USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Lots on the lower part of BROADWAY, then called the " Great Highway," began to be laid out and granted to individuals in the year 1643. In that year, Martin Crigier received the grant of a lot on the west side of the street, opposite the present Bowling Green. The successive grantees of property on the same road, below the present Wall street, about the same period, were the following: To Allerton & Loockerman, merchants, a lot on the east side of the road, above the present Beaver street. This lot contained one hundred feet in front, and two hundred and twenty-five feet in depth, the rear being bounded by a marsh, covering the present Broad street and adjacent parts. To Andreas Hudde, an officer of the company, sixty-two feet in front, on the same side of the road, and about two hundred and twenty-five feet in depth. To Rutger Arentsen Van Seyl, also in the employ of the company, on the same side of the road, fifty feet front, same depth as above. To Cornelius Vol- kertsen, also in the service of the company, on the same side
33
ORIGINAL GRANTS ON BROADWAY.
of the road, and adjoining Van Seyl, one hundred and twelve feet front, same depth as above. To Thomas Sand- erson, on same side of the road, and next above Hudde, fifty feet front, same depth as the others. To Philip Geraerdy, a trader, a lot on the same side of the road, next above Volkertsen, one hundred feet front, and about the same depth. To Jan Jansen Van Jorcum, on same side of the road, about one hundred feet front. To Leendert Ærden, also in the service of the company, on the same side of the road, about fifty feet front and two hundred feet in depth. To Arien Pietersen Van Alkmaar, also in the service of the company, on the west side of the road, oppo- site the present Bowling Green, about one hundred and thirty feet front, and ninety-eight feet in depth. To Cosyn Gerritsen, a lot on the east side of the road, adjoining Rutger Ærtsen, about fifty feet front.
These grants were the first on Broadway, and some years elapsed before they were generally built upon. It is evident, however, that at this early period, the speculative value of property on that street was fully appreciated by the early settlers, as not more than one or two of the original grantees ever occupied the property themselves, or did more toward improving than fencing them in, but in after years sold them to persons for building purposes. The grants above-mentioned were made prior to Stuyve- sant's arrival in 1647; previous to which period, the west side of the road, above the present Bowling Green and below Trinity church, was occupied solely by the burial- ground, and by the gardens and dwellings of Mr. Vande- grist and Mr. Van Dyck. Two lots above Van Dyck were granted by Stuyvesant to his sons Baltalazar and Nicholas William, each about one hundred feet front, running to the
3
34
GRANTS ON PEARL STREET.
North river shore. We may consider the grants above enumerated, as the beginning of Broadway in its character of a public street, it having previously been no more than a road through fields owned by the West India Company, under their Indian title to the island.
It was before suggested, that the favorite building local- ities in the outset of this city, were those immediately adjacent to the fort; and one of the earliest being on the present line of PEARL STREET, between Whitehall and State streets. This had been occupied from the time that the fort was first laid out. The situation was convenient for the kind of buildings then customary, as some protec- tion was afforded from the cold northerly winds by the walls of the fort. Among the early occupants, ranging between the years 1643 and 1647, were the following, on the north side of the street, commencing at the present Whitehall street: Lamert Van Valkenbergh, Jan Evertsen Bout, Barent Jansen, Michael Pauluzen, Anthony Jansen, Jochem Pietersen, Cors Pietersen, Gillis Pietersen, Claes Jan- sen, Joris Rapelje, Hans Hansen, Jan Snediger, Jacob Con- stable, Tryntje Jonas, Francis Doughty, and Paulus Heymans. On the south side of the street were Rem Jansen, The Company's Bakery, Jan Cornelisen Coster, Claes Jansen Van Naerden, Claes Jansen Ruyter, Cornelis Tunizen. Jan Jansen Schepmoes, Jurien Blanck.
The early settlers upon WHITEHALL STREET, were as follows: In 1645, Tunis Tomassen Van Naarden was granted the lot on the present south-east corner of White- hall and Marketfield streets, having a front on Whitehall street of about one hundred feet, and depth on Marketfield street of about seventy feet. In the following year, a grant was made to Roelof Jansen Haes, of the property
35
1183758
GRANTS ON WHITEHALL AND BRIDGE STREETS.
fronting on the present Whitehall, Beaver and Marketfield streets, containing about ninety feet on Whitehall street, by seventy-five feet in depth on the other streets. Between Stone and Bridge streets, several lots were granted in 1646, extending, in depth, to a small street fronting the store- houses of the company. The occupants were Jan Haes, George Holmes, Robert Butler, Everardus Bogardus, Sybout Clasen, Isaac de Foreest. The western side of this street was the line of the fort. The street had, at this time, re- ceived no distinctive name, the property being described as east of the fort, &c.
