USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress. Vol. I > Part 9
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Van Twiller also inspected and bought for himself Nutten Island,
1 Roelof Jans died soon after the grant, leaving a wife and four children. His widow Anetje married Dominie Bogardus in the year 1638, and her farm was known as the "Dom- inie's bouwery." After Bogardus's death in 1647, this grant was confirmed by the English government to the heirs, who sold it in 1671 to Colonel Lovelace, at which sale one of the heirs failed to be present. It was afterward incorporated into the king's farm, and in 1703 was presented by Queen Anne to Trinity Church. Anetje Bogardus died in 1668 in Beverwyck. Benson's Memoir, 119. Rensselaerswick MSS. Paige's Chancery Reports.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
since which it has been called Governor's Island.1 The water was so shallow between it and Long Island at that time as to be easily June 16. forded at low tide. The next month he bought Great Barn and Blackwell's Island. By these acquisitions he became one of July 16. the richest land-owners in the province. He stocked his nice farms with valuable cattle, and the colonists wondered how it all came about ! The high-toned officer Van Dincklagen could not rest in silence, and remonstrated with the governor in the plainest manner, finally threatening to expose him if he did not desist from his dishonorable pro- ceedings. All the fierce obstinacy of Van Twiller's nature was thus aroused, and in a fit of rage he caused the bold sheriff to be arrested on a charge of contumacy, and sent him as a prisoner to Holland, retaining his salary, which was three years in arrears.
Van Dincklagen had no sooner arrived there than with his facile pen he reviewed Van Twiller's government in a memorial to the States-General, which was immediately sent to the Amsterdam Chamber with the sugges- tion that they had better make prompt reparation to their injured officer. They at first refused, but the resolute Van Dincklagen was well known and respected, and his second memorial was supported by some very stinging remarks from Captain De Vries, about "promoting a fool from a clerkship to a governorship simply to act farces," so that finally it was decided to recall Van Twiller, and appoint Wilhelm Kieft in his
place. The new governor, in presence of the States-General, took Sept. 2. his oath of office on September 2, 1637.
Van Dincklagen's complaints were not confined to the civil authorities of New Netherland. Dominie Bogardus was censured, and to such an extent that when the news reached his church in New Amsterdam the consistory felt it their duty to take ecclesiastical proceedings against the complainant, which a long time after they were obliged to defend before the Classis of Amsterdam.
It was years before Van Dincklagen collected his salary, although the States-General signified it as their pleasure that he should at once be
1 Coincident with the governor's purchase, John (George) Jansen De Rapaelje bought of the Indians 335 acres on Long Island near Waal-Bogt, or the Bay of the Foreigners. Prior to this William Adriaense Bennet and Jacques Bentyn had bought 930 acres at Gowanus, and at these two isolated points were formed the nuclei of the present city of Brooklyn. One Jonas Bronck also bought a valuable tract in West Chester "over against Haarlem," and from him the Bronx River derived its name. The West India Company bought the island of Quotenius in Narragansett Bay, also an island near the Thames River, which was for many years known as Dutchman's Island. And not far from the same time they purchased from Michael Pauw, Pavonia and his other lands, which abated a great nuisance in the shape of an independent colony on those shores.
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THE FUR-TRADE.
paid. He afterwards returned to New Amsterdam, and filled with honor one of the most important offices under the government.
Notwithstanding the loss of business on the Connecticut, the fur-trade during the last year of Van Twiller's administration had increased. The Dutch had opened a profitable commerce with New England ; and the scarcity of commodities there, owing to the bloody war which was raging with the Pequods, affected prices to a considerable degree in New Nether- land. A schepel - three pecks - of rye sold readily for eighty cents. A laboring man commanded eighty cents per day during harvest. Corn rose to the extraordinarily high price of twelve shillings a bushel. A good cow brought thirty pounds, a pair of oxen forty pounds, and a horse forty pounds, while the price of a negro was on an average sixteen dollars.
MI KARST
Trading with the Indians.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER VI.
1638 - 1641.
GOVERNOR WILHELM KIEFT.
