)-( 0 - /V N SEYMOUR DURST When you leave, please leave this hook Because it has heen said "Sver'thing comes t' him who waits Except a loaned hook." AvEf^Y Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library First Settlement of tlie Keui Ketliertands. [COLLECTANEA ADAMANT^A. XXVII.) THE fmt Settlemenl of 1Flew |J)ork CONTAINING A LIST OF THE EARL V LMMIGRANTS TO NEW NETHERLAND; 1657-1664. From the Documentary Histoiy of New York,''' AND Ube Description anb ifirst Settlement of TRew metberlan^ Fj-om " Wassenaer's Historie 7)an Europa." IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. PRIVATELY PRINTED. EDINBURGH. iSSS. Tins Edition is limited to 275 small-paper and 75 laroe-paper copies. Xt6t Of i£arl\> 3mmiorant to mew metbei1anb6. TO DO^ew Eletbciiaut) ; 1057-1604. 1657- April ; In the Draetvat. Arent Janssen ; house carpenter, and wife and daughter, Marcus de Chousoy, and wife, two workmen, and two boys. Teunis Craey, from Venlo, and wife and four children and two servants. Heinrich Stoeft". Jacob Hendriclcsen Haen ; painter. Adriaen Vincent, 8 EARLY IMMIGRANTS ^ Johannis Smetiles. Dirk Buyskes. Decemiser; In the Gilded Otter. Claes Poawchon from Detniarsurn ; mason, Jan Jansen van den Bo3 ; mason, and his brother. Ditto ; In the Jan Baptiste. Jan Sudeich, and wife and two children. Claes Sudeich. Adam Breemen, from Aecken. Douvve Claessen from Medemblick j mason. Cornelis Barentsen Vande Kuyl. Thys Jacobscn, 'lO NEW NETHERLANDS. 9 1658. May; In the Moesman. Jan Adi'iaensen van Duyvelant. Christina Bleyers from Stoltenau. Ursel Dircks from Holstein, and two children. Geertzen Buyers. Ditto ; In the Gilded Beaver. Jan Barentsen house carpenterj and workman. Anthony de Mis from Hacrlem, and wife and two children. The wife of Andries vander Sluys j Clerk in Fort Orange, and child. Charel Fonteyn ; a Frenchman, and wife. Peter Claessen, frc)m Holstein ; farmer and wife and two children. Gerrit Gerritsen van Gilthuys 5 taylor. Jan Jans;n ; house carpenter, and wife and four children. Jan Gouwenberch, from Hoorn. Adriaen van Laer, from Amsterdam, and servant. Jan Gerretsen Buytenhuys ; baker, and wife, and sucking child. lO KAKLY IMMIGRANTS Willeni van Vredenburch. Cornells Andriessen Huojland ; taylor. Peter van Halea, from Utrecht, and wife, two children, and boy. Simon Bouchc. Cornells Hen Iricksen van Ens. Jan Evertsen van Gloockens. Tryntje Pieters : maiden. June; the Brownfish. Jannetje Volcicertse wife of Evert Luykesej baker, and daughter. Douwe Harmsen, from Friesland, and wife and four children. Adriaen Jansen, from Zea-land; fisherman. Francois Abrahamsen, from Flissingen. Joris Jansen, from Hoorn ; house carpenter. Jan Aerensen van Kampen; farmer. Jan Isbrands; rope maker. Huybert de Bruyn. Machteld Stoffelsen ; widow, is acquainted with agriculture. Dirck Smith, Ensign in the Company's service,* and a sucking child. * Served in the Esopus war with great credit j he died Anno 1660 to the regret of the Director General and council. His widow thereupon returned to Holland, TO NEW NETHERLANDS. II Jannetje Hermens ; maiden, and her brother Jan Harmensen. Maria Claesj maiden. Francisco de Gordosa from Davingen. Charles Caret. Jan Leynie, from Paris. Dorigeman Jansen, from Dordrecht and his bride. Claes Wolf, from the Elbe ; sailor. Harmen Dircksen from Norway and wife and child, Adam van Santen, and wife and two children. 12 EARLY IMMIGRANTS 1659. Fehruarv; In the FaWi. Jan Woutersen, from Ravesteyii ; shoemaker, and wife and daughter. Catalyntjs Craneiiburg ; maiden. Jan ran Coppenol, from Remsen j farmer, and wife and two children. Matthys Roslofs, from Denmark, and wife and child. Sopliia RoelofFs. Geertruy Jochems, from Hamburgh ; wife of Claes Claessen from Amersfoot, now in N. Nether- land J and two children, Peter Corneliss, from Holsteyn ; labourer. Peter Jacobs, from Holsteyn. Josyntje Verhagen, from MiJdleburg, and daughter. Saertge Hendricks, from Delft, Egbert Meynderts, from Amsterdam, and wife and child and servant. Jan Leurens Noorman and wife. Harmen Coerte«, from V oorhuysen, and wife and five children. Magalantje Teunis, from V oorhuysen, Feytje Dircks, GiWis Jansen van Garder, and wife and four children. 