USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 23
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Matthy Busain is appointed, by director-general, court messenger in Fort Casimir, and directed by Jacquet to be acknowledged as such.2
Jacobus Crabbe presents a petition respecting a plantation February 5. near the corner, where brick and stone are made and baked ; Manufacture granted, though after the place is inspected.3 of bricks.
Council publish a placard commanding all persons to have February 13. their lots enclosed before 15th March, on penalty of 6 gl. Lots to be
enclosed. Those who keep goats must have a keeper, or in case they A keeper for goats.
are injured, expect no damages.4
Swen Schute asks receipts for articles delivered Derck Smith, former commissary.5
A servant charges Thomas Broen for striking him, so that he cannot labour. Thomas Broen ordered to provide the Miscellane- servant with victuals till he can labour.6 ous.
Thomas Broen is arrested for abuse of Director Jacquet.7
A qualification is made before A. Hudde, respecting a mar- February 24. riage contract, which was delayed completion till a minister of the Gospel should arrive here.8
The following letter from the directors in Holland to Stuy- vesant, written after receiving an account of the capture of the forts, shows their views of it and the capitulation, which are somewhat curious. They say, " We do not hesitate to ap- March 13. prove of your expedition on the South River, and its happy Views of the termination, while it agrees in substance with our orders ; directors of the capture however, we should not have been displeased, that such a of Fort Casi- formal capitulation for the surrender of the forts had not mir, and the capitulation. taken place, but that the whole business had been transacted Curious rea- in a similar manner as the Swedes set us an example of, when sons. they made themselves master of Fort Casimir ; our reason is that all which is written and copied, is too long preserved, and may sometimes, when it is neither desired nor expected, be brought forward, whereas words not recorded, are by length of time forgotten, or may be explained, construed, or excused, as circumstances may require. But as all this is passed by,
2 Ibid. pp. 411, 413, 414, 421. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 27
1 Albany Records, vol. x. p. 411.
3 Ibid. p. 421. 4 Ibid.
8 2
210
JOHN PAUL JACQUET, VICE-DIRECTOR AND COMMANDER.
1656.
so our only object in making this observation, is to give a warning, if similar opportunities might present themselves in future. You will take care that said Fort Casimir is in every respect well provided, and placed in a state of defence, but do not mind the Fort Christina, leaving only, to ascertain its possession, three or four men in it, soliciting some individuals to establish themselves there."1
March 22.
H. Appleboom, the Swedish resident at the Hague, made the following declaration or protest to the States-General, against their proceedings on the Delaware last year :
Appleboom's protest.
" The underwritten resident of Sweden doth find himself obliged by express order, to declare unto their high and mighty lordships herewith, how that the commissioners of the West India Company of this country in the New Netherlands, now the last summer did unexpectedly assault, by force of arms, the Swedish colony there, taking from them their forts, and drove away the inhabitants, and wholly dispossessed the Swedish company of their district. It is true and without dispute, that the Swedish company did acquire optimo titulo juris that part which they possessed, and did buy it of the natives, and consequently have had possession of it for several years, without that the West India Company of these coun- tries did ever pretend any thing. Wherefore, the said resi- dent doth not doubt but these hostilities will very much dis- please their high and mighty lordships, and doth desire, in the name of his most gracious king and lord, that their high and mighty lordships would be pleased to take some speedy order for the redressing of such unlawful proceedings, as the justice, the mutual amity between both nations, and the con- sequence of the business require, and is expected from their high wisdoms, whereby the Swedish company may be restored undamnified.
H. APPLEBOOM. " Done at the Hague, 22d March, 1656, (N. S.)"2
It appears by the following minute what action was taken by the States-General on the subject :
March 24.
"24th March, 1656. Received a memorial presented to the States-General by the Swedish resident, Appleboom, with complaints, that the preceding summer, the officers of the Dutch West India Company in New Netherland had attacked with arms the Swedish company, inhabiting the lands on the
1 Albany Records, vol. iv. p. 204. The date at the foot of this letter is May 13. 2 Thurloe's State Papers, vol. iv. p. 599. Reg. Penns. vol. i. p. 36.
