USA > New York > History of the state of New-York : including its aboriginal and colonial annals, vol. pt 1 > Part 35
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XVII.
That for all wares which are not mentioned in the forego- ing article, and which are not carried by the last, there shall be paid one dollar for each hundred pounds weight, and for wines, brandy, verjuice, and vinegar, there shall be paid cigliteen guilders per cask.
XVIII.
'That the company promises the colonists of the Patroons, that they shall be free from customs, taxes, excise, imposts, or any other contributions, for the space of ten years : and after the expiration of the said ten years, at the highest, with such customs as the goods are taxable with here for the present.
XIX.
That they will not take from the service of the Patroons any of their colonists, either man or woman, son or daughter, man servant or maid servant : and though any of them should desire the same, that they will not receive them, much less permit them to leave their Patroons, and enter into the service of another, unless on consent obtained from their Patroons in writing. And this for and during so many years as they are bound to their Patroons ; after the expiration whereof, it shall be in the power of the Patroons, to send hither all such colonists as will not continue in their service, and until then shall not enjoy their liberty. And all such colonists as shall leave the service of his Patroon, and enter into the service of another, or shall contrary to his contract leave his service ; we promise to do every thing in our power to apprehend and deliver the same into the hands of his Patroon, or attorney, that he may be proceeded against, according to the cus- toms of this country, as occasion may require.
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XX.
That from all judgments given by the courts of the Pa- troons for upwards of fifty guilders, * there may be an appeal to the company's commander and council in New Netherland.
XXI.
. That touching such particular persons, who, on their own accounts, or others in the service of their masters here, (not enjoying the same privileges as the Patroons) shall be minded to go thither and settle ; they shall, with the approbation of the director and council there, be at liberty to take up as much land, and take possession thereof, as they shall have ability properly to improve, and shall enjoy the same in full proper- ty, cither for themselves or masters.
XXII.
'That they shall have free liberty of hunting and fowling, as well by water as by land, generally and in public and pri- vate woods and rivers, about their colonies, according to the orders of the director and council.
XXIII.
That whosoever, whether colonists of Patroons, for their Patroons, or free persons for themselves, or other particulars for their masters, shall discover any shores, bays, or other fit places for erecting fisheries, or the making of salt ponds, they may take possession thereof, and begin to work on them in their own absolute property, to the exclusion of all others. And it is consented to, that the Patroons of colonists may send ships along the coast of New Netherland, on the cod fishery, and with the fish they catch to trade to Italy, or other neutral countries ; paying in such case to the company for recognition, six guilders per last :f and if they should come with their lading hither, they shall be at liberty to proceed to Italy, though they shall not under pretext of this consent, or from the company, carry any goods there, on pain of arbi- trary punishment : and it remaining in the breast of the con- pany to put a supercargo on board of each ship as in the eleventh article.
XXIV.
That in case any of the colonists should by his industry
* $20 835. ¡ Or, $1 25 per ton.
397
New Netherland.
and diligence, discover any minerals, precious stones, crys- tals, marbles, or such like, or any pearl fishery, the same shall be and remain the property of the Patroon or Patroons of such colony ; giving and ordering the discoverer such premium as the Patroon shall beforehand have stipulated with such colonist by contract. And the Patroons shall be exempt from all recognition to the company for the term of eight years, and pay only for freight to bring them over, two per cent. and after the expiration of the aforesaid eight years for recognition and freight, the one eighth part of what the same may be worth here.
XXV.
That the company will take all the colonists as well free, as those that are in service, under their protection, and the same against all outlandish and inlandish wars and powers, with the forces they have there, as much as in their power layeth to defend.
XXVI.
That whoever shall settle any colony out of the limits of the Manhattes Island, shall be obliged to satisfy the Indians for the land they shall settle upon, and that they may extend or enlarge the limits of their colonies if they settle a propor- tionate number of colonists thereon.
XXVII.
That the Patroons and colonists shall in particular, and in the speediest manner, endeavour to find out ways and means whereby they may support a minister and schoolmaster, that thus the service of God and zeal for religion may not grow cool, and be neglected among them ; and that they do, for the first, procure a comforter of the sick there.
XXVIII.
That the colonies that shall happen to lay on the respec- tive rivers or islands (that is to say, each river or island for itself ) shall be at liberty to appoint a deputy, who shall give information to the commander and council of that western quarter, of all things relating to his colony, and who are to further matters relating thereto, of which deputies there shall VOL. I. 50
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be one altered, or changed, in every two years ; and all colo- nies shall be obliged, at least once in every twelve months, to make exact report of their colony and lands thereabout, to the commander and council there, in order to be transmitted hither.
