USA > New York > Ulster County > Kingston > The history of Kingston, New York : from its early settlement to the year 1820 > Part 3
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During this time the Indians were praying for peace. On the 21st of April the Catskill and Mohican tribes asked for peace in behalf of the Esopus Indians, and in their name offered to give up all land on the Esopus and exchange prisoners and booty on the
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23d of April. On the 23d some Mohawk chiefs appeared before Montague, the Secretary of Fort Orange, and presented, in the name of the Esopus Indians, eighteen fathoms of sewan, soliciting a treaty of peace. This was declined for want of authority to act in the premises, and the petitioners were referred to the director and council.
About this time three sachems of the Mohican tribe-Aepjen, Assamad, and Beresbay -- appeared before the director in behalf of the Esopus Indians. Laying down two strings of wampum, one of them said : " This is a pledge that the Esopus sachems, Kaeleback- ers, young and old, men and women, desire peace." These belts were taken, but Stuyvesant told them that peace could only be assured by their coming to New Amsterdam. Then, presenting two other belts, they asked that the prisoners might be released. This they were told was impossible, and the wampum was returned. They then laid down twelve and renewed the request. This was also refused.
The Indians, finding their efforts fruitless for the release of the prisoners, one of their number, after a short consultation, laid a belt of wampum at the director's feet, and requested that the war be confined to the Esopus country. They were assured that as long as they remained friendly to the Dutch they would not be molested. Other belts of wampum were now laid at his feet "to wipe out the remembrance of the rejection of those they had offered for the prisoners." These were taken, and each was given a blanket, a piece of frieze, an axe, a knife, a pair of stockings, two small kettles, and one pound of powder. They then left, apparently satisfied, taking with them a pass for the Esopus chiefs.
On the next day, May 25th, 1660, about twenty of the Indian captives were sent by the director to the island of Curacoa, with directions that they be employed there or at Bunaire with the company's negroes. Three or four others were kept to be punished " as might be thought proper or necessity might demand."
The only excuse Stuyvesant gave for this not only impolitic, but cruel and barbarous act, was that " their enlargement would have a tendency to create disaffection toward our nation. Our bar- barous neighbors would glory as if they had inspired us with terror."
Stuyvesant in this act evinced a great lack of good policy and acuteness as a statesman, and cruelty more befitting a savage than a civilized being. It was never forgotten by the Indians, and they awaited their time for the terrible retribution of blood.
Questioning, as the writer does, the policy and humanity of the government of New Amsterdam in transporting the Indian cap- tives to Curaçoa, it is proper that he should give the reasons as
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contained in the resolution of the council, as passed May 26th, 1660.
" It is quite evident from the proposition and the talk of the Savages, that we shall not obtain a firm and stable peace with the Esopus savages, unless the captured Esopus Indians (of whom the eleven here and the others still in prison at the Esopus are all bold and hard hearted fellows, and the most inconsiderate of the tribe) are released, or they are deprived of all hope ever to get them back, and they are forced to a solid peace by force of arms (with God's blessing). Having considered this, after several serious delibera- tions, it has been decided unanimously, that to release them would not only tend to create disregard and contempt of our nation among neighbors, as well as our own subjects, but also the neigh- . boring barbarians, and especially the Esopus savages would glory in it, as if they inspired such great awe to our People, that we were afraid to arouse their anger, and that we had no courage, to treat, according to their merits, and as an example for others, the prisoners among whom there are some, who have dared to murder our People, captured by them, in cool blood and with unheard cruelty. Hence we have, for the above stated and other reasons,. judged it to be best, to send the aforesaid Indian Captives to Cura- cao by the first good opportunity, and at the expense of the Com- pany, to be employed there or at Bonayro with the negroes in the service of the Company, and to keep here only two or three of the aforesaid Captives, who have murdered our prisoners in cool blood, and to punish them, at the proper time, in such a manner, as shall be decided upon, in the mean time to continue a defensive and offensive war against the Esopus savages, and inflict all possible harm upon them, until such time, that we can obtain a peace with them on favorable conditions."
