USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 18
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" Other rigging, &c., 1758 13-$2958 13."
She is called " an old and leaky flüyt."
" Inventory, for particular reasons, Lieutenant Swen Huy- gens refuses to sign."1
October 27.
Captain Elswyck, not being at all satisfied with Governor Stuyvesant's proceedings respecting his ship, sends the fol- lowing formal protest :
Protest of Van Els- wyck.
" Noble lord general director of New Netherland, and the members of the high council. High and respected lords, it cannot be unknown to your honours that when I landed, 22d September, either through inadvertence, or by malice of my 1 Albany Records, vol. ix. p. 244-246.
·
161
1654.
Van Els- wyck, con-
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
steersman, with the vessel, the Golden Shark, intrusted to my care by the honourable South company, and commercial col- lege of the kingdom of Sweden, in this river in New Nether- land, that I despatched a few of my crew in a boat to New Protest of Amsterdam, as to our good friends and neighbours, to obtain a steersman, who, being well paid, should conduct the vessel tinued. to the South River. When they arrived on shore, my two men, although born Swedes, were not only carried to the guard-house as prisoners, while I was conducted by the vice- commander, under an escort of eight soldiers, from the place where the vessel laid at anchor to the house of Sergeant Daniel Litschoe, but even the aforesaid vessel was, by order of the director-general, taken in the Raritan's kill, our colours taken away, and the vessel secured by a body of sol- diers. It is pretended, I know, that his honour, John Rysingh, director of the government of New Sweden, should have taken possession of Fort Casimir by surprise, and that there- fore you arrested this ship and lading, but this is a pretension indeed without any foundation, because the aforesaid fort was, rather by force than on any ground of right or equity, constructed on the soil of her royal majesty the queen of Sweden, my most gracious sovereign, against which usurpa- tion, at that time, was protested by the Swedish governor, John Printz, although it was executed by the orders of the director-general, in 1651; so that the aforesaid Governor John Rysingh took nothing from your honour, no, he reco- vered only what did belong to her royal majesty of Sweden, and never shall it be proved that his honour ever took one single farthing from any individual, being a subject of this government, but as soon as the freemen who resided there desired to remain there, and took the oath of allegiance, then every one was actually protected in all his property, yea, what is more, no person residing there, and desiring to re- move to any part under your government, was cver stopped by the governor, but every one permitted to leave the spot, and carry all his property with him to any place, when he thought proper. But how contrary is my situation, whereas, not only the ship and cargo of my masters, but even my own property, (although I sold many articles to others, who are ready to tender me the payment at the delivery of the goods,) are withholden and taken away. What man of a sound judg- ment, and loving justice, could find fault with us, if we did 21 0 2
162
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1654.
Protest of Van Els- wyck, con- tinued.
the same in future, and trod in the same steps with regard to particular persons, if we arrested their goods, as the director- general has given us an example ? I understand that the ship and cargo of my masters, by me appointed, by the director- general, has been in part estimated, with the declared inten- tion to proceed in this business in the same manner, I declare therefore, solemnly, that I did not deliver to you either ship or cargo, or how this lading may be specified, either by my- self, or by any person over whom I had any control, but what is done, or may yet be done, must be considered as performed against my will; I cannot prevent it. It is far from it that I should be satisfied, in behalf of my principals, with the valuation; but it is, in my opinion, certain, that the loss which my principals suffer by the capture of said vessel and cargo, for more than one reason, is ten times higher than the ship and whole cargo is worth. I protest, therefore, against this whole transaction, in optima forma, against your honour and the high council, for all the damages which my masters suffer, or may yet suffer by it in future, and remain safe with my duty towards my principals. Your honours the director-general and council's most obedient."
Was signed, " Hendrick Van Elswyck, factor of the Swe- dish South company. Lewis Hood."
" It may please the notary to deliver this protest, in the presence of two witnesses, to the director-general, and bring me a receipt of its acceptance."
In the margin stood, " Done in New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, 1654, 17th October."
Yet lower, "agrees with the original," and signed, " Cor- nel Van Ruyven, lieutenant."1
On the same day, the governor returned the following an- swer to the preceding protest :
Governor Stuyvesant's answer to the protest.
