History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 2

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 2

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lin, in his " Cosmography," calls it Arasapha. The bay has also been kuown as New Port May and Godyn's Bay.

On the 27th of March, 1614, their high mightinesses, the states-general of Holland, granted a general charter, se- curing the exclusive privilege of trade, during four voyages, to the discoverer of " any new courses, havens, countries, or places." The merchants of Amsterdam fitted out five ves- sels to engage in voyages of discovery. Among them was the " Fortune." belonging to the city of Hoorn, commanded by Capt. Cornelis Jacobson Mey. In this he arrived at the mouth of Delaware Bay, to the two proper capes of which he appropriated two of his names,-Cornelis and Mey. To another cape farther south he gave the name of Hindlopen, after a town of Friesland. Another vessel, commanded by Capt. Adrian Block, was unfortunately burnt at the mouth of the " Manhattan River," whereupon he built a yacht, forty-four and a half feet long and eleven and a half feet wide, in which to continue his explorations. This vessel, the first built by Europeans in this country, was. called the " Unrust" (" Restless"). The other vessels having returned home, the " Restless," under command of Capt. Cornelis Hendrickson, proceeded to make further explorations, espe- cially in Delaware Bay. It has been said that this expe- dition explored the river as high up as the mouth of the Schuylkill, but of this the evidence is not clear.

In 1621 the Dutch West India Company was incorpor- ated, though it did not go into operation until 1623. Their object was principally trade, and not colonization, beyond the establishment of trading-posts.

Having taken possession of the North and South Rivers, by virtue of their charter, they dispatched a vessel thereto, under the direction of Capts. Cornelis Jacobson Mey and Adriaen Joriz Tienpont. Capt. Mey proceeded to the Delaware or South River, and on the eastern bank thereof, about fifteen leagues from the mouth, erected Fort Nassau, supposed to be near the mouth of Little Timber Creek, in Gloucester Co., N. J. The date of its erection is fixed about the year 1624. The seat of government of New Netherland, as the country was named, was fixed at Man- hattan Island, and so remained while the Dutch maintained their authority. The superior local officer was styled " di-

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

rector," and this office was conferred on Peter Minuit or Minnewit. Dr. Smith remarks,-

" It is a circumstance worthy of note, that the party who erected Fort Nassau was accompanied hy females. The fact is fully estab- lished hy the following curious deposition of Catelina Tricho, said to have been the first white woman at Albany :

"' NEW YORK, February 14th, 1684-5.

" The Deposition of Catelina Tricho aged fouer score yeares or thereabouts, taken betore tho right honoble Collo. Thomas Leut, and Governour under his Roy" highss James Duke of Yorke and Alhany, etc. of N. York and its Dependencyes in America, who saith and de- clares in the pr'sens of God as followeth.

"That she came to this Province either in the year one thousand six hundred and twenty three or twenty fouer to the best of her re- membrance, an that fouer women came along with her in the same shipp, in which the Governo" Arien Jurissen came also over, which fouer women were married at Sca, and that they and their husbands stayed about three weeks at this place, and then they with eight sea- men more went in a vessel by ordrs of the Dutch Governor, to Dela- ware river and there settled. This I Certifie under my hand and ye Seale of this province. THO. DONGAN.' "

The settlement at Delaware was very brief, for in 1625 it was vacated to strengthen the Manhattan colony.

Soon after this a Swedish West India Company was chartered for purposes of colonization and commerce, but owing to wars, and finally the death, in 1632, of Gustavus Adolphus, of Sweden, nothing was then accomplished.

The Dutch now, in order to maintain their footing, de- termined upon colonization on the Delaware, and two of the directors of the West India Company, Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blomaert, purchased a large tract of land at the mouth of the bay, which purchase was confirmed to the com- pany at New York, July 16, 1630. A small colony was set- tled there on Lewes Creek, but owing to some trouble with the Indians they were all cut off in less than two years after. There is also some evidence that the crew of an English sloop were murdered by the natives about this time, they having gone into "Count Ernest's" River, near Fort Nassau.

Another purchase of land by the Dutch is said to have been made in 1633, this time on the Schuylkill; but as this transaction first appears in after-years, when a dispute arose with the Swedes, it seems somewhat doubtful.

An attempt was made by English colonists from the Con- necticut to settle on the Delaware in 1635, but they were captured by the Dutch and sent to Manhattan, where it appears they remained, and one, Thomas Hall, became a person of distinction.

