USA > New York > New York City > History of New Netherland; or, New York under the Dutch, Vol. II > Part 47
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1 Alb. Rec. xviii., 256-258, 276-289 ; Trumbull's Conn. i., 261
515
NEW NETHERLAND.
CHAPTER VII.
Causes of the ill-will in England towards the Dutch-The Duke of York's mo- tives-Obtains a grant of New Netherland-Sends an expedition against New Amsterdam-Intelligence received by Stuyvesant, who is thrown off his guard-Repairs to Fort Orange-Arrival of the English fleet under Nicolls- Stuyvesant returns to New Amsterdam-Progress of affairs there-Citizens demand communication of the letter of summons-Difficulties between them and the Director-general-Another letter sent in by the English-Burgomas- ters demand a copy thereof-Stuyvesant indignantly refuses their request-Is obliged, however, to comply-Citizens abandon the works-Stuyvesant vindi- cates the Dutch title to the country-Nicolls orders the fleet to take up a position before the fort-Stuyvesant inclined to fire on the ships-Is dissuaded therefrom-Remonstrance of the citizens-Commissioners appointed to ne- gotiate-The surrender-Reduction of Fort Orange and the South River- Conduct of the English at the latter place-Name of the province changed.
THE commercial jealousy against the Dutch, which CHAP. gave existence to the Navigation Act under Cromwell, VII. experienced no abatement on the restoration of the Stuarts, 1664 but the prudence of Clarendon prevented an immediate rup- ture, and under his auspices a treaty of peace and alliance was concluded between Holland and England, at Westmin- ster, on the 4th September, 1662. Friendly relations might, possibly, have continued, had not private interest and private pique combined with the malign influence of power- ful individuals, to counteract such a result. To Sir George Downing and James, Duke of York, belong all the re- proach of having effected that object. The former was envoy at the Hague; keen, bold, subtle, active and obser- vant, but imperious and unscrupulous, naturally preferring menace to persuasion, reckless of the means employed or the risk incurred in the pursuit of a proposed object, disliking and distrusting the Dutch, and forearmed with a fierce determination not to be foiled or overreached. He had been resident at the Hague under Cromwell and his son, and foreseeing the certainty of the King's restoration, had offered his services to Charles before that event
516
HISTORY OF
BOOK took place, and now pursued the regicides who had been VI. excepted from the royal clemency, with all the rancor of 1664. an apostate. The whole bent of this man's mind was constantly to hold up before the eyes of his countrymen the growing power of Holland and her commercial companies, their immense wealth and ambition, and the danger to England of permitting these to progress onward unchecked.1
The Duke of York had various motives to actuate his conduct and policy. He disliked the Dutch as strongly as Downing, and he had private interests to subserve. He had been libelled in Holland, but though reparation had been obtained, the libellers were not punished as promptly as he desired. His dispositions were warlike, and he was weary of having nothing to do. He was likewise pecuniarily interested. He was Governor of the Royal African Company. The Dutch were competitors with the latter, in the trade of the Gold Coast, and had, by a series of operations, monopolized almost the whole of the commerce of that region. James became the mouth-piece of the Company in placing their complaints before Parliament, putting forth claims which even Down- ing considered doubtful. To enforce these, he had re- course, in times of profound peace, to the hazardous expedient of dispatching a fleet which committed aggres- sions against the Dutch on the African coast, "without," as Lord Clarendon emphatically expresses it, "any shadow of justice.""
It was to such a man, of such principles, and with such Mar. 22. strong motives to wrong-doing, that Charles II. gave a grant of the whole of Long Island, and of all the adjoining country at the time in possession of the Dutch. Avarice on the one hand, and hate on the other, impelled him to adopt early measures for the conquest of the district in
1 " J'eusse cru (says Count d'Estrades) qu'après avoir été tiré par Cromwell de maître d'école, et choisi par lui pour dechirer la maison royale en Hollande, le Roi d'Angleterre l'auroit plutôt placé sur une potence que dans ses conseils." Lettres et Memoires du Comte d'Estrades, ii., 364.
