History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 19

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 19

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"In one or two days our troops shall march hither ; but we shall march slowly, so that our people may not be fatigned, and that we may have time to receive your orders. In the mean time we shall advance, taking counsel with Mr. Sille and Capt. Coningh, according to the hest of our understanding, etc.

" PETER STUYVESANT.

"P.S .- There are thirty Swedles who have surrendered to us, and de- sire to settle in Manhataan, whom you may expect. It seems that many others may follow them."

The following is the capitulation1 made at Fort

) The capitulation was made between the brave and noble Director John Rising, Governor of New Sweden, on the one side, and the brave and noble Director Peter Stuyvesant, Governor-General of New Nether- laads, on the other side.

"1. That all cannon, ammunition, provisions, and supplies, together with other things belonging to the Crown of Sweden, which are in and around the Fort Christina, shall belong to and be preserved as the prop- erty of the Swedish Crown and the Southern Company, and shall he under the power of enid Governor to take it away or deliver it to Gov- ernor Stuyvesant, with the proviso that it shall be given up upon order.

"2. Governor John Rising, his superior and inferior officers, his offi- ciale and soldiers, shall march out of the fort with drums and trumpets playing, flags flying, matches burning, with hand and side arms, and halls in their mouths. They shall first be conducted to Tecumseh Island, to which they shall be taken in safety, and placed in the fort which is there until the Governor sets sail upon the ship ' Waegh,' upon which said Governor Rising, his people and property, shall be conducted to

Casimir between the commandant, Sven Schute, and Director-General Peter Stuyvesant :

"1. The commandant shall have liberty, if he desires it, to take back to Sweden by ship, either of the Crown or others, the cannoo which belong to the Crown, both small and great, which, according to said command-

Sandy Huck, situated five Holland miles the other side of New York, under safe conduct, within at least fourteen days. Also the Governor and Factor Elswyk shall in the mean tiale have allowed them four or five servants for attending to their business, whilst the others are lodged in the fortress.

"3. All writings, letters, instructions, and acts belonging to the Crown of Sweden, the Southern Company, or private persons, which are found in Fort Christiaa, shall remain in the Governor's hands, to take away at his pleasure without being searched or examined.

"4. None of the crown's or company'e officers, soldiers, officials, or private persons shall be detained here agninst their wishes, but shall be allowed to go, without molestation, along with the Governor if they so desire.

"5. That all the officers, soldiers, and officials of the crown and of the Southern Company, and also all private persoos, shall retain their goods unmolested.

"6. If some officials and freemen desire to depart, but are not able to go with the Governor and his party, they shall be allowed the time of one year and six weeke in which to sell their land nnd goods, provided that they do not take the oath of allegiance for the period that they remain.

"7. If any of the Swedes or Finus are not disposed to go nway, Gov- ernor Rising may take measures to induce them to do so; and if they are so persuaded, they shall not be forcibly detained. Those who choose to remain shall have the liberty of ndhering to their own Augsburg Con- fession, us also to support a minister for their instruction.

"8. Governor Rising, Factor Elswyk, and other superior and inferior officers, soldiers, nnd freemen, with all their property which they wish to take away, shall be provided by the Governor-General with a sound ship, which shall receive them at Sandy Huck, and convey them to Texel, uod thence immediately by a coaster, galliote, or other suitable vessel to Götheborg, without charge; with the proviso that said coaster, galliote, or other vessel shall not be detained, for which the said Gov- ernor Rising shall be answerable.

"9. In case Goveraor Rising, Factor Elswyk, or any other official be- louging to the Swedish Crown or the Sonth Company has incurred any debts on account of the crown or of the company, they shall not be de- tained therefor within the jurisdiction of the Governor-General.

"10. Governor Rising has full freedoDi to make himself acquainted with the condact of Commandant Schute and that of his officers and soldiers in regard to the surrender of Sandhuk Fort (Fort Casimir).

"II. Governor Risiog promises that between the 15th and 25th of September he will withdraw bis people from Fort Christina, and deliver it up to the Governor-General.

" Done and sigoed the 15-25th of September, 1655, on the parade be- tweeo Fort Christina and the Governor-General's camp.

" PETER STUYVESANT. " JOHN RISING, Director of New Streden."

