to the commissioners, representing their great danger and request- ing protection and arms and ammunition for their defence.
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