USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 7
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In the spring of 1655. five armed vessels well equipped were forwarded to Stuyvesant, with a carte blanche to charter others. The armament when completed at New Amsterdam consisted of seven vessels, and from six to seven hundred men. The greatest caution was used in providing against every contingency, in fitting it out, and a day of thanksgiving and prayer was ob- served before the sailing of the expedition ; which happened on Sunday, Sep- tember 4th, "after sermon." It was commanded by Governor Stuyvesant in person, and arrived in the bay of South river the next day about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The deserted Swedish Fort Elsingborg was visited on the fol- lowing day, but it was not till Friday that the expedition reached Fort Trinity or Casimir. This fortress was under the immediate command of Swen Schute, while Governor Rysingh in person had charge of Christina. To prevent com- munication between the two forts, Stuyvesant had landed fifty men. The de- mand made by the Dutch was "a direct restitution of their own property." to which Commander Schute, after having had an interview with Stuyvesant, reluctantly yielded on the following day, upon very favorable terms of capitu- lation. For the reduction of Fort Christina a bloodless siege of fourteen days was required. As a matter of necessity it yielded to an immensely superior force, September 25th, on even more favorable terms than had been granted to the garrison of Fort Trinity. Agreeable to special instructions from the home government, an offer was made to restore the possession of Fort Chris- tina to Governor Rysingh, but he declined the offer. preferring to abide by the articles of capitulation.
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The magnificent scale on which the expedition was got up by Stuyvesant for the capture of these inconsiderable forts, with the slow caution observed by him in conducting the siege of Fort Christina, borders on the ridiculous, and has afforded an ample field for the satire of the veritable Knickerbocker. His ignorance of the weak condition of the enemy will, in a measure defend him from the shafts of ridicule, but it will be difficult to find an excuse for the acts of wantonness his soldiers were permitted to exercise towards the peace- able inhabitants of the country. If the official report of Rysingh is to be re- lied upon, "they killed their cattle, goats, swine and poultry, broke open houses, pillaged the people, without the sconce, of their property, and higher up the river they plundered many and stripped them to the skin. At New Gotten- burg they robbed Mr. Papegoya's wife of all she had, with many others, who had collected their property there." Nor does Rysingh fail to remind Stuy- vesant of these unjustifiable acts. "His men," he says, "acted as if they had been on the lands of their inveterate enemy," as, for example, the plundering of "Tennakong. Upland, Finlandt, Printzdorp, and several other places, * * not to say a word of what was done in Fort Christina, where women were vio- lently torn from their houses, whole buildings destroyed, and they dragged from them, yea, the oxen, cows, swine and other creatures, were butchered day after day : even the horses were not spared, but wantonly shot, the planta- tions destroyed, and the whole country left so desolate, that scarce any means are remaining for the subsistence of the inhabitants." He also tells him, "your men took away at Tennekong, in an uncouth manner, all the cordage and sails of a new vessel, and then they went to the magazine, and without demanding the keys entered it alone, broke the boards of the church, and so took away the cordage and sails."
Campanius says "the Dutch proceeded to destroy New Gottenburg, lay- ing waste all the houses and plantations without the fort, killing the cattle and plundering the inhabitants of everything that they could lay their hands on." A late writer (Ferris) concludes that "this is unquestionably erroneous," and assigns two reasons for his opinion. First, "the Dutch had no motive for such destructive cruelty, the country being now theirs by a formal surrender, and they were bound by their treaty at Christina," &c. Second, "that the church at Tinicum was standing twelve years afterwards, and Printz Hall at the com- mencement of the present century." But the writer has failed to observe that the depredations were committed during the siege of Fort Christina and not after its surrender and the conclusion of the treaty; and that a fair construc- tion of the language of Campanius will not warrant the inference that any building except the fort was actually destroyed.
