USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware (history of Old Swedes Church of Philadelphia) > Part 1
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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Gc 975.1 C57an 1742343
M.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02254 3620
ANNALS
OF THE
Swedes on the Delaware
BY THE REV. JEHU CURTIS CLAY Rector of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes ) Church, Philadelphia 1831-1863
Third Edition, with an Introduction by HENRY S. HENSCHEN
CHICAGO THE SWEDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA ·
1914
-
1742343
GLORIA DEI (WICACO) CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, ERECTED A. D. 1700 As it anneare in 1914 Dhistamnet.
.
Y THE DEL
Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware
1
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/annalsofswedeson00clay_0
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES ON THE DELAWARE By J. C. CLAY
Price One Dollar NET. By Mail $1.10
ORDERS FILLED BY Ahlen & Akerlund Pub. House, 180 N. Dearborn St. Augustana Book Concern, 127 N. Dearborn St. Engberg-Holmberg Pub. Co., 901 Belmont Ave. And. L. Lofstrom, 3252 N. Clark St. Mission Friends' Pub. Co., 361 W. Oak St. Swedish Baptist Pub. Co., 107 So. Wabash Ave. Swedish M. E. Book Concern, 351 W. Oak St. CHICAGO
INTRODUCTION TO THE THIRD EDITION
-
Nearly eighty years have passed since Rev. Jehu Curtis Ciay, pointing not without pride to his own Swedish ancestry on his mother's side, published the first edition of his "Annals of the Swedes on the Delaware." His purpose was a commendable one, -- to preserve for the descendants of the early Swedish settlers a record which would afford future genera- tions some knowledge concerning the experiences of the first Swedish immigrants on American soil.
A second edition of Dr. Clay's book was published in Philadelphia in 1858. Both editions have now practically disappeared from circulation and are, therefore, inaccessible to the many who at the present time would be interested in studying them. It has, therefore, seemed worth while to publish this third edition, which will no doubt appeal to the two million or more Swedish-Americans now resident in the United States. The present publishers realize that the work of Dr. Clay is not free from defects and would refer for more detailed and accurate information as to the early settlements on the Delaware to the very recent works on this subject by Prof. Amandus Johnson of the University of Pennsylvania, and by Dr. Gregory
7
INTRODUCTION
B. Keen of Philadelphia. As, however, Dr. Clay's book possesses an interest of its own, it is presented to the public practically without change.
For nearly three hundred years this land has been the home of the Swedish-American. He is here, not as a national problem, but as a national asset. He came to these shores seeking his own benefit; he has remained,-a benefit to his adopted country. He came, a hewer of wood and a drawer of water. He cleared the forest ; he broke the soil. Today his chil- dren crowd the halls of our schools and colleges ; they walk in every avenue of life; they sit in the seats of the mighty. For their benefit and that of their children's children, this work is again presented.
The large Swedish-American population now resi- dent in the United States traces its origin, not from the Delaware Colony, but from immigration during the last two generations ; but it is interesting to note that descendants of the Swedes on the Delaware, bearing such typical names as Rambo, Springer and Keen, are still to be found among us.
A new edition of Dr. Clay's book has been made possible largely through the generosity of Mr. Charles S. Peterson, President of the Swedish Club of Chicago, who, with customary public spirit, has assumed a substantial part of the expense of publication.
HENRY S. HENSCHEN.
Chicago, May 1, 1914.
8
PREFACE.
THIS little book is presented to the public under the following circumstances. The compiler, descended on the mother's side from Swedish ancestors, felt a desire to look back into their history, and to know more than he did of the occurrences connected with their first settlement on this soil. He had observed that the geographers and historians of America, while they had been very particular in detailing the circum- stances connected with the arrival and settlement of the English on the James River, and of the Pilgrims in New England, had scarcely mentioned that there was ever such a colony as the Swedes on the Delaware. He was at a loss to know why this was so; especially as their arrival here was but about thirty years after that of the English in Virginia, and but about sixteen or seventeen years after the settlement of New Eng- land; and that, therefore, their being among the first colonies that came from Europe to America, and the very first that settled Pennsylvania, claimed for them a more particular notice. It is true, Proud in his History of Pennsylvania, Smith in his History of New Jersey, and Holmes in his American Annals, have spoken of the arrival of the Swedes on the Delaware.
