USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 13
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From what has been said respecting the persons and grants, of their reality, and actual presence in this country, it is pretty certain that no positive traces of the settlement are at present to be found, whether at Pensaucken, Salem, or Fort Eriwomec, on Long Island, in Virginia, or Maryland ; and " it remains for the researches of the Historical Society to establish where their settlement was, if it existed at all."2 1 Vertoogh, note, page 323, N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll. vol. ii. N. S. 2 King.
General re- sult. No trace of a settlement.
113
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
1649.
Peter Stuyvesant writes to Hudde the following letter, May 23. which shows the further encroachments of the Swedes. " I Letter from saw with no less surprise than regret, by your very kind let- Stuyvesant to Hudde. Purchases by Swedes around Fort Nassau. Approves of ter of 19th May, the bold enterprises of the Swedes in pur- chasing the lands all around the company's Fort Nassau, from which we cannot prognosticate any good to the company, reflecting on their former impertinent anticipations, by en- Hudde's pur- croaching on the lands purchased and in possession of the chase above Fort Nassau. company on the Schuylkill; which makes me fear that it will not stop here, and what I shall apply as a remedy I do not know indeed, but you may see from the enclosed extract, that even our limited powers were further circumscribed by parti- cular circumstances, as otherwise, wherefore we cannot but highly approve that your honour purchased all the lands above the fort, and are very well pleased with it. I expect to be informed by your next, of the quantity and quality of the payment due, which, if these had been specified in your last, I would have endeavoured to find means for these pay- ments, which I now must delay till your further orders."
" The request of Thomas Swen and other freemen, who are residing in your honour's jurisdiction and that of the West India Company, were desiring to purchase above the fort, and to move thither with their families, and I cannot discover any reason why in this they should not be indulged; wherefore, as soon as the transfer of these lands shall have been made to your honour by the natives, the proprietors of the soil, then I will procure them letters-patent, in confirmation of their title."
The letter then speaks of "the plans of the Swedes to create impediments to the back part of the North River, above the fort, and to cut off our intercourse and commerce with Fort Orange," and continues, " that my remonstrances against the sinister views of the Swedes, and my sincere de- sire to prevent these, would be unacceptable, never struck my mind, because I presumed that you were principally sent thither for the purpose, and was by oath and duty bound to protect and maintain, to defend the rights and authority of the company, by all honourable and equitable means, and it is my express command that you will continue, as you did before, to follow the same track. I can believe, at the same 15 K 2
114
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1649.
Stuyvesant to Hudde, rather sharply.
Approves of proposal to buy land from Narra- tikon to the bay.
time, very well, from my own experience, that there is some- thing in it, as we ourselves have, for similar faithful services, been rebuked, yea, often reproached and slandered, even by those who might have supported us; nevertheless, this neither ought or shall move us to act and serve in another way, as we are in honour and duty bound. An act of consent and maintenance shall be granted to freemen, provided that they conduct themselves as our other subjects, to take the oath of allegiance to our sovereigns and patrons. We cannot but approve, as good and expedient, your last proposal to pur- chase all the land, from the Narratikon kill to the bay, while the savages offer it for sale, and by this others might be pre- vented from becoming owners ; but you will take good care, that in the transfer, the usual circumstances and solemnities are observed, and that these are well and correctly written, and signed by as many as can be obtained, viz. Christians who are not in the service of the company."1
Explanation by Andreas Hudde, of transactions connected with the pur- chases of lands above Fort Nassau.
The foregoing letter follows an explanation, by Hudde, dated May 16, 1662, of a patent, and is certified, by W. Beekman, to be a correct copy of the original. The explana- tion seems to be a history of some events which occurred in this or the preceding year. It begins by saying, " It is then so, sir, that Thomas Swen, (or Broen,) having obtained, in 1648, from the director-general, an act of consent that he might take possession of the Mantes Corner, being a spot about half a mile below the destroyed Fort Nassau, and reside there; which act the aforesaid Thomas Swen communicated to Johan Printz, (former Swedish governor,) and solicited his assistance in constructing his building, and otherwise, which was promised him by said Printz, but in lieu of assisting, the aforesaid Mantes Corner, with the adjoining lands down- wards, were actually purchased by his honour, and a post, with the arms of the crown, erected upon it, by which the possession of the aforesaid Broen"2 was prevented. Acrelius says, these lands extended from Mantua's Hook to Narrati- kon, now Raccoon River, which Printz purchased, upon dis- covering the designs of the Dutch. He offered to Broen the privilege of settling there under the Swedish jurisdiction.3 This transaction is placed by Acrelius under 1646, which
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 273, and vol. xii. p. 526.