The Dutch were not, however, permitted to practice these cruelties towards the Swedes with impunity. Even before the return of the fleet to New Amsterdam, to use the language of Governor Stuyvesant, "it pleased God to temper this our victory with such an unfortunate and unexpected accident as New Netherland never witnessed. inasmuch as in less than three days over forty of our nation were massacred by the barbarous natives : about one hun-
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dred, mostly women and children, taken prisoners; boweries and some planta- tions burnt and laid in ashes, and in and with them over 12,000 schepels of grain yet unthrashed." With one-half of the force taken to the Delaware, the conquest of the Swedes would have been equally certain and far more credita- ble to the conquerors, while the other half could have guarded their own peo- ple against such a dreadful calamity.
By the terms of capitulation of Fort Christina, all the Swedes and Finns who desired to remain in the country were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to the States General of the United Netherlands-even those who intended to leave, but who were obliged to remain for a time to dispose of their lands and settle up their business, (for which one year and six weeks were allowed,) were not exempted from taking the oath, to be binding so long as they re- mained. Thus ended Swedish sovereignty on the continent of America. De- riving its only title from the savages, which is not recognized by the law of nations, no very protracted endurance could have been anticipated for the colony as a dependency of Sweden ; but its sudden downfall was manifestly the direct result of the rash, unjustifiable and unauthorized acts of Governor Rysingh in capturing Fort Casimir.
The hardships of the Swedes, though they were not protracted under the Dutch government, did not terminate with the capture of their forts. We are informed by Acrelius that "the flower of their troops were picked out and sent to New Amsterdam under the pretext of their free choice, the men were forcibly carried on board the ships. The women were ill treated in their houses, the goods pillaged, and the cattle killed."
But little has come down to us in respect to the domestic administration of affairs in the Swedish colony. The administration of justice was doubtless conducted by means of a military tribunal of which the governor was the head. Printz felt himself disqualified for the performance of the duties of a judge, and in a dispatch to the Swedish West India Company, dated February 20, 1647, he makes known his difficulty in this wise : "Again, I have several times solicited to obtain a learned and able man. Ist, To administer justice and at- tend to the law business, sometimes very intricate cases occurring, in which it is difficult, and never ought to be for one and the same person to appear in court as plaintiff as well as judge." As the seat of government was located at Tinicum from the commencement of the administration of Governor Printz, it may be concluded that the seat of justice was also located there.
Mrs. Papegoya, the daughter of Governor Printz, it will have been seen, did not return to Sweden with her husband. For many years she continued to reside at Tinicum, rather in poverty than affluence. Tinicum is no longer men- tioned as a fortified place, and if the fort was not destroyed by the Dutch as mentioned by Campanius, it was suffered by them to go into decay.
The government of the Dutch on the river was established by the ap- pointment of John Paul Jaquet as vice-director and commander-in-chief, and Andreas Hudde as secretary and surveyor, and keeper of the keys of the fort, &c. The council was to consist of the vice-director, Hudde, Elmerhuysen
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Klein, and two sergeants, in purely military affairs; in matters purely civil, or between freemen and the company's servants, two of the most expert free- men were to be substituted for the two sergeants. The instructions given Ja- quet show a want of confidence in the Swedes. "Good notice" was to be taken of their behaviour, and in case any of them were found to be not well affected they were required to depart, "with all imaginable civility," and, if possible to be sent to New Amsterdam ; and no Swede living in the country was to re- main in the fort all night. The seat of government was established at Fort Casimir-provision having been made for extending the town, which took the name of New Amstel.
"In granting lands, care was to be taken that a community of 16 or 20 persons reside together. The rent to be 12 stivers per morgen, per annum ; but permission to plant was only to be granted, on taking an oath to assist the fort, or to be transported in case they refuse the oath." "The free persons of the Swedish nation residing on the second corner above Fort Cassimer," so- licit counsel "that they may remain on their lands, as they have no inclination to change their abode, neither to build in the new village," claiming the prom- ise made to them by Stuyvesant. Their petition was granted until the expir- ation of the year and six weeks, mentioned in the capitulation.
