USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 29
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267
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
1659.
further under the command and direction of Captain Krygier, the military force which in our present situation we could spare with difficulty ; requesting by this that the aforesaid committee shall be received and respected as ourselves, in Stuyvesant executing their instructions, to procure them all assistance, to Alricks and Beek- man and to pay them due obedience. In which confiding, we will, with our cordial salute, recommend you to God's protection, and remain, &c. P. STUYVESANT.1
« New Amsterdam, September 23, 1659."
The following are the commissions referred to in the pre- ceding, which show more fully the nature of their duties.
"P. Stuyvesant, &c. &c. Whereas, for the purpose of pro- Sept. 22. tecting and securing the interests of the company and city Commission of Amsterdam's colonies on South River and New Nether- to Martin Krygier, as captain of the militia. lands, we have immediately resolved to expedite and forward a certain number of militia, over whom, in our absence, it was necessary to appoint a suitable and valiant commander ; therefore, from our own experience, and relying upon the experience, fidelity, and value of Martin Krygier, burgomas- ter of this city, Amsterdam, in New Netherland, we have commissioned and appointed the same, and by these presents do commission and appoint him as captain over the said troops, and all others that may be found along the South River and elsewhere, or may hereafter be raised, ordering and com- manding all officers, high and low, and the soldiers, the said Martin Krygier as their captain to acknowledge, respect, and obey, according to our good meaning and intention. Thus done and given under our hand and seal, September 22, 1659, at New Amsterdam. P. STUYVESANT."
" P. Stuyvesant, in behalf of West India Company, &c. Sept. 23. Know ye, that in consequence of unexpected advices from Commission their excellencies, Jacob Alricks and William Beekman, for to Krygier the purpose of preserving and protecting the concerns of the Ruyven, as and Van honourable the company's colonics and the city of Amster- general agents. dam, we have commissioned, authorized and despatched, by these presents, our trusty and well-beloved honourable Corne- lius Van Ruyven, secretary, and Captain Martin Krygier, burgomaster of this city, and according to instructions already given them, or hercafter to be given, on receipt of broader and better advice respecting the government and security of those places, to establish all possible and prompt orders, and
1 Albany Records, vol. xix. pp. 331, 332.
268
J. ALRICKS AND W. BEEKMAN.
1659. by these presents, all and every one to whom these presents shall be shown, or to whom they may appertain, commanding and summoning our aforesaid commissioners, viz. Cornelius Van Ruyven and Martin Krygier, as such, according to pre- sent and future instructions, authorized to receive and respect, and accept, on the execution of these presents, and of what may tend to strengthen the interests of the company, to give them all such advice, comfort and aid as it becomes them."
The ninth and tenth articles of instructions to Messrs. Van Ruyven and Krygier, in relation to Colonel Utie, are,
Sept. 23.
Instructions ven and Krygier to treat Utie as a spy.
" If the before-mentioned Nathaniel Utie, be it in person or by anybody else, might return for an answer on his frivo- to Van Ruy- lous demand, and no less frivolous signed promise, as is said to have been given him in writing, the gentlemen commis- sioners are to give unto him, as being a spy, and wholly un- qualified, no answer, until he first exhibits a due qualification of a state, parliament, or lawful established government ; in the mean while to keep him and his second as hostages, and treat them civilly, until they exhibit better qualifications, or that other commissioners bring a more peculiar and better answer from any state, prince, parliament, or lawful govern- ment, to the end we may be duly acquainted where, how, and on whom we may take satisfaction for the costs and expenses already been at, or yet to be at, in the maintenance and de- fence of our own.
Commission of A. Heer- mans to go to Maryland.
" The said Utie returning or not returning, they will fill up the commission delivered them in blank, and despatch the persons therein named, or to be named, with all speed, to the governor of Maryland, if they can conveniently be despatched from thence, and may have a speedy answer back again. If the same cannot, according as they find matters, be done bet- ter and more speedily from hence, then to cause Mr. Augustus Heermans, with all speed, to return hither, to despatch his com- mission from hence. In the mean while, they will endeavour to [obtain as ] much intelligence as in any ways is possible, to [from our] good friend at Beren Island, for our and their use."1
Sept. 23.