GOVERNOR WILHELM KIEFT. - THE EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL. - ABUSES. - PROCLAMA- TIONS. - THE DOMINIE'S WEDDING. - A CURIOUS SLANDER CASE. - THE FIRST FERRY TO LONG ISLAND. - ENCROACHMENTS OF THE SWEDES. - A NEW POLICY. - CAPTAIN DE VRIES'S ARRIVAL. - THE PIONEER SETTLERS .- OLOFF STEVENSEN VAN CORTLANDT. - ENGLISH AMBITION. - CAPTAIN DE VRIES'S TRAVELS AND WHAT HE SAW. - PUR- CHASE OF INDIAN LANDS. - TROUBLE WITH THE INDIANS. - THE NEW CHARTER OF FREEDOMS AND EXEMPTIONS. - THE STORE-KEEPER. - THE SIX MURDERERS. - MUNI- CIPAL REGULATIONS. - THE FIRST MARINE TELEGRAPH IN THE HARBOR.
G OVERNOR WILHELM KIEFT was somewhat coolly received T when, after a long and tedious voyage in the Herring, he landed on Manhattan Island, March 28, 1638. Rumors to his disadvantage had preceded him. It was said that he had once failed in the mercan- 1638. tile business in Holland, and, according to custom, his portrait had been affixed to the gallows in consequence. That, in Dutch estimation, was a lasting disgrace. Since then, he had been sent by the government as Minister to Turkey, and had been intrusted with money to procure the ransom of some Christians in bondage. The captives were left in their chains, and the money was never refunded. Such unfortunate antece- dents were not calculated to inspire confidence, and the man himself had no personal attractions. He was small in size, fussy, bustling, fiery, and avaricious. He had a wiry look, as if he was constantly standing on guard ; prominent, sharp features ; and deep-set, restless gray eyes. He was industrious and strictly temperate, not wanting in natural abilities, and far from heedless of the laws of morality; but his education was limited and his self-conceit unrestrained, and in his ignorance of the true principles of government he imagined himself able to legislate, individually, for all mankind.
He seized the reins of authority with the air of a master, the will of a tyrant, and a determination of spirit which would not brook interfer- ence. He consulted no one. He showed no deference to the opinions of
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THE EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL.
the intelligent few who were already experienced in the matter of treat- ing with the Indians. He placed himself on a pedestal, and looked loftily over the heads of his subjects. The West India Company had accorded him the privilege of fixing the number of his council. He warily chose one man. The favored individual was Dr. Johannes La Montagne, a learned and highly bred French Huguenot, who had escaped from the rage of religious persecution the year before, and found his Canaan in the Dutch settlement on Manhattan Island. His parents belonged to the ancienne noblesse of France, - a fact which he took pains neither to promul- gate nor conceal, but which might have revealed itself in a thousand ways, even if his unusual accomplishments and elegant manners had not won universal admiration. He was a widower with four interesting children, upon whom he bestowed great care and affection. He gave them lessons daily, and perfected their education in such a masterly manner that his three daughters grew up to be the most attractive women of their day in the province, and his son became a man of fortune and position. Two of Dr. La Montagne's daughters married physicians, - Dr. Hans Kiersted and Dr. Van Imbroeck. His youngest daughter, Marie, became the wife of Jacob Kip. Dr. La Montagne practiced medicine for many years, and was the only doctor on Manhattan in whom the settlers had any confi- dence.
Kieft was quick to recognize the prospective value of such a man's advice in state affairs ; but, as a governor, he was resolved to hold the supreme command himself in every particular. He therefore curiously arranged that his one councilor should be entitled to one vote, while he reserved to himself two votes. Such a high-handed act of despotism would not have been tolerated a day in any part of the Dutch Republic ; and it only serves to illustrate the inattention of the West India Company to the best interests of their colony. Indeed, the company were discuss- ing the question at that very time, "whether it would not be expedient to place the district of New Netherland at the disposal of the States- General."
Kieft patronizingly declared his willingness to admit an invited guest, perhaps two, into his extraordinary council board, on occasions when special cases were to be tried in which either himself or Dr. La Mon- tagne were supposed to be interested; but as long as it was judged a high crime to appeal to any other tribunal, the condescension was sneeringly commented upon by the democratic colonists. Cornelis Van Tienhoven won his way into the new governor's favor through a little adroit flattery, and was made secretary of the province at a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars per year. A few days later, Ulrich
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
Lupold was appointed sheriff, although his qualifications for that office were bitterly questioned.