211
1656. -
ordered to Delaware.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
South River of Florida, in the most unforeseen manner, taken their forts, and driven out the inhabitants, and had dis- possessed, by this means, the Swedish company of their dis- tricts ; the said resident therefore praying that it would please the States-General, in order to redress the disorderly proceedings of the West India Company, to take such mea- sures as were most consonant to justice, the mutual friendship subsisting between the two nations, and the importance of the question. Resolved, that the said memorial shall be ex- amined, together with an extensive memorial presented to the States-General on the same business, by the deputies of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Hoorn, to make as speedily as possible a report on it, and prepare an answer to the Swedish memorial."1
" The expulsion of the Swedes from the South River, con- tinued for many years to be a subject of complaint, on the part of the crown of Sweden, to the States-General."2
Intelligence communicated by J. P. Jacquet was received March 20. by council, that some of the remaining Swedes were very Complaints against the Swedes for &c. Swen Schute, &c. ordered to be sent to Manhattan. turbulent and dangerous. Swen Schute and Jacob Swenske, among others, were alleged to have held secret intercourse turbulence, with the savages; the commander was ordered to send them, by the first vessel of Jan Jacobsen, to Fort Amsterdam, and to insure his success, in case of resistance, 12 soldiers were sent to him, to be returned in the same vessel. The oath of allegiance was to be taken by the other Swedes, and the re- fractory to be transported.3
Evertze Devez, a Swedish woman, complained against, in A woman New Amsterdam, for debauching the negroes of the company and others; " having a very bad name," is required to trans- port herself, without delay, to Long Island or South River, " to avoid public scandal."4
After the surrender of Fort Casimir to the Dutch, and before the news had reached Sweden, a vessel called "Mer- curius," Captain Hendrick Huygh, sailed from thence with a considerable number of emigrants. She arrived safely in the Delaware, but very much to the surprise of all on board, they soon learned the fact that all was in possession of the Dutch.
1 Copied from MSS. in N. Y. Hist. Society's possession, given by Dr. Samuel Miller, and received by him from William Murray, dated Hague, June 29, 1799.
2 O'Call. p. 327; also a Swedish memorial, translated from Aitzema, vol. v. pp. 247, 573, dated June, 1664.
3 Albany Records, vol. x. p. 352 ; vol. xi. p. 327.
4 Ibid. vol. xiii. p. 256.
212
JOHN PAUL JACQUET, VICE-DIRECTOR AND COMMANDER.
1656.
The arrival is soon announced, by several communications, to the authorities at Manhattan, as appears from the following extracts :
March 29.
Arrival of the Mercury. Not permit- ted to land, but may come to Fort Amsterdam.
" The commanding officer on South River informs them, by Mr. Allerton's small vessel, of the arrival of a Swedish ves- sel named ' Mercurius,' manned with 130 men. Resolved, not to permit the Swedes to come on shore, and that they might return in the vessel to Sweden, or if it rather pleased them to come hither, that a permit to pass and repass would be sent, to depart again from here without any trouble in any manner, after they should have provided themselves with a fresh supply of victuals and other necessary commodities. Done at night at Fort Amsterdam, between 28th and 29th of March."1
March 30.
Letter from J. Pappe- goya, on the subject of the Mercu- ry. Resolu- tion of di- rectors.
Director is informed, in addition, by a letter from honour- able John Pappegoya, of the arrival of the Mercury, "with a few Swedish families, which, for some weighty reasons, cannot be permitted to be landed there on shore, without further orders of principals ; that they are disposed to return, which cannot and ought not to be refused ; but further it appears, that it is highly probable that this small vessel, with 130 souls on board, after such a long voyage, might be, on its return home, in want of victuals, if this vessel could not be pro- vided with a fresh supply ; so is it, that we, director-general and council, intending nothing else, and having nothing more at heart than to preserve the ancient union and friendship between the two nations, leaving our disputes about our ter- ritorial claims on the lands on South River to the decision of our reciprocal principals, give an absolute consent, pass and repass, to the aforesaid vessel Mercury, its officers, sailors, and passengers, to come hither to their contentment, to pro- vide here in New Amsterdam for all their wants, by a fresh supply of victuals and other commodities, and leave again at their good pleasure."2
Finding remonstrances and appeals to Jacquet in vain, and that nothing could be effected here, the captain proceeded overland to Manhattan, the head-quarters of the Dutch go- vernment, and there addressed the following letter to the director-general and company, in which he feelingly describes his unpleasant position :
