USA > New York > Bronx County > The Bronx and its people; a history, 1609-1927, Volume I > Part 9
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There is no mistaking who were this preacher and the people for whom he was authorized to speak. John Robinson and his flock had been living in Leyden from 1609, and thus from the first must have heard of the exploit of Henry Hudson which agitated commercial Hol- land. Their views of church government differed hopelessly from those favored by the dominant class in England and endorsed as well as enforced by the Crown ; and king and prelates insisting on conformity thereto or banishment, or worse, the non-conformist band at Scrooby, in Nottinghamshire, led by their pastor, chose banishment, and being assured of tolerance and protection in Holland, where there were many of their way of thinking, they entered upon what later historians called their first "pilgrimage," and took up their abode in Amsterdam, in 1608. But in 1609 Robinson's flock found it more advantageous to remove to Leyden. Here they spent many peaceful years, though, being a country just recuperating from a sanguinary war, they were compelled in common with the citizens of the country to maintain a severe struggle for existence, and they sometimes speak of "hard" times. Yet it may be inferred that they were not destitute, for in 1611 they bought a large piece of ground with a spacious house upon it, for over three thousand dollars, which would represent much more than that amount today. The site of this house is now indicated by a stone in the front wall of the building occupying it at present, which records that "on this spot lived, taught and died John Robinson, 1611-1625." Believing in the independency of the congregation as distinguished from the Presbyterian system of both the Dutch and the Scotch churches, and objecting to worship in buildings that had formerly been devoted to Catholic serv- ices, Robinson himself could form no ecclesiastical affiliations with the church of the land, as the pastors of Scotch refugees had done; nor could his people be granted a sanctuary, as had been assigned to the Scotch, since the Protestants throughout Holland were using the abun- dant supply of such edifices built in Catholic times, which it was con- sidered it would have been mere wantonness to destroy or leave vacant. The English exiles, on whom later American historians have bestowed the title of "Pilgrims," met for public worship in the spacious house they had purchased, which was also set apart for their pastor's residence ; while about the extensive garden smaller buildings were erected for the use of a number of the poorer families. It is worth noting that on the same ground stands an almost similar institution, namely a home for indigent people belonging to the French or Walloon congregation -- the descendants of exiles from France and Belgium.
While enjoying liberty to conduct their church government on the principles which they had adopted, and to exercise their worship in the
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place and manner that their consciences could approve, there were some considerations which made Robinson and his flock wish for different surroundings. In the recent discussions in New England in regard to erecting a monument at Delfshaven to commemorate the departure thence of these Puritan exiles, those who opposed the scheme charged that the Hollanders did not treat them handsomely. But we cannot dis- cover this about the causes of their leaving. They were English and the younger generation, it is supposed, were becoming fast amalgamated with the element around them. They were not far enough away from James I to altogether escape his annoyance, for although the Dutch government necessarily condemned him in harboring the refugees at all, it could not entirely break with the head of the only other great Protest- ant power, and thus at times it was compelled to give the appearance at least of heeding the remonstrancies of the English king. Again the refugees from Yorkshire could not much better bear the Presbyterian government of the Dutch Church than they could the English episcopa- cy ; yet their children were growing up where they constantly saw this form exemplified, and they would thus not only be reconciled to it but might become identified with it. The new free principles of church policy for which Robinson and his co-religionists contended needed wide space and unmolested practice for their development. Early in their stay in Holland therefore they began to turn their eyes to America. Negotiations were attempted more than once with the London or the Plymouth Company. But their own countrymen could not be quite depended on, and their king least of all. Then their intentions were made known to the New Netherland Company, whose directors, as we have seen, met their advances cordially. When the matter, however, came before the States-General, they took a broader view of the situa- tion. Here was not a mere colonizing scheme, an undertaking for enter- prising Dutch merchants only. Important political questions were in- volved, which had not occurred to simple business men. Dutch states- men, accustomed to take in a wide range, and to look far in advance, in their keen combat against overwhelming power, were not ignorant of the claims of the English, and how these might be favored in the future by the proposed action in the present. Argall had given prac- tical exhibition of the temper of his nation towards the Dutch on Man- hattan. That which in a few decades was to find its way into printed volumes was undoubtedly then abroad in diplomatic circles-namely, that on the strength of Hudson's nationality his discoveries properly belonged to England. It would therefore have been the height of im- policy to send as the first colonists to a section claimed by England some hundreds of families of English extraction and still speaking the English
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tongue. Hence the States-General denied the petition of the directors of the New Netherland Company, and refused to allow the English families to proceed thither. Less than six months afterwards, on July 20, 1620, about half of the number of refugees dwelling at Leyden left that city, parted from their pastor and the remainder of their kinsfolk at Delfshaven, and sailed forth thence in the "Speedwell" on their jour- ney to America. So two important elements, the English and the Dutch, are seen in the work of giving their contribution to New York and New England.
