USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 11
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2 Haz. Ann. 345 ; Albany Ree. iv. 415.
3 Haz. Ann. 355 ; Albany Rec. xxi. 445.
5 Ib. 240, &c.
4 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 230.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1664.
and forced their return-disasters, in which Stuyvesant saw " the hand of God," relieved the Dutch " from all apprehension and dread,"1 and saved our land from again passing under the dominion of the Swedes.
The Swedes and Finns had enjoyed more privileges of trade under the government of the Company, than the city now pro- posed to allow them. After having been absolved from their oath of allegiance to the Company, they unanimously refused to renew it to the city, unless their former trading privileges and others were restored. D'Hinoyosa had fixed upon Aponquin- imy as his future residence, at which point he intended to build a capital, in order to promote his trade with the English ; but his administration of the government as recently extended, was so brief, till the whole authority of the Dutch passed into the hands of the English, that nothing worthy of note occurred, except the issuing of a patent to certain Swedes for eight hundred acres of land in Passayunk.
During the exclusive exercise of Dutch rule on the Delaware, the personal intercourse existing between the Dutch and Swedish inhabitants was no doubt friendly ; but the government looked upon the Swedes with suspicion and distrust, and adopted tyran- nical and oppressive regulations in respect to them. Had all these regulations been rigidly enforced by the local authorities, it would probably have resulted in a general exodus of the Swedes and Finns to Maryland.
Ecclesiastical affairs during this period present rather a gloomy aspect. Two of the three Swedish priests on the river at the time of the Dutch conquest, left with Rysingh, or shortly afterwards.2 The standing of the one who remained,3 and who doubtless had charge of the church at Tinicum, as well as of that at Christina, was not, during this period, well calculated to ele- vate the morals of his flock. We may sympathize with this man on account of the wrongs he suffered, but our sympathy will be tempered by the belief, that had he lived a life more in accordance with his holy functions, he would not have fallen into the hands of his persecutors. Such as he was, he was the only one in the country, and " served both the Swedes and the Dutch."4
1 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 236.
2 Campanius, 108.
3 This personage appears under several different names. Campanius, as translated by Duponceau, calls him Lawrence Charles Lokenius, p. 108. To his petition his name is signed, Laurentius Carels, while in a note to Campanius by the translator, he is called Lawrence Lock. The Dutch records refer to him as the Rev. Laers. His great infirm- ity appears to have been an over fondness for intoxicating drinks. See Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 105. It may, however, be inferred that he became reformed in his latter years ; for in 1675 he became the proprietor of the traet of land formerly occupied by Olle Stille at the month of Ridley ereek, and we are informed by Campanius that " he died in the Lord" in 1688. (See Sec. State's office, Albany, Book " Delaware Lands," p. 15, Campanins, 109.)
4 Acreliur, 425.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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Towards the close of the Dutch dynasty, the Swedes made an effort to supersede the Rev. Laers by the appointment of Albe- lius Zetzcoven, or Selskoorn, but the opposition made by the Reverend incumbent was so strong that no permanent position appears to have been assigned to him. This gentleman preached at the Tinicum church on the last Monday of Pentecost, at the request of the Swedish Commissaries. They desired to engage him as a schoolmaster at the same salary given to the Rev. Laers, but, the people of New Amstel, where it may be inferred he was employed in the same capacity, would not dismiss him. He never had charge of any congregation on the South river as a regularly ordained minister.1
While the city and the Company occupied the country jointly, the seat of justice of the latter jurisdiction was at Altona. The Swedes did not resort voluntarily to the court held there, pre- ferring to settle their differences among themselves, and in one or two instances they wilfully disregarded its processes.2
Horses and cattle were sent over by the Company and by the city in great numbers. These were distributed among the set- tlers, to be returned at the end of four or five years with one half of the increase. The Swedes constituting almost exclusively the agricultural population of the river, a large proportion of these animals was distributed among them.
