USA > New York > History of the state of New York. Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 18
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*** 1. The., fii., 175-119; Chalmers's Rev. Col., i., 117; Mass. II. S. Coll., xxx., 5. : 12 cv:1., 015 : Hist. Mag., viii., 230; ante, 137. Lovelace, at the same time, "granted five Invir to the merchants at New York, and took off the wonted recognition."
£
152
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. IV. Foiled and mortified, Louis was obliged to suspend his 1668. conquests and make peace with Spain. In England, the Triple Alliance became very popular. The two great Protestant states of the world were now close friends, and outspoken members of Parliament declared that the king had done his only good act. "It was certainly," says Principle of Burnet, " the master-piece of King Charles's life ; and if he the Triple Alliance. had stuck to it, it would have been both the strength and the glory of his reign. This disposed his people to forgive all that was passed, and to renew their confidence in him, which was much shaken by the whole conduct of the Dutch war." The real merit of Temple's diplomacy was 17 Febr'y. the ratification of the commercial stipulations in the treaty of Breda, by which England recognized the great principle so earnestly contended for by the Dutch, that "free ships make free goods.""
March. Fishing- bank dis- covered off
Sandy Hook.
1669. New York was now prosperous, and Lovelace was sin- cerely anxious to aid its progress. Under his encourage- ment, a fishing-bank-now the favorite sporting-ground of the metropolis-was discovered, about two or three leagues from Sandy Hook, on which, in a few hours, some twelve hundred "excellent good cod" were taken. At the east end of Long Island the whale fisheries promised great re- sults, and even in the harbor of New York several whales were struck. More than twenty of them were taken dur- ing the spring. In partnership with some others, Lovelace - built a ship, " by Thomas Hall's house,"+ on the East River, and a smaller one was launched at Gravesend. The gov- ernor's was "a very stronge and handsome vessell, but costly," named " the Good Fame, of New York," and was sent to Virginia, and afterward to Europe. It was noticed that there were at one time nine vessels in port which brought tobacco from Virginia, and others were employed in carrying more than ten thousand schepels of New York wheat to Boston. Several people in and about Boston
Ship-buil ing in New York.
· Aitzema, vi, 333-398; Sylvius, i., 2-6; De Witt's Letters, iv., 602-651; Basnage, ii., 8.13; D'Estrades, vi , 222, 229, 233, 248-253, 967, 286, 991; Rapin, ji., 650, 651; Kennett, ill , 230; Anderson, il., 455 -497 ; Dalrymple, i., 37; Burnet, i., 254; Temple, i., 312-384; Courtenay's Temple. i., 117-201, 433; il., 440, 452; Davies, iii., CT-TI; Hume, vi., 411-413; Lingard, xii., 228-232 ; Macaulay, i., 202, 203; Campbell's Chancellors, iii., 304; Bancroft, ii., 325.
t Hall's house was near the present Beckman Street, so named after William Beekmar, of Esopus, who purchased Hall's property in 1070: see Valentine's New York, 72, 123; Val Man., 1860, 530, 540; Benson'e Memoir, 123; ante, vol. i., 5:7.
153
FRANCIS LOVELACE, GOVERNOR.
showed inclination to come and live in New York, one of CHAP. IV. them having bought five houses. Many others, attracted by the reports of Sylvester and Morris, and the carnest 1609. recommendations of Maverick, prepared to remove from Bermuda and Barbadoes, and bought houses and planta- tions. The genial hospitality which had hitherto distin- guished New York seems to have been encouraged by Lovelace. "There is good correspondence," wrote Maver- ick to Nicolls, "kept between the English and Dutch ; and April. to keep it the closer, sixteen (ten Dutch and six English) in the me- have had a constant meeting at each other's houses in tropolis. turns, twice every week in winter, and now in summer once. They meet at six at night, and part about eight or nine." Gencrous Madeira wine, and rum and bran- dy punch, "not compounded and adulterated as in En- gland," were the usual beverages of the colonial me- tropolis."
