History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 5

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 5

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The Dutch were in actual possession of Fort Nassau when the Swedes first arrived, and though they continued to hold it and to seek the trade of the Indians, yet the artful Minuit was more than a match for them in Indian bar- ter. William Keift, the Governor of New Netherland, entered a vigorous protest against the encroachments of the Swedes upon Dutch territory, in which he said " this has been our property for many years, occupied with foris and sealed by our blood, which also was done when thou wast in the service of New Netherland, and is therefore well known to thee." But Minuit pushed forward the work upon his fort, regardless of protest, trusting to the respect which the flag of Sweden had inspired in the hands of Banner and Torstensen. For more than a year no tidings were had from Sweden, and no supplies from any source were obtained; and while the fruits of their labors were abundant there were many articles of diet, medicines and apparel, the lack of which they began to sorely feel. So pressing had the want become, that application had been made to the authorities at Manhattan for permission to remove thither with all their effects. But on the very day before that on which they were to embark, a ship from Sweden richly laden with provisions, cattle, seeds and merchandise for barter with the natives came joyfully to their relief, and this, the first permanent settlement on soil where now are the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania, was spared. The success and prosperity of the colony during the first few years of its existence was largely due to the skill and policy of Minuit, who preserved the friendship of the natives, avoided an open conflict with the Dutch, and so prosecuted trade that the Dutch Governor reported to his government that trade had fallen off 30,000 beavers. Minuit

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was at the head of the colony for about three years, and died in the midst of the people whom he had led.

Minuit was succeeded in the government by Peter Hollandaer, who had previously gone in charge of a company of emigrants, and who was now, in 1641, commissioned. The goodly lands upon the Delaware were a constant attraction to the eye of the adventurer; a party from Connecticut, under the lead- ership of Robert Cogswell, came, and squatted without authority upon the site of the present town of Salem, N. J. Another company had proceeded up the river, and, entering the Schuylkill, had planted themselves upon its banks. The settlement of the Swedes, backed as it was by one of the most powerful nations of Europe, the Governor of New Netherland was not disposed to molest; but when these irresponsible wandering adventurers came sailing past their forts and boldly planted themselves upon the most eligible sites and fer- tile lands in their territory, the Dutch determined to assume a hostile front, and to drive them away. Accordingly, Gen. Jan Jansen Van Ilpendam-hie very name was enough to frighten away the emigrants-was sent with two vessels and a military force, who routed the party upon the Schuylkill, destroy- ing their fort and giving them a taste of the punishment that was likely to be meted out to them, if this experiment of trespass was repeated. The Swedes joined the Dutch in breaking up the settlement at Salem and driving away the New England intruders.

In 1642, Hollandaer was succeeded in the government of the Swedish Colony by John Printz, whose instructions for the management of affairs were drawn with much care by the officers of the company in Stockholm. "He was, first of all, to maintain friendly relations with the Indians, and by the advan- tage of low prices hold their trade. His next care was to cultivate enough grain for the wants of the colonists, and when this was insured, turn his atten- tion to the culture of tobacco, the raising of cattle and sheep of a good species, the culture of the grape, and the raising of silk worms. The manufacture of salt by evaporation, and the search for metals and minerals were to be prose- cuted, and inquiry into the establishment of fisheries, with a view to profit, especially the whale fishery, was to be made." It will be seen from these in- structions that the far-sighted Swedish statesmen had formed an exalted con- ception of the resources of the new country, and had figured to themselves great possibilities from its future development. Visions of rich silk products, of the precious metals and gems from its mines, flocks upon a thousand hills that should rival in the softness of their downy fleeces the best products of the Indian looms, and the luscious clusters of the vine that could make glad the palate of the epicure filled their imaginations.