Walloons and the West India Company-Meanwhile in the spring of 1622 the West India Company was still awaiting the slow ingathering of its required capital and was therefore not yet fully organized. Ap- plication was made to the States of Holland by a number of families who desired transportation as colonists to New Netherland. It was referred to the West India Company and taken in hand by the Amsterdam Cham- ber, as doubtless its capital was fully subscribed before that of the other chambers. Moreover the families that had made this request were set- tled at Amsterdam, and there direct communication could be held with them. The same peculiarity attached to them which distinguished the people who had offered to form a colony in America in 1620. They too, like John Robinson and his compatriots, were exiles for conscience' sake, having been compelled to leave their homes in the Southern Prov- inces of the Netherlands, bordering on France. The inhabitants of the Southern Provinces of Belgium were designated by the name of Wal- loons, either on account of their Gallic origin, or of their proximity to France and the use of that language. The name refers to their Gallic origin. In transition from the Romance to the Teutonic tongues the "g" is often changed into "w"; even as guerre becomes "war," and Guillaume, "William." Gaulois would become Waalsch or Walloon. Being as the English refugees were, sojourners in a strange land, these Walloons were prepared to undertake a second removal, although the great major- ity of their compatriots felt quite at home in Holland, and became thoroughly identified with her institutions of Church and State. It appears possible that at first they hesitated to pass from Holland to regions to which Hollanders indeed were trading, but which, lying be- tween the northern and southern limits of English patents, were a debateable land where no settlement might be secure. At least they applied to Sir Dudley Carleton to intervene for them with the author- ities in England to obtain permission to settle in Virginia. Failing to arrive at any satisfactory arrangements in that quarter they had ad- dressed themselves to the Provincial Legislature of Holland.
Arrangements were then made. For the transportation of these fifty
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or sixty families there was provided by the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company a vessel of great size for that day, having more than three times the dimensions of the "Half-Moon", or a displacement of two hundred and sixty tons. It was appropriately christened the "New Netherland." Thirty of the Walloon families were placed upon her, and it was carefully planned in advance how these were to be distributed into various settlements. Some of them were to go to the South River, and Cornelius Jacobsen May, who was made captain of the "New Netherland," was appointed to be director or governor of the settlement there to be planted. But he was to have a general survey of the whole expedition and of the plantation in America. Proceeding first to the head of navigation on the Hudson he was to restore the former forts there or build a new one, and to leave in command Adrian Jorisz of Thienpont, or as some writers call him, Adriaen Jorisz Thienpont.
The history of Harlem and The Bronx and Westchester is a direct growth out of this first colonizing expedition to New Netherland. It left Amsterdam in March, 1623, or nearly a year after the application of the Walloon families had been laid before the States of Holland. It reached the mouth of the Hudson in May, and several incidents con- nected with its arrival, as well as facts just stated, have been preserved for us by the contemporary historian, Wassenaer. In the first place the "New Netherland" encountered a French vessel, upon an errand similar to her own, in the Upper Bay. The intruder was disposed of. An armed yacht, the "Mackarel," coming opportunely down the river from Fort Nassau, convoyed the stranger outside the bay well into the ocean. But it is said that the Frenchman tried to effect his object on the South or Delaware River; with the same result, however, for the Dutch traders there treated the would-be colonists of France with equal firmness. The "New Netherland," after the episode with the Frenchman, proceeded up the river, leaving then or later some of the Walloons upon Manhattan Island, eight men in all, according to the deposition of Catelina Trico. At any rate about this time a number of them must have settled at the "Waelenbogt" or Walloon Bay, the Wallabout of today, bearing testimony in this corrupt form to the presence of these earliest settlers in that portion of Long Island and the city of Brooklyn. Here, two years later, occurred an interesting event. A certain Simon Jansen de Rapallo or Rapalje, according to the Dutch spelling, having first settled in Staten Island, removed to the Walloon Bay, in the spring of 1625. When but a few months in this new home, on June 6, 1625, he became the father of the first female child of European parents born within the limits of New Netherland. It was long supposed that Sarah de Rapalje was the first white child born in New Netherland. But
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the Labadist voyagers who photographed upon their written journal the manners and customs and people of New Amsterdam, and indeed of all New Netherland, as they were in 1679, have left the record that in this year they were introduced to one Jean Vigne, then about sixty- five years old, who was known to be the first child thus born. His birth, therefore, must have taken place in 1614 or 1615. His parents were from Valenciennes in France.
