USA > New York > History of the state of New York. Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 24
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t Doc. Hist., iii., 57, 50, 60, 65; Col. Doc., ili., 199, 199; iv., 1151; Hist. Mag., i. (ii.), 228; ante, 200.
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207
FRANCIS LOVELACE, GOVERNOR.
turn, Carr declared that the Dutch were too strong to be Char. IV. withstood, and that they would only allow half an hour's de- lay. The fleet had meanwhile quietly tided up and anchor- 1673. ed within musket-shot of the fort, without a gun being fired. Sharpe was sent on board a second time, to ask a stay of hostilities until the next morning, so that Manning might obtain the advice of the mayor and aldermen. But the Dutch commander, Evertsen, had already written to the city authorities, " promising to all men their estates and liberties," and this had been communicated to the burghers at the City IIall. On Sharpe's return, he reported that the commodores would give only a half an hour more, "and accordingly they turned up the glass." At the end of that time the ships fired their broadsides at the fort, which kill- The Dutch ed and wounded some of its garrison; "whereupon the James, fort fired upon them again, and shot the General's ship tinsa which re- shot.
through and through." Six hundred men were now land- ed above " the Governor's Orchard," at "the new burial- place" on the shore of the Hudson, just north of the fort, and back of the present Trinity Church. The Dutch burghers, all armed, and about, four hundred strong, en- couraged their countrymen to storm the fort, promising that not one of its garrison would " look over their works." At Carr's instigation, Manning ordered a parley to be beaten, and a flag of truce exhibited ; but Carr, exceeding his orders, struck the king's flag at the same time. Carr, Lovelace, and Gibbs were now dispatched to "make the best conditions they could." They met the Dutch " for- lorn" storming-party advancing. Carr was sent back to inform Manning that the garrison must surrender as pris- oners of war, while Lovelace and Gibbs were kept in cus- tody under the Dutch standard. But Carr, never coming near the fort, fled away from the city. Manning then dis- patched Sharpe with articles for the Dutch to agree to, who met their column marching down Broadway toward the fort. It was now about seven o'clock in the evening. Captain Anthony Colve, who commanded the Dutch forces, readily accepted the proposed articles, which merely sur- Fort lares rendered the fort and garrison with the honors of war .... Manning himself had meanwhile caused the fort gates to be opened, and the Dutch marched in, while the garrison
Gre ou l'ort
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
30 July. 9 August. New York conquered by the Dutch.
CHAP. IV. marched out with colors flying and drums beating, and 1673. grounded their arms. The English soldiers were now or- dered back into the fort, and committed to prison in the church. Before the sun went down, at the end of that eventful summer's day, the three-colored ensign of the Dutch Republic rose to its old place on the flag-staff of her ancient fort, and New York reposed again under the dominion of her former lords.# Stuyvesant was avenged. THE DUTCH HAD TAKEN NEW YORK.
* Col. Doc., ii., 507, 659 ; iii., 190-206, 234; iv., 1151; Doc. ITist., iii., 53-05; Council Min , ili. (ii.), 18; Col. MSS., xxiv., 36-53, 97; Hist. Mag., i. (ii.), 298; N. Y. City Rec .; Dunlap, i., 129. Smith, i., 43, carelessly asserts that Manning "treacherously made his peace with the enemy," and that the Dutch "landed their men and entered the garrison without giv- ing or receiving a shot." Smith's statement has been credulonsly adopted. The weight of authority, which I have followed, seems to be that the fort did actually return the fire of the Dutch fleet : compare Col. Doc., iii., 199, 201, 206; iv., 1151; Ilist. Mag, i. (ii.), 298; Doc. Hist., iii., 62. Manning's real fault was that he allowed the ships to anchor before the fort without firing on them : see Doc. Hist., ill., 55, 50, 58. But, after all, he was as badly off as Stuyvesant, nine years before : see ante, 34. Compare Cadwallader Colden, in the Col- lections of the New York Historical Society for the year 1968, p. 184.