2 Ibid. vol. xvii. p. 271, Hudde's Explanation.
3 Acrelius, p. 411.
115
1649. -
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
must be an error, as Stuyvesant was not then in the country.1 This explanation continues, "And whereas the aforesaid honourable Printz endeavoured to purchase the lands at the east side, above the aforesaid Fort Nassau, so far as Mesche- kesuins,2 for which end he made great efforts among the savages, but whom he could not persuade to second his views. In the meanwhile, a warning was given by the savages, of the intention of the honourable Printz, as also by the free- men residing on the river, who owed allegiance to the West India Company, who too complained, that as John Printz pretended a right on the whole right side, and actually took possession of a spot of about 50 feet square, on the Schuyl- kill, which was in possession of our nation, and without these precincts no one dared to cultivate one single foot of land, or it was ruined by the Swedes, except as in so far they were tolerated, and so protested by said Printz, succeeded in pur- chasing the river side to the east ; then they would be locked up so much within these parts of the Schuylkill, that they must be induced to abandon it too, when finally, nothing should be left them remaining except the corner on which Fort Nassau was, which place being of little use, if any, would not be inhabited by any individuals ; neither would the beaver or free merchants, coming from the Manhattans, ob- tain from the savages one single beaver, but be compelled, if they would navigate the river and trade in it, to trade with the honourable Printz, which trade in beaver with the savages at present amounts to thirty, forty, and more thousand bea- Value of vers, during a single trading season. They would be com- pelled to abandon entirely their trade on the river, and lose the prospect of obtaining any compensation for their expenses ; and while the aforesaid honourable Printz urged the savages to gratify him in this respect, and they no longer could find any excuses to keep him any longer in suspense, they pro- tested that if we, by this negotiation, were compelled to abandon the river, it should not be through their fault; that they were ready to sell the land above Fort Nassau, on which the free merchants solicited, whereas, as observed, this affair would not admit any further delay, and through the urgent
1 O'Call. vol. ii. p. 165, note.
2 Vertoogh, p. 283, speaks of a place, " Maghchachansie, near the Sanki- kans," which may be the same as the above. Campanius speaks of Mecha- kanzijaa, or Mechansia Sippus, on the Jersey side, probably Crosswick's Creek. Murphy, Campanius, p. 83.
trade in bea- vers.
116
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1649. and importunate entreaties of the aforesaid Governor Printz, to avoid or prevent any further losses which otherwise might become unavoidable, that I should resolve to purchase the offered lands in behalf of the company. But as this was be- yond my power, by want of means, so they offered to take their payment in cargoes, and requested to be permitted to purchase these, under the declaration made on the 6th April, 1649, that they were willing to transfer the whole of their lands to the company, when the money advanced by them should have been returned, and that then they should have the preference in the choice of the lands, on which they were then residing, and become the legal proprietors of them, by a transfer of the company on their behalf, and as we had no distant prospect, or any other more favourable issue, and the case did not admit any other delay, so I was compelled to comply with their proposal and request ; and as they further solicited that I would contribute my share into it, so did I deem it a duty to comply with their wishes, as I could not perceive that it might be, in any respect, injurious to the company. The persons who purchased the lands on the aforesaid conditions, and whose names were expressed in the letters-patent, were Simon Root, Cornelius Mauntsen, Peter Harmens, Andreas Hudde, Sander Boyer, and David Davit- sen, but Cornelius Mauntsen transferred his claim to Harmen Jansen, which aforesaid persons, except Andreas Hudde and David Davitsen, went directly thither, and purchased the lands at the east and west side; of which purchase, and the names of the lands, further cognisance may be taken from the letters-patent and transfers which were then made of it, and which have been deposited in the secretary's office in New Amsterdam, so too the names of the chiefs and sellers; of all which I directly despatched a messenger to his honour, and informed him of every thing which has occurred, of all which, with his honour's answer, I endorsed a copy on 7th September, 1651, which I then transmitted; and whereas, this business remained in the same situation, without any thing further being done in it, so is it that the purchasers solicited and renewed their requests more than once, that the transfers, for their security, might be made to them, to which I never could resolve, as it was my opinion that these letters- patent were not at all concerned in this transaction, and that sooner or later their advances should be reimbursed to them ;
Names of persons inte- rested in purchase.