On the 27th of May Smit sent out seventy-five men with an Indian prisoner, Disquaaras, as guide. They discovered, "at the second fall on Kit David's Kill"-supposed to be Lefevre's Falls, at the Rock Lock, in the town of Rosendale-a few Indians planting maize on the opposite bank. The creek being high, the Dutch could not cross, but the Indians fled, and the Dutch returned to the fort.
Smit having been informed by Maritje Hansen, wife of Juriæn Westphael, that the Indians had located "about nine miles or three hours farther up the stream above mentioned than the fall, where the stream can be easily forded," he sent his men forthwith to take the Indians by surprise. When within sight of their dwell- ings they saw some women and children planting, who, being warned of the approach of the Dutch by the barking of the dogs, fled, leaving behind them Preymaker, a chief of their tribe, who 2
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was crippled and bent with age. He was designated as " the old- est and best of their chiefs." He, armed with a gun, six knives, and a tomahawk, demanded : " What are ye doing here, ye dogs ?"' and at the same time levelled his gun at them. That was at once snatched from his grasp, and he was then disarmed and put in charge of a guard. He lived below Hurley, and the stream Prey- maker was named after him.
They then crossed the creek to the other Indian dwellings, and destroyed all they could find. Being about to return, and finding the Indian Chief Preymaker an incumbrance, as " being too old to walk and the distance too great to carry him," they valiantly struck him down with his own axe. On their way back they were attacked by some Indians concealed in the bushes, and had one man wounded. "Making fight, the Indians fled to a thick woods, where they could not be pursued, and the soldiers marched home."
On the 3d of June, Oratany, chief of the Hackensack and Hay- erstraw Indians, at the instance of Seewackamano, one of the Esopus sachems, appeared before Stuyvesant, and sued for peace in their name. He told Stuyvesant that Seewackamano, only a few days before, had called together the Wanwassutje Indians (the Warwassings), and asked them what they would do. "We will fight no more was their answer." He next asked the squaws " what seemed best." They answered, "Let us plant our field in peace and live in quiet." He then went to the young men, who lived apart in another quarter, "and asked their opinion too." Their answer was, " They would not kill hog or fowl any more." That, having thus the consent of all classes to make peace, he had come down to get them-the Hackensacks and Haverstraws-to in- tercede in their behalf. While there in that behalf, and only the day before, he had heard of the expedition of Smit and the killing of "their greatest and best chief." The news had fallen heavily on his heart, and he did not know what to do. "He had gone home to appease his people, would return in ten or twelve days, and left the Hackensacks and Haverstraws to do the best they could with the Dutch ; for himself he had no hope."
Stuyvesant assured him that the Christians wanted peace. The old chief replied : " It is strange, then, that your people have so lately killed their chief. They mourn his loss."
It was then agreed that there should be a truce. while he, Ora- tany, and his sachems went up to Esopus with Claes de Ruyter, to see what was the true disposition of the Indians. Claes was then authorized to go with them and make a treaty, provided they would return the ransom paid for prisoners afterward murdered, and retire from the Esopus land. Claes and Commander Smit soon reported that they were willing to accept those terms, but
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wanted the director to come with an interpreter called Weather- cock. The Minnisink savages, who had engaged with the Esopus, also wanted terms.
The council of New Netherland concluded to send Stuyvesant to Esopus with two old burgomasters, Martin Cregier and Oloff Stevenson Van Cortlandt, to advise with him. . On the 7th of July this party left Manhattan. On the 9th they arrived at Esopus, and they received on board the Highland chiefs, who sent two Indians to notify the Esopus Indians. The Esopus Indians did not appear until the 14th of July, toward evening. On the next day, the 15th of July, there was a memorable gathering of Chris- tians and savages " on the flat near the strand gate," just without the enclosure of the village, " under the sky of heaven." *
There were met in conference the Indian sachems Kaelkop, See- wackamano, Nosbabowan, and Pemmyrameck ; Esopus : Adog- beguewalgus, Requescecade, Ogkuekelt ; Maquas : Eskyras, alias Aepje-Ampumst ; Mohicans : Keesewing, Machacknemenn ; Cats- kills : Onderis, Hoeque, Kaskongeritschage ; Minquas : Isses- chahga, Wisachganio ; Wappingers : Oratany, Carstaugh ; Hack- ensacks : Watchen ; Staten Island : together with the director and his advisers, the interpreter, " Old Weathercock, Arent Van Curler," and all the inhabitants of Esopus.