The objects of the Swedish West India Company being revived, a settlement on the Delaware was projected in 1637. Two ships-" Kalmar Nyckel" and "Gripen" (otherwise the "Key of Kalmar" and the " Griffin")- were placed under the command of Peter Minuit, who had formerly been in the service of the Dutch, and sailed from Gottenburg late in the year 1637. The date of arrival is not accurately known, but it appears that by March 29, 1638, Minuit had purchased land on the west side of the Delaware from the Indians. To the Minquas River he gave the name of Christina, in honor of the queen of Sweden, and thereon erected a fort of the same name, about two and a half miles from its mouth. These pro- ceedings aroused the jealousy of the Dutch, but, owing to

their weakness, they did not attempt anything more than to protest against it.

The progress of the Swedish colony, which was doubtless owing to the intelligence and experience of the commander, became so alarming to the Dutch Governor at Manhattan, that he at once advised the West India Company in respect to it, by a letter dated July 31, 1638, of which the follow- ing is an extract :

" Minuyt crected a fort on the South River, five leagues from ours; attracted all the peltries to himself hy means of liberal gifts; de- parted thence with two attendant ships, leaving 24 men in the fort, provided with all sorts of goods and C. R. S. provisions, had posts set up with these letters, &c."

Although the Dutch had traded on the river for a long time, they had not really made a permanent settlement, which was now accomplished by the Swedes, who are said by Acrelius to have purchased the western shore as far up as the present site of Trenton.

Acrelius gives us to understand that Minuit remained here, and, after some years, died at this place; but Prof. C. T. Odhner, in his "History of the Founding of New Sweden," translated by Prof. G. B. Keen,* shows that he proceeded with his ships by way of the West Indies for purposes of trade. While there he visited a Dutch ship which lay near by, named " Het vliegende hert" (" The Flying Deer"), and while on board a violent hurricane arose, and nothing more was seen of him or the vessel afterwards.

On the Delaware he left twenty-three men, under the command of Mans Kliog, the only Swede expressly named as taking part in this first expedition, and Henrik Huyghen, who seems to have been Minuit's brother-in-law or cousin. The first appears to have been. the military and the latter the civil director of the colony.

In 1640 the " Kalmar Nyckel" arrived again in the Delaware, after a short voyage, by the 17th of April, bear- ing reinforcements for the colony. In the same year a col- ony of Hollanders was established, by permission of the Swedish government, below Fort Christina. In May, 1640, the " Kalmar Nyckel" sailed for Sweden, and arrived in July, but in the following year returned with the third ex- pedition, accompanied by the " Charitas." Many of those who came at this time were Finns.

In 1641 a company of English from New Haven at- tempted to found a settlement near the present Salem, N. J., but being equally obnoxious to Dutch and Swedes, their stay was of short duration.

Peter Hollandare had succeeded Peter Minuit as Gov- ernor of New Sweden, but his administration lasted only about a year and a half, when he returned to his native country. A fourth expedition was fitted out in 1642, and consisted of the two vessels, the "Stoork" and the " Rc- nown," under command of John Printz, the third governor of New Sweden. They sailed from Guttenburg on the 1st of November, and arrived at Fort Christina on the 15th of February following. The new Governor decided that this place did not sufficiently command the river, and therefore selected the island of Tennaconk (Tinicum) as the site for a new fortress.

# Penna. Mag., iii. 269, etc.

GENERAL HISTORY.

Besides the fort, which was named New Gottenburg, Governor Priotz " caused to be built there a mansion for himself and family, which was very handsome; there was a fine orchard, a pleasure house, and other conveniences. He called it Printz Hall."

Ferris in his "Original Settlements on the Delaware," says, " This hall stood more than a hundred and sixty years, and was at last burnt down by accident since the commencement of the present century."

This vigilant Governor did not feel satisfied that he had quite " shut the river" by the erection of Fort Gottenburg ; for before the expiration of eight months from the day of his arrival he had completed another fortress near the mouth of Salem Creek, which he called Elfsborg, or Elsin- borg, and on which were mounted eight brass twelve- pounders.

Upon the arrival of Governor Printz the only European population on the river were the few persons occupying the Dutch fort Nassau, the Swedish colony at Christina, and the Dutch patroon colony established by the Swedish gov- ernment at one or more points lower down. How many persons accompanied the Governor is not known, but the number, though not large, was probably greater than the whole previous population of the river. He brought with him his wife and one daughter, and probably other mem- bers of his family, a Lieutenant-Governor and secretary, a chaplain and surgeon [barber], besides twenty-four regular soldiers, with officers sufficient for a much larger force. These, with an ample supply of military stores and pro-

visions for the garrison, and a large stock of goods suitable for Indian traffic, which is known to have constituted part of the freight of the two vessels, would leave but little space for actual settlers, their household goods, and implements of husbandry. Still a considerable number of settlers ac- companied the expedition, who doubtless fixed their places of abode within a convenient distance of the newly erected forts. It was the first successful colony planted within the limits of Pennsylvania.

