USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 4
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In respect to domestic animals, goats were probably first introduced. In the investigation of charges brought against Governor Van Twiller in 1639, a witness mentions "twenty-four to thirty goats" as being in his custody at Forts Hope and Nassau. The careful and prudent Minuit had no doubt supplied his settlement at Christina with both cattle and sheep. In the grant to the colony of Hollanders it was provided that they should take "two or three vessels with men and cattle," and as the English settlers at Vrakens kill (Salem) came from New England, they were doubtless well supplied with domestic animals, which were probably left on the river when they abandoned their new home.
Prior to this period, but very few females of European birth had resided on the Delaware. There was not one in the ill-fated colony at Swanendael, by her supplication for mercy, to stay the hand of savage cruelty. The affidavit of Dame Catelina Tricho, before referred to, establishes the fact that on at least one occasion four females accompanied their husbands to Fort Nassau; but, as the fort was soon abandoned, and only occupied occasionally up to the arrival of Printz, their residence here could only have been temporary. There is also some evidence that the colony at Christina did not consist ex- clusively of the male sex. The Rev. Reorus Torkillus, the Swedish priest who accompanied Minuit, we are informed by Campanius, took a wife there by whom he had one child previous to his death February 23d, 1643. It is not to be supposed that Mrs. Torkillus was the sole representative of her sex in that colony ; nor would it be reasonable to conclude that the colony of Jost
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De Bogardt had omitted to introduce an item so necessary to its prosperity and permanency. Still, the number of European females on the river prior to the arrival of Governor Printz, must have been very few, and, even with the addi- tion brought by him, the number must have been disproportionately small com- pared with the other sex.
Tobacco and maize and probably beans were Indian productions of the river prior to the arrival of the Dutch or Swedes. Wheat, rye and buckwheat. with a number of garden vegetables, had become articles of culture at this period. But the immigrant settlers had none of the luxuries, and but few of the comforts of civilized life. Where woman was so nearly excluded, but few could feel that they had a home even in name.
In respect to religion, there is nothing on record except that the Rev. Mr. Torkillus officiated as clergyman at a church built within the walls of Fort Christina, up to the period of his death.
The river is generally spoken of as healthful; but it would appear that great sickness and mortality prevailed among the settlers in 1642. Winthrop attributes the dissolution of the English "plantation." that is, the settlement at Salem creek, to the sickness that prevailed that year. He says "the same sick- ness and mortality befell the Swedes settled on the same river." The despond- ency with which the early colonists were usually seized, was well calculated to increase the mortality of any serious disease that might happen to prevail.
Up to this period, notwithstanding the repeated sales of large tracts of land that had been made to the Dutch and Swedes by the Indians, the country remained substantially one unbroken forest, and was almost as much in posses- sion of the savages as when Cornelis Mey first sailed up the river. They had received but little compensation for their lands, but as yet they had the same use of them as they had heretofore enjoyed-not dreaming that the en- joyment of these lands by the white man was eventually to result in the total exclusion of their race. The time has now arrived for dispelling this delusion. The traffic that necessarily made the savage a party, is gradually to give place to the culture of the soil, that renders his presence a nuisance.
Before resuming our narrative it may not be amiss briefly to advert to the Indian tribes that occupied the river when first visited by Europeans. These tribes, collectively, have been designated Leni Lenape, or Delaware Indians. They had once been a more powerful and warlike nation, but had been con- quered by those more northern and western assemblages of Red Men known in history as the "Five Nations." Not only were they a conquered people, but, on the condition of still being permitted to occupy their lands, they had sub- jected themselves to a kind of vassalage that excluded them from engaging in war, and, according to Indian ideas of such matters, they were placed on a footing with women. They remained in this degraded condition until the last remnant of the nation had left the shores of the Delaware. The Leni Lenape were not exclusively confined to the shores of the Delaware. They occupied most of New Jersey and the whole valley of the Schuylkill. The northern por- tion of this large district was occupied by a division of the nation called Minsi,
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or Muncys. The Nanticokes, a rather warlike independent nation, occupied the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.
