Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware, Part 2

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1850
Publisher: Philadelphia, Hazard & Mitchell
Number of Pages: 684

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Deputies of the United Company of Merchants who had October 11. discovered " New Netherland," made a report of it to their Report of dis- High Mightinesses the States-General, and asked for a special eoveries, and request for confirmation of the privi- leges pro- edict in their favour, agreeably to the terms of the general ordinance of the 27th March. They stated, that at great expense and heavy damage to themselves, arising from the mised by loss of vessels, during the last year, they had, with five ships edict of 27th March. owned by them, discovered and explored certain new lands

' Brodhead's Address, p. 15. Holl. Doc. i. 15, 17, 19, translated at length in O'Callaghan, vol. i. p. 71.

2 The cape now called Henlopen was then Cornelis.

3 O Call. 75. De Laet. Brodhead, p. 19.

A 2

1614.

Five vessels leave Hol- land for America. Af- ter arrival one is burnt, and another is built. Re- turn of four to Holland. The "Rest- less" arrives

DISCOVERY OF THE RIVER SCHUYLKILL.

1614. lying in America, between New France and Virginia, in the latitude of from 40 to 45 degrees, which they called "New Netherland." They also presented a map of the newly- discovered country ; it is about three feet long, and is spoken of as a faithful delineation of the Hudson River, as far as Albany, made within five years after its discovery, and "perhaps by one of the companions of Hudson himself." A fac-simile of it is in the office of the secretary of state at Albany.1

Privileges se- cured by spe- cial edict, Oc- tober 11.

After hearing the report, and examining the map, their High Mightinesses ordained that the owners of the ships Fox, Captain De With ; the Tiger and Fortune, Captains Adriaen Block and Hendrick Cortiansen; the ship Nighten- gale, Captain Volkertsen, and the ship Fortune, Captain Jacobsen Mey, now united into one company, be authorized and allowed " exclusively to navigate to the said newly-dis- covered lands lying in America, between New France and Virginia, the coast of which is situated in latitude from 40° to 45°, now called 'New Netherlands,' for four voyages, within the period of three years, commencing the 1st January, 1615, next ensuing, or sooner, without any other persons directly or indirectly, shall be at liberty, out of these United Netherlands, to sail to, navigate to, or frequent the said newly discovered lands, havens, or places, within the said period of three years, under pain of confiscation of ships and cargoes wherewith the same shall be attempted, contrary to this decree, and of a fine of 50,000 Netherland ducats, to the benefit of the aforesaid discoverers, &c." They do not intend to prejudice or curtail former grants, and reserve the right to decide in any cases of disagreement; it was dated at the Hague, October 11.2

1616.

Captain Hendrickson, in the "Restless," which had been Capt. Hen- drickson de- parts for dis- left for the purpose of more particularly examining the coast, and especially the Delaware, having completed these objects, covery of the and ascended that river as high as the Schuylkill, which river Schuylkill, August 18. it appears he discovered about this time, also took his de- parture for Holland ; on his arrival, made a report of his dis- coveries, and demanded, under the edict of 27th March, 1614,

1 Brodhead's Address, p. 16. Holl. Doc. p. 39.

2 Ibid. p. 53. Holl. Doc. i. p. 47. O'Callaghan, i. p. 76.

DEATH OF LORD DELAWARE.

the exclusive privilege therein promised. From some cause, 1616. not exactly known, his application proved unsuccessful. His report is among the Holland documents, and furnishes but little information. He speaks of "having discovered and His report explored certain lands, a bay, and three rivers, situated be- and maps; buys three tween 38° and 40°, in a small yacht of 16 tons burden, natives; his named the ' Onrust,' (Restless,) which had been built at Man- petition for privileges hattan." He also furnished a very curious map, drawn on not granted. parchment, about 2 feet long and 18 inches wide, and " exe- cuted in the most elegant style of art;" showing, " very accu- rately," the coast from Nova Scotia to the Capes of Virginia, &c. A fac-simile of this map is also at Albany. This report was probably a verbal one, as the States, prior to deciding upon his application, required one in writing, which he next day presented ; in it he states his discoveries, describes some of the productions of the country, and says that " he bought three of the native inhabitants from the Maquas and Mohi- cans, who held them in slavery, for whom he gave in exchange kettles, beads, and merchandise." It does not appear that the special privilege applied for was granted.1

1618.

