USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 36
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Hudde, in a letter to W. Beekman, speaks of applying to Van Ruyven and Krygier, when appointed commissaries and
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. pp. 158, 159.
3 Ibid. O Call. vol. ii. p. 465.
2 Ibid. p. 161.
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t b f a c f d in b
CO a CO
335
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
captain, to aid him in procuring payment for the house which was sold to honourable J. Alricks, schepen and magistrate of the city, to be for a time appropriated for the benefit of the community, " as it yet has continued till this day." They treated it with kindness, and J. Alricks promised to pay, as the purchase was approved by his lords and masters, but in vain to himself or his successor, D'Hinoyossa, &c., who re- ceived pay. Everybody complains of his unjust and fraudu- lent proceedings. D'Hinoyossa sold a considerable part of the city's property to the English in Maryland, such as a pair of millstones, &c.
Beekman finds himself, by his oath of office and honour, June 8. compelled to charge D'Hinoyossa with taking away the pali- Serious sades of the fort, and burning them in his brewery ; also with selling to the savages the new city guns which arrived in the against " Parmeland Church ;" also to the English in Maryland, the city millstones brought in the same ship, for 1000 pounds of tobacco, and a small brewer's kettle for 700 or 800 pounds ; also with railing against the Manhattans, and threaten- ing vengeance. Beekman sustains his charges by affi- davits.1
About this time, in consequence of publications in Holland, many were induced to think of emigrating to South River ; among others, a number of Mennonists, to the Whorekill. The association was to consist of married males and single men who had attained 24 years of age, and were not bound to service nor indebted to the association; equality was the basis of the association ; no superiority or office to be sought for; each pledging himself to obey the ordinances of the association, " in the maintenance of peace and concord." All clergymen, without distinction, were to be rigidly excluded from the society. As it was to be composed of persons of divers opinions, this exclusion was unanimously agreed to, for in choosing a minister of one sect, it would, it was argued, be impossible to harmonize so many discordant humours; to appoint one for each would be not only impossible, but " an inevitable pest to all peace and union." It was moreover considered " difficult to comprehend the peculiar benefit such a society could derive in any way from a preacher," &c. "The correspondence on the subject of creating this singular co- lony, finally eventuated in a grant of land at Whorekill, free
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 168.
1662.
charges by Beekman
D'Hinoyossa.
Mennonists and others propose to emigrate. Peculiar no- tions.
336
A. D'HINOYOSSA AND W. BEEKMAN.
1662. from tenths and all other imposts for twenty years. Pieter Cornelis Plockhoy was principal leader of the Mennonists."1
June 20.
D'Hinoyossa writes to W. Beekman to arrest the property of certain soldiers who ran off on the 19th instant, and asks it as a reciprocal measure ; (two have been apprehended, and a third badly wounded ;) which Beekman agrees to do.
June 21.
Van Sweringen says he shot the man unintentionally.
July 15. Director-ge- neral and council reply to directors in Holland, for censure cast upon them.
The director-general and council allude to censures by the Holland company, respecting certain supposed proposals of defence against the savages, and a divisional line by Mary- land, which they say were never passed. As to what passed between Maryland and D'Hinoyossa remains a secret. Beek- man "gave, it is true, some communications, that in conse- quence of the murder of two or three English going from New Amstel to Maryland, trouble and some war had arisen between them, which caused certain correspondence, and some embassies sent, vice versa, by D'Hinoyossa and governor of Maryland, but all this without any action with us or Beek- man, so we are ignorant about it. Daily occurrences prove D'Hinoyossa is either too ignorant, or too great in his own eyes, to consult your ministers on these or other such like affairs."
D'Hinoyossa refuses to keep a prayer-day ordered by director-ge- neral and council. Insolent lan- guage, &c.
They speak of disbanding soldiers, twelve or fourteen in Altona. D'Hinoyossa refused to publish a proclamation of the director-general and council, and also to observe a day of fasting and prayer, but objected that the colony was not specially mentioned ; and about the same time issued a pro- clamation themselves, which they published but did not keep, in the name of director and council of New Amstel, not of New Netherland, " writing to us of New Netherland in un- measured language, that they expected no more from us simi- lar orders and injunctions, but that in future they would take care of it for themselves, and that for this purpose they had established a quarterly prayer day."2
July 21.