With two vessels, the Stoork and Renown, Printz set sail, and arrived at Fort Christina on the 15th of February, 1643. He was bred to the profession of arms, and was doubtless selected with an eye to his ability to holding posses- sion of the land against the conflict that was likely to arise. He had been a Lieutenant of cavalry, and was withal a man of prodigious proportions, " who weighed," according to De Vries, " upward of 400 pounds, and drank three drinks at every meal." He entertained exalted notions of hie dignity as Govern- or of the colony, and prepared to establish himself in his new dominione with some degree of magnificence. He brought with him from Sweden the bricks to be used for the construction of his royal dwelling. Upon an inspection of the settlement, he detected the inherent weakness of the location of Fort Christina for commanding the navigation of the river, and selected the island of Tinacum for the site of a new fort, called New Gottenburg, which was speedily erected and made strong with huge hemlock loge. In the midst of

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the island, he built his royal residence, which was surrounded with trees and shubbery. He erected another fort near the mouth of Salem Creek, called Elsinborg, which he mounted with eight brass twelve-pounders, and garrisoned. Here all ships ascending the river were brought to, and required to await a permit from the Governor before proceeding to their destination. Gen. Van Ilpendam, who had been sent to drive away the intruders from New England, had remained after executing his commission as commandant at Fort Nassau; but having incurred the dis- pleasure of Director Keift, he had been displaced, and was succeeded by An- dreas Hudde, a crafty and politic agent of the Dutch Governor, who had no sooner arrived and become settled in his place than a conflict of authority sprang up between himself and the Swedish Governor. Dutch settlers secured a grant of land on the west bank of Delaware, and obtained possession by pur- chase from the Indians. This procedure kindled the wrath of Printz, who tore down the ensign of the company which had been erected in token of the power of Holland, and declared that he would have pulled down the colors of their High Mightinesses had they been erected on this the Swed- ish soil. That there might be no mistake about his claim to authority, the testy Governor issued a manifesto to his rival on the opposite bank, in which were these explicit declarations:

" Andreas Hudde! I remind you again, by this written warning, to discon- tinue the injuries of which you have been guilty against the Royal Majesty of Sweden, my most gracious Queen; against Her Royal Majesty's rights, pre- tensions, soil and land, without showing the least respect to the Royal Majes- ty's magnificence, reputation and dignity; and to do so no more, considering how little it would be becoming Her Royal Majesty to bear such gross violence, and what great disasters might originate from it, yea, might be expected. * * * All this I can freely bring forward in my own defense, to exculpate me from all future calamities, of which we give you a warning, and place it at your account. Dated New Gothenburg, 3d September, stil, veteri 1646."

It will be noted from the repetition of the high sounding epithets applied to the Queen, that Printz had a very exalted idea of his own position as the Vicegerent of the Swedish monarch. Hudde responded, saying in reply: " The place we possess we hold in just deed, perhaps before the name of South River was heard of in Sweden." This paper, upon its presentation, Printz flung to the ground in contempt, and when the messenger, who bore it, demanded an answer, Printz unceremoniously threw bim out doors, and seizing a gun would have dispatched the Dutchman had he not been arrested; and whenever any of Hudde's men visited Tinicum they were eure to be abused, and frequently came back " bloody and bruised." Hudde urged rights acquired by prior posses- sion, but Printz answered: " The devil was the oldest possessor in hell, yet he, notwithstanding, would sometimes admit a younger one." A vessel which had come to the Delaware from Manhattan with goods to barter to the Indiana, was brought to, and ordered away. In vain did Hudde plead the rights acquired by previous possession, and finally treaty obligations existing between the two nations. Printz was inexorable, and peremptorily ordered the skipper away, and as his ship was not provided with the means of fighting its way up past the frowning battlements of Fort Elsinborg, his only alternative was to return to Manhattan and report the result to his employers.