"In answer to the unfounded protest of the honourable Elswyck, factor in behalf of the Swedish South company, is, that although his honour pretends that he landed in this river through negligence and malice of his steersman only, and despatched some of his crew, observe, as to his good friends and neighbours ; we, however, have never seen any proof of it; the hostile act of the honourable J. Rysingh, under pre- text of friendship, who arrived before our Fort Casimir, on South River, in New Netherland, saluted with two guns, 1 Albany Records, vol. ix. p. 263-265.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
landed 30 men, who met with a kind reception of our com- 1654. missioner and other ministers, and were welcomed by them as friends and neighbours, and who, discovering the weakness of our garrison, disarmed the few soldiers of their High Mightinesses the States-General and the West India Com- pany, not even leaving them their swords, not as friends and neighbours of the crown of Sweden, but as public enemies, against all military rules. They took possession of Fort Casimir, with all the ammunition, effects, houses, raw mate- rials, &c., all belonging to the West India Company, and keep it yet till this day ; they diverted some of our ministers, and nearly all our freemen, who owed, by their oath and duty, obedience to us, representing the high and mighty States-General, and the director of the privileged general West India Company, from their allegiance, absolved them from their oath, and lured them to swear obedience to the crown of Sweden. We pass by in silence, for brevity's sake, the damages, affronts, injuries, anticipations, and usurpations of the presiding ministers of the crown of Sweden, of lands and rivers which we purchased, paid for, and took into our possession ; we omit the landing of the vessel, not through the usual channel, not by a course well known to the steers- man, but by an unknown passage behind the Staten Island, towards the Raritan kill; all this does not once agree with the arrival of friends and neighbours, but rather betrays spies and enemies ; wherefore we, director-general and coun- cil in New Netherland, agreeably to our oath and duty to protect our possessions, and recover what was captured, could do nothing less than secure ourselves against such pretended friends, to prevent new losses; but then even were neither the honourable protestant or Swedes treated by us as ene- mies and prisoners, rather they were treated by us as neigh- bours and friends. His honour the factor was lodged in the best and principal tavern, by a sergeant of militia, Daniel Litschoe, with the full liberty to go and walk, to converse, associate, and act, when, where, and with whom he might please, as may be proved by witnesses, and a written affidavit here annexed, of the under lieutenant. The passengers and crew, without distinction of nation, (except those who lately were in the service of the West India Company,) were permitted to keep their oath and allegiance, and either re- main or depart at their pleasure. The reasons why the ves-
163
Answer to the protest, continued.
164
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1654.
Answer to the protest, continued.
sel, the Shark, was arrested by the director-general and council, and remains yet detained by them, are evident from the act of the resolution, of which a copy, annexed to this document, was delivered to the honourable factor. In the meanwhile, a free and friendly pass was granted to aforesaid factor, Elswyck, at his request, in behalf of his principal, the honourable Director Rysingh, or his plenipotentiary, to come hither, to reconcile, if possible, our several differences. As appears again, by the annexed document, we further con- sented that said factor might dispose of or sell his masters' effects, and offered the restitution of vessel and cargo, pro- vided the Fortress Casimir, which they took by surprise, is again restored to us, with all its effects, as may be seen by the document ; while, in case of refusal, we should detain the aforesaid vessel and cargo, with all its appurtenances, till we received orders to the contrary, to secure it, and have an in- ventory made of same, to be valued and sold, and the amount deposited, willing to give a receipt for it in forma, and which again can be ascertained from the documents, and what more could have been desired from a neighbour in a similar case ?
Governor Stuyvesant's reply to the captain's re- marks re- specting Fort Casimir.