Van Swerin- gen arrests men. -
William Beekman sends Peter Stuyvesant a statement of Van Sweringen's conduct in arresting, with seven men, dis- charged persons who were on their way to Meyzepen or Meggakisson. I met sheriff at Verdietige Hoeck, (Doleful Corner,) and protested against his usurping authority, tra-
1 O'Call. vol. ii. p. 466, where see a further account of their strange no- tions. Holl. Doc. vol. xv. p. 128.
2 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 195.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
337
1662.
versing our district with armed men. Van Sweringen threatens private injury.
Sixteen or eighteen families, chiefly Finns, residing in our district, have been induced by D'Hinoyossa to move into the colony. They will be 18 years free from tax, have their own judges and religion ; they mean to retain lands in our dis- lony. trict. On Sunday, P. M., five persons were induced to go to New Amstel, where they had business; they staid till next day; at evening, all being at supper, Elias Kouls assaulted Attack on Sheriff Van Sweringen near his house, thrusting at him with sheriff. sword, &c.1
" If your honour might deem it proper to send hither the August 3. attorney-general, I solicit with submission, in that case, that Asks for a he may be accompanied with a minister of the gospel, as with minister of us in Altona, as well as New Amstel, there are several un- Several un- the gospel. baptized children. The Lord's Supper has not been adminis- tered here during two and a half years, so that by this act Lord's Sup- your honour will show us a great kindness."
baptized children. No
per for two and a half years.
He cannot live on good terms with D'Hinoyossa.2
William Clayborne, jun., writes about runaway servants from Maryland ; asks to have them taken up.3
The directors in Amsterdam say to Peter Stuyvesant, that September I. " the provisions with which your honour has supplied eight or Expenses in ten licensed ministers of this city on South River, who have sending home eight returned home in the vessel ' Parmeland Church,' shall be paid or ten minis- ters to be re- here by the city to the company, so that your honour may paid. place in your books these charges as liquidated. What now regards your apprehended difficulties, that through the privi- Certain pri- leges which have been bestowed upon the colony of this city, luded to, and vileges al- other colonies which have been established there with the apprehended consent and forcknowledge of the company, may be tempted difficulties from those to claim similar privileges and immunities, on the special pre- disposed of. texts of their letters-patent, grants, or deeds, we shall only observe, that when similar applications shall be made, then your honour ought to send us this information, in which case we shall resolve upon it, as circumstances may require, and communicate to your honour the result of our deliberations."+
All the books, papers, and vouchers relating to the affairs Alricks's pa- of the deceased Jacob Alricks, of South River, to be sent to pers, &c. to be sent to Holland. the magistrates of Amsterdam.5
1 Albany Records. 2 Ibid. vol. xvii. p. 199. 3 Ibid. p. 233.
4 Ibid. vol. iv. p. 199. 43
6 Ibid. p. 400.
2 F
Families of Finns mov- ing into co-
338
A. D'HINOYOSSA AND W. BEEKMAN.
Sudden alarm at New Amstel. Fears of the Senecas. Man mur- dered.
1662. New Amstel is suddenly alarmed by the following circum- stances, as related by Jean Willems, in a letter of this date to Beekman, at Altona : " At evening, sitting at my door, a September 5. runner arrived suddenly from below the row of Hunters-land, a savage severely wounded, who, as he could not be under- stood, signified by signs that the Senecas did it, on which all the citizens were directly armed and collected together, with which we continue every evening. We have heard of many severe threatenings made, as is said by savages, against us, of which we saw yesterday a most bloody effect, at Jans Flons, an aged man riding in the woods, with his wagon and two horses, was shot from his horse on which he rode ; it seems presumptive that it must have been done by the Senecas. Something ought to be done; if you would not despatch a savage, or Swede, or Finn, to the director-general."
September 7.
Alarm con- tinued. Mes- senger de- spatched to Mr. La Grange. A Swede of Printz's.
Beekman writes to Peter Stuyvesant: "As I arrived at New Amstel, I saw there a great disturbance and commotion among the inhabitants, who fled with their property to the fort. Upon the burning of the hovel which I mentioned in my last, D'Hinoyossa sending me a messenger, and soliciting, in the name of the director and council in the colony, that I would come up, to despatch a savage to Manhattans, of which I excused myself, as I could not leave home at this time, and that he could much better spare a man than I, but at last proposed, as here was a Swede of Printz's, that we both to- gether should send our letters to Mr. La Grange, requesting him to despatch, at joint expense, little Hansen or his brother- in-law Carel," &c., which was done.
Bad state of defence at Altona.
" If the apprehensions are realized, I should be compelled to enlist men for defence of the place ; but small provision of powder and balls; it is not difficult to procure victuals. In our quarter or district, neither man nor beast molested, neither is any creature, thus far, at New Amstel, injured.1
Sept. 8. Beekman has another son.