'J"0 NEW NETHERLANDS 13 Bastiaen Clement, from Doornick. Adriaen Fournoi, from Valenciennes, Jannetje Eyckers, from East Friesland. Joris Jorissen Townscn, from ReJfort ; mason, Nicholas Gillissen Marschal, ^ Wouter Gerritsen van Kootuyck. Jan Jacobsen, from Utrecht ; farmer, and wife, mother and two children. Arent Francken van Iperen. Dennys Isacksen, from Wyck by Daurstede, Weyntje Martens van Gorehem. Vroutje Gerrits, wife of Cosyn Gerritsen j wheel- wright. Jan Dircksen, from Akkmaer, and wife and three children. Nettert Jansen, from Embden. Epks Jacobs, from Harlingen 5 farmer, and wife and five sons. Stofflel Gerritsen from Laer, Jan Meynderts, from Iperen; farmer, and wife. Jan Barents Ameshof, from Amsterdam. Symon Drune from Henegouw. Hendrick Harmensen, from Amsterdam. Evert Cornellissen, from the vicinity of Amersfoort. Laurens Jacobs van der Wielen. Jannetje Theunis van Ysselstein. Jan Roelofsen, van Naerden ; farmer, Jacob Hendricks, from the Highland, and maid servant. 14 EARLY IMMIGRAXTS Goossen van Tvviller, from New-Kerk. Lavvrens Janssen, from Wormer. Jan Harmens, from Amersfoort ; taylor, and wife and four children. Evert Marschalj glasier, from Amsterdam and wife and daughter. Boele Roslofsen, Joncker, and wife and four chil- dren, besides his wife's sister and a boy. Ditto; In the Otter. Carel Bevois, from Leyden ; and wife and three children. Martin Warnarts Stolten, from Swoll. Cornelis Jansen vander veer j farmer. Jan Luycas, from Oldenseel ; shoemaker, and wife and suckling. Roelof Dircksen, from Sweden. Sweris Dirxsz, from Sweden. April; In the Beaver. Feter Arentsen Diesvelt j taylor. Amadeas Fougie, Frenchman, farmer. Jacques Reneau, Frenchman; agriculturer. TO NEW NETHERLANDS. 15 Jacques Monier, Preiichman 5 agriculturer. Fierre Monier, Frenchman ; agriculturer. Matthieu Savariau, Frenchman ; agriculturer. Pierre Grissaut, Frenchman; agriculturist. Maintien Jans, from Amstenlam; maiden. Peter FoUenaer, from Hasselt. Cornelis Michielsen, from Medemblick. Grietje Christians, from Tonningen. Claes J.insen, from Purmcrend ; wheelwright, and wife, servant and child. Marten van de Wert, from Utrecht ; hatter. Peter van Ecke; planter, from Leyden. Jacobus vanXJTC3E3E, CONTAINING A LIST, OF THE EARL Y IMMIGRANTS TO NEW NETHERLAND; 1657-1664. From the '•^ Docuineiitary History of Neiu York" AND Ube Bescnption auD first Settlement of lRev\^ inetf3erlan&t From " Wassenaer' s Historic 7)an Etiropa." IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. PRIVATELY PRINTED. EDINBURGH. 1S88. This Edition is limited to 275 small-paper and . 75 largi-papsr copies. N^w N'8tli('8f la-ad, nmr settlemeht of HEW HETHEHLAHG. [I^rom IVassenaer's Historic van Europa.^ T UMEROUS voyages realize so much profit for adventurers that they discover other countries, which they afterwards settle and plant. Virginia, a country lying in 42^^ degrees, is one of these. It was first peopled by the French ; afterwards by the English, and is to-day a flourishing colony. The Lords States General observing the great abundance of their people as well as their desire to plant other lands, allowed the West India company to settle that same country. Many from the United Colonies did formerly and do still trade there ;— yea, for 8 FIRST SETTTLEMENT the greater security of the traders, a castle — Fort Nassau — had been built on an island in 42 degrees, on the north side of the river I\Iontagne, now called Mauritius. But as the natives there were somewhat discontented, and not easily managed, the projectors abandoned it, intending now to plant a colony among the Maikans a nation lying 25 miles* on both sides of the river, upwards. This river, or the bay, lies in 40 degrees, running well in ; being as broad or wide as the Thames, and navigable fully fifty miles up, through divers nations, who sometimes manifest themselves with arrows, like enemies, sometimes like friends ; but when they had seen the ships once or twice, or traded with our people, they became altogether friendly. Below the Maikans are situate these tribes ; Mechkentowoon, Tapants, on the west side ; Wie- kagjock, Wyeck on the east side. Two nations lie there lower down at Klinckersberg. At the Fisher's hook are Pachany, Warcnecker Warra, wannankonckx : In one place, Esopes, are two or three tribes. The Manhates are situate at the