USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 4
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October 16.
1 Albany Records, vol. xxvi. GG. p. 11, 12. Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 82.
2 O'Call. vol. i. p. 122. Holl. Doc. vol. i. p. 176-180.
25
DE VRIES'S ARRIVAL ON THE DELAWARE.
Killiaen Van Rensselaer, Samuel Bloemmaert, Jan De Laet, 1630. and De Vries, to which number several persons were after- vards added. Immediate measures were taken to prepare or the expedition. A ship and yacht were fitted out, " as Expedition well for the whale fishing in those parts," as for the establish- fitted out and sails. ment of a colony, " planting of tobacco, raising of grain," &c. All things being ready, and about thirty colonists re- ceived on board, the vessels left the Texel, December 12, December 12. 1630.1
1631.
The precise date of the arrival of De Vries's expedition, in the Delaware, is not known, but as he told us he sailed on December 12, 1630, and allowing for the length of the pas- sages usual at that period, we conclude he arrived in March or April of this year. After passing Cape Cornelis, he en- of Fort Op- tered into a deep creek, abounding with oysters, which was called Hoornkil or Hoerkil, the present Whorekills,2 or Lewes Creek. Here, having selected a suitable spot, he erected a house, surrounding it with palisades, instead of parapets and breastwork, which served the purposes both of trade and defence. It was called Fort Oplandt.3 Being favoured in the season, they suffered but little inconvenience from the weather. Their settlement was on the purchase made in 1629 for Godyn, and assumed the name of Zwanen- dal, or " Valley of the Swans." But little information is on record respecting the progress of this infant Dutch colony. No doubt every effort was made to provide for their wants, and to place it in a proper state of defence; at least De Vries so considered it, for in the course of the year pro- De Vries de- bably, (for the date is not given,) he left it in charge of Gillis parts for Holland. Hosset, and sailed for Holland.
Another purchase was made on the South River, from the Indians, as set forth in the following acknowledgment before the director-general and council at Manhattan.
" Appeared before us, Peter Heysen, skipper on board the ship named Walrus, (or Whale,) lying at present on the South River, and Gillis Hosset, commissary, lying in the same, and declared, that on the 5th day of May last past, before them May 5.
1 De Vries, in N. Y. Hist. Coll. vol. i. N. S., p. 250. O'Call. vol. i. p. 128.
2 For the origin of this name, tradition has assigned a reason which needs the support of evidence.
3 De Vries, Moulton, vol. i. p. 406.
4 0
De Vries's arrival in the Delaware. Settlement at Zwanen- dal. Erection landt.
26
SECOND PURCHASE ON THE DELAWARE.
1631. in their proper persons, appeared Sannoowouno, Wiewit, Pemhacke, Mekowetick, Teehepeuwya, Mathamen, Sacoock, Anehoopoen, Janqueno, and Pokahake, rightful owners, pro- Purchase on east side for Godyn and prietors, and inhabitants of the east side of the Godyn's East Bay, called the Cape of May, both for themselves and the Bloemmaert. rato caverendo, (the remaining,) and all other proprietors of the same land. The said appearers, in their sacred quality, voluntarily and deliberately declared, that in a rightful, full, and free ownership, by virtue of titles, and the right of sell- ing, and in consideration of certain parcels of goods, which they the grantors, in the said quality, before the passing of these presents, acknowledged to have received and obtained, they had transported, ceded, and given over, and by these presents, they do transport, &c., to and for the behoof of their excellencies Mr. Samuel Godyn, and Mr. Samuel Bloem- maert, (absent,) and for whom the said appearers, the follow- ing did accept with suitable stipulations, viz. the east side of Godyn's Bay, or Cape May, extending four miles from the cape aforesaid, bayward in, and four miles along the coast towards the south, and four miles landward in, being a square of 16 miles, and that, with all which, in right and equity, to the said appearers in the aforesaid quality therein apper- tained, constituting and substituting the said grantees, (the before named agents,) in the stead and state, in the real and actual possession of the same, and at the same time to their said excellencies Messrs. Godyn and Bloemmaert, or to their successors, full, absolute, and irrevocable right, tanquam, &c., the said land peaceably to enter upon, possess, inhabit, culti- vate, occupy, use, and therewith do, and thereof dispose and trade away, as they might do with their own, honestly and legally gotten, without that they the said grantors, in their aforesaid quality, (capacity,) thereto, and to any part or piece thereof, should have, reserve, or save in the least, any part, action or authority, whether for ownership, command, or jurisdiction, but superabundantly for the behoof as aforesaid, from this time forth, and for evermore, wholly and absolutely therefrom, desisting," &c.1 June 3, 1631.
