History of the state of New York Vol I, Part 69

Author: Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873. 4n
Publication date: 1871
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Number of Pages: 844

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The Amsterdam Chamber also instructed their director 26 March. that it would gratify them if the proposed settlement of tions of the Instruc- Puritans on the Raritan River, which might serve as a bul- pany ro- W. I. Com- wark against the Raritans and Minnisineks, should be ear- Puritan specting a ried into effect. " The principal obstaele was the appeal on the RAP- settlement in eriminal cases, and capital erimes of fornieation, adul- itan. tery, and similar offenses, which they punish according to the law and the expressed word of God. Against which maxim, although the laws of our Fatherland use some eon- nivance in this respect, we make no objection ; but we could not willingly transfer to them the absolute disposal of all criminal eases whatever without appeal." The di-

* Alb. Rec., iv., 427 ; xviii., 221, 222 ; xx., 199, 208-220, 230-233, 263, 291 ; Besse, ii., 237 ; Thompson's L. I., ii:, 74-79, 293-295, 386-388 ; Bancroft, ii., 300 ; Dr. De Witt, in N. Y. H. S. Proc., 1844, 73 ; O'Call., ii., 454-457 ; ante, p. 689.

708

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CHAP. XX. rectors, however, consented that no appeals should take 1663. Conces- W. I. Com- pany. place in cases of voluntary confession ; but this could not be conceded "in all other cases of a dubious nature." Further, "their laws, in punishing all similar crimes against the maxims of our Fatherland, should only be put in practice against their own countrymen, and not against such of our nation as might settle among them." "Your honor must not give up this point as long as it is tena- ble ; it is of too high importance. If, however, the ob- ject in view is not attainable without this sacrifice, then your honor is authorized to treat with the English on such terms as, in your opinion, are best adapted to promote the welfare of our state and its subjects."

20 July. Terms of- fered by Stuyve- sant.

On receiving this dispatch, so consistent with the con- ditions offered in 1661, Stuyvesant informed the applicants that most of their demands would be granted, and a char- ter be sealed to assure their rights. They would be allow- ed to elect their own magistrates, upon condition that these should be annually presented to the director and council to be confirmed and sworn. They might establish their own courts, and make such laws as they pleased, which, if found "to concur with the holy Scriptures," would be con- firmed by the provincial government. In convictions upon confession, capital sentences might be executed without appeal ; in " dark and dubious" cases, such as witchcraft, the consent of the director and council must be first ob- tained. In civil matters, an appeal was to be allowed only in cases exceeding one hundred pounds Flemish ; and new. settlers were to be admitted only with the consent of the local magistrates, and upon their swearing allegiance to the provincial government. But fresh elements of discord had by this time sprung up between Connecticut and New Netherland ; and it does not appear that the Puritans, who, instead of being "obstructed by the then ruling Dutch," had been granted all they could fairly ask, ever availed themselves of the liberal concessions of the pro- vincial government .*

Offers not accepted.

* Alb. Rec., iv., 415, 416 ; xxi., 231-237 ; Denton's N. Y. ; Bancroft, ii., 317 ; O'Call.,

709

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

Rejoicing in their newly-acquired patent, the General CHAP. XX Court at Hartford had lost no time in extending their ju- risdiction over the adjoining territory. New Haven, how- 1663. Connecti- cut and New Ha- ever, feeling wronged, bore testimony "against the great sin of Connecticut in acting so contrary to righteousness, ven amity, and peace," and poured out her griefs in a long let- jeg May. ter to the Hartford court. While New Haven protested, the inhabitants of West Chester were placed in an embar- rassing dilemma. Stuyvesant, observing that they had not 9 May. made their usual annual nomination of officers, dispatched Waldron to inquire into the cause and summon the magis- trates to New Amsterdam. On reaching the capital, the 12 May. West Chester magistrates were interrogated ; and, upon ter submits acknowledging their error, they were discharged, and sent Dutch.

West Ches-

to the back with a letter forbidding the people to send delegates to Hartford, and directing them to submit their nominations for officers. Mills, the ringleader, was, however, detained in prison ; and the next week the West Chester settlers sent in their nominations, out of which three persons were se- 24 May. lected and confirmed as magistrates. Upon this, Mills was discharged. The Connecticut council, presently appointed Captain John Talcott to go down to West Chester, and ad- 20 July. minister the oath of a constable " unto him whom the inhab- itants shall desire and choose to that service, if he approves of the person." Repairing thither, with sixteen or eighteen Jurisdic- armed men, Talcott declared that the inhabitants were ab- necticut en. tion of Con- forced. solved from their allegiance to the Dutch government; sum- marily dismissed the old magistrates, and appointed others in their places. Thus Connecticut enforced her claim to West Chester, and, at the point of the sword, affected "to lead the inhabitants to the choice of their officers."*

Early this year, a severe shock of an earthquake was Earth- felt throughout New Netherland, New England, Acadia, and Canada. This was followed by a great freshet, which inundated the country and destroyed the harvests around

ii., 448, 449 ; Whitehead's East Jersey, 22, 40, 181-183 ; ante, p. 688, 696. It would seem, however, that some of these persons afterward founded Elizabethtown, in New Jersey.

