USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 20
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Proclama- tion for a fast for the
1 Albany Records, vol. iv. p. 180. 2 Ibid. pp. 186, 191, 193.
,
180
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1655. vince, and to render it prosperous and successful, to the glory of his name." The director and council prohibit " all usual exercises, as ploughing, sowing, mowing, fishing, and hunting, on that day, and all other amusements and plays, all tapping and intoxication, under penalty of arbitrary correction."1
Superinten- dents of ex- pedition.
The governor and Montagne, being too sick to superintend the expedition, they appoint Vice-Director De Sille, and Attorney-General Tienhooven,2 to perform that duty, in con- nection with the captain of the " Weigh-scales," the valiant Frederick de Koninck.
August 19. Offers to those who enlist or are wounded.
An invitation is given "to any individuals loving the in- crease, welfare, and security of this now flourishing province of New Netherland, inclined to serve in the projected expe- dition, either from principle, or at reasonable monthly wages," to address themselves to the director-general and council, or any member of council, who " make the solemn promise, that if any person (which God avert) come, by any offensive or defensive measures, to lose a limb, or become maimed in any manner whatever, such a one shall receive due compen- sation."3
August 19. Demand on merchant vessels for the expedi- tion.
"The director-general and council, assisted by the valiant Captain Frederick De Koninck, deeming it necessary for the service of the province, for various reasons, to solicit the use of a few merchant vessels for the service of this country, provided a suitable compensation shall be allowed, to under- take, with their aid, the proposed expedition, under God's blessing, agreeably with orders of the directors ; and in case the skippers might decline to engage in it, then it is resolved in council to command all such to engage in their country's service, with their vessels, ammunition, and crew, with their victuals and implements, subject to the orders of the director- general and council, and join this expedition, with the man- of-war ' Balance,' despatched from Holland for this purpose, and to sail to South River, and remain there so long as the director-general and council, or their delegates, may judge they may be of service to their country, for which service, a reasonable satisfaction shall be given to the skippers, or their employers, at Amsterdam, in Holland, by the directors and patrons of New Netherland. Signed, PETER STUYVESANT,
" DE SILLE, TIENHOOVEN."4
,
1 Albany Records, vol. xi. pp. 30, 32. 2 Ibid. p. 28. 3 Ibid. p. 33.
+ Albany Documents, vol. xi. p. 34, 35.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
Foppe Jansen is appointed, by council, " provisional com- missary, to superintend and take care that all ammunition and victuals required for the projected expedition, of which correct lists shall be delivered to him, are obtained, shipped, and due attention paid to them during transportation."1
Persons were sought for " who have a perfect knowledge August 24. of the bottom, depths, and shoals in and about South River, Pilots to make use of them as pilots. Sol. Garretson and Peter engaged. Lourison were engaged, as thoroughly acquainted with those waters, at 10 shillings per day."
Edmund Scarborough presented a petition to the director- August 24. general and council, " that he may depart from Manhattan, with his sloop and some negroes, for Virginia," which was granted, "provided he give security to the value of £5000 sterling, that he will neither directly nor indirectly run into the South Bay nor river, and that his men do promise, upon oath, not to do the same, nor to give any intelligence to any person, on sea or shore." A person of this name was sur- and keep se- veyor of Virginia, at or about this time.2 crecy.
A person ap- plies to coun- cil to depart with a sloop and negroes for Virginia. Gives bond not to enter South River,
Director-general and council, "considering the feebleness August 25. of the college when the director-general and honourable De Persons ap- Sille shall be gone to South River, as they, under God's guidance, are resolved," other persons are appointed to act.
The director-general takes with him 1500 gyllens of black and white seawan, on the expedition to South River, to be Director used for the service of the company, either to pay soldiers' expenses or victuals, or for presents to the natives.3
The day before set apart throughout the province for fast, Fast day. thanksgiving, and prayer, for the expedition.
The skipper of ship Love is commanded to engage with August 29. his ship, for the expedition, on " our assurance of remunera- Vessels pressed into the service,
tion, and to be ready with his crew, ammunition, and victuals, besides all such implements and materials for embarkation, as with ammu- may be sent on or before Thursday next." ,nition, &c.
Several skippers, it appears, declined acceding to the com- Skippers de- mands of the director-general and company, who thereupon
cline. Council use assume a more persuasive mode, and say, "if the aforesaid milder lan- skippers or merchant vessels accommodate them each with guage.