9
PREFACE
And, some may ask, what more do we wish to know of them? As much more-their many descendants now living, if no others, will answer-as may throw light on their early history, show the relation in which they stood to the people around them, the connexion they had with, and the protection they received from, the country whence they came; and the various changes, civil and ecclesiastical, through which they had to pass. Of all these matters their own historians have given full and interesting details. To those details the present writer has given much of his atten- tion ; and deeply interested as he has been himself in the inquiry, he has been led to think it would be a gratification, to at least the Swedish portion of the community, to have the most prominent points of the history of their forefathers selected from the volumes and manuscripts where they lie imbedded with much that is of no value, and offered to their perusal.
The writers to whom we are chiefly indebted for information concerning the first settlement and subse- quent history of the Swedes on the Delaware, are Thomas Campanius, grandson of the Rev. John Cam- panius, who came over as chaplain with Governor Printz, in 1642; the Rev. Israel Acrelius, who was for some time provost of the Swedish churches in America, and pastor of that at Christina; and the Rev. Andreas Rudman, of whom a full account is given in the following pages. These works were all
10
الـ
PREFACE
written in the Swedish language, and for that reason their contents have been little known to the American reader. Within the last year, however, the public have been favoured with a translation of Campanius, by the learned Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL.D., which he undertook at the request of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Of the work of Acrelius there has been no published translation ; though there is a manuscript translation of it, in part, in the possession of the Historical Society of New York, which was furnished them, at their request, by the late Rev. Dr. N. Collin. The other work here refererd to, that of the Rev. Mr. Rudman, is in manuscript,* and belongs to the library of Wicaco Church. Of this also there is a manuscript translation, in part, by Dr. Collin. Acrelius refers in his work to this manuscript of Mr. Rudman, and appears to have drawn liberally from it. It has fur- nished to the compiler of these annals most of what, in the following pages, he offers to the public. The only originality he claims for the work is, in generally presenting the facts which are detailed in his own language. .
These annals are given to the public, not as a full account of all that has been written concerning the Swedes in America, but as presenting the most striking
* This work is entitled "Transactions relative to the Congre- gation at Wicaco, collected from some writings and verbal narratives."
11
PREFACE
facts in their history, or such as the author thought would most interest his readers. He has little idea that they will be much read beyond the Swedish por- tion of the community, or the many descendants of those of whose early history they treat. To such he hopes the work will not be found altogether unde- serving of notice. Having undertaken it at the request of some of his congregation, he offers it to them, and to others, as a faithful narrative of past events ; and such as, they will be pleased to find, pre- sents their ancestors to view as an honest, industrious, and religious people.
It may be thought by some of the readers of these annals, that too much space is occupied in them by details relating to the Wicaco church. But it must be remembered, that this church claims a particular notice from its great antiquity, being perhaps the oldest edifice of the kind still open for public worship, and in good repair, anywhere to be met with in our country. The Swedish church at Wilmington ( for- merly Christina) was, the writer is aware, built two years before that of Wicaco (1698) ; but that, he regrets to say, has been for some time abandoned. as a place of worship, and is in a state of dilapidation. It was at Wicaco that our ancestors, in times long since departed, met from distant parts of the country to pay their weekly adorations to the God who had showered down his blessings upon them. In the same
12
PREFACE
venerated apo' many of their descendants still meet, when "the sound of the church-going bell" summons them to its services. In what Swedish bosom is not the name of Wicaco hallowed! And to whose mind will not all that relates to so ancient a church afford at least some interest. J. C. CLAY.
Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1834.
