USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 46
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1 New Amst. Rec. anno 1664.
504
HISTORY OF
BOOK VI. forcible measures, and, if so, on what scale. The authori-
ties admitted that it was insufferable that such a mob should 1664, not only revolt but seek to impose rebellion also on peace- able subjects ; but they added that the Lords Directors were mainly responsible for all this disorder. Instead of expending the revenues of the country in Holland, they ought to have employed them in the defence of the country, and the protection of its inhabitants. The burghers main- tained that they were bound to guard only their city, and that the Company should protect all other places. The question then recurred-what was to be done in regard to the articles drawn up at Gemeco? They left it to the Director to determine whether ratifications should be exchanged, to gain time, or whether the paper should be repudiated and annulled.1 It was wisest to ratify the agreement. The delegates from the several English towns were to assemble with their "President" at Hempstead in the beginning of March, and thither Director Stuyvesant Mar. 3. proceeded, escorted by a guard of ten soldiers.2 By the terms of the convention now concluded, all the English towns on the western part of Long Island were to remain unmolested under the King of England for the term of twelve months, and until his Majesty and the States General determined all differences about the said island and places adjacent, during which period they were to have free access to the Manhattans and the other places possessed by the Dutch ; who, on their side, were to have like liberty to visit the English towns for trade or justice, "according to the laws of England."" The Dutch towns and bouweries, " His Majestie's Royalties excepted," were to abide, without molestation, during the same time, under the States General. The commissioners on this occasion, on the part of the Dutch, were Burgomaster Van Cortland, and Messrs. Lawrence and Bakker; on the side of the English, Captain Underhill, Daniel Denton and Adam Mott.4
: New Amst. Rec.
2 Hol. Doc. xii., 230.
3 It appears by an entry in the Town Rec., that Jamaica formally assumed " the laws of England," on Dec. 1, 1663.
4 Alb. Rec. xviii., 240; xxii., 138. Letters in Stuyvesant's time. For the agreement above referred to, see Appendix K.
505
NEW NETHERLAND.
One after another the Dutch had now abandoned every CHAP. point their enemies had assailed. The Connecticut river~ was gone, Westchester was relinquished, and, now, New- 1664. town, Flushing, Gemeco, Heemstede and Gravesend were surrendered. It was at this gloomy conjuncture, when it became evident that the country was held only on sufferance, and authority felt itself utterly powerless, that the principle of popular REPRESENTATION was, for the first time, fully recognized in this province. At the re- quest of the Burgomasters and Schepens, a GENERAL ASSEMBLY of delegates from the several towns was con- voked, to take into consideration the state of the province.1 This important meeting was held in the City Hall of
1 Election holden on the 31st March, 1664, by plurality of votes, for two deputies to be sent from this village, Wiltwyck, to the Manhattans to form a General Assembly, (cene Laenddagh.)
Whereas, on the summons of the Director-general and Council of New Neth- erland addressed to the sheriff and commissaries here, it is required that two deputies be sent from our village, Wiltwyck, to a General Assembly in form of a Landdach, the sheriff and commissaries have called us the undersigned inhabitants in Wiltwyck together, on the day underwritten, to elect from the commonalty two proper persons, and to authorize the same as deputies to the said Assembly, which shall be on the 10th April next. We have, therefore, by plurality of votes, chosen the worthy persons Thomas Chambers and Gysbert van Imbroeck, to whom we hereby give full power and authority to conclude whatever may be for the good of the common weal, and the strengthening of this place, and also to do whatsoever shall by them be found wise in the premises, promising to confirm what the said deputies shall have decided in the premises to be best for the public good, under pain of punishment as contraveners ; to which end we have subscribed these with our own hands. Done in Wiltwyck, this 31st March, 1664. (Was signed) The mark of Albert Gysbertsen, Tjerk Claessen De Witt, Cornelis Barents Slecht, Evert Pels, Albert Gerritsen, the mark of Juriaen Westphael, the mark of Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh, Aert Jacobs, the mark of Aertsen Gereetsen van Vliet, the mark of Aert Martensen Doorn, the mark of Pieter Jacobsen, the mark of Matthys Roeloffsen, the mark of Jan Broersen, the mark of Jacob Barents Cool, Hendrik Jacobsen. Agrees with its principal, which was signed MATTHEUS CAPITO, Secretary. Kingston Rec. Tax for the deputies and other expenses for the General Landdach at the Manhattans, April, 1664, fl. 280.12. Each of the above delegates was allowed 112 fl. in beavers by the town, for his expenses. Ibid. "3d April, 1664. On the summons of the Lords Director and Council of New Netherland for a General Assembly dated 19th March, to be held on the 10th of this month of April, their Honors of the Court of this Colonie have thereunto deputed Mr. Jeremias van Rensselaer, Director, and Dirck van Schelluyne, Secretary of said Colonie, to advance the contents of the letters of credence placed in their hands, to the advantage of this Colonie and the country, as they shall find necessary." Resolutie Boek van de Gecommitteerde der Colonye Rensselaerswyck.
