BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME 
 FROM THE 
 
 SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 M^nvQ W. Sage 
 
 1891 
 
 amu^G ..MiC 
 
 3777 
 
Cornell University Ubrary 
 E 83.655.B85 1863 
 
 Brief and true narrative of the hostte 
 
 3 1924 028 671 034 .m.™! 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this bool< is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028671034 
 
A 
 
 BRIEF AND TRUE 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Hostile Conduct 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BARBAROUS NATIVES 
 
 TOWARDS 
 
 Cl)e Dutcl) iSation* 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 E. B. O'CALLAGHAN. 
 
 ALBANY : 
 
 J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 
 MDCCCLXIII. 
 
 3 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 'Ti^HE Paper, of which the following is a 
 Tranjlation, is to be found in Vol. VI of 
 the Original Dutch MSS. in the Secretary's 
 Office, Albany, N. Y. It conjijls of a Petition 
 dated 31JI OSober, 1655, one copy of which 
 was addrejed to the States General of the 
 United Netherlands ; another to the BurgomaJ"- 
 ters and Common Council of the City of Am- 
 jlerdam, and a third to the Directors of^the 
 Wejl India Company, Chamber at Amjlerdam. 
 In order to throw further light on the jubjeS, 
 a few illujlrative Documents are added in the 
 Appendix. 
 
NARRATIVE. 
 
 W 
 
 E Your High Mighti- Petition from 
 O O New Nether- 
 
 neffes and Honours Pe- ^^"''" 
 
 tioners, with due Reverence 
 and in all Humility, and fb far 
 as our Knowledge extends, with 
 all Juftice and Truth, repre- 
 fent — That through God's 
 Providence and under Your 
 Commiflion and Prbtedlion, 
 and with the Knowledge and 
 Confent of the Lord Diredtors, 
 we have tranfported ourfelves 
 and fettled down in this Pro- 
 
4 Brief Narrative of 
 New Nether- vincc of Nens) Netherlands — a 
 
 land like Fa- ^ 
 
 cumate &c" Country not varying from our 
 Fatherland in refpedl of Cli- 
 mate and Fertility— in which, 
 too, we Your Petitioners and 
 Subjedis can eafily earn a Live- 
 lihood; have for a long time 
 fupported ourfelves and could 
 indeed ftill further live with 
 apparent Hope of producing 
 there many and divers good 
 Crops and Commodities, if 
 we could be in any wife fe- 
 
 Hoffiiitiesof cured, and remain protedled 
 
 the Natives ' JT 
 
 TZt "' from the Moleftations, Vexa- 
 tions and Murders of the Native 
 Barbarians, at whofe Hands we 
 have fuffered many Infolencies, 
 in the Slaying of our Cattle 
 
Indian Hoftilities. 5 
 
 and Killing of our People, with 
 the Particulars whereof, in paft 
 Times, we will not incumber 
 Your Honours. 
 
 In order not to fpin out a 
 too tedious Relation nor divert 
 Your Attention from graver 
 and weightier Affairs, we will 
 only fay, in a word, that after 
 a two years' War had been 
 waged againft the Dutch by 
 divers barbarous Indian Tribes, 
 the Lawfulnefs or Unlawfulnefs 
 whereof we will not difcufs to 
 any one's Difparagement, a 
 firm and irrefragable Peace was ?«»« conciud- 
 
 O ed in 1645. 
 
 finally concluded, in the Year 
 Sixteen Hundred Five and 
 Forty, with the Natives afore- 
 
6 Brief Narrative of 
 Conditions fkid, Oil tHc Condltions here- 
 
 thereof. 
 
 unto annexed. 
 Since then In- Thofe Indian Natlons have, 
 
 dians kill many 
 
 deT/everamr-' fince that timc, without any 
 
 fons. C C 1 
 
 caule as tar as we know, not 
 only flain and killed many- 
 Animals, fuch as Cows, Horfes 
 and Hogs, your Subje6ls' pro- 
 perty, but even cruelly mur- 
 dered ten Perfons, videlicet: 
 Firft, Symon Walingen in the 
 fecond Year after the Peace 
 had been concluded -, the Wife 
 of yan Pieterfen on Lrong If- 
 land in the year Sixteen Hun- 
 dred One and Fifty; in the 
 Year Sixteen Hundred and 
 Fifty-two^ four Perfons on this 
 Ifland of Manhattan; again. 
 
Indian Hoftilities. 7 
 
 one Year after that, three Peo- 
 ple on Staten IJland, and laft 
 Year Jochim Pieterfen Kuyter 
 in his own Houfe. 
 
 The Supreme Government The Murderers 
 
 f-i • -|-^ • 111 11 demanded, but 
 
 tnis rrovmce hath demanded "« 6"=" »?■ 
 
 the Murderers, but thefe have 
 
 always been fefufed; certes, 
 
 have never been forthcoming j 
 
 and for the fake of Peace and 
 
 out of confideration for the 
 
 good and advantage of the 
 
 Country and its People, the 
 
 Government hath without any 
 
 Manifeftation of Hoftility or infraaion of 
 
 Revenge, winked at this In- 
 
 fradtion of the Peace. 
 
 Now, it hath further come 
 
 to pafs, that on xh.Q fifteenth of 
 
 the Peace 
 winked at. 
 