181
1655.
pointed to act in ab- sence of di- rector-gene- ral. takes money for the expe- dition.
1 Albany Documents, vol. xi. pp. 34, 35.
2 MSS. A. P. S., in Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 96. Albany Records. McSherry's Maryland.
3 Albany Records, vol. x. pp. 88, 91, 92, 94; vol. xi. p. 35, 39, 64.
Q
182
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1655. two men, besides with the surplus of their victuals and am- munition, on all which it is resolved to indemnify the skip- pers, and at the same time they are permitted to take in their lading, provided they remain at anchor till the success of the expedition shall be known, or if ready before, to fetch their permit and despatches from South River, while the director- general and council deem it of the highest importance to inform the mayors in Finland, as soon as possible, of the success of the expedition."
May take in cargoes, but must remain at anchor till the suc- cess of the expedition is known.
August 29. Further de- mands for vessels, pro- visions, &c.
" Van Tienhooven and Frederick De Koninck, captain of the man-of-war . The Balance,' are by warrant authorized and commanded to go on board the ships ' Bear,' 'Spotted Cow,' and « New Amsterdam,' and first solicit the said skippers, and on refusal to command them, and require from each ship two men, 200 pounds stockfish, two or three firkins of barley, one ton of beef, one ton of pork, with 300 pounds of bread, and as much powder as they can spare, without inconvenience, delivering to the skippers a receipt."1
August 30. Last warn- ing.
A formal notice is served upon each of the skippers of the vessels New Amsterdam, Spotted Cow, and Bear. " The skipper of the ship is warned, for the last time, to send with- out any further delay, two expert sailors on board the man- of-war the Balance."2
Three yachts engaged.
Three yachts are also employed for the expedition, at six guilders a day, provided they, the skippers, procure two men and one boy at their own expense."3
August 31.
A French ' privateer en- gaged. Damages to be paid.
The director-general and council " have deemed it neces- sary, to insure the success of the proposed expedition, to engage, besides the vessels and yachts in actual service, the French privateer lately arrived here, and named L'Espe- rance." In case the galliot receives damage, Captain Jean Flamand is to receive reasonable compensation, agreeably to decision of impartial and expert men."4
Sept. 5. Sailing of the expedi- tion.
All these, and probably other preparations being com- pleted, the vessels take their departure for the South River, where, after a very short passage, they arrive in safety. The fleet consisted of seven vessels, having on board from six to seven hundred men. The director-general was accompanied by the honourable Mr. De Sille, and the Rev. Mr. Megapo- lensis, as chaplain, a force certainly amply sufficient to com-
1 Albany Documents, vol. xi. pp. 36-38.
2 Albany Records, vol. xii. pp. 41, 42.
3 Ibid. 4 Ibid.
183
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
pel the small number of Swedes on the Delaware to any 1655. measures they might see proper to propose.
Although the preparations at Manhattan seem to have been conducted with no special secrecy, except so far as to prevent persons departing who could communicate information im- mediately to the Swedes, they appear not to have been fully apprized of the facts; yet it is asserted that they had a hint of what was in progress, through some of the savages; but whether they placed confidence in their reports or not, no special means of defence were apparently adopted by them.
The first point on the Delaware where we hear of the fleet, was Fort Elsingborg, which was in ruins. Here they made arrangements for the grand attack on Fort Casimir. Fortu- nately, we have a full report of the proceedings of the Dutch, in the following letter from Stuyvesant himself, dated at Fort Casimir, after the surrender.
Letter from Stuyvesant to the council at Fort Amsterdam : Sept. 12.
