History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 6

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 6

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site of the present city of Yonkers. The voyage was continued as far as the river was found navigable, when Hudson returned, having considerable inter- course with the Indians by the way, until, as he passed our shores and re-entered New York Bay, his men wantonly killed nine of their number. Just one month from the day Hudson arrived inside Sandy Hook the Half-Moon sailed out again to the ocean. On the 7th of November they reached Dart- mouth, in Devonshire, England, and there the Half- Moon wintered, Hudson sending a report of his discoveries to his employers in Holland. England, becoming jealous of the advantages that inight accrue to her maritime rival by these discoveries, prevented Hudson from returning to Holland, and his connee- tion with the East India Company ended. He uever revisited the river that makes his name imuiortal, but under Euglish patronage he continued the vain search for a sea-way to India and lost his life in Hud- son's Bay in 1611. The company abandoned all effort to discover a northwest passage, and made uo

CAPTAIN HENRY HUDSON.

attempt to utilize the discoveries that had thus been made. The Half-Moon, surviving her famous com- mander, was subsequently seut upou a voyage to the East Indies, aud was wrecked iu 1615 on the island of Mauritius.

Although the East India Company gave no further attention to the region their enterprise had discovered, it was impossible for the active Hollanders not to make an effort to gain some advantage from it. The fur trade had already become an important interest with the Dutch. During the war with Spain they had opened and developed a profitable interchange of commodities with the countries of the Baltic, and they had become the chief distributors of Russian furs to the countries of Europe. Naturally, they soon turned their attention to the prosecution of the fur trade with the Indians of the Hudson River, where beaver, otter and other valuable fur-bearing animals were abundant.

Merchants fitted out vessels and sent them across the ocean under such skillful commauders as the for- mer mate of the Half-Moon and Captains Chris-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

tiaenseu, Block, De Witt and May. Further explora- tions of the coast were made, as well as valuable car- goes obtained. Depots for the collection of furs, and a friendly and advantageous intercourse with the In- dians, were established. Captain Block's vessel, the "Tiger," was accidentally burned in New York Bay, in 1613, and, without aid from Holland, the intrepid commander and his crew built the first vessel, the ' Restless," ever launched upon American waters. To shelter them, while engaged in the work, the first houses were erected upon Manhattan Island. During the winter the Iudians supplied them " with food and all kinds of necessaries."

In the "Restless " Block sailed boldly through the rushing currents of the East River, naming its most dangerous portion " Hell Gate," after a similar situa. tiou in a branch of the Scheldt, near Hulst, in Zea- land, called " Hellegat." He explored our shore of Long Island Sound, and continued eastward to Cape Cod. The importance of these enterprises increased so that the States-General passed ordinances regulat. ing the trade, and, in 1614, granted a charter to the traders, in which the country was first called " New Netherland." The merchants to whom the charter was granted were not united as a corporation, but were merely participants in a limited monopoly, which they enjoyed in common. They had no powers of government, as they did not contemplate any perma- nent colonization. Their charter expired by its own limitation on the 1st of January, 1618. By that time trading ports had been established on Manhattan Island and upon Castle Island, near Albany, and doubtless considerable trading had been done with the Indians of Westchester County, but uo attempt at settlement had yet been made. There was uow much uncertainty as to the best course to pursue in relatiou to this new territory, whose importance to the traders was daily increasing. Various propositions were con- sidered aud dismissed, until, in 1621, the West India Company was organized, and received a charter of al- most unlimited powers of government, while it was required to " advance the peopling of this fruitful and unsettled part, and do all that the service of those countries and the profit and increase of trade shall re- quire." The internal organization of the company proved a tedious matter, and it was not until June, 1623, that the plans were perfected and the articles of government were approved by the States-General. Then active preparations were made for the increase of the trade with the Indians and for making a per- manent settlement upon the yet unoccupied lands.