" It is further capitulated that the captain who is to convey Governor Joho Rising and the Factor Henry Elswyk shall be expressly ordered and commanded to put the aforesaid Governor Rising and the Factor Elewyk on shore, either in England or in France; aad that the Direc- tor-General shall lend to Governor Rising, either in money or in bills of exchange, the sum of three hundred pounds Flemish, which the said Governor Rising eagages to repay to the Governor-General or his order, in Amsterdam, within six months after the receipt. In the mean time he leaves as n pledge and equivalent the property of the crown and Southern Company now given up. Hereof we give two copies sigoed hy the contracting parties.

" Concluded September 15-25th, on the parade between Fort Christina and Governor-General Stuyvesant's camp.

" PETER STUYVESANT. " JOHN RISING."

Thereupon all who had a desire to remain in the country were called together by a proclamation to take the oath of allegiance, aod he allowed to remain in the country as a free people. All othere were to depart, with liberty either to carry off their property or to sell it.

The form of the oath of allegiance was as followe :

"I, the undersigned, do promise and swear, as in the presence of the

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ant's report, consist of four iron guas of fourteen lis-pouuds and five field-pieces ; of these latter, four large and one small one.

"2. He shall also march out with twelve med fully armed as his life- guard, and with the flags of the Crown, the others with their side-arms only ; the muskets of the Crown shall stand to the commandant's ac- count, but shall remain in the fort until they take them away or send an order for them.

"3. The Commandant shall be secure in his person and individual property, either to take it away or to let it remain votil further orders. The same sball be the case in regard to the property of all the other officers.

" 4. All this shall be kept inviolate, provided said commandant eball immediately surrender into the Director-General's hands Fort Casimir, with all its pieces, ammunition, materials, and other goods belonging to the aforesaid West India Company.

"Given, done, and signed by the contracting parties, Sept. 16, 1665, on the ship ' Waegh,' at Furt Casimir.

" PETER STUYVESANT.

"SVEN SCHUTE, Engineer."

But the matter did not rest here. The evil under- taking was continued by a march to Fort Christina. The road taken was not directly overland from Sand- huk, which would have been about a Swedish mile, and would have brought them directly in front of the fort, bnt tbey marched around over the creek, where the Christina bridge now is, which was two and a half Swedish miles, and they thns attacked the fort in its rear, placing their camp in the field which fenced off in front of Christina harbor. No great trouble was taken in forming the siege. The time, which was only a few days, was mostly occupied with negotia- tions, without a single shot fired or a single Holland- er's blood shed.

Commentators differ materially in their accounts of Governor Stuyvesant's administration subsequent to the submission of the Swedes. It seems certain that a sense of oppression was feared by some and experienced by others. Acrelius says, "The terrible tyranny to which the Swedes were at that time sub- jected cannot be fully described. The flower of the Swedish male population were at once torn away and sent over to New Amsterdam, though everything was done as though it was with their free consent. The men were taken by force and placed on shipboard ; the women at home in their houses were abused, their property carried off, and their cattle slaughtered. Then it was the right time to send out a proclamation and call the people to take the oath of allegiance. Those who withheld themselves were held in con- tinual disfavor." If the foregoing be correct, the sturdy and unwarlike Swedes were truly to be com- mniserated with. It is undonbtedly true that some of their number keenly felt the loss of power resulting from the military incursion of the Dutch, and refused to take the oath of allegiance prescribed by the new ruler. These heroic men left the shores of the Dela-

ware, moving to Maryland, where many of their de- scendants are still living. It is also quite certain that some of the incorrigible followers of Printz and Rising, having refused to take the oath of allegiance, were transported to Manhattan. It seems probable that Acrelius, who wrote in 1759, drew largely from the official report 1 made by Governor Rising on his return liome in 1656, in which the Swedish Governor animadverts with great severity upon the conduct of the Dutch, and implores his government to send out a force of troops strong enough to recapture and forever

P.27

TAB. IV.