* Alb. Rec., xxi., 80, 93-95, 103, 141, 143 ; Aitzema, iv., 112; Col. Rec. Conn., 403, 405, 406 ; Trumbull, i., 254-257, 517-520 ; O'Call., ii., 456 ; Bolton's West Chester, ii., 164-169.

quake.

710

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

1663. Small-pox at Bever- wyck.

CHAP. XX. Fort Orange. The small-pox also broke out, and spread with fatal rapidity among Europeans and savages. At Beverwyck, twelve of its slender population died in one week; and a thousand victims perished among the five Iro- quois tribes. The court at Hartford, "understanding that the hand of God is gone out against the people at. New Netherland by pestilential infections," prohibited all per- sons, coming from any places where the disease raged, from entering the colony ; and masters of vessels arriving from infected places were forbidden to land any persons or goods in any harbor of Connecticut. This order, however, was repealed about two months afterward .*

21 March. Non-inter- course reg- ulations of Connecti- cut.

21 May.

Affairs at Wiltwyck or Wild- wyck.

New vil- lage.

Three years had now passed away since peace had been covenanted at Esopus, "under the blue sky of heaven," between the Dutch and the savages. Industry had grad- ually repaired the losses of war, and numerous settlers, at- tracted by its pleasant situation, had flocked to Wiltwyck or Wildwyck. Domine Blom had continued his ministra- tions with success, and the church had increased from six- teen to sixty members, "so that this newly-rising com- munity began to grow and to bloom right worthily." A new village was laid out in the " Great Plot" for the rap- idly augmenting population. Most of the soldiers who had garrisoned the first settlement had been withdrawn, and "Ronduit," only a sergeant's guard was maintained at the "Ronduit" on the Kill. or Redoubt, which had been erected a few miles off, on the Kill, near its mouth. Yet the red men, who remembered their brethren whom Stuyvesant had exiled to Curacoa, liked not the "new fort," which marked the progress of the whites ; and muttered threats foreboded a new outbreak of the Indians, who, in spite of all proclamations, were now supplied more freely than ever before with the "fire-water" and the fire-arms of their European neighbors. The tem- per of the savages had been reported to Stuyvesant, who 5 June. sent word that he would soon visit Esopus. The sachems replied, that if he came to renew the peace, he should come

* Alb. Rec., vi., 409, 428; Relation, 1662-3, 6-18 ; 1664-5, 92 ; Charlevoix, i., 363-369; Renss. MSS. ; O'Call., ii., 483 ; Col. Rec. Conn., 398, 402.

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PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

unarmed, and "sit with them in the open field outside the CHAP. XX. gate, according to their custom."

1663.

In fancied security most of the villagers went forth to work in their fields. About noon-tide, bands of savages, 7 June. Wiltwyck entering all the gates, scattered themselves about, and, " un- and the new village der the guise of friendship," offered corn and beans for sale surprised. at the quiet cottage doors. In a few minutes mounted horsemen dashed through " the mill-gate," announcing that the Indians had destroyed the new village. The work of death went on ; houses were plundcred and fired; women and children were hurried as prisoners outside the gates; and the alarmcd husbandmen, rushing toward their blaz- ing dwellings, were shot down by foes concealed within their own doors. Rallied at last by Swartwout, their The sav- schout, Captain Chambers, and Domine Blom, the few men pulsed. ages re- at home secured the gates, clearcd the gun, and drove the savages out of the village. By evening all was still again ; sixty-nine efficient men were mustered; the palisades were replaced ; and during the night the bereaved inhabitants kept mournful watch. "The burned bodies were most frightful to behold." Twenty-one lives were lost ; nine were wounded ; and forty-five, chicfly women and children, were carried off captives. Twelve houses were burned in Wiltwyck, and the new village was almost annihilated .*

Intelligence of the calamity was quickly sent from Ron- 10 June. duit to New Amsterdam ; and Stuyvesant dispatched Coun- selor De Decker to Fort Orange, to raise a loan, engage vol- untecrs, and cnlist the Mohawks and Senecas. The lat- ter, however, were already at war with the Minquas ; and 12 June. when the news from Wiltwyck reached Beverwyck, the Bever- Panic at wyck. whole neighborhood was scized with panic. The farmers fled to the patroon's new fort "Cralo," at Greenbush; the Fort Cralo. plank fence which inclosed Beverwyck, and the three guns mounted on the church, were put in order ; and Fort Or- ange, with its nine pieces of artillery, was prepared against an attack.