As evidence that the Swedish government had been kept in ignorance of the intended conquest of New Sweden by the Dutch, was the arrival March 24, 1656, of the Swedish ship "Mercury," with 130 souls on board, intended as a reinforcement to the colony. They were forbidden to pass the fort, but a party of Indians joined the crew and conducted the ship up the river, the Dutch not venturing to fire a gun against them. The "Mercury" was allowed to pass the fort owing to the number of Indians on board, the Dutch feeling no disposition to provoke their animosity. The passengers of the "Mercury" were landed contrary to the direct orders, sent at considerable trouble from New Amsterdam, but the captain and crew of the vessel were exonerated from all censure, the responsibility resting with the Indians and resident Swedes. Among the passengers was Mr. Papegoya, the son-in-law of Governor Printz, who wrote to Governor Stuyvesant immediately upon his arrival. There were also two clergymen on board, one of whom, named Matthias, who continued to reside in the country during two years. Andres Bengston was also a passen- ger, who was still living in this country in 1703. Much negotiation was occa- sioned in consequence of the arrival of the "Mercury," and though the Dutchi government never yielded its assent to the landing of the immigrant passen- gers, they all did land, and probably most of them remained in the country. The vessel was allowed to proceed to New Amsterdam and discharge her cargo at a reduced duty, and to take in provision for her return voyage.
The conquest of New Sweden was not quietly acquiesced in by the home government. Their minister protested against the outrage and claimed resti- tution, but this claim was disregarded, the Dutch being well aware that noth- ing more serious than paper missiles could be resorted to, the Swedes at that time being engaged in a war with Poland. The Directors of the West India
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Company did not hesitate to communicate to Stuyvesant their approbation, in general, of his conduct.
After Governor Printz left the country, his plantation at Tinicum seems to have been very much neglected, and for a time wholly abandoned. The in- terference of Commander Jaquet to prevent his daughter, Mrs. Papegoya, from resuming the possession of the property, gave this lady occasion to me- morialize the Director-general. She says :
"It is, without doubt, well known to the Director-general, that our late lord gov- ernor. my highly revered lord and father, prepared a farm, partly cultivated by freemen, who are returned to Sweden, and surrendered it to him, and partly cleared by his orders, and cultivated for several years; and this was granted by the King (Queen?), and by the present royal majesty was confirmed, but which now since three years, being aban- doned, was again covered with bushes, and the dwelling-house nearly destroyed by the Indians, and so I have been obliged to repair it, by three Finns, and to sow its fields, when, unexpectedly. I was forbidden by the present commander, to take possession of it again: wherefore I am compelled to inform the Director-general of this event, with humble supplication that it may please him graciously, and from the friendship between him and my lord and father, to favor me with this possession, as I am confident his honor will do: and solicit further that my people may remain unmolested at Printzdorp, and continue to cultivate its soil; and that his Honor. &c., may be pleased to grant me, for my greater security, letters patent for that spot, and so too for Tinnakonk. I hope that my lord and father will acknowledge it as a mark of great friendship, and as far as it is in his power, be remunerated with thankfulness; with which I recommend the Director-general to the protection of God Almighty. Dated at Tinnakonk August 3, 1656. The Director General's humble servant, ARMGARD PRINTZ."
"The suppliant is permitted, agreeably to the capitulation, to take posses- sion of the lands of her lord and father in Printzdorf, and to use it to her best advantage," was the response of the Director-general.
The Dutch West India Company had become greatly embarrassed by the large amount of their debts, which had been increased by the aid afforded by the city of Amsterdam towards the conquest of the Swedes on the Delaware. To liquidate this debt, that part of the South river extending from the west side of Christina kill to the mouth of the bay, "and so far as the Minquas land extended." was, after much negotiation, transferred to that city, with the com- pany's rights and privileges, and subject to conditions agreed upon by the con- tracting parties. These conditions with a slight modification were ratified by the States General. August 16. 1656-the colony thus established taking the name of Nieuer Amstel.