The privileges granted by the octroy, or edict of 1614, ex- January 1. pired this year by its own limitation. An application for a The compa- renewal was partially granted, and for limited periods.2

Lord Delaware dies this year off the Western Isles, or as Death of some say, off the Capes of Delaware ; he was on a voyage from England to Virginia. There was some suspicion that he had been poisoned.3

From this period till 1620, various private adventures were undertaken, and frequent applications made, unsuccess- fully, to the States-General, for exclusive privileges.

1620.

" The Directors of the Company trading to New Nether- February 12. land," whose grant had expired in 1618, and by which event that trade became free to every person, represent to the States-General, that " there is residing at Leyden, an English preacher, well versed in the Dutch language, and who is in-

1 Brodhead's Address, p. 18. Holl. Doc. vol. i. p. 59. O'Call. vol. i. p. 78.

2 O'Call. p. 81. Holl. Doc. vol. i. 82.

3 Beverly's Virginia, p. 32. Stith, p. 148. Belknap's Biog. vol. ii. p. 20.

ny's charter expires.

Lord Dela- ware.

CHARTER OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY.

1620. clined to go there to live," and that 400 families would go with him, " from Holland as well as England," with suitable protection from the States-General; and also express their Applications for special privileges to binson and others. Plymouth colony. belief that the English were disposed to colonize those lands, and thus deprive the States of the benefits of their discove- Rev. Mr. Ro- ries ; they ask to be taken under their protection, and "that, provisionally, two ships of war may be sent to secure the lands to the government." After deliberating till April 11, the prayer of the memorialists was rejected. Within about three months, however, (July, 1620,) some of the associates of the Rev. Mr. Robinson, the English preacher alluded to, embarked at Delft Haven, in the May-flower, arrived after some time at Plymouth, and laid the foundation of that colony.1 In August of the same year, petitions were presented by Captain Mey, Henry Elkins, and others, (the latter in opposition to the former.) Vain attempts to reconcile them having been employed, both grants were denied. These various movements, however, probably led to the establish- ment of the West India Company, in 1621.

1621.

The celebrated West India Company was chartered, under whose power and government the first settlements on this river were made, and continued for many years. The follow- ing is a summary of the provisions of this charter.

The charter from the States-General of the United Nether- lands to the West India Company, provides, "that for the term of 24 years, none of the natives or inhabitants of these countries shall be permitted to sail to or from the said lands, or to traffic, on the coast of Africa, from the tropic of Cancer to the Cape of Good Hope, nor in the countries of America, or the West Indies, beginning at the south end of Terra Nova, by the Straits of Magellan, La Maire, or any other straits and passages situated thereabouts, to the Straits of Anian, as well on the North Sea as the South Sea ; nor on any islands situated on the one side or the other, or between both ; nor in the western or southern countries reaching, lying, and between both the meridians, from the Cape of Good Hope, in the east, to the east end of New Guinea in the west, but in the name of this united company of these United

1 Brodhead's Address, p. 22; and the Memorial at length, p. 54, translated from Holl. Doc. vol. i. p. 95.

June 3.

Summary of the charter of the West India Co.

CHARTER OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY.

Netherlands," under penalty of forfeiture of goods and ships found for sale on the above coasts and lands. The charter to operate from 1st July. The salt trade at Ponte del Re to continue under instructions already given.

1621.

West India Company continued.

" The company may, in the name and authority of the Charter of States, make contracts, engagements, and alliances with princes and natives of the countries" mentioned, and " also build forts, &c., there; appoint and discharge governors, people for war, officers of justice, and other public officers," &c .; "they must advance the peopling" of these countries, &c., and transmit a report of such contracts and alliances, and "the situation" of the fortresses, &c., taken by them. The States to approve of instructions to governors, &c., and grant the commissions, with various other regulations of their internal concerns, which may be seen at length in Hazard's Historical Collections, vol. i. pp. 121-131, 149, 181.

Five branches, or chambers, were established in different sections, but the great centre was that at Amsterdam, which furnished at first eight, and afterwards nine, of a board of nineteen persons, who had the general superintendence and di- rection of the affairs of the company, from which it is usually styled the "Assembly of XIX." The States-General fur- nished one member of the board, and Zealand, Maeze, Fries- land, the North Department, and Groeningen the remainder.

This charter was extended and amended somewhat, two years afterwards.