* Alb. Rec., xvi., 148-199 ; xvitt., 193 ; xx., 113-120, 352; xxi., 87 ; Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii., 962 ; iv., 39-44 ; ante, p. 76, 678, 690 ; note II, Appendix.

712

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CHAP. XX.

1663. Re-enforce- ments sent from New Amster- dam. 19 June.

26 June. Kregier's expedition.

A re-enforcement of forty-two men, under the command of Ensign Christiaen Niessen, was immediately sent from Fort Amsterdam to Wiltwyck ; and the inhabitants of the metropolis and of the surrounding villages were offered large rewards if they would enlist. The chief men in the English settlements on Long Island discouraged the rais- ing of volunteers, and few were obtained there ; but a con- siderable force was collected in New Amsterdam, and for- ty-six " Marseping" savages from Fort Neck were engaged as auxiliaries. The command in chief was intrusted to Burgomaster Martin Kregier as captain lieutenant, under whom were Schepen Van Couwenhoven, Lieutenant Nich- olas Stillwell, and Sergeant Pieter Ebel.

4 July. The expedition, sailing in two yachts, soon landed at the Ronduit, and marched up to Wiltwyck. Guarded wagons conveyed abundant supplies to the village, where a " coun- cil of war" was established ; and scouting parties were sent up the river to surprise some of the savages who lurked be- 15 July. hind Magdalen Island. In a few days De Decker arrived from Fort Orange with five Mohawks, by whose mediation some of the Dutch captives were recovered. The Esopus savages, however, would not release the rest of their pris- oners, unless "Corlaer and Rensselaer" should bring them Fort at Shawan- gunk. presents, and make a peace within ten days, at their fort upon the Shawangunk Kill, in the present town of Shaw- angunk, about thirty miles southwest of Wiltwyck. It 26 July. Invasion of country. was, therefore, determined to attack them; and Kregier the Esopus set out with a force of two hundred and ten men, two pieces of cannon, and two wagons, guided by Rachel la Montagne, wife of Surgeon Gysbert van Imbroeck, who had been tak- en prisoner on the seventh of June, and had escaped. Aft- er hauling the wagons and cannon over many hills, and crossing many streams upon bridges made of trees which 27 July . they cut down, the expedition arrived near the fort, which Couwenhoven, with one hundred and sixteen men, was sent forward to surprise. Coming up with his party, Kre- gier found his friends in possession, as the savages, two days before, had fled with their prisoners to the mountains.

713

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

The fort contained several strongly-built houses, and was CHAP. XX. inclosed by three rows of palisades. Here the expedition remained overnight. At dawn of the next morning, Cou- 28 July. 1663. wenhoven was dispatched with one hundred and forty inen, and a captured squaw as a guide, to a high mountain sev- eral miles off; but no Indians were there. As it was use- less to continue the pursuit of their subtile enemies, the expedition destroyed the corn of the savages, burned their 31 July. Esopus fort fort and houses, and, after a long day's march, returned in destroyed. safety to Wiltwyck.

Unsuccessful efforts were made, through the mediation Unsuccess- of the Wappingers, to obtain the release of the Christian tion of the ful media- captives ; and the Esopus savages having built a new fort gers. Wappin- "about four hours" further off, another expedition was or- 30 August. dered. Heavy rains delayed the forces several days; but at length, Kregier set out with fifty-five men, guided by a 3 Sept. young Wappinger. After a toilsome march of two days, they reached the new fort, about thirty-six miles south 5 Sept. southwest of Wiltwyck, and probably in the present town of Mamakating, in the county of Sullivan. Taken by sur- New Eso- prise, the savages retreated across the Shawangunk Kill ; surprised. pus fort and the Dutch having slain Papequanaehen their chief, and fourteen warriors, besides several women and children, re- mained conquerors, with the loss of three killed and six wounded. Thirteen prisoners were taken, and twenty- three Christian captives recovered. Spoil enough "well to fill a sloop" was destroyed ; several guns and a quantity of ammunition were seized ; and the victorious expedition returned to Wiltwyck with the rescued captives and the 7 Sept. Indian prisoners, one of whom, refusing to proceed, was dispatched on the way.