The city itself was described by Daniel Denton, of Ja- Aspect of maica, in the earliest separate account of New York ever New York the city of published, as "built most of brick and stone, and covered with red and black tile; and the land being high, it gives at a distance a pleasing aspect to the spectators." The king's cosmographer, John Ogilby, more elaborately pic- tured it as "placed upon the neck of the Island Manhat- aus, looking towards the sea, encompassed with Hudson's River, which is six miles broad : the Town is compact and oval, with very fair streets and several good houses ; the rest are built much after the manmer of Holland, to the number of about four hundred houses, which in those parts are held considerable : Upon one side of the town is James'-Fort, capable to lodge three hundred souldiers and Officers : It hath four bastions, forty pieces of cannon mounted; the walls of stone, lined with a thick rampart of Earth; well accommodated with a spring of fresh wa- ter, always furnished with arms and ammunition against accidents : Distant from the sea seven leagues, it affords a safe entrance, even to unskilful pilots: Under the town side, ships of any burthen may ride secure against any Forms, the current of the River being broken by the inter-
* * !. Doc., fit., 182-155; Gen. Ent., iv., 149; Court of Assizes, li., 455, 501 ; Mase. II. S. ' AL, xix .. $); xxxvii., 316-319 ; Wolley's New York, 55, 55.
Hospitality
154
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. IV.
position of a small Island, which lies a mile distant from the Town."*
April.
Nutten, or
1669. The " small island," just below the city, known as Nut- ten, or the Governor's Island, " by the making of a garden,
Governor's
Island. and planting of several walks of fruit-trees on it," wrote Maverick to Nicolls, " is made a very pleasant place." The metropolis was admirably protected by nature. About ten 'Hell Gate. miles to the northeast was " a place called Hell Gate, which being a narrow passage, there runneth a violent stream, both upon flood and ebb, and in the middle lieth some Isl- ands of rocks, which the current sets so violently upon that it threatens present shipwreck; and upon the flood is a large Whirlpool, which continually sends forth a hideous roaring, enough to affright any stranger from passing any further, and to wait for some Charon to conduct him through; yet to those that are well acquainted, little or no danger; yet a place of great defence against any enemy coming in that way, which a small fortification would ab- solutely prevent, and necessitate them to come in at the west end of Long Island, by Sandy Hook, where Nutten Island doth force them within command of the Fort at New York, which is one of the best pieces of defence in the North parts of America."t
Long Id- and.
Long Island, although thought by Maverick to be "very poore and inconsiderable," was described by Denton, of Ja- maica, as almost a paradise. Crops of all kinds came up
* Daniel Denton's " Brief Description of New York," London, 1670 (republished by W. Gowana, New York, 1845), p. 2; Ogilhy's America, 1671, 169, 170. Ogilby's account is corapiled chiefly from Denton and from Montanus, who seems to have de cribed the Dutch engraving of New Amsterdam, rather than the reality of New York, as follows: "On the Manhattan's Island stands New Amsterdam, five [Dutch] miles from the ocean. Ships run up to the harbour there in one tide from the ocean. The city has an earthen fort. Within the fort, upon the outermost bastion towards the river, stand a wind-mill and a very high staff, on which a flag is hoisted whenever any vessel is seen in Godyn's {the lower] Bay. The church rises with a lofty doubled roof, between which a square tower looms up. ()n the one side is the pri-on, and on the other side of the church is the Governor's house. Out- side of the walls are the houses, mostly built by Amsterdammers. At the waterside stan 1 the gallows and the whip. A handsome city tavern adorns the furthest point. Between the fort and this tavern is a row of proper dwelling-houses, among which are conspicuous the warehouses of the West India Company." Montanus, 123; N. Y. Doc. Hist., iv., 75, I do not quote the description of Edward Melton, Amsterdam, 1681, who was in New York from 2 July, 1603, to 6 July, 1669-(and, being an Oxford scholar, ought to have written an original account)-because he merely copies Montanus. John Josselyn, Gent., who publi-h- ed his two voyages to New England in 1674, describes New York as " built with Dutch brick, alla-moderna, the meanest house therein being valued at one hundred pounds. To the landward it is compassel with a wall of good thickness. At the entrance of the River is an island well fortified, and bath command of any ship that shall attempt to pass without leave:" sce extract in N. Y. HI. S. Coll. (ii.), i., 384 ; alco Oldinixon, i., 239, 271.
