USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 3
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Minuit having sailed from Jamestown previous to May 8, the date of the treasurer's letter, the time of his arrival in the Delaware may be estimated with sufficient accuracy. There are still other facts that will narrow down the period during which he must have arrived.
Van Twiller had been succeeded as Director-general of New Netherland by William Kieft, who arrived at Fort Amsterdam on March 28 of this year. As early as April 28, this new and vigilant Director had been made acquainted with the arrival of the Swedes on the Delaware, as on that day he addressed a communication to the directors of the West India Company advising them of the movements of Minuit, a notice of which he had received from Peter Mey, the assistant commissary at Fort Nassau. One of the Swedish vessels
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had sailed past the fort, had dropped down again, had been prevented from going up a second time, and had been visited officially by Mey for the purpose of seeing Minuit's license, previous to sending a notice to Kieft of the arrival of the strangers. These transactions, with the time required for a messenger to reach the seat of government, must have occupied at least a week ; besides, it is fair to presume that the Swedes had been in the Delaware several days be- fore the Dutch assistant commissary had become aware of their presence. As they could not have left Jamestown before April Ist, the time of their arrival in the bay could not vary more than a few days from the middle of that month.
Sailing up the bay, Minuit first landed at "Paradise Point." now known as "Mispillon Point," a short distance above the site that had been occupied by the unfortunate colony of De Vries and his co-patroons. The next place at which he cast anchor was off the mouth of the Minquas river, which in honor of the young Queen of Sweden he named Christina. On this stream, about two and a half miles from its mouth, Minuit effected a landing at a point then favorable for that purpose, and now known as "The Rocks." Here, after having purchased the land from the Indians, he erected a fort or trading house, upon which he also bestowed the name of the Swedish sovereign.
Immediately upon receiving notice of the arrival of the Swedes on the Delaware, Director-general Kieft dispatched Jan Jansen, clerk of Fort Am- sterdam, to keep a watch over their doings, with instructions, in case Minuit in- tended to do anything to the disadvantage of the Dutch, "to protest against him in due form." This duty was faithfully performed but, failing to have the desired effect, Director Kieft caused the commander of the Swedes to be served with a protest under his own hand. Minuit being aware of the weak- ness of the Dutch at Manhattan, and of the disinclination that government would have at that time to have a misunderstanding with her Swedish Maj- esty, had but little regard for these paper missiles, but proceeded on with the erection of his fort, which was soon completed, when he heartily engaged in the trade of the country, a business he had learned in the service of the Dutch. Before the end of July both vessels had departed for Sweden well freighted with furs. This rapid progress of the Swedish colony, which was doubtless owing to the intelligence and experience of the commander, became so alarm- ing to the Dutch Governor at Manhattan that he at once advised the West India Company in respect to it, by a letter dated July 31, 1638, of which the following is an extract : "Minuyt erected a fort on the South river, five leagues from ours; attracted all the peltries to himself by means of liberal gifts : de- parted thence with two attendant ships, leaving 24 men in the fort, provided with all sorts of goods and provisions, had posts set up with these letters, C. R. S., &c."
From this letter it might be inferred that Commander Minuit returned to Sweden with the ships. Acrelius, however, gives us to understand that he did not, but remained and "did great service to the Swedish colony," and dur-
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ing three years protected this small fort which the Dutch never attempted ;" and that "after some years he died at this place."
A most important act performed by Minuit was the purchase from the Indians of the whole western shore of the Delaware, to the falls, near the pres- ent site of Trenton. Besides giving the Swedes some show of an equitable ti- tle to the country against the legal claim set up by the Dutch, it enabled the Swedish settlers to occupy their lands in a manner much more satisfactory to the natives. It is but fair to state, that this purchase by the Swedes was called in question by the Dutch authorities of Manhattan at a subsequent period, on the flimsy testimony of certain Indians, procured in a very questionable man- ner. These Indians denied "that the Swedes or any other nation had bought lands of them as right owners" except a "small patch" embracing Christina fort. These savages, of whom Mattehoorn was one, claimed to be the "great chiefs and proprietors of the lands, both by ownership and descent, and ap- pointment of the Minquas and river Indians."