" Honourable, prudent, and discreet-On Sunday, justly eight days from this day, after the sermon, was our departure. The next day, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived in the bay of the South River ; a profound calm, with an incon- venient tide, prevented our coming up till the following day, when we cast anchor before the Swedish Fort Elsingborg ; there we took a review of our small force, and divided it regularly into five sections, each under its own colours. On Friday morning, wind and tide being propitious, we lifted anchor, passed Fort Casimir about 8 or 9 o'clock, without any act of hostility from either side, cast our anchor about the distance of a small goteling's shot above the aforesaid for- tress, went directly on shore with our force, despatched Cap- tain-Lieutenant Smith with a drummer, towards the fort, to claim the direct restitution of our own property. The com- mander solicited time for consideration, and till he should have communicated the event to Governor Rysingh, which was rejected; meanwhile were all the passes leading from the fortress to that of Christina, occupied by fifty of our soldiers, while the commander, Schute, was a second time solicited and warned, under the favour of our cannon, that he would not wait an attack of our troops, to avoid bloodshed, with other more serious calamities. The commander, in an- swer, solicited an interview with us for a negotiation, which being acceded to, he did mect us in the valley, about the
Stuyvesant's letter to the council, af- ter the sur- render of Fort Casimir-
184
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1655. middle, between the fort and our newly-constructed battery ; and instantly was his request that he might be permitted to despatch an open letter, after it was shown to us, to the go- Stuyvesant's vernor, which proposal was seriously rejected. He left us letter, con- tinued. then, dissatisfied, on which our troops approached the valley in sight of the fort. When, in the meanwhile, our breastworks were raised about a man's height, the surrender of the fort was demanded for the third and last time, on which was humbly supplicated a further delay, till early the next morn- ing, which was granted, because we could not be ready with our battery that evening or following night, to approach yet nearer the fort, under the favour of our guns. The next morning the commander appeared, and entered with us into a capitulation, on the following conditions : about morn, our troops, with flying colours, marched into the fort, and this day a sermon was delivered, with our imperfect thanksgivings, as God's hand and blessing was so remarkably visible with us, as well in the weather and prosperous success, as in the discouragement of our enemies ; wherefore we request and command, that the allwise and good God shall not only, on the usual days of worship, but on a solemn day, to be ap- pointed by your honours, be openly thanked and praised, and be further ardently addressed with prayers, that it may please his Divine Majesty to favour us with his further aid and blessings.
" Yesterday, about noon, when the fortress surrendered, arrived the factor, Elswyck, from Fort Christina, and asked, in the name of the commander, in a courteous manner, the reasons and intention of our arrival, with the orders of our principals. The answer was, ' to recover and preserve what belonged to them.' He then requested that we might remain satisfied with what has been effected, without advancing more forward towards the Swedish fortress, with persuasive elo- quence and courteously artful arguments, at last interlarded with threats, hodie mihi, cras tibi, which were answered as the tone and the case required. Our small force is meanwhile preparing to march hither to-morrow, or the day after to- morrow. We are induced to move slowly on for our own salvation, partly to try our men, partly to send your honours an early communication, with regard to the first and last orders of our lords the mayors, in their last letters relating to that point, expecting your advice and opinion on these
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
185
1655.
letters with the present messenger, who is to return without delay; and to enable your honours to do this with greater effect, I send you a copy of their private letter, addressed to me personally, which letter your honours will be so good [to return ?] with their general letter on this subject, and com- municate us their advice.
"I will, meanwhile, consult on the best measures, with the honourable De Sille and Captain Koninck, and adopt them accordingly, with which concluding, I recommend you to God's protection, and remain, meanwhile, honourable, pru- dent, discreet, your affectionate friend, P. STUYVESANT. " In Fort Casimir, 12th September, 1655.
" About thirty Swedes have submitted to us, and solicited to be permitted to go to the Manhattans, whom you may ex- pect by the first opportunity, and whom ye will treat with civility. We hope these will soon be followed by others."1
The following are the articles of capitulation at Fort Casi- Sept. 11. mir, or Trinity :
" Capitulation or conditions on which Fort Casimir, by its Articles of commissary, Swen Schute, was surrendered to the honourable capitulation director-general, Peter Stuyvesant.
of Fort Casi- mir.
"1. The commander shall, whenever it may please him, Swedes may or when he obtains an opportunity, by the arrival of the remove all their guns, croon, or by any other private vessels, be permitted to trans- &c. sport from the Fortress Casimir, all the artillery belonging to the crown, either large or small guns, as they were desig- nated by the commissioner, 4 iron guns of 14 1b. balls, and 5 pieces, viz. 4 small and 1 large one.
"2. Twelve men, with their full arms and accoutrements, Twelve men shall be permitted to march from the fort with the commis- sioner, as his life-guard, the remainder only with their side- arms, provided that the guns and muskets belonging to the crown shall remain at its disposal, or that of the commis- guard; the sioner, to transport them from the fortress whenever the com- side-arms. mander may have an opportunity of bringing it to its execution.