It appears that, although the Dutch West India Company Sept. 28. had obtained the foregoing charter, it did not commence Vessels de- active operations under it for some time ; licenses were, in the spatched for mean time, granted to several enterprising individuals, to send land ; one for out two vessels to certain countries which had been discovered the Dela- ware. between 40° and 45°, called " New Netherland," and to the adjacent territories, together with a great river lying between 38° and 40°, "and to truck and trade with the natives." This great river, to which one of these vessels was to proceed, was no doubt the Delaware. These vessels were bound to return on or before the first of July following, with their cargoes, by which time it was supposed the West India Com- pany would be ready to go into operation.1 Of the arrival of this vessel in the Delaware, and of her success, we have seen no account. But it seems that information from several hands

New Nether-

1 Holl. Doc., quoted by O'Callaghan, vol. i. p. 94, 95.

VIRGINIA CLAIM TO TRADE OF DELAWARE.

Virginia as- serts her claim to the country and Indian trade. Unsuccessful expedition.

1621. had reached the Virginia Company, that the French and Dutch carried on a very profitable trade with the Indians in Delaware and Hudson Rivers, " which were within their grant, and then esteemed parts of Virginia. The company, there- fore, this year resolved to vindicate their right, and not to permit foreigners to run away with so lucrative a branch of their trade. One Captain Jones was accordingly sent upon the voyage, but, by the wickedness of him and his mariners, the adventure was lost, and the whole project overthrown," after having been supported by the Earl of Southampton and Sir Edwin Sandys, who each subscribed £200.1

English am- bassador at Hague to present claim, and remonstrate against Dutch.

The attention of the English government, through the privy council, having been awakened, by the Virginia Com- pany, to the progress making by the Dutch in New Nether- land, they directed their ambassador, Sir Dudley Carleton, at the Hague, " to bring the subject of the Dutch plantations in North America, to the special notice of the States-General." This, as far as known, is the first assertion by the British government " of the unlawfulness of the Dutch colony." The Dec. 15, 0. s. council say, " Whereas, his majesty's subjects have, many years since,2 taken possession of the whole precinct, and in- habited some parts of the north of Virginia, (by us called New England,) of all which countries, his majesty hath, in like manner, some years since, by patent, granted the quiet and full possession unto particular persons ; nevertheless we understand, that the year past, the Hollanders have entered upon some part thereof, and have left a colony, and given new names to the several ports appertaining to that part of the country, and are now in readiness to send for their supply six or eight ships; whereof his majesty being advertised, we have received his royal command to signify his pleasure that you should represent these things to the States-General, in his majesty's name, (who, jure primæ occupationis, hath good

1 Stith's History of Virginia, p. 198.

2 The first colony arrived in Virginia in 1586, but returned to England, and the second in 1587, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The first charter was granted by King James, in 1606, to two companies ; a second in 1609; a third in 1611-12. The first company was to extend from 34° to 41º, and the second from 38° to 45°; thus conflicting, though they were not to settle within 100 miles of each other. Thus the whole country was known as Virginia. An examination of the charters at length, in Hazard's Hist. Coll. vol. i. pp. 38, 40, 50, 58, 72, will furnish all necessary information on the subject, and show wherein the charters differ from each other. See also Stith's, and Beverly's Histories of Virginia. Brodhead's Address, p. 24.

FIRST SETTLEMENT ON THE DELAWARE.

and sufficient title to those parts,) and require of them that, 1621. as well those ships, as their further prosecution of that plan- tation may be presently stayed."

1622.

engages in / the business.

tained by him. Has an interview.

Upon this, the ambassador engaged in ascertaining the February 5. facts of the case, " that about four or five years previously, Ambassador two companies of Amsterdam merchants began a trade to America, between 40° and 45°, to which they gave the names Facts ascer- of New Netherland, North and South Sea, &c., and have ever since continued to send vessels of 60 or 80 tons at most, to fetch furs, which is all their trade," and have factors there trading with the savages; "but he cannot learn that any colony is as yet planted there, or intended to be." He, how- February 9. ever, had an interview with the States, and presented a Presents a memorial, dated February 9,1 of the subject of which they memorial. The result. pretended to be ignorant, but promised, on the 16th March, 1622, to write for information, " to the participants in the trade to New Netherlands." There is at present to be found no written evidence of the result, though a reply to it is in- icidentally referred to many years later.2

1623.

