USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
It is a remarkable fact that on the 6th of October, just about the time Governor Printz sailed for Sweden, Director-general Stuyvesant wrote to the directors of the West India Company, that " the Swedes on the South river would be well inclined to repair among us, in case we will take them under our safe- guard ;" adding, " that hitherto, and until we receive further in- formation from your honors, we decline their proposal, inasmuch as we know not whether it would be well or ill received."3 It will be remembered that a colony of Hollanders, before the arrival of Printz, had settled under Swedish jurisdiction, in the neighborhood of the place where the Dutch had erected their new Fort Casimir. From these such a proposition may have been received; but it is highly improbable, that the regular Swedish settlers on the river participated in making it.
In November of this year, the Swedish College of Commerce granted to John Amundson a commission as a captain in the navy. He was about to embark on board of a galliot belonging to the South Company for New Sweden, and when arrived there, part of his duty was to consist in superintending carefully, "the construction of vessels, in order that they may be faithfully built."# This is the same person to whom the grant of land " extending to Upland kill" was made, Besh or Besk in the name of the grantee, being the place of his residence. The appointment of this officer would indicate that the Swedish government designed to establish the business of building ships in New Sweden. The land gran- ted to Capt. Amundson, was at at a point on the river well adapted to that business, and was probably selected with that view.
The letter from the Queen,5 granting Governor Printz leave to
1 Haz. Reg. iv. 374; Ferris' Original Settlements on the Delaware, 133; see also Haz. Ann. 138 and 454. If this grant had extended from Upland kill so as to have ineluded the site of Marcus Hook, it would have included a front on the river of four miles, which is exceedingly improbable. See Appendix, note B.
2 Haz. Reg. iv. 274.
3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 600.
4 Haz. Reg. iv. 374.
5 Ibid. v. 14.
60
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1653.
return to Sweden, is dated on the 12th of December, when it may be supposed he had already embarked. He was urged to delay his departure until "the best arrangements could be made in regard to his successor." It has been said that Printz became unpopular, "by the exercise of a too rigid authority."1 This letter is conclusive, that he possessed the entire confidence of his government.
The commission2 of John Rysingh, the successor of Printz, bears the same date with the above letter. Both documents show that the government contemplated the continuance of Printz in the country for some time longer, during which period Rysingh would act as his aid. But the interval between the de- parture of the old Governor and the arrival of the new one, during which the burden of the government devolved on Papegoya, must have been brief-not exceeding five or six months.
The semi-romantic claim and settlement of Sir Edmund Plow- den or Ployden, although its vague boundaries probably included the district now embraced within the limits of Delaware County, has not been noticed in its proper order of time, because it has little or no historical value in connection with the early settle- ments on the Delaware. To show, however, that the "Earl Palatine of New Albion" had a real existence, and was not a myth, we give the following extract, from " The Representation of New Netherland." "We cannot somit to say," (remarks the author Vander Donck,) " that there has been here, (at Manhat- tan,) both in the time of Director Kieft, and that of General Stuyvesant, a certain Englishman who called himself Sir Ed- ward Plowden, with the title of Earl Palatine of New Albion, who claimed that the land on the west side of the North river to Virginia, was his, by gift of King James of England; but he said he did not wish to have any strife with the Dutch, though he was very much piqued at the Swedish Governor, John Printz at the South river, on account of some affront given him, too long to relate. He said that when an opportunity should offer, he would go there and take possession of the river."3
It is presumed the "opportunity" never did offer, and the reader, in consequence can only imagine the character of the threatened exploit. The grant was not made, however, by King James as mentioned in the extract, but it was obtained in the reign of King Charles the 1st, (1634,) from the Deputy General or vice-roy of Ireland.4
The salary of Rysingh, was 1200 dollars per annum, in silver,
1 Clay's Annals, 24.
2 Haz. Reg. 398.
3 N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. ii. 279. (Translation by Henry C. Murphy, Esq.,) also N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 289 .- Readers who may wish to examine this subject more fully, are referred to Haz. Hist. Col. ; Haz. Ann. and Mulford's Hist. N. J.