" Yesterday, my wife was delivered of a son, so that now two of my sons are unbaptized. We are expecting daily the shallop, with the desirable gospel minister. Six or seven sol- diers sick.2
" Alarm has subsided; they cannot yet tell who did it; probably the Senecas."
Sept. 14.
" I inquired, at the request of Hendrick Huygen, into the situation of a certain lot of land, situated at south-west side 1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 230. 2 Ibid. p. 226.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
of Upland-kill, and was informed by the Swedish commis- 1662. saries and other ancient inhabitants of the said nation, that aforesaid tract is called Printz's Village, which had already been in possession during sixteen years of the Swedish go- History of vernor, Johan Printz, and his daughter, who owns it. I can- not hear that this tract has ever been in possession of one Hans Ammonsen or his heirs, or that any land was cultivated by him in that neighbourhood, but well that it was said so of one Elias Sullengreen, after the arrival of Governor Rysingh, that his wife's father had a donation in writing from Queen Christina, of a certain piece of land, situated between Mary's Corner (Marytjens Hoeck) and Upland-kill. I received this information on this day, in Fort Altona. W. BEEKMAN."1 Sept. 20.
" No reason to fear at present. Have not found the mur- derer of Johan Fons.
" D'Hinoyossa declared publicly in the fort that he in- tended going to fatherland via Virginia, in six or eight weeks, with a view to give an accurate delineation of the colony to his lords and patrons, and to convince them of the necessity of obtaining possession of South River, adding, in case he did not return, each person ought to look out for himself."
" Wants provisions and men, having only five or six healthy persons for defence ; the others are lingering with intermit- ting fevers."2
Writes, at request of some Englishmen who arrived a few Sept. 27. days ago, to recover runaway servants.3
Runaways.
P. Stuyvesant requests Beekman to assist D'Hinoyossa, October 24. when requested, with six or eight men, " who should incline Soldiers to to go at the expense and wages of the city." In reply, he be lent to D'Hinoyossa says, " I am confident no person will be willing to go on these from Altona. terms, wherefore I request your honour's special orders, Beekman de- clines. whether I shall, when requested, command such a number thither, and keep the fort garrisoned with the remainder."
Peter Stuyvesant complained of high accounts made out Complaint by the merchants, &c. " Your honour ought to consider that by Peter Stuyvesant the place is unfavourably situated, wherefore very few can against ligh canoe any thing of consequence, and they cannot well subsist on what they receive for their daily support, so they often must receive advances for their bread. Every article which comes from Manhattan is charged with great expenses and high freight."
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 238. 2 Ibid. p. 237. 3 Ibid. p. 239.
D'Hinoyossa going to Hol- land.
Sickness at
Altona.
339
Printz's vil- lage.
charges by merchants. Beekman ex- cuses them.
340
A. D'HINOYOSSA AND W. BEEKMAN.
1662.
Matthew Bengsen, under-sheriff and city messenger, died September 9.
D'Hinoyossa sold the galliot to the Englishman before mentioned, for 14 hogsheads of tobacco and 40 head of cattle.
The galliot sold.
An English servant hung. Others wounded.
" On the 19th was hung, the head cut off and placed on a stake in the presence of ' French,' one of the English run- away servants, and bought by Peter Alricks, at Whorekill, from the savages. When these were to be conducted to New Amstel by some English, 'French' made an attack upon them when on South River, or near Bompjes Hoeck, wounded two and slightly hurt the other, when they fled out of the boat, but were again overtaken at New Amstel, where he was apprehended by orders of D'Hinoyossa, when, on the 3d, the English masters departed, but D'Hinoyossa refused to deliver French to them, because he committed, as he sus- tained, a delict in the distance of the colony. I sustained that the case belonged to your honour's jurisdiction, as the deed was committed on the river, and not in the colony. Van Sweringen was sitting as judge in the case. The whole transaction took place without the knowledge of Mr. La Grange."1
Nov. 24. New Eng- land asks surrender of Manhattan. Lord Balti- more ob- tained let- ters-patent from king.
" D'Hinoyossa returned to New Amstel, but I cannot dis- cover what he performed. I understood, only the other day, that he received information of General Calvert, that those of New England have demanded the surrender of Manhat- tans." " Mr. Kip was, about three weeks ago, at Colonel Utie's, who asked if your honour was yet angry at him, that he formerly had demanded the surrender of New Amstel; adding that Lord Baltimore had obtained more letters-patent from the present king, in which the colony was included, and that said lord intended to claim the whole extent of them."