June 3.
This purchase has been stated, by several writers, to have been made May 5, 1630. This has arisen, we presume, from an error in quoting from the records, as the date of the fore-
1 Albany Records, vol. xxvi. pp. 27, 30, GG. 29.
27
COLONY DESTROYED BY THE INDIANS.
going paper, Jan. 3, 1631,1 instead of June 3, 1631, which would render the 5th of May last past, as in 1630. The date we have given is copied from the Albany record itself, and corresponds with the date of the two preceding acknowledg- ments, as alluded to in a subsequent instrument2 for the sale of both purchases. It appears to us most probable, that De Vries having arrived prior to the 5th May, Heysen was the commander of the ship Walrus, and that Hosset was the com- missary of the expedition, and that possessing, by previous purchase, the western side of the river, it was deemed advisa- ble to obtain the east side also, and that the purchase was accordingly effected as above. Both sides of the river, it seems, passed by the name of " Zwanendal," or "Valley of Swans," although the term has generally been applied to the settlement on the western shore. Hosset was an agent also in the purchase of lands around Fort Orange, for Van Rens- sellaer, in 1630,3 and must therefore, most probably have returned to Holland, prior to accompanying De Vries, unless, indeed, he was despatched for the purpose from Manhattan, upon De Vries's arrival.
The departure of De Vries appears to have been unfortu- Destruction nate for the colony, as his prudence might have saved it from the unhappy occurrences into which the indiscretion of those intrusted with its management involved it. It seems that, conformably with the custom of the Dutch, a pillar was erected, bearing a piece of tin, on which were traced the coat of arms of the United Provinces, which being innocently removed by an Indian, was viewed by Hosset, who was left in charge, as a national insult, and led to the entire destruc- tion of the colony, this year, or early in the next, by the Indians. The particulars, as subsequently related to De Vries, on his return from Holland, we find in his journal. De Vries inquired " the reason why they had killed our people. He showed us a place where our people had erected a pillar, to which was attached a piece of tin, upon which was figured the emblem of Holland. One of their chiefs wanted to take this piece of tin to make of it tobacco pipes, not knowing that it was improper. Those who had the command at the house showed much dissatisfaction, so that the Indians did not know how to make amends. They went away and killed
1 Moulton, p. 401. Acrelius, p. 417.
3 ('Call. vol. i. pp. 125, 138.
2 O'Call. vol. i. p. 479.
1631.
of De Vries's colony by the Indians.
28
CAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COLONY.
Destruction of De Vries's colony.
1631. the chief who had taken the tin, and brought a token of it to those who commanded at the house, who told them that they had done wrong; that they ought to have come with him to the house, and they would have only told him not to do so again. They then went away: but the friends of the mur- dered chief had resolved to be avenged. They attacked our people when they were working in the field, leaving but a single sick man in the house, and a large bull-dog, which was chained out of doors. The man who had command of the house stood near the door. Three of the boldest Indians, who were to perpetrate the deed, came and offered him a par- cel of beavers to barter, and contrived to enter the house. He went in with them to transact the business; that being done, he went to a garret where the stores were. Coming down, one of the Indians cleaved his head with an axe, so that he dropped dead on the floor. They then murdered the sick man, and then went to the dog, which they feared most, and shot at least twenty-five arrows at him before he was killed. They then went in a treacherous manner to the peo- ple in the field, approaching them under the appearance of friendship, and murdered one after the other. Thus termi- nated our first colony, to our great loss."1
Gillis Hosset is considered the cause of it.
In alluding, several years later, to the cause of this de- struction, De Vries says, " When we were erecting a colony in 1630, on South River, at Zwanendal, on the Hoeren Creek, and all our people were murdered by the Indians, occasioned by some trifling quarrels of our commander, Gillis Osset, we lost our settlements by mere jangling with the Indians, when thirty-two of our men were murdered."2 Thus charging upon Hosset, whom he had left in command, the blame of it.
The arrival of the Swedes as- signed to this year by some.
Some of the early writers fix the arrival of the Swedes, and the building of the first fort by them, in this year, which, from documents hereafter to be noticed, was undoubtedly an error.