The present BRIDGE STREET, between Whitehall and Broad streets, was occupied by several residents, at an early period. In 1642-3, Hendrick Hendricksen Kip re- ceived a grant on the north side of the street, containing about ninety feet front and seventy feet in depth. The first private deed, on record, showing the value of property in those early times, was executed, in the year 1643, by Abraham Jacobsen Van Steenwyck, conveying to Anthony Jansen Van Fees, a lot next to Kip's, containing thirty feet front and one hundred and ten feet in depth ; the price paid being twenty-four guilders, equal to nine dollars and a half of our currency. This was as valuable property as any in the town, and the almost nominal value of land, in those times may may be thence inferred. Other original grantees of lots on this street, were Pieter Van Linden, Abraham Verplanck, Anthony Jansen, and Hendrick, the smith. The street was then without a name.
The present STONE STREET, as has been before mentioned, was the line of the first road laid out from the fort to the ferry. The early occupants of that part of the road be-
36
GRANTS ON STONE STREET.
tween the present Whitehall and Broad streets, were the following, their property being generally described as on " the road :" Adam Rolantsen, one hundred feet front ; Arent, the smith ; Philip Geraerdy, a trader ; Oloff Steven- son Van Cortland, commissary ; Harman Meyndertsen ; Isaac De Foreest, brewer; Gysbert Opdyck, commissary ; Pieter Cornelisen. From the character of these residents, it is to be inferred that this was one of the best streets of the town. Crossing the inlet, at the present Broad street, by a bridge, the part of the road between the latter street and the present Hanover square, was vacant on the south side, until the erection of the City Tavern, in 1642. On the north side, Jacob Wolfertsen Van Couwenhoven, a prom- inent citizen, established a large brewery ; his lot fronting on the road, on the inlet or present Broad street, and on a street in the rear. Beyond him lay vacant ground, a grant of which was made, in 1646, to Wessel Evertsen, containing a front of two hundred and twenty feet and depth of ninety feet. Beyond Evertsen, toward Hanover square, was land granted to Borger Jorisen, about one hundred and forty feet front and one hundred and thirty feet in depth. This individual gave a name to the present Old slip, which was, for over a century after the period now re- ferred to, known as " Borger Jorisen's Path," or Burgher's Path.
Among the other thoroughfares, occupied at an early period, was the present BROAD STREET, the names of some of the early inhabitants being as follows : Cornelis Melyn, on the east side, between the road (Stone street) and the river shore (about the present line of Pearl street)-his premises being about ninety feet front and sixty-five feet
37
GRANTS ON BROAD AND OTHER STREETS.
deep ; Michael Marshan, one hundred and forty feet front, seventy feet deep ; Martin Ael, seventy-five feet front ; Govert Loockermans, Gerrit Douwman, about forty-five feet front, on the west side of the street ; Willem Cornelisen, sixty-eight feet front, on same side ; Abraham Rycken, on the east side, extending south from the present corner of Beaver street, about one hundred and twenty feet; Adrian Vincent, next adjoinging on the south, about ninety feet front; Tunis Kraey, on the west side, about sixty feet front ; Michael Picket. These were all below the present Beaver street; above the latter point, the street was a marsh. A more particular history of this locality will be found under the description of the "Heere Graaft," in a subsequent part of this book.
On the present Beaver street, between Broadway and Broad street, several settlers established themselves, at an early period, viz : Paulus Vanderbeek, William Bredenbent, a tavern called the " Sign of the Lion," Evert Jansen, Pieter Mountfort, Jan Mountfort.
The present MARKETFIELD STREET was also occupied as a public thoroughfare at a very early period ; one of the grantees being Claes Van Elslant, the town sexton, who resided there for many years.
The North side of the present PEARL STREET, between Broad and Whitehall streets, lay fronting the river shore; extending out into the river, on the line of the present Moore street, was a little wharf, built at a very early period. It was the only landing place in the city, but ex- tended not far beyond low water mark, and was only suit- able for the landing of goods, by means of scows and small boats, from vessels anchored in the stream.