mouth. In the interior are also many, as the Maquas. Full fifty miles further are found likewise many villages, all which come to this river to trade from the interior which is very swampy, great *The miles stated in this paper are Dutch. OI'" NEW NM'HERLA.N US. 9 quantities of water running to the river, over- flowing the adjoining countr}-, v.liich v\as fre- quently the cause that Fort Nassau lay under water and was abandoned. This country now called New NethePvLAXD is usually reached in seven or eight weeks from here. The course lies towards tlie Canary Islandsj thence to the Indian Islands, then towards tiie main land of Virginia, steering right across, leaving in fourteen days the Bahamas on the left, and the Bermudas on the right hand where the winds are variable with which the land is made. Respecting religion we as yet cannot learn that they have any knowledge of God, but there is something similar in repute among them. ^Yhat they have is set over them by the " Cabal" from ancestor to ancestor. They say that mention was made by their forefathers for many thousand moons, of good and evil spirits, to whose honour, it is supposed, they burn fires or sacrifices. They wish to stand well with the good spirits ; they like exhortations about them. The Ministry of their spiritual affairs is attended to by one they call Kitzinacka, which, I think, is priest. When any one among them is sick, he visits him ; sits by him and bawls, roars and cries like one possessed. If a man die, he is laid in the earth without a coffin, with all his costly garments of skins. This priest has no house of his own. He lodges where lO FIRST SETTLEMENT he pleases, or where he last officiated ; must not eat any food prepared by a married woman. It must be cooked by a maiden or old woman. He never cohabits with them, living like a capuchin. When a child arrives at the age of twelve, then they can determine whether he shall be a Kitsi' nacka or not. If tis so ruled, then he is elevated to such office. Becoming of age, he undertakes the exercise of it. All the natives pay particular attention to the sun, the moon, and the stars, as they are of as great interest to them, as to us, having like summer and winter. But geographers are aware that the length and shortness of the days differ, on account of situation. The first moon following that at the end of February is greatly honored by them. They watch it with great devotion, and as it rises they compliment it with a festival ; then they collect together from all quarters, and revel in their way, with wild game or fish, and drink clear river water to their fill, without being intoxi- cated. It appears that the year commences then, this moon being a harbinger of the spring. Shortly afterwards the women begin to prepare what is to be for food by planting, putting everything in a state of preparation, and carrying their seed into the field. They allow the succeeding moons to appear without any feasting ; but they celebrate the new August moon hy another festival, as their OF NEW NETHF:R LANDS II harvest then approaches. It is very abundant in consequence of the great mildness of the climate. The summers are frequently very hot, and the land moist, which produces labundance of fruit and grain. Indian corn is abundant there, and is pounded by the women, made into meal, and baked into cakes in the ashes, after the olden fashion, and used for food. As they care nothing for the spiritual, they direct their study principally to the physical, closely observing the seasons. The women there are the most experienced star gazers ; there is scarcely one of them but can name all the stars ; their rising, setting ; the position of the Arctos, that is the wagon, is as well known to them as to us, and they name them by other names. But Piim who dwells above they know not ; affording all us Christians an argument to thank Him, that He hath so beneficently favored us, leaving these in darkness ; so that what the apostle says is found to be true. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that shewelh mercy.