The Delaware Indians enjoyed the advantage of a general exemption from the horrors of savage warfare, as a guaranteed protection was an inci- dent to their vassalage : but they were frequently subjected to the intrusions of parties of the Five Nations, who occupied portions of the Lenape country as their occasions required. The Minquas, whose name was borne by the Chris- tina river, was among the warlike tribes that most frequently visited the Dela- ware for trade. Campanius located them twelve (Swedish) miles from New Sweden, "on a mountain very difficult to climb." He also describes them as a very warlike tribe, who had forced the Delaware Indians, who were not so warlike, to be afraid of them "and made them subjects and tributary to them sc that they dare not stir, much less go to war against them." The Minquas Indians, as a tribe, belonged to the Five Nations. They resided upon the Con- estoga, but their visits to the Delaware for purposes of trade or to fish were frequent.
It will thus be seen that the early settlers on the Delaware had two classes of Indians very different in character to deal with; the one a constant inhabi- tant of the country, whose presence was familiar to them and caused no un- easiness : the other, an occasional visitor whose stay amongst them, when the object of it was not well understood, excited apprehensions for their safety. The Lenape lived in small tribes, generally occupying the tributaries of the Delaware. Each tribe was frequently known to the settlers by the Indian name of the stream it occupied.
Governor Printz possessed many qualifications that fitted him for the po- sition he occupied. His plans were laid with good judgment, and were exe- cuted with energy. He managed the trade of the river with the natives so as to monopolize nearly the whole: and while the jealousy of the Dutch on this account was excessive, he succeeded in avoiding an open rupture with that government. But he was imperious and haughty and sometimes gave offence, especially in personal interviews, when a milder course would have better be- fitted the occasion.
Though the Swedes had erected a fort on the Jersey side of the river, they never placed so high an estimate on their title to the land on that side as to that on the western shore. As a consequence, most of their settlements were at first made on this side of the Delaware, up which and the Schuylkill they were gradually extended. These rivers and our numerous tide-water creeks constituted the highways of the Swedish settlers, and it was in close proximity with these streams their habitations were erected.
Campanius informs us that in the beginning of Governor Printz's admin- istration "there came a great number of criminals who were sent over from Sweden. When the European inhabitants perceived it they would not suffer them to set their foot on shore, but they were all obliged to return, so that a great many of them perished on the voyage." The same author says that it "was after this forbidden, under a penalty, to send any more criminals to
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America, lest Almighty God should let his vengeance fall on the ships and goods, and the virtuous people that were on board." This part of the state- ment is not strictly correct, for reliable evidence exists that an individual was sentenced to be transported to New Sweden nearly ten years subsequently.
The settlement of the country proceeded very slowly under the Swedish dynasty, while trade was pushed to an extent never before known upon the river. This was a source of great annoyance to the Dutch, as the trade of the river was lost to them in proportion as it was acquired by the Swedes. In the language of Van der Donk, they "would regret to lose such a jewel by the devices and hands of a few strangers."
It is by no means wonderful, that the Dutch should become alarmed at the progress the Swedes were making in securing the trade of the river, for dur- ing the year 1644 they freighted two of their vessels. the "Key of Calmar" and the "Fame," with cargoes that included 2.127 packages of beaver and 70,- 421 pounds of tobacco. This shipment of tobacco would indicate that this noxious plant was cultivated to a considerable extent on the river at that early period.
The Swedes mill, known to have been the first mill erected in Pennsyl- vania, was probably built this year, though it possibly might have been erected during the year 1643. It was located on Cobb's creek, immediately above the bridge, near the Blue Bell tavern. From the holes in the rocks at the point mentioned, the mill must have occupied a position partly over the stream, and was doubtless driven by a tub-wheel, which required but little gearing. Kara- kung, as given by Campanius, was the Indian name of Cobb's creek. This mill, which the governor "caused to be erected," he says, "was a fine mill which ground both fine and coarse flour, and was going early and late; it was the first that was seen in the country. There was no fort near it, but only a strong house, built of hickory, and inhabited by freemen."
