USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. II > Part 41
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" But before the reception of the last letter, Secretary Razier, actuated by the prior communication of Governour Bradford, re-
* "Jan Jacobsen Van Wiring, (John the son of Jacob of Wiring.")
t "In allusion to Argall's expedition against Port Royal."
ء
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APPENDIX.
solved, with the approbation of the governour and council, to be himself the bearer of an embassage to Plymouth. In the bark Nassau, freighted with a few articles for traffick, manned with a retinue of soldiers and trumpeters, conformable to the fashion of the day, and proportional to the dignity of his station, this second officer of the government, departed on an embassy, which was as important in the primitive affairs of New Netherland and New Ply- mouth, as any of the magnificent embassies of the old world were to full-grown kingdoms .*
" The reader's fancy will follow the bark through the East river, t into the great bay of the Island of Shells,¿ and as it boldly swept over the bay, or cautiously glided along its shores, skirted by thou- sands of wigwams, § he will picture the wild and joyful gesticula- tions of the Indians, as they gazed upon the fantastick arrangements of the little vessel, or listened to the deep notes of the trumpeters.
" Arrived in safety at Manomet, || the secretary despatched to Governour Bradford a letter, T announcing his arrival, specifying the articles that comprized his cargo, and requesting some mode of
" " In the language of a contemporary of Governour Minnit and Governour Bradford :- ' If any tax me for wasting paper with recording these small matters, such may consider, that small things in the beginning of natural or politick bodies, are as remarkable as greater, in bodies full grown.' Thomas Dudley, the first de- puty governour of Massachusetts, in an epistle to ' my very good lady, the Lady Bridget Countess of Lincoln,' dated Boston, 1631, and published in . Massachu- Retts, or the first Planters,' etc., Boston, 1606, p. 22."
t " Oost ririer, called also Helle Gadt ricer."
. # "Long Island Sound."
( " See Trumbull's Hist. of Connecticut, I. ch. 3."
" " North side of Cape Cod."
" " Addressed to ' Monsieur Monseigneur, William Bradford, Governeur in Nieu Plemenen."
" After the wishing of all good unto you, this serves to let you understand, that we have received your (acceptable) letters, dated the 14th of last month, by John Jacobson of Wiring, who besides, by word of mouth, hath reported unto us your kind and friendly entertainment of him: for which cause (by the good liking and appro- bation of the Director and Council) I am resolved to come myself in friendship to visit yon, that we may by word of mouth friendly communicate of things together ; as also to report into you the good will and favour that the Honourable Lords of the anthorized West Iulia Company bear towards you; and to show our willing- ness of your good accommodation, have brought with me some cloth of three sorts and colours, and a chest of white sugar, as also some scarran, etc. not doubting but, if any of them may be serviceable unto yon. we shall agree well enough about the prices thereof. Also, John Jacobson aforesaid, hath told me that he came to you over land in six hours, but I have not gone so far this three or four years, wherefore I fear my feet will fail me ; so I am constrained to entreat you to afford me the easiest means, that I may, with the least weariness, come to congratulate with you : so leaving other things to the report of the bearer, shall herewith end: remember- ing my hearty salutations to yourself and friends, etc. From aboard the bark Nas- san, the 14th of October, 1627, before Frenchmen's Point.
" Your affectionate friend. " ISAAC DE RAZIER."
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FIRST INTERCOURSE BETWEEN THE DUTCH AND N. E.
conveyance to Plymouth. His request was granted. A boat was sent to Manonscusset, *. and Razier ' honourably attended by a noise of trumpeters,'t was ushered into Fort Plymouth. Here he was kindly entertained several days. The meeting was not merely one of commercial speculation and heartless formality. It was the first meeting, in the solitude of the new world, of the friendly. co- lonists of two allied European nations. It was the joyful meeting of kindred as well as friends, for the wives and little ones of some of the pilgrims had also their place in Holland. Though the rigid simplicity of puritan costume and manners, the simple salutation, for instance, of goodman and goody, were in direct opposition to the high-sounding titles, formal stateliness and warlike decorations of the Dutch, yet the very spirit of amity consecrated the inter- course upon this novel occasion.
