USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 2
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On the 28th of September of this year, and during the time that elapsed between the incorporation of the Dutch West India Company and the time it commenced its commercial operations, the States General granted certain parties permission to dispatch " two ships with all sorts of permitted merchandise, the one to the aforesaid New Netherland, and the other to the aforesaid New river, lying in latitude between eight and thirty and forty degrees, and to the small rivers thereon depending, to trade away and dispose of their old stock, which they have there, and afterwards bring back into this country their goods, cargoes, clerks and seamen, on condition that they must be home before the 1st of July, 1622."3
The New river mentioned in the foregoing extract, was un- doubtedly the Delaware ; and it might be inferred from the per- mission asked in respect to the old stock, g.c., that a trading post had been established by the Dutch on the Delaware, prior to this date. There are many facts to show that such a conclusion would be erroneous, and that the Dutch had no trading establishment on that river at this time.
At the instance of the British Government, Sir Dudley Carle- ton their Ambassador at the Hague, entered upon an investi- gation of certain charges made against the Hollanders, of having left " a Colonie" at, and of " giving new names to several ports appertaining to that part of the countrie north of Virginia" called by them " New England."4
In the prosecution of this investigation,5 which was rather of a private and informal character, the Ambassador could not make " any more of the matter but that about fower or five years since, two particular conpanies of Amsterdam merchants, began
1 This preacher was the Rev. Mr. Robinson. Some of the families alluded to em- barked at Delft in the May Flower and Speedwell on the 16th of July, 1620, and though they were destined for the Hudson, they landed at Plymouth, and became the renowned Colony of Pilgrims.
2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 22-24.
3 Ib. 27.
+ Ib. iii. 6. 5 Ib. 7.
7
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1623.]
a trade into these parts between 40 and 45 degrees, to weh after their manner they gave their own names New Netherlands, a South and a North sea, a Texel, a blieland and the like ; whither they have ever since continued to send shipps of 30 and 40 lasts,1 at the most to fetch furres, weh is all their trade; for the providing of wch they have certain factors there con- tinually residents trading, wth savages, and at this present there is a ship at Amsterdam, bound for those parts, but I can- not learn of anie Colonie eyther already planted there by these people, or so much as intended." The letter of the Ambassador communicating this information to the British Government, is dated on the 5th of February, 1621. Sir Dudley gives as an additional reason, why he arrived at the conclusion, that the Dutch had not as yet planted a colony, that divers in- habitants of this country (Holland,) had been suters to him to procure them " a place of habitation amongst his Maties subjects in those parts," suggesting the improbability of these people desiring to mingle among strangers, and to be under their govern- ment, if they had settlements of their own.
He did not fail, however, to present to the States General, on behalf of his government, a remonstrance against further com- merce, by the Dutch, with the country in question, and to lay before their High Mightinesses, the British claim thereto by right of first occupation, (jura primæ occupationis.)2
This proceeding of the British Government was intended to prevent their rights from being lost, rather than to enforce any immediate claim. It was so regarded by the Dutch Government, and particularly so by the West India Company, which now, after having secured an amplification of their privileges, and completed their preliminary arrangements, proceeded at once, to carry out the very measures that had been so recently protested against by the British Ambassador. They extended the com- merce of the country, by building up establishments with the view of securing its title to their government, and its trade to themselves-the latter being always a paramount consideration with the company.
The West India Company, having by virtue of their charter,3 taken possession of the country, they dispatched the ship New Netherland with a number of people thereto, under the direction of Captains Cornelis Jacobson Mey, and Adriaen Joriz Tienpont. Mey proceeded to the Delaware or South river, on the eastern bank of which, fifteen leagues from its mouth, he erected fort
1 A last is nearly equal to two tons when applied to ships ; when applied to the measure of grain, is equal to 80 English bushels.
2 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 8.
3 For a translation of the charter at length, see Hist. New Netherland, Appendix B ; Hazard's Historical Collections, i. 121-131.
8
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1624.