Ruyde

PEN

Lacus

SYLVA

San hier

NIA

Schonberg

Philadelphia

Remkocke's

1711112141

Pruumenhoek

Nieu Wafa

Grips holm

Nieu Gotenburg Upland

Fort Chre final

Fort

Nasfor

Mingues kil

Fort Kasımier

Arme Wanex

Warckens kel

Fort Elfsburg

Naratiçons

Bumties Hoeck

Graef

Hendrik

Swarendael

Hoerekil

Caep May

C. Cornelius

NOVA SVECIA

TABUCA

C.Hinlopen

ex Nie Vijfcheri del.

protect and uphold the New Swedeland on the Dela- ware and Schuylkill Rivers. There are good grounds, however, to question the accuracy of Acrelius and Rising as to the treatment and experience of the Swedes under the administration of the Hollanders. It does not appear that a single life was lost in the many quarrels and disputes which preceded or fol- lowed the Swedish submission, or that any outrages were committed upon their settlements by the In- dians, but that they were left to follow, in a general way, their own pursuits and inclinations, and main- tain their own habits and customs as a people. The following extract from a letter, signed by tbirty per- sons of their number, dated May 31, 1693, and for- warded to John Thelin, his Majesty's loyal subject

omniscient God, that I will remain faithful and obedient to the States- General of the United Netherlands, to the Director-General aud his Council, now or hereafter appointed. And I will remain so without giving aid or assistance, by word or deed, to any hostile undertaking or commotion, but will conduct myself as an obedient and faithful subject so long as I remain in the country of the South River, in the New Netb- erlands. So help me Almighty God."

1 Translation of Governor Rising's Report, by George P. Marsh : N. Y. Ilist. Collections, New Series, vol. i. p. 443.

view of Delaware

THE FIRST SWEDISH SETTLEMENTS.

and postmaster at Gottenburg, is suggestive of fru- gality and contentment, and what seems significant under the circumstances is, that the entire letter is without complaint : " We rejoice that his Majesty doth still bear unto us a tender and a Christian care. Therefore do we heartily desire, since it hath pleased his Majesty graciously to regard our wants, that there may be sent unto us two Swedish ministers who are well learned in the Holy Scriptures, and who may be able to defend them and ns against all false opposers, so that we may preserve our true Lutheran faith, which, if called to suffer for our faith, we are ready to seal with our blood. We also request that those ministers may be men of good moral lives and char- acter, so that they may instruct our youth by their example, and lead them into a pious and virtuous way of life. Further it is our humble desire that you would be pleased to send us three books of sermons, twelve Bibles, forty-two psalm-books, one hundred tracts, with two hundred catechisms and as many primers ; for which, when received, we promise punc- tual payment at such place as you may think fit to order. We do promise also a proper maintenance to the ministers that may be sent to us, and when this our letter is gone, it is our intention to buy a piece of land that shall belong to the church, and upon which the ministers may live. As to what concerns our situation in this country, we are for the most part husbandmen. We plow and sow and till the ground ; and as to our meat and drink, we live according to the old Swedish custom. This country is very rich and fruitful, and here grow all sorts of grain in great plenty, so that we are richly supplied with meat and drink; and we send out yearly to our neighbors on this continent and the neighboring islands bread, grain, flour, and oil. We have here also all sorts of beasts, fowls, and fishes. Our wives and daughters employ themselves in spinning wool and flax and many of them in weaving; so that we have great reason to thank the Almighty for his manifold mercies and benefits. God grant that we may also have good shepherds to feed us with his holy word and sacraments. We live also in peace and friendship with one another, and the Indians have not molested us for many years. Further, since this country has ceased to be under the government of Sweden, we are bound to acknowledge and declare for the sake of truth that we have been well and kindly treated, as well by the Dutch as by his Ma- jesty the King of England, our gracious sovereign ; on the other hand, we, the Swedes, have been and still are true to him in words and in deeds. We have always had over us good and gracious magistrates; and we live with one another in peace and quiet- ness." 1

Pending the closing scenes of these contentions be- tween the Hollanders and Swedes for supremacy on

the upper Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, the " Mer- cury," with a large number of Swedish emigrants on their way to their friends, anchored near Fort Casi- mir. On their arrival, much to their surprise and chagrin, they were refused permission either to pass the fort or to land at all. Governor Stuyvesant insisted upon their return to their homes, and was unyielding to all importunities coming from those on shipboard, or their friends and countrymen among the settlers of New Sweden. It was in this emergency that John Pappegoya, the son-in-law of Governor Printz, went to the rescue of his waiting and discomfited friends aboard the "Mercury" at anchor at Fort Casimir. Engaging a small party of Indians who were fa- miliar with the channel of the river, they surrepti- tiously joined their friends in the vessel, and under cover of darkness passed the fort unobserved by the Dutch. Spreading all possible canvas, they sailed up the river to Tinnecum, and there hastily landed before Stuyvesant succeeded in concerting measures to compel their departure or prevent them from land- ing. There was great rejoicing among the Swedes over the success of Pappegoya,? who evidently out- witted Stuyvesant. He was the hero of the hour, and his wife,3 Lady Armegot Printz, daughter of Governor Printz, was assiduous in her efforts to make the new emigrants comfortable, and in pro- viding for their permanent welfare among them.