The West India Company having made arrangements to Firstattempt effect the objects of its charter of 1621, and as afterwards by Euro- peans to set- tle upon the Delaware. amplified, turned its attention, about this time, to planting a colony on the Delaware ; and, with few exceptions, historians generally are agreed in fixing upon this year as the date of the first attempt made at a settlement on this river, by any European nation. A report of certain commissioners, in 1659, in making out a claim which they were then defending, indeed says, " that the river (Delaware) was, in the primitive times, possessed by the Dutch, and a colony planted on the western shore, within the mouth of the South Cape, called the Hoorekill to this day ; the Dutch nation crecting there, and all over the country, their states arms, and a little fort ; but after some time, they were all slain and murdered by the Indians, so that the possessions and propricty of this river, at the first, in its infancy, is scaled up with the blood of a great

1 See the Memorial in O'Call. vol. i. p. 97, from London Doc. vol. i. 22, 23.

2 See Brodhead's Address to N. Y. Hist. Soc. p. 24, 25, 26. London Doc. vol. i. p. 17, 19, 20, and Holl. Doc. vol. i. p. 17.

BUILDING OF FORT NASSAU.

1623.

many souls. After this, in the year 1623, the fort Nassau was built, about 15 leagues up the river, on the eastern shore."1 The circumstances here mentioned, so clearly point The evidence to another event, which occurred some years subsequently, as upon which this rests. to produce a belief that the commissioners were, in order to strengthen their cause, induced to antedate the facts stated. It is mentioned, in the document before referred to, that Fort Nassau was built in 1624;2 and in another, that the West India Company took possession, in the year 1626, of the River Delaware, and built, or had built, two strongholds or forts, the largest about 16 miles (Dutch) up the river, on the eastern shore, called Nassau.3 With these exceptions, so far as we know, all the early and later writers agree. There is also the positive testimony of an Indian sachem, " that a skipper, named Cornelis, with one eye, or having a film on the eye, was the first who coming there, (to New Netherlands,) esta- blished himself on the South River."4

We feel therefore warranted, from these facts, to assume, until better evidence be produced, that 1623 was the date of the first European settlement on the river.

It has already been related, that in 1614, Captain Cornelis Expedition of the Dutch West India Company to Delaware Ri- ver, under Jacobsen Mey visited this river on an exploring expedition, from Manhattan, where he parted with his companions, they proceeding with a similar object in view, towards the north, and that they all afterwards returned to Holland. To what Captain Mey, distance Mey then ascended the Delaware, is, we believe, being his se- cond visit. He builds Fort Nassau. unknown, but he was, probably, in consequence of that visit, now considered the most suitable person to conduct another expedition, which the company were then contemplating to send thither. An agreement having been entered into, on June 21. the 21st of June, between the managers and the adventurers of the West India Company, with the approbation of the States-General," and they having selected a ship called the " New Netherlands," Captain Mey and Adriaen Jorisz Tien- pont were appointed directors of this expedition. All neces- sary preparations of colonists, provisions, and all other means for planting a colony being made, Captain Mey took his de-

1 Report of Heermans and Waldron, in N. Y. Hist. Coll. vol. iii. p. 375.

2 Report of XIX. O'Call. i. p. 418.

3 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 59 to 65.

4 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 73, translated by O'Call. vol. i. p. 100.

5 See this agreement at length, in Laet's Jaerl. Verh. Hazard's Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 175; also in O'Call. vol. i. p. 410.

LOCALITY OF FORT NASSAU.

parture for the Delaware, then called Zuydt, South, or Prince 1623. Hendrick's River, which they reached in safety. Passing between Capes May and Cornelis, which, either now, or on the former visit, received his name, he ascended the river about 15 leagues from its mouth, where, on the eastern shore, he immediately commenced the erection of Fort Nassau, as well for security against the Indians, as for a trading post with them. It is said to have been built of logs, and " that a garrison was continually maintained there."

opinions as to the local- ity of Fort Nassau.

There is more difficulty, at this remote period, in deter- Various mining the locality of this fort, than in settling the date of its erection, as no vestiges remain to indicate the precise spot, and tradition can afford but little aid in deciding the question. Most historians, however, agree that it was in the neighbour- hood of the present Gloucester Point, and at the mouth of the most northerly branch of Timber Creek, then called Sassackon.1 Various names have been assigned to it, or its vicinity, as Hermaomessing, Arme Wamix, Tekoke, Techa- acho, Arwames, &c.2 The old maps that we have con- sulted, place the fort between the two branches of Timber Creek; a map in a late work has it at the north of the creek.3 It is referred to in various documents and books : one says, "it was 15 leagues up the river ;"4 " about five or six miles (Dutch) above Fort Christina ;" "about 16 miles up the river, on the eastern shore ;" " Beaver Rede on Schuylkill is said to be down the river from Fort Nassau."5 Another says, "it is about a mile south of a purchase he had made north of it," which is supposed to be a part of the present site of Philadelphia.6 From all these various statements, it is evi- dent that there can be but a few miles difference between the true position of Fort Nassau, and that generally assigned to it; and here we are disposed to let it rest, until further in- vestigations and facts are produced to alter it. The great changes in the river, by currents, embankments, &c., render almost hopeless any attempt to discover more accurately the exact locality ; still it is desirable to do so, if practicable.