There is still other evidence of this early Swedish purchase. Captain Is- rael Helm, who was a justice of Upland court, informed the Rev. Mr. Rud- man of the purchase, to the extent that has been mentioned, and that the "old people" had informed him that they often had seen there "fixed stakes and marks." "The purchase was formerly stated in writing, under which the In- dians placed their marks." This was seen by Mr. Helm when at Stockholm.
This digression, to establish the Swedish purchase from the natives, will be excused, as it was the first effort of civilized man to extinguish the Indian title to the district of country that is to claim our particular attention. It will be seen that it embraced Swanendael, for which the Dutch had already ac- quired the indian title, and also the lands about the Schuylkill, to which, on account of prior purchase, they set up a rather doubtful claim. The lands within the limits of our county were free from any counter claim on this ac- count ; and it follows that to the wise policy of the Swedes we are really in- debted for the extinguishment of the Indian title to our lands,-a policy first introduced by the Dutch as a matter of expediency, and subsequently adopted by William Penn on the score of strict justice to the natives. But it cannot be contended that, in accordance with national law, this purchase from the na- tives gave to the Swedish government any legal claim to the country. They had no legal right to make purchases from the Indians. To the Dutch, as dis- coverers of the river, belonged the right of preemption, or, if any doubt ex- isted on this point, it would be in favor of the English. As against the Swedes, the Dutch claim rested not only on discovery, but the exercise of preemption and occupancy.
The Rev. Reorus Torkillus accompanied the Swedish expedition and re- mained with the colony at Christina as its pastor, where he died about five years afterwards. The Dutch, who had a small garrison at Fort Nassau at the time of the arrival of the Swedes, continued to maintain it there, as well for the purposes of trade as to keep a strict watch on the movements of the new comers, of which Director Kieft was kept constantly advised. It is from
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his rather ill tempered communications to the West India Company that we have the little that is known in respect to the Christina colony for the next two years.
In 1639 they had so much interfered with the Dutch trade on the river as to reduce it to "a small amount," and "by underselling had depressed and con- tinue still to keep down the market." Up to October of that year the Dutch trade had "fallen short full 30,000 (beavers)," but hopes were entertained "that they must soon move off, if not reinforced." The location of Fort Chris- tina was not very favorable to health, and it is probable that the despondency incident to ill-health had something to do with the projected removal of the colony. That it did not happen was owing to the timely arrival of fresh set- tlers, we learn from a letter of Director Kieft, dated the last of May, 1640, of which the following is an extract. "The Swedes in the South river were re- solved to move off and to come here. A day before their departure a ship arrived with a reinforcement." The same in substance is repeated in another letter from the Dutch Director, dated October 15, following. This timely ar- rival at once revived the confidence of the colony, and blasted the hopes of the Dutch.
On January 24th, 1640, a passport was granted by the Swedish govern- ment to "Captain Jacob Powellson, with the vessel under his command, named 'Fredenburg,' laden with men, cattle, and other things necessary for the cultivation of the country ; (who) designs departing from Holland to America or the West Indies, and there establishing himself in the country called New Sweden." Passports for other vessels connected with the Hochhanmer set- tlement or patroonship were granted in blank at the same time, and an agent named Jost De Bogardt was appointed, who accompanied the expedition.
Peter Hollander, a Swede, appointed to succeed Peter Minuit as governor of New Sweden, arrived in the first of the vessels that brought out the Dutch colony, or, what is more probable, came in one of the vessels sent shortly after- wards for the relief and reinforcement of the colony at Christina. His admin- istration continued but one year and a half, when he returned to occupy a military post in his native country. (A more full account of the founding of New Sweden will be found in the Pennsylvania Magazine, vol. iii, p. 269.)