* There is little authority known among these nations. They live almost all free. In each village, indeed, is found a person who is some- what above the others and commands absolutely when there is war and when they are gathered * Rom, ix. 12 FIRST SETTLEMENT from all the villages lo go on the war path. But the fight once ended, his superiority ceases. They are very much afraid of the dead ; but when they perceive that they must die, they are very brave and more ferocious than b/easts. When a lad courts a girl, he buys her generally in a neighbor- ing village, and this done, the daughter is then delivered to him by two or three other women, who come carrying on their heads meal, roots, corn and other articles, to the young man's hut, and he receives her. The dwellings are commonly circular ; with a vent hole above to let out the smoke; closed with four doors, consisting most of the bark of trees which are very abundant there. They sleep on ihc ground covered with leaves and skins. At their meals they sit on the ground. Each highly esteems his own children, who grow up very lively. The women sew skins into cloth- ing, prepare bread, cook the meat which the men hunt and kill with arrows, especially in the winter when all is bare in the fields and but scanty forage is to be picked off the snow ; then the animals approach the villages and are shot. It is very common among them for one man to buy and to have many wives, but not in one place ; when he journeys five or six miles he finds another wife who also takes care of him ; five or ten miles further, he again finds another wife who keeps house and so on to several ; commonly OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 13 buying up peltries through the country. But as those inland find that furs are sold cheap among them, they come down themselves to the rivers and trade with the nations as best they can. Also those who will trade with them must furnish them food at an inhabitant's in the village — let them cook their meat and fish there, as much as they like, and then they thank the trader. In other respects, they are extremely hospitable ; the one lodges with the other without any ceremony, on similar compensation. Those who come from the interior, yea thirty days journey, declare there is considerable water every where and that the upper country. is marshy; they make mention of great freshets which lay waste their lands; so that what many say may be true, that Hudson's Bay runs through to the South Sea, and is navigable, except when obstructed liy the ice to the north- vs'ard. It were desirable that it were once proved. Those who made the last voyage are of the same opinion, as they found all open sea, a rapid current and whales. They live in summer mostly on fish. The men repair to the river and catch a great rprnitity in a short lime, as it is full and furnijhes various sorts. The arrows they use are pointed with little bones, iron or copper, with which they are very expert, l)eing good marksmen. They can catch deer, fawns, hares and foxes and all such. The 14 FIRST SETTLEMENT country is full of game ; hogs, bears, leopards, yea lions, as appears by the skins which were brought on board. Oxen and horses there are none. In the woods are found all sorts of fruits ; plums, wild cherries, pears ; yea, fruits in great profusion. Tobacco is planted in abundance, but much better grows wild in Brazil ; it is called Virginian. Vines grow wild there ; were there vintagers and were they acquainted with the press, good wine could be brought hither in great quantity, and even as Must, the voyage thence being often made in thirty days. Their trade consists mostly in peltries, which they measure by the hand or by the finger. It happened that a woman who had seen a skipper's lace shirt, fell sick ; finding she should die, she gave her husband three fine peltry skins to present to the skipper for the shirt, which he willingly gave her, for she wished to be buried in it ; they outstrip the Christians in the sumptuousness of their burials. In exchange for peltries they receive beads, with which they decorate their persons; knives, adzes, axes, case-knives, kettles and all sorts of iron work which they require for house keeping. In their waters are all sorts of fowls, such as cranes, bitterns, swans, geese, ducks, widgeons, wild geese, as in this country. Birds fill also the OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 15 woods so that men can scarcely go through them for the whistling, the noise, and the chattering. Whoever is not lazy can catch them with little difficulty. Turkey beans is a very common crop. Pigeons fly wild, they are chased by the foxes like fowls. Tortoises are very small, and are not eaten, because there is plenty of other food. The most wonderful are the bull-frogs, in size about a span, which croak with a ringing noise in the evening, as in this country. 