The time had now arrived, when the dominion of our favored land was to be wrested from the Dutch, and with the exception of a short interval-forever. The crown of Great Britain having been restored to Charles II. he 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 secure the possession of his newly acquired territory, 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. With the commander, were united Sir Robert Carr, Sir George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, Esq., to act as commissioners, to receive possession, settle boundaries, &c. The expedition reached the mouth of the Hudson in the latter end of August, and after considerable negotiation, New Amsterdam and its immediate dependencies, were surrendered to the English on the 8th of September, without firing a gun. The settlements on the Delaware, being now under a government wholly independent of the West India Company, they were not included in the capitulation of New Amsterdam. . Sir Robert Carr was immediately dispatched with a sufficient force to effect their capture. Arriving there on the last day of September, he
1 Acrelius, 425 ; Haz. Ann. 348-353. 2 Haz. Ann. 311.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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sailed past the forts, " the better to satisfie the Swede, who, not- withstanding the Dutches persuasion to ye contrary were soone their frinds." After three days' parley, the Burghers and towns- men yielded to the demands of the English on terms favorable to themselves 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. "Where- upon," says Sir Robert in his official dispatch, "I landed my soldiers on Sonday morning following and commanded 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 consequently to plundering ; the sea- men, 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.1
The articles of agreement entered into between Sir Robert Carr, acting on behalf of his Majesty of Great Britian, and the Burgomasters, secured to the planters and Burghers, protection in their estates both real and personal ; the continuance of the present magistrates in their offices and jurisdiction ; the liberty of conscience in church discipline as formerly; together with " the privilege of trading into any of his Majesties dominions as freely as any Englishman," after having taken the oath of allegiance.2
The general system of plunder that ensued upon the surrender of the fort, was disgraceful to the commander, and his excuse, that " in such a noise and confusion noe words of command could be heard for some tyme," affords better evidence of the enormity of the transaction, than of any sincere disposition on his part to have prevented it. No less than forty horses, sixty cows and oxen, one hundred sheep, and from sixty to seventy negroes, were included in the plunder.3 Sir Robert appropriated to his own use, the farm of D'Hinoyosa ; his brother Captain John Carr, took possession of that of Sheriff Van Sweringen, while Ensign Stock possessed himself of "Peter Alrich's land." But the possessions of the local officers, which were regarded as legiti- mate booty, were not sufficient to gratify the cupidity of all who wore epaulets in the expedition. To satisfy the claims of the two captains-Hyde and Morley-Sir Robert granted to them " the Manour of Grimstead, situated near the head of the said river Delaware in America."4
The conduct of Sir Robert Carr, subsequently to the capture
1 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 73. 2 Ib. 71. 4 Ib. 345-72.
3 Ib. 345.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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of the fort, did not meet with the approbation of Col. Nicolls. In his report to the Secretary of State, he speaks disparagingly of his selfish conduct in respect to the plunder, and particularly of his presumption in appropriating " the prize to himself," and of "disposing of the confiscations of the houses, farmes and stocks to whom he doth think fitt." The Col. soon visited the Delaware to attend to the interests of his sovereign. Captain Robert Needham was subsequently deputed to the command of the Delaware.1
With the change of masters, the name of New Amsterdam was changed to New York, and that of New Amstel to New Castle.
Even before the Duke of York had acquired the possession of his American territory, he conveyed all that portion of it which now constitutes the State of New Jersey, to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. At the time of the English conquest of the Delaware, the settlements on the east side of the river were so few, that no notice is taken of them, in any account of the transaction, that has come under my notice.
Col. Nicolls acted as Governor of both New York and the Delaware. The Swedes were benefited by the change in the government, as under the new order of things, nearly all restric- tions on their trade were removed. But independent of any pe- cuniary advantage, they must have felt a secret satisfaction in seeing their ancient enemies, the Dutch, humbled.
Beavers still continued to be used as currency ; and in the pay- ment for imported goods, the standard value fixed on each beaver, by the Governor, was 8 guilders or 13s. 4d. The export duty on beavers, was 10} per cent; on tobacco, two cents per pound.2 In 1666, an order was issued by Col. Nicolls granting a temporary immunity from all duties, for the purpose of en- couraging trade.3
In July of this year, an order was issued by the Court of Assizes of New York, which applied to the country on the Dela- ware, for a renewal of all the old patents that had been granted for land, and that those who had no patent should be supplied.
Col. Nicolls performed the duties of Governor both of New York and its dependencies on the Delaware, for about three years. He was succeeded by Col. Francis Lovelace in May, 1667. The administration of Nicolls was conducted with pru- dence and judgment ; his efforts being especially directed to the promotion of trade. There was no popular representation in the government. "In the governor and his subservient council, were vested the executive and the highest judicial powers ; with
1 N. Y. Col. Doc. 70.
2 Sec. State's office, Albany. Book "General Entries," i. 112.
3 Ib. 143.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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the Court of Assizes, composed of justices of his own appoint- ment, he exercised supreme legislative power, promulgated a code of laws and modified and repealed them at pleasure."1
The laws thus enacted and promulgated, called the " Duke's Laws," were collected out of the several laws then in force in the British American colonies, and if not an improvement on these laws, they are divested of the worst features of some of them.2
This year, a Swedish church was erected at Crane Hook, at which Mr. Lock officiated as well as at the church at Tinicum.3
On the 21st of April, 1668, the government at New York adopted " Resolutions and directions for the settlement of a gar- rison on the Delaware." Under this head, directions were given, that it was only "necessary to hold up the name and counte- nance of a garrison, with 20 men and one commissioned officer." But the more important 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 complaint 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 question."