13- 14
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
IT is known to every reader of history that North America was discovered a short time before the year 1500. And yet it was a century afterwards before any plan for its colonization proved successful. This was no doubt owing, in a great measure, to the disturbed state of Europe at that time, when the work of the Reformation was making a rapid progress, and engaging the attention of the different powers there, either for its advancement or its suppression. Another hindrance to the earlier colonizing of this continent was, the difficulties and dangers incident to such an undertaking, and the certainty that, though wealth might be the reward, the way to it must be through many perils, and the endurance of many sufferings. In the progress of time, however, there would be found some bold and adventurous enough to risk everything for the prospect of gain; and especially, where a few had acted as pioneers, and had already triumphed over incipient difficulties. There was much, too, in the character of the age, as the Reformation ad- vanced, or spread itself over Europe, that favoured the colonization which had been so long delayed. Where the church was to be reformed, there would naturally
15
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
be many opinions as to the mode of doing it, or the extent to which it ought to be done. The reformers, therefore, were not only hostile to Rome, from whom they all agreed in thinking it was right to separate, but hostile, in many instances, to one another, because they did not reform after the same manner. The consequence was, a resort to persecution, the remedy of an age not yet sufficiently enlightened to see its . fallacy, for the extirpation of error, and the propaga- tion of the truth. To those who thus suffered for their opinions, the new-discovered country presented itself as an asylum, where they might "sit under their own vine, and under their own fig tree, with none to make them afraid;" and while the thirst for gain led many to brave all the perils and privations of a new settlement, they were braved by others for the sake of liberty of conscience, and freedom from perse- cution.
The first permanent settlement made on the shores of this continent was in Virginia, in the year 1607, when a company of one hundred and five English adventurers came in a vessel commanded by Captain Newport, sailed up the Powhatan or James river, built a fort, and commenced a town, which, in honour of their sovereign, they called Jamestown.
The next permanent settlement was by the Dutch, about the year 1614, on the Hudson river, discovered a few years before (1609) by Henry Hudson, an
16
T
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
Englishman in the Dutch service, while in quest of a north-west passage to India. In settling on this noble river, the Dutch built two forts, one at Albany, and the other on Manhattan island, where the city of New York now stands. The country was called Newe Netherlands, and the settlement on Manhattan island was named New Amsterdam, which names they re- tained till the conquest of the country by the English. The governors who administered the colony during the time the Dutch had possession, were Menewe, Van Twiller, Kieft, and Stuyvesant. The Dutch authority ceased in 1664, when the whole territory became sub- ject to the British crown.
The third permanent settlement on this continent was in New England, in the year 1620, when one hun- dred and one Puritans, for the better enjoyment of liberty of conscience, having sailed for Hudson's river, were taken by the master of the vessel as far north as Cape Cod, and landing, built the town of Plymouth.
When the first permanent settlement was made on the shores of the Delaware, those who have treated of the early history of America seem not to have possessed the means of very accurately determining. That the Dutch were the first to settle on the eastern or Jersey shore of that river, all have agreed in ad- mitting. And there is little less doubt that the Swedes were the first to occupy the western or Pennsylvania
17
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
shore. As early as 1623 or 4, the Dutch built Fort Nassau, on the eastern shore, but soon abandoned it. Afterwards, or in the winter of 1630-31, a colony, consisting of thirty-four persons, was brought over by Captain De Vries. Returning for a short time to Holland, he left the colony under the charge of an inexperienced individual, and they were all, in 1632, exterminated by the Indians. De Vries returned in December of the same year, and entering the Dela- ware, found no signs of the colony he expected to meet, save their skulls and bones strewed over the face of the ground. We date, therefore, the first perma- nent settlement of the Dutch on the Delaware, about the year 1633. This appears to be the earliest period claimed for them by their own historians .*
It was in the reign of that illustrious king, Gus- tavus Adolphus, that an attempt was first made to plant a colony of Swedes in America. William Usselinx, a Hollander, had formed so favourable an opinion of this country, representing it as a fine, fer- tile land, in which all the necessaries and comforts of life were to be enjoyed in overflowing abundance, that he presented to the king the idea of a trading company, urging its establishment by such reasons as the following :-
Ist. That the Christian religion would by that means be planted amongst the heathen.
* See Moulton's History of New York.
13
BE!
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
2d. That his Majesty's dominions would be en- larged, his treasury enriched, and the people's bur- dens at home diminished.
Sd. That it would produce to the nation many positive advantages, and a very profitable trade; and that the Swedes possessed all the means for carrying it on with advantage.