'Tis surprising that storks have not been found there, if it be a marshy country. Spoonbills, ravens, eagles, sparrow- hawks, vultures are numerous and are actually shot or knocked down by the natives. 'Tis worthy of remark that so great a diversity of language exists among the numerous tribes. They vary frequently not over five or six miles ; forthwith comes another language; they meet and can hardly understand one another. There are some who come sixty miles from the interior, and can not well understand those on the river. All are very cunning in trade ; yea, frequently, after having sold every thing, they will go back of the bargain, and that forcibly, in order to get a little more ; and then they return upwards, being thirty and forty strong ; their outer clothing being all skins and furs. It appears by the statements of the Highlanders, there are larger animals in the interior. On seeing i6 FIRST SETTLRMKNT the head of Taunts, one of the signs of the zodiac, the women know how to explain that it is a horned head of a big, wild animal which inhabits the distant country, but not their's, and when it rises in a certain part of the heavens, at a time known to them, then is the season for planting 5 then they begin to break up the soil with axes (hylen) and to throw in the seed ; like the Boors in Italy who appear by Virgil iti BucoHcis to take their proper lime from the signs. The science of prognostication, or foretelling of events is altogether dark and unknown to them ; uttering or delivering no oracles aliout the one or the other, as they have very little knowledge of future or past things. What's very strange is, that among these almost barbarous people, there are few or none, cross- eyed, blind, crippled, lame, hunch-backed or limp- ing ; all are well fashioned people ; strong in constitution of body, well proportioned without blemish. In some places they have abundant means, with herbs and leaves or roots, to administer to their sick. There is scarcely an ailment they have not a remedy for; but in other localities they are altogether devoid of succour, leaving the people to perish like cattle. Chastity appears to be of some repute among them, for the women are not all equally loose OF NEW NF.TIIER LANDS. 17 There are some who would not cohabit with ours for any compensation. Others hold it in small esteem ; especially as they are free, living without law. Whilst rearing their offspring, they exhibit great tenderness ; nevertheless as children rapidly increase with these people, they forbid theirs (the house) as not beseeming; yea, command them not to return back. They are not, by nature, the most gentle. Were there no weapons, especially muskets, near, they would frequently kill the traders for the sake of the plunder ; but whole troops run before five or six muskets. At the first coming (of the whites) they were accustomed to fall prostrate on the report of the gun ; but now they stand still from habit, so that the first colonists will stand in need of protection. The South-bay,* some miles nearer Florida, is a more temperate country. There is no winter there save in January, and then but for a few days. Their numerals run no higher than ours ; twenty being twice ten. When they ask for twenty, they stick the ten fingers up and with them turn to the feet on which are ten toes. They count, Honslat, Tegeni, Hasse, Kajeri, Wisk, Jajack, Satach, Siattege, Tiochte, Ojeri.t ** Delaware Bay. + The author of this paper must have obtained his i8 FIRST SETTLEMENT The names of their months are these ;— Cuerano, the first with them, February : 2. Weer-hemska : 3. Heemskan : 4. Oneratacka : 5. Oneratack, then men begin to sow and to plant : 6. Ilagarert: 7. lacouvaratta : 8. Hatterhonagat : 9. Genhen- dasta : then the grain and everything is ripe. 10. Digojenjattha, then is the seed