The jealousy of the Dutch on account of the progress made by the Swedes, induced their Governor ( Kieft) to send an agent to the Delaware to keep a watch on the procedures of Governor Printz. and to resist his supposed innovations. The person selected was Andreas Hudde, whose report, though incomplete, was made at different dates. That part of it from which the two following paragraphs have been taken, was made November Ist, 1645. As it will be seen, the Swedes mill was then erected, and was erected by Governor Printz, who arrived in the country in 1642, the date of its erection can hardly vary from the time above mentioned.
"In regard to this Schuylkill, these are lands purchased and possessed by the Company. He (Governor Printz,) employed the Company's carpenter, and constructed there a fort on a very convenient spot on an island near the borders of the kill, which is from the west side secured by another creek, and from the south, south-east, and east side with valley lands. It lays about the distance of a gun-shot in the kill. On the south side of this kill, on the same island. beautiful corn is raised. This fort cannot. in any manner whatever, obtain any control on the river, but it has the command over the whole creek; while this kill or creek is the only remaining avenue for trade with the Minquas, and without this trade the river is of little value"
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"At a little distance from this fort was a creek to the farthest distant wood, which place is named Kinsessing by the savages, which was before a certain and invari- able resort for trade with the Minquas, but which is now opposed by the Swedes, having there built a strong house. About a half a mile further in the woods, Governor Printz constructed a mill on a kill which runs into the sea [river] not far to the south of Matinnekonk, and on this kill a strong building just by the path which leads to the Minquas; and this place is called by the savages Kakarikonk, so that no access to the Minquas is left open; and he, too, controls nearly all the trade of the savages on the river, as the greatest part of them go a hunting in that neighborhood, which they are not able to do without passing by his residence."
The above extracts have been introduced not only because they exhibit the means resorted to by the Swedes to secure the whole trade of the river, but because they contain all that the Dutch Commissary Hudde relates on the subject of the location of the Swedish fort on the Schuylkill; in respect to which Mr. Ferris, in his "History of the Original Settlements on the Delaware," has fallen into a very serious error-an error the correction of which has been rendered more important from the fact that the opinion of Mr. Ferris has been relied upon by subsequent writers, on account of his supposed "local knowledge." Mr. Ferris locates this fort on a cluster of rocks, once a very small island in the Schuylkill above Bartram's Garden, but now connected with the shore by marsh meadow. As the island on which the fort was erected "lays about the distance of a gunshot within the kill," it became necessary for our author to remove the mouth of the Schuylkill to a point a short distance below the site of the Bartram Garden, because the water at high tide was over "the great meadows," extending from thence "in a southerly course to the Del- aware." Even if the real mouth of the Schuylkill had been mistaken by Hudde, the "cluster of rocks" fixed on by Mr. Ferris would entirely fail to meet his description of the island upon which the Swedish fort was erected. This isl- and, from the west, was "secured by another creek," and "on the same island beautiful corn was raised." While these facts could not possibly apply to the site designated by Mr. Ferris, they, as well as the other facts mentioned by Hudde, exactly fit the island then, as now, at the real mouth of the Schuylkill. The location of the fort was undoubtedly upon what is now known as Province island ; and, as it could not in "any manner whatever obtain any control on the river," but had "the command over the whole creek" or kill, its exact site must have been near the western abutment of Penrose Ferry bridge, or perhaps a little lower down. "At a little distance from this fort was a creek to the farth- est distant wood, which place is named Kinsessing by the savages." This is designated "Minquas creek" on the "map of the first settlements, &c.," and is still known in the neighborhood under the corrupted name of Minkus. That the name assigned to this creek on the map is the one it bore in very early times, is confirmed by a conveyance of Marsh meadow bordering on it, by Lasse Cock to James Hunt, bearing date 3rd mo. 27, 1685, in which that name is applied to it, and is conclusive in establishing its identity with the creek re- ferred to by Hudde. This being established, there will be but very little dif- ficulty in fixing approximately the site of the "strong house" built by the
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Swedes. This creek for some distance borders on the fast land, and as the remainder of its course was through grounds overflowed or partially over- flowed at every high tide, there is no room to doubt that the "strong house" occupied some point on this margin of fast land. "About half a [Dutch] mile further in the woods, Governor Printz had constructed a mill. &c." This distance accords very nearly with the location assigned to the "strong house" of the persevering and avaricious Swedes.