In this year, also, it has been said that, upon the applica- Right to the tion of his excellency John Oxenstiern, ambassador to Eng- country said to have been relin- quished by the English. land, King Charles I. relinquished to the Swedes all claim to this part of the country by reason of discovery. Of any evidence of this agreement, no documents have been, thus far, produced. Acrelius also refers to this circumstance, but places it at a later period.
1 De Vries, in N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll. vol. i. N. S., p. 252. 2 Ibid. 266.
29
CHARTER OF MARYLAND GRANTED TO LORD BALTIMORE.
1632.
Director Minuit was recalled, and embarked some time in PeterMinuit, the spring, for Holland, taking with him 5000 beaver skins, director, re- called, and returns to Holland. on account of the company. Being obliged to put into Eng- land by stress of weather, the vessel was seized for having traded in his majesty's dominions against his express com- mands, but after various exchanges of documents on each side, asserting claims to the country, the vessel was released.1
Lord Baltimore obtains a grant for Maryland, under which June 20. he claimed a right to the lands on the west side of Delaware Lord Balti- River, and which gave rise to continual controversies between him and the Dutch, and afterwards with the Pennsylvania Maryland. proprietaries, which were not settled for more than one hun- dred and thirty years.
Lord Baltimore first intended to settle in Virginia, but Lord Balti- being a Roman Catholic, and finding himself uncomfortable
more obtains a charter for
more dies in there on account of his religion, departed for England, and Patent after- England. obtained a patent for land originally granted to the South wards con- firmed to his Virginia Company, but dying, never returned. His son, in son. 1633, had the patent confirmed to himself. It occasioned unpleasant feelings between Maryland and Virginia for a time, owing, chiefly, to their being rivals in the tobacco busi- ness. The following proceedings and description will show the extent of the grant.2
" By letters patent of this date, reciting the petition of Charter to Lord Balti- more for Cecilius, Lord Baltimore, for a certain country thereinafter described, not then cultivated and planted, though in some Maryland, parts thereof inhabited by certain barbarous people, having no knowledge of Almighty God, his majesty granted to said right to the Lord Baltimore :
by which he claimed a
Delaware, which was
" All that part of a peninsula lying in the parts of America long a source between the ocean on the east, and the Bay of Chesapeake of contro- versy. on the west, and divided from the other part thereof by a right line drawn from the promontory or cape of land called Watkins's Point, (situate in the aforesaid bay, near the River of Wighco,) on the west, unto the main ocean on the east; and between that bound on the south, unto that part of Dela- ware Bay on the north which lieth under the 40th degree of
1 O'Call. vol. i. p. 130.
2 Beverly, 47, 48. Burke's Virginia, ii. 39. Bozman's Maryland, i. 344, 345, and note (S.) Hazard's Hist. Coll. vol. i. p. 337.
C 2
30
DE VRIES RETURNS FROM HOLLAND.
1632.
north latitude from the equinoctial, where New England ends; and all that tract of land between the bounds aforesaid, i. e. passing from the aforesaid bay called Delaware Bay, in a right line by the degree aforesaid, unto the true meridian of the first fountain of the River of Pattoumeck, and from thence trending towards the south unto the further bank of the aforesaid river, and following the west and south side thereof, unto a certain place called Cinquack, situate near the mouth of the said river, where it falls into the Bay of Chesa- peake, and from thence by a straight line, unto the aforesaid promontory and place called Watkins's Point."1
November.
Gustavus Adolphus again thinks of the scheme of a company. His death.
Gustavus Adolphus, one of the noblest monarchs of Europe, and King of Sweden, who took so lively an interest in esta- blishing a Swedish West India Company in 1626-27, and colonizing this country, was killed at the battle of Lutzen, nobly fighting at the head of his army, by which untoward event the accomplishment of the object which he had so much at heart was still longer delayed for several years. But a short time prior to his death, (October 16,) at Nuremburgh, he drew up a recommendation to the people of Germany, of his favourite scheme of a company, which was ready for his signature, but which was prevented by his death. It was, however, the next year submitted to the people by his excel- lent chancellor Oxenstiern.2
December 5.
De Vries's return from Holland. Has inter- views, and fi- nally makes peace with the Indians, from one of whom he learns the particulars of the mur- der of the colonists.
