USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 14
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The award was signed by the four arbitrators; and the Dutch governor, in the presence of all the commissioners, and on the pledge of his arbitrators as security, promised to abide by their decision.
1651.
March 21.
The following extract of a letter from the directors of the West India Company, in Amsterdam, to Governor Stuyve- sant, shows that the Dutch were endeavouring to fix their boundaries between them and the Swedes.
" It is our further intention to apply to the Queen of Swe- den,2 to try if we might succeed to determine upon the limits between us and the Swedes, in regard to South River. Your honour will, in the mean time, endeavour to maintain the rights of the company, in all justice and equity, while we again recommend that your honour will conduct himself with
1 Hazard's Hist. Coll. vol. ii. pp. 171, 172, and 218, where the whole award may be seen at length.
2 She was crowned last year.
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1651.
refuses aid to New Ha- ven, in set- tling on the Delaware.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
that discretion and circumspection, by which all complaints, disputes, and coolness between friends and allies may be avoided." It would also appear that it had been intimated to the company that it might be for their interest to have no property except on Manhattans, as they say, in reply to a suggestion to that effect, " nevertheless, we can prove to have purchased many large tracts at the South River."1
An application was made by New Haven to Plymouth June 5. Colony, for aid in making their settlement on Delaware, and Plymouth declined, as appears by the following record : " Whereas, by a letter from New Haven, aid by them was requested and required in following a plantation at Delaware, against such as now oppose them in that respect; the court having con- sidered thereof, think it not meet to answer their desire in that behalf, and will have no hand in any such controversy about the same."2
The following view of the conduct of the Swedes is pre- sented in a long Dutch document of this date, taking a gene- ral retrospect of occurrences from the time of erecting Fort Nassau, which we have already referred to at the appropriate dates. What now follows relates principally to this period.
" The Swedes, who daily increase in numbers, as likewise July 16. in boldness, have not only ordered their own people to drive Detailed pro- no trade with the company's inhabitants, nor to pay to them ceedings of the Swedes their debts, have likewise strictly forbidden them to suffer against the our inhabitants to lay out farms, country-seats, or gardens, Dutch, in a remon- aggrieved persons. between their trading-house and the company's Fort Bevers- strance from rede, it even being the company's own indisputable lands, having been purchased a number of years before the arrival of the Swedes from the natives and rightful owners, and as by legal certificate, showing the authority given to the com- pany, as before mentioned. Notwithstanding this, their in- sufferable boldness has been so great, that they, against all laws of nations, tore down and totally ruined, with forcible hands, the houses, country places, and gardens that were erected and placed on the company's own lands, being again to the great disrespect of the States and the company, and to the notable injury of the interests of those people who had settled and established themselves as subjects, and under the protection of the States-General and the company, all which
1 Albany Records, vol. iv. pp. 46, 47.
2 Plymouth Colony Records, vol. iv. p. 234. Hazard's Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 554.
124
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1651.
appears from letters and documents sent from New Nether- lands, and especially by the before-mentioned subjects, in the following remonstrance to the company's director-general, Peter Stuyvesant."
The remonstrants commence by stating, that they lived upon the island Arumirne, in the Schuylkill, and settled there under the protection of the West India Company ; that they had previously remonstrated against certain suffer- ings from the Swedes, by force and violence, and refer to various acts in 1647 and 1649, which have been already no- ticed in those years. They now enumerate some occurrences in the present year.
Complaint ' of Cornelius Mauntsen, and improve- ments de- stroyed by Swedes.
" The following violence was committed, according to the clerk, Hudde, in 1651, on the inhabitants of Fort Bevers- rede, viz. Cornelius Mauntsen, Symon Root, and Philip Jan- &c. Garden sen, on their reasonable request for some land to sow some garden truck, had, by consent of the clerk, assigned them a small spot of land behind the fort, where the sowing was effected. An express sent by Printz completely ruined it, and the improvements that were put upon it for the preser- vation of what was sown, publicly burned.
Complaints of others. Building de- stroyed.