Upon this representation, a company was estab- lished, with power to trade to Asia, Africa, and the Straits of Magellan. The king issued his proclama- tion, or edict, dated at Stockholm, the 2d of July, 1626; in which he offered to people of all conditions liberty of shares, by subscription, according to their ability, or inclinations. The proposal was received with general satisfaction. The king's mother, and Prince John Casimir, married to his sister, the mem- bers of his majesty's council, many civil and military officers of high rank, the bishops, and other clergy- men, many merchants and citizens, country gentle- men and farmers, became subscribers. Ships and all necessaries were provided. An admiral, vice-admiral, commissaries, merchants, &c., were appointed. The work was ripe for accomplishment, when the German war, and soon after, the king's death, put a stop to the proceedings, and for the present defeated the intention of sending to America a Swedish colony.
It does not appear that the idea was afterwards revived of renewing the plan of a trading company,
19
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
at least upon the extensive scale at first contemplated. That of a colony was not suffered long to sleep. The Rev. Mr. Rudman, who many years afterwards bore so prominent a part in what concerned the Swedes in America, has related the following, as the manner in which a colony from Sweden was first planted here. This information he professes to have received from many individuals, particularly from one styled by him "Old Captain Israel Helms."
"Before," says he, "the Swedes came into the river, some Hollanders were here. . They had a fort on the eastern shore, at the place now called Glouces- ter, which the Indians named Hermaomissing. This they named Fort Nassau. The commander of it was Menewe. Quarrelling with the people, he left them, and returned to Holland. He was there impeached, tried, and dismissed from his office. Profiting by his knowledge of the country, he went to Sweden, and informed some of the principal gentlemen, that the Dutch had settled on the east side of the Delaware, but that the whole of the western side was unoccupied, except by the Indians. He urged to a settlement there, offering to conduct the enterprise. The project was well received, and, in particular, was favoured by the prime minister, Count Oxenstierna. He laid before the Queen, Christina, the plan of a colony. She was well pleased with it, and gave her orders for the execution. A ship called the Key of Calmar, was
20
.
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
fitted out from Gothenburg. Menewe was appointed commander of the colony. They arrived safely, ob- tained from the Indians a grant of land on the river, from the mouth of it, or Cape Henlopen, to the falls,* and there fixed stakes and marks. The old people informed me, that they often had seen these. The purchase was formally stated in writings, under which the Indians put their marks. The document was sent to Sweden and preserved in the archives, when I was at Stockholm.
"The people settled on the creek still called Chris- tina, and erected a fort at the mouth of it; naming both in honour of their queen. Magnus Kling, their surveyor, formed a map of the country, with all its creeks and streams. This I also saw in the archives before my departure; and Mr. Auren made a small copy of it, which we brought with us. Menewe did not disturb the Dutch on the other side. He died; and Peter Hollendare succeeded him. After ruling the colony for eighteen months, he returned to Swe- den, and became commander of the naval arsenal at Stockholm." ¡
* Trenton falls.
t The only inaccuracy in the above statement, appears to be in the declaration, that Peter Menewe (or Menuet according to the orthography of some) had been the commander of Fort Nassau before his return to Holland. He was in fact the first governor of New Amsterdam, (now New York.) What led to his removal from that station is not accurately known. When
21
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
It has been remarked by Dr. Collin, who seems to have made himself familiar with all the Swedish works that could throw any light on the first settlement of the Swedes in America, that the ship Key of Calmar, was accompanied by a smaller vessel, called Bird Grip, (Griffin,) carrying, like the other, people, provisions, ammunition, and commodities for trade with the Indians. The time, the Doctor thinks, of this first arrival is not certainly known, but supposes it must have been in 1636 or 7, " because," says he, "the fort on Christina creek was begun early in 1638,* as ap-
first appointed, and for some time afterwards, he appears to have given satisfaction to those by whom he was employed. But upon the arrival of Van Twiller, who had been sent over on business relating to the concerns of the company, dissatisfac- tion towards Menewe soon began to show itself, and being dis- placed, Van Twiller was appointed to succeed him. Mr. Rud- man, it must be remembered, came to America about sixty years after the first arrival of the Swedes. Drawing, as he did, much of his information of the circumstances connected with their settlement here from traditionary sources, it was easy to sub- stitute Fort Nassau for Fort Amsterdam, as the place of which Menewe had been the commander.