In the latter part of this year, De Vries, having previously heard of the destruction of his colony on the Delaware, sailed from the Texel. On the 5th of December he entered the South Bay, having a whale near his vessel. "He promised himself great things, plenty of whales, and good land for cultivation." On the next day he proceeded up the kill, being well armed, in case of meeting with Indians. He now realized the truth of what he had learned before leaving Hol- land. He "found the house destroyed. It had been sur- rounded by parapets or breastwork, but most of them had been burned. The ground was bestrewed with the heads and bones of his murdered men, but he saw no Indians." Sup- posing they might be attracted by the sound of a gun, he went on board the vessel, and ordered a gun to be fired. On the 7th, two Indians appeared near the destroyed house ; afraid to approach, they wished the people from the vessel to
1 Statement of Penn's Case, by Murray, Reg. Penns. vol. ii. p. 204.
2 Argonautica Gustaviana. Bancroft, vol. ii. p. 282.
31
INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIANS.
come on shore, which De Vries resolved to do next day, in the yacht, that he might " have a shelter from their arrows." Accordingly, he went in the yacht, up the creek to the house. The Indians were on the shore, but at first would not go on board; at last, however, one went. De Vries gave him a cloth dress, and told him he desired to make peace with them. Others then went on board, expecting also a dress, but he gave them only trinkets, adding that the dress was given to the first as a reward for his confidence in venturing to enter the boat. They were desired to come next day with their chief, called Sakimas, for the purpose of making a satisfactory peace. One Indian, however, remained on board all night in the yacht, and from him De Vries, upon inquiry, received the account which has already been given, of the murder of the colonists. On the 9th, the Indians, with their chief, came : " they sat down in a circle, and concluded peace." Presents were made them of duffels, bullets, axes, and Nuremberg trinkets, with which being well pleased, and with promises of reciprocal benefits, they departed joyfully, no notice or ven- geance having been taken of the previous cruelties committed.
De Vries now made " preparations for the fishery, and for De Vries pra boiling oil, by forming a lodging place of some boards."1
1633.
De Vries, after remaining since the conclusion of the peace, January 1. in the neighbourhood of the creek, probably engaged in the De Vries fishery, proceeded in the yacht up the river, to procure beans from the Indians. They saw a whale before the mouth of the river. On the 5th he was before the little Fort Nassau, where formerly lived some families of the West India Com- Indian wo- pany. Here he found a few Indians disposed to barter some furs, but wanting only Indian corn, and having parted with most of his articles at Zwanendal, he had none to trade for furs. They advised him to proceed to Timmerkill, (now Cooper's Creek,) from which he was prevented by the kind interference of an Indian woman, to whom he gave a cloth dress to induce her to communicate what she knew. She belonged " to the Sankitans." She informed De Vries that they had murdered the crew of an English boat which ascended the Count Ernest River, and would undoubtedly attack them. On the 6th he weighed, and lay before Tim-
1 De Vries, p. 252.
1632.
pares for fishing.
sails up the Delaware. Meets with Indians. Is saved by an man from destruction.
32
DE VRIES SAVED FROM THE INDIANS.
1633.
Many In- dians come on board. His treat- ment of them.
merkill, fully prepared for the Indians, if they attempted to harm him. They soon approached the boat, offering beavers, and about forty-two or forty-three entered the yacht : some began to play on reeds, so as to induce no suspicion of their designs, but, being only seven in number, the crew were upon their guard, and when De Vries thought they had been long enough on board, he ordered them ashore, threatening to fire if they refused to depart; their sachem offered beavers for sale, which were declined, and the Indians were again ordered on shore, and given to understand that Manito, their devil, had advised him of their evil designs; they then went on shore.
Finds Fort Nassau crowded with In- dians. Ex- change of presents.
These Indians are said to be " Roodehoeks or Mantes;" they were partly dressed in English jackets, which created suspicion, and confirmed the story of the Indian woman, who so providentially was the means of saving a second expedi- tion from destruction. On the 8th, De Vries returned to his position before the fort, which was now crowded with Indians, and their numbers increasing. A canoe, with nine chiefs from different places, came off, amongst them the man who had appeared with the English jacket, which, however, he did not now wear. They sat down in a circle, and said they had discovered that De Vries's people were in fear of them, but they came to conclude a permanent peace, and presented ten beaver skins, with a distinct ceremony with each. De Vries in return offered some presents for each, such as an axe, adze, small knives, &c., which they refused, saying, " they did not make their presents to receive others in return, but to make peace." They were told that some presents would be given for their wives, but they replied, " these must be given to them on shore." De Vries, on the 9th and 10th, obtained from them in barter some Indian corn and furs ; on the 19th, he went upwards of a mile from "Jacques Eyland ?" entered a fine creek, abounding in vines, which they therefore called " Wyngaert's Kill, or Vine Creek."
