USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 30
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3 Herewith goes a copy of a certain placard, drawn up and published by us against the congregation of some Lutherans, which has also been executed against the contraveners and disobedient. De Decker's letter to the Director- general, March 10th, 1656. Fort Orange Rec.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
The Baptists at Flushing were the next to feel the CHAP. wrath of the law. William Hallett, sheriff of that place,~
VI. "had dared to collect conventicles in his house, and to 1656. permit one William Wickendam to explain and comment on God's holy Word, and to administer sacraments, though not called thereto by any civil or clerical authority." He had, moreover, assisted at such meeting, and afterwards " accepted from the said Wickendam's hands the bread in the form and manner the Lord's Supper is usually cele- brated." For this violation of the statute, Hallett was removed from office, and fined fifty pounds, failing to pay Nov. 8 which he was to be banished. Wickendam, " who main- tained that he was commissioned by Christ, and dipped the people in the river," was fined one hundred pounds and ordered to be sent out of the country. But as he was " a poor cobbler from Rhode Island," burthened with a wife and family, from whom nothing could be recovered, the fine was remitted, but the remainder of the sentence was rigidly executed.1
On receipt in Holland of the intelligence of the massacre on Staten Island, the Directors expressed much sympathy for their suffering colonists, yet counselled prudence and peace. They embraced the opportunity, however, to rid themselves and the province of Cornelis van Tienhoven and his brother Adriaen. The former, " by his deep in- toxication and imprudence, was the prominent cause of that doleful massacre ;" the latter, in his capacity of col- lector of customs, was discovered in the perpetration of gross frauds on the revenue, by which not only the Com- pany, but divers private merchants, suffered great loss. " Upon the iterated complaints" of the citizens they were dismissed from office, and notwithstanding Stuyvesant undertook to palliate the misconduct of the Attorney- general, positive orders were sent out not to employ either May 13 him or his brother, in any capacity whatsoever, in the Company's service." The Burgomasters and Schepens now hoped that they might obtain, at last, the separation
1 Alb. Rec. xiii., 274-277.
VOL. II. 21
: Ib. iv., 170, 206, 217, 218.
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HISTORY OF
June 26.
BOOK of the office of city Schout from that of the Company's V. n Attorney-general, pursuant to the assent expressed by the 1656. Directors in 1654. They, therefore, requested the Director and Council to appoint from the citizens " an intelligent and expert" person as Sheriff of the city. But Stuyvesant re- fused compliance with their wishes, and Nicasius de Sille succeeded Van Tienhoven. The criminal jurisdiction of the magistrates was, however, enlarged, and they were now allowed to punish by branding and whipping, unless the prisoner appealed within twenty-four hours.1
The judgment Van Tienhoven had so long merited at length overtook him. Profligate in principle, a debauchee in morals, addicted to every vice that a corrupt heart could delight in, he ran his career of guilt so triumphantly that he fancied there was no day of retribution for him. When at length he was called to account, he had recourse to the common stratagem of every defaulter. He vamped up offsets against his employers. These, however, would not be allowed until he furnished his accounts as Receiver- Nov. 7. general and Schout-fiscaal. A prosecution was entered against him for fraud. He now deemed it convenient to Nov. 18. abscond. His hat and cane were found floating in the river, thrown in, it is stated, to deceive his superiors. Orders were immediately issued to seize his papers and to take an inventory of his property. His unfortunate wife Dec 27. prayed delay ; " she dreaded the throes of labor, for she was many months pregnant." Execution was stayed, but Van Tienhoven's character was blasted. His brother Adriaen absconded about the same time, and subsequently entered the English service at Barbadoes as a cook.