Governor Stuyvesant having heard of Colonel Utie's visit to, and conduct at South River, resolves to send two commis- sioners to Maryland, and appoints Augustine Heermans and Resolved Waldron for that purpose, with the following com- mission and instructions :
1 A. P. S. MSS. in Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 98.
269
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
" Peter Stuyvesant, in behalf of the high and mighty 1659. lords States-General of the United Provinces, the noble lords overseers of the authorized West India Company, as director- general of New Netherlands, Curacoe, Bonaire,(?) Araba, and Commission the appurtenants of them, with advice of the lords of the and instruc- tions to Heermans and Wal- dron. council, to all men that these shall come to see and hear, salut. We make known that we have qualified, authorized, and have given power, as we do qualify, authorize, and give power, by these presents, to Sirs Augustine Heermans and Resolved Waldron, as our trusty ambassadors, to address themselves to the honourable Josias Fendall, governor of Maryland, and after the delivery of the copy of this and letter to his honour, in a friendly and neighbourly way, to request the redelivery and restitution of such free people and servants as for debt and other ways have been fled, and as to us is given to understand, that for the most part are residing in his honour's government, especially about a year since have gone out of this colony of the high, well esteemed lords go- vernors of the city of Amsterdam; which if you do, we are ready to assure you, that in maintaining of good justice and neighbourly duty, to do the same beside all those that may come runaways to us out of any of your neighbour govern- ments ; otherwise, if contrarywise your honour shall make any exception or delay upon this friendly and neighbourly representation then to his honour, as also to the council or any that this may concern, to make it known, that we shall be enforced, lege talionis, to publish and to grant all liberty and stay free from arrests, and recess to all planters, (ser- vants and negroes included,) which are now out of his honour's government, or hereafter shall come to us.
"Secondly, we do command our aforesaid ambassadors and agents to make known to the lord governor and his council what has passed about the coming and arrival of one Nathaniel Utie, in the aforesaid colony of New Amstel, seeking to sub- orn and induce the inhabitants of the high and mighty lords of the said colony to rebellion from their legal commander and our nation, and further, without lawful order, act, or qualification from any state, prince, parliament, or govern- ment, showing only an authorized instruction or cartabel, without time or place, or when written, nor by order of any state, province, or parliament or government subscribed, de- manding, and in case of refusal, threatening our said fortress
z 2
270
J. ALRICKS AND W. BEEKMAN.
Commission and instruc- tions to Heermans and Wal- dron.
1659. to blood, with the said colony of New Amstel, thereto adding the said fortress, within the time of three weeks, (in case the same was not surrendered willingly,) with power of people to invade by way of hostility, which is altogether contrary to the articles the 2d, 3d, 16th and last of the confederacy and peace between the republic of England and the Netherlands, in 1654 made; and also we, out of the said conceived in- struction, by Colonel Nathaniel Utie delivered to the lords directors of the said colony of New Amstel, cannot conceive any higher power or authority, or order to such seditious pro- ceedings and persuasions to the subjects, from their legal lords and own nation, and far less for to demand and threaten such places, where their undoubted right can be shown by patent of the high and mighty lords States-General, granted to the noble lords overseers of the West India Company ; further, by bargain and sale,, and deeds of the natives, and possession above these forty years, which is then contrary to the law of nations, and contrary to the forementioned articles of peace, to this time as yet entirely observed, to whose judgment and decision all questions, (if there should arise any between both nations,) first must be reserved, according to the last article of the peace, where our own forenamed ambassa- dors are especially authorized and commanded seriously to request the foresaid lord governor and his council, by virtue of the foresaid articles of peace, to give us right and justice against the said Colonel Nathaniel Utie, with reparation of damages already sustained by his frivolous demands and bloody threatening ; in conservation of our plantations in the South River, and hereafter may be enforced to do.1 And further, by these our open commission, do request that the above-mentioned ambassadors, Augustine Heermans and Re- solved Waldron, as our trusty agents, according to the law of nations, may be received, heard, and full credit may be given, promising to ratify and to approve, and to hold of force what shall be done by them according to the commis- sion, as if such was done by ourself. These we have given under our ordinary cachet and signature, in Amsterdam, in New Netherlands, the 23d of September, anno one thousand six hundred and fifty-nine.
" P. STUYVESANT.
1 Something seems to be wanting in the preceding sentence to render the sense of it complete; but it is as above in the record.