209
THE DUTCH RECONQUEST OF NEW YORK.
CHAPTER V.
1673-1674.
THE recovery of New York by the Dutch was an abso- Cuan. V. lute conquest by an open enemy in time of war. All its circumstances differed from those which had disgraced the 1673. capture of New Netherland by the English nine years be- fore. Then, while the mother-countries were at peace, a treacherous expedition, deliberately prepared, had seized character the territory of an unsuspecting ally : yet the British com- Path tr. of the mander felt it necessary to grant the most liberal articles New York. of capitulation. But now, after proclaimed hostilities, and distinct warnings for more than a year, the ships of the Batavian Republic came boldly to recover what had been robbed from an insulted fatherland; and the English en- sign fell beneath the Dutch avengers, who, welcomed by their countrymen, marched triumphantly into the old for- tress, which surrendered to their discretion.
"Not the smallest" article of capitulation, except mili- tary honors to the garrison, was granted by the victors. They had unexpectedly captured a prize from the aggress- ive enemy of their nation. Their reconquest annihilated 1. British sovereignty over ancient New Netherland, and ex- tamjust tinguished the duke's proprietary government in New . 1. York, with that of his grantees in New Jersey. Evertsen Empresa and Binckes for the time represented the Dutch Republic, Lazzt.s under the dominion of which its recovered American pros- ince instantly passed, by right of successful war. The ef- fete West India Company was in no way connected with the transaction .*
Never had the Bay of New York held so majestic a fleet
" Col. Doc., ii., 536, 611 : ill., 202 : Doc. ITist., ill., 35, 56, 61, 62 ; Eliz. Bill, 6, 7, 37. The elll West India Company went into liquidation soon after the conquest of N w Netherland in 1664, and the new corporation took no interest in its recapture : Murphy's Steendato, 1.', 13; Col. Doc., ii., 534, 565.
II .--- O
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1673. The Dutch fleet in New York.
Condition of the prov- ince.
CuAr. V. as that now anchored in its beautiful waters. Two ships loading for England were added as prizes to the force of the conquerors. The condition of the province, thus mar- velously restored to the republican Netherlands, was far different from what it was when the English appropriated it to themselves. New York, including New Jersey and Delaware, now contained three chief towns and thirty vil- lages, and its Dutch population was estimated at between six and seven thousand. The event which brought its Ba- tavian inhabitants once more under the authority of the States General and the Prince of Orange, "their lawful and native Sovereigns," was hailed by them with boundless joy. It more than atoned for the bitterness with which they had endured " the- insolent injustice of England's original acquisition." Once more, "The Fatherland" be- came a household word. The cry of " Oranje Boven" was soon as familiar in Manhattan as in that fatherland .*
The prov- ince again named New Neth- erland.
named Willem Hendrick.
The name of "New Netherland" was of course restored to the reconquered territory, which was held to embrace not only all that the Dutch possessed according to the Hartford agreement of 1650, but also the whole of Long Island east of Oyster Bay, which originally belonged to the province, and which the king had granted to the Duke Fort James of York. Fort James was named " Willem Hendrick," in honor of the Prince of Orange. It was, first of all, neces- sary to extemporize a provisional government. No orders had been given to Evertsen or Binckes about New Neth- erland. Its recovery was. a lucky accident, wholly due to the enterprise of the two commodores ; upon whom fell the responsibility of governing their conquest until directions should come from the Hague. As commanders of sepa- Evertsen, and Binckes, and Coun- cil of War in power. rate Dutch squadrons, Evertsen, of Zealand, and Binckes, of Holland, alternately wore the admiral's flag for a week. Associating with themselves Captains Anthony Colve, Nic- olas Boes, and Abram Ferdinandus van Zyll, as an advis- ory Council of War, they held regular sessions, first at the City Hall, and afterward at the fort. Their most impor- tant duty was to appoint " a fit and able person as Gov- ernor General, to hold the supreme command over this con-
* Col. Doc., ii., 326, 508; ilf., 200; Doc. Ilist., i., 467 ; Lambrechtæen, 84-SG; Grahamr, L, 422; ante, 203.