Peter Stuyvesant, a man of a good share of native talent and force of char- acter, succeeded to the chief authority over New Netherland in May, 1647. The affairs of his colony were not in an encouraging condition. The New England colonies were crowding upon him from the north and east, and the

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Swedes upon the South River were occupying the territory which the Dutch for many years previous to the coming of Christina's colony had claimed. Amid the thickening complications, Stuyvesant had need of all his power of argument and executive skill. He entered into negotiations with the New En- gland colonies for a peaceful settlement of their difficulties, getting the very best terms he could, without resorting to force; for, said his superiore, the officers of the company in Holland, who had an eye to dividends, " War can- not be for our advantage; the New England people are too powerful for us." A pacific policy was also preserved toward the Swedes. Hudde was retained at the head of Dutch affairs upon the Delaware, and he was required to make full reports of everything that was transpiring there in order that a clear in- sight might be gained of the policy likely to be pursued. Stuyvesant was en- tirely too shrewd a politician for the choleric Printz. He recommended to the company to plant a Dutch colony on the site of Zwanendal at the mouth of the river, another on the opposite bank, which, if effectually done, would com- mand its navigation; and a third on the upper waters at Beversreede, which would intercept the intercourse of the native population. By this course of active colonizing, Stuyvesant rightly calculated that the Swedish power would be circumscribed, and finally, upon a favorable occasion, be crushed out.

Stuyvesant, that he might ascertain the nature and extent of the Swedish claims to the country, and examine into the complaints that were pouring in upon him of wrongs and indignities suffered by the Dutch at the hands of the Swedish power, in 1651 determined to visit the Delaware in his official capac- ity. He evidently went in some state, and Printz, who was doubtless impressed with the condecension of the Governor of all New Netherland in thus coming, was put upon his good behavior. Stuyvesant, by his address, got completely on the blind side of the Swedish chief, maintaining the garb of friendship and brotherly good-will, and insisting that the discussion of rights should be carried on in a peaceful and friendly manner, for we are informed that they mutually promised " not to commit any hostile or vexatious acte against one another, but to maintain together all neighborly friendship and correspond- ence, as good friends and allies aro bound to do." Printz was thus, by this agreement, entirely disarmed and placed at a disadvantage; for the Dutch Governor took advantage of the armistice to acquire lande below Fort Chris- tina, where he proceeded to erect a fort only five miles away, which he named Fort Casimir. This gave the Dutch a foothold upon the south bank, and in nearer proximity to the ocean than Fort Christina. Fort Nassau was dis- mantled and destroyed, as being no longer of use. In a conference with the Swedish Governor, Stuyvesant demanded to see documental proof of his right to exercise authority upon he Delaware, and the compass of the lande to which the Swedish Government laid claim. Printz prepared a statement in which he set out the "Swedish limits wide enough." But Stuyvesant de- manded the documents, under the seal of the company, and characterized this writing as a " subterfuge," maintaining by documentary evidence, on his part, the Dutch West India Company's right to the soil.

Printz was great ae a blusterer, and preserver of authority when personal abuse and kicks and cuffe could be resorted to without the fear of retaliation; but no match in statecraft for the wily Stuyvesant. To the plea of pre-occu- pancy he had nothing to answer more than he had already done to Hudde's messenger respecting the government of Hades, and herein was the cause of the Swedes inherently weak. In numbers, too, the Swedes were feeble com- pared with the Dutch, who had ten times the population. But in diplomacy he had been entirely overreached. Fort Casimir, by its location, rendered

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the rival Fort Elsinborg powerless, and under plea that the mosquitoes had be- come troublesome there, it was abandoned. Discovering, doubtless, that a cloud of complications was thickening over him, which he would be unable with the forces at his commaud to successfully withstand, he asked to be relieved, and, without awaiting an answer to his application, departed for Sweden, leaving his son-in-law, John Pappegoya, who had previously received marks of the royal favor, and been invested with the dignity of Lieutenant Governor, in supreme authority.

The Swedish company had by this time, no doubt, discovered that forcible opposition to Swedish occupancy of the soil upon Delaware was destined soon to come, and accordingly, as a precautionary measure, in November, 1653, the College of Commerce sent John Amundson Besch, with the commission of Captain in the Navy, to superintend the construction of vessels. Upon his arrival, he acquired lands suitable for the purpose of ship-building, and set about laying his keels. He was to have supreme authority over the naval force, and was to act in conjunction with the Governor in protecting the interests of the colony, but in such a manner that neither should decide anything without consulting the other.