1 Alb. Rec. xi., 386, 387, 403 ; xiii., 17, 18, 301.
2 Ib. xi., 424, 425 ; xiii., 268, 302-305, 319 ; xv., 166. Guleyn Vigne married Adriana Cuvilje, and had by her (as far as I can ascertain) one son, John, (several years magistrate of New Amsterdam, who died in 1691,) and three daughters-Maria, (married Abram Verplanck,) Christiana, (married Dirck Volckers, of Bushwick,) and RACHEL, the wife of Cornelis van Tienhoven above alluded to, She died 18th February, 1663, leaving three minor chil- dren-Lucas, Joannes, and Janneken. Lucas practised surgery in New York until 1714, when he died. He married Katharine Man, by whom he had six children. The name seems now extinct in this State. There was a street in the city of New York, outside the Wall, called "Tienhoven's street," but this also has disappeared.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
A new town was set off, in the spring of this year, at CHAP. Conarissee, west of Heemstede, in compliance with the VI. request of some of the inhabitants of the latter settlement, 1656. who were desirous of " a place to improve their labors." Mar. 21. It was granted the usual municipal privileges, with election of magistrates, "the same as the villages of Mid- dleburgh, Breukelen, Midwout and Amersfoort." In legal transactions this place was known by the Dutch name Rustdorp; by the settlers it was called Gemeco. Daniel Denton, the earliest English writer on this province, was chosen clerk of this town at the first meeting of the patentees, an office to which he was annually elected down to 1664.1
1 Alb. Rec. x., 339 ; xiv., 12; Jamaica Rec. ; Thompson, Hist. L. I., ii., 96. Daniel Denton, above mentioned, was oldest son of the Rev. Richard Denton, already referred to in a preceding part of the text. He accompanied his father from Stamford, in 1644. After the surrender of the country to the English, he engaged in the purchase of some lands at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, but he sold his share to Capt. John Baker, of New York, and John Ogden, of Northamp- ton. He represented with Thomas Benedict the town of Jamaica in the Assembly of Deputies at Hempstead, in 1665. He proceeded to England some time after, where he published a pamphlet entitled " A Brief Description of New York, formerly called New Netherlands, with the places thereunto adjoin- ing. London, 1670." After his return he resided at Jamaica, where his name is found on the Records, in 1684-5. His description of New York was repub- lished by Gowans in 1845, with notes by the Hon. Gabriel Furman.
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER VII.
Affairs at the South River-Jean Paul Jacquet appointed Vice Director of that district-His instructions-Treats with the Indians-A Swedish ship arrives in the river-Proceedings against her-Intelligence of the expulsion of the Swedes received in Holland-Protest of the Swedish resident-Stuyvesant's conduct approved-Fort Casimir ceded to the city of Amsterdam-Erected into the colonie of New Amstel-Conditions for the encouragement of settlers -Emigrants sent out-Incidents of the voyage-The Prince Maurice wrecked -Suffering of those on board-Director Alrichs arrives at New Amstel, and supersedes Jacquet-Fort Christina called Altona-Government of the city and colonie-The first Dutch clergyman there-Condition of New Amstel at the end of the first year.
BOOK V. DIRECTOR STUYVESANT, on obtaining possession of the South River, lost no time in organizing a government for 1655. the administration of justice and the superintendence of public interests in that quarter. Jean Paul Jacquet, who had faithfully served the Company many years in Brazil, and had arrived with his family in New Netherland in the Nov.29. beginning of this year, was appointed Vice Director, and Andries Hudde Secretary and Schout-fiscaal. These, with Elmerhuysen Klein, commissary, and "two of the most expert freemen," formed a court for the settlement of differences between citizen and citizen. For the man- agement of military affairs and trial of military offenders, two sergeants took the place of the two freemen. The head quarters of this government were at Fort Casimir, in front of which all vessels trading to the river brought to and anchored until they received a permit to proceed on their voyages. In the settlement of the country, the colonists were to concentrate themselves in families of sixteen to twenty in number, and were to pay annually for their lands twelve stivers a morgen in lieu of tenths. The town lots were forty feet by fifty, and the streets from four to five rods in breadth. A strict watch was to be kept over the Swedes, who, "to prevent mischief,"
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were to be persuaded to leave that district and move to CHAP. the Manhattans. The natives were to be treated with VII. civility, yet with vigilance ; were not to be allowed to 1655. enter the fort with arms in their hands, and were to be lodged, when they visited the place, in a hut without the fort. Having been duly sworn to be loyal to his superiors ; Dec. 3. to administer justice and maintain the laws ; to protect and uphold the Reformed religion as taught in Holland, and to defend the fort to the utmost of his power, Jacquet entered on the execution of his duties. The whole num- Dec. 18. ber of inhabitants consisted, at the time, of about a dozen families.