The enemy was now nearly crushed ; yet detachments were prudently ordered to guard the Dutch reapers in their fields. Even the peaceful Katskill savages were suspect- ed; and a party was sent about nine miles from the fort, 24 Sept. to a maize plantation on the "Sager's Kill." No Indians, to the " Sa- Party sent ger's Kill." however, were found ; but some corn was secured, and the party reported that " it is a beautiful maize land, suitable

714

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CHAP. XX. for a number of bouweries." This report is confirmed at the present day by the flourishing farmers of Ulster .*

1 October. Third ex- pedition against the Esopus In- dians.

1663. · The council of war now resolved to dispatch a third ex- pedition against the Esopus savages ; and one hundred and fifty-four soldiers and Long Island Indians marched from Wiltwyck. The next afternoon they came to the scene of their recent victory, where all was now desolation. Sev- eral pits had been filled with dead Indians; the unburied corpses of others lay around. Parties were sent into the neighboring woods, but no savages were seen. They had fled southward among the Minnisincks. The fort and 4 October. wigwams were burned; the maize was destroyed ; and the 5 October. expedition returned in safety, after a fatiguing march through an incessant rain.

Tranquillity being restored, Couwenhoven was sent back to New Amsterdam, with several of the soldiers and the 9 October. Wiltwyck palisaded anew. Long Island auxiliaries ; and Wiltwyck, which now con- tained thirty-four occupied lots, was palisaded anew, " from the water-gate, along the curtains, unto the lot of Arent Pietersen Tack." After making arrangements with a Wap- pinger sachem for an exchange of prisoner's, Kregier, leav- ing the post in charge of Ensign Niessen, with a garrison of sixty soldiers, paid a short visit to the capital. On his return, he found that some of the captives had been re- stored, and the release of the remainder been promised. 24 Dec. Swartwout Swartwout's conduct, however, having displeased Stuyve- discharged. sant, he was discharged from his office of schout of Wilt- wyck ; and Matthys Capito, the secretary of the village court, was installed, provisionally, in his place.t

17 Nov. 22 Dec.

8 Feb. The W. I. Company cedes the Negotiations had meanwhile been going on between the West India directors and the burgomasters of Amsterdam, South Riv- which resulted in the surrender to the city of all the com- pany's territory on the South River, upon condition that the rights of the colonists should be respected ; sufficient garri-

er. to the city of An sterdam.

* The " Sager's Kill" is now known as the Esopus Creek, which, running northeaster- ly from Kingston, empties into the river at Saugerties. The " Sager's Killetje," or Little Kill, crosses the road, and empties into the river about a mile north of Saugerties.

t Alb. Rec., vi., 388, 415 ; xii., 331 ; xvi., 171-270 ; xviii., 248 ; xx., 313, 356 ; xxi., 129- 181, 203-208, 249, 261, 294, 313 ; New Amst. Rec., v., 248-257 ; Hol. Doc., xii., 347 ; Renss. MSS .; O'Call., ii., 473-482 ; Doc. Hist. N. Y., iii., 964 ; iv., 41-98.

715

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

sons be maintained ; the space of a mile be cleared and set- CHAP. XX. tled, and four hundred emigrants be sent out every year ; and that the city should never sell or dispose of any part, 1663. upon pain of forfeiting the whole of their privileges. The commissaries of the city colony in an able report set forth 10 March. the commercial advantages which New Netherland would the city's Report of enjoy if sufficiently peopled. Its trade with the West In- ries. commissa- dies and the neighboring English colonies now employed two hundred vessels annually. The English near the South River had shown themselves well disposed ; and even if their own government should enforce the Navigation Act, they would still "open a small door" by which the Dutch might trade with them overland. To foster the colony on the South River would be the wisest expenditure of the city's funds. Holland was crowded with refugee Hugue- nots, Waldenses, Norwegians, and Germans; and many of a better class from Rochelle were desirous to emigrate to New Netherland at their own expense. All that these col- onists desired was to be protected from the savages for a few years in their new home. This report was received with favor by the burgomasters of Amsterdam, and large 16 March. sums were appropriated for the vigorous prosecution of the work of colonization.

These views were warmly supported by Hinoyossa, who 25 June. arrived not long afterward. He represented the Maryland sa's repre Hinoyos- authorities, with whom he had communicated, as anxious sentations. to promote intercolonial commerce ; that the Swedes, Finns, and others had already one hundred and ten plantations, and thousands of cattle and swine, besides horses and sheep ; that the city had already two or three breweries, and more were wanted to supply the English with beer, who, in return, could furnish a thousand tubs of tobacco a year ; and that ten thousand furs and other articles could be annually procured from the Indians and exported from the colony. These representations had their effect. The 14 July. next month, Hinoyossa set sail for the South River, with Hinoyoss8. Return of about one hundred and fifty colonists, and arrangements were made to dispatch another ship.