housed. January and December they take no note, being of no use to them. A ship was fitted out under a commission from the West India Company, and freighted with families, to plant a colony among this people. But to go in safely, it is first of all necessary that they be placed in a good defensive position and well provided with arms and a fort, as the Spaniard who claims all the country, will never allow any one to gain a possession there ; and as the Spaniards have made many incursions as well above as below, in Florida, Virginia, and there- abouts, I deem it not foreign to tell something thereof, being a mirror in which every one can see and defend himself, and how the Spaniards always aim as well generally as individually at Monarchy. Such description shall be related in the com- information from some Iroquois, as with the exception of the first, these are the names of the numerals according to the Mohawk and Onondaga dialects. The last (Ojeri) approaches the Seneca. OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 19 mencement of Part the Seventh, as this Book cannot contain it. Homo est a7iimal sociable, is in some sense a definition ; in some sense a description, of man. Men's sociability led them to congregate and to live peaceably together, from which arose hamlets, villages and cities, and afterwards chiefs were chosen among them. These remarking that the collected heaps frequently so increased that they could with difficulty support themselves, a portion separated therefrom, who took up and settled the neighbouring places. The patriarchs of the Old Testament, finding themselves altogether too many in their country, sent some of theirs into the uninhabited valleys, and cultivated these accord- ingly. The Assyrians wishing to enlarge their monarchy caused their subjects to inhabit the invaded countries in great numbers. Those of the Persian monarchy did no less. But the Greeks extended their limits very far ; for they by navigation peopled entire islands, as appears 20 VIRST SETTLEMENT by the highly learned Pelrus Cluverius, who furnishes us correct information on all points in his published Italy.* The Romans domineering over the western world, spread colonies all over it, as is proved by the excavated stones found every where ; but what order they observed herein is well known to us. Those sent thither, must acknowledge the senders as their lords, pay them homage, and remain under their sovereignty; they were also protected by these by suitable weapons furnished also to them. And whereas, God be praised, it hath so prospered that the Honorable Lords Directors of the West India Company have, with the consent of the Noble High and Mighty Lords States General, under- taken to plant some colonies, I shall give the particulars of them, as follows : — We treated in our preceding discourse of the discovery of some rivers«in Virginia ; the studious reader will learn how affairs proceeded. The West India Company being chartered to navigate these rivers, did not neglect so to do, but equipped in the spring [of 1623] a vessel of 130 lasts, called the New Neilierland whereof Cornells Jacobs of Hoorn was skipper, with 30 families, mostly Walloons, to plant a colony there. They sailed * Italia Antiqua. Folio. Ex ofBcina E seviriana 1624. '10 NJIW NETHERLANDS. 21 in the beginning of March, and directing their course by the Canary Islands, steered towards the wild coast, and gained the westwind which luckily (took) them in the beginning of May into the river called, first Rio de Montagnes, now the river Mauritius, lying in 40)4 degrees. lie found a Frenchman lying in the mouth of the river, who would erect the arms of the King of France there; but the Hollanders would not permit him, oppos- ing it by commission from the Lords States General and the directors of the West India Company ; and in order not to be frustrated therein, with the assistance of those of the Macke7-el which lay above, they caused a yacht of 2 guns to be manned, and convoyed the Frenchman out of the river, who would do the same thing in the south river, but he was also prevented by tlie settlers there. This being done, the ship sailed up to the Jilaykans, 44 miles, near which they built and completed a fort named "Orange" with 4 bastions, on