"3. To the commander shall be delivered in safety, all his Private ef- personal property and furniture, which he may either carry with him, or send for, when it shall please him, and so too, all the goods of all the other officers, provided that the com- mander remains obliged to surrender, this day, the Fortress Casimir to the director-general, with all its guns, ammunition, property.
1 Albany Records, vol. xiii. p. 348.
24
Q2
may march with the commission- er from the fort, as a life- rest with
fects of offi- cers given up to them, provided he surrenders the fort and the company
186
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1655. .
and implements of war, and other effects belonging to the general privileged West India Company. Done, concluded, and signed by the combatants, on the 11th September, A. D. 1655, in the man-of-war the Weigh-scales, '[or Balance, ] at anchor in the neighbourhood of Fort Casimir.
"P. STUYVESANT, SWEN SCHUTE."1
September.
Offers to
those who are willing to remain under the Dutch.
Oath to be taken by Swedes who remain.
The following offers were made, after the surrender of Fort Casimir, &c. by Stuyvesant, to the Swedes who chose to remain : " All persons inclined voluntarily to take the oath of alle- giance to honourable Peter Stuyvesant, director-general, &c., and to be faithful to their oath, are permitted to remain as freemen on South River, and to provide there for their main- tenance, as good and free inhabitants ; whereas they who might have any conscientious scruples forbearing them to take this oath, are permitted to leave this province of New Netherland, having previously disposed of their goods to their best advantage, and shall, when willing to leave this country, be accommodated with a free passage."
Form of the oath sub- scribed by 20 Swedes.
" Oath .- I, undersigned, promise and swear, in presence of the omniscient and almighty God, that I will be true and faithful to their high and mighty lords and patrons of this New Netherland province, with the director-general and council already appointed, or who may be appointed in fu- ture, and will remain faithful, without any act of hostility, sedition, or intention, either by word or deed, against their high sovereignty, but that I will conduct myself as an obe- dient and faithful subject, as long as I continue to reside on this South River in New Netherland. So help me God Al- mighty. Signed,
" JAN HOFFEL, HARMEN JANS,
" CLAES PETERSON, JOHAN ANIES, 1
" CONSTANTINUS GRUMBERGH, OLOFF TRANSEN,
" ABRAHAM JANSEN,
LAMBERT MICHIELSON,
" BARENT JANSEN,
SIMON HIDDEN,
" MARTIN MARTENS,
JAN ECHOST,
" SAMUEL PETERSE,
THOMAS BRUYN,
" WILLIAM MORRIS,
ANDRESS JANSEN,
" CLAES TOMASSEN,
JAN JANSEN,
" MOLENS ANDRIESSEN,
MATHEYS ELKISSE."2
In all twenty, of whom only seven wrote their names.
1 Albany Records, vol. xiii. pp. 349, 350. Holl. Doc. vol. viii. pp. 108, 109.
2 Albany Records, vol. xiii. p. 361.
187
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
The surrender of Fort Trinity being thus readily accom- plished, and with so little noise that the event was unknown at Christina till next day, Stuyvesant directed his attention next to the conquest of that fort also, which being imme- diately in command of Rysingh himself, did not submit so readily, but the opposition was made rather through negotia- tions than fighting. Stuyvesant having been directed, in case of success, to restore it to the Swedes, may have felt less disposed to exert his power than to accomplish his object by milder means. The strength of Christina, too, had been re- duced by sending off men to Trinity, who were captured. One great gun was, notwithstanding, fired at the Dutch, which drove them into the woods. After, however, doing all they could in the way of defence and negotiation, the fort was surren- dered to the Dutch on the 25th, after a siege of fourteen days, when articles of capitulation were signed, as follows :
" Capitulation between the valiant and honourable John Sept. 25. Rysingh, governor in New Sweden, and the valiant and hon- Articles of ourable Peter Stuyvesant, director-general in New Nether- land, from the other side.
"1. All guns, ammunition, implements, victuals, and other Crown pro- effects belonging to the crown of Sweden and South Com- perty to be- long to the Swedes. pany, which are now in the fort or its vicinity, shall remain in full property to the crown and company, while it shall depend upon the governor either, to take all these with him, or deliver them to the director-general, P. Stuyvesant, on condition that all, when demanded, shall be returned without any delay whatever.
