USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. I > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
Under the fostering care of its first patroon, and the prudent manage- ment of its local magistracy, the colonie of Rensselaerswyck progress- ively, though slowly, advanced. Portions of its inhabitants occasionally returned to Fatherland, to spread the tidings of their prosperity, and to invite their friends and relatives to join them in their new homes, which from the abundance and cheapness of provisions, deserved truly to be called "a land flowing with milk and honey." A hamlet gradually arose. On account, it is said, of the erescent form of the bank of the river at this point, this hamlet was first called the Fuyck, or Beversfuyck, and afterwards Beverswyck, by which name the present eity of Albany was legally known until 1664, though it was familiarly called the Fuyck, by the Dutch, for many years after the entire country had passed into the hands of other masters.
In order to give greater stability to his settlement, and to become better acquainted with its condition, Mr. Van Rensselaer, it is alleged, visited the colonie in person in 1637. His stay in the country, if he ever did come, was, however, not very long. The demise or resignation of Sheriff Planck now required the appointment of a new officer, and the peculiar position of the settlers, surrounded on all sides by rude and unconverted savages, demanded the guardian supervision and solaeing comforts of religion, for as yet neither church nor elergymen existed in Rensselaerswyck. To secure an efficient administration of justice, and to provide a properly qualified clergyman for his people, consequently became a paramount duty.
Adriaen van der Donck, "a free citizen of Breda,"-a lineal descendant of Adriaen van Bergen, part owner of the famous turf-sloop in which a party of Dutch troops were clandestinely introduced, in the year 1590, into the eastle commanding that city, then in the hands of the Spanish, by which stratagem that stronghold fell into the hands of their High Mightinesses the States General,-and a graduate of the University of Leyden, was selected as the successor of Sheriff Planck. He entered on the performance of his duties, as schout-fiscaal of Rensselaerswyck, in the course of a month or two after his appointment, having, previous to his departure from Holland, taken a lease from the patroon of the west half of Castle island, called Welysburg.
The Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, "the pious and well-learned minis- ter of the congregation of Schoorel and Berge," under the elassis of Alk-
193
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
maer, was duly called to disseminate the light of the gospel among the Christians and heathen in the colonie, and regularly commissioned " to preach God's word there ; to administer the holy sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper; to set an example, in a Christian-like manner, by public precept; to ordain elders and deacons; to keep and govern, by and with the advice and assistance of the same, God's congregation in good discipline and order, all according to God's holy word, and in conformity with the government, confession, and catechism of the Netherland churches, and the synodal acts of Dordrecht .??
The allowance guarantied to this clergyman was free passage and board for himself, his wife and four children, who accompanied him to New Netherland; an outfit of three hundred guilders, or one hundred and twenty dollars, and an annual stipend, for the first three years, of eleven hundred guilders, ($440,) thirty schepels of wheat, and two firkins of butter, or in place thereof, should he prefer it, sixty guilders in cash. This salary was to be further increased by an addition of two hundred guilders a year, for a second term of three years, if the patroon were, satisfied with his services. A pension of one hundred guilders per an- num was secured to his wife, in case of his demise within the above term, for and during whatever time might remain unexpired of his engagement.
These preliminaries having been thus arranged, an obstacle was unexpectedly thrown in the way of Mr. Megapolensis's departure by the directors of the West India Company, who claimed the exclusive right to approve of his appointment. To this, however, the feudal lord of Rensselaerswyck demurred; and it was not until after a lapse of several months that a compromise was agreed to, the directors approving of the appointment under protest on the part of Mr. Van Rensselaer, saving his rights as patroon.