716

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

CHAP. XX. 1663. 11 Sept. Letter of the W. I. Company. 21 Sept. Further in- structions to Stuyve- sant.

The directors, on their part, informed Stuyvesant of their proceedings, and ordered him to transfer to the city's agent all the company's possessions on the South River, as stip- ulated in the articles of agreement. In a subsequent dis- patch they explained in detail that, by this step, they hoped to secure the South River more effectually "from the en- croachments of our English neighbors at the South, of whom nothing more favorable can be expected than from those of the North, who, notwithstanding the alliance between the crown of England and this republic, are continuing their usurpations." "It appears, too, that this city is will- ing to fulfill her engagements ; while she, since that event, not only with more zeal, but with more vigor, exerts her- self in watching her own interests in that distance, having resolved to transport to that country annually four hundred colonists and other useful husbandmen, if a larger number is not obtained, which must contribute to our security against the English North. We may expect, besides this, a more powerful intercession of this city with our govern- ment, to obtain from the crown of England the final set- tlement of the long-desired boundaries, for which we shall leave nothing undone, and communicate the result. Mean- while, we renew our recommendation to maintain yourself in possession of the territory which has been allotted to us by the provisional treaty, and to resist all new encroach- 16 October. ments of our English neighbors." Rumors soon afterward Precau- tions against the Swedes. reaching Holland that the Swedish government was equip- ping two frigates to retake New Sweden, Stuyvesant was admonished to be on his guard, and directed not to remove the company's artillery from Fort Altona .*

May. Indian troubles on the South River.

In the mean time, the war between the Senecas and the Minquas had produced great alarm at New Amstel. A body of eight hundred Senecas attacked the Minqua fort, but they were put to flight and pursued northward for two days. This only produced fresh rumors of war, and the Mohawks were reported to be preparing to assist the Sen-

* Alb. Rec., iv., 415, 431, 437, 444, 447 ; viii., 352-363 ; xvii., 309-311 ; Hol Doc., XV., 52-67, 81-85, 91-108 ; ante, p. 700.

717

PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR GENERAL.

ccas ; while the Esopus Indians, after the destruction of CHAP. XX. their fort at Shawangunk, were said to have encamped among their friends, the Minnisineks, at the head of the 1663. South River. News now came that the heir of Lord Bal- timore was about to visit Altona ; and Beeckman, finding 24 July. that "here on the river not a single draught of French wine is obtainable," requested Stuyvesant to send him some from Manhattan, "to treat the nobleman with." The next 9 August. month, Lord Baltimore's son, Charles Calvert, came to New its New Amstel and Amstel and Altona with a suit of twenty-six or twenty-sev- Altona. en persons. Beeckman entertained him, not as a proprie- tary, but as a guest ; and their intercourse was pleasant and harmonious. In conjunction with Van Sweringen, the 12 August. schout of New Amstel, Calvert renewed the treaty with the savages ; but when it was proposed to define the lim- its of the two colonies, he replied that he would communi- cate with Lord Baltimore. The young nobleman took leave of his Dutch hosts in all good feeling ; and propos- ing to visit Boston the next spring, by way of Manhattan, he desired Beeckman to convey his thanks to Stuyvesant for his " offer of convoy and horses."

Not long afterward, Hinoyossa arrived from Holland ; 3 Dec. and Beeckman, in obedience to the company's orders, im- returns Hinoyossa mediately recognized him as chief of the Dutch on the land. from Hol- South River. In a few days, Stuyvesant executed a form- al act, ceding to Hinoyossa, as the representative of the 22 Dec. burgomasters of Amsterdam, "the South River from the surrenders sea upward so far as that river extends itself, toward the River to the South country on the east side, three miles from the borders of him the river, and toward the west side so far as the country extends, until it reaches the English colonies." The city's director organized his government; made arrangements for the superintendenee of the fur trade at New Amstel, Passayunk, and the Horekill ; and chose, for his own res- idenee, a spot on the Apoquinimy Creek, just below New Amstel, where he proposed to build the metropolis, and promote commerce with the English in Maryland and Virginia. And Beeekman, now shorn of authority, ap-

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History of the state of New York Vol I, Part 69

Author: Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873. 4n Publication date: 1871 Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers Number of Pages: 844

Author: Brodhead, John Romeyn, 1814-1873. 4n
Publication date: 1871
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Number of Pages: 844