+ Col. Doc., iii., 183; Denton, 2; Benson's Mem., 94, 97; ante, vol. i., 56, 267.
FRANCIS LOVELACE, GOVERNOR. 155
in plenty. Many fruits grew spontaneously, especially CHAP. IV. strawberries; of which there was "such abundance in June, that the fields and woods are died red: Which the 1669. country-people perceiving, instantly arm themselves with bottles of wine, cream, and sugar, and, instead of a coat of Male, every one takes a Female upon his horse behind him, and so rushing violently into the fields, never leave 'till strawber- they have disrob'd them of their red colours, and turned trout. ries and . them into the old habit." Trout and other delicious fish abounded in the crystal streams which "keep their course throughout the year;" and multitudes of scals, producing "an excellent oyle," sported on the beaches. The vast smooth plains on the island encouraged the breeding of swift horses ; and upon that at Hempstead, Nicolls had al- ready established a race-course, and directed that a yearly plate should be run for. Lovelace now ordered that trials 1 April. of speed should take place every May; and the justices of lace .. Hempstead were directed to receive subscriptions from all disposed to run " for a crown of silver, or the value thereof in good wheat." The swiftest horse was to be rewarded by a silver cup. The general training being ordered for is May. the same time, the governor attended it himself .*
An extraordinary panic now occurred at the eastern end Panie Ga of Long Island. The Indians of "Meontawket" or Mon- and. tauk, who were . tributary to Ninigret, the Narragansett sachem, being in arrear, collected a quantity of wampum, which, with an old gun-barrel, they sent over to the chief, who received the messengers graciously, and pardoned the defaulters. This at once excited suspicions of a great In- dian plot. The constable of Easthampton required the Montauks to give up their arms, which they reluctantly did. The clergyman James, with several of the inhabit- ants of Southold, wrote to Major John Masou, of Connecti- 2) Jour. cut, one of the Pequod war heroes, and to Lovelace, charg- ing Ninigret with organizing an extensive conspiracy to cut off all the English. The governor at once communi- 5July. rated with the Rhode Island authorities, who directed that Ninigret should be brought before them at Newport. But
" Col Doc., Ii., 174; Denton's N. Y., 2-6; Thompson, i., 271, 272; ii. 03; Dunlap, 1. 110: Ordl., Warr., etc., ii., 416; Farmer and Moore's Coll., ill., 15); Oldmixen, 1, 1%); untr. pr Ti.
.
156
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Cuar. IV. the sachem explained every thing so satisfactorily that the court "saw no just grounds of jealousy as to his inten-
28 July. 24 August
1669. tions." The whole story was evidently a "panic fear of some over-credulous persons." In order, however, to pre- vent future jealousy, the Montauk chiefs soon afterward acknowledged the governor of New York as "their chief- est sachem."*
3 Novem.
As the Navigation Laws prevented direct trade between Holland and New York, the Duke of York asked of his brother that "such of His Majesty's subjects in Scotland as shall be induced to take conditions as planters at New Scotch whips. York" might be allowed to go there and trade in Scotch vessels to the West Indies and other plantations. The 5 April. 23 April. king accordingly authorized two Scotch ships to trade be- tween Scotland and New York. The farmers of the cus- toms objected that this would be a breach of the Naviga- tion Laws. It was replied that the duke's design was for the general good of the king's "late acquired dominions," and that natural-born British subjects should be encour- aged to emigrate to New York and its dependencies, so as to counterbalance its " forraigne" population, which con- Not allon - sisted of Dutch, Swedes, and Finns. The objections of the ed to come to Now York. 95 July. farmers of the English revenue seem to have defeated the enterprise. In expectation of their arrival, Lovelace mnade arrangements to settle two hundred Scotch families at Esopus ; but no ship came from Scotland this year.t