8 Brief Narrative of 
 Direflor Gene- tHc kft moiith, September — 
 
 ral goes to re- 
 
 frthe'^solh ^ft^^ th^ Honourable the Di- 
 red:or General had, purluant 
 to Your Honours' Orders and 
 Defpatches, taken his Depar- 
 ture, with the few Soldiers 
 belonging to this Province, for 
 the South River of New Ne- 
 therlands for the purpofe of 
 refenting the Affronts and In- 
 fults fuffered from the Swedes^ 
 and of reducing that River 
 again under this Province — 
 (the Blefling of God on which 
 
 A large body ExDcdition wc moft gratefully 
 
 oi Savages land 1 D / 
 
 atNewAmfter- 1 1 J \ y . T-v 
 
 dam. 2s:vLVvovf\&Qi^€)---jourteen Days 
 
 after the Hon^^« Diredor's De- 
 parture, very early in the 
 Morning,, nigh this City of 
 
behaviour. 
 
 Indian Hoftilities. 9 
 
 New Amfierdam^ arrived fixty- 
 four Canoes full of Indians^ 
 who before fcarcely anyone Their infoiem 
 was yet rifen fcattered them- 
 felves throughout this City, and 
 during the following Day, in 
 many Houfes and to divers 
 Burghers offered numerous In- 
 fults, all which to particularize 
 would draw this humble Peti- 
 tion to too great a length. 
 
 Thereupon their Sackimas^ Their sacicimas 
 
 called before 
 
 or Chiefs, being fummoned be- 'hecouncuand 
 
 fore the Council, gave very fair 
 Words, and promifed to depart 
 before the Evening. They re- 
 mained, neverthelefs, with what 
 Intent God the Lord only knows. 
 Meanwhile, the honeft Burgh- 
 
 promife to de- 
 part. 
 
doubled. 
 
 lo Brief Narrative of 
 ers, irritated at the Infults fuf- 
 fered throughout that Day, very 
 prudently and through fear of 
 
 The Guards further Mifchief, doubled the 
 Guards during the following 
 Night, by command of the re- 
 maining Councillors and other 
 Officers. About eight o'clock, 
 
 Mr. Leendert- onc P ttulus Leendertfefi was, 
 = according to his Declaration, 
 threatened with an Axe, and 
 the late Fifcal Van Dyck was 
 wounded with an Arrow with- 
 in this City. Thereupon great 
 Uproar and Tumult arofe; 
 fome of the Burghers got into 
 
 confeqnent Conflidi with thc IndJaHs, and 
 fome, though few, were killed 
 on both Sides. Shortly after- 
 
 fen threatened 
 and the late 
 Fifcal wounded. 
 
 conflifi ; fame 
 killed 
 
Indian Hojiilities. ii 
 wards and throughout the whole 
 of the following Night, thofe 
 Indian Tribes laid wafte the Temue devaf- 
 
 tationofthefur- 
 
 Settlements by a terrible Fire ™:;f^'^''"=- 
 and Maflacre to fuch an extent 
 that, in three Days, full Fifty 
 Chriftians were murdered and Numbers mur- 
 
 dered and lOO 
 
 put to Death ; over One Hun- "''""'""•• 
 dred^ moftly Women and Child- 
 ren, were captivated, whereof 
 Sixty to Seventy were afterwards 
 ranfomed at a great Expenfe, 
 the Balance ftill remaining in 
 their Hands ; Twenty-eight 
 Bouweries and a number of 
 Plantations were burnt with full Farms uid 
 
 watte and crops 
 
 Twelve to Fifteen Hundred^'^'^'^- 
 Skepels of Grain ; and Five to 
 Six Hundred head of Cattle 
 
1 2 Brief Narrative of 
 either killed or ftill in pofTeflion 
 of the Barbarians. Truly, 
 Right Honorable, Your Subjects 
 and humble Petitioners have at 
 the hands of thefe Barbarous 
 
 Eftimated loft. Savagcs, fufFered a lofs of twice 
 One Hundred Thoufand Guil- 
 ders ; and over Three Hundred 
 Souls, exclufive of thofe who 
 have been flain or led away 
 into Captivity, are difpofleffed 
 of their Properties and not left 
 wherewithall to provide Food 
 and Raiment either for them- 
 felves or their Families, have 
 
 impoverifhed now become a Burthen to the 
 
 condition of <- i . 
 
 N«^ Nether- Burghers of this City alone. 
 Finally, the Country in general 
 is fo impoverifhed that it will 
 
Indian Hojiilities. 13 
 not for Years be brought back 
 to the flourifliing Condition in 
 which it was Six fhort Weeks 
 ago. 
 
 When to all this is fuper- 
 added the Fear which poflefles, 
 and not without reafon, the 
 maiority of the Inhabitants of inhabitants un- 
 
 ^ J J - willing to re- 
 
 being again as luddenly fur- 
 prized, in cafe no Remedy, be 
 employed againft fo general a 
 Mailacre and fo vaft a Lofs, it 
 caufes them and many others 
 to be cautious, and afraid of 
 again returning to the Flat- 
 Land. Indeed, this is an Im- 
 poflibility to them, unlefs others 
 lend them a helping Hand. 
 From all which, then, in Con- 
 
 turn to their 
 Bouweries. 
 