How long Captain Mey continued at Fort Nassau, why he

1 Mickle's " Reminiscences of Gloucester," p. 3. Mulford's N. J. p. 49.

2 Ibid. Campanius, Clay, Barker, Gordon, &c.

3 Ferris's Orig. Settlements, p. 310.

4 Report before referred to in N. Y. Hist. Soc. vol. iii. p. 375.

5 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 32 to 51.

6 Hudde's Report, N. Y. Hist. Soc. vol. iii. N. S., p. 428.

OCCUPATION OF FORT NASSAU.

1623. departed, what were his operations there, and whither he went, are to us unknown. The probability is, he for some time carried on a trade with the natives, for skins or furs, Uncertain how long Mey conti- nued there. which appears to have been one great object of the colony. It is asserted, that when he left, he bore with him the affec- tion and esteem of the natives. It is the opinion of some writers, that, for a season at least, after his departure, the garrison was removed, and the savages took possession, but that a trade in skins was occasionally carried on with the natives from Manhattan. In 1633, the fort was visited by De Vries, who says, that the Dutch families had left it, and that it was in the possession, then, of a few savages, who wanted to barter furs ;1 and yet we have an account, in the same year, that Arent Corsen was commissary,2 with a clerk, and that, by direction of the directors, he made a purchase Various statements of the occupa- tion and de- struction of on the Schuylkill, for another fort. It is certain that the administration of Van Twiller commenced in this year, and the probability is, that learning the condition of Fort Nassau, Fort Nassau. one of his early acts was, to repair and restore it to a state of defence. We are informed by recorded documents,3 that he erected a large house, and made some repairs, for which he was afterwards called to account, under charge of extrava- gance in the expenditure of public funds. In 1635, an un- successful attempt was made by the English on this fort.4 When the Swedes arrived in 1638, it is said the Dutch had no forts on the river, they having all been destroyed by the Indians ; and yet Hudde,5 who had commanded that fort, says, there was, in that year, a sufficient garrison on the river ; and a public document exists which, in 1639,6 com- plains, that " Fort Nassau is a heavy burden to the company, as regards a garrison, provisions," &c. There was certainly a commissary there in 1638, who gave the governor on Man- hattan immediate notice of the arrival of the Swedes, which occasioned a protest ;7 and in 1642 it was occupied by about twenty men.8 From that time up to 1650, we have facts to show

1 De Vries, in N. Y. Hist. Coll. vol. i. N. S. p. 252.

2 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 32 to 52. O'Call. vol. i. p. 142. Holl. Doc. vol. ii. p. 88. Albany Records, vol. ii. p. 328.

3 Albany Records, vol. i. p. 85, 86. Holl. Doc. vol. iii. p. 97.

4 De Vries, 259. O'Call. vol. i. p. 170.

5 Hudde's Report, N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll. vol. iii. N. S., p. 429.

6 Holl. Doc. vol. iii. p. 32 to 52.

7 Ibid.

8 Reg. of Penns. vol. iv. p. 19.

SWEDISH WEST INDIA COMPANY FORMED.

that commissaries were stationed there. In 1650 or 1651, 1623. the fort was destroyed by the Dutch themselves, " being too high up, and too much out of the way." It was transferred to the new Fort Cassimir.

We have deemed it important, as a starting point in our Its history Dutch history, to collect the various facts in relation to this important, as its main- fort, contradictory and unsatisfactory though they may be ; tenance was and perhaps we have attached more consequence to them than so consi- dered. they merit ; but this fort was, for many years, considered by the Dutch a very desirable point to be maintained.

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Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware, Part 2

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1850 Publisher: Philadelphia, Hazard & Mitchell Number of Pages: 684

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1850
Publisher: Philadelphia, Hazard & Mitchell
Number of Pages: 684