9 Septem. Propus af- ftir4.
Lovelace now ordered that "the garrison at the Esopus shall be henceforth disbanded and dismissed of their milita- ry employment, they being a needless charge to the Duke." 11 Septem. A commission and instructions were likewise issued to Counselor Ralph Whitfield, Captain John Manning, Captain Thomas Chambers, William Beekman, Christopher Beres- ford, and Henry Pawling, to regulate affairs at Esopus and the new villages adjoining. The commissioners accord- 17 Septem, ingly went to Esopus and organized two new villages, the Marble- town. Harley. farthest of which they named " Marbletown," from the blue limestone which abounds there; the nearer one they called " Hurley," after Lovelace's ancestral home on the
* Ord., Warr., Lett., ii., 461, 519 : Court of Assizes, il., 431; R. I. Rec., ii., 263-2GS ; Col. Rec. Conn, li , 515-5'1 ; Thompson. i., 92, 295-306; Wood, 65, 66, 70; Hough's Philip's War, 33-37; Arnold's R. I., 1 .. 358, 399 ; ante, vol. i., 271, 550-554.
t Col. Doc., ili., 150, 131. 1$2, 186 ; Ord., Warr., etc., il., 482-434.
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157
FRANCIS LOVELACE, GOVERNOR.
Thames. A few days afterward, "the town formerly call- CHAP. IV. ed Sopes was named Kingston" by the commissioners, in farther compliment to the governor, whose mother's family 1669. 95 Septem. had a seat at Kingston, l'Isle, near Wantage, in Berkshire, Kingston. Beresford was appointed chief magistrate of Hurley and Marbletown, and Pawling officer over the Indians. Lewis du Bois and Albert Heymans, who was now restored to New offi- favor, were made overseers for Hurley; John Biggs and cers. Frederick Hussey for Marbletown ; and Thomas Chambers and William Beekman for Kingston. The "Duke's Laws" were directed to be enforced, and instructions were given to the new officers respecting their conduct toward the In- dians. Separate lots in the two new villages were parcel- Lands ed out to the disbanded soldiers. The governor having Eropus. specially directed that " a very good provision at the fur- thest dorp" be made for Mrs. Ann Brodhead, " in regard of her great charge, and of her being a commissioned offi- cer's widow," a tract at Marbletown was allotted to ler."
In the mean time, Lovelace, sorely troubled that no in- structions had come to him from England, in the absence of which he conceived " the whole frame of government at this time standing still," prorogued the Assizes from Oc- 23 Septen. tober to November. ITis reasons were that "new Instrue- proroghe !. tions and directions from His Royal Highness" were daily expected from England, " and the Generall Court of As- sizes being thought the most proper place for the publish- ing of business of such publique concern."+
Not long afterward Delavall returned from England, bringing the expected dispatches. Nicolls having explain- ed the condition of New York, the duke caused a scal to be engraved for the province, and another for the city, which 4 3aty. he directed should be used for all public purposes. James and city also presented to the city authorities a silver mace, and ***
Provincia!
* Council Min., iif., 11; Ord., Warr., etc., ii., 530-536 ; Col. MSS., xxii., 99, 1-27 ; TIster !!. S. Coll .. i., 50, 51; ante, p. 123, note. Descendants of Captain Brodhead have continued to reside at Marbletown, where, in 1776, his great-grandson, Captain Charles W. Brodhead, Talsed & company of grenadiers, in command of which he was present at the surrender of Geti- iral Burgoyne at Saratoga, in October, 1777 : American Archives, v., 1382; Journals of N. Y. Prov. Congress, i., 295, 574 ; ii., 139, 150; ante, 89; N. Y. H. S. Coll. (1968), 155.