117
1649. -
tile acts of the Swedes towards the Dutch on the Schuylkill.
A vessel stopped by Printz.
send a ves- sel to South River, re- jected.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
at which they at last, as they could obtain the original, re- quested that it might be permitted to each of them indivi- dually to obtain a particular act, signed by the savages; to which I answered, they might do in this as they deemed pro- per, provided no infraction was attempted of this transaction, in conformity to the aforesaid conditions, viz. at the final disposal of the company. Thus it remained without any fur- ther consequences till 1655, when, by orders of the director- general, a special valuation of the amount of the purchase- money was delivered to Cornelius Tienhoven, at that time attorney-general, on which it followed among others."1
" Lieutenant Swen Schute, with his men fully armed, not- withstanding the friendly remonstrance and just protestation Further hos- of the Dutch, destroyed, with forcible hands, the materials brought on the Mastmakers' Point for building, and ruined altogether the foundation logs that were laid," and Cornelius Maunsen was compelled by them to move from the Mast- makers' Point, although being on the ground allotted to him by legal license and proper authority.2
The vessel of Juriaen Plancke was forcibly stopped by June. Governor Printz, and prevented from continuing her voyage. She was called the "Sea-horse."3
A certain Jacob Loper "petitions the director-general and council for permission to go to South River with a hired June 14. barque and cargo," which gave rise to some discussions in Petition to that body. It appears he had married the daughter of Cor- nelius Meylin, " who had summoned the director and council, by a writ, to appear in the Hague, or to send deputies there, at the stated date, to defend the judgment against Meylin." It is decided against the petition, one member in favour of it, two others having "some scruples," and the director- general deeming it " improper."4
The following correspondence appears to have taken place between Governor Eaton, of New Haven, and Governor June 17. Stuyvesant, after the arrival of the latter. It relates to the injuries received by the English from Governor Kieft, against which frequent protests had been made, and whether the recognitions at Manhattans were to be enforced. Stuyvesant appears to justify the course of Kieft, supposing that he acted upon warrantable grounds.
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 271. 3 Ibid.
2 Holl. Doc. vol. iii. p. 59.
4 Albany Records, vol. vii. p. 246.
118
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1649. " The commissioners," says Eaton, " but conceive and con- clude that the states you serve will approve and commend a just carriage and correspondence towards all the English T. Eaton to P. Stuyve- sant, inquir- ing what is to be, in fu- colonies, and certainly in such cases of righteousness, the state of England will desist, and walk with them. We have formerly protested against Monsieur Kieft's injurious course ture, expect- at Delaware, and also when, as you have been informed, our ed on the subject of duties, &c. rights there, as well known, not only to the English but to the Dutch, and Swedes, and Indians. We never claimed, nor do we desire to possess a foot of land to which you can show any just title, but we may neither lose nor let fall the English interests and claims in and to what we have pur- chased and paid for in those parts. * * * But I wish to be further certified, whether, on their trading at the Manhattans, or on their passing by, to and from Delaware, Virginia, &c., we may expect a full freedom from all recognitions, imposi- tions, and charges, by what name soever called, both for goods imported and exported, or what duties, restraints, or confiscations they must pay and submit to, and upon what grounds, that the merchant going his ways may walk safely, and the commissioners may order their counsels and courses accordingly, as they write to you from Plymouth, Septem- ber 26, 1648. Yours, in all offices of love,
" THEO. EATON."1
July 2.
P. Stuyve- sant to T. Eaton. In- tends to fol- low the or- ders of his masters.
Governor Stuyvesant replies, "Concerning your protests against my predecessor, Monsieur Kieft, about some passages at the South River, called Delaware, I doubt not but what he did was upon warranted grounds, and made you a sufficient answer ; but concerning our right there, and of my intentions of maintaining it, I have always written to the governors of the Massachusetts and Plymouth, who I suppose will ac- quaint the commissioners with it.