271
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
"By command of the lord director-general of the New 1659. Netherlands, Curracoe, &c., and the lords of the council.
" C. V. RUYVEN, Secretary."1
The commissioners bore the following letter from Stuyve- sant, objecting to the conduct and demands of Colonel Utie, Sept. 23. and informing the governor and council of their appoint- ment :
" Honourable lords-We have with great astonishment un- Letter to derstood how that one Colonel Nathaniel Utie, of late, with- governor, &c. out that there is yet showed to us any lawful qualification, from Gen. P. of Maryland, Stuyvesant. commission, or order from any state or government, but only upon a seditious cartabel, in form of an instruction, without inserting any time or place, or where or from whom, or in whose name, order, or authority it was written, only sub- scribed Philip Calvert, secretary, is come to us within our government and colony of New Amstel, and upon the same so formed instruction, hath demanded the foresaid places and colony of New Amstel, and upon refusal, hath threatened the governor, council and inhabitants of the place to blood, in case that the foresaid fortress and colony is not rendered will- ingly within the time and space of three weeks, and to come again by force of people to enforce the same by way of hos- tility to invade the same. And moreover, the inhabitants of the said place subject to the high and mighty lords States- General of the United Provinces, have sought to alienate, and to induce to rebellion from their lawful commander and our nation, which is also directly against the confederacy peace articles between the republic of England and the above said high and mighty lords States-General of the United Provinces, made in the year 1654; and whereas the afore- mentioned Colonel Nathaniel Utie, in his discourse, did make mention as if he by you thereto was qualified and commanded, which nevertheless we, out of the aforesaid pretended in- struction, in noways can be induced to believe ; therefore we have, to avoid all misunderstanding between these govern- ments' people and subjects, thought fit to send to you as agents and ambassadors, our well-beloved and trusty Augus- tine Heermans and Resolved Waldron, for to remonstrate all what is aforesaid, and how ill those odious proceedings will be taken by the high and mighty lords States-General, the
1 N. Y. Hist. Coll. vol. iii. p. 371-373. MSS. A. P. S. in Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 97.
272
J. ALRICKS AND W. BEEKMAN.
1659. lords overseers of the West India Company, and the high esteemed lords and governors of the city of Amsterdam, as they are taken now already so by us, and to request for what is past, in reference to the articles of peace, and in a kind and neighbourly way, the apprehension of certain fugitives : all this in conformity to their commission. These are only to serve for their address and safe-conduct, and we accord- ingly request, that the foresaid our commissioners, according to the right of nations, may be credited and believed as our trusty ambassadors, which we, in like occasions, at all times, shall be willing to acknowledge, and remain in all other ob- servations, which we trust shall be accepted in all cordiality. " Honoured lords, your affectionate friends and neighbours, "P. STUYVESANT.
"By command of the lords overseers general, and lords councillors of New Netherland. C. V. RUYVEN, Secretary.
" Dated Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, the 23d September, 1659."1
Immediately on their arrival near Fort Christina, Messrs. Sept. 28. Letter from Van Ruyven and Kry- gier to Al- ricks, in- forming of Van Ruyven and Krygier inform Alricks of the fact, in a letter dated 28th September. After acknowledging receipt of a letter from Alricks, of the 9th, they say, " Though the director-general's present situation, with regard to savages, forbids, yet the serious and earnest entreaties for any succour arrival with of men, victuals, and powder, and that your honour did not 60 soldiers. Great expe- fit. possess more than eight men, soldiers, two adelborsten, and dition in out- one sergeant, besides the citizens are but few in number, and unwilling to fight, because the city, as your honour says, has broken her conditions, and rendered them less favourable ; and further, that your honour is full of apprehension with regard to the threatening neighbours, whose pretensions and demands are entirely frivolous, is yet, on same day, by said director-general and council, to afford you, and the whole world, how deep an interest they feel in the security of this South River, which has now been in possession of the privi- leged West India Company more than thirty-six years, re- solved and determined to send me here with a force of sixty men, in succour, under the military command of the valiant Captain Martin Krygier, which was instantaneously executed and promoted with such speed, that in less than three days, every article required for such an expedition was in readiness,
1 N. Y. Hist. Coll. vol. iii. p. 370, 371.
273 1659.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
with which we embarked at the Manhattans, in three barques, sailed from there on 23d instant, and this instant arrived, which is therefore directly communicated to you, so that either you may, on receipt of this, come directly to see us in Fortress Altona, or send your deputies, provided that they are persons endowed with sufficient knowledge and qualifica- tions to assist in considering and arresting the use of such orders and means as might be serviceable for the maintenance, preservation, and defence of this excellent South River, and particularly the colony of New Amstel. With which com- mending you, &c., your affectionate friends,
" C. VAN RUYVEN, " MARTIN KRYGIER.