The Rev. Mr. Megapolensis and family embarked, together with Abraham Staes, surgeon, Evert Pels, brewer, and a number of other freemen, farmers, and farm-servants, shortly after this, in the ship the Houttuyn, or Woodyard, which was freighted with a quantity of goods for the colonie-between two and three hundred bushels of malt for Mr. Pels-four thousand tiles, and thirty thousand stone for building- besides some vines and madder, the cultivation of which the patroon was desirous of introducing among his people .* On the arrival of Mr. Megapolensis at Rensselaerswyck, a contract was concluded for the erection of a dwelling for himself and family, but the contractor having failed in fulfilling his agreement, a house belonging to Maryn Adriaensen, constructed entirely of oak, was subsequently purchased for his use, for the sum of three hundred guilders, or one hundred and twenty dollars. For the convenience of the settlers at Tuscameatick, (as Greenbush, at the opposite side of the river, was called by the Indians,) a ferry was next established near the foot of the Beaver's kill, (where it still continues
* * Mr. Pels erected a brewery in the colonie ; Dr. Stacs became one of the council in 1643, and was appointed president of the board in 1644, at a salary of 100 florins ($40) per annum He obtained license to trade in furs, and had also a considerable bouwerie, besides pursuing the practice of his profession. He was the ancestor of the Staats of the present day, the original name having assumed shortly afterwards the termination it now has.
194
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
to ply ;) and as it was the patroon's intention that the church, the min- ister's dwelling, the attorney-general's residence, and the honses for the trades-people and mechanics, should be erected in one vicinity, so as to constitute a kerckbuurte, or settlement around the church, orders were transmitted that no persons (farmers and tobacco planters excepted) , should, for the future, establish themselves, after the expiration of their term of service, elsewhere than in the vicinity of the church, and accord- ing to the plan now sent out by the Houttuyn; for, it was justly observed, "if every one resides where he thinks fit, separated far from other settlers, they, should trouble occur, would be unfortunately in danger of their lives, as sorrowful experience hath demonstrated around the Manhattans." A church, thirty-four feet long, and nineteen feet wide-the first in this quarter-was erected in the course of the follow- ing year. Though humble in its dimensions, when compared with modern edifices of a similar sacred character, it was considered, at this time, sufficiently ample for the accommodation of the faithful, "for the next three or four years, after which it might be converted into a school- house, or a dwelling for the sexton." A pulpit, ornamented with a canopy, was soon added for the preacher, as well as pews for the magis- trates and for the deacons, and "nine benches" for the congregation. The expense of all this necessary furniture amounted to the sum of thirty-two dollars. While providing accommodation for the living the dead were not forgotten. The church-yard lay in the rear, or to the west, of the patroon's trading-house-in what is now very correctly called Church street: and in order "to be safe from the ravages of the Indians," the infant hamlet, living and dead, nestled close under the guns of Fort Orange.
One of the principal aims of the first founders of Rensselaerswyck seems to have been to secure for themselves the valuable trade in furs, the chief mart for which centered at the point where they made their purchase and commenced their settlement. To engross this the more effectually, all foreign and unlicensed traders were rigidly excluded from the colonie. The patroon and his partners were the only privileged importers of European merchandise, the company having, in conse- quence of the war and other causes, ceased to keep Fort Orange supplied with foreign goods. All settlers were bound under oath not to purchase any peltries from the Indians, on pain of forfeiting their goods and wa- ges, unless duly licensed to carry on such trade, for such a privilege was exclusively vested in the patroon by the sixth article of the charter. The majority of the settlers subsequently obtained such permission ; received goods on credit from the patroon's store, and every farmer, as De Vries observes, become a trader. They were, however, obliged to bring in all the furs which they purchased to the patroon's magazine, to be sent over to Holland to him, he retaining, as his share, half the profits. This condition was afterwards modified so far as to allow him to retain only the sixth beaver, and one guilder recognition, or duty, on each of the remaining five-sixths. This system soon produced results which were naturally to be expected. Competition raised the price of peltries nearly one hundred per cent. Prior to 1642 the price of a merchantable beaver, which averaged about an ell square, was six hands, or fathoms,
195
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
of wampum. In the course of that year the article commanded from seven to seven and a half ; but when the traders found that the agents of the patroon, as well as the officers at Fort Orange, did not refuse paying that price, they immediately offered nine ; and in the following year advanced the rate to ten fathoms of white wampum for each skin. A. joint proclamation was hereupon issued by the authorities of Rensselaers- wyck, and those of the Fort, fixing the price of furs at nine fathoms of white, or four and a half of black wampum, and forbidding all persons whatsoever, whether servants of the company or residents in the colonie, from going into the woods to trade in advance with the Indians, on pain of seizure of all their goods. Another proclamation was also issued, prohibiting all traders to come with their sloops within the limits of the colonie under the penalty of forfeiting the same. And on the following court-day a third proclamation followed, for the better securing the mo- nopoly of the import trade to the patroon, by which the inhabitants of the colonie were absolutely forbidden purchasing any goods from the local traders. Orders were given at the same time to Sheriff Van der Donck to enforce these regulations with strictness and severity.