Settling Forts Amsterdam and Orange-Moving up the river to the head of navigation the uncommon size of the "New Netherland," as com- pared with the class of ships that ordinarily visited those parts, proved to be of some inconvenience. When opposite Esopus Creek, it was found necessary to lighten her by transferring a portion of her cargo to boats, and by this expedient she was enabled to work her way up as far as the Tawasentha. While this had been thought a good place for the small redoubt called Fort Nassau, when it was contemplated to build a regular fort another site was deemed preferable. And thus ' Fort Orange, scientifically constructed, with four angles, a few miles further to the north came to occupy the side of the present Albany. At the same time that the engineers and soldiers of the expedition began marking out the angles of the fortress and digging the trenches, the Walloon colonists put their spades into virgin soil and sowed their grain, so that when the fort was completed and Captain May, leaving Adriaen Jorisz in command, was about to betake himself to the quarter assigned for his special jurisdiction, the grain stood high and promising. We learn from Wassenaer that another fort or redoubt. called "Wilhelmus," was built on an island in the vicinity of Fort Orange by the name of "Prince's Island"; but it is difficult to identify this spot, although the suggestion offers itself whether it may not have been upon it that Christiaensen met his fate at the hands of the Indian Orson, whom he had brought with him to Europe and back again, and whether on that account it had got its name of "Murderer's Island," which it had formerly held. Eighteen families were left at Fort Orange, and besides Adriaen Jorisz, who as sea-captain, had occasion to make the voyage to Holland at certain intervals, one Daniel Kriekenbeeck, whose cognomen was abbreviated to "Beeck" or "Beck" in daily conversation, was appointed to command in his absence. The year had been an important one for Albany. Ere it was gone Captain May had al- ready established himself on the South or Delaware River. He built a fort there also, for which he selected a spot on the Timmer's Kill, near the site of the present town of Gloucester in New Jersey, about four miles south of Philadelphia. Four couples that had been married at sea and eight men were appointed to remain there. The name borne
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for nearly ten years by the redoubt on the banks of the upper Hudson was transferred to the stronghold on the Delaware, and there hence- forth in history Fort Nassau would have to be looked for. It is related, but with rather slight grounds of probability, that during the same year a fort was built and a colony consisting of no more than two families and six men, established on the Freshwater or Connecticut River, where in 1633, Fort Good Hope was erected.
Thus the first colonies were established in New Netherland, but we need not suppose that the thirty families brought out by the first ship were the only ones to supply so many points. A few months after she sailed, or in June, 1623, the project upon which those who had de- spatched her were bent was pursued still further, and more of the Wal- loon families were brought over by an expedition consisting of no fewer than three ships at once-the "Orange Tree," the "Eagle," and the "Love." It is to be noted moreover that these vessels were sent, not by the Amsterdam Chamber alone, but by the West India Company as a whole. It was perfecting its arrangements and fast completing its organ- ization ; its capital was nearly all subscribed, and notices everywhere published that its books would soon be closed. Perhaps in honor of this event and in compliment to the company, the States-General granted a seal for New Netherland, as if to place it on a level with the provinces of the Republic. As it will be remembered, these United Provinces had all originally been separate suzerainties -- duchies, counties, baronies, or lordships-and as such each had possessed his appropriate armorial bearings, which were still retained on their provincial seals. To New Netherland such armorial bearings were assigned, which was equivalent to making it a province, the seal representing a shield bearing a beaver, proper, over which was a count's coronet, surrounded by the words : "Sigillum Novi Belgii." A little later moreover the American province received a conspicuous share of attention in the literature of Holland : for in 1625 there was published in Leyden, by the famous house of Elsevier, De Laet's "Nieuee Wereldt, ofte Beschryvinghe van West Indien," a monumental work, the source to this day of much of our in- formation concerning Hudson's exploit, the condition of the country and of the natives at the time of his visit, also of the subsequent ex- plorations by Block, May, and Hendricksen. De Laet was one of the directors of the West India Company, and his book appears to have contributed greatly towards directing the attention of Hollanders to those regions in America of which that great corporation was just beginning to assume the charge.
The term of Captain May as director having expired in 1624, another director, appointed again for only one year, was sent out. This was
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one William Verhulst. As no trace of him appears on or about Man- hattan, while in the Delaware there was an island known for some time as Verhulsten Island, whereon stood a substantial trading-house of brick; it may be concluded that his jurisdiction, like May's, was mainly on the Delaware River. One event of note, that gave evidence of how thoroughly the idea of colonizing had taken root, marked his brief ad- ministration. This was the sending of over one hundred head of cattle to New Netherland by Peter Evertsen Hulft, one of the directors of the West India Company. The expedition consisted of three ships, fur- nished by himself, and an armed yacht provided by the Dutch govern- ment. The cattle were placed upon two of the ships. A special deck, was constructed for their stalls, which were kept thickly sanded, and doubtless every other provision was made to secure that scrupulous cleanliness that still characterizes the stables of Holland. Beneath these decks large tanks were placed filled with a supply of water, while a sufficient quantity of fodder was stored on a separate ship, which con- tained also six families or forty-five persons as colonists. Of the one hundred and three head of cattle, beeves, hogs, and sheep, only two died on the passage. Arriving before Manhattan the precaution was taken to land them on Nooten Island, lest they should go astray and be lost in the forests. But there being some difficulty in properly watering them there, they were finally transferred to Manhattan Island. In a short time about twenty died, in consequence of grazing on some poisonous weeds. At the close of 1625 William Verhulst's term as director came to an end, and about the middle of December of that year Peter Minuit was invested with the title of Director General. Furnished with a staff of officers for a fully equipped colonial government, he embarked for Manhattan, where he arrived in May, 1626, and the reg- ular colonial history of the State of New York, or of the then Province of New Netherland, began.