Kieft sent, with his first letter to Holland, a formal statement of the ruinous condition in which he had found the colony. He said :-
" The fort is open at every side except the stone point ; the guns are dis- mounted ; the houses and public buildings are all out of repair ; the magazine for merchandise has disappeared ; every vessel in the harbor is falling to pieces ; only one wind-mill is in operation ; the farms of the company are without ten- ants, and thrown into commons ; the cattle are all sold, or on the plantations of Van Twiller."
Not very cheerful news for the disheartened company. Van Twiller had retired to private life, and taken up his abode in the house which he had built upon the company's farm. Immediately upon Kieft's arrival, the ex-governor commenced negotiations for hiring both house and farm, and in a few days succeeded in concluding an arrangement at a yearly rent of two hundred and fifty guilders, together with a sixth part of the produce. The inventory of his private property was in startling contrast to the general state of decay and dilapidation throughout the colony, and his manner of living was so ostentatious that he was re- garded with scorn by the honest portion of the little community.
Abuses existed in every department of the public service. Private individuals were constantly smuggling furs and tobacco, and selling fire- arms to the Indians, in open disregard of orders. Law seemed fast be- coming obsolete. Kieft commenced the reformatory work by proclama- tions. They were written in a plain hand and pasted on posts, trees, barns, and fences. All selling of guns or powder to the Indians was prohibited, under pain of death. Illegal traffic in furs was forbidden. Tobacco was made subject to excise. The retailing of liquors was limited to wine, " in moderate quantities." Hours were fixed for laborers to stop work ; sailors were ordered not to leave their ships after night-fall. All the vices were forbidden. No person might leave the island without a passport. Thursday of each week was appointed for the regular sitting of the council.
Presently, the self-sufficient lawgiver ordered that no attestations or other public writings should be valid before a court in New Netherland unless they were written by the colonial secretary. This arbitrary regu- lation provoked opposition, and was declared on all sides to be oppressive, and intended to restrain popular rights. The policy of the measure was defended by the sycophantic Van Tienhoven, who declared that most of the parties who went to law for the redress of their grievances were illit-
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ABUSES. - PROCLAMATIONS.
erate countrymen or sailors, who could read or write but indifferently or not at all.
Dominie Bogardus, when he heard of the charges which Van Dinck- lagen had preferred against him before the Classis of Amsterdam, peti- tioned the governor for leave to return to Holland and defend himself.
Everland, Bogrand's Lub ManaSat
Autograph of Everardus Bogardus.
Kieft entered warmly into the feelings of the church and people, and finally resolved "to retain Dominie Everardus Bogardus, that the in- terests of God's Word may in no wise be prevented "; and he also prayed the Classis of Amsterdam "for the protection of their esteemed preacher." 1
Not long after, the principal families and personages at Manhattan were invited to attend the marriage of the Dominie to the famous Anetje Jans, who, although she may not have seemed rich in the days when great landed estates were to be bought for a few strings of beads, yet is rever- enced by her numerous descendants as among the very goddesses of wealth. She was a small, well-formed woman, with delicate features, transparent complexion, and bright, beautiful dark eyes. She had a well- balanced mind, a sunny disposition, winning manners, and a kind heart ; and soon became very dear to the people of the church over which her husband was pastor, besides being a distinguished and valuable counselor to her own numerous family of children.
A curious regulation was instituted about that time in relation to the ringing of the town bell. Its chief office was to call the devout to church on the Sabbath; but Kieft ordered it rung every evening at nine o'clock, to announce the hour for retiring ; also every morning and even- ing at a given hour, to call persons to and from their labor; and, on Thursdays, to summon prisoners into court. We take the following from the unpublished Dutch manuscripts at the New York City Hall : 2-
" October 14th, 1638. For scandalizing the governor, Hendrick Jansen is
1 Cor. Cl. Amsterdam, 19th Nov., 1641 ; 1st April, 1642, ante, p. 273.
2 The official records of New Netherland have fortunately been preserved in an almost un- broken series from the time of Kieft's inauguration, and afford authentic and copious materials for the historian.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
sentenced to stand at the fort entrance, at the ringing of the bell, and ask the governor's pardon."
Under the same date, -
" For drawing his knife upon a person, Guysbert Van Regerslard is sentenced to throw himself three times from the sailyard of the yacht Hope, and to receive from each sailor three lashes, at the ringing of the bell."