14- Brief Narrative of 
 clufion, nothing is to be ex- 
 pedted through want of Culti- 
 vation of the Soil and Failure 
 Ruin of the of Crops, but Poverty, Want, 
 
 Country immi^ . 1 1 /• 1 
 
 °=°t. Famine, and the final and 
 
 utter Ruin of the Country. 
 
 We, Your Honours' Sub- 
 jects and humble Petitioners, 
 lay this fad and forrowful Con- 
 dition of ourfelves and of the 
 Country before you, in all 
 Reverence and Humility, im- 
 ploring at the fame time 
 
 Affiftance and Couufel aud Affiftancc how to 
 
 advice alked for. 1 /• t» 1 
 
 a6t towards thofe Barbarous 
 Tribes in return for thefe and 
 other Murders, Affronts and 
 ferious Loffes. Moft unwilling 
 fhould we be, without your 
 
Indian Hojiilities. 15 
 Honours' previous Knowledge, 
 Counfel and Help, to initiate 
 an open War, which it is na- 
 turally impoffible for us to 
 wage and bring to a defirable unabietowage 
 
 *-^ Cj war unlefs aid- 
 
 Iffue, unlefs next to God's Af- "^• 
 fiftance, we obtain Help and 
 Aid from our beloved Father- 
 land. 
 
 All which being duly con- 
 fidered by us, together with 
 the prefent Inability of the 
 Hon^^^ Directors of the Incor- send an agent 
 
 to the Weft In- 
 
 porated Weft India Company **" ^"'"p""'^ ' 
 to fend us fuch and fo fpeedy 
 Succour as the Neceftity and 
 Circumftances of the Country 
 in general demand, we deem 
 it expedient, in order to avoid 
 
1 6 Brief Narrative of 
 all Exceptions and Charges of 
 Negledt, in not having given 
 Information to the Supreme 
 Government, to addrefs this 
 our humble Supplication firft 
 and foremoft to Your Honours 
 (of the Company) and in addi- 
 tion, but with your previous 
 To the States Knowlcdgc aud Approbation, to 
 
 General, and to '-' -^ ^ 
 
 le's o^fAmftet their High Mightineffes and 
 the Moft Worfhipful the Re- 
 gents of the City Amfterdam, 
 or wherever elfe Your Honours 
 will direct Cornelis facobfen 
 Steenwyckf OUT Agent. 
 
 The Succour wherewith we 
 hope, with God's merciful Help 
 and Affiftance, to reduce the 
 aforefaid Barbarous Tribes to 
 
Indian Hoftiiities, 17 
 to Obedience, and to poffef^ the 
 Land again in Peace and with- 
 out Fear, fliould, with Submif- 
 fion to your Honours' better 
 Judgment, confift of T/Sr^^ or Number of foi- 
 
 *' diers required ; 
 
 Four Thoufandi'^) good Soldiers, "''''"""^• 
 armed one-half with Match- 
 locks, one-half with Wheel- 
 locks [Snaphance) of three and 
 one-half feet Barrel, carrying 
 jSfxfeen Bullets to the Pound 
 and no more, who after the 
 Work is done would be willing 
 to fettle in the Country for the 
 increafe of its Population. A 
 Supply to the amount of Thirty 
 or Forty Thoufand Guilders, in 
 
 («) The figures are 3 or 400 in ano- 
 ther draft of the petition. 
 3 
 
1 8 Brief Narrative of 
 fuitable Commodities for the 
 Clothing and Support of the 
 Military, is moft urgently re- 
 quired, together with fome 
 neceflary Ammunition accord- 
 ing to the annexed Lift. 
 
 Right Honourable Lords and 
 
 Patroons : 
 
 We Your Honours' Subjects 
 and Petitioners humbly fuppli^ 
 cate you to take this our humble 
 Remonftrance and Supplication 
 into your ferious Confideration, 
 and fb to favor us, that we may 
 Tpeedily receive good Advice 
 and Afliftance before greater 
 .Mifchiefs overtake your Sub- 
 je6ts either, here or on the rcr- 
 
Indian Hojiilities. 19 
 duced South River. Which 
 doing you will obligate us, 
 and all other your Honours' 
 SubjeAs, to pray conftantly for 
 your Honours' Profperity, and 
 to remain, Right Honourable, 
 Prudent and Honourable Lords, 
 Your Honours' 
 Humble Servants. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Treaty of Sixteen Hundred and 
 Forty-Jive, 
 
 THIS day, the Thirtieth of Auguji, 
 1645;, before the Diredtor and 
 Council in prefence of the en- 
 tire Commonalty, appeared in Fort Am- 
 flerdam thefe Sackemakers or Indian 
 Chiefs, both for themfelves and adling 
 on the behalf of the circumjacent Chiefs, 
 'To-wit : 
 
 Oratany Chief of Achkinckejhacky ; 
 Sejekemus and William, Chiefs of Tappaen 
 and Rechgawawanck ; Pacham, Penne- 
 keck, who were here yefterday and left 
 Power with the former ; refponding alfo 
 for thofe of Onany and their Neighbours ; 
 Mayawwetinnemin for thofe of Marech- 
 
2 2 Appendix. 
 
 kaivicky Nayeck and their Neighbours; 
 together with Aepjen, in perfon, fpeaking 
 for the Wappinex, Wiquacjkeckx, Sint- 
 Jings and Kichtawangs ; 
 
 I. They agree to and conclude a firm, 
 irrefragable Peace with us, which they, 
 have promifed, and do promife to hold 
 faft and nevermore to break. 
 