XXIX.
That the colonists shall not be permitted to make any woollen, linen, or cotton cloth, nor weave any other stuff's there, on pain of being banished, and as perjurors to'be arbi- trarily punished.
XXX.
That the company will use their endeavours to supply the colonists with as many blacks, as they conveniently can, on the conditions hereafter to be made ; in such manner, how- ever, that they shall not be bound to do it for a longer time than they shall think proper.
XXXI.
The company promises to finish the fort on the island of the Manhattes, and to put it in a posture of defence without delay. And to get these privileges and exemptions approved and confirmed by their High Mightinesses, the Lords Staats General.
New Netherland.
.
CHAPTER VL.
I'rom 1629 to 1633. Commissioners of the affairs of New Netherland. Van Renselaer and others. Wouter Van Twiller delegated to proceed to New Netherland, where he acts pro tempore as Director General. Minuit not superseded. Exports and imports. Purchases of land for Lord Goodyn on the western side of New-port May, and for him and Lord Bloemaert, of Cape May ; for Lord Pauuw, of Hoboken, Staten Island, &c. ; for Lord Van Renselaer, of the land on the north and south sides of Fort Orange, on both sides of the river Mauritius. Colonies of Ren- selaerwyck, Pavonia, and Swan-valley founded. The company dissatis- fied. The Directors unite for colonization. The contract and parties- of association. Their first object to colonize the south river, to raise tobacco and grain, arid fish for whales. De Vriez the founder of this colony, on the western banks of the Delaware; no other European herc. Fort Nassau had been abandoned. The account of the settlement of New Sweden, as stated by some authors, erroneous. 'The history of that project ; its suspension in consequence of the death of Gustavus Adol- phus; its revival, and the causes and agents of it. The Dutch the first settlers, however, whence they derived their title. The English settle. The Dutch erect a pillar at Swan Valley. Causes of the de- struction of the colony ; the manner in which it was extirminated. De Vriez having been absent, now returns and concludes a treaty of peace. JIe and his second colonists remain four months only. Their adven- tures during the interim. Failing to obtain provisions for his colony, De Vriez makes the first visit to Virginia from New Netherland. He and his colonists depart the South river and stop at Manhattan. The . second arrival of Wouter Van Twiller as Governor of New Netherland, Governor Minuit recalled and proceeds to Sweden. Van Twiller's officers. The progress of the colony, agriculture, commerce, &c. be- fore Van Twiller's arrival. Causes that retarded its prosperity. Rela- tions with New Plymouth, and the relative condition with New England. The commencement of the controversy between New England and New Netherland.
As the chamber of Amsterdam managed the trade to New Netherland, the Commissioners of its affairs were principally selected from the Lords Directors of that department, Samuel Goodyn, Samuel Blocmaert, Killiaen Van Renselacr, and Jan De Laet were of that number.
The liberality of the charter towards Patroons, the re- puted advantages of New Netherland, and the flourishing condition of the finances of the company, determined these
4.00
History of New- York.
commissioners, in connexion with the department which they represented, to send an agent to inspect the condition of the country, examine its public affairs, and superintend or direct for the benefit of individual directors, the purchase from the natives of some select tracts of land.
These appear to have been the motives and object of the delegation of Wouter Van Twiller of Niewer-Kerck, a clerk of the Amsterdam department, to proceed to New Netherland. Though it has generally been conceded, or asserted without contradiction, that he was commissioned as Director General, and arrived at Fort Amsterdam in June 1629, yet there is not sufficient authority for the assertion, and none for the common opinion that he was the first Director or Governor. He may have been invested by the college of XIX, through the intervention of the commissioners of IX,, and department of Amsterdam, with powers tantamount to those of a Director General, or Governor in chief for the time being. Indeed this appears to have been the fact. But he took with him no superseders for Minuit, because he is named on record as Director, more than a year after the arrival of Van 'Twiller .* Moreover there cannot be assigned, from the state of Minuit's affairs at this time, any cause for the sus- pension of his authority. Commerce was prosperous and in- creasing : in return for the imports from the department of Amsterdam, amounting within the three years, from 1628 to 1630 inclusive, to 113,277 guilders,t the exports were 191,272 guilders. į If, as has been suggested, Van Twiller . came " a wolf in sheep's clothing," he staid no longer than was necessary to examine the fold and mark his intended vic- tims. Intrigue may have scattered the seeds of faction, and Van Twiller may have remained long enough to see them germinate. It is certain that factions about this time con- vulsed this infant colony ; and perhaps this cause, combined
* Book of Dutch Patents. G. G. in the office of Secretary of State of New-York.