" When the Dutch departed, they were accompanied to Mano- met by the Plymouth people, by whom articles of their merchan- dize were purchased, particularly the seawan, which was then in- troduced into New England, and became the medium of profitable trade with the Eastern Indians.# Such was the harmony, of the first communication between the two colonies, that the Dutch of- fered their assistance against the French, if needed ; urged their friends, to abandon the barren spot on which fate had cast them, and remove to the fertile banks of the Fresh rircr.§ The adop- tion of this advice might have perpetuated that good feeling, which, though afterwards supplanted by contention and bitterness, was for years the foundation of repeated intercourse and profitable com- merce. The Dutch frequently went to Manomet, exchanging their linens and stuffs for tobacco, which trade was extremely advanta- geous to the people of Plymouth, until the Virginians found out
* "On the south side of Cape Cod."
t "Governour Bradford's letter book."
# "Dr. Chalmer's (Political Annals) says, that Razier brought peltry and pur- chased corn. Hence it is inferred the Dutch had made little progress in agriculture. The conclusion is true, though the premises are not. It is doubtful whether Ply- mouth raised corn enough for domestick consumption. 'But whatever were the honey in the mouth of that beast of trade, there was a deadly sting in the tail. For it is said they first brought our people to the knowledge of wampampeag ; and the acquaintance therewith occasioned the Indians of these parts to learn the skill to to make it, by which, as by the exchange of money, they purchased stores of artillery, both from the English, Dutch, and French, which hath proved a fatal business to those that were concerned in it. It seems the trade thereof was at first, by strict proclamation, prohibited by the king. "Sed quid non mortalin pectora cogis-Auri sacra fumes !' The love of money is the root of all evil, etc. Hubbard. Hist. New. Eng. Mass. Hist. col. V. 100."
§ " Versche ricier -- the Connecticut."
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APPENDIX.
the Dutch colony, and drove them from this market by undersel- ling them in tobacco .*
" The West India Company also enjoyed immediately the sa- Jatary fruits of this commercial interchange, for the year after it commenced, (viz. 1628) Governour Minuit, without the necessity of any fresh imports that year, exported to the Amsterdam depart- ment more furs than at any other period."t
FIRST ORGANIZATION OF CONTINENTAL ARMY. NEW YORK REGIMENTS.
THE first germ of the Army of the United Colonies, was the militia of the state of New York. On the 26th of May, 1775, the Continental Congress "resolved unanimously, that the militia of the state of New York be armed, trained, and kept in constant readiness to act at a moment's warning." It was also by unani- mous resolution " recommended to the convention of New York to persevere the more vigorously in preparing for their defence." This was the first important military movement of the new and first continental congress.
On the 14th of June, 1775, the congress appointed " rules and regulations for the government of the army." The militia then in service being thus considered to be embodied as " the army." The action of congress resulted in a general organization by the appointment of one general-in-chief, four major-generals, and eight brigadier-generals, and the general staff of the army. It was on this occasion that " George Washington, Esq., received all the ballots" as general-in-chief, and rising in his place on the floor, modestly but gracefully accepted the trust.
On the following 22d of June, it was resolved that officers then in the army receive their commissions through the new general-in- chief. This would seem to be a formality necessary to their change of character from provincial militia to the army of the United Colo-
. "Mr. Baylies extract. MSS. Ilist. of Plymouth."
t " Viz : 6951 beavers, 734 otters and other skins, valued at 61,075 guilders, or $25,447 913 cents."
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juh
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NEW YORK REGIMENTS.
nies. Six days after this resolution Colonel Van Schaick was commissioned-being the first officer commissioned by congress for the war, in this state.