Nassau at a place called by the natives Techaacho,-supposed to be near the mouth of little Timber creck in Gloucester County, N. Jersey, and a short distance below the present town of Glou- cester.1 There is some discrepancy as to the precise date of the erection of this fort, but the year 1624 is specified in an official report2 on the condition of the country, made in 1644, and may be regarded as the best authority on the subject. The distinc- tion, at all events, belongs to Captain Mey of being the first European to establish a settlement on the Delaware,3 if the erection of this fort,-a mere trading post, abandoned from time to time, as occasion required-can be regarded as a settlement.
The seat of government of New Netherland was located at Manhattan Island, now the site of the City of New York, and the superior local officer of the government was styled a Director. Shortly after the commencement of the administration of its affairs by the West India Company, this office was con- ferred on Peter Minuit or Minewit, of Wesel in the Kingdom of Westphalia, who arrived at Manhattan Island in one of two ships dispatched by the Amsterdam department of the West India Company, in 1624. He was assisted in his government by a council of five members and a "Scout Fiscal," whose duties em- braced those now usually performed by a sheriff and district attorney. The authority vested in the Director and his council was ample, being executive, legislative and judicial, and extended to the South as well as the North river. The records of the government, or of the company, give very little information in respect to the administration of Minuit. It lasted till 1632, and is supposed to have been generally successful. It is distinguished by no remarkable event, except the purchase of Manhattan Island from the Indians, which happened in 1626.ª The title to this Island, now the site of the City of New York, and estimated to contain 22,000 acres, was acquired for the paltry sum of sixty guilders or 24 dollars. This purchase is important as probably indicating a period when the policy of the Dutch underwent a change ; when from having been merely Indian traders, they began to contemplate a permanent settlement of the country.
The commencement of the Directorship of Minuit, is fixed by Wassenaer in his history of Europe, (Amsterdam, 1621 to 1632,)5
1 Edward Armstrong Esq., in a paper read before the New Jersey Historical Society, January 20, 1853, loeates Fort Nassau on a tongue of land between Big and Little Tim- ber creeks.
2 N. Y. Col Doe. i. 149.
3 Statement of Mattehoorn, an Indian chief. N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 597.
4 N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 37.
5 For a translation of the " description and first settlement of New Netherland" from that work, see Documentary Hist. N. Y, by E. B. O'Callaghan, M.D. iii. 27-48. The author says Peter Minuit, came out in the Sea Gull which arrived 4th May, 1626, and "now sends for his wife thither."
9
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1624.]
in the year 1626, and he assigns him two predecessors in that office, viz : Willem Van Hulst for the year 1625, and Cornelis May for the year 1624. These men in conjunction with Adrien Joriz Tienpont appear, however, to have been merely directors of an expedition, and it would seem that the government of the country, of which the territory embraced within the limits of our little county in the estimation of the Dutch constituted a part, commenced with the administration of Minuit.
It is a circumstance worthy of note, that the party who erected fort Nassau was accompanied by females. The fact is fully established by the following curious deposition1 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 before the right honoble Collo. Thomas Lent, and Governour under his Roy" highss James Duke of Yorke and Albany, etc. of N. York and its Dependencyes in America, who saith and declares in the pr'sens of God as follow- eth."
" That she came to this Province either in the yeare one thou- sand six hundred and twenty three or twenty fouer to the best of her remembrance, an that foner women came along with her in the same shipp, in which the Governor Arien Jorissen came also over, which fouer women were married at Sea, and that they and their husbands stayed about three weeks at this place, and then they with eight seamen more went in a vessel by ordrs of the Dutch Governor, to Delaware river and there settled. This I Certifie under my hand and ye Seale of this province."
" THO. DONGAN."
In the deposition of the same lady taken a few years after- wards (1688,) she states that " two families and eight men" were sent to the Delaware. This effort at a settlement on the Dela- ware was soon abandoned-probably before the expiration of a single year. As Wassanaer under the date of 1625, says, "The fort at the South river is already vacated, in order to strengthen the Colony (at Manhattan.) For purposes of trade, only one yacht is sent there in order to avoid expense."" It is not re- markable that this policy should have been adopted, as the whole colony at Manhattan, at this period, scarcely numbered two hundred souls. The fort was abandoned to the Indians, who did not fail to occupy it as their occasions required; and the country again passed into their possession as completely as it was on the day Hudson touched at the Capes.