"2. Governor J. Rysingh, with all field-officers and subal- Governor tern officers, ministers and soldiers, shall march out of the and officers to march out with drums, &c. Go to Timmer isle, till the " Ba- lance" is ready to Manhattan. Rysingh and Elswyck may remain in fort to ar- range their private af- fort with beating of drums, fifes, and flying colours, firing matches, balls in their mouths, with their hand and side-arms, first, to Timmer-isle, (Building or Timber Island,) where they all, at their arrival from the fort, shall be lodged in the houses, with security, till the departure of the director- take them to general with the man-of-war, the Weigh-scales, which shall convey, at longest within fourteen days, the governor with his people and goods, so far as the Sand Point, about five miles from Manhattans, in full security. Meanwhile, it is permitted to Governor Rysingh, and his factor, Elswyck, fairs. with four or five servants, to remain so long in their houses in the fort, till they may arrange their private affairs.
1655.
capitulation of Fort Christina.
188
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1655.
"3. All papers, letters, documents, and acts belonging to the crown of Sweden, the South Company, or private indi- viduals, discovered and obtained in Fort Christina, shall be delivered, unopened and unsearched, to the late governor, to be distributed at his discretion.
All persons permitted to depart, if they choose.
"4. No person belonging to the crown of Sweden, or the South Company, officers, soldiers, ministers, or freemen, shall be compelled to stay, but permitted to accompany the gover- nor wherever they may deem proper.
Personal property given up.
"5. All the high and low ministers of Sweden, or of South Company, ministers, officers, soldiers, and freemen, shall be maintained in the undisturbed possession of their individual property.
Persons not ready to de- part allowed time to set- tle their af- fairs.
"6. If any servant or freeman desires to leave this coun- try, and now could not be ready to depart with the governor and his people, all such shall be permitted to dispose of their real and personal property, during the period of one year and six weeks, provided they take the oath of loyalty for the time they intend to remain in this river.
Persons wishing to stay, after being admo- nished by Rysingh, may do so, and enjoy their reli- gion and ministers.
"7. If there were any Swedes or Finns who do not wish to depart, then it shall remain free to Governor Rysingh to admonish them, and if they, upon such admonition, are in- clined to follow him, then all such shall not be prevented by the director-general from doing so, while they who volun- tarily are resolved to remain, and desire to search for their sustenance in this country, shall enjoy the liberty of the Augsburg Confession, with a minister to instruct them in this doctrine.
"8. The governor, John Rysingh, the factor, Elswyck, Rysingh and with all the other high and low officers, soldiers, and free- officers and men shall be provided with a vessel to take them to Sweden. men, who now wish to depart with their personal property, shall obtain from the director-general a convenient vessel, which at Sand Point shall take them in, and transport them further to the Texel, and from there further with a Boejer galliot or other good ship, to Gottenburg, free from expense, provided that such ship or galliot shall not be molested or detained at Gottenburg, for which the aforesaid governor remains responsible.
Not to be subject to ar- rest for debt.
"9. If Governor Rysingh, Factor Elswyck, or any minis- ters of the aforesaid crown or South Company have contracted any debts, they shall not be subject to arrest within the go- vernment of the aforesaid general.
-
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
" 10. Governor Rysingh is permitted to inquire, unmo- lested, how the late commander, Schute, officers, and other soldiers, have conducted themselves in the surrender of the fortress at Sand Point.
189
1655.
given up to- day.
" 11. Provided the governor engages to march out of the Fort to be Fortress Christina on this day, being the 25th of this month, September, with all his men, and to surrender it to the director-general. Done and signed on 25th September afore- said, A. D. 1655, on the paved place between Fort Christina and encampment of the director-general.
" PETER STUYVESANT.
" JOHN RYSINGH, Director of the country, New Sweden."
" It is further agreed by capitulation, that the skipper with Special whom the governor, Rysingh, and factor, Elswyck, shall de- part, shall be expressly commanded to land Rysingh and Elswyck, either in England or France, and that the director- general shall advance in cash to said John Rysingh, or by a bill of exchange, the sum of £300 Flanders, which sum the aforesaid Governor John Rysingh accepts to pay in cash, or by a bill of exchange, at Amsterdam, to the director-general or his order, within six months after reception of said money, giving the meanwhile, in security for this money, an equiva- effects as so- lent out of effects belonging to the crown or South Company, curity. to director-general, upon a receipt to be left here, with a copy for the party, both signed by the contracting parties on 25th September, 1655, on the paved place between Fort Christina and the encampment of Director Peter Stuyvesant.
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