$ Lister's Life of Lord Clarendon, (Lond. Svo. 1838,) ii., 258, 328.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
question ; and with this design he borrowed four men-of- CHAP. war of the King, on board of which were embarked a VII. force of four hundred and fifty men, the major part troops 1664. of the line, under the command of Col. Richard Nicolls, an old officer, and one of the grooms of his bedchamber, whom the Duke had appointed his Deputy Governor. April 12. Conjoined to this expedition were Sir Robert Carr, Sir Geo. Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick, Esq., who, with Nicolls, were to act as commissioners to take possession of the country, settle boundaries, &c. Further to ensure success, letters under the sign manual were addressed to May 3. the several Governors of New England, enjoining them to unite with and assist the commissioners in recover- ing the country, and reducing its inhabitants under his Majesty's obedience.1
The first intimation the government of New Netherland received of these designs, was from Boston. A young man, named Lord, brought intelligence that a fleet was July 8. daily expected from Portsmouth to compel the surrender of New Amsterdam, and Capt. Thos. Willett communicated this information to Stuyvesant. The Burgomasters and President of the board of Schepens were summoned, and in conjunction with these, it was decided to fortify the city. Some vessels, then on the point of sailing with supplies for Curaçoa were countermanded ; agents were sent to New Haven to purchase provisions ; spies to Westchester and Milford, to look out for the enemy, as his approach was expected from the Sound ; a requisi- tion was made on Rensselaerswyck, for a loan of five or six thousand guilders, and on New Amstel for a supply of powder. At this critical conjuncture, when every hour was more precious than gold, and the safety of the country depended on the most untiring energy, all vigilance was put to sleep by a dispatch from the Chamber at Amsterdam, stating that no apprehension of any public enemy or danger from England need be entertained. The King was only desirous to reduce the
1 Book of Patents, i., 109-121 ; Hol. Doc. x., 149. Hazard's State Papers, ii , 636, 639, 640.
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HISTORY OF
BOOK
VI. colonies to uniformity in church and state, and with this
~ view was dispatching some commissioners, with two or 1664. three frigates, to New England, to introduce Episcopacy in that quarter. It was the opinion of the Directors that such policy would only benefit and strengthen Dutch interests in America. Willett, fearing now that he had compromised himself by his communications, thought proper to contradict the statement he had already made, and alleged that commissioners were appointed in Eng- land to settle the limits, that the troops were disembarked, and the frigates discharged, and that all danger had passed away. Suspicion was thus dispelled ; a most fatal sense of security pervaded the public mind. "Neither the Director nor Council, nor any other individual, antici- pated any difficulty." The provisions were exported to Aug. 6. Curaçoa, and Stuyvesant most imprudently proceeded to Fort Orange.1
The truce entered into between the Mohawks and Onakouques (or Abenaquis) in 1662, had not been fol- lowed by any permanent good, and their wars continued to disturb the country, dragging the Soquatuck Indians on the upper waters of the Connecticut, in what is now the State of New Hampshire, into hostilities, also, against the Mohawks. In the hope of terminating this mischievous May 19. quarrel, the authorities at Fort Orange dispatched Jacob Loockermans and Jan Davits, with some Mohawks and Mohegans, to the head of the Connecticut, to re-establish friendly relations among the contending parties. After a tedious journey over the precipitous and snow-clad Winter- May 22. berg, or Green Mountains, they arrived at an English settlement called Narrington, where they met delegates May 24. from the north, with whom they succeeded in concluding
1 Alb. Rec. xx., 377; xxii., 271-273, 276; Hol. Doc. xi., 219, 221, 236-239 ; xii., 92-96 ; 117-119; New Amst. Rec. " Les Lettres de l'ambassadeur van Goch de ce même date assurent que le Roi d'Angleterre persiste toujours dans les premières protestations qu'il a faites, de ne vouloir en rien blesser l'alliance qu'il a avec MM. les Etats. . . . De peur de l'interrompre, MM. les Etats ont refusé à la Compagnie des Indes Occidentales trois navires de guerre qu'elle leur a demandé pour aller à la rencontre de ses vaisseaux." Comte d'Estrades, ii., 459, 460.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
a treaty,1 to ratify which, Saheda, principal Sachem of the CHAP
June 21.
Mohawks, proceeded with some of his people in the VII. course of the following month, with presents to the 1664. northern tribes. Whilst engaged in this mission of peace, the Mohawk ambassadors were treacherously set upon by some Abenaquis, instigated thereto, it is alleged, by the English, and perfidiously murdered.2 The Mohegans, who were privy to this perfidy, now overran the country east of the Hudson, killed a number of cattle at Green- July 7. bush, and then fired a house at Claverack, belonging to July 11. Abraham Staets, in which they burnt his wife and two servants.3 Proceeding, next, in a body one hundred strong, against the Mohawks, they gave these battle, but the latter being more numerous, routed their assailants. The Mo- hawks, elated by success, pursued the foe, with whom they renewed the fight next morning at break of day; but fortune was again fickle. The Mohegans repelled the enemy with great loss.4 The colonists around Fort Orange, seeing the flames of war thus suddenly raging in their midst, and full of alarm for their lives and property, sent, hot haste, to request the presence and advice of the Director-general, who, with the consent of his Council, proceeded thither, to put an end to all this excitement and misunderstanding.