+ $ 47,193 72.
$ $ 79,60€ 661.
401
New Netherland.
with favouritism, and succeeded by mismanagement, may have accomplished the recall of Minuit, and the confirmation of Van Twiller, in undivided and established authority. Mean time let us retrograde in our history, and follow metho- dically the progress of events.
One of the three ships which the department sent over in 1629, visited the Indian village on the south-west corner of New-port May or Delaware Bay, and a purchase from the three chiefs of the tribe, was there made in behalf of De Heer Goodyn. This tract extended " from Cape Hinloop," to the mouth of the river," about thirty-two English miles, f and was two miles in breadth.
In May 1630, a purchase for Goodyn and Bloemaert was made, from nine resident chiefs, owners of Cape May, of the land at that cape, sixteen miles in length along the bay, and sixteen miles in breadth, containing sixty-four square miles. }
In July the Director and council ex-officio, accepted a grant from the Indian proprietors, in behalf of Michael Pauuw
* So named in the patent. The name Hinloopen is supposed to have been derived from the name of a Holland navigator. " De twee Kapen der Zuid-rivier zyn naar zekeren, waarschynlyk Jelmer Hinlopen, (ver- gelyk Scheltema Rusland en de Nederlanden, I. D. vol. 53.) en Kornelis Jakobse Mey, Kaup-Hinlopen on Kaap-Mey genoemd, en de West-Kaap der Noord-rivier Godins-punt." (Lambrechtsen.) De Laet, b. 3. ch. ii. says the northern Cape of Nieuw-port May, is called Cape May, the south- ern Cape Cornelius ; 4 miles (16 English) southward of this lies Capc Hinlopen.
t Eight Dutch miles large measure. The deed was executed by three of the inhabitants of their village in behalf of the rest, viz. by Querquakos, Esanques, and Siconesius, bears date July 15, 1630, and recites the pur- chase made June 1st, 1629, in consideration of certain cargoes of goods received. The Director and council ex-officio, accept and confirm said sale in behalf of the much esteemed Mr. Samuel Goodyn, absent. This decd is the second on record in the office of the Secretary of State, recorded in the Dutch book of patents GG. translated by James Van Ingen, Esq.
# Equivalent to sixteen Dutch square miles. This purchase was made by Peter Heyser Skipper, of the ship Whale, and Gilles Coster, Commis- sary, and on 3d Jan. 1631, they appeared before the Director and council.
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History of New-York.
Heer van Achthienhoven,* of " Hobocan Hackingh, lying op- posite the island Manhatas, and extending on the south side of' Ahasimus, castward the river Mauritius, and on the west side surrounded by a valley (marsh) and swamp, through which the limits were sufficiently distinguishable."
This was succeeded by the more important investiture in Lord Panuw, of the title to " the Staten Island on the west shore of Hamels hooftden,"t and this by another of " Ahasi- mus, and the island Aressick, alias Hoeren-hoeck, stretching along the river Mauritius and island Manhatas on the east side, and the island Hobokan Hackingh on the north side, sur- rounded by marshes serving sufficiently for distinct boun- daries."į
In August, lands in the vicinity of Fort Orange, and on both sides of the river and intervening islands, were purchased for De Heer Kiliaen Renselaer. The Indian owners of the land immediately round Fort Orange, had hitherto refused to sell the same, but it was finally purchased for Van Renselaer, through the agency of the commissary at Fort Orange.§ The
(their ship then lying in Goodyn's Bay) and received a confirmation bear- ing the above date, of the purchase in behalf of their principals, Goodyn and Bloemaert. See the patent in the book of Dutch patents G. G. trans- lated by James Van Ingen, Esq.
* Lord of Achthienhoven, one of the Directors of the West India Com- pany.
¡ The narrows between Staten and Long Island. Hamel was the name of one of the Directors of the company : hoofiden head land. The Dutch call- ed the channel between Dover and Calais De Hooftden, because these two places point forward as a head land. Sewel's Great Dictionary, (Groote Woordenboek) Dutch and English. This deed is dated July 15, 1651. (Book G. G.) It recites that before us, the Director General and council, &c. personally appeared, Krahorat Tameeap, Totemakwemama, Sierare- wack, Sackwewew, Wissipoack, Saheinsius, (or boy) inhabitants, owners, and heirs, of the land called by us the Staten Island, on the west shore of' Ilamels hooftden, and in consideration of certain parcels of goods, have sold, &c. to Michael Pauuw, (absent, and for whom we ex-officio accept the same under proper stipulation) the said lands, &c. promising, moreover, to maintain the same from free all claims, &c. as well against the aforesaid Wissipock's heir when arrived to years of manhool as others, &c.