De vries de- termines to go to Vir- ginia.
De Vries now determined to proceed to Virginia, as he had failed, in South River, to procure corn and other provisions for his return voyage, in doing which he had incurred some danger, and as none of the Dutch had been to Virginia before him, he would have the honour of making the first visit there.
De Vries accordingly sailed for Virginia, where, upon his
33
DE VRIES VISITS VIRGINIA.
arrival, the governor, attended by some officers and sol- 1633. diers, met and cordially welcomed him, inquiring whence he came; on being informed "from South River," he invited him to his house, and treated him to a glass of wine. He March. then told him that South Bay belonged to the British, and De Vries goes was by them named Delaware Bay, after Lord Delaware, who to Virginia. Friendly re- ception by the gover- nor. some years ago had taken possession of it, but not supposing it navigable, owing to the sand banks, he did not ascend the river. De Vries then informed him that he was mistaken ; that the Dutch had there built a fort many years ago, called Nassau, of which he appeared never to have known before, and that it was a fine navigable river. The governor spoke of a small vessel that he had sent, some time before, to the Delaware, which had not returned, and he supposed was lost. De Vries then related the circumstance mentioned by the Indian woman, of the murder of an English boat's crew, and that he had seen an Indian wearing an English jacket, which he concluded to have belonged to his boat's crew, who had been sent there to make discovery. The governor gave him six goats for his new colony ; he purchased some provi- sions, and returned to South Bay. He learned that in his Returns to absence they had taken only seven whales, which yielded 32 the Dela- ware. Little success in fishing. Fi- cartels of oil. Finding, therefore, that the fishing here was too expensive in proportion to the profit, and the fish poor, nally leaves he prepared to return to Europe, and on the 16th of April for Europe. weighed anchor, and arrived at Fort Amsterdam, on Man- hattan, shortly after,1 and thus finally left the Delaware River for several years; and terminated the second expe- dition.
This year arrived at Fort Amsterdam, in the ship Zout- April. berg, (or Salt Mountain,) a vessel of 20 guns, and 52 men, Arrival of and 104 soldiers, Wouter Van Twiller, having the appoint- Gov. Van Twiller at ment of director-general over New Netherlands. He had Manhattan. been a clerk in the employ of the West India Company, and was now successor to Peter Minuit, of whom we shall know more hereafter.2
This year the Timber Creek Indians were at war with the Indians at Minquas, on the Christina. The name of the sachem of the war. former tribe was, according to De Vries, Zee Pentor.3
1 De Vries. Du Sim. MSS. Philada. Library. N. Y. Hist. Coll. vol. i. N. S., p. 254.
2 O'Call. vol. i. p. 141. 5
8 De Vries. Mickle, p. 11.
34
PROCLAMATION FOR SWEDISH WEST INDIA COMPANY.
1633.
April 10. Oxenstiern publishes the procla- mation for the Swedish West India Company, left unsigned by Gustavus.
Chancellor Oxenstiern publishes the proclamation which had been left unsigned by Gustavus Adolphus, and adds, " though the above declaration and amplification of the be- fore-mentioned privileges of his majesty, of glorious memory, could not have been signed, on account of the multifarious and incredible affairs of the war, I cannot, in consequence of my duty and good personal knowledge, but certify that the same has been the highest desire and wish of his royal majesty ; therefore I, by the crown of Sweden, and pleni- potentiary minister-general, have signed it with my own hand, and affixed my seal to it, at Heilebrunn, April 10, 1633."
June 26. And also an address assigning reasons for the delay in organizing the com- pany.
The chancellor publishes an address, in which he presents the reasons which have already so long delayed the carrying into effect the plans previously submitted by his majesty. He says, "our worthy king and lord, a few years ago, after mature deliberation and good counsel, found it expedient and highly useful to grant and to forward the design, that in his kingdom and lands there should be established a general com- mercial and navigation company, and that free and open commerce should be carried on in every part of the world where the greatest advantages might be derived. We also declare that this work was almost carried into operation, when it was delayed through various circumstances, especially by the absence of his majesty, owing to the necessary cru- sades in Prussia and Germany, and also by the long, tedious, and necessary absence, (granted by his majesty,) of the ori- ginal projector of this work, until this date, and who is now appointed first director, our beloved W. Usselincx. These delays were not without a special divine providence."
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