Early in the ensuing session, viz. January 9th, 1776, congress passed the following :
" Resolved, That Colonel Van Schaick, Lieutenant-colonel Yates, and Major Gansevoort be continued in the service of the United States, and that they take command of the battalion to be levied in New York."
Within a few days, however, congress found such a force entirely inadequate to the protection of so large and important a territory ; accordingly we find that on the 19th of January, (ten days inter- vening) it was resolved, " That four battalions be raised in the colony of New York for the defence of that colony, and that the council of safety of New York be requested with all possible expe- dition to transmit the names of a number of gentlemen-at least two for each command, out of whom congress may elect field-officers for said battalions."
In due time, New York furnished her four complete regiments -which were officered as follows-so far as at present can be ascertained :
FIRST REGIMENT.
Colonel-Gozen Van Schaick.
Date of Commission. 2Sth of June, 1775.
Lieutenant-colonel-Cornelius Van Dyke. 21st November, 1776. Major-Benjamin Ledyard.
Captains.
John Graham, John H. Wendell,
Andrew Finck, John Copp,
Benjamin Hicks, Nich's. Van Rensselaer.
Regimental Staff.
Peter B. Tearse-Adjutant.
Henry Van Woert-Quartermaster.
Abraham T'en Eyck-Puymaster.
William Mead-Surgeon.
Caleb Sweet-Surgeon's-mate.
Charles Parson-Captain-lieutenant.
Lieutenants.
Guy Young, Peter B. Tearse, Nathaniel Henry, Abraham Hardenbergh, William Scudder.
Barent S. Salsbury, .
John C. Ten Broeck, Adiel Sherwood, M
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APPENDIX.
Ensigns, With rank of Second Lieutenants.
Ephraim Snow,
Bart. Van Valkenburgh,
Henry Van Woert, Abraham Ten Eyck,
Jacob H. Wendell, Charles Muller,
Jacob I. Clock, Wilhelmus Ryckman,
Benjamin Gilbert.
SECOND REGIMENT.
Colonel-Philip Van Cortlandt. 21st of November, 1776.
Lieutenant-colonel-Frederick Wiesenfils.
Major-Nicholas Fish.
Regimental Staff. Robert Prevost-Paymaster. William Minimee-Surgeon.
Captains.
Charles Graham,
Samuel T. Pell,
Jacob Wright, Jonathan Hallet,
Edward Lounsberry,
Abner French,
Capt. Lieutenant. Isaac Van Woert.
Lieutenants. Charles Newkirk, Christopher Codwise, William Manday, James Fairlee, Gilbert I. Livingston, Charles F. Wysenfels, John L. Hardenbergh, Isaac Beekman,
Ensigns, Rank of Second Lieutenants. Andrew White, Bernardus Swartwout, William Gleeny, Richard Mount, Teunis Van Wagenen, John Brown, Robert Prevost.
THIRD REGIMENT.
Colonel-Peter Gansevoort. 21st of November, 1776. Lieutenant-colonel-Marinus Willet. Major-Robert Cochran.
Regimental Staff. Christopher Hutton-Adjutant. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer-Paymaster. Prentice Brown-Quartermaster. Stanloke Woodruff-Surgeon. John Elliott-Surgeon's-mate.
NEW YORK REGIMENTS.
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Caplains. Aaron Aorson, Thomas Dewitt,
Cornelius T. Jansen, Leonard Bleecker,
James Gregg,
Henry Tiebout,
Lieutenants. Philip Conyne, William Topp, Thomas Mcclellan, Prentice Bowen,
Garret Staats, Benjamin Bogardus,
William Colebreadth,
Christopher Hutton.
· Ensigns.
Peter Magee,
George Denniston,
John Spoor,
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer,
Josiah Bagley,
Benjamin Herring,
Samuel Lewis,
Gerrit G. Lansing.
FOURTH REGIMENT.