" Whereas you write to me concerning your countrymen's trading here, and passing to and from Virginia and Dela- ware, &c., I have further orders from my sovereigns and masters, and am not to be responsible to any but them, nor regulated by any but them. Your assured friend,
" PETER STUYVESANT."2
August 2.
At a meeting of the commissioners of the United Colonies, at Boston, the inquiry was proposed, by Governor Eaton, on
1 Albany Records, "Letters in Peter Stuyvesant's time," 1647 to 1664, vol. i. 2 Ibid.
119
of the United Colonies on settlement on Delaware.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
behalf of New Haven, " what course might be taken for the 1649. speedy planting of Delaware Bay; the title some merchants at New Haven have, by purchase from the Indians, to con- siderable tracts of land on both sides of this river, was Proceedings opened," and the proceedings of the commissioners at a for- mer meeting, in 1643, were read and considered. "A writing delivered into New Haven court, by Mr. Leech, concerning the healthfulness of the place, the goodness of the land, conveniency of the lesser rivers, with the advantage of a well-ordered trade there, was also perused. The commis- sioners with the premises, considering the present state of the colonies, the English, in most plantations, already wanting hands to carry on their necessary occasions, thought fit not to send forth men to possess and plant Delaware, nor by any public act or consent to encourage or allow the planting thereof; and if any shall voluntarily go from any of the colonies to Delaware, and shall, without leave and consent from the merchants at New Haven, sit down upon any part or parts of their land there, or in any other respects shall be injurious to them in their title and interest there, the colonies will neither protect nor own them therein; the New Haven merchants being, notwithstanding, left to their just liberty to dispose, improve, or plant the land they have purchased in those parts, or any part thereof, as they shall see cause."1
A letter was written by the commissioners of the United August 16. Colonies to the governor, Stuyvesant, on various subjects of complaint; among others, on the Delaware, in which they say, " we have perused what by way of answer you wrote the governor of New Haven, concerning Delaware Bay. We have formerly heard and considered the right and title our confederates of New Haven have to sundry tracts or parcels of land within Delaware Bay, by you called the South River, with the injuries they received from your predecessor, Mon- sieur Kieft, in anno 1643. Mr. Winthrop, governor of the Massachusetts, and president of the commissioners, wrote the apprehension and sense the commissioners had of his pro- ceedings, received his answer, but without satisfaction ; our friends of New Haven will neither encroach upon your limits, nor any way disturb your peace, but they may not let fail the English right and interest there."2
1 Hazard's Coll. vol. ii. p. 127. Trumbull's Conn. vol. i. p. 184. Records of the United Colonies.
2 Hazard's Hist. Coll. vol. ii. p. 133.
120
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
Sept. 23.
Governor Stuyvesant arrives at Hartford, to meet the commis- sioners. Cor- respondence with them. Agrees to a reference.
Sept. 28. N. S. His arbitra- tors, and commission to them.
English ar- bitrators, and their commission.
1650.
After various solicitations from the New England commis- sioners, Governor Stuyvesant concluded to meet them at Hartford, where he accordingly arrived, and opened a corre- spondence with them in writing, to avoid " all inconvenience from speaking," which was for some days continued, chiefly in relation to their own difficulties, occasionally touching upon Delaware affairs. After settling as many points in this way as they could, others presented which could only be arranged by the aid of disinterested friends of each party; an arbi- tration was therefore mutually agreed upon, Governor Stuy- vesant, commissioned, in writing, Captain Thomas Willett, and Ensign George Baxter, "to treat and agitate with the commissioners of the United English Colonies, giving and granting them full power and authority to join with other two, deputed by the English commissioners, and with them to treat, agitate, and examine all or any difference betwixt the two nations in these parts, and absolutely, by the joint con- currence of the other two deputies, to end and determine them, according as they, in their wisdom and integrity, shall think just and right, with power to enter into such terms of accord for provisional limits, and league of love and union betwixt the two nations in these parts, as to them shall seem expedient, ratifying and confirming, and by virtue of these presents, will stand bound to ratify and confirm whatever my said deputies shall agree to on my behalf, according to such directions and instructions as we have given them."