" What the honourable Elswyck suggests, that the Fortress Casimir was rather constructed by force, without any right or title, on the soil belonging to her royal majesty, is destitute of all foundation, and cannot be proved, neither can it be undertaken in future. It is true that the governor, John Printz, protested against it, but he never brought any argu- ment or proof forward, that it was his soil, either by occupa- tion, purchase, or gift, and the Fort Casimir was constructed on Swedish territory. No, we showed the contrary to the aforesaid Governor Printz, as we again offer to do, with the same frankness and civility, to the protestant, and all who may be concerned in it, (here, and not at the Hague or Stockholm,) which would be showing a bird on a tree, and prove to his full conviction, by authentic writings, and yet living impartial Christians and nations as witnesses, that there is no doubt that the high and mighty States-General and the lords directors are the only lawful proprietaries of all the lands on the South River, and this partly in virtue of being first discoverers of this country, of having taken first posses- sion of it, and conquered it by the blood of our nation, when several forts were constructed by us, on the east and west
1
165
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
shore, below, above, and in the middle of the river, partly by 1654. - a lawful purchase and deed of a considerable tract from the original proprietors of the country, included even the spot on which Fort Casimir was constructed, on which, however, we Stuyvesant's do not absolutely build our claims, indisputable as these are, reply, con- tinued. on the whole South River, but chiefly that we discovered first that country, and took actually possession of it many years before any other nation, not even the Swedes, in the year 1638, had any settlements on this our South River, in New Netherland, as this at large was explained in the written answer to Governor Printz, of which the copy is here annexed, and which may answer again the now renewed unfounded protest, without the least need to extend any further explanations on this point ; wherefore we are confident that her royal majesty of Sweden was never informed by ministers faithfully and truly with regard to the right of their High Mightinesses, in virtue of the first occupation, and, what is more yet, the first discovery of the whole South River, and yet the property of the noble directors, and thus of the right and title to all the lands on the aforesaid river, both at the east and west, were, in different parts, purchased from the savages, the original proprietors of these lands, or obtained from them as a gratuitous gift; much less, it seems, has her majesty been informed of the answer which we made to the protest of Governor Printz, wherefore, consequently, her royal majesty is not to be blamed, although her majesty might have issued her orders, and authorized his honour Rysingh to assail and surprise the aforesaid Fort Casimir, and even to keep it, with all its ammunition and effects, which otherwise we shall not dare to accredit as commanded by her majesty, whose wisdom and discretion we always have respected and admired. There- fore we protest not against her royal majesty's orders and commission, but against her ministers and officers in this country, both who now administer her government, so with regard the incorrect and abusive informations, as with re- spect to the suffered affronts, injuries, losses, and hostile attendants against the high and mighty lords the States- General, in their and West India Company's ministry, and principally against the hostile attempt of his honour, John Rysingh, in the surprise and garrisoning of Fort Casimir, with all its houses, ammunition, materials, and other effects ; in disarming the company's ministers even of their swords,
-
166
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
Stuyvesant's reply, con- tinued.
1654. against all neighbourly customs and military usages, of all which affronts, injuries, and losses, which indeed could have been yet more pernicious and alarming to the privileged West India Company, as the aforesaid fort was just surprised in a moment when we and our nation were in great distress, and utterly incapable to resist, at same time, two such power- ful and neighbourly nations in the attack from two opposite quarters. Wherefore the director-general and council excul- pate themselves of all difficulties, calamities, and bloodshed which may be the unavoidable consequences of the hostile attempts of John Rysingh, and other ministers of the gene- ral commercial college, in behalf of South company of the kingdom of Sweden. They therefore request the notary, Dirck Van Schelluyne, with both his witnesses, to deliver in the presence of our attorney-general, Cornelis Van Tien- hooven, this act in forma, of an answer, upon the protest of the honourable factor, Hendrick Van Elswyck, as our contra-protest, and to procure, in his behalf, and of all who may be interested in it, an authentic copy of it, in debita forma. Done in New Amsterdam, on the 27th October, 1654. Signed,
Nov. 2.
" P. STUYVESANT, NICOLAS DE SILLE,
" LA MONTAGNE, CORNEL. VAN TIENHOOVEN."1
The following extract from the original proceedings of the general court for New Haven, shows some further progress in Delaware affairs.
Meeting of court in re- lation to De- laware. Letters from Swedish go- vernor.
What ought to be done. Few willing to go. Com- mittee ap- pointed to re- ceive appli- cations.