1 Albany Records, vol. x. p. 351 ; vol. xi. p. 326. Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 83.
2 Ibid. vol. x. p. 353; vol. xi. p. 328.
213
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
" Gentlemen-Whereas my instructions required that I 1656. should unload my cargo, and a few families and some colo- nists, in New Sweden, in the neighbourhood of Fort Christina, but when I arrived off the mouth of the river, I understood, Letter of Capt. Huygh to director- very unexpectedly, that every thing which might deserve the name of Swedish, inhabitants, fortresses, ammunition, yachts, general and scales, with all the stock and personal property, was, either council. Finds, very by ministers of the West India Company, or by the director- unexpected- general, taken by a capitulation between the director-general ly, every thing in pos- Session of the Dutch. and Commander John Rysingh; which unexpected change made me resolve to try to obtain a faithful statement, where- fore I went to Fort Casimir, and being there informed of all that had passed, although I could not acknowledge any other sovereign than my own, I required some explanation, in a courteous conversation with Commander Jacquet, requesting to proceed unmolested to the place of destination, to execute what I was instructed to, who replied, that he could not com- ply, having no orders from the director-general and council for this purpose ; he desired me, therefore, to obtain the general's opinion in writing, and kept me meanwhile in ar- Requests ex- rest, against all reason, in my opinion, as hinting that I was planations from Jae- looked upon as a traitor and an enemy of his state, whereas quet; is ar- I visited him with the best faith, to avoid any disagreeable rested and referred to occurrences, or giving offence, without intending it. This the director- passed, he received an answer from the director-general, who general ; is looked upon as a traitor. declined to permit me to act agreeably to my instructions, while his honour made me an offer, that if I would come to New Amsterdam, I should be at full liberty to do so, as well to unload my vessel, as to take in a new cargo, provide my- self with a fresh supply of victuals, trade there at my plea- sure, and return afterwards to Sweden, enjoining, and said it was the determined resolution of the director-general, that the colonists should return with me in the same vessel; when I afterwards undertook this journey by land, and therefore, for the present, solicit, with all reverence, that it may please the director-general and council to consider the distressing situation of these colonists. Besides the immense losses Presents a which they suffer, many good farmers were ruined, parents pitiable statement of his ease, and pleads for the favour of the direc- tor-general, &c. were separated from their children, even husband from wife, and all, without exception, bereft of liberty of their religious worship. In this distressed state, they were compelled to reside among a foreign nation, whose language they could
214
JOHN PAUL JACQUET, VICE-DIRECTOR AND COMMANDER.
April. 11.
Asks for per- mission to settle some- where till he can re- ceive fresh
1656. not understand, whose manners were unknown to them, be- sides that they crossed the sea to colonize and increase the population of New Sweden, not that indeed of any other country further. I solicit that I may be permitted, with the families and colonists under my direction, and the cargo en- trusted to my care, may settle in any of the deserted places, or in any other unsettled part of the country, or which I might select and deemed proper for our present purpose, till I receive new orders from Sweden, or was informed of the course which my masters should recommend to pursue, or might be dictated by the mayors, leaving the past transac- tions as I found them, alone ; that we might not be separated from one another, and we be permitted to trade for our sup- port, till, by new orders, we were provided for our future lot ; which, if it is not permitted, then I would solicit what has been offered by director-general and council, viz. that the instructions. vessel, to obtain a fresh supply of victuals, might be favoured with a safe conduct, and that this might be extended to my person, obliging myself to remain in the river, to cultivate friendship and good correspondence, and contribute all that was in my power to avert all calamities, as well of Indians as Christians, to the security of the subjects of both govern- ments, leaving it further to our principals to make a final arrangement for settling between them the contested points, which issue we are resolved to await with patience and resig- nation. New Amsterdam, April 11th, 1656.