Jan Jansen Van Ilpendam, who had held the office of commissary at the Dutch Fort Nassau, on account of improper conduct was recalled. and Hudde appointed in his stead, who proved himself a more efficient officer in resisting Swedish aggressions, at least with paper missiles. He repaired the fort, which he found in a dilapidated and destitute condition.
The accidental destruction of Fort Gottenburg by fire happened Decem- ber 5, 1645. This circumstance is not mentioned by Campanius, though it must have occurred while his grandfather resided there. It was doubtless soon again rebuilt, as the seat of government of New Sweden was continued at Tin- icunı.
The first controversy in which Commissary Hudde was engaged was on account of the arrival of a shallop or sloop from Manhattan under the com- mand of Juriaen Blancke, a private trader, who was ordered by the commis- sary to the Schuylkill, "near the right, and to await there for the Minquas." When arrived there he was peremptorily "commanded to leave the spot at once, as belonging to the Swedish crown." This Commander Blancke at first refused to do, and referred the matter to Hudde, who conducted a rather an- gry controversy with the governor, which not being likely to result in ob- taining permission for him to remain in the Schuylkill, at the spot he desired to occupy, and being a private person whose expenses and losses would not be borne by the company, he wisely took his departure; not however by rea- son of any order from the commissary. What is remarkable, a Swedish priest most probably Campanius, took a part in the negotiation.
It may be inferred from the proceedings in this controversy that an ar- rangement had been entered into between the Swedes and the Dutch about the trade of the Schuylkill. To a query propounded by Printz: "On the Schuyl- kill, in what manner the property of it is ascertained and understood; what and how far are extended its limits ?" Hudde answers, "That the acts relative to the division of the limits are at the Manhattans, where he ( Printz) may obtain correct information." Also, in the letter of the governor to Blancke, directing him to leave, this language occurs: "Directly leave that spot with your trading vessel in the Schuylkill, seek the spot where usually sloops are accustomed to trade-which shall not be prohibited; neither do I desire that my subjects shall be admitted there, from respect and friendship for the com- mander and his commissions as long as you are remaining and trading in the Schuylkill, or that they would obstruct your interests." It is evident that it was the particular place that Blancke was in. that he was commanded to leave,
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and not the kill. The letter of Governor Printz is dated at "Tinnekonk" June 20th, 1646.
Following on July 12th, the particulars of this event were communicated by Hudde to Governor Kieft at Manhattan, together with a plan for continu- ing the trade with the Minquas, and in the meantime he received instructions to inquire about certain minerals in the country in pursuance of which he vis- ited Sankikans, which was the Indian name for the Falls of the Delaware at Trenton, but he was arrested in his upward progress by an Indian sachem, who confided in the truth of a story alleged to have been gotten up by Gover- nor Printz, that the Dutch "had an intention to build a house near the Great Falls, and that in the vessels which were expected, 250 men would arrive, which would be sent hither from the Manhattans, and would kill all the sav- ages below on the river, etc. ! " It was manifestly the interest of the Dutch at this time to have an establishment higher up the river in order to secure its trade, and it is much more reasonable to believe that something of the kind was contemplated by them, than that the whole story was the malicious invention of the Swedish governor.