Since the unsuccessful effort of George Holmes and his small company in 1635, we have no notice of any attempt by the English to make a settlement on our river till about this period. Their operations, even now, are involved in much uncertainty. Mr. Samuel Hazard, whose investigations have thrown so much light on the early settlements on the Delaware, after diligent search among the ancient records of New England "can collect but little definite in- formation on the subject," except that several attempts at settlement were made. In a Dutch document descriptive of New Netherland, published in 1649, the efforts of the English "at divers times and places to annex this South river," is adverted to. According to this authority they had previously to that time been prevented from making actual settlements "by divers protests and
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by being expelled by force, well knowing if they but once happened to settle there, the river would be lost, or cause considerable trouble."
In the records of the United Colonies evidence exists that an effort was made in 1640 to plant a colony from New Haven. A Captain Turner, agent for New Haven, made a large purchase "on both sides of Delaware bay and river." Besides trade, the object of the purchase "was for the settlement of churches in gospel order and purity."
In the year 1641, against the anxious admonition of Director General Kieft, a company of emigrants from New Haven proceeded to the Delaware in a barque fitted out by a Mr. Lamberton, and placed under the command of Robert Cogswell. Notwithstanding the purchases of land made the previous year, these emigrants made others, and located themselves on Varkenskill, near the present town of Salem, New Jersey, in direct violation of a promise made by the captain of their vessel to Director Kieft. New England history and records establish the fact that such a settlement had been commenced on the Delaware; but the actual existence of English settlers at the locality men- tioned is first officially noticed in the instructions of John Printz, the third governor of New Sweden. The instructions, which are drawn up with ability and with a very correct knowledge of the river, are dated at Stockholm, Au- gust 15, 1642. They left it to the discretion of the Governor either to attract these English families (numbering about sixty persons) under the authority of the crown of Sweden, or what the government thought better, to secure their removal. To effect the latter alternative, the governor had the sanction of his sovereign "to work underhand as much as possible, with good manners and with success."
In another attempt by the English to make a settlement on the Delaware, they did not even keep at a respectful distance from other settlements, "but had the audacity to land in the South river," opposite Fort Nassau, "where they made a beginning of settling on the Schuylkill, without any commission of a potentate." This intrusion, in the estimation of the Dutch, was an affair of "ominous consequence" that might eventually result in the ruin of their trade on the South river.
No time was to be lost in getting rid of these dangerous rivals; and, in consequence of a resolution of the authorities of New Amsterdam that this was to be done, "in the best manner possible," two yachts were placed under the charge of Jan Jansen Van Ilpendam, with particular instructions for that object. These instructions were promptly carried out in respect to those lo- cated on the Schuylkill, who, it appears, were only a company of traders, and their whole establishment a single trading house. This house was burnt, and those in charge of it subjected to indignities and losses by the attacking party. Smith, in his "History of New York," supposes these English intruders to have come from Maryland, but this is not credited by Bozman, the historian of that province, because "no Maryland records have been found that mention any such an attempt from that quarter."
The English colony on Salem creek was also got rid of. In effecting its
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removal, the Swedes have the credit of lending a helping hand to the Dutch. The only measures in which the Dutch and Swedes could unite harmoniously in carrying out, were such as would keep the English from gaining a footing on the river.
Our narrative has now reached a period in which the citizens of Delaware county will feel a local and more direct interest. The government of New Sweden, and substantially that of the whole river. now passed into the hands of John Printz, who established his seat of government within the limits of our county. This was the first settlement made by civilized man within its limits, and the first permanent settlement within the bounds of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania of which any record exists.