Lieut. Colonel Commandant-Pierre Regier. 12th January, 1776. Major-Joseph McCracken.
Regimental Staff. John Vashe-Surgeon. William Wood-Surgeon's-mate.
Captains.
Lieutenants.
Samuel Sackett,
Peter Ellsworth,
John Davis,
Thomas Hunt,
Benjamin Walker,
Abraham Hyatt,
Israel Smith,
Rudolphus Van Hovenburgh,
Nathaniel Norton,
Joseph Treligh,
Theodorus Fowler,
James Barret,
Edward Dunscomb.
Daniel Denniston.
Captain Lieutenant-Silas Grey.
The State Library has in vain been searched for information as to the pay and emolument offered to the officers and troops sum- moned into service for the publick defence. The law of the colo- nial congress makes no reference to the subject, based apparently upon the confident reliance that the soldiers would come into the field and do the fighting first, and talk about the pay afterwards. The New York battalions, in their minute organization, were pro- bably under the more immediate legislation of the provincial coun- cil. No records of this council are to be found in the State Library, at Albany, which is certainly a lamentable defect in its historical department.
Lord Stirling was appointed, and acted as colonel of the Somer- set militia, which immediately applied to the continental congress appointing him colonel of the first regiment of New Jersey.
Captain Lieutenant. George Sytes.
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APPENDIX.
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT OF NEW JERSEY.
1664 CHARLES the Second, by letters patent, bearing date the 20th day of March, 1664, for the consideration therein mentioned, granted unto James, Duke of York, his heirs and assigns, " all that part of the main land of New England, beginning at a certain place, called or known by the name of St. Croix, near ad- joining to New Scotland, in America ; and from thence extending along the sea coast, unto a certain place called Pemnaquie or Pema- quid, and so up the river thereof, to the furthest head of the same, as it tendeth northward ; and extending from thence to the river of Cimbequin, and so upwards by the shortest course, to the river Canada northwards ; and also all that island or islands, commonly called by the several name or names of Matowacks or Long Island, situate and being towards the west of Cape Cod, and the narrow Higansetts, abutting upon the land between the two rivers, there called or known by the several names of Connecticut and Hudson's river ; together also with the said river called Hudson's river ; and all the land from the west side of Connecticut river, to the east side of Delaware bay ; and also several other islands and lands in the said letters patents mentioned : together with the rivers, har- .bours, mines, minerals, quarries, woods, marshes, waters, lakes, fishings, hawking, hunting and fowling, and all other royalties, profits, commodities and hereditaments to the said several islands, lands and premises, belonging or appertaining."
The Duke of York being thus seized, did by his deeds of lease and release, bearing date the 23d and 24th days of June, 1664, in consideration of a "competent sum of money," grant and con- vey unto John, Lord Berkely, baron of Stratton, one of the kings privy council ; and Sir George Carteret, of Saltrum, in the county of Devon, knight, and one of the privy council,* and their heirs and assigns forever ; all that " tract of land adjacent to New Eng- land, and lying and being to the westward of Long Island and Manhattas Island ; and bounded on the east part by the main sea, and part by Hudson's river ; and hath upon the west, Delaware bay or river ; and extendeth southward to the main ocean as far as Cape May, at the mouth of Delaware bay ; and to the northward
* Sir George Carteret was governour of Jersey, and held it for king Charles II. in the troubles of 1649-expelled the house of commons, in 1660 for confused accounts, as chamberlain .- Smollet.
Treasurer of the navy, and vice-chamberlain of the king's household .- Clarendon.