After much talking with the Indians to and fro, and Stuyvesant consenting to peare, Onderis addressed the Esopus sachems, and said : " Ye must not renew this quarrel ; neither kill horse nor cow, nor steal any property. Whatever ye want ye must purchase or earn." After some more talking to and fro, he said : "Throw down the hatchet. Tread it so deep into the earth that it shall never be taken up again." He then presented them a belt of white wampum.
The Macquas then addressed the Dutch, and charged them not to renew the quarrel, " nor beat the Esopus savages in the face and then laugh at them." Then, taking an axe from the hands of an Esopus chief, he threw it on the ground, jumped on it, and said : "Now, they will never commence this quarrel again."
The Esopus chief, rising slowly, said : " We have permitted the hatchet to be taken from our hands and trodden in the ground. We will never again take it up."
The conditions of peace were then submitted and agreed to sub- stantially, as follows :
All hostilities were to cease, all injuries forgiven and forgot- ten. The Dutch to have all the land of Esopus, and the Indians to depart from and not plant thereon. The directors to pay eight
* That is supposed to have been near where the academy now is.
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hundred schepels corn for the Christian prisoners, " one half this harvest, and the other half next year, when the maize is ripe." The Indians were not to kill any horses, cattle, or hogs ; and if they did, were to pay for them, or remain under arrest until dam- ages were paid, the Dutch agreeing to the same terms. There was not to be war for murder, but the guilty parties were to be pun- ished. The Indians were not to approach the plantations or dwell- ings armed, and only to drink brandy and spirituons liquors in their own camp, in the woods at a great distance. The peace was to include the friends of both sides, and the chiefs mentioned were to be security for the observance of these conditions by the Esopus Indians.
Thus terminated what has been styled the first Esopus war. As has before been said, we have but little information in regard to it. Much of what we do know is not complimentary to the human- ity and much less to the Christianity of the whites. It was started by a cold-blooded, brutal, and cowardly murder. Afterward, while the Indians were praying and beseeching for peace, their cries were for a long time unheeded, their villages and planting grounds were destroyed, their old men killed, their warriors, in the hands of the whites as prisoners, sent to the tropics to wear out their helpless existence in bondage and in the mines.
Would that an impenetrable veil could have been drawn over not only that, but the heartless provocations by which former Indian wars were also provoked, that it has been our duty to notice !
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CHAPTER II.
FROM THE TREATY OF PEACE AFTER FIRST ESOPUS WAR TO AND INCLUDING ORGANIZATION OF WILTWYCK GOVERNMENT, 1661.
IN the month of February, 1659, the directors in Holland wrote to Governor Stuyvesant approving of his proceedings at Esopus, in compelling the inhabitants to concentrate in a fortified enclos- ure ; that they deemed it the safest and best way for protection and defence, and directed that it must be done on all occa- sions and at all settlements of outlying farmers in the open country.
An extract is given from another letter from the directors to Governor Stuyvesant, written at about the same time as the one above noticed, showing that exaggerated and fabulous tales, usually circulated in connection with discoveries and resources of new countries, were not wanting in this case :
"We have lately been shown a small piece of mineral, which is said to have come from New Netherland, and which we found to be good and pure copper, so that we have thought it worth while to hear Claes De Ruyter about it, a person who showed that he was not ignorant of it, and consequently demonstrated, that a copper mine was said to be in the Neversinks. Also that there was lying, between the Manhattans and the South river a Crystal Mountain of which he says he brought several specimens." They then urge the director-general and council to thoroughly investi- gate the matter and send specimens, etc.