506
HISTORY OF
BOOK VI. 1664. New Amsterdam.
New Amsterdam, and the members then in attendance were,
Cornelis Steenwyck, Jacob Bakker.
Breukelen. Wm. Bredenbent, Albert Corn. Wantenaar.
Rensselaerswyck. Jeremias van Rensselaer, Dirck van Schelluyne.
Midwout.
Jan Strycker,
Wm. Guilliams.
Fort Orange.
Amersfoort.
Jan Verbeck,
Elbert Elbertsen,
Gerrit Slechtenhorst.
Coert Stevensen.
Wiltwyck.
New Utrecht.
Thomas Chambers,
David Jochemsen,
Gysbert van Imbroeck.
Cornelis Beekman.
New Haerlem.
Boswyck.
Daniel Terneur,
Jan van Cleef,
Johannis Verveeler.
Gysbert Teunissen.
Staten Island. David de Marest,
Bergen.
Pierre Billou.
Engelbert Steenhuysen, Herman Smeeman.
April 10.
The first question which engaged the attention of this assembly was that of the presidency. New Amsterdam claimed the honor as the capital ; Rensselaerswyck as the oldest colonie. The right of the latter was admitted, and the Honorable JEREMIAS VAN RENSSELAER took the chair under protest.1 The convention then demanded of the govern- ment, protection against the Indians and " the malignant English." If it were not able to afford such protection, they wished to be informed to whom they were to address April11. themselves. They were told, that they were not called together to dispute, but to consult on the mode of pro- tecting the country from its enemies, both barbarian and civilized. The Director and Council maintained that they never failed to protect the people as far as their means admitted. Nay, they could prove that they exceeded their powers, in enlisting and maintaining for that purpose
1 Hon. Jeremias van Rensselaer's letter to his brother Jan Baptist van Rens- selaer, dated 25th April, 1664.
Gavit & Duthie fc
Jeremias van Kinofilair
507
NEW NETHERLAND.
two hundred soldiers, besides a train of artillery. The CHAP delegates were now called on for supplies. A force of ~. VI. one hundred and fifty soldiers would require thirty thou- 1664. sand guilders per annum. If this could not be furnished, every third man should take up arms. But this would not be exacted. Every fifth or sixth man would suffice. With these and the present soldiers, the Indian war could be terminated in a year. If these were refused, then the responsibility would not rest on the Director and Council. As regards the English, every one knew what the Director had done. The question, " If the Director and Council could not protect us, where shall we address ourselves ?" is too frivolous to be noticed. "The snare and the loop are too palpable." The scenes of 1653 were on the eve of being again renewed, when the delegates wisely explained. They wished only to know whether April 12. their application should be addressed to the Company or to the States General. This explanation was satisfactory, and a long communication from the Director-general followed. The inhabitants of New Netherland had, he insisted, never contributed to the support or defence of the province. On the contrary, the West India Company had expended the sum of twelve hundred thousand guilders over and above the customs, excise, revenue of the weigh-scale and tithes. Danger impended now over the country from two points-the Indians and the English. He wished the convention to decide if the war should be con- tinued, or peace made with the former. If war were decided on, should the allies of the Indians also be included ? Should the English summon the country to surrender, were they to be resisted ? If so, by what force ? Was every sixth man to be enrolled ? Over two hundred men besides the soldiers were required. He proposed a tax on mills and cattle. Were supplies refused, the military force now under pay would be reduced.
The political system which commercial monopoly had so long been endeavoring to construct, collapsed at the moment when its powers were tested. The conven- tion refused supplies, and adjourned for a week to April 15.