KPE
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ENGLISH SETTLEMENT OF NEW JERSEY.
as far as the northermost branch of the said bay or river of Dela- ware ; which is in 41 degrees and 40 minutes of latitude, and crosseth over thence in a straight line to Hudson's river, in 41 de- grees of latitude ; which said tract of land is hereafter to be called Nova Cesaria or New Jersey ; and also all rivers, mines, minerals, woods, fishings, hawkings, huntings and fowlings, and all other royalties, profits, commodities and hereditaments whatsoever to the said lands and premises belonging or in any wise appertaining, with their and every of their appurtenances in as full and ample manner as the same is granted unto the said Duke of York, by the before recited letters patents."*
On the 10th of February (old style) Carteret and Berkeley published a plan of government for the settlers of New Jersey which may be considered as the constitution of the province. They were to be governed by a legislature, consisting of a gover- nour and council, (appointed by the proprietor) and an assembly of delegates chosen annually by the people. A judiciary, a mi- litia for defence, and rules for the sales, purchases, and laying off of lands were established. Philip Carteret was appointed first governour, and came over in 166S, when a legislative body con- sisting of governour, council and house of burgesses, elected by the people, met in general assembly.
After the re-conquest of New York and New Jersey by the Dutch, and the retro-cession to Charles II., by the general article of the treaty of peace in 1673, in order to prevent any disputes that might arise upon a plea of the property being thus alienated from the first purchasers, Charles by letters patent bearing date 29th day of June 1674, granted to the Duke of York, his heirs and assigns, the several tracts of land in America of which New Jersey was part ; and in the same year, upon the application of the assigns of Lord Berkeley, the duke made them a grant of West New Jersey ; and in like manner by an instrument bearing date the 10th of October, granted the eastern moiety of New Jersey to the grandson of Sir George Carteret.t Andros the duke's go- vernour for New Jersey, as we shall see, in 1680, disputed the rights of government which had been conveyed to New Jersey.
Upon the surrender of New Amsterdam and the territory of the Dutch to the English, Nicolls, as governour for James Duke of York, (not knowing that his master had sold New Jersey to Berke- ley and Carteret,) induced some of the English of Long Island to emigrate to what they called Elizabethtown, Woodbridge, etc. etc. Nicolls called the territory Albania : this name was
* Samuel Smith's History of New Jersey, pp. 59 61.
t Ibid, pp. 110-111.
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APPENDIX.
changed by those who purchased from Jaines, and the titles to land derived from Nicolls were disputed, which caused much disturb- ance for many years.
Smith says, Governour Richard Nicolls granted a deed or patent to John Baker of New York, John Ogden of Northampton, John Bailey, Luke Watson and their associates, dated at Fort James, New York, the 2d of December. " This was before Lord Berke- ley's and Sir George Carteret's title was known." The towns in the province were Elizabeth, Newark, Middletown, and Shrews- bury: Woodbridge and Piscataway were settled under Philip Carteret's rule and influence. Now he says, that Philip Carteret " going for England in the summer of 1672, left Captain John Carteret his deputy. Philip returned in 1674, and found the inha- bitants more disposed to union among themselves. He remained governour till his death, in 16S2."
Nicolls addressed a remonstrance to the Duke, on the impolicy of dividing New York and selling this part of it to Berkeley and Carteret, and foretold that to them the purchase would be ruinous. 1665
It was too late, and in November, Philip Carteret arrived with thirty emigrants from England, and Nicolls reluctantly surrendered the government of New Jersey to him. By degrees settlers were added and the country cultivated ; but in 1670, those who had their titles from Nicolls, refused to pay quit rent to the proprietors, and others imitated them. After a struggle of two years, Carteret went to England.