On the 22dl of July, 1659, the director-general and his council re- plied, expressing great astonishment at the reported discovery. It was beyond their knowledge. The agricultural importance of Esopus, at this time, is apparent from the following extract of a letter dated May 12th, 1660, written by Ensign Smitt to the director- general :
" I have to inform your Honor in regard to the Spring corn. which we sowed, that Thomas Chambers has 100 Schepels of barley and peas in the ground, and Jurryaen Westphalen, your Honor's farmer, has in the ground 100 Schepels of Spring wheat and Barley, as well as Peas and oats and Cornelis Barentsen Slecht 50 Schep- els of Spring wheat, nine of Peas and a few of Barley, and the
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widow Stoll 45 Schepels of Spring wheat, 12 Schepels of Barley, and 4 of peas. So that altogether 320 Schepels of Spring grain have been sowed. Thomas Chambers has also sowed 75 Schepels of Winter wheat, and Cornelis Barentsen Slecht 20 Schepels of winter wheat, and it has come up nicely in the fields." So that if Esopus . could not boast of its mineral, it could truly of its agricultural wealth.
A short time prior to the Indian war, of which we have just given an account, the classis of the Dutch Church at Amster- dam became awakened to the spiritual wants of their brethren at Esopus. They persuaded and encouraged Harmanus Blom, who was then preparing for the ministry in Holland, to visit this coun- try. He did so, and arrived at Esopus in August, '1659. He preached two sermons on the Sabbath, and had a conference with Indians outside of the stockade. The people then immediately organized a church, tendered Mr. Blom a call to become their pas- tor, and he returned to Holland for examination and ordination.
After his arrival in Holland, the call was regularly approved by classis and confirmed by the West India Company. Harmanus Blom was then ordained to preach in the New Netherlands, "both on water and on the land, and in all the neighborhood, but prin- cipally in Esopus." He soon afterward, and about the 1st of March, left Holland to assume the charge to which he had been assigned ; bearing a letter from the Amsterdam classis to the Dutch churches in the New Netherlands, earnestly exhorting them not to depart from the usual formulary of baptism. His settlement in Esopus was retarded by the Indian troubles, so that his ministra- tion at that place did not commence until September, 1660.
We find the following guarantee as to the dominie's salary :
" The undersigned, inhabitants at the Settlement of the place called Esopus, promise to give our Reverend Minister Harmanus Blom as Salary for the first year (which Salary has commenced with his arrival here on the oth of September, 1660) the sum of 700 guilders in corn, at beaver valuation, in case his farm should fail, and we promise further to put the farm in good order according to contract, as soon as the land has been alloted and to raise that sum at the latest for the coming farming season. This we the under- signed promise faithfully and truly to do. Thus done the 4th of March, 1661
THOMAS CHAMBERS CORNELIS BARENTSEN SLECHT GERTRUY ANDRIES ROELOFF SWARTWOUT ALDERDT HEYMENSEN ROOSE JURIAEN WESTVAEL."
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Esopus was then without any local government, and, in fact, a dependency of Fort Orange. The people were dissatisfied with such a dependent position, and wanted a government of their own. About that time Roeloff Swartwout, a son of one of the original set- tlers, visited Holland, and through his representations and other influences the Amsterdam directors of the West India Company determined to make the Esopus settlement an independent juris- diction. In furtherance of such object they passed the following order :
" The Directors of the privileged West India Company, Depart- ment of Amsterdam, being specially authorized by the College of XIX to administer the Government of New Netherlands, make known :
" Whereas it is required to promote justice in the village of Esopus in New Netherland, that an able and expert person is selected to officiate there provisionally as schout ; for which office has been recommended to us Roeloff Swartwout, who has resided there a considerable time. Therefore we having full confidence in the abilities, integrity and expertness of Roeloff Swartwout, ap- point him provisionally as the schout of said village at the Esopus, investing him with full power and authority to act as such, in the aforesaid place, and the adjoining district, in conformity to the usages of the office in this country, and agreeable to the instruc- tions he receives or may receive from us : to prosecute the contra- veners of all politic, civil and criminal laws, and bring them to justice, according to the ordinances and placards ; to indict all de- linquents in the aforesaid village or jurisdiction, in so far as he may deem proper and consonant with his instructions, and to fine and punish them in such manner as the law shall dictate ; to en- deavor by dilligence and information, to help the Governor remove and prevent all misdeeds ; to assist in the speedy execution of all judgments, and further to act in all respects as a schout is bound by his oath to do. To this end commanding the Burgomasters, Schepens, and inhabitants of said village the aforesaid Roeloff Swartwout as our officer and Schout, to assist and support him in said office whenever required, or as in our opinion the services of the Company and promotion of justice may require it.