 II. If it come to pafs, which God forr 
 bid, that any Difficulty fhould arifci {be- 
 tween us and them, no War fhall be 
 commenced on that Account, but they 
 
 , fhall apply to our Governour and we to 
 their Sackemakers, and if any one be 
 killed or murdered, Juftice fhall be im- 
 mediately done to the Murderer, and we 
 fhall live henceforth in all Friendfhip to- 
 gether. 
 
 III. They fhall not come armed near 
 any Chriflians' Houfes on this Ifland of 
 Manhatan, and - we will not • approach 
 theirs with Guns, unlefs accompanied by 
 an Indian to give them Warning. 
 
Appendix. 23 
 
 IV. And whereas they have ftill an 
 Englifh Maiden with them, whom they 
 have promifed to convey to the Englifh 
 at Stamford; this they likewife promife 
 to do, and if (he be not conveyed thither, 
 they, promife to bring her here and we 
 will pay them the Ranfom which the 
 Englifli have promifed for her. 
 
 All that is above written we promife 
 fhall be ftridtly obferved throughout the 
 whole. of AT^w Netherland. 
 ■.-. Thus done in the Fort, under the Blue 
 Sky, before the Council of New Nether- 
 land and the intire Commonalty thereunto 
 convoked, in ' Prefence of the Mohawk 
 vAmbafladors who were invited to attend 
 as . Mediators at this Negotiation of 
 Peace, and Claes Antonifen their Inter- 
 preter and Co-Mediator herein. Dated 
 as above. The Original was figned with 
 
 The mark of Sisiadego. 
 
 The mark of Claes Noorman. 
 
 The mark of Oratanim. 
 
24- Appendix, 
 
 The mark of Auronge. 
 
 The mark of Sesekemus. 
 
 The mark of William of Tappaen. 
 
 William Kieft. 
 
 La Montagne. 
 The mark of Jacob Stoffelsen. 
 
 John Onderhil. 
 
 Francis Douthey. 
 
 Go. Bacxter. 
 
 Richard Smith. 
 
 Gysbert Opdyc. 
 The mark of Aepje Sachem of the 
 Mahikanders. 
 
 Jan Eversen Bout. 
 
 Oloff Stevensen. 
 
 CORNELIS VaNDER HoYKENS. 
 
 The mark of Cornelis Tonissen. 
 
 Lower ftood : 
 
 To my knowledge, 
 (Signed) Cornelis Van Tienhouen, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
Appendix. 25 
 
 Dutch Inhabitants of Grave/end to the 
 DireSior and Council. 
 
 Honourable, wife, prudent and difcreet Sirs, 
 The Direftor General and 
 
 Council of New Netherland, 
 
 Health. 
 
 Gravefend, Sept. 8, 1655. 
 Great and RefpeSiful Lords! 
 
 WE hear here dayly ftrange and 
 uncouth Reports from Heem- 
 fted, Newtown and other 
 places, that the Savages intend to root 
 out the Dutch among the Englifh, de- 
 manding from the Englifh at Grave- 
 fend, that they will feparate themfelves 
 from us, to efcape the danger of lofing, 
 with us, their Lives and Property, They 
 read us yefterday evening, when all were 
 under arms, a Letter to the fame purpofe, 
 of which we here include a copy, with 
 many different reports, too long to be in- 
 ferted here, all have a bearing to induce 
 4 
 
26 Appendix. 
 
 us to depart from here, as was propofed 
 to us by Tilton and the Magiflrate, it 
 being the fafeft way for us, to preferve 
 our Lives and Property to feparate our- 
 felves from them, and to depart to the 
 Manhattans, by which means the Enghfli 
 too might be faved, as they pretended. 
 But if we were unwilling to depart, that 
 then neverthelefs they would leave no- 
 thing untried to fave us. A poor Confo- 
 lation indeed, as it appears to us if the 
 Indians approach in confiderable num- 
 bers. It is further faid, that the Indians 
 from the North, and the adjacent places, 
 were making great preparations to exe- 
 cute their project, fo that they are ur- 
 gently exhorting us to depart and fave 
 our Lives as fpeedily as it is poffible. 
 
 By thefe ftrong perfuafions we are in- 
 deed perplexed and confounded, not 
 knowing what to do or to adt, to whom 
 to addrefs ourfelves, except to God Al- 
 mighty and your Honours, who, we are 
 
Appendix. 27 
 
 confident, are willing in this dire neceffity 
 to affift us with your Wifdom and Power, 
 for the Water has already nearly reached 
 our Lips. If we leave this fpot, then 
 Long Ifland no longer has Dutch people 
 for inhabitants. Whereupon we pre- 
 fume, it well deferves the Attention of 
 your Honours to confider what our Situa- 
 tion requires, although we are unable to 
 difcover what to do in this perilous Situa- 
 tion. We are every day on the alert on 
 foot and on horfeback, to obtain one 
 another's opinion from which your Ho- 
 nours may prefume what Fate is threaten- 
 ing us. 
 
