USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. IV > Part 5
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Whereas you are continually trading with particular merchants, and make use or abuse their colours to cover a clandestine trade, which too is forbidden, and by the Directors and by your Patroon under a frivolous pretext ; to keep your Colony from pollution, to which we should be willing to give our assistance, as we have always shown how willing we were to assist the Colony of Ren- selaerwyck whenever it was placed in our power, so as every good subject will attest, and of which last winter such luculent proofs have been given-when we provided one of their vessels with 75 gunpowder, although we ourselves were in want of it through the perilous war in which we were involved with the savages; so that it is far from us as you insolently pretend, that we should wish to insult the Patroon Van Renselaer, but to the con- trary are willing to assist him in promoting the welfare of his colony ; and whereas you exert yourselves to frus- trate his noble plans by associating yourself with private individuals, while our director spontaneously made you an offer of one of his yachts without any expenses of the Patroon, so it is beyond question that no other free mer- chants can be prevented to trade everywhere as they please. If your conduct could be justified thus, my innocent transaction is freed from blame, and I pointedly deny that any damage whatever has been caused by my people in examining or unloading said vessel-are you of a contrary opinion, call me before any court of justice whenever you please. I protest against the consequences of any troubles or expenses which you may occasion. Done the 22d March, 1644, on Manhattans, in fort Am- sterdam.
CORNELIS VAN DER HUYHENS, Attorney General.
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I Peter Wyncoop shall answer as soon I am returned in the Colony of Renselaerwyck.
GYSBERT OP 'DYCK, DAVID PROVOOST.
Present
Willem De Key, by absence of the Secretary, done as above.
[Vol. 3, p. 196.] I undersigned, Pieter Wyncoop, super- cargo of the Ship Renselaerwyck, acknowledge to have received from Cornelis Van Der Huyhens, Attorney Gen- eral in New Netherland eighteen kegs gunpowder, by order of the Hon. Director Kieft, and this without any prejudice of the Attorney General's claim on said gun- powder-promising to defend myself against the suit of the Attorney General.
Done 23 March, 1644, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. PIETER WYNCOOP.
E. Boghardus, Th. Willett. Witnesses.
Present
Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary.
[Vol. 3, p. 210.] This day appeared before me Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary in New Netherland, Nicolas Toorn, residing in the colony of Renselaerwyck, who ac- knowledged that he adopted and received from the Hon. William Kieft, Director General in New Netherland, a young girl belonging to the West Indian Company, Maria, daughter of great Peter, a black man, for four succes- sive years, during which years said Maria shall serve Nicolas Coorn aforesaid, provided he maintains her in vic- tuals and clothes. After the expiration of said four years Coorn shall return said girl if yet alive to the Director General or his successor. In truth whereof this instru- ment has been signed by Nicolas Coorn, the 25 May, 1644, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.
N. COORN.
Present
Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary.
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[Vol. 3, p. 198.] Appeared before me Cornelis Van Tienhoven Secretary of New Netherland, Thomas Badge- hott planter on the Island Manhattan, son of John Badgehott Nobleman residing during his life in London, in Old England, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses acknowledged to have received from John Evans, merchant of New Haven in New England, the sum of forty £ sterling, for which forty £ sterling Thomas Badgehott aforesaid promises to pay within ten months from this day the sum of fifty five £ st. to said John Evans, his heirs or descendants, or his attorney said Thomas Badgehott promises farther if he through the recommendation or credentials of said John Evans might obtain more money then he is ready to give his notes for it and pay for every forty £ st. which he shall receive, Fifty five £. st. in return and well that this payment too shall be made within ten months, and not directly after its reception. It is expressly promised by Thomas Badgehott, that if the money, which he already received or might hereafter receive from John Evans shall not be punctually paid by him on the stated day then said Thomas Badgehott submits to a greater security his per- son and property, real and personal, present and future, and especially a tavern, called the " King's Head " in the Bishopsgate Street, which tavern, John Evans aforesaid or any one at his order may take possession till the last payment shall have been made by Thomas Badgehott or his heirs to John Evans-submitting himself said Badge- hott to the control of any court of Justice.