# Dutch patents. Book G. G.
$ Sebastian C'roll.
1
403
New Netherland.
joint owners and granters of these lands, were Kettemack, Nawanemitt, Albantzena, Sagiskaw, and Kanamack.' The whole purchase extended south and north from Fort Orange* nearly to Monemins Castle, f and on both sides of the river. But the land called Semesseeck, on the east shore opposite Castle Island to the aforesaid castle, had belonged in particu- lar to Nawanemitt. Petanoch, whose right was also bought, was the proprietor of the " land from the mill creek north to Negagonse, being about three dutch (or twelve English) miles large measure." And four other Indian owners sold the " land called Sanckhagag, į south of Fort Orange, ex- tending from the ground opposite Smacks Island, to a point a little north of Beeren Island, § and two days travel into the country." "The ground opposite this on the east side of the river, and as far north as the ground opposite Castle Island, was bought a few years afterwards. ||
These were the limits of the colony or manor of Rense- Jaerwyck. T The compensation to the natives for all these purchases, was " certain cargoes or parcels of goods."
'The territory of de Heer Pauuw, was named by him Po- vonia, ** and that of Goodyn, Sweenendael.ti
"* Albany. Sec map of Renselaerwyck, prefixed.
i This was on a small island at the mouth of the Mohawk river.
# Coeyman's purchase, since so called.
§ Bears Island, since called Barren Island, about twelve miles south of Albany.
|| Indian Deeds to Van Rensclaer, and Dutch patents, 1630-1, & #637. Renseleerwyck manuscripts. Part of them are deposited among the MSS. of N. Y. Historical Society, and others have been loaned to the author by General Van Renselacr.
T See Renselaerwyck map, constructed on a small scale from the origi- Hal parchment map of the ancient colony, in possession of its present pro- prietor, General Stephen Van Renselaer, and prefixed to this history.
** Pavonia is often mentioned in the Dutch records. It embraced the territory opposite Fort Amsterdam, uow New Jersey. De Vriez says that Pauuw, having afterwards learned that the land around Fort Orange was appropriated by Van Renselaer, Goodyu, and others, immediately caused the place where the Indians met and crossed over with beavers to Fort Amsterdam, to be set down for himself, naming it Pavonia, or Parooniae. Perhaps Pavuletonia, was the true nome which De Heer Paige gave. ti Valley of Sivans.
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History of New- York.
Thus three colonies, or plantations, were founded in New Netherland in 1630; but under circumstances not altogether calculated to conduce to its prosperity. After these exten- sive appropriations of the most eligible parts of the country in behalf of the directors, what inducements remained for the emigration of freemen ? What to incite enterprise or stimu- late industry was left, when they were excluded from com- merce, and forbade to spin or weave any cloth under the pe- nalty of " being banished, and as perjurors to be arbitrarily punished."*
Those purchases were made without any apparent precon- cert or organized association among the directors. Vague as the description of boundaries appears, they did not originally transcend much the limits prescribed by the fifth article of the charter, and for a justification of subsequent excess, the Pa- troons relied upon the 26th article, allowing an extension of the limits of the respective colonies | Nevertheless, dissatis- faction was early manifested by the company, to whom the purchase of Pavonia was particularly displeasing, as this in- cluded the spott where the Indians assembled to traffic in beavers, or to cross to Fort Amsterdam.
'The directors who had effected the other purchases, deem- cd it policy to unite their interests, so far, at least, as to de- fray the expenses, and share the profits of colonization : and they also deemed it expedient to receive as co-partners some directors who had not been sufficiently vigilant to seize at an carly period, the advantages proffered by the charter. This arrangement may have tended to allay some portion of the dissatisfaction, but it did not remove it entirely, nor pre- vent even the charter itself from being afterwards brought in question.
* See the charter. Art. XXIX.
{ As appears from the correspondence between the Director of Rense- laerwyck and Governor Stuyvesant.