 Yefterday Tilton and the Sheriff of 
 Newtown arrived here, to-day they re- 
 turn together from here. If your Hon. 
 deemed it advifable to fave us and Long 
 Ifland, a fmall force would be fully ade- 
 quate to efFed: this Purpofe. But, if your 
 Honours did prefer to fee our arrival at 
 the Fort, our hands and feet are unable 
 
28 Appendix. 
 
 to provide for the fafety of our wives and 
 children, not even to procure them Vic- 
 tuals. In that cafe it would be indif- 
 penfable to fend a well armed VefTel to- 
 wards Anthony Janfen's, with fuch a 
 quantity of Provilions as may be deemed 
 proper. But we truft our fituation to 
 your Wifdom and Prudence, confident that 
 you will refolve what is beft and defirable, 
 and we exped: your Advice and Orders, 
 agreeably to which we fhall regulate our 
 conduft. We are and remain your 
 Honours Subjects, 
 
 Jacobus Van Corler. 
 
 Jan Thomassen. 
 
 HUYBERT JaNSEN HoOCK. 
 
 Jacob Hellekas. 
 
 LuYCAS Vander Liphorst. 
 
 Barent Baltes. 
 ■f- mark of Hendrick Cornelissen. 
 ( ) mark of Jan Jacobsen. 
 C mark of Willam Willemsen. 
 X mark of Cornelis Beeckeman. 
 
Appendix. 29 
 
 Mr. Thomas Wheeler to the People of 
 Grave/end, L. I. 
 
 Weft Chefter, 27 Sept., 1655. 
 
 RESPECTED friends— After my 
 refpedls prefented unto you. I am 
 fenfible of your feares ; and it is 
 not without grounds : I feare to ufe the 
 heft means, as is in my power. I fhall not 
 be wanting in mee to you for your pre- 
 fervation, to fpeake with the Indians ; 
 wee know not how, the Bearer thereof 
 can further infocme you, but if you fend 
 a meffenger about Saterday with your 
 minde, I thincke our Saggamaker will 
 be hear, but if you do not, my true en- 
 deavor fhall be ufed for your Safetye and 
 and my weake advife to you at prefent, 
 if you intend your prefervation and alfoe 
 the Dutch, that are amongft, if they 
 meane to fave they re Lives, there muft be 
 meanes ufed for them, to retourne to 
 their own contremen for fafe guard ; for 
 
30 Appendix. 
 
 this I fully underftand, that the Indians 
 will pick them out of every Englifh 
 towne upon the Ifland and in New- 
 England. It is a trouble to our Sagga- 
 mackers, that there is fo many Dutch 
 among you, for feare they fliould wrong 
 you in killing of them. Soe defiring the 
 Lord to protedt you I reft 
 
 Thos. Wheler. 
 
 The Indians intend no wrong to the 
 Englifh, if they affift not the Dutch with 
 men or provifion. 
 
 Affidavit as to the Hojitlity of the Indians. 
 
 JOSEPH SafFord, Thomas Read, re- 
 fiding near Mefpath's kill, declare, 
 that they were informed this day by 
 Jofeph Fowler, Goodman Beets, Samuel 
 Tow, and his fon-in-law William Read, 
 that fome of the Inhabitants of Grave- 
 fend had been at Weftchefter, and that 
 there the Sachemakers of the Savages had 
 been at Lieutenant Wheeler, and that 
 
Appendix. 3 1 
 
 they intended to fend to the Englifli Vil- 
 lages on Long Ifland, that thefe (hould 
 deliver in their hands Tomas Nuton and 
 Harry ^Nuton and Edward Jefop, be- 
 caufe they in that night, when the 
 Savages committed fo much mifchief, af- 
 fifted the Dutch in the Fort. Further, 
 that the Savages prohibited the Englifh 
 to bring any provifions whatever to the 
 Manhattans, or any fire wood, or affift 
 them with any fort of victuals ; and in 
 cafe the Englifh affifted the Dutch with 
 fire wood or any kind of victuals, that 
 then they would burn their hamlets and 
 houfes. They declared that this was 
 true, and were willing to confirm it with 
 their oath. 
 
 Joseph Safford. 
 The mark of Thomas Read. 
 Lower flood : 
 
 This was written in the prefence of the 
 Hon. La Montagne, and the Hon. Bur- 
 gomafler Allard Antony, in whofe pre- 
 
32 Appendix. 
 
 fence the witnefles took their oaths in the 
 hands of the Attorney General. 
 
 La Montagne. 
 
 Allard Athony. 
 8 September, 1655. 
 
 Opinion of DireStor Stuyuefant. 
 
 WE concur in the general Opinion 
 that the Indians had, on their 
 firft Arrival, no other intention 
 than to wage War againft the Savages on 
 the eaft End of Long Ifland. We have 
 come to this Conclufion from various 
 Reafons too long to be detailed here ; and 
 that a culpable want of Vigilance, and a 
 too hafty Rafhnefs on the part of a few 
 hot-headed Spirits, had diverted the In- 
 dians and been the caufe of the dreadful 
 Confequences and enormous LofTes. 
 
I 
 
 Appendix. 33 
 
 Opinion of Councillor La Montagne. 
 
 'T muft be firft afcertained whe- 
 ther the Indians were the firft 
 Aggreffors or not. This muft 
 be determined from their previous Adiion, 
 for granting that they did not intend any 
 Harm in their Proceeding, yet having 
 excited a reafonable Sufpicion, and occa- 
 fioned this Conflict, they will always be 
 deemed the Inftigators and Aggreflbrs, 
 and therefore the Caufa movens thereof. 
 