" At a general court for New Haven, November 2, 1654, the governor acquainted the town, that understanding from some that they expected some information about Delaware Bay, whereupon he read to them a letter he wrote to the Swedish governor by order of the general court, in July last, and an answer thereunto received from the Swedes governor, and a letter written by the commissioners in answer to that; (these letters do not appear on the records ;) also, that when he was at Hartford, at the convention, several spoke to him there about their going thither, if it might be planted, and therefore the town may now consider which way it may be carried on ; but after much debate about it, and scarce any manifesting their willingness to go at present, a committee was chosen, viz. Robert Seely, William Davis, Thomas Mun- son, and Thomas Jefferey, to whom any that are willing to 1 Albany Records, vol. ix. pp. 266-272.
167
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
go may repair, to be taken notice of, and that if there be cause, they treat with those of New Haven who have pur- - chased those lands, to know what consideration they expect from them."1
An unfortunate affair occurred between Factor Elswyck Nov. 14. and one Matthias, from Providence, while the former was Factor Els- awaiting the result of matters at Manhattan. It appears
wyck is at- tacked with from the record, that Matthias " dared to make, October 28, a knife, by an assault on his commander, H. Van Elswyck, factor, &c., and in his own lodgings prosecute him with his drawn knife." Owing to the interposition of spectators, the factor was saved. Not satisfied with having committed this outrage, Matthias "indulged in scolding said factor, saying, 'ye Swedes, ye villains, ye beggars,' with other abusive names, and cursing, when he escaped from the attorney-general, either through the negligence of the attorney-general or his officers, or by his own dexterous agility, showing them his back, and mocking their vigilance." Van Elswyck com- plained in court, " said Matthias, in 1648, was publicly pun- ished for a crime, and afterwards several times imprisoned ; he more than once broke jail; the plaintiff asks that the prisoner shall be hung;" the prisoner replies, " I resign my- self to the director-general and council, let them do what they please ; I prefer to be hung before I should be so scan- dalized." He confessed he actually committed the crime, but said the factor was first transgressor, and kicked him. He was allowed twenty-four hours to exculpate himself. He again appears in court, and says, " factor scolded him, calling him a rascal, thief, and bloodhound ;" " all what your honours do is well, I see I am to be despatched." "The factor said to him, at Porto Rico, ' I pardon you what you did, but when I arrive thither I shall claim justice ;' Matthias replied, 'I thank you; I too shall bring you where the sea cannot over- whelm you.' " He was sentenced to be taken from prison to the place where justice is executed, rigorously beaten with rods, and then banished for twenty-five years.2
The West India Company, in Amsterdam, when they re- ceived the news of the capture of Fort Casimir, expressed their astonishment in a general letter to the director, which we have not been able to find. It is, however, referred to in
1654.
one of his men, who is tried, whip- ped, and banished.
1 New Haven Records, vol. from " 5th February, 1649," to " 1st July, 1662," p. 158.
2 Albany Documents, vol. ix. p. 281.
168
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1654.
another letter from the same source, with their further views upon the subject, and expressing their opinion that the direc- tor ought to "revenge that injury," and of the measures they are adopting to secure his success.
Extract of a letter from the directors of the West India Company to P. Stuyvesant, dated Amsterdam, November 16.
" Honourable, valiant, beloved, trusty-You must have Letter from West India Company to Stuyvesant, on receiving the news of perceived, from our general letter, how we were astonished at the infamous surrender of the company's fort on South River, and the violent and hostile usurpation of the Swedes in that part of the country. We then did not consider it prudent to surrender of develope our intention more explicitly, as it ought to be kept Fort Casimir. Their views of the trans- action. Course re- commended. secret ; it is, however, nothing less than that your honour ought to exert every nerve to revenge that injury, not only by restoring affairs to their former situation, but by driving the Swedes from every side of the river, as they did with us, provided that such among them as may be disposed to settle under, and submit to our government, may be indulged in it. We should, nevertheless, prefer, (and nothing must, with dis- cretion, be left untried to obtain this end,) if they could be persuaded to select other places for their residence, within our district, as we should be more gratified if the borders of this river were inhabited by Dutchmen. No means ought to be neglected, in case of success, which God may grant for its accomplishment, either by encouraging Dutch settlers, by bounties or other more powerful luring motives ; it is, in our opinion, the interest of the company and of the government, that the possession of that river is secured to us.