" Done at South River of New Netherland, in the yacht, between Forts New Amstel and Altona."
At foot was written-" Sir, Whereas, before sealing this letter, the Lieutenant D'Hinoyossa, with other persons, ar- rived on board our vessel, so we understood by them of your indisposition, on which we resolved to proceed and cast anchor before New Amstel, and to visit you in person.
(" Arms of city Hoorn.")1
Messrs. Van Ruyven and Krygier censure Alricks2 as the cause of all the misfortunes of New Amstel. They require Van Ruyven, the fifty soldiers sent back who had been sent from Manhat- &c. censure Alricks as cause of misfortunes at New Am- tan to defend New Amstel, and say it is his duty to keep up that number, which would have prevented runaways, and that he must collect them ; charge him as the author of all the stel. calamities which befell New Amstel; insist on his recovering it; "must supply soldiery from the colonists, who are unwill- ing to enter into the service of the city unless Krygier re- mains," being willing, under him, to defend the place to the last man. " In such a bad name is this place, (New Amstel,) that the whole river cannot wash it off, and would to God that it remained here, and that it was not openly proclaimed in our fatherland, to the scorn of this whole province. And now concerning the freemen, as we have learned by experience that your honour compels them to remain here, notwithstand- ing they declared their distressed situation, that they cannot find employ here, and are willing to oblige themselves under oath not to leave before payment of their debts to your ho-
1 Albany Records, vol. xviii. pp. 466, 467.
2 No date, but between Sept. 23 and Oct. 1.
35
274
J. ALRICKS AND W. BEEKMAN.
and Krygier censure Al- ricks.
1659. nour, which management is too slavish and odious for a free nation, and in our opinion not in unison with the intention of the noble lords of Amsterdam. All this your honour may Van Ruyven reply is untrue ; that you allow every one to depart when he pays; but they reply, ' When we were able to pay for our pas- sage, we offered to honourable Alricks, and with folded hands, to accept it for payment of debts ; he declined, saying we were bound to stay four years ; now we have spent all our little pittance, from hunger, anxiety, and misery, and have nothing left.' It would, in our opinion, stem and soften the odious clamour, and remove blame from you, to permit such as can find no employment here, depart to Manhattan, provided they can give security for arrears to the city ; if not, that they engage on oath not to leave the province without your con- sent or on payment. We cannot perceive any advantage by compelling them to remain. It ought not to be that we should leave them to perish by famine, trouble, and cold, though the rumour is afloat that many have actually died by hunger ; this would not be in unison with the duties of a Christian ; then it follows we must at least provide them with necessaries and clothing, by which their debts are increasing ; then again is the hope that those who go to Manhattan will, some day or other, pay; otherwise, in despair they will run off to Virginia, than which it is better they should run to Manhattan."
Soldiers at Altona.
They speak of the transfer of the colonists, ten or twelve unwilling to enter into a residence in the city, and placing them provisionally in Fortress Altona, under command of Beekman; besides these, twenty men more in garrison there for defence of fortress; that he shall employ as many sol- diers as we take colonists in service of this colony and For- tress New Amstel.
General war with sa- vages pro- posed.
The director-general suggests the propriety of a general war with the savages; has written to fatherland ; at present needs the galliot, and requests it, provided another good ves- sel is found for the contemplated voyage.
Soldiers of New Amstel disobey or- ders of Kry- gier. Justi- fied by Al- ricks.