Circumstances at home had provided excellent eui- grants to undertake the hardships of a settlement in the New World. The protracted struggle with Spain had aroused strong religious animosities. The con- test had beeu largely limited by religious sentiment. Spain was closely attached to the Catholic Church, and so were the southern Netherland provinces of Na- mur and Hainault, Luxemburg and Limburg, which

had refused to join Holland and Zealand in formiug the United Netherlands. The northern provinces, which had gained their independence, were strongly Protestant. The Protestauts of these Belgic provinces were compelled to leave their homes and seek a resi- dence elswhere. Where should they go? Many es- tablished themselves iu England and enriched that country with their profitable industries. Opportune- ly, the West India Company invited settlers to New Netherland. Considerable numbers embraced the offer, aud thus the Walloons became the first perma- nent residents upon the shores of the Hudson, aud the first tillers of the soil. They spoke the French lan- gnage, and were chiefly united with the Hollanders in their common hatred of the Spanish rule. They came here to establish homes for themselves and their children, while the Dutch were chiefly interested in the profits of the fur trade. It thus occurred that the first New Netherland settlement was in its character more Walloon than Dutch.

The refugees from the southern provinces, with a number of Huguenots from France, at first desired to join one of the Euglish settlements in America, and made overtures to this tud, but these were not favor- ably received. When the West India Company gladly accepted them as emigrants to their domaiu, speedy pre- parations were made for their departure, and in March, 1623, the uew ship "New Netherland," under Captain May, sailed from the Texel with a company of thirty families on board. They reached their destination early in the month of May, iu good time to plant such crops as would supply them with necessary food. The few huts erected by Block, teu years before, afforded them shelter. Having the interest of the fur trade more in view thau the welfare of the colonists, the members of the company were, unfortunately, dis- persed, some going to the South, or Delaware River, and others to Castle Island, uear Albany, where Fort Nassau was soon afterward built. May had been ap- pointed Director. The settlers who went tothe South River soon returned. Other Walloons came from Holland. In December, 1625, Peter Minuit, himself a Walloon, was appointed Director-General, and Manhattan Island and the adjacent lands soon con- tained an energetic colony of about three hundred souls.

It is probable that the settlers soon tilled the lands upon the northern shores of the Harlem River, as well as the upper portions of Manhattan Island. In the year 1628, Jonas Michaelius, a clergyman of the Re- formed Church, came to New Amsterdam and held religious services iu both the Dutch and French lan- guages. He wrote of the settlers and their church at- tendance :- " Some of them live far away and could not come on account of the heavy rains and storms." This, doubtless, referred to those who lived along the Harlem, as well as those from across the East River. Unfortunately, no records of the colony, for the first fifteen years after its establishment, have been pre-

THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.

served, so that we are forced to draw inferences from sncli collateral statements.

Minuit showed energy and vigor in his administra- tion. To assist him, a council was appointed, with legislative and judicial powers. There was also a secretary of the province and a sheriff. It was soon seen that the rights of the Indians must be respected, as being superior to any European right of discovery and occupation. Minuit, therefore, very justly opened negotiations with them for the purchase of Manhattan Island, and they relinquished their claims thereto " for the value of sixty guilders," which was equivalent to abont twenty-four dollars of our money In the light of subsequent events this sum scems most absurdly insignificant, but, under the circumstances, the amount was reasonable and the transaction honor- able.

The West India Company wisely encouraged emigration. They brought over horses, cattle and poultry for the use of the settlers. Their farms, called "boweries," showed prosperity. An English observer wrote that the emigrants, "though they be not mauy, are well chosen, and known to be useful and serviceable, and they (the company) second them with seasonable and fit supplies, cherishing them as carefully as their own families." But the enter- prise drew heavily upon the company's treasury, and they soon began to devise means by which private parties might be induced to aid emigration on their own account. At length, for this purpose, it was concluded to endeavor to plant in America a modified feudalism. The feudal system had not flourished in Holland. The free spirit and intelligence of its peo- ple were adverse to it. True, the land was mainly in the hauds of great owners, but those who occupied them paid a rental, instead of military service, and regarded the owner merely as a landlord, and not as a master. With the increase of wealth fron trade and manufactures, the rich merchants were unable at home to satisfy their desires for landed estates, and lience it was proposed to offer them lands in New Netherland. On June 7, 1629, the West India Company issned its "Charter of Privileges and Ex- emptions," by which any member of the company who should purchase land of the Indians, and found a colony of fifty persons over fifteen years of age, should have a grant of sixteen miles along one bank or eight miles on each bank of any navigable river, and as far inland as the situation would permit. They received the title of Patroon, and were the lords of the people, as well as of the land. The Patroon's authority over his manor was similar to that of a baron in the Mid- dle Agcs. He could engage in every trade except that in furs, which was reserved for the company ex- clusively. The Patroons were required to make prompt provision for the support of a minister and a schoolmaster.