Murder of a boy by In- dians.
" The savages murdered, on the 17th instant, about an hour before sunset, nearly 400 rods from the fort, a youth, being the servant of John Staelcop, whose parents reside in the colony ; his master had just left him; cannot discover what nation did it; we suppose those on the river who are now hunting in this neighbourhood ; they lay it on the Minquas or Senecas. We sent for the chief of Passajongh, to whom those hunting here are subjected."
Fort in want.
" In great want of provisions ; our magazine empty. We shall have to expect our bread-corn from Manhattan, as nearly 1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. pp. 243, 244.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
all is purchased by the merchants, and the crop not half the 1662. last."1
The sudden and unexpected departure of D'Hinoyossa and Van Sweringen for Maryland created much surprise, as we November. find by the following letter written about this time, (without D'Hinoyossa and Van Sweringen
date,) by J. Willems to Beekman, from New Amstel : " I do not know if you are informed of the sudden departure of his depart sud- honour, D'Hinoyossa, and Van Sweringen. Last Monday denly for Maryland, the governor of Maryland despatched a man to him with a which letter, that he ought to come directly to the house of Augus- tin, where the governor was waiting to converse with him, when the shallop was directly made ready, and they sailed at night. I do not know what it means, as he made no commu- nication to any one, except that he informed me of his de- parture by a messenger, without mention of place; all this surprises me much, as does his departure without any know- ledge of his council given him to assist him; wherefore I would not delay in communicating it. Who knows what it means, if it is not a consequence of the conversations in the valley, which have been witnessed by several persons that they were speaking together, lifted their eyes up towards heaven, laid their hands on their breasts, with other strange grimaces, wherefore you will reflect, and consider maturely, and exa- mine, if perhaps in that valley may not be a basilisk breeding. I will not suspect any evil intention, but it certainly can do no harm to be on one's guard ; this even I must approve, and if your honour might see or observe something, then I trust you will communicate it directly to the patron at Manhattans, and remain meanwhile in the wish to converse with you in person on the subject."
Beekman writing to Stuyvesant, says, " When I arrived Nov. 27. this day at New Amstel, to assist at the funeral of Mr. Wil- lems." This is probably the writer of the preceding letter.
" I have been compelled to request Huygens to provide 300 gl. in beavers, to pay for wages and cattle, &c."2
On the 3d, arrived at Altona three Minqua chiefs, with Dec. 23. their suite. Supposing that they had something to communi- Arrival of cate respecting the murder, Beekman requests the presence chiefs at Al- tona. Pro- of the Swedish commissary, with Mr. Huygens and Jacob poso going to Swens as interpreter, to come to Altona. The chiefs, on the war with Senecas. 6th, bitterly complained, that on our information and com-
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. pp. 245, 246.
2 Ibid. p, 247.
2 F 2
341
creates great surprise.
Death of Willems, &c.
342
A. D'HINOYOSSA AND W. BEEKMAN.
1662.
Murderer discovered. Ask ammu- nition.
plaints, they discovered that this murder was committed by a young savage residing among their tribe, he being a captive Seneca. They suggest, that as long as Christians resided here, it can never be proved that they have in any manner, by that nation, been injured or offended ; on the contrary, they have showed them every mark of friendship, and were always willingly and cheerfully employed in reconciling dif- ferences between them and other savages, &c.
They said, about three years since, one of their nation was murdered by Christians at New Amstel, which they did not resent. Presents were exchanged.
" The chiefs expected, ere long, to their assistance, about 800 Swedish Minquas, of whom 200 had arrived, so that next spring they were resolved to make war with the Senecas, and go and visit the forts, wherefore they solicited the Christians to provide them with ammunition of war whenever they paid for it."
Protested bill of ex- change given Miss Printz.
" A protested bill of exchange, which had been given by Mr. La Grange to Miss Printz, was shown to William Beek- man, and a meeting requested ; judgment given and appeal taken."
" I went on the 21st, to Tinneconk, at request of Huygens, and used every exertion to settle differences respecting the protested bill of exchange, but did not succeed." The above letter is dated at "Tinneconck, N. Leyden." This bill of exchange was for a part of the purchase-money of that island, and given to Miss Printz, on which suit is afterwards instituted.1
1663.
February 6. D'Hinoyossa sells every thing he can.
In a letter of this date, Beekman says to Stuyvesant, " He has related, from time to time, what happened in the colony of New Amstel, principally during the time of these rigorous and bloodthirsty chiefs. D'Hinoyossa sells every article for which he can find a purchaser, even powder and musket-balls from the magazine. I know that he sold a considerable quantity to Augustin Heermans, besides nails belonging to the city, the house in which he lives ; offered to sell house in the fort, in which he had built a brewery ; says he every day expects powerful succour from fatherland, &c. Perfect dark- ness about occurrences at Heermans, with Governor Calvert.