1 Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 49.
2 Ib. 45.
10
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1629.
Gustavus Adolphus, the reigning monarch of Sweden, through whose wisdom and valor that nation had acquired an elevated standing among the governments of Europe, now sought to con- fer still further benefits upon his country by extending its com- merce. Chiefly with this view, a charter was granted by him for a Swedish West India Company.1 This company, which was to go into operation on the Ist of May, 1627, and to con- tinue twelve years, had every necessary power conferred upon it for the establishment of a colony, with the promised aid of the government, to a very liberal extent. William Usselinex, a native of the low countries, represented as having spent much time in seeking out new ports, and as being "the inventor in Holland of the West India Company," had counselled and ad- vised the adoption of the measure, and was to have a share in its management.
While these proceedings were in progress, the war in Germany in which Gustavus became so largely engaged, postponed for a time the project of Swedish colonization in America ; and his death which happened in 1632, would have led to a total aban- donment of the scheme, but for the persevering energy of his renowned minister Oxenstiern.
Seventeen years had now elapsed since the discovery of the country by Hudson, and yet but little had been accomplished to- wards making it a permanent home for civilized man. The whole population of Manhattan the seat of government, at this period, was two hundred and seventy souls, consisting chiefly of the officers and servants of the company with their families.2 But few others resided elsewhere on the Hudson, and as has been shown, no permanent establishment of any kind was maintained on the Delaware. The trade of the country was, however, by no means inconsiderable, the Delaware contributing a fair propor- tion of it. The ship that carried to the "Fatherland" the news of the purchase of Manhattan from the Indians, was freighted with 7246 beaver skins, 8533 otter skins, 81 mink skins, 36 wild cat skins, and 34 rat skins, besides a considerable quantity of oak and hickory timber.3 But this was chiefly Indian trade -a trade that must necessarily diminish in proportion to the vigor with which it was prosecuted.
Foreseeing this, and with the more prosperous colonies of the English on either side of them, the settlement of the country was determined upon by the Dutch as the only means by which it could be saved from passing into other hands, while its trade at the same time would be augmented.
1 For a translation into English of this Charter, see Haz. Ann. 16, &c.
2 Wassenaer in Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 48.
3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 37.
11
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1630.]
With the view of promoting colonization, a plan not one step in advance of the prejudices of the times, was resolved upon. The privileged West India Company adopted certain articles termed " FREEDOMS AND EXEMPTIONS to all such as shall plant colonies in New Netherland."1 Under this scheme the feudal tenure of lands was to be introduced into America south of Canada, where settlements on an analagous plan had already commenced.
The wealthy immigrant who could in four years plant a colony of fifty souls, would be a "PATROON ;" becoming the absolute owner of a vast tract of land, which if situated only on one side of a river, might have a front of 16 miles, but if on both sides, one half that front, and extending "so far into the country as the situation of the occupiers will permit." The Patroon could hold courts of justice, and when the amount in litigation did not exceed $20, there was no appeal from his judgment.
The company also agreed to use their endeavors for a time, "to supply the colonists with as many blacks as they convenient- ly can, on conditions hereafter to be made."2
Previous to the ratification of this document by the States General, or even by the West India Company, two of its Amster- dam directors, Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blomaert, by their agents in this country, had purchased a large tract of land at the mouth of the Delaware bay. This grant was confirmed to the purchasers by Peter Minuit, the Director, and his council on the "Island Manahatas" the 16th of July, 1630-the savage grantors being then and there present. The land embraced in the grant, thus confirmed, was "situate on the south side of the aforesaid bay of the South river, extending in length from C. Hinlopen off into the mouth of the aforesaid South river, about eight leagues and half a league in breadth into the interior, extending to a certain marsh or valley through which these limits can be clearly enough distinguished."3 Samuel Godyn had previously given notice of his intention to make the above purchase, and to occupy the bay of the South river as Patroon, on the conditions set forth in the "Freedoms and Exemptions." Meeting with David Pieterszen De Vries of Hoorn, "a bold and skilful seaman," who had been " a master of artillery in the service of the United Provinces," he made him acquainted with the design of himself and associates, of forming a colony. The bay of the South