It was besides directed, "that the same persons also, or any two or more of them, be called to advise and direct, what is best to be done in all cases of difficulty, which may arise from the Indians, and to give their counsel and orders for the arming of the several plantations and planters, who must obey and attend their summons, upon such occasions."
" That the Fynes or Preminires and light offences be executed with moderation, though it is also necessary that all men be pun- ished in exemplary manner."
The commissioned officer, Capt. Carr, when the votes were equal, was to have a casting vote.
It was also ordained, " that the laws of the government estab- lished by his Royal highness, be showed and frequently commu- nicated to the said counsellors and all others, to the end that being therewith acquainted, the practyce of them may also, in convenient time be established weh conducteth to the publique welfare and common justice."4
Three of the newly appointed counselors were Swedes, resi- ding up the river, and as no time or place is mentioned for hold-
I Bancroft's Hist. U. S. ii. 320.
2 For the " Duke's Laws," see N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 307 to 428.
3 Ferris, 145-147.
4 Sec. State's office, Albany " Orders, Warrants and Letters," ii. 207, &c.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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ing the courts, and as the three Swedish gentlemen mentioned were all justices of the first Upland Court of which the record has been preserved, it may reasonally be concluded that the court thus established, occasionally exercised its functions at Upland. If so, it will mark the earliest period at which that place could have been a seat of justice.
In the order for establishing a judicial tribunal on the Dela- ware, it was directed, "that no offensive war should be made against the Indians" before directions were received from the government for so doing. Recourse was also to be had to the government, by way of appeal, in all cases of difficulty.
In consequence of the commission of two murders by the In- dians while in a state of intoxication, Peter Rambo proceeded to New York, bearing a request from the Indians "that there should be an absolute prohibition upon the whole river of selling strong liquors to the Indians." The whole matter was referred to Captain Carre and those associated with him in commission, with the promise that what they should (upon discourse with the Indians) conclude, should be confirmed.1
Before Mrs. Papegoya visited Sweden in 1662 or 1663, she had sold the island of Tinicum, as has been mentioned, to a Mr. De Lagrange, but the consideration in whole or in part was a protested bill of exchange. It will be seen hereafter that when she returned to the country, she prosecuted her claim to be re- instated in possession of the island with success, though in the end, her title to it was decided not to be good.
Printzdorp, however, was confirmed to that lady under the name of Ufro Papegay, on the 18th of June, 1668, which renders it probable that she had then returned to reside on the river. The following is a description of the property :
" A parcel of cleared land situate on the west side of the Delaware river between two creeks, the one called Upland, the other Le Mokey's creek, including all the land being between the said two creeks, as also the valley or meadow ground there- unto belonging, and containing by estimation, as it lies along the river side twelve hundred tread or single paces" * * as held and possessed by the said Ufro * * * "2
The situation of this land cannot be mistaken. It subsequently became the property of Robert Wade.3 During this and the two succeeding years, several tracts of land within the limits of Delaware county and vicinity, were confirmed to persons who held titles from the Dutch, including a few lots in Upland. Brief extracts from some of these ancient documents, will be found in the Appendix, note C.
1 Sec. State's Office, Albany-" Orders, Warrants, Letters," ii. 200.
2 Sec. State's Office, Albany-" Abstract of Patents," ii. 54.
3 Mrs. Papegoya resided during several years at Printzdrop.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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The order issued in 1666, for repatenting lands, was renewed by Governor Lovelace, and William Tom was appointed collector of quit-rents on the Delaware. Those who had neglected to take out patents, are not on that account to be exempt from the payment of these dues.
The Swedes and Finns had conducted themselves with so much propriety, that they had very fully secured the confidence of the government. But this year an insurrection broke out, headed by one Marcus Jacobson, generally known as the "Long Finn," who gave out that he was " the son of Coningsmark," heretofore one of the king of Sweden's generals. He had for a confederate, one Henry Coleman, also a Finn, and a man of property. Cole- man had " left his habitation, cattle and corn" to reside among the Indians, with whose language he was well versed, where also the Long Finn generally kept. No treasonable acts are charged against these confederates except "raising speeches, very sedi- tious and false, tending to the disturbance of his Majesty's peace and the laws of the government."
On the 2nd of August, Governor Lovelace issued a proclama- tion1 for the arrest of the parties, with an order to confiscate the property of Coleman, in case he did not surrender himself in fifteen days. The principal in the insurrection was soon arrest- ed, and upon information of that fact being communicated to the governor and council, they expressed their great satisfaction on account " of the prudence and careful management" of the offi- cers on the Delaware, " in circumventing and securing the prime mover of this commotion."2
Jeuffro Papegay, Armgart Printz, was somewhat implicated, " though what she had done was not of any dangerous conse- quence, yet it was a demonstration of her inclination and temper to advance a strange power, and a manifestation of her high in- gratitude for all those indulgences and favors she hath received from those in authority over her."3
The Governor also perceived from the papers sent to him that " the little domine4 hath played the trumpeter in this disorder." The quality of his punishment was referred to the discretion of Captain Carr.