508
HISTORY OF
BOOK VI. 1664.
consider the propriety of again appealing to the home authorities.1
Meanwhile, the remonstrance of November, and the accompanying dispatches from the provincial government, satisfied the Chamber at Amsterdam, that Connecticut aimed ultimately at usurping the whole of New Nether- land. Uniting, therefore, with the Burgomasters of that Jan. 21. city, they presented a memorial to the States General, in which they laid before their High Mightinesses a detailed account of the aggressions committed on their territory, and the manner their overtures for a settlement had been treated at Boston and Hartford. Out of respect for the alliance recently entered into with the King of England, they had abstained hitherto from hostilities. If these were now to be resorted to, they demanded such aid as the occasion required. In conformity with Stuyve- sant's suggestions, they asked also an act under the great seal, confirming their original charter, together with letters to the several towns on Long Island, requiring these, under the severest penalties, to return to their allegiance. They finally required that the whole of the aggressions of which they complained, be communicated to his Britannic Majesty, that he may command his English subjects to restore on the instant, the places they had seized, and abstain from all further invasions, pending the negotiations for a boundary line .?
Jan. 23. These requests were complied with. An act under the great seal was issued declaring that the West India Company was empowered by its original charter to plant colonies in any unoccupied lands in America, from Newfoundland to the Straits of Magellan, as well on the North as on the South Sea, and more especially in New Netherland ; and again confirm- ing the boundaries of the latter province, agreeably to the treaty of 1650. Letters were addressed to Oostdorp, Graves- end, Heemstede, Vlissingen, Middleburgh, Rustdorp, Amers- foort, Midwout, New Utrecht, Breukelen and Boswyck, and the required instructions were given to the ambassadors at
1 Alb. Rec xxii., 78-90, 105, 106, 145-167, 179-182.
2 Holl. Merc. 1665. Ryckdom van Holl. ii., 146 ; Ebeling, iii , 31.
509
NEW NETHERLAND.
the British court. In transmitting these papers, the Di- CHAP. rectors instructed Stuyvesant to continue the Esopus war VI. until the whole of that tribe be exterminated, and sent 1664. out an additional military force, to check the English, reduce the revolted villages, and replace the removed magistrates.1
When the convention re-assembled, the Director and April 22. Council immediately laid the above information before it. All further remonstrance to the West India Company was now considered unnecessary, and the assembly proceeded to deliberate on the measures proper to be adopted towards the Indians and the English towns. It was found useless to attempt to execute the orders of the Directors in regard to the latter. "The English rebels were as six to one ; and with aid from Hartford would easily overcome and massacre the few Dutch soldiers that could be brought against them." It would be impossible to subdue them. The province would be thrown at once into their hands, or delivered up a prey to the savages. These were dis- posed for peace, and the situation of the province rendered it desirable that a treaty be concluded, for it was dis- covered that the English of Connecticut were tampering with them.2 Already the Minquaas, the Mohawks, and the various River tribes had been urging the Dutch to termi- nate hostilities against the Warynawoncks, and the general feeling throughout the colony approving of the policy, the several sachems3 assembled at the Council chamber in Fort
1 Alb. Rec. iv., 454, 455, 456, 459, 463, 465 ; xxii., 182; Hol. Doc. x., 1-21 ; Aitzema, v., 64, 65; Groot Placaet Boek, ii., 3153. Ebeling, (iii., 31,) referring to the Act of 1664, says that the States General missed their mark, if that was to prove the soundness of the Dutch claim to New Netherland, and the limits thereof; because they went so far in the last section, as to extend its bounds from Cape Cod to fifteen miles south of Cape Henlopen, " whereby they them- selves disturbed the agreement of 1650." Now, the treaty of Hartford was in no way "disturbed ;" on the contrary, it was again acknowledged and con- firmed by the Act of 1664, which went only to say on this point that the West India Company had full power to make such a treaty. See Appendix L. for the paper in question, as well as for the letter from the States General to the several towns above mentioned.
2 Alb. Rec. xviii., 238-240 ; xxii., 119, 180, 227.
3 Sewackenamo, Onaghtin, Powsawagh, chiefs of Esopus ; Tsees-sagh-gaw, chief of the Wappingers; Megetsewackes, chief of Kightawanc; Sessegehout, chief of Reweghnome, of Haverstroo; Sawenacoque, chief of Wechquaes-
510
HISTORY OF
May 15.