4 Hist. New Netherland, i. 28] .- N. Y. Ilist. Col. ii. N. S. 323, (note B.)
61
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1654.]
" in addition to the special appointments which he might receive from the company of the South." His instructions1 clearly show that his government did not intend to vest in him the same powers that had been enjoyed by Printz. Until he received further orders, he was to " place into the hands of John Amund- son, all that relates to the military and the defence of the country ; establishing in the interim, a council formed of the best instruc- ted and most noble officers in the country, of which Rysingh shall be Director-in such a manner, however, that neither he, in his charge, nor John Amundson, as Governor of militia, in his, shall decide or approve anything, without reciprocally con- sulting each other." While the importance of obtaining a con- trol of the mouth of the river, is presented in strong general terms, his instructions in regard to Fort Casimir, were specific. " With respect to the fortress that the Dutch have built upon our coast, if he cannot induce them to abandon it by arguments and serious remonstrances, and withont resorting to hostilities, it is better that our subjects avoid the latter, confining themselves solely to protestations." A fortress "lower down towards the mouth of the river, below that of the Dutch, in order to defend the passage, and render theirs useless," is recommended, but the recommendation is coupled with a strict injunction for " employ- ing the mildest measures, because hostilities will in no degree tend to increase the strength of the Swedes in the country."
The commercial privileges were as liberal as could be desired, and in this respect, were in striking contrast with those of the Dutch. The purchase and cultivation of land was encouraged- the purchases to be made " either from the company or the sa- vages," and, "in respect to the lands thus purchased, subjects recognizing the jurisdiction of the crown of Sweden," were to enjoy "all franchises and allodial privileges, themselves, and their descendants forever."
In consideration of the very faithful and zealous services, that Rysingh had rendered, and was still disposed to render, her Majesty granted " to him and his wife, and to their legitimate male heirs and their descendants, as much land in the West In- dies, and New Sweden as he shall be able to cultivate with 20 to 30 peasants ; ceding to him the aforesaid country with all its dependencies, with all, &c., .... to enjoy, employ and keep the same, in the same manner and with the same franchises as our nobles, and as a perpetual property."2 This Royal grant was located on the river a short distance below New Castle.
Arriving in new Sweden towards the end of May, 1654, on board of the government ship Aren, (Eagle,) Rysingh commenced his administration by capturing the Dutch Fort Casimir in direct
1 Haz. Reg. iv. 399, 400.
2 Ib. 398.
62
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1654.
violation of his instructions. There is some variation in the accounts given of this transaction,1 which it will not be necessary to notice. Gerit Bicker was in command of the fort, and seeing a strange sail in the distance, dispatched Secretary Van Tien- hoven and others, "to ascertain the particulars." The messengers did not return till the next day, and then only two hours in advance of the Swedish ship, which they reported to be full of people, with a`new governor, who made known to them his in- tention to take the fort, " as it stood on ground belonging to the Swedish crown." Bicker was urged to give orders to defend the fort, but declined because " there was no powder." Soon after a boat's crew consisting of 20 or 30 Swedish soldiers, landed under the command of the former lieutenant of Governor Printz -Swen Schute2 who were welcomed by Bicker "as friends." Escorted by him, the Swedes passed immediately into the fort, took possession, and stripped the few Dutch soldiers by whom it was garrisoned of their military equipments, even of "their side arms." Bicker seems to have stood paralyzed, while these pro- ceedings were in progress, and it was not till Van Tienhoven made the suggestion, that he and two others were deputed to demand from Governor Rysingh his authority for taking forci- ble possession of Fort Casimir. The governor claimed "to act by orders of her Majesty in Sweden," and he further informed the embassy that when complaints had been made by the Swedish Ambassador to the States General in respect to the building of the fort, they referred him to the West India Company, who in their turn denied giving any authority for its erection, and had further told the Swedish Ambassador, " that if our people are in your way there, drive them off." The truthfulness of the reply of Rysingh is in a measure corroborated by a letter from the Company to Governor Stuyvesant on the subject of the erection of the fort before referred to ; from which it may reasonably be supposed that a correspondence between them and the Swedish Ambassador would ensue, and that the company was disposed to make concessions to the Swedish crown. This correspondence may have resulted in additional orders to Rysingh, subsequent to the issuing of his general instructions, in which the capture of the fort was authorized. It is not, however, to be supposed that such orders would afford any palliation or excuse for the rash and
1 From the official investigation by Governor Stuyvesant, together with the com- mandant's letter and that of Governor Rysingh to him, the most full account of the transaction may be obtained ; for which, sce, N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 601-606; also, Acre- lins, 414; Haz. Ann. 148 ; Hist. New Netherland, ii. 274.