The new governor was a military man, and held a commission as lieuten- ant-colonel of cavalry. His instructions, dated at Stockholm. August 15. 1642, are very carefully prepared, with a full knowledge both of the geography and the condition of the country. They enjoin upon him to see that neither violence nor injustice was done nor permitted to be done to the Indians, and that. in order to secure their trade and goodwill. he should "furnish them with the things they require at lower prices than those they receive from the Dutch of Fort Nassau, or from the English, their neighbors." If he felt able to protect himself in Fort Christina he was to engage the people to give themselves to ag- riculture with zeal, "especially sowing enough grain to support the people un- der his orders:" after which his attention was to be given "to the culture of tobacco." Besides the cattle and sheep sent out, he was at liberty to purchase others from his English neighbours, and. "before all," he was to direct his at- tention to the sheep, "in order to have a good species." so that a considerable portion of good wool might in future be sent to the mother country. The trade in peltries was to be supported in a good condition, and the manufacture of salt, the culture of the grape, and the raising of silk-worms suggested. Metals and minerals were to be sought after, and how fisheries may be estab- lished "with profit" was to be inquired into. "as according to report they may. at certain times of the year. establish the whale fisheries in Godyn's bay and its neighborhood."
Whatever regarded police, government, and the administration of justice, was to be done "in the name of her Majesty and of the crown of Sweden." From necessity it was not possible to give "perfect and detailed instructions." but much was left to the discretion of the governor. Great offenders might be punished "with imprisonment and other proportionate punishments, and even with death," but not otherwise "than according to the ordinances and legal forms, and after having sufficiently considered and examined the affair with the most noted persons, such as the most prudent assessors of justice that he can find and consult in the country." The Dutch colonists sent over two years before and settled below Fort Christina, were to be permitted to exercise the reformed religion-all others were to be subject to the Augsburg Confession. and the ceremonies of the Swedish church. Thus it will be seen that the settle-
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ment of our county commenced with an established religion, though it cannot be said that conformity to it was ever rigorously exacted.
As mentioned, the Swedes based their claim to the country wholly upon their purchases made from the Indians, followed by occupation. The extent of that claim is estimated at thirty German miles in length-its width in the in- terior, as had been stipulated and decreed in the contracts with the savages, "that the subjects of her Majesty and the members of the Navigation Com- pany, might take up as much land as they wished."
The Swedish Dutch colony is referred to in the instructions to Printz, as subject immediately to Commander Jost De Bogardt, but the governor is en- joined to see that the stipulated conditions under which the settlement was made, are complied with, and their removal to a greater distance from Fort Christina is suggested.
Previous to the issuing of these instructions to Governor Printz, the two vessels, the "Stoork" and the "Renown," which were to bear him and his fel- low adventurers to New Sweden, had sailed from Stockholm for Gottenburg to complete their equipments. According to the Rev. John Campanius, who accompanied the expedition, they sailed from Gottenburg on November Ist, 1642, and after a tedious voyage by way of Antigua arrived at Fort Christina on February 15, 1643, having experienced a severe snow storm off the Hooern kill, from which one of the vessels sustained great damage.
The energetic character of the new governor is abundantly evinced dur- ing his administration ; and, could his acts always have been tempered by pru- dence, his success would have been greater. The expedition under his com- mand was the most formidable that had entered the Delaware, and it required him but a very short time to give the Swedish establishment on the river a very imposing aspect. His instructions required that the river might "be shut" or "commanded." For this purpose, the position of Fort Christina at once de- termined its insufficiency. The bold shore of the island of Tennaconk (Tini- cum,) then extending further into the river than it now does, was wisely se- lected as the site for a new fortress; for while by its position it commanded the river, its proximity to Fort Nassau enabled the governor more readily to control the operations of the Dutch. Its insular position also rendered it more secure from attacks by the Indians.
Besides the fort, named New Gottenburg, Governor Printz "caused to be built there a mansion for himself and family which was very handsome; there was a fine orchard, a pleasure house, and other conveniences. He called it Printz Hall." The dilapidated remains of what was said to be the chimney of this mansion were standing within the recollection of the author, and up to this time one of the small foreign made bricks, of a pale yellow color of which it was partly constructed, may be occasionally picked up in the vicinity. Its site was a short distance above the present Tinicum Hotel, and on the opposite side of the road. The fort, we are told by Hudde, was built of groenen logs, the one on the other, and "was pretty strong." Groenen has been translated hem- lock, but as that timber did not grow within any convenient distance, and that
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of a kind much better fitted for the purpose was at hand, there is evidently a mistake either in the translation or in the statement of Hudde.