 And ^rjl : Was not their unfeafonable, 
 unannounced and unauthorized colledling 
 here of Nineteen hundred Savages, Eight 
 hundred oi whom had already landed, to 
 make an attack on Fifty or Sixty^ con- 
 trary to their ufual Cuftoms, fufficient to 
 create a Sufpicion of an evil Intent ? and 
 did not the intoUerable Infolencies which 
 they committed in breaking into Mr. 
 Allerton's Houfe, and beating fome Bur- 
 ghers in their own Houfes, increafe that 
 5 
 
34 Appendix. 
 
 Sufpicion afterwards ? Did not their re- 
 maining here, contrary to their Promife, 
 and the Murder which they fought to 
 commit, after the fetting of the Watch, 
 on Captain Paulus Leendertfen, afford 
 fufficient Grounds for concluding an evil 
 Intention on their part? And were not 
 all the Burghers, who were to be mufter- 
 ed in the Fort for its Security, and being 
 there (fince they were not called out to 
 guard the Fort only but to protedt the 
 intire Place), were they not in duty bound 
 to fuccour any Burgher who cried out. 
 Murder ! Help ! And coming there, and 
 finding the Burgher wounded in the 
 Breaft by an Arrow, were they not bound 
 to run to the Indians for the purpofe of 
 examining their Faces, and when they 
 found them with Arms and Guns, were 
 they not juftified in making a ftand againft 
 
 them? 
 
 Before the Attack, they had murdered, 
 in the North, Ten of our People at dif- 
 
Appendix. 35 
 
 ferent Times, contrary to the Peace con- 
 cluded between them and us, without 
 manifefting the leaft; Willingnefs to make 
 us any Reparation. After the Attack, they 
 flaughtered ever fo many People, Men, 
 Women and Children ; took numbers of 
 Prifoners ; burned many Bouweries and 
 Plantations, and deftroyed a Quantity of 
 Cattle, in violation of the Article of the 
 Peace ipecially fought for by them, 
 which provided — That in cafe any of our 
 People or theirs happened to be killed^ no 
 War fhall be waged on that account againji 
 each other, before and until Reparation and 
 Accommodation had been applied for, and 
 
 refufed. 
 
 Thofe of Ahafiemes, Hachkinkejhacky, 
 Tappan and others were alfo in this 
 Attack. They did our People the moft 
 Damage and wrought the moft cruel 
 Barbarity by murdering jS^yf^ Men and 
 One Woman, whom they flaughtered in 
 -cold Blood, in violation of their Promife 
 
36 Appendix. 
 
 confirmed by an Oath, never taken before 
 by them. To- wit : May God who is above 
 wreak Vengeance on us if we do not keep 
 our Promife. 
 
 Opinion ofFifcal Van Tienhoven. 
 
 PEACE having been concluded with 
 the Natives in Auguft Sixteen 
 Hundred Jive and forty, both it 
 and its Provifions have been infringed 
 and broken by the Indians, as follow : 
 
 I. 
 
 By the Murder of Fourteen Chriftians 
 in divers Places and at divers Times, be- 
 tween Auguft Sixteen Hundred five and 
 forty and the fifteenth of September, Sixteen 
 Hundred five and fifty. Although de- 
 manded according to the Treaty, we have 
 never been able to obtain Juftice much 
 lefs Satisfaction therefor, but on the con- 
 trary, they have paid us with Lies and 
 falfe Reports, as the Honourable the Di- 
 
Appendix. 37 
 
 redtdr- General, the Council, the Inhabi- 
 tants of this Country, and our Neighbours 
 well know. 
 
 11. 
 
 On the Seventeenth of laft September, 
 did the Indians violate and break the 
 Treaty of Peace by force in this City of 
 Amjlerdam, in manner as followeth : 
 
 Firji. Very early in the Morning, with- 
 out having given any previous notice, they 
 landed on the Shore within the Walls of 
 this City, with Sixty-four Canoes and 
 about Five hundred Men, all armed ; and 
 immediately after their arrival, before 
 fcarcely any Burghers were afoot, a large 
 Troop of them, in Arms, rufhed through 
 the Streets, and forcibly breaking open 
 Mr. Allerton's Houfe, knocking the 
 Lock off the Door, and beating the In- 
 mates, fearched the Premifes by main 
 Force, under Pretence of looking for 
 Northern Indians. They adbed in like 
 Manner, alfo, in many Houfes within 
 
38 Appendix. 
 
 this City, until, on the Complaint of the 
 Inhabitants and in order to prevent Mif- 
 chief, they were fhown from the Heere 
 Straete i") to the Shore of the North 
 River, where their Canoes lay, and they 
 had difembarked in the Morning. 
 
 The Chiefs or Sackimaas of the In- 
 dians, confifting of divers Nations, were 
 invited in a friendly Manner to appear at 
 the Council Chamber in the Fort. They 
 did fo, and were there aiked by the 
 Members of the Council then attending, 
 in the Prefence of the Burgomafters, 
 Schepens and the Burgher Military Offi- 
 cers, the Reafon for their coming fo 
 armed and without having given previous 
 Notice ; alfo, why they and their People 
 committed fuch Violence and Outrage 
 on the Burghers, breaking Locks, knock- 
 ing at Doors, pufhing People and fearch- 
 ing Houfes, which no Dutchman could 
 do without the Order and Authority of 
 
 (") Broadway. 
 