BOOK VI. Amsterdam, in the presence of the Director-general ; the Hon. Nicasius de Sille ; Burgomasters Steenwyck and Van 1664. der Grist ; Capt. Martin Krygier ; Lieut. Van Couwenho- ven ; Schepens Bakker and Loockermans ; Thomas Cham- bers, commissary of Wiltwyck, and Abraham Wilmer- doncx, junior, of the West India Company ; Saartje, or Sarah, Kierstede acting as interpreter.' The usual preliminaries being disposed of, Sewackenamo, chief of the Waryna- woncks, arose, and calling several times in a loud voice on his God-BACHTAMO-prayed unto him for aid to conclude something good with the Dutch, and that the treaty about to be negotiated, in the presence of the sachems now assembled, should be, like the stick he grasped in his hand, firmly united, the one end to the other. All the neighbor- ing chiefs were rejoiced that peace was about to be made with the Dutch, and that the Marespinck savages were included in the treaty. This was all he had to say. He came with his brother sachems to act on behalf of the Esopus Indians, and to conclude a peace as firm and as compact as his arms, which he folded together ; and there- upon, presenting his right hand to the Director-general, he added : " What I say is from the fullness of my heart ; such is my desire and that of all my people."
A solemn treaty-the last which Stuyvesant concluded May 16. with the Red man-was signed on the following day amid salvoes of artillery. By its terms all that had passed was to be forever forgotten and forgiven. The land already given to the Dutch as an indemnity, and now again " con- quered by the sword," the two forts belonging to the In- dians included, became the property of the Christians.
queeck ; Oratany, chief of Hackingkesacky and Tappaan ; Mattheno, chief of Staten Island and Nyack ; Sicgpekenano, brother of Tapusagh, chief of Mares- pinck and Reck-he-weck, with twenty other savages of different tribes.
1 This lady, daughter of the celebrated Annetje Jans, and wife of Surgeon Kierstede, acted on divers occasions as interpreter for the Indians. In return for her services, Oratany, sachem of Hackingkesacky, made her a present of a large neck or tract of land on the west side of the Hudson, somewhere around the Hackingsack River. After her death, Jannetje Loockermans became the wife of Dr. Kierstede, who died about 1710, leaving Ariantie, Hans, Cornelis, Jacobus, and Maria, whose descendants are still numerous and influential in this and the neighboring States.
511
NEW NETHERLAND.
The savages were not to return thither to plant, nor to CHAP. visit the village, nor any remote Dutch settlement, with or VI. without arms. But as it was not intended to expel them 1664. altogether the country, they were permitted to plant near their new fort, and for this year only by their old castle, as they had already placed some seed in the ground there. But the lands in the neighborhood of these forts, having been conquered, were to belong to the Dutch. To pre- vent all future collision, no savage should hereafter approach the place where the Christians were ploughing, pasturing, sowing, or engaged in agricultural labor ; and the violation of this article was to subject them to arrest. They might sell meat or maize at the Ronduit, in parties of three canoes at a time, only on condition that they sent a flag of truce beforehand to give notice of their approach. For their accommodation, on such occasions, a house was to be built beyond the kill. Should a Dutchman kill an Indian, or an Indian a Christian, no war was to be declared. A complaint was to be lodged against the murderer, who should be hanged in the presence of both the contracting parties. All damages by the killing of cattle were to be paid for, and this treaty ratified annually by the Esopus Indians ; on such occasions they were to bring suitable pres- ents, which were to be reciprocated by the Director-general. The Hackingsack and Staten Island sachems were securi- ties for the faithful performance of this contract, and were bound to co-operate against either the Esopus Indians or the Dutch, whichever might violate its terms.
The termination of the war caused universal satisfaction, and in gratitude to Heaven for the event, a general day of thanksgiving was proclaimed throughout the province.1 May 31.
Resolved Waldron and Claes van Elsland were, in the mean time, dispatched, in conformity to the recommenda- tion of the convention, with their High Mightinesses' letters, and an address from the Director-general and Council to the several towns on Long Island. The English refused to read them ; some returned them unopened ; others sent
1 Alb. Rec. xxii., 214-226, 245. Hol. Doc. xii., 234.
512
HISTORY OF
BOOK them to the authorities at Hartford, who, unwilling before- VI. hand to admit, now boldly denied, their authenticity. 1664. " The letters were fabricated either by the Company in Holland, or by their officers at New Amsterdam." The Dutch had no concern whatever with the country. It be- longed to the King, who had granted it to them. In keep- ing with this conclusion, they now purchased from the Indians all the land between Westchester and the North River, including Spuyten Duyvel creek, which the Dutch had bought fifteen years previously from the natives. They next determined to enforce their right to Long Island, and for this purpose proceeded to send agents thither.