Prof. Keen* gives the names of several Swedish emi- grants, obtained from the archives at Stockholm, viz. :

Anders Svensson Bonde, Per Andersson, Anders Larsson Daalbo, Sven Larsson, Peter Gunnarsson Rambo, Sven Gunnarsson, Lars Svensson Kåckin, Måns Andersson, Joen Thorsson, Mårten Gottersson, Clas Jansson, who came in the first and second expeditions of 1638 and 1640. The wife of Sven Gunnarsson and his son, Sven Svensson, doubt- less came with him.

In the third expedition, on the " Kalmar Nyckel" and " Charitas," 1641, came Måns Kling, his wife, a maid and a little child, Herr Christoffer -, Gustaf Strahl, Michel Jansson, Mans Svensson Loom, his wife and three children, Olof Persson Stille, his wife and two children, Mats Hans- son or Jansson and wife, Anders Hannsson or Jansson, Axel Stille, Olof Palson, Per Joransson, Jan Ericsson, Jacob Sprint, Pål Joransson or Jonsson, Evert Hindricsson, Lars Markusson, Hindrich Matsson, Johan Andersson, Olof Ericsson, Pal Smaal, Carl Jansson, Mats Hansson, Peter Larsson Kock, Eskil Larsson, Clement Joransson,

Eskil Larsson or Lars Eskilsson, Bartel Eskilsson, son of the last Hans Mansson, Hindrich Mattsson, Lars Biorsson, Sivert or Evert Sivertsson, Mans Joransson, Mats Olofsson, Claes Claesson, Laurens Andriesson, Lucas Persson, Lars Thomson, Anders Christiansson Dreyer, Knut Mårtensson Vasa, Olof Thorsson, Lars Andersson Ulf, and Gottfried Hermansson.

With Governor Printz, 1642-43, came his wife and daughter, Armgott, Rev. John Campanius Holm, " junker" Knut Liljehöök, Måns Kling (who had come out before in 1638 and 1641), Knut Persson, Joran Kyn Snöhvit, Elias Gyllengren, Anders Andersson Homan, Hans Luneburger, Lars Andersson, Nils Andersson, Michel Nilsson, Gregorius Van Dyck, Sven Andersson, Jacob Svensson, Nicklaus Bock or Borck, Johan Gustafsson, Peter Meyer, Isack Van Eysen, Constantinos Grönebergh, Peter Jochimson, Joen Nilsson Skreddere, Johan Olofsson, Lars Jacobsson, Thomas Joraos- son Timberman, Marten Martensson Glaascre.

Professor Keen also gives additional notes in regard to these persons, making an interesting chapter for students of Swedish genealogy.

Dr. Smith says,-

" It is by ne means wonderful that the Dutch should become alarmed at the progress the Swedes were making in securing the trade of the river, for during the year 1644 they freighted two of their vessels, the ' Key of Calmar' and the 'Fame,' with cargocs that included two thousand one hundred and twenty-seven packages of beaver, and sev- enty thousand four hundred and twenty-one pounds of tobacco. This shipment of tobacco would indicate that this noxious plant was culti- vated to a considerable extent on the river at that early period. During the year 1646 a church was erected at the seat of government at Tinicum, which was consecrated to divine services on the 4th of September, and also its burying-place, by the reverend pastor. 'The first corpse that was buried there was that of Catharine, the daughter of Andrew Hansen. She was buried en the 28th of October, in the same year, being the feast of St. Simen and St. Jude.'

"The site of the burying-place, and doubtless that of the church also, was close on the margin of the river, and is now occupied by a part of its hed between the Lazaretto and Tinicum hotel, but nearer the latter. It is net many years since human hones were seen pre- truding from the undermined and receding bank of the river."

There were frequent contentions between the Swedes and Dutch, of which reports were duly transmitted to the au- thorities at New Amsterdam and Sweden. At length Gov- ernor Stuyvesant, of the former place, caused a fort to be erected at the present site of New Castle, and gave it the name of Casimir. Governor Printz protested against it, but appears afterward to have become reconciled, and before Governor Stuyvesant left the river they agreed to abstain from hostile acts against each other.