This functionary, between whom and Van Curler, and the other officers of the colonie, considerable jealousy and ill feeling already existed, had no desire to render himself unpopular with the colonists, "He should not" he said, "make himself the worst man in the colonie, nor be sus- pected by the colonists, for his term as officer was but short." He therefore not only refused to enforce these regulations, but when, a few days afterwards, the colonists, contrary to the prohibitions of the court, did purchase duffels and sundry other goods which had been surrepti- tiously introduced, he connived at their proceedings, and either told the suspected parties to put their goods out of his sight, or neglected entire- ly to execute his duty, or to make any seizures. Not content with this disobedience of orders, he proceeded, next, secretly to foment feelings of discontent and mutiny among the people, before whom he placed the abovementioned placards in a most odious light, and whom he persuaded into the belief that Van Curler was endeavoring "to steal the bread out of their mouths." His representations had eventually such an effect on the puplic mind, that a conspiracy was formed against the commissary- general among several of the colonists, who drew up a strong protest against that officer, which, in order that they might remain undisco- vered, the ringleaders signed in the form of a "round robin," by affixing to the paper their signatures in " a circle." This done, they next de- nounced Van Curler in the most vehement terms. Some proposed driving him from the colonie as a rogue; others, more vindictive and turbulent, insisted on taking his life. These threats, fortunately for the character of the settlers, were not followed up by any overt act. Van der Donck professed, all the while, an honest desire to second the wishes of the constituted authorities. But when the time for testing his sincerity arrived, he was found wanting in the fulfilment of his promise.
It became apparent now from the ill-feeling which existed between Sheriff van der Donck and the other functionaries in the colonie, and which had already caused in two instances an exchange of blows, that
18
196
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
he former could not comfortably prolong his stay in Rensselaerswyck, or hold his office, very agreeably, much longer. He determined, indeed, o return to Holland in the course of the next year, as he was desirous o become a patroon himself, with which view he proceeded, with several olonists, to Katskill, to purchase the lands there from the Indians, for he erection of an independent colonie. But the moment the patroon f Rensselaerswyck received intelligence of this "dishonest," move on the part of "his sworn officer," he immediately forwarded instructions to Van Curler, couched in the following stringent terms :-
"The Patroon of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck having, on the sixth of this month, given a Commission to Pieter Wyncoop, commis. on board his ship, to purchase for a reasonable price from the natural owners and inhabitants, and from their chiefs, their lands lying about Katskill, in consequence of certain information which he had that Adriaen van der Donck, his sworn officer, dishonestly designed to purchase for him and his, to the prejudice of him, the patroon, his lord and master, the said lands, lying under the shadow of his colonie. Therefore he, by virtue of the sixth and twenty-sixth articles of his freedoms and exemptions, doth claim that no person shall, against his will, approach within seven or eight miles of him; also, that he hath power to enlarge his colonie, on condition of planting a proportionate number of colonists there, which number was, even by this vessel, so increased that he hath already in- cluded the same, from Ransselaers-Stein down to Katskill, remaining on the same side, within his resort. And, further, having obtained certain information that such is, indeed, also true, the commissary-general, Arendt van Curler, together with the aforesaid Pieter Wyncoop, are charg- ed not to inquire of the above-named Van der Donck if it be true, (inasmuch as the patroon hath by him sufficient proof thereof,) but him to constrain, should he have done so, to desist, de facto, therefrom, and to cede and to make over to him, the patroon, all whatsoever he hath acquired, con- formably to his oath, having sworn to be true and faithful specially to him, his injury to prevent and his advantage to promote, both which in this matter have not happened; and in case the said purchase be not yet effected, that he, in presence of the commissaries and council of the co- lonie, do promise, under oath, not to proceed therewith, but to respect him the patroon, and to afford to his (agents) all favor and help, that they may be allowed to make the aforesaid purchase to the best advan- tage; and should he refuse the one, or the other, to secure his person, inasmuch as he also endeavored, per fas et nefas, (met minne ofte on- minne.) to return home in case the patroon should not consent to dis- charge him; and inasmuch as the lease of his bouwerie, which he hath aken and agreed for in person with the patroon, hath still long to run, which he can not set aside without consent, but shall be bound to keep 'uring that time. And in witness of the truth hath the Patroon subscri- ed these with his hand, and sealed them with his and the colonie's seal, n Amsterdam, this 10th September, 1643
KILIAEN VAN RENSSELAER.