38
THE CITY IN 1642.
The description of the progress of the town, given in this chapter, will, it is supposed, be better understood from the following illustrative map, drawn by the author, from the best data in his possession :
0.2
THE CITY 1642
FERRY
ERRY
D
F
T Om
ROAD
A. The City Ta- vern.
ØA
B. The Fort.
C. The Wharf.
D. Burial Place.
E
E. The Strand, or Shore.
E
NOTE .- The upper cross road is the present Maiden Lane, then called " T'Maagde Paatje."
CHAPTER IV.
THE FIRST INDIAN WAR. (1642.)
IT was suggested, in a previous chapter, that the influx into the country of settlers not connected with the West India Company, had a tendency to introduce competition in the fur trade, which the company had designed to monopolize for its own benefit. The private traders, by traversing the country into distant localities and over- bidding the company's officers, contrived to turn this profitable trade from the coffers of the government into their own pockets. After years of fruitless effort to restrain these illegal practices, the Directory in Holland, making a virtue of necessity, threw open the Indian trade to individual competition, simply endeavoring to counter- balance the sacrifices thus made, by increasing their duties on imports and exports.
The effect of this measure, was to open a scene in the country altogether novel, and of a pernicious tendency. For, then, nearly the whole population turned their thoughts toward the Indian trade, abandoning their former pursuits. The officers and agents, in the service of the company, resigned their places, and engaged in business on their own account. Mechanics left their trades, and a general competition ensued for the purchase of peltries. To make friends among the Indians was, therefore, the
40
INCIDENTS OF THE INDIAN TRADE.
object of all; and soon the natives began to enter as heartily into the tricks and mysteries of barter as the most expert traders among the whites. Their introduction into the families of the citizens, where they were invited to meals and lodgings; the common use of guns and ammu- nition, procured in trade, together with their ripening experience in the ways and customs of their white neigh- bors, gave them a rising notion of their own condition. They became exacting and close in their bargains, so that Van Tienhoven writes, "if they gave you a herring, they required a cod in return." They exacted civilities and attentions to an exorbitant degree, and were offended, if these were withheld.
This unnatural and constrained condition of intercourse, could not last longer than the purpose for which it was originated could be subserved, and accordingly when it was no longer found profitable to indulge the Indians in these delicate attentions, the opposite extreme was pur- sued; the natives were reviled and thrown back with contempt; and in place of the former unnatural familiarity, a mutual hatred grew up between the two races. "Indian dog " became the common term of reproach of the whites upon their neighbors, while the natives, on the other hand, were equally loud in their expressions of derision for the Dutch. "They might be something on the water," said they, but are of no account on land. In their own country they have neither a great sachem or chief."
The first Indian war gradually grew out of this state of feeling; and it is difficult to see how the government, under Kieft, which was greatly blamed, and finally super- seded, in consequence of the war, could have allayed the causes which seem to have been the preparatory incite-
41
PREPARATIONS FOR HOSTILITIES.
ments to hostilities. It is, however, apparent that addi- tional fuel was added to the embers thus ignited, by Kieft, who, desirous of participating, on behalf of his employers, in the general design upon the property of the Indians, undertook to enforce a contribution from the tribes under the form of a TAX upon their corn. This movement set the natives in an uproar, and they replied in a general cry of contempt and sarcasm at this novel proceeding. "He must be a mean fellow," said they, for " he had not invited them to come and live here, that he should now take away their corn."
Matters now looked so serious that the whites began to make preparations for hostilities, by furnishing themselves with guns and ammunition, and fortifying their exposed settlements.
The first expedition from this city, against the Indians, was sent out in 1640, against the Raritans inhabiting the main behind Staten Island, who were alleged to have stolen some hogs from a settlement on Staten Island, an allegation which proved afterward to have been a mistake. This party of whites was composed of seventy men, under the command of Van Tienhoven, the secretary. Arriving at the Indian villages, at an unexpected time, they com- menced slaughtering and plundering the inhabitants, and after putting several to death, and burning the crops in the Indian fields, they returned to their homes without loss. Smarting under this foray, the Raritans determined that the "Swannekins," as they called the Europeans, should have dead men instead of dead hogs to fight for, and accordingly made a descent upon the farm belonging to Captain De Vries, on Staten Island, killed four of his planters, and burned his dwelling and tobacco house.