In 1653, Printz becoming weary of his position, sailed for Sweden, leaving the government in charge of his son- in-law, Jolin Papegoya. His successor was John Rysingh, who arrived towards the end of May, 1654, and commenced his administration by capturing the Dutch fort Casimir on Trinity Sunday. The Dutch now remaining on the river took the oath of fidelity to the Swedish Governor. A treaty for the renewal of friendship with the Indians was held at Printz Hall, and the prospect of Swedish supremacy on the river looked bright. The rash act of Rysingh in capturing Fort Casimir had, however, aroused the ire of the Dutch, and on the 5th of September, 1655, Governor Stuyvesant arrived in the river with seven armed vessels and from six

* Penna. Mag., iii. 402, 409, 462.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to seven hundred men, the most of which had been for- warded from Holland for the purpose. Fort Casimir sur- rendered the next day, and Fort Christina, commanded by Governor Rysingh in person, followed after a bloodless siege of fourteen days. All the Swedes and Finns who desired to remain on the river were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to the states-general of the United Netherlands. Thius ended the Swedish sovereignty on the continent of America.

In 2d Archives, vii. 484, is a list of persons subscribing allegiance to the Dutch authority, as follows :

" Jan Eckhoff, Constantinus Gronenhergh, Harman Jantz, Jan Schoffel, Klaes Tomassen, Timen Stiddem, Lucas Petersen, Thoomas Bruyn, William Morris, Gostaffsen Anies, Baernt Jansen, Oloff Fra- nien, Andries Jansen, Jan Justen, Mathys Esselse, Moens Andriesen, Martin Martense, Lambert Michalsen, Samuel Petersen."

There were probably other lists, which have been lost. It may be remarked that few of these wrote their names.

An order was issued for the Swedes to be gathered to- gether into one settlement at Upland, Passayunk, Finland, Kingsessing, or where they pleased. This they did not incline to do, and it appearing barbarous to compel them to it the project was at length abandoned.

In 1656 the Dutch West India Company, being em- barrassed with debts, conveyed to the city of Amsterdam that part of their possessions on the river from Christina kill to the mouth of the bay. This was then styled the colony of the city, to distinguish it from the colony of the company.

Charles II., being restored to the throne of Great Britain, granted to his brother James, Duke of York, the territory embracing the whole of New York and New Jersey, and by a subsequent grant that which now comprises the State of Delaware; to all of which the right of the Dutch had never been acknowledged. The duke fitted out an expedition, consisting of four men of war and four hundred and fifty men, which he placed under the command of Col. Richard Nicolls. They reached the mouth of the Hudson in the latter part of August, 1664, and on the 8th of September New Amsterdam surrendered without the firing of a gun. Sir Robert Carr was then dispatched to the Delaware with a sufficient force to effect a conquest. Arriving there on the last day of September, he sailed past the forts, "the better to satisfie the Swede, who, notwithstanding the Dutches persuasion to ye contrary, were soone their frinds." After three days' parley, the burghers and townsmen yielded to the demands of the English, on terms favorable to them- selves and the Swedes, but the Governor, D'Hinoyosa, and soldiery refused every proposition, although the fort was in a bad condition, and defended by only fifty men. " Whereupon," says Sir Robert in his official dispatch, " I landed my soldiers on Sunday morning following, and com- manded ye shipps to fall down before ye fort wthin muskett shott, wth directions to fire two broadsides apeace uppon ye Fort, then my soldiers to fall on. Which done, ye soldiers neaver stoping untill they stormed ye Fort, and sae conso- quently to plundering ; the seamen, noe less given to that sporte, were quickly wthin, and have gotten good store of booty." The loss on the part of the Dutch was three killed and ten wounded ; on the part of the English, none.

New Amsterdam was now changed to New York, and the

name of New Amstel to New Castle, the seat of govern- ment being at the former place. Even before the duke had acquired possession of his American territory, he con- veyed all that portion of it which now forms the State of New Jersey to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret.

Col. Nicolls acted as Governor of New York and its de- pendencies about three years, when he was succeeded by Francis Lovelace, in May, 1667.

On the 21st of April, 1668, the government at New York adopted " Resolutions and directions for the settle- ment of a garrison on the Delaware." Under this head, directions were given that it was only " necessary to hold up the name and countenance of a garrison, with twenty men and one commissioned officer." But the more im- portant matter of establishing courts of justice was also contained in the " resolutions and directions." To prevent " all abuses or oppositions in civil matters, so often as com- plaint is made, the commission officer, Capt. Carre, shall call the scout wth Hans Block, Israel Helm, Peter Rambo, Peter Cock, Peter Alrich, or any two of them as counsellors, to advise, hear, and determine, by the major vote, what is just, equitable, and necessary in the case or cases in ques- tion."