Reminds him that Captain Krygier, as it is our custom to clean and place every thing in proper order in our Fort Am- sterdam, commanded some of the soldiers whom we conducted hither to clean half the Fortress New Amstel, which was an- nually effected, and that each person might do something, so commanded aforesaid your sergeant, Bernard Stoodcur, to do the same on the other part of the fort, with his men. “It
275
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
is forbidden me by honourable Alricks and Lieutenant Hino- 1659. yossa, to obey any other command than theirs," was the an- swer, which sounding in our ears as an uncommon trumpet, we directly addressed the honourable Alricks, in presence of D'Hinoyossa D'Hinoyossa, declaring our surprise, as he must know, by forbids his soldiers to our credentials and instructions, with what high commission clean the we were endowed; wherefore we should wish to know if it was done with his knowledge. It proved true, both saying that the city's servants were not holden, agreeably to their oath, to obey any other commands than those of the city ; and Hinoyossa further declared that no one, while he held commission, should exercise command over him, or the sol- diers of the city, and such other discourse which should not be passed by without protest, yet we do it, as it might lead to discussions, &c. to be avoided ; we trace it, however, to the oath which had been taken, excluding the directors of the West India Company ; propose its alteration.1
It appears from the following letter of Beekman, that September. Stuyvesant was not altogether satisfied with the manner of conducting the first interview with Colonel Utie :
" I received your communication and a body of soldiers. Director-ge- Alricks and I received your letter by Van Ruyven, and ob- neral dis- pleased Utie was not ar- rested. Beekman serve you are displeased we did not detain Utie. I was in- clined to do so, and actually proposed it to Alricks and D'Hinoyossa, they fearing great calamities from it, and a excuses him- revolt of the citizens. We have heard no more of the English, self. except a report that Colonel Utie had gone to see the gover- nor. The sheriff and commissary, instead of sending eight or ten men, speak of your sending by Huygens, not to pro- voke war, and that you would send men to protect against the savages."2
Van Ruyven, &c. write to Alricks in rather a fault-finding Oct. 1. style, charging him with want of energy in raising troops, &c. Letter from They urge him most seriously to complete and maintain fifty Van Ruy- ven, &c. to soldiers, sent by director-general when, on account of proba- Alricks, cen- ble war with the savages, they could be badly spared, and suring him for not rais- ing or using his soldiers. ought to be returned thither with all speed. They charge him with using no effectual efforts to enlist. " Did one of the city officers stir one single foot towards this object, or shall it be urged it was published by beat of drum ? but no person arrived. This was known beforehand, that no one would be
1 Albany Records, vol. xviii. pp. 423, 424. 2 Ibid. vol. xvii. p. 12.
fort, on Kry- gier's orders.
276
J. ALRICKS AND W. BEEKMAN.
1659. obtained in this manner, at least not from the inhabitants, because the great majority who did yet remain in the city service are dissatisfied with the magistrates of this colony, for what reasons must be best known to your honour ;" * " but [these] persons ought to have been encouraged by offers of favourable terms and salary, as is the usage in fatherland, and anywhere else, in such a great distress." "But what excuse can be made why the soldiers on the Whorekill, as we were promised last September, were not commanded to march hither, or have not arrived." "It is indeed too absurd, that the director-general and council should bereave their own places, of far greater consequence, of the necessary soldiers, and send them hither for succour, and that you should not send for your own soldiers, but leave them to guard one or two houses, built apparently more for private views than for the welfare of the country, and employ sixteen or eighteen for this purpose."1 [The remainder lost.]
Cet. 14.
The unfortunate situation of the colony still continues, and the directors of the company in Amsterdam give vent to their feelings in the following letter to the director-general in New Amsterdam :
Letter from West India Company to P. Stuyve- sant, on state of co- lony. Al- ricks cen- sured. Plan proposed for improving it.
" We heard with regret the indifferent situation of the co- lony of this city on South River, and especially the elope- ment of its inhabitants into Virginia, and other adjacent districts. While we consider this a symptom which threatens a total ruin of said colony, without even a distant prospect of gathering the fruits of the expenses of this establishment, which is not only injurious to the undertakers of this great enterprise, but very injurious to our interests in general, as it will bring us into disrepute with our neighbours. As this misfortune seems to have been originated chiefly on the too rigid preciseness of the Director Alricks, who would not per- mit the colonists to settle in the Manhattans, notwithstanding their offer to pay their debts to the colony, or to procure bail for those to his contentment, so it is highly becoming that you should endeavour to divert him from this plan as soon as it can be done, and expose to him the serious consequences of this case, in a plain and intelligible manner. Your honour might show him that it would be far preferable, if he would, in this critical moment, make voluntarily an offer to the re- maining creditors, to settle in the Manhattans, provided they
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