n
911
COUNCIL OF WAR OF NEW NETHERLAND.
quest of New Netherland." Anthony Colve, of Zealand, Char. V. who appears to have served as an ensign at the capture of Surinam in 1667, and was now a captain in the Dutch in- 1673. 2, August fantry, was chosen for the office. To him Evertsen and Anthony Colve ap Binckes gave a commission "to be Governor General of pointed this Country and Forts thereunto belonging, with all the New Neth- appendencies and dependencies thereof, to govern, rule, and erland. protect them from all invasions of enemies, as he, to the best of his ability, shall judge most necessary." Colve's commission described his government as extending from Extent of fifteen miles south of Cape Henlopen to the east end of govern- Colve's Long Island and Shelter Island, thence through the middle ment. of the Sound to Greenwich, and so northerly, according to the boundary made in 1650, including Delaware Bay and all the intermediate territory, as possessed by the English under the Duke of York. But Pemaquid, Martha's Vine- yard, and Nantucket, not having been under Stuyvesant's ju- risdiction when New Netherland was taken from him, were not comprehended in the Dutch province now organized."
Colve was "a man of resolute spirit, and passionate," whose arbitrary nature had not been improved by military service. He did not, however, assume the administration at once; for the naval commanders prudently determined to keep their ships in harbor until the new government should be firmly established. In the mean time they re- Countof tained supreme authority in their own hands, assisted by bola te. War te- the three captains whom they had adjoined, as a " Council FR ?. of War." Matthias Nicolls, ousted from his office of pro- vincial secretary, was replaced by Nicholas Bayard, the c. P. perienced clerk of the city, whom the Dutch commodores we can! appointed to act as their own secretary, and as secretary etse !. and register of New Netherland under Colve.t
The name of the city of New York was, at the same ?. Matt time, changed to "New Orange," in compliment to the Su Yet prince stadtholder, and its magistrates were released from Ses or. their oaths to the late English government. At the re- quest of the commanders, six burghers were appointed to NA-en
' Col. Doc., ii., 529, 520, 571, 609, 610 ; iii., 201: Smith, i., 44-46; Wagenaar, xử1., 40%; [hp Witt's Letters, iv , 677; ante, 126; vol. i., 519, 520.
! Col. Ecc. Conn., ii., 565; Col. Doc., il., 511, 573, 575, 612; Mass. II. S. Coll .. xxx., 22, 106. Among other changes. the Dutch introduced again into New Netherland the Nes Style, which had so long been used in Holland : see ante, vol. i., 443, note.
governor of
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAT. V. confer with them respecting the restoration of the old mu- 1673. i's August. nicipal government, who were directed to convoke the commonalty and nominate persons "from the wealthiest inhabitants, and those only who are of the Reformed Chris- tian Religion," out of whom the Council might select the magistrates for the city. From the nominations thus made, ", August. Johannes van Brugh, Johannes de Peyster, and Egidius Burgomas- ters, eche- pens, and schout. Luyck were chosen as burgomasters, and William Beek- man, Jeronimus Ebbing, Jacob Kip, Laurens van der Spie- gel, and Gelyn ver Planck as schepens. In place of Al- lard Anthony, the late sheriff, Anthony de Milt was ap- pointed schout. The new magistrates were sworn to ad- minister " good law and justice ;" promote the welfare of the city; maintain "the upright and true Christian Relig- ion agreeably to the Word of God and the order of the Synod of Dordrecht;" uphold the supreme authority of the States General and the Prince of Orange; and were empowered to govern for one year, "both burghers and strangers, conformably to the laws and statutes of our Fa- August. therland." The next day Jolm Lawrence, the displaced Foglish in- mayor, surrendered the gowns, mace, and scal which the Duke of York had presented to the city; all of which were carefully deposited in Fort Willem Hendrick."
rendered.