One of the first duties of the new court was to receive a deputation of sachems, who came to form a commercial Dec. 28. treaty. "Using a vast volubility of words," they asked to ยข receive, for the future, one cloth dress for a deer, and so in proportion. Jacquet stood out for free trade. "Every one was at liberty to act his own pleasure, and to go where his purse prompted." This was agreed to, and the sav- ages, as was their wont, required that the treaty should be ratified by " some proofs of friendship." The inhabitants were called together for that purpose. " With the ex- ception of two persons," they "cheerfully subscribed" a subsidy for the Indians. Trade proceeded; the court occupied itself making municipal regulations, deciding suits between traders, and keeping order. As there was no clergyman attached to the place, Laurentius Lorkenius, the Swedish minister at Christina, occasionally officiated at Fort Casimir.1
Nothing occurred to break the monotony of this retired hamlet until the ensuing spring, when, to the surprise of 1656. the inhabitants, a Swedish ship, the Mercury, arrived be- March. fore the fort, with one hundred and thirty souls sent out by the Swedish Company as a reinforcement to their colony. The immigrants learnt, to their disappointment, that the country had passed into the hands of the Dutch. In this dilemma, without instructions, the commander of
1 Alb. Rec. x., 173, 186-191, 399, 404-407 ; xi., 127-133. The record of this administration terminates 7th March, 1657.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK the vessel applied to Jacquet for permission to land his V. cargo and passengers. He could be allowed only to pro- 1656. ceed, overland, to the Manhattans, to lay his case before the Director-general. Here he applied for permission for the newly arrived settlers to locate on some of the vacant lands among their own countrymen, until orders should be received from Europe. The Director and Council could April11. not allow this. The vessel was ordered to depart forth- with, with her passengers, or to come to the Manhattans, where a permit would be granted to sell the cargo. Whilst April27. this was pending, rumors of fresh troubles were re- ceived, in consequence whereof a force of twelve or six- teen soldiers, under the command of Ensign Dirck Smith, was dispatched to the South River; but before these reached their destination-having to proceed across the country by the land route-letters were received from Secretary Hudde, stating that Pappegoia, with a number of Swedes and Indians, had, against the will of Jacquet, May 1. boarded the Mercury and taken her to Martinnehoeck, some distance above Fort Casimir, and landed the pas- sengers.1 The ship of war, the Balance, was imme- diately sent with two members of the Council, to bring the Swedish vessel to the North River, and to quiet the savages. These orders were executed without much July 11. trouble. The Mercury arrived safely at the Manhattans with her cargo, valued at 9,079 gl., equal to $3,631, which was duly disposed of, after which the vessel returned to Europe.2
Meanwhile information reached the States General, through their ambassador at the court of London, of the fall of Fort Christina, and of the expulsion of the Swedes from the Delaware. Their High Mightinesses, antici- Jan. 15. pating remonstrances from the Swedish government, called
1 " The Dutch might have sunk the Swedes' ship, but that they were afraid of killing the Indians then on board in that manner; for both the nations, as well Swedes as Dutch, did strive on both sides to please and not to disoblige the Indians, in consideration of the trade upon which they wholly depended. The Swedes' ship sailed up as high as Tinnicum." Lond. Doc. iv., 172.
2 Alb. Rec. x., 351, 352, 353, 362-366, 383, 384 ; xi., 326-328, 338-344, 366, 369, 373, 374, 433.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
on the Directors at Amsterdam to explain the circum- CHAP. stances attending those proceedings, who accordingly sub- VII. mitted a lengthy report on the state of affairs at the South River and "the unheard-of behavior of the Swedes in that quarter." In making this communication, the Di- rectors excused themselves for the harsh manner in which they spoke of the Swedes, and requested that assistance might be afforded them to secure the rich and important country they had recovered.
1656. Jan. 24.
These papers were referred to a committee for exami- Jan. 28. nation, with an injunction of the most profound secresy. Shortly after the Swedish government protested against the Mar. 22. violence committed by the Dutch West India Company, and claimed from the States General the restitution of the territory which, it was maintained, the Swedes held " op- timo titulo juris." This protest was, however, of no avail. The Swedes could not follow it up, for "they had their hands full" of the war they were then waging against Poland. Four days after, the Directors communicated to May 26. Stuyvesant their approbation of his conduct, " though they should not have been displeased had such a formal capitu- lation not taken place ;" for " what is written is too long preserved and may be produced when not desired, whereas words not recorded are, in the lapse of time, forgotten, or may be explained away."1
The expulsion of the Swedes soon became a source of embarrassment to the Company. The debts of this asso- ciation had already accumulated to a serious amount, by their operations in Brazil and Guinea, and now their lia- bilities were only increased by the aid which the city of Amsterdam had afforded in recovering the South River. To liquidate this last debt, and to strengthen the southern boundaries of New Netherland, they proposed to cede Fort Casimir and a proportionate tract in its vicinity to
1 Alb. Rec iv., 204; De Witt, i., 276; iii., 201; v., 387; Aitzema, iii., 1260; Thurloe, iv., 599, 612; Hazard Reg. of Penn. i., 36; Hol. Doc. viii., 1, 16, 21, 24, 26, 30-49. The expulsion of the Swedes from the South River continued, for many years after this, to be a subject of complaint on the part of the Crown of Sweden to the Sates General. See App. H.