Fitting out the King Solomon. Authorize pressing ves- sels into the service.
" We have already given orders that the ship King Solo- mon, with the remaining supply of the promised succour, be prepared for this voyage, as you will be in want of both in the contemplated expedition, and we hope yet, if the frost does not prevent it, that she will sail before winter sets in ; but as this is uncertain, and more yet, when about in the spring it may arrive in New Netherland, while a long con- tinued winter might disappoint such an expedition, so is it, that we, fearing that the Swedes might, meanwhile, have re- ceived aid, and fortified themselves on that river, deemed it highly serviceable to urge you seriously, and to commend that your honour will engage for this expedition, one or other vessel, and we give you, in consideration if the last arrived ship, the Black Eagle, would not answer your purpose in
169
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
every respect, while, in case of refusal, either from the side 1654. of the owners or skippers, you may at last compel them to submission, as in similar cases ; no excuses or private interests can be admitted, as may be proved from daily examples in Letter from West India Company our government. What regards the fresh supply of soldiery, believe us, here too we are on the alert, and the proof that continued. we are deeply interested in it is at hand. The drum is beaten daily, so that we hope that we have it yet in our power to embark a number of soldiers in the ship the Great Christo- pher, with a gunner and two carpenters; however, if, as it may happen, we did not succeed in this to the utmost of our intention, and could not obtain so many soldiers as we intended, then that it is our opinion, which agrees with that of Lieutenant Nuton, that your honour can supply this want, particularly if this enterprise is directly undertaken, before the Swedes can receive assistance. You have actually nothing to fear from any other enemy, being in peace with your Eng- lish neighbours, so that all the soldiers, with the licensed, who in similar cases are in duty bound to serve the company, can be employed ; so too, all free persons who might offer themselves for this service, as the citizens of New Amsterdam are fully competent and strong enough to secure that city, without any danger, if only good order and police are esta- blished there, which we dare and will intrust to your honour's prudence and carefulness. The digging tools which you re- quired are sent by the ship Great Christopher, with a quan- tity of gunpowder, so that you need not wait for the re- sidue, which it is our intention to send by the first oppor- tunity."
" We forgot to mention that your honour ought to leave Commander nothing untried to apprehend Gerrit Bikker, late commander of the fort of the company, (Casimir,) on the South River, while we, from the documents which we have received, and from private information, are compelled to conclude that said person has acted in his office very unfaithfully, yea, treacher- ously ; that he thus, without any connivance, to an example of others, ought to be punished, as all others who have shared more or less in this shameful transaction, the pursuit of which we seriously recommend to your honour, while we look for- ward to the letter in which your honour shall inform us that this enterprise has been crowned with success. Meanwhile, honourable, valiant, beloved, trusty, we recommend you to
of the fort to e arrested.
22
P
1
. S
170
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1654. God's protection, your good friends, the directors of the West India Company, DAVID VAN BUERLE,
" Amsterdam, Nov. 16, 1654. ABRAHAM WILMERDONK."1
In other letters written by the West India Company, shortly after the preceding, they speak of the " cowardly surrender" by the commander, and call upon the director for the necessary documents, to enable them properly " to explain this hostile aggression and justify their title ;" some papers before sent by the director not having been properly authen- ticated.
Nov. 23. Further views of the surrender. Ask for title- deeds for purchase.
" It is difficult for us to say, if we are more astonished at the audacious enterprise of the Swedes, in taking our fort on the South River, or at the cowardly surrender of it by our com- mander, which is nearly insufferable. It is thus of imperious necessity, that such measures directly are adopted, by which further mischiefs might be avoided. We recommend your honour most seriously, that we may be enabled here to ex- plain this hostile aggression, and justify the title of the com- pany to this district, to send us, by the first opportunity, not only authentic copies of the deeds, and their acknowledgment of this tract of land which we purchased, on the South River, in the year 1650, but all such original documents and papers as may be serviceable to their corroboration."2
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