" Peter Cornelessen and Regnier Dominicus having been shown a place on the island, were prevented from sowing by the Swedes ; they made preparations for building about the middle of April, the foundation logs were laid, the up-and- down posts put up, which were all ruined by them, yes, even every thing cut up for firewood.
Sander Go- vertsen, &c. prevented from build- ing, &c.
" A spot of land, by extra license and order of director- general, was allotted and measured out, about 22d May, by Hudde, for Sander Govertsen, Abraham Schaets, and Gerrett Hendersen, on the same island. Govertsen brought his boards on the ground, but was prevented from building, by H. Huy- gens and Jan Pappegay, fully armed, authorized by Printz, in a forcible manner.
Ask com- pensation for injuries re- ceived.
" Over this violence and prevention of our most necessary matters done to us by the Swedes, we that live here, as well as we that come here with our vessels, complain to your honour, and request becoming compensation for the injuries and damages sustained.
Payments refused by Swedes, un- der sanction of Printz.
" And further, we complain, that Simon Root and Corne- lius Mauntsen have likewise been refused payment by the Swedish subjects, pretending, as they were his subjects, they
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PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
need not pay ; and we likewise declare, that the Swedish subjects have declared to us, that it has been forbidden by their governor, Printz, to have any transactions whatever with us, and which has likewise appeared at several times."1
" From all these unheard of and insufferable proceedings, Dutch it sufficiently appears that their intentions were to deprive charge Swedes with intention to deprive them of the and dispossess the company of the whole of the river ; wherefore the before-mentioned director, Stuyvesant, was obliged this year to make his personal appearance, to preserve whole river. and protect the company's rights and jurisdiction, and for the maintenance of their subjects. Having arrived there, he The pre- made known, or caused to be made known to the Swedish governor, Printz, as well by letters as by deputation, the right the company had in general, in virtue of their first dis- covery, and the taking possession of the before-mentioned munications river, and which was confirmed and became indisputable by the purchase of several tracts of land, among which was that by posses- of the Schuylkill, which took place many years before the Swedes arrived there, offering to prove it by land certificates and authorization papers, requesting Printz, on his part, to produce proof of what lands he or his people had purchased from the natives and owners, and the authority to possess them. On which merely a simple writing was received, wherein Printz determined the Swedish limits wide and broad enough, yet without any justification or proper proofs, giving Printz says his proofs . are in Swe- as an excuse, that all the papers relating to the purchase of lands were not at hand, but deposited in the chancellery at den. Stockholm, where he says he is sure of having seen them."
" That these excuses were entirely divested of truth, ap- Printz tries peared shortly afterwards, as the governor, then only, tried to then to pur- chase the land from Indians, who refuse, as he them forci- bly. purchase such lands from a certain sachema or Indian chief, called Waspang Zewan, as were settled on by his people, and that he maintained to belong to his limits, to which the Indian had taken chief was not inclined, and refused, as he said, because the Swedes had, for a long time, and against his inclination, and with a forcible hand, kept possession of a part of said lands, Indians pre- sent the lands on without ever having given him the least consideration for them ; this the chief declared verbally and in writing, to the both sides to director, in presence of several credible persons, to whom he Stuyvesant, from Chris- presented, (for the company,) and gave authority in a proper tina Creek to manner, to inherit and possess for ever the before-mentioned
1 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 59 to 65.
1651.
sence of Stuyvesant requested. He arrives, and has com- with Printz, on his rights sion and pur- chase, before arrival of Swedes. De- mands proof from Printz.
Bombay IIook.
L 2
126
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1651. lands, creeks, and appurtenances, so unjustly and forcibly possessed by the Swedes, both on the east and western shores, commencing on the eastern from the Narraticonsche, or Rac- coon Creek, stretching down the river to Maetsinging, and on the western shore, from a certain creek called Neckatoen- sing, to the westward, along the river to Settoensoene, also called the Minquas Creek, on which is the Swedish fort Christina."
July 19. Confirmed publicly be- fore nume- rous wit- nesses.