2 Mr. Hazard in his Annals, says the attacking party was commanded by Captain Swensko who was also the commander of the ship. And concludes that Rysingh acted without communicating with the Swedish authorities on the river. The fact that Swen Schute commanded the attacking party, shows that the authorities resident on the river were consulted.
.
1654.]
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 63
unsoldier-like manner in which the capture was effected. Rysingh was not a soldier, and it does not appear that Amundson, com- missioned as his military colleague, accompanied him, or was ever in the country.
The exploit of capturing Fort Casimir, happened on Trinity Sunday, and in commemoration of that circumstance, the captors changed the name of the fortress to Trefalldigheet or Trinity fort. News of the event was duly communicated to Governor Stuyvesant, both by Rysingh and Bicker,-their statements of course, varying somewhat in the details of the transaction. Three or four of the Dutch soldiers, including Bicker, remained on the river, who, with nearly all the Dutch freemen residing there, took an oath of fidelity to the Swedish governor. The depositions of Van Tienhoven and the 8 or 10 soldiers who returned to New Amsterdam, place the conduct of Bicker in a very unfavor- able light. His behaviour served as an invitation, to a small body of men, to capture the fort, who probably had only been detailed to make a formal demand for its surrender, preliminary to the usual negotiations in such cases. But the " brave and courageous Lieutenant Swen Schute," who commanded the Swedes, was not the man to allow so favorable an opportunity to pass unimproved, for he was never more in his element than when administering a lesson of humility to the Dutch.
With the capture of Fort Casimir, the authority of the Dutch on the river, for the time being, was suspended. The Engineer Peter Lindstroom, who came to the country with Rysingh, caused this fort to be greatly strenghtened. He also laid out the town of Christina back of the fort of that name, and constructed a map of New Sweden.1 There also arrived with Rysingh several officers, some troops and a clergyman ;2 and all the Dutch accounts men- tion that he was accompanied by a large number of people.
We are informed by Acrelius, that Papegoya soon went home, and that Rysingh assumed the title of Director-general.3
On the 17th of June, a great convocation of Indians including ten sachems was held at Printz Hall on Tinicum ; at which "it was offered on behalf of the Queen of Sweden, to renew the ancient league of friendship that subsisted between them and the Swedes, who had purchased from them the lands they occupied. The Indians complained that the Swedes had brought much evil upon them ; for many of them had died since their coming into the country," whereupon considerable presents were distributed among the Indians, which brought about a conference among themselves. The result was a speech from one of their chiefs, Naaman, in
1 Engravings of these are contained in the translation of Campanius, by the late Peter S. Duponceau.
2 Acrelius, 414.
3 Ib.
1
64
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1654.