1 Alb. Rec. vi., 394, 395, 404, 423-427. Journal kept by Jan Davits and Jacob Loockermans of their Journey to the North, to effect a Peace between the Ma- quaas and the Mohegans, and the Northern Indians.
2 " Brothers ! we will conceal nothing from you, as ye lived among us a very long time, and had your wives and children among us, and ye understand our language perfectly well. The English did say, and commanded the savages to fight and kill the Maquaas and the Dutch ; and the English threatened them- if ye do it not, then we shall kill you. They further did say that forty vessels are coming from Europe to wage war, and demand the surrender of the coun- try, and if we decline the surrender, they will kill us to the last man, and then the English shall fight against the Dutch, as now the Southern savages ought to do against the Maquaas. They say further that when the ambassadors of the Maquaas came with their presents to the Fort Paconthetuck, to confirm the peace, several Englishmen were in the fort who endeavored to persuade the In- dians to kill the Maquaas, as they now are killed. They say further that it was said to kill the Dutch, too, which may be a warning." Speech of certain In- dian chiefs to the authorities at Fort Orange, 12th July, 1664. Alb. Rec. vi., 429.
3 Jeremias van Rensselaer's letter to his brother, in Rensselaerswyck MSS. Hol. Doc. xi., 238; Alb. Rec. vi., 431.
+ Relation, 1663, 1664., 162, 163.
520
HISTORY OF
BOOK VI. The English fleet, consisting of the Guinea of thirty-six guns, commanded by Capt. Hugh Hyde ; the Elias, thirty 1664. guns, Capt. Wm. Hill ; the Martin, sixteen or eighteen, Capt. Edward Groves ; and the William and Nicholas, ten guns, had, in the meanwhile, been some time at sea, but July 30. separating in a fog, the flag ship arrived at Boston, whilst the others were obliged to put into Piscataway. The commissioners soon after called on Massachusetts and Connecticut for aid. The latter willingly assisted, but those of the Bay were not well disposed towards the Stuarts, and therefore not over anxious to second opera- tions which could, at best, only throw additional embarrass- ments in the way of that unshackled commerce they had hitherto enjoyed.
The news of the enemy's approach had, by this time, reached New Amsterdam. An express was immediately dispatched for the Director-general, who, having lost three Aug. 25. most precious weeks, returned to the Manhattans only twenty-four hours before the Guinea, and three days be- fore the remainder of the English fleet cast anchor in Nyack bay.1 Every third man was now ordered to repair, either in person or by substitute, "with spade, shovel, or wheel-barrow," to work at the city defences. A guard was placed at the city gates, and the brewers were for- bidden to malt any more grain. A requisition for eight completely mounted guns was made on the Director and Council, so that the number of pieces on the works might be increased to twenty-two; and every disposition was manifested to meet the enemy in a becoming manner.2 The latter, in the meanwhile, established a strict blockade at the mouth of the river; cut off all communication between Long Island, Bergen, Achter Cul, and the Man- hattans ; took possession of the block-house on Staten
1 Hol. Doc. xii., 98. "In de bocht van Nyack." N. A. Rec. Trumbull, Hist. Conn. i , 267, says, "The tradition is, that Stuyvesant on learning the de- signed attack of the English in 1664, came to Hartford to negotiate a new treaty with Connecticut, and that he was there when the news came of the arrival of the fleet at Boston. The story has been that he made his departure in the night, and returned with the utmost expedition." This is a mistake.
9 New Amst. Rec
521
NEW NETHERLAND.