+ Ord., Warr .. etc., ii., 504; Court of Assizes, il., 414, 415; S. Hazard's Anu. Penn., 201; fineil Journala, i., Int., vi. It seems that Alderman John Lawrence, while in London is Er spring of 1009, had been asked by Nicolls to take letters from him to New York ; bot an bis calling for them, "Coll. Nicolls being not out of bed, and his man unwilling to swrks 7:, ? : came away without them." So New York, through a valet's scruples, hadi r ke: $ Ir Lawrence : Col. Doc., ili., 193; Mass. If. S. Coll, xxxvii., 319.
158
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1669. 10 July. 6 October.
CHAP. IV. seven gowns for the mayor, aldermen, and sheriff, and sent them a letter acknowledging the satisfaction which their loyal address had given him. Lovelace presented these to the corporation in behalf of the duke, who, "although he esteems some of these but as the gaiety and circumstantial part of Government, yet, you may be assured as to what is more essential and substantial, it shall receive all encour- agement and hearty assistance from him."*
The city petitions for free trade.
Thus encouraged, the corporation petitioned the duke that-as the limited permission for Dutch ships to trade between Holland and New York had been withdrawn --- a free commerce might be allowed to the province, accord- ing to the Navigation Acts, by vessels "touching in some port in England as they came from Holland, and paying His Majesty's customs there ; as also touching in England as they go for Holland." This was indispensable if the Indian trade was to be retained, which required "Dutch duffels and blancoates," not made in England, and which, if prohibited, would be procured through Canada, to the injury of New York.t
5 July.
Since the departure of Nicolls, Maverick had lived in New York, whence he wrote that he had never received any thing "to the value of sixpence, one horse excepted, which Mr. Winthrop presented me with, among the rest. And what I had by His Majesty's order, I have spent as much since I came over, and four hundred pounds besides in En- gland, in prosecution of this design." Nicolls now obtain- ed for his former associate the gift, from the Duke of York, of a "house in the Broadway" of the city. In acknowl- edging this favor, Maverick urged Nicolls and Cartwright to do all they could for the relief of their "poor friends in New England," whose spirits were drooping in the " bond- age they live," and who were "now in a far worse condi- tion" than that in which the royal commissioners had found them. The king, in truth, had, by this time, be- come "very intent about settelment of his collonies" in
12 July.
15 Octob Maverick on New England.
. N. Y. City Brc .. vi, 16S-400; Mass. II. S. Coll., xxxvii., 316, 319; Val. Man., 1S19. 343 : 1550, 490 : 1-53, 350 ; Doc. Ilist., ilf., 241 ; iv., 1, *; ante, p. 142. The seal of the prov- ince of New York, t'inis authorized by the Duke of York'a warrant of 4July, 1669, to be used for all public instruments, was so used until replaced by the new seal which James the See. ond substituted for it on 14 Angust, 1657 : Col. Doc., iii., 427.
t Col. Doc., iii., 157; Val. Man., 1850, 423.
2.
159
FRANCIS LOVELACE, GOVERNOR.
America, and a select council was appointed to consider CHIAR. IV. their affairs."
1669.