which he rebuked his companions," for having spoken evil of the Swedes, and done them an injury, and told them he hoped they would do so no more, for the Swedes were very good people. " Look," said he, pointing to the presents, "and see what they have brought to us, for which they desire our friendship." So saying he stroked himself three times, down his arm, which among the Indians was a token of friendship ; afterwards he thanked the Swedes on behalf of his people, for the presents they had recei- ved, and said that friendship should be observed more strictly between them than it had been before; that the Swedes and the Indians had been in Governor Printz's time, as one body and one heart, (striking his breast as he spoke,) and that thenceforward they should be as one head; in token of which he took hold of his head with both hands, and made a motion as if he were tying a knot, and then he made this comparison ; that as the calabash was round without any crack, so they should be a compact body without any fissure ; and that if any one should attempt to do any harm to the Indians, the Swedes should immediately inform them of it, and on the other hand, the Indians would give immediate notice to the Christians of any plot against them, even if it were in the middle of the night. On this they were answered, that that would be, indeed, a true and lasting friendship, if every one would agree to it ; on which they gave a general shout, in token of consent. Immediately on this, the great guns were fired, which pleased them extremely ; and they said, Poo, hoo, hoo ; mokirick picon ; that is to say, " hear and believe, the great guns are fired." Then they were treated with wine and brandy. Another of the Indians then stood up, and spoke and admonished all in general, that they should keep the league and friendship, which had been made with the Christians, and in no manner to violate the same, nor do them any injury, or their hogs or cattle, and that if any one should be guilty of such violation, they should be severely punished as an example to others. The Indians then advised that some Swedes should be settled at Passyunk, where there lived a great number of Indians, that they might be watched and punished if they did any mischief. They also expressed a wish that the title to the lands which the Swedes had purchased, should be confirmed ; on which the copies of the agreements (for the originals had been sent to Stockholm,) were read to them word for word. When those who had signed the deeds, heard their names, they appeared to rejoice ; but when the names were read of those who were dead, they hung their heads in sorrow. Then there were set upon the floor in the great hall two large kettles, and many other vessels filled with Sappaun, which is a kind of hasty pudding made of Maize or Indian corn, which grows there
65
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1654.]
in great abundance. The sachems sat by themselves ; the other Indians all fed heartily and were satisfied."1
This proceeding, copied nearly entire from Campanius, is highly characteristic of such transactions with the Indians. Other treaties with the aborigines may have been held within our limits, but this is the only one, the recorded proceedings of which have come down to us. It is conclusive that the Swedes had purchased from the Indians the lands then occupied by them ; and the fact that one of the principal chiefs, Naaman, who was a party to this transaction, resided on the creek that bears his name, renders it almost equally conclusive that the former purchase of the Swedes had been made from "the right owners," the pretension set up by the Dutch to the contrary notwith- standing.
The treaty thus so solemnly made between the Swedes and Indians, we are informed by Campanius, "has ever since been faithfully observed by both sides."2
A private letter from Governor Rysingh to Count - -, con- nected with the home government, dated at Fort Christina on the 11th of July, 1654,3 furnishes some facts worthy of notice. He estimates the ground (under cultivation it is supposed) as " four times more than when we arrived." It was also much better peopled, " for then," he says, "we found only 70 persons, and now, including Hollanders and others, there are 368 persons." This estimate of the population on the river is certainly only in- tended to embrace actual settlers, for as long ago as 1645, Hudde estimated the force with which Printz could man his forts, at from 80 to 90.4
He takes the credit of everything that had been done to him- self, Captain Shute and Pappegoya ; but for the particulars and for all "that relates to the actual state of the country and colony," the minister to whom the letter was addressed is referred to an official communication that had been sent to him and the College of Commerce. Unfortunately this document is not ex- tant. Among the wants of the governor was that of a wife, and though "sufficiently plain offers" had been made him by the English who had been here, he relied with more confidence "for this object" upon the minister, "than any other person in the world," and desired that he would send him " a good one."
Christina, to whose dominions the land we live in belonged, now, at the age of twenty-nine years, abdicated the throne of Sweden in favor of her cousin, Charles Gustavus.
The war between England and Holland having been concluded,
1 Campanius, 77.
2 Page 78.
3 A MS. copy of this letter is in the possession of the American Philosophical Society. It was first published in Haz. Ann. which see, 153.
4 Hudde's Rep. 429.
5
66
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
[1655.
and the Dutch having been driven from the Delaware, a favor- able opportunity was presented to the New Englanders to renew their claims on the river. These were pressed on the ground of purchases made from the Indians, and gave rise to a correspon- dence between Governor Rysingh and the Commissioners of the United Colonies which it will not be necessary to notice.
A Swedish vessel, called the "Golden Shark," by accident or design, was piloted into the Raritan river. The vessel was im- mediately seized by Governor Stuyvesant, who regarded this as a fair opportunity to force the Swedes to restore Fort Casimir. The event gave rise to considerable correspondence,1 which did not result in a restoration either of the fort or the vessel.