" HENDRICK HUYGH."1
Upon considering the foregoing petition of Capt. Huygh, the director and council decide as follows :
They deny any knowledge of the truth of the alleged April 11. assertion of the captain, that Jacquet called him a "traitor and enemy," and say, " The written proposal or request in substance corresponds with the letter of John Pappegoya, of 24th March, from South River, written for this purpose, and answered by the honourable director at large, on the 29th of that month, which answer and resolution the director-general Mercury per- and council are still conforming themselves to, viz. that their emptorily ordered to depart from South River. honours, for reasons explained in that letter more at large, cannot admit in the South River any vessel, nor permit any foreign trade, nor the residing of foreigners on its shores in that district, except those who arrive there with their special 1 Albany Records, vol. x. p. 362; vol. xi. p. 338.
215
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
orders and commissions, wherefore the order is again renewed to the petitioner, to depart from there with his ship Mercury, its crew and passengers; it is left to the petitioner's choice to effect this from their free will, and by their own orders, and depart to which place they deem proper, or, by refusal, the director-general and council will be compelled to adopt other measures to effect the departure of the ship Mercury, and any other vessel arriving there without their orders, or the commission of their principals, of which alternative the director-general and council demand the petitioner's prompt resolution and answer, while the director-general and council will not be responsible for any damages which might be the consequence of his non-compliance. Done at meeting of council in Fort Amsterdam. Signed,
" P. STUYVESANT, " MONTAGNE,
A. DE SILLE, TIENHOVEN."1
Captain Huygh appeared next day in council, "and an- April 12. swered, on our resolution of the 11th, that he accepted the Huygh's an- safe conduct of passing and repassing, and was resolved that his ship Mercury, and her crew, passengers, and cargo, should come hither, while he would remain here till her arrival: he solicits further, that the vice-director there may be authorized ship Weigh- to despatch said vessel as soon as possible ; which was then, port. by the director-general and council, taken into further con- sideration. To avoid further expenses, it was deemed super- fluous, as yesterday was proposed, to send thither the man-of- war, to convey the Mercury here in safety ; and they deem it now only necessary and serviceable that the ship Weigh-scales shall remain here till the Swedish vessel shall have arrived."
They accordingly despatched a messenger with a letter, April 12. dated 12th April, to Jacquet, to which it appears, from a No answer record between the 12th and 29th, they had received no an- swer, at which they express much surprise, and " cannot special mes- account for it or the delay of the Swedish ship, except by various floating rumours ; some say they heard from savages that there had arisen some differences between our nation and the aforesaid Swedes, or with the Indians on South River." The director-general and council, after considering, " are of opinion that the welfare of the country in general, and par- ticularly of the West India Company, are closely connected with that of South River, and the departure from there of
1 Albany Records, vol. x. p. 366; vol. xi. p. 341.
1656.
swer to order of council, and their re- solution to keep the scales in
received to letter by the
senger sent to South Ri- ver. Ensign Smith sent to know the reason of de- tention of ship. Rumours.
216
JOHN PAUL JACQUET, VICE-DIRECTOR AND COMMANDER.
1656.
the Swedish ship Mercury, crew, and passengers. They re- solve, in order to obtain direct information, to command Ensign Smith, at the head of 12 or 15 armed men, to go thither by land, with orders to send from there by a savage, &c., as soon as possible, 'tidings if the ship Mercury had sailed from there or not, and what is the present situation of the affairs of the company in that neighbourhood; and the ensign to return as soon as possible."1
Not long after the recovery of Fort Casimir by the Dutch April 12. Early con- veyances of land near from the Swedes, grants of land were made by Stuyvesant, many of which are on record, either at Albany or New Castle. He styles himself "Peter Stuyvesant, under their high and FortCasimir. mighty the lords States-General of the New Netherland, and the honourable West India Company, director-general of New Netherland, Curracoa, Bonayro, Aruba, and the dependencies thereof, and the honourable gentlemen of council." The earliest that we have noticed is April 12, to Thomas Broen, " a plan- tation lying in South River of New Netherland, below the Fort Casimir," 2046 rods, with express conditions, &c. A house and lot to A. Hudde, " nigh Fort Casimir," Novem- ber 30. Under same date, a plantation to Alexander Boyer, " north of Fort Casimir, on the point between the first and second meadow," and various others of intermediate dates.2
May 1.
The situation of things seems to have assumed a threaten- ing aspect, arising, apparently, from the interference of the Swedes and Indians in the affair of the ship Mercury, as ap- pears from the following documents on record.
Letters and declaration were received from A. Hudde, at South River, with respect to the situation of that country.