42
PROGRESS OF THE INDIAN WAR.
Kieft now determined to wage a war of extermination against the Raritans, and offered a reward of ten fathoms of wampum for every head of a Raritan, and twenty fathoms for the heads of those engaged in the murder of the people on Staten Island. This measure stimulated the cupidity of some Indians, who were inimical to the Rari- tans, and one of the Haverstraw Indians soon after made his appearance at the fort, with the hand of a dead man dangling on a stick. It belonged to a chief who had been concerned in the Staten Island murder. After this, the troubles with the Raritan tribe ceased.
Another murder in a different quarter, now called on the Dutch for vengeance. It was perpetrated in the pres- ent Westchester county, by a young Indian of the Weck- quaaskeck tribe, whose uncle had been killed nearly twenty years before, by the whites. Vengeance is con- sidered a virtue in the Indian philosophy, and this young man, having inherited this duty, called at the house of an aged settler, named Cornelisen, on pretence of making some purchases. The old man proceeded to get the goods from his chest, and the moment he stooped the Indian struck him dead, and withdrew after rifling the house of its contents. No satisfaction could be got by the Dutch for this outrage, and it became evident that the only safety of the whites lay in retaliatory measures.
Governor Kieft, viewing the important nature of the step now proposed to be taken, sought the advice of the body of the people, whose interests and safety, were so directly concerned, and invited all the citizens to assemble in the fort to consider upon the proper course to be taken. This meeting, the first popular assembly, convened in this city, took place on the 28th day of August, 1641. Twelve
43
PROGRESS OF THE INDIAN WAR.
men were chosen by the people to act on their behalf, who, on the following day, resolved that war should be waged, if the murderer were still refused to be delivered up; that the attack should be made on the Indians in the harvest time, when the warriors were absent on their hunting expeditions; but meanwhile further efforts should be made by kindness to obtain justice, which was accordingly seve- ral times sought for in vain.
The harvest time being come, many obstacles arose, and operations were postponed until the year 1642, when it was resolved to avenge the perpetrated outrage. There- upon spies looked up the Indians, who lay in their villages, suspecting nothing, and eighty men were detailed under Ensign Hendrick Van Dyck, and sent thither. The guide being come with the troops in the neighborhood of the Indian wigwams, lost his way in consequence of the dark- ness of the night. The ensign became impatient, and turned back without having accomplished any thing. The journey, however, was not without effect, for the Indians, who observed, by the trail, that they had narrowly escaped destruction, sought for peace, which was granted them on condition that they should either deliver up the murderer, or inflict justice themselves. This they promised to do, but without any result.
Some weeks after this, Miantonimo, principal sachem of the Narragansets, came toward this city, with one hundred men, passing through all the Indian villages, soliciting them to a general war against the English and the Dutch; thus exciting still further the enmity existing in the breast of the Indians. Hostilities were commenced against exposed settlements, and the community in the town began to be greatly alarmed, having the Indians daily in their
44
FLIGHT OF THE INDIANS.
houses. The demands for justice for the repeated murders and depredations, were received by the Indians with sneers and laughter.
It happened that at this time a band of Mohawks, the " kings of the forest," whose hunting grounds were toward Canada, made a descent upon several Indian villages on the Hudson river, below the Highlands, and drove the affrighted population from their homes, so that running from one enemy into the country of another, already pant- ing for vengeance, the Weckquaaskecks, hunted through the snow, half famished with cold and hunger, came for shelter to the neighborhood of this city, and built their fires on the outskirts of the town.
The whites furnished them with provisions, to keep them from starving, for a fortnight; meanwhile, however, delib- erating upon the policy of availing themselves of the op- portunity thus afforded of wreaking their vengeance, so long held in contemplation. The savages, observing the portents of this design, scattered themselves in different directions in a new affright; a large number, however, settling themselves at the present Corlaer's Hook, and a still more considerable number on the opposite shore of the North river at Pavonia. Although a generous com- passion induced many of those among the Dutch citizens, who had previously counseled retaliatory measures, to take no advantage of the present afflicted condition of the Indians, yet the councils of a majority determined that the moment had now arrived to strike the blow of vengeance. Accordingly, in the middle of the night of the 25th of February, 1643, two parties set out from the city, one headed by Maryn Andriezen and Govert Loockermans, against the Indians at Corlaer's Hook. and another
45
MASSACRE OF THE INDIANS.
against the camp at Pavonia. "I remained at the direct- or's," says an eye-witness, " and took a seat in the kitchen, near the fire. At midnight I heard loud shrieks, and went out to the parapet of the fort and looked toward Pavonia. I saw nothing but the flashing of the guns. I heard no more the cries of the Indians." After the first cry of sur- prise, the Indians, as was their custom, made no exclama- tion in the process of their destruction.