The New England commissioners, on their part, " by virtue of letters-patent granted by the kings of Great Britain, under the great seal of England, for all New England lying in that part of America, from north latitude of 40 to 48 degrees, and according to the confederation formerly made, and a full power this year given by the four general courts of the Mas- sachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven, to the present commissioners, by which they are enabled to treat and conclude in matters of public concernment, that former and late grievances betwixt the honoured governors or agents for the High and Mighty States of the United Belgic Pro- vinces, in such parts of America as are possessed or justly belonging to the said high and mighty, &c., and the Eng- lish colonies, may be duly composed, and a just and neigh-
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
bourly correspondency settled. Confiding in the integrity and sufficiency of our worthy friends, Mr. Symon Bradstreet and Mr. Thomas Prence have, and do hereby entreat and dele- gate them to agitate, treat, and conclude with the deputies appointed, &c., by Peter Stuyvesant, Esq., the present honoured governor of the province of New Netherland, to consider and compose all differences, to agree and conclude provisional limits in all places where there is a question of title or bounds, a course for ordering or returning fugitives, and settling a just correspondency, ratifying and by these presents confirming what our said deputies, according to directions and instructions given, shall agree and conclude in the premises, or any part thereof."
The arbitrators, being thus duly commissioned, met, and Sept. 20. " upon a serious examination and consideration of the parti- culars committed to reference, delivered in their award," from which we extract what relates to our subject.
1. " Upon serious consideration of the differences and Award of grievances propounded by the two English colonies of Con- necticut and New Haven, and the answer made by the hon- Stuyvesant oured Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, Esq., according to the trust and power committed unto us as arbitrators or delegates betwixt the said parties, we find that most of the offences or grievances were things done in the time, and by the order and command of Monsieur William Kieft, the for- mer governor, and that the present honoured governor is not duly prepared to make answer unto them ; we therefore think meet to respite the full consideration and judgment con- cerning them, till the present governor may acquaint the High and Mighty States and West India Company with the particulars, that so due reparation may accordingly be made.
2. "The commissioners for New Haven complained of several high and hostile injuries which they and others of that jurisdiction have received from and by order of the their griev- aforesaid Monsieur Kieft, on Delaware Bay and River, and in their return thence, as by their former propositions and complaints may more fully appear ; and besides the English right claimed by patent, presented and showed several pur- chases they have made on both sides the river and bay of Delaware, of several large tracts of land, unto and somewhat above the Dutch house or fort there, with the consideration given to the said sachems and their companies for the same,
16
121
1650.
the arbitra- tors. Gov.
not ready with proofs. A full deci- sion is post- poned, the difficulties having oc- curred in Kieft's time.
New Haven commission- ers state ances, and assert their rights by purchase.
L
122
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1650.
Amount of their dam- ages.
Dutch go- vernor as- serts his claim to the Delaware, though not ready to prove it.
Arbitrators refer the final decision to England and Holland, leaving both parties to pursue their interests on Delaware in love and peace.
acknowledged and cleared by the hands of the Indians, whom they affirm were the true proprietors, testified to by many wit- nesses ; they also affirmed, that according to their apprehen- sions, they have sustained £1000 damages, partly by the Swedish governor, but chiefly by order from Monsieur Kieft, and therefore required due satisfaction, and a peaceable pos- session of the aforesaid lands, to enjoy and improve accord- ing to their just right. The Dutch governor, by way of answer, affirmed and asserted the right and title to Delaware, or the South River, as they call it, and to the lands there, as belonging to the High and Mighty States and West India Com- pany, and professed he must protest against any other claim, but is not provided to make any such proofs as in a treaty might be expected, nor had he commission to treat or con- clude any thing therein ; upon consideration whereof, we the said arbitrators or delegates, wanting sufficient right to issue and determine any thing in the premises, are necessitated to leave both parties in statu quo prius, to plead and improve their just interests at Delaware, for planting or trading, as they shall see cause, only we desire that all proceedings there, as in other places, may be carried on in love and peace, till the right may be further considered and justly issued, either in Europe or here, by the two states of Eng- land and Holland."1
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