Appendix.- 39 
 
 the Government. Therefore, the Coun- 
 cillors prefent and the aforefaid Burgher 
 Officers requefted that the Indians, for 
 their and our greater Security and to 
 prevent Mifchief and Misfortune, would 
 depart before Sun-down from this Ifland 
 to the Nut Ifland. This they promifed 
 to do, whereupon they then took their 
 Departure. 
 
 In ftead of keeping their Promife to 
 depart, there came to them in the Eve- 
 ning 'Two Hundred armed Indians, who, 
 after the fetting of the Watch, fhot 
 Hendrick Van Dyck, late Fifcal, with an 
 Arrow in his Breaft, and threatened to 
 fhoot Paulus Leendertfen, Burgher- Cap- 
 tain, with an Arrow. Upon thefe and 
 other Occurrences, the Cry arofe — 
 Murder ! Murder ! the Indians are mur- 
 dering the Dutch! Whereupon the 
 Burghers ftationed in the Fort under 
 Arms in order to keep good Watch, ran, 
 on a further Outcry, in Confufion and 
 
40 Appendix, 
 
 without any Orders, fome through the 
 Gate, others over the Walls, fo that they 
 came into Conflidt with the Indians who 
 were lying ready about the Shore. Two 
 Dutchmen lay killed, and three wounded 
 on the Strand, and three Indians were 
 found dead. 
 
 This Rencountre having fo come to 
 pafs, the Indians taking their Courfe 
 acrofs the River and elfewhere, burnt 
 many Houfes, murdered and captivated 
 Chriftians, killed Cattle, and after a lapfe 
 of fome Days ftripped Staten IJland of 
 People and Houfes, which alfo, is in vio- 
 lation of the Articles of the Peace con- 
 cluded Anno Sixteen Hundred five and 
 firtyi whereby it was expreflly contrad:- 
 ed, That in cafe one or more Perfons were 
 killed or murdered^ no General War jhall 
 immediately follow, but the injured Party 
 jhall complain to the Chiefs or Rulers of 
 thofe who commit the Deed, in order that 
 fufiice be done to the MalefaSiors accord- 
 ing to Circumfiances. 
 
Appendix. 41 
 
 Lift of Teomanry, Men, Women and Chil- 
 dren, Men and Maid Servants, fent by 
 Baron Hendrick van de Capelle tot 
 Ryffel to New Netherland, in the Weft 
 Indies, on Staten Ifland, Jince May, 
 1 650, and •who furvived that cruel and 
 bloody DeJlruSlion by the Indians, in 
 September, 1655. 
 
 1 . Capt. Andriaen Pos, with wife, five 
 children, one fervant, one girl ; refide yet 
 on the Ifland. 
 
 2. Hendrik Werrinck, with wife, two 
 children, and one fervant ; refide on Man- 
 hattans. 
 
 3. Paul Derricks, wife, one child, and 
 one fervant j refide at Fort Orange. 
 
 4. Hendrik Marcellis, wife, two chil- 
 dren, one fervant ; refide at Fort Orange. 
 
 5. Jan Aertfen van Heerde, with wife 
 and eight children, refide at Manhattans. 
 
 6. Albert Gyibertfcn van Heerde, wife, 
 
 6 
 
4-2 Jippenatx. 
 
 four children, one fervant ; refide at Fort 
 Orange. 
 
 7. The wife of Arent van Hengel was 
 married with one Severyn, now living at 
 Manhattans. This woman hath a fon. 
 
 8. The widow of John van Oldenfeel, 
 named Elfken, married one Mandemaker, 
 with three children ; lives on Long Ifland. 
 
 9. The widow of Jan Weflelinck, mar- 
 ried to an Englifhman, being a carman 
 living at the Manhattans, with three 
 children. 
 
 » 10. Dylart, fervant of the deceafed 
 farmer, refides at Mefpathfkill. 
 
 1 1 . The wife of a Wheelwright, who 
 was engaged at Zutphen, named Her- 
 minken, refides at Fort Orange, and mar- 
 ried a Carpenter with two children. 
 
 1 2. Three children of corporal Gerrit 
 JaniTen van Steenwyck, tranfported hither 
 at the Baron's expenfe. 
 
 1 3. Wynold, fervant of deceafed Hans 
 Barentfen van Ofnabrugge, fent by Melyn 
 
Appendix. 43 
 
 towards the north, has left him again, 
 and has become an apprentice to a fhip 
 carpenter. 
 
 14. A boy of Barent Drieflen van 
 Oofteveng, lives with a farmer on Long 
 IQand. 
 
 15. A child from Heenderen, called 
 " the maimed child," refides at Breukelen, 
 oppofite Manhattans. 
 
 In all 67 living fouls. Recorded in 
 this manner at Zutphen, on the 14th 
 November, 1657, by the wife of Capt. 
 Pos, and by the farmer Jan Aertfen van 
 Heerde. 
 
 Proclamation. 
 
 Honourable, Beloved, Faithful ! 
 