" Done in the meeting of the Directors aforesaid in Amsterdam the 15th of April, 1660.
" JACOB PERGEUS.
" By his order "C. VAN SEVENTER."
It will be perceived that in this translation the name " schout" is retained as the designation of the office, and the word " sheriff"
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is not used ; for although the office of schout was clothed with the ordinary duties and powers of the shrievalty, his jurisdiction was at the same time much broader and more extensive ; it embraced as well the duties of presiding officer of the court in civil actions, and the duties of prosecuting attorney in criminal proceedings.
The instructions to the schout, of even date with the order, provided that he should not accept any other office ; that he should rank above the burgomasters and schepens ; preside in civil actions ; pronounce judgments and give warnings in the name of the court ; publish all orders relative to the excise in the village, with the knowledge of the director and court, and execute them agreeably to their contents.
That he should take care that the villages may be cleaned of all villains and sharpers ; that neither whores, panders, brothels, or similar lewd houses should be permitted. To this end, and to avoid all violence and tumults, he should be always ready to trav- erse the city with his attendants, visit the churches, markets, and other meetings.
He was further directed to apprehend all delinquents, and prose- cute them within four days after commitment, by prosecuting them before court for judgment ; to execute the judgment without re- prieve, and to execute his rolls in conformity with those made at Amsterdam on the 27th day of April, 1656.
For compensation, he was entitled to have one half of all civil fines, except those imposed by virtue of ordinances on taxation ; one third of all criminal fines ; one half the costs of all summonses, and such salary as might thereafter be granted him. He was pro- hibited from receiving any presents either directly or indirectly.
Within a few days after the date of the preceding order Roeloff Swartwout embarked for America, accompanied by Cornelis Jacobs Van Leeuwen, Arent Meuwens, and Adriaen Huyberts. They reached New Amsterdam in the early part of the summer. Immediately after his arrival Swartwout presented the order ap- pointing him schout to the director-general, and demanded to be sworn and inducted into office. Stuyvesant refused to comply, and at once wrote to the board at Amsterdam that he had not and could not administer the oath of office to Swartwout ; that he was too young a man, and incompetent ; that the appointment was premature ; that there was no court at Esopus, nor was there any likelihood that there would be any, " for there is no one capable of sitting on the bench." He further alleged that " a person of more mature age, higher talents and respectability, would be re- quired, as he would be required to act as commissary for the com- pany."
The refusal of Swartwout was received by the directors at Am-
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sterdam in September. They were very indignant at the refusal, and at once reproved the governor very severely, and peremptorily ordered him to carry out their instructions, and administer the oath to Swartwout and induct him into office.
In order fully to comply with the wishes of the governing di- rectors, and obey the peremptory mandate, Stuyvesant, as director- general, on the 16th of May, 1661, executed a formal charter to the inhabitants of Esopus, and conferred municipal powers on the set- tlement. He conferred upon the municipality the name of " Wilt- wyck" in commemoration of the fact that the soil was a free gift from the Indians.
The following is a translation of the order as entered in the Wiltwyck records :
" May 16, 1661. Director General Petrus Stuyvesant, dele- gated and authorized in all matters of government relating to the public welfare of all the country of New Netherland, by power and commission from the noble Lord Directors of the privileged West India Company, obeserving the situation and condition of a place called the Esopus, which has now been inhabited and settled six or seven years ; hath, in consideration of the situation and population thereof, erected the locality into a village and given it the name of Wiltwyck, whereby it shall be called now and hence- forward."
The charter granted by the director-general is quite lengthy and specific in its provisions. A full copy will be given in the Appen- dix. It was intended to and did grant a municipal government conforming, as near as possible under the differing circumstances, to that of towns in the " Fatherland, " except that it was made sub- ordinate to the director-general and council at New Amsterdam.
The government was to be administered by a Board of Magis- trates, consisting of the schout as presiding officer, and three schepens or aldermen ; the schepens to be chosen or appointed annually by the director-general and council at New Amsterdam. The retiring schepens were particularly enjoined in the charter " to pay due attention to the conduct, conversation, and abilities of honest and decent persons, inhabitants of their village ; to in- form the director-general and council, about the time of election, who were sufficiently qualified to be appointed."
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