This creation of a second monopoly, within that of the company itself, proved most unfortunate. The

wealthy directors took immediate advantage of the company's action before the other share-holders could avail themselves of its privilege, and at once the most desirable territory was seized by a few. Disagree- ments and dissensions speedily followed. Intelligent emigrants were afraid to place themselves under the control of such grasping masters. Instead of enconr- aging the settlement of the country, it greatly re- tarded it, and probably deferred for fifty years the considerable peopling of Westchester County along the Harlem and Hudson Rivers. Manhattan Island was reserved for the company.

The first purchase of Indian lands north of Harlem River was made by the West India Company in 1639. Its bounds were poorly defined. White settlers speedily occupied portions of this tract. They made auother purchase of land to the east of this tract in 1640. Herr Bronx made a purchase along the river that bears his name in the following year. The next purchase was made in 1646 by Adriaen Von der Donck, who had been educated at the University of Leyden, and had been admitted to prac- tice in the Supreme Court of Holland. He was the first lawyer who came to New Netherland. He at once received a patent from the company, his lands extending for sixteen miles along the Hudson north of Manhattan Island, and eastward to the Bronx River. It was called Donck's Colony, and its pro- prietor, invested with all the rights and privileges contained in the charter of 1629, became a member of the order of Patroons. In 1650 a contract was made by the West India Company, with Van der Donck and others, for the transportation of two hundred persons to New Netherland. Yonkers soon became a place of considerable trade with the Indians, and vessels were here loaded for old Amsterdam.

Disputes between the company and the Patroons now became freqnent and bitter. Van der Donck, from his legal skill, was prominent in these, and, in 1652, he repaired to Amsterdam to personally ap- pear before the college of the company. It was soon found that the privileges conferred upon the Patroons had been too liberally bestowed. Good Peter Minuit was recalled in 1631 on the charge of hav- ing been too easy with the newly-created nobility. He was succeeded by Van Twiller, and he, in turn, by Wil- liam Kieft.

During Kieft's administration an Indian war, re- sulting from thic murder of an Indian, as is related in the previous chapter, befel Now Netherland, and drove the white settlers from Westchester County and threatened the complete destruction of the col- ony.

Kieft's administration proved unfortunate for the company. It was considered that hic had unncees- sarily brought on the disastrous war with the Indians, and he had done nothing to remedy the difficulties with the Patroons. The financial affairs of the colony were also unsatisfactory. Very serious were the dis-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

cussions in the college of the company as to the cor- rection of the existing evils. Finally new regulations were adopted, and Peter Stuyvesant was appointed Director-General. It was hoped that he would also prove a "Redresser-General." He came to New Neth- erland in 1646 and assumed the reins of the govern- ment as the successor of Kieft.

Stuyvesant's administration was an energetic one on the part of the Director-General, but he was beset with difficulties on every hand. He was anxious to insist on the Duteh claim to all the territory from the Conneetieut to the Delaware Rivers, which the English settlers were as emphatie in denying. The English pushed their settlements almost to the Har- lem River. On Long Island they claimed entire independence of New Netherland. Stuyvesant had

PETER STUYVESANT.

further troubles with the Indians up the Hudson. The internal affairs of his government were very jar- ring. Jealousies and disputes were frequent. He was stern in his assertion of authority, but that au- thority was but poorly respected. To add to his difficulties, he was very insufficiently supported by the college of the company in Amsterdam. The un- fortunate organization of the company became more and more apparent. New Netherland was a financial burden. When, therefore, in 1664, in utter disregard of the rights and authority of the Dutch, the King of England gave to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, the territory between the Connectieut and Delaware Rivers, and Riehard Niehols, as lieuten- ant-governor, with a fleet of four ships and four hundred men, appeared before New Amsterdam, the colony was ripe for a change, and, despite

the earnest protests of Stuyvesant, quietly surrendered, and the Dutch authority ceased. It was restored, for a short period only, in 1673.