On receiving the application of Printz to be relieved, the company ap- pointed John Claude Rysingh, then Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, as Vice Director of New Sweden. He was instructed to fortify and extend the Swedish possessions, but without interrupting the friendship existing with the English or Dutch. He was to use his power of persuasion in induc- ing the latter to give up Fort Casimir, which was regarded as an intrusion upon Swedish possessions, but without resorting to hostilities, as it was better to allow the Dutch to occupy it than to have it fall into the hands of the En- glish, "who are the more powerful, and, of course, the most dangerous in that country." Thus early was the prowess of England foreshadowed. Gov. Rysingh arrived in the Delaware, on the last day of May, 1654, and immediately demanded the surrender of Fort Casimir. Adriaen Van Tienhoven, an aide- de-camp on the staff of the Dutch commandant of the fort, was sent on board the vessel to demand of Gov. Rysingh by what right he claimed to dis- possess the rightful occupants; but the Governor was not disposed to discuss the matter, and immediately landed a party and took possession without more opposition than wordy protests, the Dutch Governor saying, when called on to make defense, "What can I do? there is no powder." Rysingh, however, in justification of his course, stated to Teinhoven, after he had gained possession of the fort, that he was acting under orders from the crown of Sweden, whose embassador at the Dutch Court, when remonstrating against the action of Gov. Stuyvesant in erecting and manning Fort Casimir had been assured, by the State's General and the offices of the West India Company, that they had not authorized the erection of this fort on Swedish soil, saying, " if our people are in your Excellency's way, drive them off." "Thereupon the Swedish Governor slapped Van Teinhoven on the breast, and said, 'Go! tell your Gov- ernor that."> As the capture was made on Trinity Sunday, the name was changed from Fort Casimir to Fort Trinity.

Thus were the instructions of the new Governor, not to resort to force, but to secure possession of the fort by negotiation, complied with, but by a forced interpretation. For, although he had not actually come to battle, for the very good reason that the Dutch had no powder, and were not disposed to use their fists against fire arms, which the Swedes brandished freely, ret, in mak- ing his demand for the fort, he had put on the stern aspect of war.

Stuyvesant, on learning of the loss of Fort Casimir, sent a messenger to the

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Delaware to invite Gov. Rysingh to come to Manhattan to hold friendly confer- ence upon the subject of their difficulties. This Rysingh refused to do, and the Dutch Governor, probably desiring instructions from the home Government be- fore proceeding to extremities, made a voyage to the West Indies for the purpose of arranging favorable regulations of trade with the colonies, though without the instructions, or even the knowledge of the States-General. Cromwell, who was now at the head of the English nation, by the policy of his agents, rendered this embassy of Stuyvesant abortive.

As soon as information of the conduct of Rysingh at Zwanendal was known in Holland, the company lost no time in disclaiming the representa- tions which he had made of its willingness to have the fort turned over to the Swedes, and immediately took measures for restoring it and wholly dispossess- ing the Swedes of lands upon the Delaware. On the 16th of November, 1655, the company ordered Stuyvesant "to exert every nerve to avenge the insult, by not only replacing matters on the Delaware in their former position, but by driving the Swedes from every side of the river," though they subsequent- ly modified this order in such manner as to allow the Swedes, after Fort Casi- mir had been taken, "to hold the land on which Fort Christina is built," with a garden to cultivate tobacco, because it appears that they had made the pur- chase with the previous knowledge of the company, thus manifesting a disin- clination to involve Holland in a war with Sweden. "Two armed ships were forthwith commissioned; 'the drum was beaten daily for volunteers' in the streets of Amsterdam; authority was sent out to arm and equip, and if neces- sary to press into the company's service a sufficient number of ships for the expedition." In the meantime, Gov. Rysingh, who had inaugurated his reign by so bold a stroke of policy, determined to ingratiate himself into the favor of the Indians, who had been soured in disposition by the arbi- trary conduct of the passionate Printz. He accordingly sent out on all sides an invitation to the native tribes to assemble on a certain day, by their chiefs and principal men, at the seat of government on Tinicum Island, to brighten the chain of friendship and renew their pledges of faith and good neighbor- hood.