1 Hist. New Netherland, i. 112, or N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 369, for the entire document.
2 Slaves were introduced into New Netherland as early as 1628. In a letter recently discovered dated at the Island of Manhattan, on the 11th of August of that year, from the Rev. Jonas Michaelius, the writer says, "the Angola slaves are thievish, lazy and useless trash." For a translation of this letter by Mr. Henry C. Murphy, see N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. Appendix, 768.
3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 43.
12
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1631.
river was held up to De Vries, as a point at which a whale fishery could be profitably established, as Godyn represented, that there were many whales which kept before the bay, and the oil at 60 guilders a hogshead, he thought, would realize a good profit.1 De Vries declining to accept a subordinate position in connection with the colony, he was at once admitted, on perfect equality, into a company of Patroons, who associated themselves together on the 16th of October, 1630. Besides Godyn, Bloemart and De Vries, the members composing this Patroonship were Killian Van Renssellaer, Jan DeLaet, Matthys Van Keulen, Nicholas Van Sittorigh, Harnick Koeck and Heyndrick Hamel, being all directors of the West India Company except De Vries. All of the expected advantages were to be equalized; and De Vries who had charge of the establishment of the colony, dispatched from the Texel on the 12th of December, 1630, a ship and a yacht for the South river, " with a number of people, and a large stock of cattle," the object being, "as well to carry on a whale fishery in that region, as to plant a colony for the cultivation of all sorts of grain, for which the country is very well adapted, and of tobacco."2
De Vries did not accompany this expedition as has been sup- posed by most writers on the subject, but on the 20th of the month he learned that the yacht had been "taken by the Dun- kirkers" before leaving the Texel, owing to the carelessness of the large ship which had sailed after the yacht. The large ship which was commanded by a Captain Peter Heyes of Edam, pro- ceeded on the voyage alone, but failing in an important object of it, " the disembarking of a lot of people at Tortugas," returned to Holland in September 1631. The ship conveyed the colony to the "South river in New Netherland," but was unsuccessful in the whale fishery, the captain alleging, "that he arrived there too late in the year," though he brought home a sample of oil " from a dead whale found on the shore."
" Swanendael" (Valley of Swans,) was the name given to the tract of land purchased for the accommodation of the Colony, and had its greatest length parallel with the shore of the bay. The date of the arrival of Captain Heyes, with his colonists is not known ; but allowing the usual time occupied in making a passage, from the 12th of December, 1630, it may be arrived at with sufficient accuracy. On the 5th of May following, Skip- per Heyes, (Heysen) and Gillis Hosset, Commissary of the ship Walrus, for that appears to have been the name of the ship that brought out the colony, purchased of the Indians, " the rightful owners," a tract of land sixteen English miles square at Cape May, and extending sixteen miles on the bay. This purchase 1 De Vries in N. Y. Hist. Col. iii. N. S. 16, 17. 2 Ib. 16.
13
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1632.]
was made for Messrs. Godyn & Bloemaert, and was duly reported and recorded at Manhattan on the 3rd of June following.1 At the date of this writing, the Walrus was in the South river, but must have sailed very shortly afterwards to arrive at Holland in September. A house, "well beset with palisades in place of breastworks," had been erccted on the north-west side of Hoorn- kil, (Lewes creek,) a short distance from its mouth. It was called "Fort Optlandt," and appears to have served the Colony which consisted of thirty-two men, as a place of defence, a dwel- ling and a storchouse. This Colony, the most unfortunate that settled on the bay or river, was left under the charge of Gillis Hosset or Osset.
On the 12th of February, 1632, we are informed by De Vries, that an agreement was again entered into, "to equip a ship and a yacht for the whale fishery in which much profit had not been realized." A second voyage was especially urged by Samuel Godyn, and to render success more certain, it was re- solved, says De Vries, " that I myself should go as patroon and as commander of the ship and yacht, and should endeavor to be there in December, in order to conduct the whale fishery during the winter, as whales come in the winter and remain till March."