Island,' and captured a couple of yachts and a lot of cattle CHAP. and negroes which Peter Alrichs was conveying across VII. the river to New Amstel. The farmers were, at the same 1664. time, forbidden to furnish any supplies to the Dutch garri- son, on pain of having their houses fired ; and proclama- tions were scattered abroad throughout the surrounding vil- Aug. 30. lages, promising all who quietly submitted to his Britannic Majesty the safe and undisturbed possession of their prop- erty, threatening those who should otherwise demean themselves with all the miseries of war.2
From the moment Nicolls cast anchor before New Am- sterdam, that city might be said to have been virtually surrendered. Stuyvesant's demand on Rensselaerswyck for aid was answered by the excuse that they were in hourly danger from the savages, and could not spare a man. The Dutch boors on Long Island had their wives and property to protect, and they, also, refused all succor. In the trying hour which was now approaching, Stuyve- sant had only ninety or one hundred soldiers and the loyalty of the citizens to depend on. Having ordered the soldiers in from the Esopus and other outposts,3 he sent Aug. 29. down to enquire of the English commanders the reason of their arrival and continuance in the harbor without proper explanations. The reply was, a formal summons
1 " Staten Island is two good (Dutch) miles from the fort, (Amsterdam.) It was settled on the south side, behind the hill, out of sight of the fort, by ten or twelve men capable of bearing arms, who, for their protection against a sudden attack of the savages, erected about a year ago in the midst of their houses, which were slightly built of straw and clapboards, a small and light wooden block-house, about eighteen or twenty feet square, and were loaned by Cornelis Steenwyck a small piece carrying a one pound ball, and by the Director and Council a small stone gun, and had for a garrison six old soldiers unfit to pur- sue the Indians. The aforesaid block-house and hamlet lay in sight of Nyack, where the frigates rode at anchor, not a (Dutch) mile distant, unable to be sup- ported or to send a shot thither, unless backed by a naval force." Hol. Doc. xii., 141. The distance between Staten Island and New York is precisely 5.35 English miles ; and between Staten and Long Islands, 3,700 yards.
2 Alb. Rec. xx., 307, 385 ; Hol. Doc. xi., 242-244; xii., 99, 100, 102, 103, 121, 143, 144, 153 ; xiii., 24, 50.
3 " Wiltwyck, Ist September, 1664. By the court in Wiltwyck it is resolved that the burghers and inhabitants shall again form a watch, because the soldiers of the Director-general and Council are ordered away in consequence of the approach of the English." Kingston Rec.
522
HISTORY OF
BOOK to surrender the country to the King of Great Britain, VI. accompanied by a copy of the proclamation already dis- 1664. tributed.1 The Schout, Burgomasters and Schepens, the
Aug. 30. officers of the Burgher Guard, and several of the citizens assembled at the City Hall to learn how matters stood. Non-resistance was at once openly avowed. The city was to be brought into a state of defence, to prevent a surprise, so that when the enemy observed the vigilance of the citizens, " we might obtain good terms and condi- tions." It was further resolved to demand of the Director- general an authentic copy of the communication he had received from the commander of the English fleet. The Sep. 1. meeting to receive the reply to this demand was held on -
the following Monday, when the Burgomasters stated that a copy of the paper had been refused them, and then ex- plained the terms of the summons. This reply did not satisfy the citizens. They insisted on being furnished with a certified copy of the letter. The Director-general, there- upon, proceeded to the meeting in person, and endeavored to convince those present of the impropriety of their de- mands. "Such a course would be disapproved of in Fatherland ; it would discourage the people, and he should be held responsible for the surrender." But all was in vain, and Stuyvesant found himself under the necessity of
1 " By his Majesty's command. Forasmuch as his Majesty hath sent us by commission under his great seal, amongst other things to expell or to reduce under his Majesty's obedience all such foriners as have, without his Majesty's leave or consent, seated themselves amongst any of his dominions in Amer- ica to the prejudice of his Majesty's subjects and the diminution of his royal dignity : We his Majesty's commissioners, declare and promise, that whoso- ever, of what nation soever, will, upon knowledge of this proclamation, ac- knowledge and testify themselves to submit to this his Majesty's government, as his good subjects ought to do, shall be protected by his Majesty's laws and justice, and peaceably enjoye whatever God's blessing and their own honest industry hath furnished them, with all other privileges with his Majesty's Eng- lish subjects. We have caused this to be published, that we may prevent all inconveniences to others, if it were possible ; however, to clear ourselves from the charge of all those miseries that any way may befall such as live here and will not acknowledge his Majesty for their sovereign, whom God preserve. In his Majesty's frigate the Guinea, August 20, 1664. Richard Nicolls, George Cartwright, Samuel Maverick. It is desired that as many of the inhabitants of Oyster Bay as conveniently can, would meet the commissioners at Gravesend on Thursday next, the 23d August, where [those] of the Island are summoned to be. George Cartwright." Oyster Bay Rec. Lib. A. 19.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
complying with the popular will, protesting, however, that CHAP. he should not be held "answerable for the calamitous VII. consequences."1 1664.