Although the English now ruled, and New Netherland became New York, the Dutch inhabitants and Duteh institutions remained, and the English were careful to respect the rights and privileges that had existed under their government. The grants made to the Patroons were not interfered with. Adriaen Van der Donck died in 1655, leaving to his wife the colony of Yonkers. She subsequently married Hugh O'Neale. In 1666, Governor Nichols granted a patent to Hugh O'Neale and Mary, his wife, confirm- ing the rights of Van der Donck. There were a number of subsequent transfers of the title to these lands, until they became vested in Frederick Phil- ipse, and a royal charter confirming the same was granted in 1693. Frederick Philipse was from East Friesland, in Holland, and had emigrated to New Amsterdam at an early day, becoming a successful merchant there. He purchased land of the Indians north of Yonkers in 1681, 1682 and 1684, ineluding the present township of Greenburgh. In 1680 and 1684 he purchased portions of the township of Mount Pleasant, and in 1685 he purehased the lands of the present township of Ossining. Thus the great tract of the Philipse manor was brought into an individual ownership.

North of the Croton River the Indians sold lands to a number of parties at various dates. The titles to the most of these lands were afterward secured by Stephanus Van Cortlandt, and were confirmed to him by royal eharter in 1697. The Van Courtlandt manor, containing eighty-three thousand acres of land, was thus established, and was held by feudal tenure, requiring an annual payment to the crown.1

Under the fostering care of the Philipse and Van Courtlandt families, the settlement of the lands along the Hudson rapidly progressed. English families iningled with the Duteh to a considerable extent, but the Holland emigrants greatly, outnumbered them, so that, in the people and their habits, customs and character, the settlements along the Hudson were active with the occupations and refleeted the quiet seenes of the homes that had been left behind the dykes that inclosed the mouths of the Rhine and shut out the North Sea.

The Dutch settlers in Westchester County brought hither many of the best qualities that contribute to good citizenship. They were an industrious race, and the situation of their country at home had com- pelled them to keep their native industry in constant exercise. Their frugality equaled their industry. No one lived beyond his means, and each year some- thing was added to the aceumulated capital. The individual was self-reliant, and yet knew the advan-

1 The regulations of the manors 'and their history will be given in a subsequent chapter, prepared by Edward F. de Lancey.

THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.

tages of concerted action for the common good. Their honesty was proverbial. They were thor- oughly imbued with the democratic spirit that, with the freedom of the individual, respected fully botlı the natural and the acquired rights of others. They valued education. In Holland their frec-school system was the best in Europe. Women occupied an exceptionally honorable position, both in society and iu the management of affairs, so that they ably assisted in the business of the family in training their children to usefulness and in contributing to the welfare of the community. The Dutch were stcad- fast in their religious faith, and had a high regard for morality.

Such a people lay solid foundations for their social and political institutions, and they stamped most wholesome and enduring impressions upon the settle- ments of Westchester County.

THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT .- The introduction of the Reformation into England by Henry VIII. was more nomiual than real, and left to succeeding reigns the settlement of many of the great questions in- volved. The reign of Elizabeth saw the storm steadily gathering, while that of James I. was a time of con- tinual turmoil and strife. The chief disputes were among the Protestants themselves, and mainly con- cerned the extent to which the chauges should go. The people abandoned themselves to the cousidera- tion of questions of civil and religious liberty. Dis- senters returning from the Continent threw their ad- vanced ideas into the arena of public discussion. During the Commonwealth the spirit of controversy seemed to possess all classes. Questions of religion divided the time with state affairs in the discussions of Parliament. This spirit separated the English people into hostile camps and produced a numerous brood of religious sects.

One of the most important results of all this tur- moil was the banishment from England, in the early part of the seventeenth century, of a ship-load of yeomen.