And, -
" Grietje Reiniers, for slandering the Dominie Everardus Bogardus, is con- demned to appear at Fort Amsterdam, at the sounding of the bell, and declare before the governor and council that she knew the minister to be an honest and pious man, and that she had lied falsely."
The records give us an insight into the cause as well as the merits of this slander case. Mrs. Bogardus went to pay a friendly visit to a neighbor ; but, on getting into the "entry," discovered that Grietje Rei- niers, a woman of questionable reputation, was in the house, and there- upon turned about and went home. Grietje was greatly offended at this " snubbing " from the Dominie's lady, and followed her, making disagree- able remarks. While passing a blacksmith's shop, where the road was muddy, Mrs. Bogardus raised her dress a little, and Grietje was very invidious in her criticisms. The Dominie thought fit to make an ex- ample of her; hence the suit. Grietje's husband being in arrears for church dues, Bogardus sent for him and ordered payment, and, not getting it, finally sued for the amount.
In some respects Kieft brought order out of chaos, and improved the appearance of the town. Most of the houses were in clusters without regard to streets, and grouped near the walls of the fort. Pearl Street was then a simple road on the bank of the river. It is at no very distant date that Water, Front, and South Streets were reclaimed from the water. Pearl was undoubtedly the first street occupied for building pur- poses, and Kieft selected it for the best class of dwellings, on account of its fine river-prospect. The lone wind-mill stood on State Street, and was, as seen from the bay, the most prominent object on the island. Not far from it were the bakery, brewery, and warehouse of the company.
A ferry to Long Island had been established before Kieft's arrival, from the vicinity of Peck's Slip to a point a little below the present Fulton Ferry. Cornelis Dircksen, who had a farm in that vicinity, came at the sound of a horn, which hung against a tree, and ferried the wait- ing passengers across the river in a skiff, for the moderate charge of three stivers in wampum. Many thousands now cross the Brooklyn ferries daily at about the same place.
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COMPETITION OF SWEDEN.
There was a road which had been formed by travel from the fort towards the northern part of Manhattan Island, crooking about to avoid hills and ravines, and which might have been more truly called a path. Upon either side of it, although at considerable distances apart, farms were laid out, and some English colonists, who removed to this hitherto uncul-
First Ferry to Long Island.
tivated district from Virginia, brought with them cherry and peach trees, and soon rendered it somewhat interesting to agriculturists. Kieft was extravagantly fond of flowers, and encouraged gardening after the most approved European standard. He also stocked the farms with fine cattle.
Sweden all at once appeared as a competitor with France, England,
and Holland for a foothold in North America. Peter Minuet had offered to that power the benefit of his colonial experience; and an ex- pedition was placed under his direction, with fifty emigrants, a April 15. Lutheran minister, goods for the Indian trade, and the necessaries for making a little colony comfortable in a strange land. They came to the Delaware Bay country, where Minuet bought of the sachem Matte- hoorn, for "a kettle and other trifles," as much land as would serve to build a house upon and make a plantation. For this land a deed was given, written in Low Dutch, as no Swede could interpret the Indian lan- guage. Upon the strength of this conveyance, the Swedes claimed to have bought all the territory on the west side of the Delaware River, from Cape Henlopen to the Falls of Trenton, and as far inland as they might want.1
1 Acrelius in 11 N. Y. H. S. Col., Vol. I. 409. New York Col. MSS. Hudde's Report. Hazard, Am. Penn, 42, 43. Brodhead, Vol. I. p. 282. Letter of Jerome Hawley, Treasurer of Virginia, to Secretary Windebanke, May 8, 1638, in London Documents. O'Callaghan, I. 190. Ferris, 42, 45. Holm, 85.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
As soon as Kieft heard the news, he wrote Minuet a letter of re- monstrance, of which the latter took no heed, but went on building his fort, which he called Fort Christiana, in honor of the young queen of Sweden. Before midsummer, he went to Europe with the first cargo of furs. Kieft was uncertain what course to pursue, and wrote to the company for instructions. Sweden was, however, just then, too powerful a kingdom and too dangerous a neighbor to pick a quarrel with, for the company was already on the decline; therefore the Swedes became the first European occupants of the State of Delaware.