* Campanius has mentioned the year 1631 as that in which Fort Christina was built. And he has been followed in this by Smith, in his History of New Jersey, p. 22, and by Holmes in his American Annals, sub ann. 1631; who, without due examination, have fixed on this as the year when the Swedes first landed in Pennsylvania. It is only necessary to look at one fact, to show that this opinion is founded in error. It is generally admitted that the Swedes came here in the reign of their Queen Christina. It is said that Menewe "laid before
22
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
pears by the protest against it by Wilhelm Kieft, the Dutch commander at New York, to Menewe, dated 6th of May in that year.
After the return of Hollandare to Sweden, John Printz, a lieutenant colonel in the army, was sent over as governor. He came in the year 1642, in the ship Fame. Two other ships of war called Svan (Swan) and Charitas being in company. With him came the Rev. John Campanius, as chaplain of the colony, who has left behind him a very minute account of the voyage, which the reader may see in the "Description of the Province of New Sweden," published many years afterwards by his grandson, Thomas Campanius
Queen Christina the plan of a colony," &c. And the first fort built was named after the queen. Now Christina was not queen in 1631, nor for some time afterwards, her father Gustavus Adolphus having lost his life in the battle of Lutzen, in November 1632.
The Swedes also found the Dutch here, or on the eastern side of the river. But the Dutch had no fixed settlement here until after 1632. It must have been, therefore, after this period that the Swedes came over. How soon after is not accurately known. The remonstrance of Governor Kieft, against the building of their first fort, seems to determine it in favour of the year 1637. It was certainly not later than 1638; and as the building of a fort was, no doubt, their first undertaking after their arrival, it is not probable it was earlier than 1636. It is the opinion of Acrelius, that the original Swedish colony came over in 1638. And the Ency- clop. Americana, guided, perhaps, by his authority, has, under the article Pennsylvania, fixed on the same year for their arrival.
23
-
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
Holm; the latter name having been added because of Stockholm being the place of his residence.
The instructions of Governor Printz, dated Stock- holm, August 15, 1642, contain twenty-eight articles, embracing his duties in relation-1st, to the Swedes- 2ndly, to the Europeans living in their vicinity-and 3dly, to the Indians. Of these instructions the follow- ing is a compendious view. In relation to the Swedes, he was to promote by the most zealous endeavours, a sincere piety, in all respects, towards Almighty God; to maintain the public worship, conformably to the doctrines and rites of the national church ; to support a proper ecclesiastical discipline; to urge instruction and virtuous education of the young; to administer justice according to the Swedish laws; to preserve, as far as practicable, the manners and customs of Swe- den ; to promote diligently all profitable branches of industry-such as the culture of grain-the procur- ing of good breeds of cattle, in addition to those sent from Sweden-the raising of tobacco as an article of export to the mother country-trafficking with the Indians for peltry-searching for metals and minerals in different parts-looking after valuable kinds of wood-ascertaining what kinds of mulberry trees are best suited for the silk worm-what is the character of the native grapes, and their suitableness for wine- and whether whale and other fisheries may be carried on with advantage, &c., &c. 2ndly, with respect to
24
-
L
ANNALS OF THE SWEDES
the Dutch and English in their vicinity ; with the first named he was to cultivate friendly intercourse, but positively to deny their pretended right to any part of the land on the west side of the river, purchased by the Swedes from the Indians, and to prohibit Swedish vessels from passing their fort Nassau: and he was authorised, if all friendly negociation proved fruitless, to repel force by force. Those Dutch fami- lies who had settled on the west side, under allegiance to the crown of Sweden, were to retain the granted privileges, but to be advised and persuaded to remove further down from the vicinity of Christina Fort, yet not driven away if anxious to remain. The governor was to continue the friendly commercial intercourse with the English in Virginia, then comprehending Maryland, which had already been begun, by supply- ing their colony with grain, cattle, and other useful articles. Some English families, embracing about sixty persons, having settled, in the preceding year (1641,) on Ferken's creek, (now Salem,) and the agents of the company having, as her majesty's sub- jects, bought from the Indian owners the whole dis- trict from Cape May to Racoon creek, in order to unite these English with the Swedes, the governor was to act faithfully and kindly towards them. And as these English expected soon, by further arrivals to increase their number to several hundred; and seemed also willing to be subjects of the Swedish gov-
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.