Among the Dissenters, those taking the most ex- treme positions were called Puritans, because of their efforts to purify the Protestant Church. Compelled to leave their homes, a little company of these sought refuge in Holland. There they remained for twelve years, secure iu religious liberty, but dissatisfied with their situation. At one time they looked toward emigrating to New Netherland, and at another to Virginia, but, finally, arrangements were completed for a more northern location, and, in 1620, they crossed the Atlantic and commenced the Massachu- setts settlement. Their trials and sufferings in the new home were varied and severe. The settlement grew, however, and it was not long before the spirit of adventure and the desire for better lands led some of them to look for homes in other sections. The In- dians had told them of the fertile soil along the Con- necticut River, and, in 1633, a few of their number 3

came hither. Lord Say and Seal, Lord Brook and others obtaiucd a patent from the British crown for this region, and, in 1636, under their authority, John Winthrop, sou of the Governor of Massachusetts, brought a well-equipped company, who formed settle- ments along the river. In 1637 a fresh colony from England arrived in Boston. It was under the general charge of Theophilus Eaton, with John Davenport, a clergyman of some note from London, as their spiritual adviser. They were a company of wealth and respectability. Remaining but a short time at Boston, they came to Conuecticut and securely planted the New Haven colony in the spring of 1638. The land had been purchased from the Indians in the preceding autumn. So soon as they were com- fortably cstablished they desired to enlarge their borders, and on the 1st of July, 1640, Nathan Turner, on behalf of the people of New Haven, pur- chased of the Indians the tract known as Rippowams, extending westward along the Sound and sixteen miles iulaud. It included a portion of Westchester County.

A settlement was soon made at Stamford and another at Greenwich. On November 14, 1654, Thomas Pell, of Fairfield, Conn., purchased of the Indians the lauds lying immediately east of those occupied by the Dutch, and which were afterward included in Pelham manor. The Dutch were greatly disturbed thereby. Thirty years later the Indians conveyed a portion of these lands to the inhabitants of Westchester. In 1660, 1661 and 1662, John Budd, Peter Disbrow, John Coe and Thomas Stedwell made purchases from the Indians of lands along the Sound, west of Greenwich, included in the southeastern portion of Westchester County. In 1661, John Rich- bell, of the island of Barbadoes, West Indies, pur- chased of the Indians a tract lying between the lauds purchased by Pell and those just mentioned, and ex- tending a long distance inland. His title to this was confirmed by letters patent issued by Governor Love- lace in 1668. In 1696 the widow of John Richbell conveyed these lands to Colonel Caleb Heathcote, who also made additional purchases of the Indians. All these were confirmed by a royal patent in 1701, creating the lordship and manor of Scarsdale, which included the present towns of Mamaroneck and Scars- dale and portions of White Plains, North Castle and New Castle.

We thuis see that all the lands of the county bor- dering upon Long Island Sound had come into the hands of the English proprietors, regardless of the claims of the Dutch West India Company, under their purchase from the Indians in 1640.

These purchases were followed by the coming of English settlers, nearly all of whom were from Con- necticut. But they had been preceded by others who had here songht a refuge from religious intolerance and persecution. Aune Hutchinson, with her hus- band, William, and their children, had come to Boston

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

in 1634. She was the daughter of the Rev. Fraucis Marbury, of Lincolnshire, England. By her mother, she was connected with the family of the poet Dryden. Her religious views did not harmonize with those of the Puritans, aud she was driven out of the colony. She first went to Rhode Island, but afterward sought peace and security uear the Dutch settlement in New Netherland. She settled with her family upon Pelham Neck in 1642. Soou afterward John Throckmorton and thirty-five families, who fouud the intolerance of the Puritaus unendurable, asked permissiou of the Dutch authorities to settle near them. Their request was grauted, and they lo- cated upon what is now known as Throg's Neck, in the town of Westchester. The Dutch called this seetion Vredeland-the land of peace. In the disastrous Indian war, that threatened the destruction of the Dutch settlement and so alarmed Goveruor Kieft, the Indians murdered Mrs. Hutchinsou and her family, except a young granddaughter, who was carried into captivity, but was afterward restored. They also at- tacked Throckmorton's settlement, destroyed the buildings and cattle and comupelled the people to flee to their boats for safety.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 6

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354