Done by Thomas Badgehott as principal, Isaac Albertson and Thomas Willet witnesses in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland, 25 1644.
THOMAS BADGEHOTT.
Isaac Albertson, Witnesses.
Thomas Willet, S
[Vol. 4, p. 9.] One (letter) 6 Sept. 1648 of Charles Van Brugge from fort Orange.
[-p 15.] It has to us the appearance that Brant Van Slechtenhoost is a man of a quarrelsome character which
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is given him by individuals who lived under his direction in the colony, we intend to enter on this subject in con- ference with Sir Wouter Van Twiller, so too about his private pretensions, when we will send your Hon. our final resolutions as soon as it shall be possible. In the mean time we cannot but renew once more the recom- mendation, that you may continue to live in a good understanding and harmony with our neighbors.
By the account of this transaction we remember, that the wife of Abramus Staats, who lived before in Rens- selaerwyck, did notify us that she with your consent had built a house in Fort Orange, and requests there. fore from our college an act of approbation of which we do not recollect one single example, but as she farther solicits that she in that case may become entitled to all the privileges which we might eventually grant to our subjects so we can not discern what may be pretended to be included within this special petition, neither can give upon it any other answer, as this is to be understood of all equitable conditions which every good and honest burgher of the fort enjoys. It is your opinion that the houses are constructed too near the walls by the inhabi- tants of Rensselaerwyck, of which you deem pride to be the principle, and that the prospect of the Fort ought to remain unobstructed, at least so far as a cannon shot, and you farther assert that there are remaining convenient places along the river to build houses, while from the other side it is maintained that they have no other remedy to secure themselves against an assault of the Indians, therefore we should wish that you would ponder these considerations and reflect, thus, as much as you ought to be on your guard against encroachments upon your jurisdiction, so from the other side the inhabitants ought to accommodate when it is in your power.
We could not but favorably dispose on the petition of Rev. Backerus renewed in different letters while it ap- peared well founded by the approbation of the classis. This would cause us a greater anxiety if we were not some what relieved by the hope, that, perhaps by persua- sion the Rev. minister of Rensselaerwyck, Megapolensis,
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might be induced to remain there a few years longer, to which we should incline by the favorable manner in which your Hon. has spoken of him. It is true his wife is already returned here with the prospect that he soon would follow, as it seems that his presence is required here for the liquidation of an estate in which he seems to be much interested, we have notwithstanding this con- versed often with his wife and we believe that she could be persuaded to return once more to her husband thither, provided, she was assured, that it was not unacceptable to him. Trusting on his discretion we are in hope that she shall acquiesce in our wish. We shall endeavor to agree about his salary in a manner to his satisfaction, wherefore, your Hon. will endeavor to obtain directly his consent to promote the service of God's church and render these our news palatable to his congregation. It is otherwise to be apprehended that this church for a long while would remain without a minister, and so we em- ploy this remedy as the nearest at hand.
[Vol. 4, p. 23.] The recommendation in behalf of the Rev. Megapolensis had been so much attended to by us that we have appropriated f 600 to his wife, as the salary for one half year: What treatment she has met with from the heirs of Van Rensselaer for the services which he performed in that district you may learn from his wife, and to her we shall rather send you than say a great deal about it.
We appointed at your request a school master who shall officiate, at the same time, as a comforter of the sick. He is considered an honest and pious man and shall embark with the first opportunity.