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HISTORY OF
1656.
BOOK V. the Burgomasters of that city. Conferences followed, the result of which was that the above fort, with all the coun- try from the west side of the Minquaas, or Christina kill, to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, (named Boomties hoeck by the Dutch, and Canarisse by the Indians,) inclusive, and so far as the Minquaas land extended, became, with the Company's rights and privileges, the property of the city of Amsterdam, and was erected into a colonie of the first class, under the title of Nieuwer Amstel.1 Settlers were encouraged to proceed thither by the following
CONDITIONS.
"I. The colonists who will emigrate shall be trans- ported in suitable vessels, with their families, household furniture and other necessaries.
"II. The city of Amsterdam shall make the best agree- ment they can with owners of vessels, for the transporta- tion of persons or goods.
"III. The said city shall advance the freight money, 'ovided that afterwards the said city be repaid in manner 'einafter mentioned.
IV. To the end that the said colonists may live there v, honestly and prosperously, the city aforesaid ac- s them with what follows :
First, the said city shall provide a fruitful soil in a and temperate climate, watered by, and situated fresh water river, to which large ships may sail ; for which purpose an agreement is made with the West India Company for a place at their disposal, and to which no other persons have any claim.
"VI. There the city shall lay out a proper piece of land, by the river side, for the habitation and residence of
1 Amsterdam obtained, from time to time, principally by purchase, divers manors situate, for the most part, around and adjoining that city. The princi- pal of these was "Nieuw Amstel," or Amsterveen as it is otherwise called, lying immediately south of Amsterdam, whose existence has been traced back as far as the early part of the fourteenth century. The settlement on the South River derives its name from this ancient manor. See Wagenaar's Beschry- ving der Stad Amsterdam, iii. 52, as well for the history as for a map and engravings of these lordships.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
the colonists, and fortify the same with a trench without CHAP. and a wall within; and divide the enclosed land into VII. streets, a market, and lots suitable for the service as well 1656. of traders and mechanics, as of farmers ; and all this at the expense of the city.
"VII. The city of Amsterdam shall send there a proper person for schoolmaster, who shall also read the Holy Scrip- tures in public, and set the Psalms.
" VIII. The city of Amsterdam shall also provide, as soon as convenient, for the said schoolmaster.
"IX. And to the end that the colonists, going thither, may be provided with all proper necessaries, the city of Amsterdam shall provide them, for one year, with clothing and provisions, and all kinds of seed-grain ; and, moreover, shall build, in the place aforesaid, a large magazine or warehouse, wherein they shall keep all their goods both for the clothing and subsistence of the people. They shall also keep a factor there, who shall provide everything necessary for clothing, house-keeping and farming, and sell these at the same prices they are sold at here, the Company's toll excepted.
"X. Concerning the Company's toll, it shall be paid at the rate hereafter mentioned ; and the city shall also take care in process of time that the toll, which shall be paid in New Netherland, shall be employed in building and supporting public works, by those who shall be authorized thereto by the West India Company and the city.
" XI. The said fortified place, allotted for the residence of the colonists, whether we call it a city or a town, shall be regulated in matters of police, or the administration of justice, and in descents, in the same manner as here in Amsterdam.
"XII. They shall first have one Schout or officer, as head of justice, appointed in the same manner as here.
"XIII. The Schout shall be appointed in the name of their High Mightinesses and the West India Company, by the deputies of Amsterdam, who, for this purpose, shall give the Director a power of attorney.