The instructions to Captain Carr were " to continue the Long Finn in custody and irons, until he can have his trial ;" the ap- pearance of " those of the first magnitude concerned with him was to be secured by imprisonment or by taking security ;" but
1 Sec. State's Office, Albany-" Orders, Warrants," &c., ii. 266 ; Ilaz. Ann. 375.
2 See. State's Office, Albany-" Couneil Book," iii. 13.
3 Haz. Ann. 377 ; Albany Ree. " Orders," &e., ii. 271.
4 Mr. Hazard suposes the " Little Domine" here mentioned to have been the Rev. Mr. Fabricius. This gentleman was not then on the Delaware. The reference must have been to the Rev. Mr. Lawrence Carolus, or Mr. Lock as he is frequently called, who probably was a Finn.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
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" the poor deluded sort," were to be subjected to a method for keeping them in order which the Governor is pleased to say was prescribed by their own countrymen, and which is, " severity, and laying such taxes on them as may not give them liberty to entertain any other thoughts but how to discharge them."1
In the commission for the trial of the insurgents on the Dela- ware, the names of the judges are omitted in the record.2 The sentence was passed by the council at New York on the Long Finn, or that passed by the commission on the Delaware was confirmed. He was deemed worthy of death, but, "in regard that many others being concerned with him in the insurrection, might be involved in the same premunire," amongst them " divers simple and ignorant people," the said Long Finn was sentenced " to be publicly and severely whipped and stigmatized or branded in the face with the letter (R.) with an inscription written in great letters and put upon his breast, that he received that punishment for attempting rebellion." After undergoing this sentence the culprit was to be sent to " Barbadoes and some other of those remote plantations and sold." In compliance with the latter part of his sentence, he was put on board of Mr. Cossen's ship Fort Albany, bound for Barbadoes, in January, 1669-70, where, no doubt, he was sold into slavery.3 What be- came of Coleman is not certainly known. He probably remained among the indians for some years, when his offence was over- looked by the government.4
.
So few of the names of those implicated in the insurrection are given, that it is difficult to fix on the particular district of country that was its principal seat. The leader was a Finn ; the " Little Domine" was a Finn, and as the Swedes and Finns did not understand each other's language well, it is probable that the hot bed of the conspiracy was in the district of country chiefly settled by Finns below Upland. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that Mrs. Papegoya was implicated ; for though not a Finn, she doubtless then resided on her estate of Printzdorp in the vicinity of the Finnish settlement; she not being in possession of Tinicum at this time.5
1 Mr. Bancroft gives to this order a general application. It evidently had reference only to the more ignorant and deluded of those who joined in the conspiracy. See Hist. U. S. ii. 321.
2 Sec. State's Office, Albany-" Court of Assizes," ii. 437.
3 Sec. State's Office, Albany-" Court of Assizes," ii. 464; " Council Book," iii. 14.
4 In 1676, by virtue of a warrant from Governor Andros, one hundred acres of land in the south part of Darby township was surveyed to Hendrick Coleman and Peter Pullen. Coleman was probably the same person. See " Delaware Lands," See. State's Office, Albany. Henry Coleman conveyed his share of the same land in 1696. See Recorder's Office, Chester Co. Book A.
5 The object and expectations of the conspirators are not well understood. Secretary Matthias Nicolls, sent by Col. Nicolls " to make inquiry into the matter," says, " they pretended an expectation of some Swedish ships to come and reduce the place," N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 186.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1671.
It will be remembered that Mrs. Papegoya had sold the island of Tinicum to a Mr. De La Grange. The grantee soon after died, and his widow Margaret intermarried with Andrew Carr. This year Governor Lovelace issued a patent confirming the whole island to the said Andrew and his wife. See Appendix, note C.
Previous to the insurrection of the Long Finn, there had been, as before stated, two murders committed on the river by the Indians. As yet the murderers had not been apprehended, but the Governor by his orders to Captain Carr, evinces a determina- tion not to let them go unpunished.
On the 13th of April, a pass was granted "to the Magister Jacobus Fabritius, pastor of the Lutheran confession," to go to New Castle, or any place on the Delaware.1 This personage, who at this period, and for some years later, bore no very en- viable reputation, subsequently, it will be seen, became the first clergyman at Wiccaco, and by a course of good conduct gained the confidence and respect of his employers.
Early in 1671, at the suggestion of Captain 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 tapsters 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 like- wise pay, the Quit rents reserved in their several patents, as acknowledgments to his Royal Highness."
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 endeavour- ed 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 under- take ye same, and that ye profitt thereof be reserved for ye pub- lique."? This is the old Swedes mill on Cobb's creek.
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