[Vol. 4, p. 25.] Your apprehensions with regard to the Rev. Barkerus have been verified. He has made a com- mon cause with the complainants which arrived here from your country. These silly persons, at least, the largest part, of the petitioners have been imposed upon by a few nothing worthy persons viz: Cornelis Melys, Adrian Van Der Donck and a few others, who, as it appears will leave nothing untried to abjure every kind of subjection to government, under pretext that they groaned under a
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galling yoke. In this frantic opinion they are confirmed by Wouter Van Twiller, who aims to appoint himself as the only commander on the North river and dares to de- clare in public that he does not intend to permit any one to navigate this river with a commercial view and that he will expel with force every one who in that purpose should come there or in Rensselaerwyck, asserting besides that Fort Orange was constructed on the soil of Rensse- laerwyck, consequently that the company has no right whatever to permit particular persons either to build a house or exercise any trade ; without considering, that said Fort Orange -- 15 years before any mention of Rensselaer- wyck exists has been constructed and usually garrisoned by the company -- that besides a house of commerce has been established in the Fort till the year 1644, so that the fur trade till our days was exclusively reserved to the company and ought to remain on the same footing when- ever the company shall be enabled to provide their magazines with sufficient store goods. Neither are we without hope to discover and employ the means as soon as the opportunity is offered to exclude from this com- merce these impertinent fellows, using this sovereign right with the best title to the confusion of this ungrateful indi- vidual who if we may express ourselves in this manner had sucked his wealth from the breasts of the company, which he now abuses upon which the merchants pretty generally transmitted to us inclosed petition requesting to be maintained by us in their right to a free trade.
Apprehending from their warnings that Wouter Van Twiller might again become so presumptuous, to obstruct once more by force the navigation on the North River, and use violent means against the merchants vilifying in this manner the right of jurisdiction in the company, in such a case, it is our express will that your Hon. shall repell him with prudence for your guide, by force of arms, if he planted again some guns near the river, as he did before, your Hon. will carry them off and keep them in your custody till you have received our further orders. He has requested us in behalf of Rensselaerwyck to freight his own ship, with 6001b powder and 6001b lead which we 1
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fear he may abuse. It is our intention to provide you too with some powder and lead, not with the intention to of- fend any one with it but only to maintain the right of the , company, which in our opinion is in danger, through the machinations of many. It is your duty to keep a watch- ful eye on the ship of this Van Twyler, and in case any articles were discovered in it besides our general invoice, or freighted without the consent of the Comp. then you must take the whole in your possession and institute a. law suit upon it by the attorney general, conform with the laws of the land.
[Vol. 4, p. 30]. The wife of the Rev. Megapolensis will have informed you of the contentment we have granted her at your request, and what respects the printing of the written confession by him, we shall converse on the sub- ject with the delegated brothers of the Rev. Classis and communicate to you their decree about it.
The schoolmaster for whom you solicited comes in the same vessel with this letter. The Lord grant that he may for a good long time exemplify the favorable testi- mony which he carried with him from here to the edifica- tion of the youth.
[Vol. 4, p. 31.] We look forward with anxiety for the resolution of the English to go to war with the Indians called Waspings, because if it happened that they should be expelled from their lands then the English should in- quire the means by the conquest of this country. to sepa- rate Rensselaerwyck from our dominions. In the same manner and under the same pretext, they might occupy the North River and become exclusively the masters of the fur trade, for which we have here already too many competitors. Wouter Van Twiller with his associates particularly pretend that they ought to be privileged to this trade, although the company has never surrendered this right but maintained it with exclusion of all others, and which in fact would of New Netherland.
NOTE .- Rev. John Megapolensis wrote an account of the Mohawks in 1644, of which is a translation in Hazards collection, Vol. i, p. 517.