This vigilant governor did not feel satisfied that he had quite "shut the river" by the erection of Fort Gottenburg ; for before the expiration of eight months from the day of his arrival, he had completed another fortress near the mouth of Salem creek, which he called Elfsborg or Elsinborg, and on which were mounted eight brass twelve-pounders.
Upon the arrival of Governor Printz. the only European population on the river were the few persons occupying the Dutch Fort Nassau, the Swedish colony at Christina, and the Dutch patroon colony established by the Swedish government at one or more points lower down. How many persons accom- panied the governor is not known, but the number, though not large, was probably greater than the whole previous population of the river. He brought with him his wife and one daughter, and probably other members of his fam- ily : a lieutenant-governor and secretary, a chaplain and surgeon (barber,) be- sides twenty-four regular soldiers, with officers sufficient for a much large force. These, with ample military stores and provisions for the garrison, and a large stock of goods suitable for Indian traffic, which is known to have con- stituted part of the freight of the two vessels, would leave little space for act- ual settlers, their household goods and implements of husbandry. Still a con- siderable number of settlers accompanied the expedition. who doubtless fixed their places of abode within a convenient distance of the newly erected forts. It was the first successful colony planted within the limits of Pennsylvania.
We are told by Campanius that "on this island [Tinicum] the principal in- habitants had their dwellings and plantations." From the limited extent of the island this could not have continued long in respect to the plantations. In 1645, when Andreas Hudde, the Dutch commissary on the Delaware, made his examination of the river preparatory to making his report to the government, there were on the same side of the river with Fort Christina and about two [Dutch] miles higher up, "some plantations" which, in the language of the re- port, "are continued nearly a mile ; but few houses only are built, and these at considerable distances from each other. The farthest of these is not far from Tinnekonk. Farther on, at the same side, till you come to the Schuylkill, being about two miles, there is not a single plantation, neither at Tinnekonk, because near the river nothing is to be met but underwood and val- ley lands." This report, from such a close and accurate observer as Hudde, ren- ders it certain that the immigrants who accompanied Printz. as they spread themselves from Tinicum, at first for a time, continued within the bounds of what is now Delaware county. The points on the river where no marsh or flats intervene between the water and the shore, were doubtless the locations first occupied by these settlers. Chester. Marcus Hook, and one or two points above and below, may therefore claim a priority of settlement to any part of the county of Philadelphia, and after Tinicum, of any part of the common- wealth.
It is not easy at this time to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion in re-
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spect to the social and domestic condition of the settlers on the Delaware at the time of the arrival of Governor Printz, and for a short time afterwards. The Swedes were of three classes: "The company's servants, who were em- ployed by them in various capacities ; those who came to the country 'to better their fortunes,' and who, by way of distinction, were called freemen; and a third class, consisting of vagabonds and malefactors," who "were to remain in slavery and were employed in digging earth, throwing up trenches, and erect- ing walls and other fortifications."
Fort Nassau was merely a military establishment to maintain a trading post. It is not known that any actual settlement had been made at that point previous to the arrival of Governor Printz, or for some time afterwards. The fort was occupied by the soldiers and servants of the Dutch West India Com- pany, and there is reason to believe that at times some of the latter were ne- gro slaves.
But little is known of the early doings of the settlement of Hollanders un- der Swedish authority on the river and bay below Christina. As has been be- fore observed, this colony had its origin in the bitter feuds that existed be- tween the patroons and the West India Company. The chief element in this controversy was the amount of trade which should be enjoyed by the patroons, which the company seemed determined to wholly monopolize. As the trading privileges contained in the Swedish grant to these Hollanders are strikingly liberal, it is reasonable to conclude that trade at first constituted their chief employment.
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