Governor Stuyvesant advised the council to send the man- of-war "Weigh-scales," and two members of council, to ob- tain correct information, and to retrieve affairs as much as possible, to the best advantage of the company.
Condition of things on South River. Case of ship Mercury. Discussion on sending the Weigh- scales to
Mr. De Sille agrees with the director about sending a ves- sel ; is willing to go himself, if, in case of any difficulty in New Amsterdam, they will take care of his family and inte- South River. rests. Montagne agrees with the director about the " Weigh- scales," provided that orders be given that no hostile attack shall be made on the Swedish vessel, as she actually unloaded
1 Albany Records, vol. x. pp. 367, 384; vol. ix. p. 366.
Albany Records, " Dutch Patents, beginning in 1654." 2
Reg. of Penns.
vol. iv. p. 121. Penn's Breviat, p. 36.
217
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
her cargo and discharged her crew. Tienhoven, taking into 1656. view the letters from Jacquet, and the information by Hudde, - about the ship Mercury, which has dared to proceed to Mantes Hoeck, where she landed her passengers, with the consent of the vice-director, from which many difficulties and trials might arise, and as the man-of-war, the " Weigh-scales," is yet on our shores, thinks she should be employed on the South River, to crush any such attempts, and that she ought to be despatched at once, "to bring, if it is possible, in the most civil manner, the ship Mercury from there, and recon- cile the natives to our nation."
The council, after hearing these several suggestions, adopt the following resolution :
"Taking into further consideration the weighty reasons Resolution why the aforesaid ship, the Mercury, as we did hope, against of-council in case of the the orders of the commissary, Hendrick Huygh, did not come Mercury. hither, and heard upon it, and compared the reports of several passengers, viz. Mr. Isaac Allerton, Captain Jan Jacobsen, Claes De Croyter, and several other persons, among whom, Otto Grim, a soldier, and N. N. Swart, carpenter of the ship Weigh-scales, who all unanimously unite in the declaration, that as far as they know, the not returning hither of the said vessel was not caused by the skipper or crew of said ship, but that it was prevented by several Swedes, who, in conjunction She is de- with many Indians, arrived on board of said ship with Pap- tained by Swedes, In- pegoya, and remained altogether in large numbers, till said dians, and ship had actually passed Fort Casimir, while the same men Pappegoya. and others did further relate that to them it appeared, from all circumstances, pretty clear, that some of the principal Swedish settlers were the only cause of all this turmoil, and The crew and that a large number of Swedes who had taken the oath of skipper ex- empt from blame. allegiance were stirred up by them, or hired by their misre- presentations ; at least we cannot, as yet, either from these reports, or from the letter of the commissary, Hendrick Huygh, who constantly remaineth here, and waited for the arrival of said vessel, find any fault with him, neither with skipper, his officers, or crew ; all which being taken into ma- ture consideration, to prevent greater damages and more Despatch the serious complaints, we deemed it more proper and useful to captain and despatch thither in the man-of-war the " Weigh-scales," Hen- bers of coun- two mem- drick Huygh, with two members of council, promising to take
cil in the Weigh- care of his interests, when he conducts himself in a proper scales.
28
T
218
JOHN PAUL JACQUET, VICE-DIRECTOR AND COMMANDER.
1656,
Freedom from duties, and protec- tion pro- mised to the captain on conditions.
manner, as a good and loyal servant ought to do, and so far as may be in his power, to promote the peace and harmony between savages and Christians, continuing, with regard to him, full liberty to pass and repass with his ship and cargo, without giving any offence, or violating our laws ; when he is permitted, on his arrival here, to trade with his goods, pro- vided he submits to the payment of all such duties, and those only, as other subjects and strangers pay, with the same pri- vileges, while at his request our commissioners are authorized not only to protect him, and assure him the enjoyment of all which we have promised, but further assist him, by word and deed, against all who, against his orders, had already, or might obstruct his orders in the departure of said ship from South River, and to procure him a recovery of damages, if he suffered any on her cargo. Done, &c., May 1. " Signed, PETER STUYVESANT, N. DE SILLE, C. TIENHOVEN."1
In consequence of the foregoing, Huygh signed the follow- ing obligation :
May 3. Obligation of Hendrick Huygh to conduct himself well, and submit to director and council.
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