The period from 1655 to the beginning of the Penn régime in 1682 witnessed many changes in the admin- istration of affairs of the early settlers, the details of which are too voluminous to be here particularized. Governors Paul Jacquet, Alrich, Beckman, and Hin- oyosa all left their impress on the history of the period, during which the identity of both Dutch and Swede was lost in the multitude of English emigrants and traders who then began the work of settlement on the Delaware River, hastened and encouraged by the administration of the Duke of York, who sub- stantially advanced the pretensions of the British government in claiming the whole line of Atlantic coast from Florida to Maine upon the discovery of Sebastian Cabot in 1497, and the charters granted by King Charles I. and Charles II.4

1 Aunals of the Swedes on the Delaware: Rev. J. C. Clay, D D.

2 Rudman does not mention Pappegoya in his account of this episode, Umut attributes the event to the good offices of friendly Indians, and io defense of the Dutch authority.

3 Lady Armegot Printz (for although the wife of Pappegoya she always insisted upou being addressed by her maiden name) lived at Tenakongh, the residence of her father. Although the situation was fine and the soil rich, she was not able to gain her support from it. She could neither obtain servants nor rent the faro to any one, eince every man who was able and willing to work owned more land than he needed. Whether from sympathy or on account of some debt owing to her, she received a support from the Holland government. This for some time consisted of " one fat ox, some fattened swine, and a sufficient supply of grain." She finally returned to Sweden .- Acrelius.

4 Some Englishmen take to themselves the honor that the whole of America was discovered by them first of all Christian nations, inasmuch as Christopher Columbus did not go beyond the Gulf of Mexico until the year 1498 to take possession of the country, although he visited some of the islands io 1492 .- Acrelius.