Th August. English and French Itoporty seize l.
Evertsen and Binekes now issued a proclamation seizing all property and debts belonging to the kings of France or England, or their subjects, and requiring every person to report such property to Secretary Bayard. Under this ediet-which only retaliated that of Nicolls against the Dutch in 1665-the estates of Thomas Delavall, the duke's auditor, and of William Dervall, his son-in-law, were espe- cially attached. The houses of Lovelace and Manning had already been plundered by the Dutch troops in the heat of conquest ; but Manning himself had been courteously al- lowed to wear his sword. Mayor Lawrence's house had been spared, at the request of the Dutch burghers. Van Ruyven, the receiver of the Duke of York's revenues, al- 2} August. though an old Dutchman, was, nevertheless, required to render a strict account.t
* Col. Doc., ii., 571-575; Doc. Ifist., i., 300, 391; New York City Rec., vii. ; Val. Man., 1850, 4ST-400; Valentine's New York, 175, 174; Moulton's New Orange, 6, 7; ante, 158.
+ Col. Doc., il., 575, 580, 501, 603, Gos, 643 ; ill., 200, 206; Hutch. Coll., 468; Court of As- sizea, il., 580 ; Val. Man., 1953, 381, 234; ante, 59, 50, 91.
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COUNCIL OF WAR OF NEW NETHERLAND).
The metropolis being secured, two hundred men were CHAP. V. sent up the river, in several vessels, to reduce Esopus and 1673. Albany. No opposition was shown. Salisbury at once T's August. surrendered Fort Albany " upon the same terms with New Albany and Esopus York, namely, at mercy," and all the English soldiers were reduced. brought down to New York as prisoners of war. As the number of these prisoners was now embarrassing, they fr August. English were embarked for Europe, with Manning, Salisbury, Dud- prisoners ley Lovelace, and other subordinate officers, in three ships rope, seut to Eu- from Binckes's squadron, and one of Evertsen's, under the command of Captains Boes and Van Zyll. A small prize, taken in the West Indies, was also placed in charge of An- dries Michielsen, and dispatched to Amsterdam with let- 13 August. ters from Binckes, detailing the capture of New York."
Meanwhile Lovelace, after enjoying Winthrop's hospi- tality at Hartford, and arranging his favorite post-office project, had met, on his return to New Haven, Manning's "unwelcome news" of the Dutch approach before New York. On reaching Mamaroneck, he learned that they had 31 July. taken the fort. Hoping to retrieve the calamity, the gov- ernor hastened over to Long Island to raise its militia. At lalat .. Justice Cornwell's, near Flushing, he met Secretary Mat- thias Nicolls, who agreed to go over to the fort on the next Saturday, while the governor was to keep himself "out of Art the enemy's hand," and raise the country to reduce the place again. But, being " collogued with" by one of the Dutch domines, Lovelace weakly consented to revisit his old quarters in the fort "for three days." On the after- noon of Saturday, the third day after the surrender, one of 3? Acest. the Dutch commanders accordingly went in his barge, mert with Orange flag and trumpet, over to Long Island ; and anga. fref Lovelace and Nicolls returned with him to the fort. The "* English governor was "peaceably and respectfully" enter- tained by his conquerors. But, before the three days vere out, Lovelace's creditors arrested him for debt. The proc- lamation of Evertsen and Binckes soon afterward stripped :'s strat
' Col. Doc., il., 527, 576; fil., 202, 203, 205, 206; Ifist. Mag., iv., 50; i. (il.), 20S: Sylvius. ix., 663; x., 25; Doc. Hist., ili., 54, 5 ?. Michielsen was captured in the Channel, off Beachy Head, and obliged to throw his dispatches overboard. He got to Amsterdam on 24 Ortel. r. 1013; but the Admiralty there found him "a man of so little curiosity that he had no par. tirulars to report" about the reconquest of New York : Col. Doc., ii. , 527, 52%, 3. Th original dispatches of Nicolle, detailing his capture of New York in 1664, were also lust 41 ten : ante, 50, note.