[Seal] "Patroon of the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck: "In case Van der Donck should prove obstinate, he shall be degraded
19
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
from his office, and left on his bouwerie to complete his contracted leas: without allowing him to depart, and his office shall be conferred, provi sionally, on Nicolaus Coorn, till further orders, divesting him of all pa pers appertaining to his charge. But if he will desist, then his office and his bouwerie, shall he be allowed to hold. Actum as above.
"KILIAEN VAN RENSSELAER, "'in quality as herein above stated."
This order, which had the effect of arresting Van der Donck's intended colonie at Katskill, was conveyed to New Netherland by the patroon's ship, The Arms of Rensselaerswyck, which was dispatched with an assorted invoice of merchandise, consisting of woollen, linen, and cotton goods, ready-made clothing, silks, glass, crockery, leather, fruit, cheese, spices, brandy, gin, wines, cordials, tobacco-pipes, nets, looking glasses, beads, axes, adzes, razors, knives, scissors, bells, nails, spoons, kettles, thimbles, pins, needles, threads, rings, shoes, stockings, gloves, combs, buttons, muskets, pistols, swords, shot, lead, canvass, pitch and tar, candles, stationery, and various other commodities, valued at twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy guilders, to be bartered with the In- dians and other inhabitants of the country for tobacco, furs, and other produce. To ensure entire success for this venture, the skipper, super- cargo, and pilot of the ship were allowed a direct pecuniary interest in the proceeds of the voyage.
The system of licenses introduced by the patroon, and the profits which resulted, had already incited a number of private individuals to embark in the fur-trade. As a consequence, this staple was altogether taken out of the hands both of the patroon's and the company's servants, who could purchase scarcely a skin, while private traders exported thousands of peltries. A number of unlicensed traders now resorted to the colonie, who drew the Indians away into "secret trading places," where, by means of higher prices, they got possession of the most valuable furs, "not caring whether or not the trade was so injured as to render the patroon unable to meet the expenses of his colonie." Having thus "debauched" the savages, these interlopers succeeded next, by means of "wine and strong drink, which they sold at an usurious rate," in "perverting" many of the colonists, from whom they got, not only peltries, but even large quantities of grain, which the farmers disposed of without either respect- ing the Patoon's pre-emption right, or paying the tenths, or accounting for the halves or thirds which they were bound by lease to pay.
To arrest these illicit proceedings, the patroon adopted two measures which would, he expected, put a stop to the injuries which his interests were sustaining from the competition that was then exhausting and im- poverishing his colonie, One of these was the erection of a fortified post and trading house at Beeren, or Bear's Island, the southern boundary of his estate, which, by commanding the channel of the river, would ex- clude all vessels, but his own and those of the West India Company, from the upper waters of the Hudson. The other was, to send out a stock of goods sufficient to supply, through his establishments at Beverswyck and Beeren Island, the Mohawks and river Indians, and all the neighboring settlers, with whatever they may require in barter for their produce,
198
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
whether furs or corn. It was with a view to carry out the latter part of this project, that the Arms of Rensselaerswyck now sailed with the above-mentioned valuable cargo.