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii.
343
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
Sweringen departed about Christmas to Maryland, it is said 1663. to receive tobacco for the millstones and galliot, &c.
D'Hinoyossa considers us as his mortal enemies, rejects a surgeon because he is a friend of Beekman; a great deal of February 6. such reports and insinuations.
D'Hinoyossa and Beek-
The small-pox appears among the savages on the river ; man ene- mies. Small-pox among the savages. Beekman sends for medicines. apprehends it may visit Altona. "I earnestly solicit that I may receive, by first opportunity, at my expense, what theria- cal, mithridat senna leaves, and other purgatives and cooling remedies are of service in that sickness, as we have actually a blessing of eight children, and may expect, in such a case, None at Al- a great deal of trouble, so that by it your honour will oblige tona. us, as no medicines are obtainable here."
" Mr. Huygens is fully resolved to move from N. Leyden, Huygens go- as soon as the river is navigable. One Picard, a Frenchman, ing to re- move. A. who resided with his family here three or four weeks, sold his Frenchman house and land in the colony, and appointed D'Hinoyossa his sold out. attorney."1
Certain propositions were made to the West India Company February 8. by the burgomasters of Amsterdam, intended to promote the Propositions interests of the colony. They were presented in ten distinct articles : " 1st. That they shall renounce and quit every claim on the property of the said colony. 2d. With all the rights of high and low jurisdiction which they possess on the South River. 3d. Provided they pay to the aforesaid company the recognitions which are actually paid from all imports and ex- the colony ports. 4th. Without being obliged to bring their goods into and river. the company's magazine. 5th. Neither to be visited by any of the company's commissaries. 6th. But to remain satisfied with the declarations of the commissary or director. 7th. And to pay nothing on the South River, neither shall the company claim any authority upon it. 8th. The jurisdiction and pro- perty of this land must be considered as extended from sea and upwards on the river, so far as the river stretches. 9th. And towards the north three miles from the border of the river, to interior of the country. 10th. And to the south as far as the country stretches towards the English colony."
made by burgomas- ters to West India Com- pany, with the answer of the latter, respecting
The following " extract from resolutions of directors of the privileged West India Company," shows the result :
" Thursday, February 8. The commissaries over New Resolution Netherland having, in conformity to our resolutions, con- in reply.
1 Albany Records, vol. xvii. p. 260.
344
A. D'HINOYOSSA AND W. BEEKMAN.
1663. versed with the burgomasters of the city, were unanimously resolved to answer their proposals thus : Noble and respect- ful lords, the lords burgomasters, Boutemantel and Wilmer- Resolution of doncx, brought the report to our meeting that your honours West India Company in reply. delivered to them a memorial soliciting some further exemp- tions, which their honours are of opinion ought to be granted them by the West India Company, to promote the success of the colony on South River, in New Netherland, named Am- stel, with recommendation that it might please the company to take a resolution upon it, as soon as possible, because it is their ardent wish to promote the success of that colony more than it was thus far in their power, on which, having heard the opinion of the aforesaid committee, with that of honour- able Huygens, one of the committee intrusted with the con- cerns of New Netherland, considered that the memorial of their honours consisted in ten articles, on which they resolved as follows :
" The company could make a concession of 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th articles, with regard to the lands and limits men- tioned in contracts, and grant of these the full property to your honour, in the manner that they already possess other lands. Neither has the company any objection to abandon the Fort Christina, and deliver it to your honour, provided that the possessors and proprietors of land situated in the neighbourhood are not injured in their rights and privileges, and that your honour will send thither, without delay, a good number of soldiers to the discharge of the soldiers of the company, the security of the colony, and for the defence against the savages, who are increasing their buildings in that neighbourhood annually, and in succession, more than a mile in length, so that 400 colonists would be therefore desirable, at least the farmers should be increased to a sufficient num- ber to protect and settle the whole, while their honours can- not be permitted to sell or dispose of the whole of said colony, or of a part of it, by sales or transfer, or barter, or in any other manner ; all this on the forfeiture of the privi- leges which were granted by this agreement. With regard to the 2d, they answer, that is in conformity with the juris- diction already granted, as may be seen from the separate conditions and articles 2, 3 and 4. In reply to the 3d, this article is according to the list published with the conditions, by your honour. On the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, they cannot
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