Under instructions received September 7th of this year, "to purchase some land from the savages, which was situated on the west shore about a mile (Dutch) distant from Fort Nassau on the north," we find the vigilant commissary busily engaged on the very next day in taking possession of the coveted spot, by erecting the company's arms upon it. This Christian method of acquiring title to Indian lands, by taking possession in advance of the pur- chase. is to be excused in the present instance on account of the proprietor not being "at home." On the 25th of the same month, however, the purchase was completed, in evidence of which the original proprietor aided in placing the arms of the company on a pole, which was fixed in the ground on the limits. This purchase included a portion of the grounds now occupied by the city of Philadelphia, as it also certainly did some of the lands that had been purchased by the Swedes upon their first arrival in the country, and of course this trans- action became a bone of contention between the two governments. The plant- ing of a Dutch settlement on the western shore of the Delaware was now the policy of the authorities at Manhattan. Upon certain Dutch freemen making preparations to build on their newly acquired possessions, the Swedish com- missary, Henry Huygen, removed the emblem of Dutch sovereignty, that had been set up by Hudde with the assent of his savage grantor, using at the same time the very insulting remark "that although it had been the colors of the Prince of Orange that were hoisted, he would have thrown these too under his feet." In one of the conflicts between the parties, a Swedish sergeant behaved himself so much "against all good order and decency," that Commissary Hudde felt it to be his duty to arrest him and keep him "in the guard house some time," besides giving him a severe reproof. This event elicited from Governor Printz a sharp protest, directed to Hudde, in which he reminds him "to dis- continue the injuries of which he has been guilty against the Royal Majesty of Sweden," and accuses him of "gross conduct" on account of his "secret and
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unlawful purchase of land from the savages," alleging that in making it "he betrayed his conviction of the justice, equity and antiquity of his pretensive claims, of which he so loudly boasted." This protest is dated N. Gottenburg, September 30, 1646, O. S., and was delivered by Oloff Stille and Moens Flom, two Swedish freemen.
On October 22, the reply of Hudde was sent to the governor. It is rather pacific in its tone. He assures the Governor that he purchased the land of "the real owner," and if he (the sachem) had sold the land previously to his Honor, then he had imposed most shamefully upon him. He protests "that he performed everything and endeavoured to employ all means by which a good correspondence and mutual harmony might be promoted," and closes with these words, "I will confide, that it is your Honor's intention, to act in the same manner-at least from the consideration that we who are christians will not place ourselves as a stumbling block, or laughing stock to those sav- age heathens which I trust, that shall remain so, as it is by your affectionate friend." This affectionate epistle was received in a rather gruff manner by the governor, who threw it towards one of his attendants, saying, "there, take care of it." This is reported by Hudde's sergeant. who acted as messenger on the occasion, and as the governor was engaged with "some Englishmen just arrived from New England," the statement may be credited : but no credit can be given to his tale that the governor took a gun down from the wall "with the intention of shooting him."
Hudde also complained that Printz had forbid his subjects (as he called them,) "to enter into any transactions" with the Dutch. This non-intercourse policy does not appear to have been very strictly enforced, for in less than a year we find Hudde and his wife at the governor's table-the fact being re- ported to show the rough and vulgar expressions his excellency was capable of using in the presence of a lady.
Nor were the Dutch annoyed alone by the Swedes. A letter from Presi- dent Eaton, of New Haven, to Governor Kieft, dated August 12, 1646, O. S., complains of "injuries and outrages" to the persons and estates of the Eng- lish, received at Manhattaes, Delaware river, &c. Since the removal of the English colony from Salem creek, there is no account of that people being present in the river except those in conference with Governor Printz, above mentioned, and a trading vessel from Boston in 1644, four of whose crew were inhumanly murdered by the Indians, and the others-a man and a boy-car- ried off by them. These, through the instrumentality of Governor Printz, were procured from their captors and sent to Boston-the man to be tried for his life on the charge of having betrayed the vessel into the hands of the In- dians.
It is not very creditable to the Rev. John Campanius, who accompanied Governor Printz to America, that he has not furnished a better account of the progress of ecclesiastical affairs during his residence. He was no doubt much occupied in learning the language of the Indians, into which he translated Luther's catechism. This work was partly accomplished during the six years
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he resided in New Sweden. The Rev. Reorus Torkillus dying about the time of the arrival of Campanius, the latter no doubt officiated at Christina as well as at New Gottenburg. During the year 1646 a church was erected at the seat of government at Tinicum, which was consecrated to divine services Septem- ber 4, and also its burying place, by the pastor. "The first corpse that was buried there was that of Catharine, daughter of Andrew Hanson. She was buried October 28, same year, being the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude." The site of the burying place, and doubtless that of the church also, was close on the margin of the river, and is now occupied by a part of its bed between the Lazaretto and Tinicum Hotel, but nearer the latter. It is not many years since liuman bones were seen protruding from the undermined and receding bank of the river.
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