The Court at Hartford, on being made acquainted with Scott's actions, had already, in the month of February, sent their Secretary, Mr. Allyn, to Hempstead to confer with the deputies of the English towns, then assembled at that place. Scott hesitated not to repair thither, and then stated that he resigned the commission which Connecticut had given him, adding that those, in whose presence he stood, were a faction without authority from the people. Allyn returned to Hartford and reported these facts. A proc- Mar. 18. lamation was immediately issued by the Assembly of Connecticut, charging Scott with various high crimes and misdemeanors, and he was shortly afterwards arrested by a company of soldiers and thrown into Hartford jail, from the authorities of which place he experienced much harsh usage.1 Governor Winthrop came soon after to Long
1 " We whose names are subscribed being commanded by authority to seize on the body of John Scott, do give unto the Honorable Court, the certaine pas- sages that passed betweene us as we are able to expresse :- Imprimis. When that we came within the sight of the howse of John Scott, we saw him draw forth these men which came from New Haven to aid him with some others unto a body ; when we came up towards the howse within twenty or thirty rods thereof, John Scott commanded us in his Majestie's name for to stand upon our perill. 2d. John Scott charged us in his Majestie's name to gett off from his land. 3d. John Scott desired to know what our business was. Then it was replyed by Nathaniel Seely that he desired a parle ; John Scott granted a parle, and we meet each of us with a couple of musketeers. Then Nathaniel Seely told him he was come to arrest him. 4th. John Scott demanded our business. Then Nathaniel Seely read the commission unto him, and when it was read, Seely demanded of him whether he would surrender himself according to com- mission. 5th. John Scott replyed he would sacrifice his heart's blood on the ground before he would yield to him or any of Connecticut jurisdiction ; with
513
NEW NETHERLAND.
Island to induce the people to submit, without any more CHAP. opposition, to Connecticut. He visited Gravesend, Hemp -~ VI. stead, and the other English towns ; deposed Scott's magis- 1664. trates ; appointed others whom he swore to be faithful to the King, promising them protection against all their June. enemies. Stuyvesant, accompanied by Van Ruyven and several respectable burghers, went hereupon to the English Governor ; reminded him of the rights the Dutch acquired by first discovery, legal purchase and long possession, all which had been solemnly guarantied by the treaty of 1650. All he could adduce was of no avail. The country was the King's ; the people his subjects. When priority of title from the Indians was invoked, those from whom the Dutch had purchased were, it was replied, not the right owners, and had no right to sell. But when deeds which the English held from natives happened to be older than those of their opponents, then the title could not be gainsayed. All must be received without contradiction.1 The truth is,
that the New Haven men made answer and said, So will we. 6th. John Scott said, Stay awhile and I will fetch you a letter from under Gov. Winthrop's hand, that he did not question much but that it would fully satisfy. So he went into the howse and fetcht it forth and read it before us, bearing date as he said. March 25, 1664. It was concerning the Governor's desiring him to meet him to end some difference in the Narragansett country about a tract of land. John Scott said, If you will return to your body, I will fetch a commission under his Majestie's hand and seale which shall command you all. Whereupon he made a flourish and said he would go down unto the face of the company and read it, and he would see if the proudest of them all darest to lay hands on him; and he said, let them take me if they dare. Then he came down to the head of the company and read the commission which he said had the seale manuall on it, whereupon he renewed his challenge that he would see if the proudest of them all darest to lay hands on him or take him if they dare. Then Nathaniel Seely arrested him in his Majestie's name to go with him according to [law.] It was then demanded of John Scott if he would release those whom he had taken prisoners of the conterey officers; John Scott replyed, he would not release them, but charged New Haven men to look to their prisoners which he had commanded them with and to carry them to New Haven. The men that are imprisoned by John Scott, are Mr. Woodhall of Seatockett and the constable thereof, as we were informed, and two other men of the same towne. Captain Scott ownes all above written except the date of the letter, which he says was March 14 or 15, and that he would sacrifice his heart's blood on the ground be- fore he would yield to him or any of Connecticut. March 8th, 1664. Seyt Seely made oath to what is written in this paper in Court. John Allyn, Secre- tary." Towns aud Lands, i., 31.
1 " According to the proverb :- Sic volo, sic jubeo, stat pro ratione voluntas." Alb. Rec. xviii .. 283.
VOL. II.
33
514
HISTORY OF
BOOK VI. 1664.
the Directors in Holland were mistaken in their reliance on Winthrop's friendship. He now manifested the great- est hostility to the Dutch, and was the head and front of all the opposition they experienced.1 He was, no doubt, well advised of the designs of the Duke of York and of his brother the King of England, which were about to develop themselves against this province.
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