By this time the company, in sheer despair, had matured a more liberal policy, by which they hoped to improve their mismanaged prov- ince of New Netherland. Every emigrant should be accommodated, according to his means, with as much land as he could properly cultivate. He should be conveyed to New Netherland, with his cattle and merchan- dise, in the company's ships, at a duty of ten per cent ad valorem, paid to the company. A quit-rent of one tenth of the produce was exacted, but legal estates of inheritance were assured to the grantees of all the land. Ministers, schoolmasters, and negro slaves were promised; and also pro- tection and assistance in case of war. Forts and public buildings were to be kept in repair, and law and order maintained by the company ; and each new settler was required to declare under his signature that he would voluntarily submit to existing authorities. It was a step in advance, although far short of the emergency, and arrangements for re- moval to America were immediately made by many persons of capital. and influence in Holland.
Captain De Vries sailed in September, with a party of emigrants, to Sept. 25. take possession of Staten Island. When they arrived off Sandy
Hook, winter had set in, and all were homesick and disheart- Dec. 27. ened. The captain of the vessel proposed going to the West Indies, to stay until spring; but De Vries objected, and offered to pilot the ship into port, which he accordingly did. He was always a welcome visitor at New Amsterdam, but perhaps never more so than now, as no ship was expected at such a season of the year, and its coming was an agreeable break in the monotony of colonial life. De Vries was invited to the governor's house and treated with distinguished attention. His people remained on the vessel for a few days, when they proceeded to Staten Island, and constructed some log-cabins, to live in until spring.
Kieft, in looking about him, thought it was well to secure more land to the company ; and he purchased from the Indian chiefs, during that and the following year, nearly all the territory now comprising the county
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THE PIONEER SETTLERS.
of Queen's.1 A few months afterward, he secured a large tract of land in West Chester, which is supposed to include the present town of Yonkers.2 Portions of these lands were soon deeded away to 1639. enterprising settlers ; for, by reason of the more liberal system of the company, a rapid impulse had been given to the settlement of the province. In August of this year, Antony Jansen Van Vaas, Aug. 1. a French Huguenot, from Salée, bought two hundred acres on the west end of Long Island, and a part of the present towns of New Utrecht and Gravesend, of which he was the pioneer settler. On the 28th of November following, Thomas Bescher received a patent for a Nov. 28.
tobacco plantation "on the beach of Long Island," supposed to be a portion of the site of Brooklyn. About the same time, George Holms, the leader of the expedition against Fort Nassau, who Tov. 15. had returned to cast his fortunes among the Dutch at Fort Amster- dam, entered into partnership with his countryman, Thomas Hall, and bought a large farm on Deutal Bay, a small cove on the East River, now known as Turtle Bay,3 where they built a very comfortable house. Attracted by the greater religious freedom among the Dutch, numbers came from New England and settled at various points on Long Island, at West Chester, and at New Amsterdam. Among them was Captain John Underhill, who had distinguished himself in the Pequod war, and had since been governor of Dover. That is, he made arrangements for removal, and sent several of his people; but he was himself detained to undergo ecclesiastical proceedings from the "proud Pharisees," as he called them, and only arrived in New Amsterdam in 1643. But there was an influx of the poorer class from Virginia which was not bene- ficial, except so far as their experience in tobacco and fruit culture was concerned ; for they were English convicts, sent out as laborers, and glad to escape as soon as their term of service had expired. They were very much given to drinking and lawlessness.
In the early part of the summer, New Amsterdam had been visited by two somewhat remarkable men, who were so much pleased with what they saw that they returned to Europe and soon after came back to establish themselves here with their families. These were Jochem Pietersen Kuyter, of Darmstadt, who had held a high position in the
1 Thomson's Long Island. Dr. Stiles's History of Brooklyn.
2 Bolton's West Chester, 11, 401. Alb. Rec. G. G., 59, 62.
3 The Dutch name Deutal, which the English corrupted to Turtle, signified a peg with which casks were secured. These pegs were short, but broad at the base ; and as the bay was narrow at the entrance, but wide within, the resemblance suggested the name. Judge Ben- son's Memoir, 96.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
East Indies under the government of Denmark; and Cornelis Melyn, of Antwerp. They were both men of property and ability, of some culture, and of wide experience in the ways of the world, and they soon rose to prominence in the colony. Thirty or more farms were now under success- ful cultivation, and the country began to wear an air of healthy activity. The only obligation required from foreigners was an oath of allegiance similar to that which was imposed upon the Dutch colonists.
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