" XIV. They shall, moreover, have three Burgomasters,
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HISTORY OF
BOOK who shall be appointed by the common burghers, from the V. honestest, fittest and richest ;
1656. " XV. And five or seven Schepens, for which purpose the body of burghers shall nominate a double number, that the Director, by attorney, as is mentioned in Art. XIII., may make an election from them.
"XVI. On the increase of the city or town to two hundred families or upwards, these shall choose a Common Council of twenty-one persons, who shall meet with the Burgomasters and Schepens, and consult in like manner on matters relating to the government of the city : and this Common Council being once instituted, shall thereafter be able, in case of the death of one or more of their members, to fill vacancies by a new election, unanimously, or with plurality of votes ; in like manner the said Common Coun- cil shall annually choose the Burgomasters as aforesaid, and shall also have the nomination of a double number, from whence the Schepens shall be chosen.
"XVII. The Schepens shall determine causes for all sums under one hundred guilders, [$40,] but in all exceed- ing one hundred guilders, the party aggrieved shall be allowed an appeal to the Director-general and Council of New Netherland.
"XVIII. The said Schepens shall also pronounce sen- tence in all criminal cases, but an appeal therefrom shall be allowed.
"XIX. The city of Amsterdam shall agree with a smith, a wheelwright, and a carpenter, to go and live there for the convenience and service of the colonists.
"XX. The city of Amsterdam aforesaid shall divide all the lands round about the aforesaid town or city, into suit- able fields for plough-land, pasture and meadow-land, and make proper allowance for roads.
"XXI. Every farmer shall have in free, fast and durable property, as many morgens, as well of plough-land as of meadow, as he and his family can improve, and will re- quire for grazing, if it be twenty, thirty or more morgens : provided that all such lands, which shall be given and con- veyed in fee to the colonists, shall, by them, in two years
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NEW NETHERLAND.
from the conveyance, be brought under cultivation, on CHAP. penalty of the same being taken from them and given to VII. others.
" XXII. Each of the colonists shall settle and enjoy his land freely, without paying poundage, horn money, or salt money, for ten years, reckoning from the year in which the land is first sown or pastured ; which ten years being expired, they shall not be taxed higher than those who are taxed lowest in any other district under the government of the West India Company in New Netherland. They shall, also, be free from the tenths for the term of twenty years, reckoning from the year in which the lands are first sown ; and the said twenty years being expired, the tenths shall be given to the city of Amsterdam ; always understanding that the half of the said tenths shall be applied to the sup- port as well of the public works, as of persons employed in the public service there. In like manner, also, when- ever any poundage or other charges shall be paid, the money shall be employed in making and supporting public works, and paying the salaries of persons in the service.
"XXIII. The city of Amsterdam shall give order, that during and after the sending ships from Holland to load and bring over corn, seed, wood, and all other kinds of merchandise, the most useful of the colonists shall, in like manner, be at liberty to charter private ships, provided they be consigned to the city of Amsterdam.
"XXIV. The city of Amsterdam shall, for this purpose, have proper storehouses here; store the grain and other goods of the colonists; sell them for the benefit of the colonists, and return their proceeds in such articles as the owners shall direct, deducting only two per cent. for com- mission, and one-tenth of the net proceeds in payment of the disbursements made by the said city for the freight and passage of the persons and goods of the colonists ; and that until the aforesaid disbursements are refunded, and no longer.
"XXV. The colonists in New Netherland shall take out of the city's warehouse whatever they may require, at a
1656.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK
V. fixed price, provided the account thereof be transmitted with the colonists' goods, to be deducted therefrom.
1656. "XXVI. The colonists may, for building houses and vessels and carrying on trade, cut as much wood as they think fit, without paying anything for it, not only in the nearest and most convenient forests, but also in any other place situate in the district, and under the jurisdiction of the Company in New Netherland, and not already granted to and owned by any private person; provided they sub- mit to the regulations in that behalf made, or hereafter to be made, as in Art. XXVIII.
"XXVII. The Burgomasters of Amsterdam, as founders and patroons, and possessors of the jurisdiction, shall ap- point the secretary, messenger, and other inferior per- sons.
"XXVIII. Hunting in the woods and fishing in all waters and rivers, not heretofore owned by other persons, shall be free to each of the colonists, under certain regulations to be made respecting them by the authority of the Com- pany, or their High Mightinesses.
" XXIX. The city of Amsterdam shall see that all tools and implements necessary for farming shall be transported free and without paying recognition.
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