The affairs of the Swedes on the Delaware were now approach- ing a crisis, but nothing had occurred to arouse the suspicions of the home government. The triumph of Rysingh was regard- ed as a reconquest of usurped territory, and no other means to reclaim it by the Dutch were apprehended, beyond the usual one of protest. This was a fatal delusion ; for at the close of 1654, while estimates were being made in Sweden for the sup- port of their colony, during the ensuing year, on a peace basis,2 an armament was being fitted out in Holland, not only sufficient to replace "matters on the Delaware in their former position," but to drive " the Swedes from every side of the river."
In the spring of 1655, five armed vessels well equipped, were forwarded to Stuyvesant, with a carte blanche, to charter others.3 The armament when completed at New Amsterdam, consisted of seven vessels, and from six to seven hundred men. The greatest caution was used in providing against every contingency, in fit- ting it out, and a day of thanksgiving and prayer was observed before the sailing of the expedition ; which happened on Sunday the 4th of September, "after sermon." It was commanded by Governor Stuyvesant in person, and arrived in the bay of South river the next day about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The de- serted Swedish Fort Elsingborg was visited on the following day, but it was not till Friday that the expedition reached Fort Trinity or Casimir. This fortress was under the immediate command of Swen Schute, while Governor Rysingh in person had charge of Christina. To prevent a communication between the two forts, Stuyvesant had landed fifty men. The demand made by the Dutch was "a direct restitution of their own pro- perty," to which Commander Schute, after having had an inter- view with Stuyvesant, reluctantly yielded on the following day, upon very favorable terms of capitulation. For the reduction
1 For this correspondenee, as well as that with the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and proceedings connected therewith, the reader is referred to Haz. Ann. 155-172.
2 Haz. Reg. v. 15.
3 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 284.
67
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
1655.]
of Fort Christina a bloodless siege of fourteen days was re- quired. As a matter of necessity, it yielded to an immensely superior force on the 25th of September, on even more favor- able terms than had been granted to the garrison of Fort Trinity.
Agreeably to special instructions from the home government, an offer was made to restore the possession of Fort Christina to Governor Rysingh, but he declined the offer, preferring to abide by the articles of capitulation.1
The magnificent scale on which the expedition was got up by Stuyvesant for the capture of these inconsiderable forts, with the slow caution observed by him in conducting the siege of Fort Christina, borders on the ridiculous, and has afforded an ample field for the satire of the veritable Knickerbocker. IIis igno- rance of the weak condition of the enemy, will, in a measure, defend him from the shafts of ridicule, but it will be difficult to find an excuse for the acts of wantonness his soldiers were per- mitted to exercise towards the peaceable inhabitants of the country. If the official report of Rysingh is to be relied upon, " they killed their cattle, goats, swine and poultry, broke open houses, pillaged the people, without the sconce, of their property, and higher up the river they plundered many and stripped them to the skin. At New Gottenburg, they robbed Mr. Papegoya's wife of all she had, with many others, who had collected their property there."2 Nor does Rysingh fail to remind Stuyvesant of these unjustifiable acts. "His men," he says, "acted as if they had been on the lands of their inveterate enemy," as for example, the plundering of "Tennakong, Upland, Finlandt, Printzdorp, and several other places,3 2 not to say a word of what was done in Fort Christina, where women were violently torn from their houses, whole buildings destroyed, and they dragged from them, yea, the oxen, cows, swine and other crea- tures, were butchered day after day ; even the horses were not spared, but wantonly shot, the plantations destroyed, and the whole country left so desolate, that scarce any means are re- maining for the subsistence of the inhabitants." He also tells him, "your men took away at Tennekong, in an uncouth manner, all the cordage and sails of a new vessel, and then they went to the magazine, and without demanding the keys entered it alone, broke the boards of the church, and so took away the cordage and sails."4
.
1 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 289. 2 N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 446.
3 Smith, in his history of N. J. says, they " destroyed New Gottenburg, with such houses as were without the fort, plundering the inhabitants of what they had and kill- ing their cattle," p. 34. It would appear from Smith's account of the transaction, that the fort at Tinicum was defended fourteen days, and that the depredations were com- mitted previous to its surrender.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.