She arrived at the Manhattans while the war with the Indians was at its height, and at the moment when Kieft was sorely distressed for clo- thing for the troops which he had enlisted. A requisition was imme- diately made on Pieter Wyncoop, the supercargo of the ship, for a supply of fifty pairs of shoes to be distributed among the soldiers, payment for which was offered "in silver, beavers, or wampum," at such price as the supercargo might demand. But Wyncoop, perceiving that he could sell these goods to more advantage to the inhabitants than to the director, injudiciously refused to comply with this requisition. A forced levy was the result, and as many soldiers were equipped with shoes from the ship, as "killed five hundred of the enemy." The evil consequences of Wyn- coop's refusal did not stop here. The ship was immediately overhauled by authority of the director and council, and a considerable quantity of powder and a number of guns found on board, which were not enumerated in the manifest, and which Wyncoop was charged with intending to sell to the savages. These articles having been made contraband by law, and their introduction forbidden on pain of death, were, together with the ship, forthwith confiscated.
Wyncoop now too late, perceived the error into which either his in- structions or his covetousness had plunged him. In the hope, however, of retrieving his loss, he instituted an action against Cornelis Van der Huygens, the Fiscaal at Fort Amsterdam, against whom he protested, in strong terms, for having unloaded his ship, which proceeding he pro- nounced an insult, a reproach, and a wrong inflicted on the honorable patroon, "the first and oldest patriot of the land," and for which aggres- sion he now demanded redress from the director-general and council. It was much fitter for the fiscal, he added, to discharge and to confiscate such ships as came and traded hither without any commission, and there- by brought contempt on the country and its government, than to affront a patroon who hazarded so much for his colonists and New Netherland. He finally maintained that the powder which he had on board was for the ship's use, and for the defence of Rensselaers-Stein, or Castle Rensse- laer, as the fortification on Beeren Island was called. This plea profited nothing. The powder was not mentioned in the manifest, and the ex- planation which was offered was merely used as "a cloak" to cover the real design. "It is far from us," concluded the attorney-general," to insult the patroon. On the contrary, we are willing to aid him in pro- moting the welfare of his colonie. But it is you who are endeavoring to frustrate his noble plans, by associating exclusively with private traders, and striving to take them with you to the colonie in direct opposition to the commands of the patroon, who hath sent out this ship to keep free traders from that place. If your conduct is just, free merchants can not be prevented trading thither, and they will be justified in so doing. I deny that any damage whatever has been done. Are you of a contrary opinion? Cite me before any court of justice, whenever you please,"
199
Colony of Rensselaerswyck.
Arendt van Curler, finding that no satisfactory issue was to be ex- pected from this litigation, finally proposed that the ship should be re- leased, and the whole case referred to the Directors in Holland for their decision. As the vessel was suffering considerable injury from detention, this proposal was acceded to, "so that the patroon should have no reason to complain;" on the express condition, however, that no goods should be landed from the vessel until permission was obtained from the com- pany, and that such articles as were already seized by the attorney-gene- ral should remain confiscated, as they had not been included in the invoice. The vessel sailed soon after for Holland, whither Van Curler also pro- ceeded to give an account of his stewardship.
In the mean time Nicolaus Coorn, "Wacht Meester," or commander in the service of the patroon, had completed his fort on Beeren Island, on which he mounted a number of cannon, sufficient not only for its de- fence, but for the complete command of the river. A claim to "staple right" was then boldly set up; a toll of five guilders, or two dollars, imposed on every trading-craft passing up or down, which were also obliged to lower their colors in honor of Rensselaers-Stein. And thus a sovereign jurisdiction was asserted over this navigable highway against all persons, save and except the servants of the West India Company.
It was in the summer of 1644, that the yacht the Good Hope, of which Govert Lookermans was master, sailed from Fort Orange for New Am- sterdam. Passing Beeren Island, the craft was hailed, and peremptorily ordered "to lower his colors." On being asked for whom, the commander replied, "For the staple right of Rensselaerswyck." But the skipper re- fused, with an oath, to strike his flag "for any individual save the Prince of Orange and the Lords his masters;" whereupon Coorn fired several shots at the vessel, one of which, says the record, "perforated our princely flag," about a foot above the head of the skipper, "who kept the colors constantly in his hand."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.