The Duke of York, by conviction a Roman Catholic, felt a sympathy with all who dissented from the Establish- ed Church of England. This feeling led him, in apparent contradiction to the arbitrary impulses of his nature, to be- come the friend of religious toleration. Soon after Nicolls came to New York, he allowed the Lutherans in the prov- ince to send to Germany for a minister. The Reverend Jacobus Fabricius accordingly came over, and Lovelace 20 Febr'y. Fabricius
gave him leave to exercise his office as long as he and his Lutheran people should behave themselves orderly. At first Fabri- minister. cius labored at Albany ; but his conduct was so offensive to 10 April. the magistrates and the Dutch congregation that the gov- ernor was obliged to suspend him from his functions there, es May. allowing him, nevertheless, to preach at New York. On receiving his dispatches from England, Lovelace wrote to 13 October. the Albany magistrates "that His Royal Highness dotlı approve of the toleration given to the Lutheran Church Religious in these parts. I do therefore expect that you will live toleration. friendly and peaceably with those of that profession, giv- ing them no disturbance in the exercise of their religion; as they shall receive no countenance in, but, on the con- trary, strictly answer any disturbance they shall presume to give unto any of you, in your divine worship."t
The provincial ministers of the Reformed Dutch Church Minister at this time were the Domines Schaats at Albany, Polhe- fried mus at Flatbush and Brooklyn, and Megapolensis and Church. Drisius, colleagues at New York. Blom's place at Esopus remained vacant. Samuel Megapolensis had returned 10 9 At. Holland in the spring, under a pass from the governor. The following winter, Domine Johannes Megapolensis was Decetter. "snatched away by death," after twenty-seven years' minis- terial service in the province ; and the metropolitan church was left in care of Drisius, whose declining health almost prevented his doing active duty. Privileged by the articles of capitulation, the Dutch churches in New York maintain- ed their former discipline, and remained for a century in
* Ci! Doc., iii., 194. 155; Mass. H. S. Coll., xxxvii., 311, 316; ante, p. 54.
+ Gen. Int., i., 71 ; Ord., Warr., etc., ii., 335, 394, 423; Court of Assizes, ii .. 424; S. Ilsz.
.r4, 243; Danlap, 1., 120, 126, 484; Munsell, iv., 24; ante, vol. i., p. 634, 642, 656, 651.
160
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. IV. direct subordination to the mother Classis of Amsterdam, in Holland .*
1669. 4 Novem. Meeting of the Assizes.
At the Court of Assizes it was ordered that uniformity of weights and measures should be enforced throughout the province. But as there were not enough English stand- ard weights and measures in the country, the governor was obliged to suspend the execution of the law by his procla- mation, "sealed with the seal of the colony."t
1670. 1 January.
1669. 5 Novem. Petitions from Long Island towns.
At the same Assizes petitions from East and West Chester, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Flushing, Jamaica, New- town, and Gravesend, against several grievances, were pre- sented. These grievances were "that what was promised upon our submission by Governor Nicolls and the rest of His Majesty's Commissioners should be made good to us : --- Namely, That we should be protected by His Majesty's lawes, and enjoy all such priviledges as other, His Majes- ty's subjects in America, do injoye ;- which priviledges consist in advising about and approving of all such lawes with the Governor and his council as may be for the good and benefit of the common-wealth, not repugnant to the Lawes of England, by such deputies as shall be yearly chosen by the freeholders of every Towne or parish ; and likewise to be informed what is required of us His Majes- ty's subjects by virtue of the Commission granted from Ilis Royal Highness the Duke of York." Some of the smaller grievances complained of were remedied. But Lovelace had no power to grant the demand for an Assembly to make laws with the governor and council. Indeed, Nic- olls had distinctly refused it at the Hempstead meeting in the spring of 1665. To the statement of the petitioners the Court of Assizes replied : "It doth not appear that Colonel Nicolls made any such promise ; and the Govern- or's Instructions directing him to make no alterations in the Lawes of the Government settled before his arrivall, they cannot expect, his Honor can comply with them there- in ;- And for their desire to know what is required of them, there is nothing required of them but obedience and sub- mission to the Lawes of the Government, as appears by His
Answer of the Conrt of Assizes.
* Ord., Warr., etc., li., 391: Corr. CI. Amst. ; Col. Doc, ii., 251: ft., 180; vii., 586 ; N. Y. II. S. Coll, iff. (i.), 144, 115 ; ante, vol. i., 614. 724, 762.
t Court of Assizes, il., 226; Col. MISS., xxii., SS, 96, 9S; Munsell, iv., 8, 9, 11 ; N. Y. 11. S. Coll., i., 421.
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