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214
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
( v. bim of all his property; but the commanders told him that, on paying his debts, he might leave the country with-
1073. in six weeks. With touching simplicity the ruined Love- lace wrote to Winthrop: "I am now intending for England, with all the conveniency I may, unlesse prevented. Al- bany is surrendered on the same termes this did, which was too lean and poor for persons of Honour. However, they would willingly frame some excuses, and shoulder the blame and burthen from one to the other. Some shelter them- selves under the shields of my absence, which, though (it is confes't) it proved unfortunate, yet the means that were afforded them to a handsomer resistance and prudent man- agery can plead no excuse. To be brief -- it was digitus Dei, who exalts and depresses as he pleases, and to whom we must all submit. Would you be curious to know what my losses might amount to --- I can in short resolve you. It was my all which ever I had been collecting; too greate to misse in this wildernesse."*
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**** *: 1
No sooner had the Dutch commanders established them- selves in the metropolis than the nearest six Long Island towns -. Midwout, Amersfoort, Brooklyn, New Utrecht, Bushwick, and Gravesend, together with Staten Island, submitted to their authority. These towns were chiefly settled by rejoicing Hollanders. Upon their nomination, f. Aursa. Jacob Strycker, of Brooklyn, was appointed schout, and Francis de Bruyn, of New Utrecht, secretary of the dis- triet ; from each of the six towns, of which four persons 1Rope, named by them were made schepens. Peter Biljou was ap- pointed schout, and two others schepens of Staten Island .;
But the other towns of Long Island and Westchester showed no disposition to submit to the Dutch. They were August. therefore summoned to send deputies to New Orange, with their constables' staves and English flags, in place of which they would be furnished with the prince's colors as soon as 4. August. possible. The commanders, in a proclamation, declared that although the fort and city on Manhattan Island had " surrendered themselves without any Capitulation or Arti- cles," yet that no harm would be done to any of the in-
1inches.
' Cel. Ixe., H., 573, 553, 537, 603, 685; ilf., 198, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 206; Mass. II. S. Coll., xxx., 50, 7; MSS. Trumbull Papers, xx., 104, 109; HHIst. Mag., i. (ii.), 208; ante, SOG. t Col. Doc., il., 573, 577, 530, 556, 645.
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COUNCIL OF WAR OF NEW NETHERLAND.
habitants of New Netherland who should submit to the CHAP. V. Dutch government. Each town was required to send two delegates to the fort, authorized to take the oath of allegi- 1673. ance, and bring with them their English colors and con- stables' staves, "whereupon they shall be considered and governed, without respect of nations, as good and faithful subjects ;" but, if they refused, they would be forcibly subdued .*
The fact that Lovelace was in the hands of the Dutch commanders added emphasis to their summons. West- chester, Eastchester, and Mamaroneck promptly sent dele- 3; August. gates, and magistrates were selected from their nomina- pointed on Officers ap- tions. The five Long Island towns-Flushing, Jamaica, and. Long Ist- Middelburg, Oyster Bay, and Hempstead-upon the peti- tion of their delegates, were granted the usual privileges, but with a warning not to take up arms against the pres- ent Dutch government, as some of them had "formerly done, contrary to honor and oath," against that of Stuyve- sant. From their nominations, William Lawrence, of Flash- ing, was chosen to be schout, and Carel van Brugge secre- 3}Aggast. tary of the district, and three schepens were selected for cach of the five towns. At the same time Captain William Knyff and Lieutenant Jeronymus de Hubert were sent 3; Aopas, with Ephraim Hermann, a clerk in Secretary Bayard's of- fice, to administer the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants of the neighboring towns, which was readily taken by all except the Quakers.t
But the five towns in the East Riding were not disposed to submit to the Dutch commanders. On receiving their proclamation, Southampton, "struck with amazement." sent to Hartford "for their advice or help." Connecticut, how- ever, would not encourage the "poore towne" to stand out The tast, alone. She was about to send messengers to New Or- motor ange on her own affairs, which had suddenly come to antes's critical point. John Selleck, of Stamford, going in a pabst ketch to Long Island, was captured by a Dutch cruiser. Another sloop was taken, but, being neglected by her cap- tors, was retaken on the "Sabbath day following." The few
* Col. Doc., ii., 572, 573; iii., 202; Mass. I. S. Coll., xxx., 87; Wood, 96.