Eighty Indians were killed at Pavonia, and thirty at Corlaer's Hook. These were of all ages and sexes, and no barbarity was too shocking to be inflicted upon them. Thirty prisoners, and the heads of several of the enemy, who had been killed, were brought in by the return parties.
These proceedings aroused the neighboring Indian na- . tions to frenzy, and eleven different tribes proclaimed war against the Dutch. Every settler, upon whom they could lay hands, was murdered; the farm-houses and cattle were destroyed, and the country around Fort Amsterdam laid completely waste. All settlers, in exposed places, removed within the town, and the condition of the inhabitants became distressing in the extreme.
In these circumstances, the whites came almost to open war among themselves. Those who had advised and con- ducted the late proceedings, were charged with having brought immeasurable evils upon the whole community, many having been rendered beggars by the retaliatory acts of the Indians, and each inhabitant, in whatever circumstan- ces he may hitherto have been, being now compelled to forego all other interests in the paramount duty of guarding the lives of the members of his family. Crimination fol- lowed recrimination; each tried to shift the responsibility
46
QUARRELS AMONG THE CITIZENS.
from himself. Among others, Andriezen, one of the lead- ers of the party that attacked the Indians at Corlaer's Hook, received a full portion of the obloquy. Hearing that Director Kieft joined in these aspersions, he presented himself at the fort, armed with a pistol loaded and cocked, and with a hanger at his side. Coming unawares into the Director's room, he presented his pistol at him, exclaiming, "what devilish lies are these you are reporting of me ?" his pistol was, however, seized by one of the bystanders, and himself arrested and committed to prison. Within an hour after, the prisoner's son, accompanied by another person, entered the fort, and came into the presence of Kieft, who was walking up and down. On perceiving their approach, the director general retired, but was fired at by the young man, without effect. Upon this a sentinel, in return, discharged his gun at the intruder, and brought him down; his head was afterward affixed to a gibbet. A large crowd now collected at the fort, and demanded the release of Maryn Andriezen. This Kieft refused, offering, however, to submit the case to the citizens at large. Fi- nally, owing to the excitement and diversity of feeling in the community, the trial of Andriezen was transferred to Holland. It is not certain whether he was actually sent thither; if so, however, he returned and engaged in busi- ness here as usual.
As the spring advanced, it became for the interest of both parties to cease hostilities, and accordingly a treaty of peace was concluded in May, 1643. But this was a hol- low truce, as the Indians still took every opportunity to rob and murder those whom they could assail. The farms at Pavonia, four in number, were burnt, not by open force, but by stealthily creeping through the brush, with fire in
47
DESTRUCTION OF FARMS.
hand, and igniting the roofs of the buildings, which were constructed either of reed or straw. Several boats, com- ing down the Hudson river, with packs of furs, were boarded, and the traders killed. Nine Christians, in- cluding two women, were murdered in these captured vessels, one woman and two children remaining prisoners.
A small force, consisting of five boys and one man, having been detailed for the defence of the colony on the present Jersey shore, near Elizabethtown, was attacked by a party of savages on the night of the 17th September, and were obliged, after some resistance, to retreat, and the premises were burnt; they escaped in a canoe, saving nothing but their arms. Another small party, which had been dispatched to the same quarter, to protect another farm, was visited by the Indians; who, finding the men unarmed, murdered all but one, a boy, whom they took away with them to Tappan; the farm buildings were de- stroyed. Aert Thunisen, a planter at Hoboken, having gone out on a trading excursion, was killed near Sandy Hook. At the eastward, the work of destruction was pros- ecuted with equal violence. Among the more conspicu- ous victims was the celebrated Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, who had taken up her residence near the present Stamford, Connecticut. All the members of her family, and a num- ber of other persons residing in the neighborhood, were murdered.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.