Indians deny having ever sold lands to Swedes, ex- cept about Christina.
" For further tranquillity and security, all the Indian chiefs who lived near the river, and all the owners of the land in the neighbourhood, were summoned by the said director, Stuyvesant, to put some questions to them in the presence of several persons," whose declarations and names are on record.1 The Indians denied having " ever sold or presented any par- cels of land to the Swedes, as they pretended, excepting the ground on which Fort Christina is situated, and a certain garden about there, to plant tobacco in ; and they moreover declared, all the land from said fort down towards Bombay Hook, called by them Neuwsings, several miles in extent, they wished to bestow as an inheritance for ever, to the com- pany, for which the director very politely thanked them, say- ing that he would rather give them a proper compensation for the same, which they then especially and fully accepted. The papers were then properly prepared and signed, the chief, Pemmenatta, only conditioning 'that they should repair his gun when out of order,' and give the Indians, when they required it, ' a little maize.' "2
Trifling com- pensation for the lands.
The land being thus secured, for further security, and to For security, remove all possible pretensions the Swedes might make there- Stuyvesant concludes to build Fort Casimir, as Fort Nassau way, which he breaks up. Printz ob- jects, but they con- clude to live in peace. Stuyvesant prepares to return to Manhattan. for, the said director found it necessary, for the safety of the company's jurisdiction, and protection of their subjects, to build another fort, " as Fort Nassau was too far up, and laid is out of the too far out of the way ;" he therefore concluded to break up Fort Nassau, and choosing a reasonably well adapted place, (on the company's own ground,) about one mile (Dutch) from the Swedish Fort Christina, which fort was called Casimir ; being finished, and provided with people as opportunities offered, the director made preparation for his return to Man- hattan. Previously, however, to his departure, he had several conversations with Governor Printz, " wherein they mutually promised to cause no difficulties or hostility to each other,
1 See them in O'Call. vol. ii. p. 166. 2 Ibid.
127
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
but to keep neighbourly friendship and correspondence to- gether, and act as friends and allies,"1 although the erection of this fort was protested against by Printz.
1651.
The location of Fort Casimir was near the present town Location and of New Castle, a short distance north of it, and it is believed names of Fort Casi- can be correctly ascertained at this day, from the ground, as mir. well as by the records, describing lots around it. It soon became a very important point. Whence it derived its name does not appear, and excited the surprise of the company when they heard of it, being rather a Swedish than a Dutch name.
In consequence of the agreement entered into last year, Sept. 14. between the Dutch and English, and the mutual profession A party of of future harmony and peace, a number of families, during fifty goes from New the last winter, were making preparations to settle on the Haven to De- Delaware. In March of this year, all arrangements being laware, but is stopped treated at Manhattan. made, about fifty men from New Haven and Sotocket hired a and ill- vessel to transport themselves and their effects to that part of the country. They were furnished, by Governor Eaton, with a commission, as well as with a friendly letter from each of the governors of New Haven and Massachusetts, to the Dutch governor, acquainting him with their design, and assuring him that, according to the agreement, they would confine their settlements to their own lands, and in no ways trouble their neighbours. On their arrival, however, at Man- hattan, which they might have avoided, and delivering their letters to Stuyvesant, very much to their surprise, the bearers of the letters were immediately arrested, and kept under guard as close prisoners, and the residue of the company ill treated, as appears by the following petition of the parties to the commissioners.
" To the honoured commissioners for the United Colonies, Petition of now assembled at New Haven :- The humble petition of Jas- per Graine, William Tuttill, and many other the inhabitants ter their re- of New Haven and Sotocket, humbly showeth, that whereas turn, to the commission- divers years since, several merchants and others of New Ha- ers. ven, with much hazard, charge, and loss, did purchase of the Indian sagamores and their companies, the true proprietors, several large tracts and parcels of land on both sides of Delaware Bay and River, and did presently begin to build and to set up factories for trade, and purposed to set up plan-
1 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 32 to 50.
the parties, presented af-
128
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JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1651. tations within their own limits, whereby the gospel also might have been carried and spread amongst the Indians in that most southerly part of New England, and the United Colonies might before this time been enlarged, with conveniency both for themselves and posterity, had not the whole work, by hostile and injurious opposition made both by the Dutch and Swedes, been then hindered.