New York may be said to have had its origin in the pursuit of com- merce. In Holland, a country that had won freedom from foreign in- terference and established a government of the people, there were few who sought a political freedom in foreign lands which they could not find at home. Since the Dutch Republic had been founded as a protest against foreign persecution, and consistently with that progress it had become the asylum of the persecuted in other lands. Adventure brought men to Virginia, writes an American author, politics and religion to New England, philanthropy to Georgia; but New York was founded by trade and for trade, and for nothing else. The settlement on the island of Manhattan was due to the active spirit of Dutch commerce. The early trading voyages were succeeded by permanent colonization. But
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the purpose of the West India Company was the profit of the merchant rather than the more general aim of the statesman. It sought to secure wealth from the settlement rather than to create a new province for the advancement of social prosperity and political principles. , By the time New Netherland was taking shape there were already a number of colonial governments established on North American soil. Virginia's permanent settlement dates from the year 1607, and after many vicis- situdes it was at this time greatly prospering under the liberal rule of Sir George Yeardley. It was he who instituted the first colonial legis- lature, consisting of representatives from the people, which began its sessions in July, 1619, or a year before the English refugees, who were the forerunners of the Puritans of New England, left Leyden. In 1622 no fewer than four thousand souls occupied plantations along both banks of the James River, and after many Indian massacres of that year and the consequent wars, inducing many to return to England, there re- mained still a population of nearly twenty-five hundred. While Minuit governed New Netherland a charter was granted Lord Baltimore, em- bracing the territory that later became the State of Maryland, but the first colonists did not arrive until Van Twiller had succeeded to the directorship in 1634, and next year already beheld a popular assembly established among them, with religious toleration the keynote of their history from the very beginning. In New England, following 1620, there had been prepared by the circumstances of the times a plantation of men who might be expected to prove friendly to the settlers from Holland, so that in this distant quarter of the world, much mutual com- fort could be derived from their comparatively close neighborhood. These were the Puritans at New Plymouth, still reminiscent of their sojourn in Holland, which at that time had developed more liberal in- stitutions than were known elsewhere, and still receiving accessions to their numbers from the families left in Leyden when the "Speedwell" sailed away with the first adventurers. In these regions two other colonies found a home before Director Minuit's term had expired. Portsmouth and Dover had been established in 1623; and five years later John Endicott settled at Salem.
In 1630 religious intolerance had already sent back the brothers Browne for daring to adhere to the Church of England, but the year was marked also by a brighter event, the coming of Governor John Winthrop with seven hundred colonists, and the founding of the city of Boston. Finally in 1636, or one year before Van Twiller's régime was ended, the history of Rhode Island began with the colony estab- lished by Roger Williams at Providence-a monument to his own liberal spirit, and to advanced ideas that were to find America so congenial a
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soil in later generations. It was almost half a century after Minuit's arrival before the Carolinas were colonized; and almost sixty years be- fore William Penn established a refuge for Quakers in the State known by his name. Georgia originated just a century after the expiration of the term of the first Director-General of New Netherland, while the Dutch colony itself was the beginning of the States of Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York.
Director Minuit embarked on the "Sea-Mew" on December 19, 1625. Detained by the ice in the broad harbor of the Y or in the Zuyder Zee, the vessel did not clear the Texel channel till January 9th, and on May 4, 1626, arrived at Manhattan Island. There had been two directors be- fore Minuit, but the office was from that time forth to have important powers, and was thus distinguished by the superior title of Director- General, and he had his council on board ship with him, the council constituting also a court for the trial of offenses, though capital cases were reserved for the authorities at home. Although New Amsterdam was not incorporated as a city till 1655, the appointment of the colonial officers appears to have been modelled after the plan of the municipal government in Holland. In Dutch town government the Court of the Schepens or Scabini consisted of five, seven, nine, eleven or thirteen members, according to the size of the place, five being the least. When it is considered that the other officers were a secretary and a schout, or a schout-fiscal, the municipal form is borne out still more nearly com- pletely. The secretary first met with is Isaac de Rasieres; the schout- fiscal was John Lampe. While so much of New Netherland centered at Manhattan Island the colonial government was practically a town government.
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