1 CAL. Doc., ii., 550, 551, 552, 580, 591, 592, 500; Val. Man., 1850, 520, 521 ; ante, S.L L. 712, 723, 721, 726, 120, 733.
£
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CHAP. Y General Court met at Hartford; a military committee was 1673. organized ; and troops were ordered to be ready. James Richards and William Rosewell were also sent with a let- ,7. August. Connecti- cut letter to the Dutch command- ers. ter to the Dutch commanders, which, with " amazing ab- surdity," lectured them for treating "His Majesty's sub- jects" in time of war, as Charles the Second had treated the colonists of Holland in time of peace, nine years be- fore; inquired their " further intentions;" and declared that the United Colonies of New England would defend their sovereign's authority "in these parts." The Connecticut 11 August. delegates delivered this letter to the Council of War at New Orange, and explained verbally that their colony would not molest the Dutch province if nothing hostile was done against her by New Netherland. They were courteously asked to put in writing what they had to say; but they declined to do this, because " such written nego- tiations might be turned to the worst use by any disaffect- ed person of their colony." The Connecticut messengers Answer of the Dutch command- were then handed a reply, with which they returned to Hartford. In soldier-like style, the Dutch commanders answered that it was "very strange" that their enemies should object to the results of war; that the Republic of the Netherlands had commissioned them to do all manner of damage to its enemies, in consequence of which the neighborhood of the Hudson River had been reduced to obey Dutch authority; and they declared that, as the vil- lages east of Oyster Bay " did belong to this Government," they would be likewise subjected, and prompt punishment ' would be visited on all " those that shall seek to maintain the said villages in their injustice."*
In the mean time, deputies from Southampton, East- hampton, Southold, Brookhaven, and Huntington had met 14 August. at Jamaica, and drawn up a paper, in which, after stating that they had not heard from their governor, Lovelace, who was "peaceably and respectfully entertained" in the fort, they asked the Dutch commanders to allow them, upon their submission, to retain their ecclesiastical privi- leges, and enjoy several other particular liberties. On
· Mass. IT. S. Coll., xxx., S7 ; xxxvii., 570, 571 ; Col. Rec. Conn., ii., 181-183, 204, 20S, 561. 562; Plymouth Col. Rec., x .. 387, 3SS ; Col. Doc., ii., 584, 556, 602, 606: ill., 201, 203 ; Trum- bull, i., 323, 324; Grahame, 1., 421 ; Thompson, 1., 153, 154; Palfrey, iii., 120; ante, 24, 25.
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COUNCIL OF WAR OF NEW. NETHERLAND.
reaching New Orange, the deputies met the Connecticut CHAP. V. messengers, whom they found were "shy and cautious" 1673. about giving advice. But Captain Nathaniel Sylvester, of and dele- Long Isl- Shelter Island, who had come from Hartford with Rich- gates at ards and Rosewell, advised his Long Island neighbors " by New Or- all means" to submit to the Dutch government. The del- ange. egates accordingly " declared to submit themselves to the obedience of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and his Serene High- ness the Prince of Orange." Upon this their petition was granted in all points, except that in regard to appointing officers and sending deputies they should have the same privileges enjoyed by the Dutch towns, and that their re- quest to buy whaling tools in New England could not "in this conjuncture of time be allowed." The next day they 35 August. were directed to nominate for approbation a schout and a secretary for the district, and four magistrates for each town, who should be "only such as are of the Reformed Christian Religion, or at least well affected to it."*
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