Two commissioners from the New England colonies had joined the fleet, and now, in the hope of making a Sep. 2. favorable impression on the minds of the citizens, visited New Amsterdam under a flag of truce. They came, they said, to offer very favorable conditions, in the King's name, to all the inhabitants. Should these be refused, they must be held guiltless of any cruelties which might follow. Thereupon Governor Winthrop placed a sealed letter in the Director-general's hands, and the commissioners took their leave. On his return to the fort, Stuyvesant opened this communication in the presence of the Council and the Burgomasters.2 The latter demanded permission to com- municate this paper to the other city magistrates ; but as it was considered "rather disadvantageous than favorable to communicate such letters to the inhabitants," the Di- rector-general refused the request. The Burgomasters declared, on the other hand, that " all which regarded the public welfare ought to be made public." The Director remonstrated, and endeavored to explain the pernicious effects of such a course. The Burgomasters would not be convinced, and Stuyvesant in a fit of indignation "tore the letter in pieces." The city fathers thereupon protested against "the consequences of dilacerating that paper," and took their departure in high dudgeon.
The citizens now collected in numbers around the City Hall. "Suddenly the work of setting palisades on the land side of the city ceased," and three of the principal burghers presented themselves before the Council and
1 Alb. Rec. xviii., 312-315.
2 " Mr. WINTHROP : As to those particulars you spoke to me, I do assure you that if the Manhadoes be delivered up to his Majesty, I shall not hinder, but any people from the Netherlands may freely come and plant there, or there- abouts ; and such vessels of their owne country may freely come thither, and any of them may as freely returne home, in vessels of their owne country, and this, and much more is contained in the privilege of his Majesty's English sub- jects ; and thus much you may, by what means you please, assure the Governor from, Sir, your very affectionate servant, RICHARD NICOLIS."
August 22d, 1664, O. S.
Book of General Entries, i., 12.
524
HISTORY OF
BOOK demanded a copy of the letter, " not without a sinister and VI. covert hint at something worse happening." They were 1664. deaf to all reason, and dissatisfied with the plea that the paper was destroyed. Stuyvesant, seeing the critical state of affairs, hastened in person to the City Hall "to animate the burghers to return to and continue the public work." "It would only create disgust to repeat what was said-the disrespectful language on all sides-the com- plaints and curses uttered against the Company for having disregarded the people's representations, neglected to furnish any succor, and induced the colonists to expose themselves to slaughter by settling in a country to which they never possessed any right or title. All this had to be listened to in patience." A general cry was now raised for "the letter !" It was impossible to defend the place; "to offer resistance against so many would be as idle as to gape before an oven." Fearful of a mutiny, Stuyvesant retired and reported to the Council what he had witnessed. To prevent all further difficulties, the pieces of the torn letter were collected and a copy of the communication made out, and delivered to the Burgo- masters.1
Though the power the Director-general exercised for seventeen years had now evidently passed away, and the truncheon he had so long wielded was shivered, he still considered it his duty to vindicate the right of his superiors to the country. In answer to the summons of Nicolls he, therefore, returned a lengthy manifesto, in which he traced the history of the country from its first settlement to the present time, deducing the Dutch title from the three great principles of discovery, colonization and possession. He repudiated, in direct terms, the pretence now put forth in the name of his Britannic Majesty to "an indisputable right to all the lands in the north parts of America," and added that he was confident that had his Majesty been well informed in the premises, he had too much judgment
I Alb. Rec. xxii., 314-317 ; Hol. Doc. xii., 147-163. Dunlap (Hist. N. Y. i., 116,) represents Stuyvesant as tearing " the summons." But in this he is incor- rect.
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NEW NETHERLAND.
to authorize the present hostile demonstrations, "it being CHAP. a considerable thing to affront so mighty a state" as the ~
Vit. Republic of the United Provinces. In case, however, 1664. " you will act by force of arms, we protest and declare, before God and men, (he concluded,) in the name of our said Lords the States General, that you will act an unjust violence, and a breach of the articles of peace so solemnly sworn, agreed upon, and ratified by his Majesty of Eng- land and my Lords the States General, the rather inas- much as to prevent bloodshed we treated, in the month of February last, with Captain John Scott, (who reported that he had a commission from his Majesty,) touching the limits of Long Island, and came to a conclusion thereupon for the space of a year. . . . Again, for the hindrance and prevention of all difference and the spilling of inno- cent blood-not only here, but in Europe-we offer unto you a treaty by our deputies. . . . As regards your threats we have nothing to answer, only that we fear nothing but what God (who is as just as merciful) shall lay upon us ; all things being at His gracious disposal, and we may as well be preserved by Him with small forces as by a great army."1
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