Grahame accuses James of wishing to resume the grant purchased by Berkeley and Carteret, and paid for, and that he was willing to make the Dutch conquest and cession a pretext for breaking his faith. . " It was pretended that the Dutch conquest had extinguished the proprietory right," and that the territory "reverted to the crown." Charles gave his brother a new charter, and the Duke appointed Andros " his lieutenant over the whole re-united pro- vince, establishing the same arbitrary sway in New Jersey" as in New York. Carteret requested a renewal of his grant, and it was promised, but as much as possible evaded by the royal duke. . Andros seconded the views of his master, endeavouring to render the colonists of New Jersey tributary to New York, issued mandates restricting their trade-seized some of their vessels, and arrested Governour Carteret, carrying him prisoner to New York city, from his residence at Elizabethtown. Berkeley and Carteret had by agreement divided the province they had purchased of James "for a compensation," and Berkeley had the western division, which in 1676, he sold to two English Quakers, Fenwick and Byllinge. This sect had been persecuted, after having in its commencement persecuted others by impertinent intrusions and indecent exhibi- tions, and after having rendered itself ridiculous by wild aberra-
:
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ENGLISH SETTLEMENT OF NEW JERSEY.
tions from sober and reasonable conduct. What must have been thought of a society who could tolerate in its members the outra- geous spectacle of naked women appearing in places of worship ? or of opinions which could mislead the cautious wisdom of Robert Barclay to walk through the streets of his native town, Aberdeen, in sackcloth and ashes ?
1676 But those times were gone by, and Quakers, in 1676, were, as now, only distinguished by peculiarities innocent, if not praiseworthy, and conduct which deservedly placed them among the foremost leaders in political, civil, and religious reform. Still they were persecuted in Europe, and looked to America for an asylum. Many settled on Long Island, where George Fox visited them during his journey to America. At Oyster Bay, on the side of the sound, the people point out a rock, a little from the shore, on which it is said he stood and preached to the people. He like- wise visited New Jersey .* In 1676, many Quakers were trans- ported from England to Barbadoes and to the American settlements. Byllinge, one of the purchasers of West Jersey, established him- self in that portion of the province, but soon found it convenient to sell or assign his share to William Penn, Gawin Lawrie, and Nich- olas Lucas, who assumed the direction of the territory, and obtained a formal division of the province between Humphrey and Sir George Carteret, he taking the eastern part and they the west. They (Penn, Lawrie, and Lucas) framed a constitution for the inha- bitants of West Jersey, which they called concessions. They con- firmed the provisions made by Berkeley and Carteret. The colo- nists were exempted from taxes other than such as their own assembly imposed ; and as "no men, nor number of men upon earth, have power to rule over men's consciences in religious mat- ters," they were free to worship as they pleased. Representatives to the general assembly were to be chosen by balloting balls : and each member so chosen was to receive a shilling a day, " that thereby he may be known to be the servant of the people." Every man was eligible as a representative, and free to vote by his ballot.t The assembly could make, alter, and repeal laws. A trial by jury in- sured liberty, property, and life to the honest and innocent. Im- prisonment for debt was not permitted, and the bankrupt, after surrendering his estate, was free to exert himself for his family or himself.
* See his account of his travels.
t In 1676, the wise Quaker government of New Jersey declared " that all elec- tions be not determined by the common and confused way of cries and voices ; but by putting balls into ballot-boxes, whereby every man may freely choose according to his own judgment and honest conviction." Voting by ballot was not adopted in New York until after the revolution which established our independence.
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APPENDIX.
Such a form of government entitles Penn to the applause of pos- terity. " We lay the foundation," said these Quaker lawgivers of New Jersey "for after ages to understand their liberty as men and Christians, that they may not be brought in bondage but by their own consent ; for we put the power in the people."
1677 To enjoy the benefits of such self-government in such a country as West Jersey, it is not surprising that in 1677, between four and five hundred Quakers left England, bringing with them their families and servants. While on ship-board and in the Thames, Charles, passing in his pleasure-barge, was attracted by the appearance of so many Quakers. He enquired where they were going ? and being told " to America," he " invoked a bles- sing on them." The blessing of Charles ! and his courtiers proba- bly standing around enjoying the joke. On the arrival of the Qua- kers, and settlement in Burlington, Andros soon made them sensi- ble of the nature of a king's blessing, by summoning them to acknowledge the sovereignty of his master, the Duke of York : they remonstrated, and he pointed to his sword. They submitted, but carried their application for redress to England.
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