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

NOTE .- The following drinka, according to Acrelius, were used in America during these early times: " French wine, Frontegnac, Pontac, Port a Port, Lisbon wine, phial wine, sherry, Madeira wine, which is RI- together the most need. Sangaree is made of wine, water, sugar, a dash of nutmeg, with some leaves of balm put in. Hot wie, warored wine, is drunk warm, with sugar, cardamona, and cinnamon in it; sometimes also it has in it the yelka of eggs beaten up together and grains of all- spice, and then it is called mulled wine. Cherry wine: the berries ars pressed, the juice strained from them ; Muscovado or raw sugar is put in; then it ferments, and after some months becomes clear. Currant wine, or black raspberry wine, is made in the same manner. Apple wine (cider) : apples are ground up in a wooden mill, which is worked by a horse. Then they are placed under a press until the juice runs off, which is then put in a barrel, where it ferments, and after some time hecomes clear. When the apples are not of a goed sert, decayed, or fallen off too soon, the cider is boiled, and a few pounds of ground ginger is put into it, aod it becomes more whelesome and better for cooking; it keeps lenger, and does not fermeot so soon, but its taste is not 80 fresh as when it is unboiled. The fault with cider in that country is that, for the most part, the good and bad are mixed together. The cider ie drunk too fresh and too soon ; thus it has come into great dis- esteem, se lhat many persona refuse to taste it. The strong acid whichi it contains produces rust and verdigris, and frightens some frem its use by the fear that it may have the same effect upon the body. This liquor is usually unwholesome, causes ague when it is fresh, and celic when it is too old. The cemmen people damask the drink, mix ground ginger with it, er heat it with a red-hot iron. Cider royal is so called when some quarts ef brandy are thrown into a harrel of cider, along with sev- eral pounds of Muscovado sugar, whereby it becomes atronger and tastes better. If it is then left alone fern year or so, or taken over the sea, then drawn offinto bettles, with some raisins put in, it may deserve the name of apple wine. Cider royal of another kind is that in which one- half is cider and the ether mead, both freshly fermeuted together. Mulled cider is warmed, with sugar in it, with yolks of eggs and graine of allepice; sometimes, also, rum is put in to give it greater strength. Rum or sugar-brandy : this is made at the sugar plantations in the West India islande. It is in quality like French brandy, hut has no un- pleasant odor. It makes up a large part of the English and French commerce with the West Indin islanda. The strongest comes from Jamaica, is called Jamnica spirits, and is the favorite article for punch. Next in quality to this is the rum from Barbadoes, then that from An- tiquas, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Christopher, etc. The heaviest consumption is ja harvest-time, when the laborers most frequently take a sup, and then immediately a drink of water, from which the hody performs its work more easily and parspires hotter than when rye whisky or malt liquers are used. Raw dram, raw rum, is a drink of rum unmixed with anything. Egg dram, egg nog : the yelk of an egg is beaten up, and during the beating rum and sugar poured in. Cherry bounce is a drink made of the cherry juice with a quantity of rum in it. Bilberry dram is made in the same way. Punch is made of fresh spring-water, sugar, lemon-juice, and Jamaica spirits. Instead of lemons, a West India fruit called limes, or its juice, which is imported in flaske, is used. Punch is always drunk cold, but sometimes a slice of bread ie toasted and placed in it warm to moderate the celd in winter-time, or it is heated with a red-hot iron. Punch is mostly used just before dinner, and is called n 'meridian.' Mämm, made of water, sugar, and rum, is the most common drink in the interior of the country, and lins set up many a tavern-keeper. Manatham is made of amall heer, with rum and sugar. Tiff, or flip, is made of small beer, rum, and sugar, with n slice of hread toasted and buttered. Het rum, warmned with sugar and graine of allspice, customary at funerals. Mulled rum, warmned with egg-yolks and allspice. Hetch pot, warmed beer with rum in it. Sampson is warmed cider with rum in it. Greg is water and rum. Sling, or leng sup, half water and half rum, with sugar in it. Mint-water, distilled from mint, mixed in the rum, to make a drink fer strengthening the stomach. Egg punch, of yolks of eggs, rum, sugar, and warm water. Milk punch, of milk, rum, sugar, and grated nutmeg over it ; it is much used in the summer-time, and is considered goed for dysentery and Inese howels. Sillibut is made of lukewarm milk, wine, and sugar ; it is used in summer-time as n cooling beverage. Milk and water is the commen drink of the people. Still liquor, brandy made of peaches or apples without the addition of any grain, is not regarded ns good ns rum. Whiskey is brandy made ef grain; it is used for up in the interior of the country, where rum is very dear, on account of the transportation. Beer is brewed in the towne; is browa, thick, and unpalatable; is drunk by the common people. Small beer. from molasses, When the water is warmed, the molasses is poured in with a little malt or whest-brau, and is well ahaken together;

afterwards a lay of hops and yeast is added, and then it is put in a keg, where it ferments, and the next day is clear and ready for use. It is mere wheleseme, pleasanter to the taste, and milder to the stomach than any small beer of malt. Spruce beer is a kind of small beer, which is called in Swedish "lärda tidningarne" (learned newspapere). The twigs of spruce-pine are boiled in the malt so as to give it a pleasant taste, and then molasses is used as in the preceding. The Swedish pine is thought to be serviceable in the same way. Table beer made ef per- simmons. The persimmon is a fruit like our egg-plum. When these have been well frosted, they are pounded along with their seeds, mixed up with wheat-bran, made into large loaves, and baked in the oven; then, whenever desired, pieces of this are taken and moistened, and with these the drink is brewed. Mead is made of honey and water boiled together, which ferments of itself in the cask. The stronger it is of honey the longer it takes to ferment. Drunk in this country too 8000 it causes sickness of the stomach and headache. Besides these they use the liquors called cerdials, such as anise-water, cinnamon- water, appelcin-water, and othera scarcely to be enumerated, as also drops te pour into wine and brandy almost without end. Tea is a drink very commonly used. No one is so high ae to despise it, nor any one 80 low se net to think himself werthy ef it. It is net drunk oftener than twice a day. It is always drunk by the commen people with raw sugar in it. Brandy in tea is called lese. Coffee comes from Martinica, St. Domingo, and Surinam ; is sold in large qunotities, and used for break- fast. Chocolate is in general use for breakfast and supper. It is drunk with a speen; sometimes prepared with a little milk, but mostly only with water."

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 19

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534