" And whereas your petitioners, straitened in the respective Statement of plantations, and finding this part of the country full, or their treat- ment by the Dutch go- vernor.
affording little encouragement to begin any considerable new plantations for their own comfort and conveniency of pos- terity, did, upon a serious consideration of the premises, and upon encouragement of the treaty between the honoured commissioners and the Dutch governor, the last year, at Con- necticut, by agreement, and with consent of the said mer- chants and others, resolve upon a more difficult remove to Delaware; hoping that our aims and endeavours would be acceptable both to God and to his people in these colonies, being assured our title to the place was just, and resolving, (through the help of God,) in all our carriages and proceed- ings, to hold and maintain a neighbourly correspondence both with the Dutch and Swedes, as was assured them both by the tenor of the commissions, and by letters from the honoured governor of this jurisdiction ; to those ends, and with these purposes, preparations were made in the winter, a vessel was hired, and at least fifty of us set forward in the spring, and expecting the fruit of that wholesome advice given at Hart- ford the last year, in the case by the arbitrators jointly; those chosen by the Dutch governor concurring in it, we went to the Manhattoes, which we might have avoided, and from our honoured governor presented a letter to the Dutch governor, upon perusal whereof, (without further provocation,) he arrested the two messengers, and committed them to a private house, close prisoners under a guard; that done, he sent for the master of the vessel to come on shore, as to speak with him, and committed him also; after which, two more of the company coming on shore, and desiring to speak with their neighbours under restraint, he committed them as the rest, then desiring to see our commissions and copy them out, promising to return them the next day; though the copies were taken, and the commissions demanded, he refused to deliver them up, and kept them, and the men imprisoned,
129
1651. -
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
till they were forced to engage, under their hands, not then to proceed on their voyage towards Delaware, but with loss of time and charge, to return to New Haven, threatening, that if he should after find any of them in Delaware, he would seize their goods, and send their persons prisoners into Holland, and accordingly they returned, though their damage thereby, as they conceive, doth amount to above £300; all which your petitioners refer to your wise and serious consi- deration, and being assured you will have due respect to the honour of the English nation, which now suffers by this in- jurious affront, taken notice of by all the neighbouring Indians, they humbly desire that some course may be agreed and ordered for the due repair of their losses, satisfaction for their unjust imprisonment, with liberty and encouragement to improve their just rights in Delaware for the future, to which purpose they further humbly offer to consideration,
" 1st, That Delaware, in the judgment of those that have often and seriously viewed the land, and considered the cli- mate, is a place fit for the enlargement of the English colonies at present, and hopeful for posterity, that we and they may enjoy the ordinances of Christ, both in spiritual and civil respects.
" 2d, They fear that if the English right be not seasonably vindicated, and a way opened for the speedy planting of De- laware, the Dutch, who have laid already an injurious hand both upon our persons and rights, they having, (as is reported,) lately begun a new fortification and plantation upon our duly purchased lands, will daily strengthen themselves, and by large offers, draw many of the English to settle and plant under. them, in so hopeful a place, which will not only be dishonourable to the English nation, but inconvenient to the colonies, and of mischievous consequences to the persons who shall so settle, in reference to that licentious liberty there suffered and practised.
"3d, As the petitioners have not in their eye any other Ask the aid considerable place within the limits of New England, either of the com- missioners. for the enlargement of the colonies at present, or for comfort and conveniency of posterity, so if the Dutch may thus openly oppose us in our persons and rights, if they may plant and fortify upon the land which themselves, the English, Swedes, and Indians know to be ours; it may encourage them to encroach and make further hostile attempts upon
17
130
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1651. some or other of the smaller English plantations, to bring them under their government, and may animate the Indians, with whom the Dutch ingratiate themselves by a large, con- stant, mischievous trade in guns, powder, and shot, to despise and make assaults upon us; wherefore they again humbly entreat your advice, with seasonable and suitable assistance, according to the weight and import of the case, that all your consultations and labours may tend and issue in the honour of Christ and welfare of the colonies."