As no time or place is mentioned for holding the courts, and as three of those named were afterward justices of Up- land court, it is reasonable to suppose that they occasion- ally held sessions there at this early date. During this and the two succceeding years several tracts of land on the river were confirmed to persons who held titles from the Dutch, including a few lots in Upland.

In 1669 an insurrection was attempted by one Marcus Jacobson, known as the " Long Finn," assisted by Henry Coleman, also a Finn, and a man of property. The Long Finn was captured, tried, and sentenced to be whipped, branded, and sold as a slave to Barbadoes or elsewhere. Coleman escaped, and lived for some time among the In- dians, until his offense was probably overlooked. Jeuffro Papegay, Armgart Printz (the wife of John Papegoya, and daughter of Gov. Printz) was somewhat implicated, " though what she had done was not of any dangerous consequence." It appeared also that "the little dominie hath played the trumpeter in this disorder." The object and expectations of the conspirators are not well understood. Secretary Matthias Nicolls being sent to inquire into the matter, re- ported that " they pretended an expectation of some Swed- ish ships to come and reduce the place."

Early in 1671, at the suggestion of Capt. Carr, several orders were made by the Governor and Council in respect to the Delaware. No persons were to be permitted to distill liquor without license; the number of victuallers and tap- sters to be ascertained, three only to be allowed in New Castle, and " some few up the river" who may be licensed ; constables are to be appointed to keep the king's peace. As to the tenure of lands on the Delaware, it was to be held " in free and common socage as his Royal Highness, by his Majesty's patent, holds all his territories in America ; that is to say, according to the custom of the Manor of East Greenwich, only with this proviso, that they likewise pay the Quit rents reserved in their several patents, as ac- knowledgements to his Royal Highness."

GENERAL HISTORY.

As to the mill, that Carr had represented to the Council as being " up Delaware River at ye Carcoons Hooke," and which " did heretofore appertain to ye publique, and now is endeavoured to be engrossed by some particular persons for their private uses," it was ordered "that care be taken for ye letting out ye said Mill for ye best advantage to some person who will undertake ye same, and that ye profitt thereof be reserved for ye publiqu"." This is the old Swedes' mill on Cobb's Creek, erected about 1644.

That a court was held at Upland as early as 1672, ap- pears by the following order of Governor Lovelace respect- ing a piece of land at Amosland, now in Ridley township :

" Whereas Complt hath been make unto me by Jan Cornelis Mattys Mattysen & Martin Martinsen, Inhabitants at Amsland in Delaware River that after having been quietly possest of a parcell of Valley Dr Meadow Ground upon the Island nver against Calcoone Honke near their Plantacon, Israel Helme did hy Misinformacon obtain a Patent for the same having never possesion or pretence thereunto before, So that the said Inhabitants are dispossest to the ruin of their Plantacons wthout reliefe : These are to Authorize & Empower the Court at Up- land wth the assistance of one or two of the High Court to examine into the matter and make report of the Truth thereof unto me that I may make some Order thereupon according to Equity and gond Con- science.

"Given &c. this 8th doy of August 1672."

Whether this court at Upland was distinct from that of New Castle is uncertain. Edmund Cantwell, of New Cas- tle, was appointed sheriff for the river in this year, as also collector of quit-rents in place of William Tom, resigned.

A war broke out between the English and Dutch in 1672, and on the 6th of August, 1673, a Dutch fleet ap- peared before the fort at New York, in the absence of Gav- ernor Lovelace at New Haven, and after a slight resistance the fort surrendered and the country submitted again to the authority of the Dutch. Anthony Colve was appointed Governor-General of New Netherland, including its former extent, and a Council held their sittings at Fort William Hendrick, as the fort at New York was now called.

The deputies from the Delaware appeared before this tribunal, and gave in "their submission to their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Neth- erlands, and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, on the 12th of September." In return they obtained for their constituents, among other privileges, " free trade and commerce with Christians and Indians;" freedom of con- science ; security in the possession of their houses and lands, and exemption from all rent charges and excise on wine, beer, and distilled liquors consumed on the South River. This last privilege was granted in consideration of the ex- pense the inhabitants would incur " in erecting the fort," and was to continue till 1676-" Those of the English nation to enjoy the same privileges upon taking the oath of allegiance." At the same time three courts of justice were established on the Delaware-one at New Amstel, one at the Hoern kill, and one at Upland. The jurisdiction of the Upland court extended provisionally from the east and west banks of Kristina kill upwards unto the head of the river.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 2

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162