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[Vol. 4, p. 43.] All your letters are full of various com- plaints and some relating to persons of whom it could not have been expected as holden to obeisance by their oath to the company, but principally so with regard to the re- turned commissaries, who not only abuse our indulgent discretion but set at nought the good intention of their high mightinesses, we fostered the hope that these persons as they are advised by their High Might. would hence- forth have conducted themselves in a quiet and peaceable manner. As we are however, to our grief informed by your letters and which is attested by many credible per- sons, who lately returned to this country, that these per- sons endeavor through all means even the most culpable to alienate the minds of the unthinking multitude from the company and its ministers, and to lure them from their duty of allegiance to disposess the company and its ministers if it was possible from their privileges and pre- rogatives as well as of their government, which we, by what we owe to our high might. trust not longer as indif- ferent about the interests of so many interested not longer may endure, so is it, that we have found ourselves obliged to warn by our inclosed letter so well our subjects as the English, to be on their guard against similar destroyers of the public peace and assist us in opposing their perni- cious councils. We entrust your Hon. with the copy of these letters in the view that your Hon. shall conduct himself in all circumstances and situations with prudence allways inclined to moderation, and if your Hon. shall ob- serve that said persons are willing to do their duty in all respects, then he ought to forget all what is past as if it never had been done, which conduct will be gratifying to Their High Might. who only intended by their granted letters of habeas corpus to prevent that these persons when returned home should not be vexed with regard to the complaints which they have brought forward when they were in this country; which never too was our in- tention, nor is it yet if we only see that these persons shall do their duty, and behave themselves peaceably and with respect as we by God's mercy hope to be informed
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of, wherefore we deem it our duty to warn you (the Di- rector of New Netherlands, Petrus Stuyvesand) that we only have been compelled by an imperious necessity to . this proclamation to our good people at large.
Our surprise at the boldness of some individuals can not be increased, among these Cornelis Melyn has been daring enough to abuse the name of Their High Might. pretending that your country should be divided in seven provinces, and that a royal fort was to be constructed on the point of Staten Island where every vessel should be obliged to come to before it would be permitted to proceed to Manhattan, we never heard suggested a single word of similar dreams so that there is no reason at all that your Hon. should feel any anxiety about it or take any notice of it whatever you may hear if it comes not directly from us.
We observe that many persons do not scruple on this pretext to take possession of the best lands without any form or limitation, even as if it were a fact that the com- pany and its ministers had no longer any controul and was actually dispossessed from all her prerogatives. For this reason it is our peremptory command that your Hon. shall not grant to any individual the possession of any lands except under a solemn acknowledgement of the West Ind. Company's administration. Your Hon. will pay particular attention to grant in future no more lands to any person, as you shall deem proper after an exact examination of the situation of such individuals, and ob- tained assurance of their sincere intention to settle it, and and promote their actual cultivation. It appears from divers examples that by a contrary method many tracts of lands have been pretended as acquired property which however during a number of years they have left unim- proved, neither settling or cultivating these, or building any houses, as we have experienced of Cornelis Melyn, Wouter Van Twiller and others. So this Melyn is in possession of an 7 or 8 miles large, with only one single improvement of 15 acres; and so Wouter Van Twiller, not satisfied with the incorporation of Puts Island with
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Hell Gate, is now trying to appropriate to himself, and thus to become master of Cats-kill, above all which, he further appropriate to himself two flats on Long Island, the one called Twillers, the other Corlears, the whole , containing between 3000 or 3750 acres.
In the same manner Walter Gerrets and Andries Hudde have acted, taking possession of about 3375 acres of which they ought not to possess the 50th part. This never could be the intention of the company, while in this manner many valuable and important tracts with high preroga- tives might be claimed, and the country remain in the mean time a desert. Wherefore it is our express will and peremptory command, that your Hon. shall not grant neither permit the occupation of any tract of land as with the stipulation which we have mentioned before what re- gards Long Island-it shall in our opinion best promote the interest of the Company, to allot to every one in pro- portion to his abilities or wants so much land as he can cultivate and may want for buildings, till we shall find an opportunity to establish a certain Rule, by which may be ascertained how much land by every colonist may be pos- sessed.
We cannot conceal our surprise, that the second Dinck- laken associated with Invaders of that stamp, particularly with Govert Loockemans and others, who purchased considerable tracts of the Raretans on the Kill opposite Staten Island without knowing on whose account they imagine to receive a deed from their H. Might. without knowledge of the Company, which we can never believe, and which we shall oppose with all proper means when- ever an opportunity is offered.