On the morning of the appointed day, ten grand sachems with their at- tendants came, and with the formality characteristic of these native tribes, the council opened. Many and bitter were the complaints made against the Swedes for wrongs suffered at their hands, " chief among which was that many of their number had died, plainly pointing, though not explicitly saying it, to the giving of spirituous liquors as the cause." The new Governor had no answer to make to these complaints, being convinced, probably, that they were but too true. Without attempting to excuse or extenuate the past, Rysingh brought forward the numerous presente which he had taken with him from Sweden for the purpose. The sight of the piled up goods produced a profound impression upon the minds of the native chieftains. They sat apart for conference before making any expression of their feelings. Naaman, the fast friend of the white man, and the most consequential of the warriors, according to Campanius, spoke: " Look," said he, "and see what they have brought to us." So say- ing, he stroked himself three times down the arm, which, among the Indians, was a token of friendship; afterward he thanked the Swedes on behalf of his people for the presents they had received, and said that friendship should be observed more strictly between them than ever before; that the Swedes and the Indians in Gov. Printz's time were 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

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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 with- out any fissure; and that if any 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, 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; mokerick picon," that is to say "Hear and believe; the great guns are fired." Rysingh then produced all the treaties which had ever been concluded between them and the Swedes, which were again solemnly confirmed. "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."

After the first ebulition of feeling had subsided on the part of the Dutch Company at Amsterdam, the winter passed without anything further being done than issuing the order to Stuyvesant to proceed against the Swedes. In the spring, however, a thirty-six-gun brig was obtained from the burgomasters of Amsterdam, which, with four other crafts of varying sizes, was prepared for duty, and the little fleet set sail for New Netherland. Orders were given for immediate action, though Director General Stuyvesant had not returned from the West Indies. Upon the arrival of the vessels at Manhattan, it was an- nounced that " if any lovers of the prosperity and security of the province of New Netherland were inclined to volunteer, or to serve for reasonable wages, they should come forward," and whoever should lose a limb, or be maimed, was assured of a decent compensation. The merchantmen were ordered to furnish two of their crews, and the river boatmen were to be impressed. At this junct- ure a grave question arose: "Shall the Jews be enlisted?" It was decided in the negative; but in lieu of service, adult male Jews were taxed sixty-five stivers a head per month, to be levied by execution in case of refusal.

Stuyvesant had now arrived from his commercial trip, and made ready for opening the campaign in earnest. A day of prayer and thanksgiving was held to bessech the favor of Heaven upon the enterprise, and on the 5th of Septem- ber, 1655, with a fleet of seven vessels and some 600 men, Stuyvesant hoisted sail and steered for the Delaware. Arrived before Fort Trinity (Casimir), the Director sent Capt. Smith and a drummer to summon the fort, and ordered a flank movement by a party of fifty picked men to cut off communication with Fort Christina and the headquarters of Gov. Rysingh. Swen Schute, the com- mandant of the garrison, asked permission to communicate with Rysingh, which was denied, and he was called on to prevent bloodshed. An interview in the valley midway between the fort and the Dutch batteries was held, when Schute asked to send an open letter to Rysingh. This was denied, and for a third time the fort was summoned. Impatient of delay, and in no temper for parley, the great guns were landed and the Dutch force ordered to advance. Schute again asked for a delay until morning, which was granted, as the day was now well spent and the Dutch would be unable to make the necessary preparations to open before morning. Early on the following day, Schute went on board the Dutch flag-ship, the Balance, and agreed to terms of surrender very honorable to his flag. He was permitted to send to Sweden, by the first opportunity, the cannon, nine in number, belonging to the crown of Sweden, to march out of the fort with twelve men, as his body guard, fully accoutered, and colors flying; the common soldiers to wear their side arms. The com-

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 5

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280