As the jurisdiction of the City's Colony, as thus established. did not ex- tend over the district claiming our particular attention, the doings within it will only be briefly noticed. The government of the colony was organized by the establishment of a board of commissioners to reside in the city of Amsterdam ; forty soldiers were enlisted and placed under the command of Captain Martin Krygier, and Lieutenant Alexander D'Hinoyossa : and 150 emigrants, free- men and boors, were forthwith dispatched. in three vessels, to settle in the new colony. Jacob Alrichs accompanied the expedition as Director of New Am-
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stel. Alrichs assumed the government of the colony towards the close of April, 1657, when Hudde was appointed to the command at Fort Christina, (the name of which was changed to Altona,) and also of New Gottenburg.
Over the Swedes and Finns, who were exclusively the inhabitants of the river above the Colony of the City of Amsterdam, Goeran Vandyck had been appointed with the title of schout fiscal, and under him Anders Jurgen. Goer- an Vandyck, the schout, suggested to Stuyvesant the necessity of concentrating the Swedish inhabitants, and procured from him a proclamation inviting them to assemble in one settlement either at Upland, Passayunk, Finland, Kingses- sing or where they pleased. The invitation was not accepted. The appoint- ment of "one Jurgin the Finn, on Crooked Kill," as court messenger, is men- tioned.
Andries Hudde, who held a military command under the Company, was also provisionally engaged in the New Amstel Colony as clerk in "the dispatch of law suits and occurring differences ;" and as he understood "somewhat of surveying," he was also employed in that capacity.
Evert Pieterson, who held the office of schoolmaster, comforter of the sick and setter of the psalms, in the City Colony, writes to the commissioners that upon his arrival in April he found but twenty families in New Amstel, all Swedes except five or six families. He appears to have been a man of obser- vation, and suggests our black walnut timber for making gun-stocks, requests that inquiries be made of the gunsmiths in respect to its value, and in what shape it should be cut. In August he had a school of twenty-five children. This is the first school established on the river of which we have any account.
Director Alrichs not only communicated with the commissioners of Am- sterdam City, but also with Stuyvesant. He advises that seventy-five men be sent to Altona, thereby showing that he was under some apprehensions on ac- count of the Swedes.
The winter of 1657 was remarkable for its severity. "The Delaware was frozen over in one night, so that a deer could run over it, which, as the Indians relate, had not happened within the memory of man."
In the spring of 1658, a vessel which had taken in hickory wood at Altona that was cut by Stuyvesant's orders, completed her cargo with rye straw at Tinicum.
The affairs of the South river, in the opinion of Governor Stuyvesant and his council, "required to be examined into," and "some regulations" also becoming necessary among the Swedes, his excellency in person, accompanied by Mr. Tonneman, repaired to the river, and May 8th, in this year visited Tini- cum. Here they were met by the schout, or sheriff, Vandyck; Olof Stille, Mathys Hanson. Pieter Rambo and Pieter Cock, magistrates; Swen Schute, captain ; Andries D'Albo, lieutenant ; and Jacob Swenson, ensign. After re- newing their oath of allegiance to "the high and mighty lords, the States Gen- eral of the United Netherlands and lords directors of the general privileged West India Company with the director general and council already appointed, or in time being," these Swedish officials presented their petition asking that a
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court messenger might be appointed for executions ; for free access to the sol- diers of Altona, in case they wish their aid for the execution of resolves ; that no person shall leave their limits without the knowledge of the magistrates, much less male and female servants, &c. Some subsidies were also asked for. The Director-general thoughit the jailor could perform the duties of court messenger, as he is now employed by the sheriff and commissioners to make summons, arrests and executions. Free access to the soldiers was granted, if solicited by the sheriff. No person was to leave without the consent of the commissary, first obtained of the Director-general and council, and sub- sidies were allowed "when they can be obtained with least incumbrance to the Swedish nation." Those who had not taken the oath of allegiance were re- quired to do so.
It is probable that the above named petitioners, except Vandyck, con- stituted what remained of an organized government at the close of the Swed- ish authority on the river. The articles of capitulation are silent in respect to a continuance of Swedish officers in power, but it would appear that those who remained in the country and took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch govern- ment, continued to exercise their functions, in which they seem to have been officially recognized by the Director-general at the meeting at Tinicum. Un- fortunately, no record of their official acts has been preserved.