# Hoeren-hoeck, or Paulus-hoeck, so named from a person in the ser- vice of Paunw.
New Netherland. 405
'This contract of association was dated the 16th day of Oc- tober, 1630 .* The original parties were Samuel Goodyn, Kiliaen Van Rensalaer, Samuel Blomaert and Jan De Lact. Goodyn and Van Renselaer were merchants of Amsterdam; the former was a director also of the Greenland company, and the latter one of the chief partnerst of the West Indian company. The immediate design of their association was to colonize the South river. They offered the command of an expedition for this purpose to David Pietersen De Vries, į an experienced and enterprising navigator. who had just re- turned from the East Indies. Not being a Director of the company, he consented to act, provided that his advantages should be equal to those of any of the patroons. They also received as additional partners, Mathias Van Coulen, Hen- drick Hamel, Johan Van Harinck-houck and Nicolaes Van Settorigh, who were Directors of the company. Equalizing by the contract all advantages, they equipped a ship and yacht and destined them for the South river ; the fruitful bor- ders of which might, they believed, become as distinguished for agriculture, as the North river had been for commerce. The express object proposed, therefore, to be pursued by the colony, was the cultivation of tobacco and grain ; but as whales and seals frequented those waters, this fishery was to become a concomitant object for immediate profits.§ Ac-
* Dutch records.
i Hooft participant Beweint hebber. De Laet Ilist. West In. Co.
# De Vries's Voyages. He is sometimes referred to in the Dutel records under the name of David Pietersen and David Pietersen Van JIoorn.
" Planting tobacco and raising grain were the colonial objects, says De Vries. " Goodyn being informed that whales were plenty in these re- gions, and fish oil being 60 guilders ($25) the hogshead, the vessel was , laden with the utensils for this fishery, as well as planters, cattle, &r." Whales and seals were found in Port May, (or New-York bay) as well as New-Port May (or Delaware), according to Vander Donck and the Dutch recorils. Long Island, particularly, was formerly famous for the great number of whales and seals on its coasts ; but whether the frequent fishe- ries, or any other cause of a like kind hath driven away these creatures, Von. I. 51
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cordingly, the vessels were laden with utensils for this fishery, as well as with agricultural implements, seeds and cattle, and between thirty and forty colonists embarked under command of Captain De Vries.
He left the Texel on the 12th December, (1630) and arri- ved at the South bay in the course of the winter. He entered within two leagues of Cape Cornelius, a deep creek, described as containing fertile islands and abounding with fine oysters .*
who generally seek quiet seas and desert shores, it is certain they have, in a great measure, disappeared. Russel's Hist. of Amer. II. 970; Gardi- ner (in MS. netes), and the Long Island entries confirm the fact of the great number of whales on Long Island shore.
$ De Vries, in speaking of this location, in different parts of his voyages, first speaks of it under the name of the " kill," afterwards the colony " on . Swaenendacl, or the whore kreek, " " at Swacnendael in the whore kreek," " at Swaenendael." The terms are used by De Vries as synonymous. Ho considered the creek as embraced by Swanendael (Swans' dale or valley of swans.) In Kort Verbacl van Nieuw Nederlandtz, it is said that " the name Hoeren kill (or Harlot's creek, also called Sinknesse) had its rise from the liberality of the Indians, for lavishly prostituting, especially at that place, their maidens and daughters to our Netherlanders there. Otherwise, it is by David Pieters De Vries, who about the year 1630, first endeavoured to settle there, called Swaenendal." It is described in Kort Verh. &c. as be- iug two leagues from Cape Cornelius, a fine navigable stream, filled with fine islands, good oysters, and bordered by ground exuberant in fertility, &c. (MS. translated copy of Kort Verhacl. ) Doct. Holmes (in Amer. Annals, I. 259) says that in 1680, one of the Swedes erected a fort at Hoar kill. He refers to Smith's New Jersey 22, but has mistaken De Vries for a Swede.
In " A short account of the first settlements of Virginia, Maryland, New- York. New-Jersey and Pennsylvania : Londow, 1735," p. 14, it is said that in 1630 the Dutch erected a fort near the entrance of a creek called the Hoore kill, about 3 leagues within the Capes of Delaware, on the west- sbore, where Lowestown now stands, which place to this day is oftener call- ed and better known by the name of Hoore kill, its Dutch name, than Lewes, which was given it by Mr. Penn, when he named the county w bere it stands Sussex. The same year (1630) the Dutch, under the direction of David Petersen De Fries, extended their settlements farther up the Bay of Delaware, on the western shore, even to the entrance of the river, as far as Bombey's Hook. calling that part Sawenendale or Swandale, which names they retain to this day."
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