When this second whaling voyage had been determined upon, only the pecuniary disasters of the first were known to those concerned in it ; but before sailing out of the Texel, the loss of their little fort and the destruction of the whole Colony was com- municated to De Vries.
Leaving the Texel on the 24th of May, and taking a very circuitous passage, De Vries did not enter the Delaware till the 5th of December. His first greeting was, "a whale near the ship !" which made him anticipate "royal work-the whales so numerous-and the land so fine for cultivation." The explorations of the next day in the boat, revealed to them the melancholy spectacle, of the house of the former Colony, " almost burnt up," with the skulls and bones of their people, and the heads of the horses and cows which they had brought with them lying here and there about it ; but no Indians were to be seen. After some careful manœuvering, De Vries secured the confi- dence of the Indians without risk to himself or his people. From one of these who was induced to remain on board of the yacht all night, on the 8th of December, De Vries learned the par- ticulars of the melancholy fate of the Colonists, which is here given in his own language. " He then showed us the place where our people had set up a column to which was fastened a piece of tin, whereon the arms of Holland were painted. One of their
1 For this document in full, extracted from the Albany Records, see Haz. Ann. 25. 2 N. Y. Hist. Col. iii. N. S. 16.
14
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1632.
chiefs took this off for the purpose of making tobacco pipes, not knowing that he was doing amiss. Those in command at the house made such an ado about it, that the Indians not knowing how it was, went away and slew the chief who had done it, and brought a token of the dead to the house, to those in command, who told them that they wished that they had not done it, that they should have brought him to them, as they wished to have forbidden him not to do the like again. They then went away, and the friends of the murdered chief, incited their friends- as they are a people like the Italians, who are very revengeful-to set about the work of vengeance. Observing our people out of the house, each one at his work, that there was not more than one inside, who was lying sick, and a large mastiff who was chained-had he been loose they would not have dared to ap- proach the house-and the man who had command, standing near the house, three of the stoutest Indians, who were to do the deed, bringing a lot of bear-skins with them to exchange, sought to enter the house. The man in charge went in with them to make the barter ; which being done he went to the loft where the stores lay, and in descending the stairs, one of the Indians seized an axe, and cleft his head so that he fell down dead. They also relieved the siek man of life; and shot into the dog, who was chained fast, and whom they most feared, twenty-five arrows before they could dispatch him. They then proceeded towards the rest of the men, who were at their work, and going amongst them with pretensions of friendship, struck them down. Thus was our young Colony destroyed, causing us serious loss."1
This disaster has subjected Commissary Hossett to severe, but undeserved censure.2 The very object of setting up the pil- lar, was to make a display of Dutch sovereignty, and the reply made by Hossett to the Indians who brought in the evidence of the atonement that had been made for the removal of the national emblem which it bore, furnishes evidence that the display of his resentment, had not in any degree, been such as to justify a deed so horrid and revolting ; and as to the charge of a want of care in guarding the fort, it may be answered, that such a mode of
1 Voyages of De Vries, N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. iii. 23.
2 Benjamin Ferris, in his " History of the Original Settlements on the Delaware," says, " With respect to the affair at Hoorn Creek, there can be but little doubt that Osset, the Dutch agent of De Vries, had wantonly, or for some trifling offence, killed an Indian chief ; and that he and his companions lost their lives in consequence." This charge of murder against the Dutch Commissary is wholly gratuitous, not being supported by a single fact. It is even highly improbable; for such a charge would have furnished a far better excuse for the destruction of the colony, than the one given. It is true that De Vries, some years subsequently, attributed the loss of the colony to " some trifling acts of the Commander Gilet Oset," but he does not say a word that would imply a disbelief in the narrative of the Indian. In the " Representation of New Netherland, (N. Y. Hist Col. ii. N. S. 281,) it is stated that " the Commissary there, very firmly insisted upon and demanded the head of the offenders," but De Vries is undoubtedly the best authority on the subject. Sce also, Haz. Reg. i. 4.
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