After the Director-general returned to New Amsterdam, he reported to the Council that the Swedes, after taking the oath of allegiance, desired that in the case of a difference between the crown of Sweden and the Netherlands in Europe, that they might occupy the position of neutrals, which was agreed to. The military officers mentioned at the meeting at Tinicum were at the same time elected to their respective offices.
The summer of 1658 was a season of great sickness an : mortality at New Amstel and surrounding country. In a letter from Alrichs to the commission- ers of the City Colony, dated October 10, of this year, he speaks of "two par- cels of the best land on the river on the west bank, the first of which," he says. "is above Marietens hook, about two leagues along the river and 4 leagues into the interior ; the second on a guess, about 3 leagues along the same including Schuylkill, Passajonck, Quinsessingh, right excellent land, the grants or deeds whereof signed in original by Queen Christina, I have seen: they remain here." He also expresses the belief that "the proprietors, as they style them- selves, or those who hold the ground briefs," would willingly dispose of these lands for a trifle, according to their value or worth.
The prosperous commencement of the City Colony was soon followed by evils that almost threatened its dissolution. Sickness, a scarcity of provisions and failure of crops, followed by a severe winter, spread dismay and discon- tent among the people. The arrival of additional settlers not properly supplied with provisions, greatly increased the prevailing distress. In the midst of this general gloom, news arrived that the burgomasters of Amsterdam had changed the conditions on which the colonists had agreed to emigrate, making them less favorable to the emigrants. Discontent was increased, and many of the inhab-
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itants deserted to Maryland, carrying with them the news of the distressed condition of the colony. News of a threatened invasion by the English reached the ears of the colonists, and added to the general feeling of insecurity. In the midst of this anxiety and alarm, commissioners from Maryland arrived with a letter from Governor Fendal and instructions to command the Dutch to leave, or to acknowledge themselves subjects of Lord Baltimore. An immediate answer was demanded, but at length Col. Utie, the head of the Maryland com- mission, granted a delay of three weeks in order that Alrichs and Beekman might confer with their superiors. Upon being advised of the visit of the Maryland commissioners, Governor Stuyvesant forwarded a reinforcement of sixty soldiers with Capt. Krygier and Secretary Van Ruyven to regulate mat- ters on the South river. He also sent Augustine Heemans and Resolved Wal- dron as ambassadors to Maryland, with instructions to remonstrate against Col. Utie's proceedings, and to negotiate a treaty for the mutual rendition of fugitives. Upon the arrival of the ambassadors in Maryland a protracted con- ference ensued, in which the Dutch title to the lands on the Delaware river and bay was defended with considerable ability.
The land from Bombay Hook to Cape Henlopen was secured by purchase from the savages, and a fort erected at Hoern kill as a further security against the English claim. It was attached to the district of New Amstel.
Alrichs had become unpopular from the exercise of a too rigid authority. The clashing of interests between the city and the Company, taken in connec- tion with the adverse circumstances with which he was surrounded, rendered his position one of great difficulty. But death relieved him from his troubles towards the close of the year; his wife departed this life at its com- mencement. Previous to his death, Alrichs nominated Alexander D'Hinoyossa as his successor, and Gerit Van Gezel as secretary.
The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam soon discovered that their colony of New Amstel would be attended with more expense and trouble than profit, and entered into negotiations with the company for a re-transfer of the same to them. Trade was the prime object of the company, and as the City Colony served as a defence to the southern border of New Netherland without diminishing their commercial advantages, the negotiation, of course, was a failure.
In September, 1659, Alrichs says there are 110 houses in New Amstel, 16 or 17 more on land belonging to the Dutch, and 13 or 14 belonging to the Swedes. In a proposition to tax the Swedes and Finns within the jurisdiction of the West India Company, towards the close of 1659, the number of their families is estimated at 200. By estimating five persons to each family at the close of this year, the whole European population of the river would amount to 1,700.
The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam failing to get rid of their American colony, made a new loan and showed a disposition to act with more vigor in promoting the interests of the colonists. A year, however, was al- lowed to pass away before the inhabitants of New Amstel felt the invigorat-
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