 IT cannot, at leafl ought not, be un- 
 known to, or forgotten by, any 
 among us, that the all good and 
 gracious God hath vouchfafed to, and 
 beftowed upon, this budding Province 
 and the Inhabitants thereof, many fpecial 
 
44- Appendix. 
 
 Favours, Bleffings and Benefits, among 
 the leaft of which are an increafe of Po- 
 pulation ; a Merciful Protedtion againft a 
 menacing and dreaded War with our 
 Neighbours, unexpectedly transformed 
 into a wifhed-for and acceptable Peace ; 
 a particular augnientation of Profperity 
 and Trade, and a bountiful and blelTed 
 Harveft and continued Health. 
 
 As we ufed not with fufficieat care, 
 but rather ungratefully abufed thefe 
 Favours and many other of God's Special 
 Benefits and Blefiings, God hath been 
 moved for our Admonition, to change 
 his Favours towards us, vifiting and juftly 
 chaftening, if not punifliing, us at the 
 going out of the laft Year, by a fudden 
 and unexpefted Incurfion of the Wild 
 Barbarous Natives of thefe Lands, by 
 whofe cruel and murderous Hands many 
 Inhabitants of this Province were piti- 
 leflly murdered and bereft of Property 
 and Life; many Bouweries, Plantations 
 
Appendix. 4.5 
 
 and Houfes burned, and the common 
 Weal fo thrown back, that we may with 
 juftice exclaim with the Prophet in the 
 Lamentations: How hath the Lord 
 covered us with a Cloud in his Anger 
 and caft down from Heaven unto the 
 Earth the beauty of the Land : The Lord 
 hath fwallowed up our Habitations and 
 hath not pitied ; He hath cut off in His 
 fierce Anger our Horn ; He hath drawn 
 back His right Hand from before the 
 Enemy, and He burnt as a raging Fire, 
 which devoureth all around us, who ftill 
 are fpared like a Hovel in a Cucumber 
 Garden, as a warning that all of us {hall 
 in like Manner perifh, unlefs we turn us 
 from our Ingratitude and heinous Sins ; 
 we who ftill remain being Sinners no lefe 
 than the other Inhabitants of this Pro- 
 vince on whom we have feen fall not the 
 Tower of Siloh but the Wrath of God 
 out of the Heavens, which through want 
 of Care and true Penance is ftill hanging 
 over our Heads. 
 
46 Appendix. 
 
 In order then to deprecate this from 
 the All good God, and to draw again on 
 us, in place of His righteous Punifhment, 
 His gracious Favours, Bleffings and Be- 
 nefits, We the Dire6tor General and 
 Council of Neii} Netherlands have deemed 
 it highly neceffary to ordain a Day of Ge- 
 neral Failing and Prayer, vs^hich fhall be 
 holden on the firft Wednefday in the 
 Month of March, being the Jirjl day of 
 the faid Month ; therefore w^e charge all 
 our Subjefts to repair in the fore and after 
 Noon of the Day aforefaid, to the Church, 
 or where Men are wont to hear God's 
 Word, in order, after hearing the fame, 
 with contrite and humble Hearts, to in- 
 voke together, with one Accord, the Name 
 of the Lord ; to Pray and Implore His 
 Divine Majefty to be pleafed to ftay the 
 Flood of His Wrath and the Clouds of 
 His Anger, which began to pour down 
 on us, and to change them into Streams 
 of his ancient Favour and Mercy, avertr 
 
Appendix. 47 
 
 ing all deftroying War from us and all 
 our good Inhabitants, or fhould His Ma- 
 jefty otherwife order, for the Glory of 
 His Name, the wider Propagation of His 
 Gofpel and for the Security of this Pro- 
 vince and its Inhabitants, then that the 
 all Beneficent God would pleafe our 
 flender Might and Mean fo to blefs ; to 
 endue the Diredtor General and Council 
 together with all Inferiour Officers, People 
 and Subjects with Wifdom, Underftand- 
 ing and Fortitude, to the End that the 
 good Inhabitants, brought hither by his 
 Hand and outftretched Arm, and hitherto 
 protedted againft the Power and Cruelty 
 of a Barbarous People, may be taken and 
 remain henceforth fheltered under His 
 Wings, and that fuch Means may to that 
 End be defigned and put in pradtice as 
 His Majefty will vouchfafe to blefs to the 
 greater Glory of His Name. Likewife 
 to pray God the Lord for continuous 
 Health and Profperity of Trade and 
 
48 Appendix. 
 
 Agriculture, but chiefly for a proper and 
 grateful Ufe of his gracious Favours and 
 Benefits. 
 
 To the End that all this may be better, 
 more zealoufly and more unanimoufly 
 put in Pradice, we interdict and forbid, 
 during Divine Service, on the aforefaid 
 Day of Falling and Prayer, all playing of 
 Ball and Billiards, all Hunting, Fifhing, 
 Sailing, Plowing, Sowing, Mowing, and 
 all unlawful Games, fuch as Dice and In- 
 temperance, under pain of Arbitrary Cor- 
 redlion and Punifliment, hereunto pro- 
 vided. In like Manner, will we have all 
 Miniflers of God's Holy Word, within 
 our Government, admoniflied and re- 
 quefted to adapt their Sermons and Prayers 
 to the End aforefaid. Thus done and 
 concluded in our Council holden in Fort 
 Amjierdam in New Netherland the twenty- 
 /event h January, Anno 1656. 
 

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