"The foregoing petition being presented and read, the commissioners took into serious consideration the contents thereof, and what was to be done therein.
" They considered the English right to Delaware by patent, the right of the merchants and other inhabitants of New Haven to certain tracts and parcels of land there by pur- chase, the injury done them by the Dutch, both formerly and this last summer, in their hostile and forcible proceeding against them, as the petitioners relate, and the great affronts thereby given to the English nation, the insolency of the Dutch, and the contempt it is like to bring the English into among the Indians, if some speedy course be not taken to prevent it, by righting the oppressed.
" As also the commodiousness of the place for plantations, and how prejudicial it may be to the English in these parts, if it should be planted by enemies, or people of another na- tion, not being unmindful of the strait accommodations of many in several places, and the benefits of trade with the Indians in Delaware, if prudently managed.
" They likewise considered what had passed betwixt the Dutch governor and the commissioners the last year, at Hart- ford, and that advice given by the delegates of them, both for the quiet and peaceable improvement of their several rights in Delaware, till the aforesaid difference shall be determined in Europe.
" The commissioners, upon these and several other consi- derations, thought meet to write to the Dutch governor, to protest against his injurious proceedings, to assert the English right, and to require satisfaction for the damage done to our friends and confederates of New Haven ; and to declare unto the petitioners, in way of answer to their petition, that how- ever we think it not meet to enter into a present engagement against the Dutch, choosing rather to suffer injuries and
131
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
affronts, (at least for a time,) than in any respects to seem 1651. - to be too quick, yet if they shall sce cause again to endea- vour the planting of their fore-mentioned purchased lands in Delaware, at any time within these twelve months, and for that end shall at their own charge transport together 150, or at least 100 able men, armed, with a meet vessel or vessels, and ammunition fit for such an enterprise, all to be allowed and approved by the magistrates of New Haven jurisdiction, Encourage- or the greatest part of them, that then, in case they meet ment held out to the with any hostile opposition from the Dutch or Swedes, while petitioners. they carry themselves peaceable and inoffensively, that may call for further aid and assistance, the commissioners do agree and conclude that they shall be supplied by the several jurisdictions, with such a number of soldiers as the aforesaid commissioners shall judge meet, they the said plaintiffs bear- ing the charges thereof, for the true payment whereof, the purchased lands and trade there with the natives shall be en- gaged till it be satisfied, provided also, and it is agreed, that such persons as shall transport themselves to the aforesaid lands in Delaware, either out of New Haven colonies or any of the other three, shall be and remain under the government and jurisdiction of New Haven till the commissioners of the United Colonies shall otherwise order the same."
The following is their letter to the Dutch governor :
" Much honoured sir-Before we parted last year at Hart- Letter to the ford, you gave us hopes of a comfortable meeting at New Dutch go- vernor. Haven this year, what directions you had from Europe, to maintain peace and neighbourly respects with the English in America, you then showed and best know what other com- missions you have since received; but all the colonies take notice that now you walk in contrary paths ; you told us of a protest you must make against such as should plant or im- prove (though but their just rights) on Delaware; we saw no cause for that, but know that both your predecessor and yourself had, without cause, formerly protested against some of the colonies, but in yours, dated April 11th, 1651, stilo novo, sent to the governor of New Haven, we observe you threaten force of arms and martial opposition, even to blood- shed, against such as shall go about to improve what they have proved to be justly theirs in Delaware, and yet show no more of any just title you have thereunto than you did at Hartford, which left all the delegates, both for the English
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132
JOHN PRINTZ, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1651. and Dutch, therein unsatisfied : in the said protest you also affirm that the planting, &c. of Delaware by the English in- terest, is contrary to the provisional agreement made betwixt yourselves and the commissioners for the English colonies, which we marvel at, those records clearly expressing the contrary."1
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