Much could yet be said upon this subject, but we will delay it to another opportunity, or till the Secretary (Thienhoven) shall have arrived, who in our opinion has been long enough detained to his personal disadvantage, and by the manœuvers of some miscreants and purturba- tors of the public peace .**
[Vol. 4, p. 46.] The querrulous protestations of Brant Van Sleghtenhorst do not come with us in any further consideration as that we accept these as a notification of [ Annals iv.] 7
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his wishes to obtain Kats-kil, which tract, long before he took possession of it had been granted to others; neither can we discover to this moment with what right either he or his principals can pretend to be maintained in this possession, as they never petitioned the company for this grant. No more can we discover on what ground the colo- nists of Rensselaerwyck did occupy Bears Island, which they called Rensselaer's Stein, which possession they have usurped in such a lofty way that they named this place "the place by right of arms," (de plaets van 't wapen recht) and compelled every one, exempting only the compa- ny's property, to pay a toll of 5 per cent., and as if this was not yet enough, they indulged their presumption so far that they dared pretend that Fort Orange was built on their ter- ritory and that they would not permit that any one, not even with the consent of the company, should in this fort reside and share in the fur trade, on all which we shall only remark with few words, that this fort was built by the company several years before these colonists selected that spot for their Colony, wherefore we commanded your Hon. before to maintain our good inhabitants of that fort in their right which we again confirm. In the same manner we declared before and renew this declaration, that if any person was daring enough to exact upon any rivers, islands or harbours within the limits of the company, any tolls or imposition on salt to the injury of the Inhabitants at large, or of private traders, such vexations by all pro- per means, and if required via facte must be prevented, as it is our firm resolve, never to part with similar pre- eminences or jurisdiction to any colonists whomsoever, as these persons presume to arrogate to themselves.
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It is true that the Notary Jan Van de Veen solicit at different times to allow him to select a large tract of land, which in your opinion might be granted to him by us without prejudice, so that we shall not make any diffi- culty in acquiescing in it-proviso. He gives up his extravagant claim to a high and low jurisdiction, which we should deem incompatible with the supreme rights of
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the company, and which it is yet our determined resolu- tion to preserve in behalf of the company by all the means in our power. We remain however inclined to grant him such a sufficient tract as he may desire.
[Vol. 4, p. 47.] As you may expect the arrival of many passengers with the vessels which are now ready for their voyage to establish themselves in New Nether- land, so is it our desire that your Hon. will provide these with lands with discretion, paying a due regard to their quality and the number of their persons, as it is our de- sign to promote by all means the population of this coun- try. While the Baron Hendrik Van De Capellan seems inclined to acquire some tracts of land in that country to settle and cultivate it as appears to us from his letter, we should wish that you might accommodate him with a good and convenient tract, as we can have no higher object in view, as to see that Persons of his eminent sta- tion in life, employ themselves in similar useful under- takings. We regret indeed that we can not fully gratify Mr. La Montagne, nevertheless we are willing to assist him upon your recommendation as shall be permitted to us from the situation of the company; wherefore, we have resolved to command you to encourage him to the continuance in his service to allow him for the present a longer term for the payment which he owes the company, to augment his annual salary from f 150 to f 200 and to favor him with any vacant office for which you may deem him capable under our approbation.
[Vol. 4, p. 48.] Although some merchants pretend that the recognitions on the BEAVERS are too high, as a merchantable beaver is taxed at f8 (£1 6s. 8d.) and therefore requested to lower it to f 6 (£1) we can not consent in it because the greatest part of the Beavers im- ported in the last vessels have been sold at f 10 (£1 13s. 4d.) or there about. We perceive besides this that large parties are smuggled.
[Vol. 4, p. 49.] We are not surprised at all "that the passengers complain of the freight of their passage" but
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it is not yet in our power to alter it as we tried it in vain, so that we even threatened the masters of vessels to with- hold from them their commission, provided they would engage to charge the passengers not higher as 7 (1s. 2d.) for their daily fare, but it was all in vain, we have been compelled to contract with Skipper Blocmart to allow him for every soldier and the individuals belonging to his train 8.(£0 1s. 4d.) of these persons we shall write hereafter at large.
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