an island, by thera called Castle Island. They forthwith put the spade in the ground and began to plant, and before the Mackerel sailed, the grain was nearly as high as a man, so that they are bravely advanced. They placed also a fort named " Wilhelmus" on Prince's Island, heretofore called Murderer's Island ; it is open in front, and has a curtain in the rear and is garrisoned by sixteen 22 FIRST SETTLEMENT men for the defence of the river below. On leavhig there, the course lies for the west wind, and having got it, to the Bermudas and so along the channel in a short time towards Patria. The yacht, the Mackerel, sailed out last year on the i6th June and arrived yonder on the 12th of December, That was somewhat late, but it wasted time in the Indian Islands, to catch fish, and did not catch any, so lost this opportunity. The Honble. Daniel Van Krieckebeeck, for brevity called, Beeck, was Commissary here, and so did his duty that he was thanked. Respecting these colonies, they have already a prosperous beginning ; and the hope is that they will not fall through provided they be zealously sustained, not only in that place but in the South river. For their increase and prosperous advance- ment, it is highly necessary that those sent out be first of all well provided with means both of support and defence, and that being freemen, they be settled there on a free tenure ; that all they work for and gain be their's to dispose of and to sell it according to their pleasure ; that whoever is placed over them as commander act as their father not as their executioner, leading them with a gentle hand ; for whoever rules them as a friend and associate will be beloved by them, as he who will order them as a superior will subvert and nullify every thing ; yea, they will excite OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 23 against him the neighbouring provinces to which they will fly. 'Tis better to rule by love and friendship than by force. At the same time that the fleet arrived from Archangel, a large quantity of otter skins were received here in Amsterdam from France, finer than had ever been seen in this country. They were the product of Canada and the circumjacent places. The tribes are in the habit of clothing themselves with them ; the fur or hair inside, the smooth side without, which, however, they paint so beautifully that, at a distance, it resembles lace. It is the opinion that they make use of the best for that purpose ; what has poor fur they deem unsuitable for their clothing. \Yhen they bring their commodities to the traders, and find they are desirous to buy them, they make so very little matter of it, that they at once rip up the skins they are clothed with and sell them as being the best. They use beaver skins mostly for the sleeves, as they are not so expensive ; and they frequently 24 FIRST SETTLEMENT come several clays journey from the interior, to exchange theirs with the tribes. Agriculture progresses in New Netherland in this wise. It is very pleasant, all products being in abundance, tho'.igh wild. Grapes are of very good flavour, but will be, henceforward better cultivated by our people. Cherries are not found there. There are all sorts of fowls, both in the water and in the air. Swans, geese, ducks, bitterns, abound. The men scarcely ever labour, except to provide some game, either fowl or other description, for cooking, and then they have pro- vided every thing. The women must attend to the remainder, tilling the soil, &c. When our people arrived there, they were busy cleaning up and planting. Before this vessel had left, the harvest was far advanced. It excites little atten- tion if any one [of the Indians] abandon his wife; in case she have children, they usually follow her. Their summers are fine, but the days there are shorter than with us here. The winters are severe, but there is plenty of fuel, as the country is well wooded and it is at the service of whoever wants it. Their is some respect paid to those in authoiity amongst them ; but these are no wise richer than others. There is always so much ado about them that the chief is feared and obeyed as long as he is near, but he must shift for himself like others. There is nothing seen in his house more than in those of the rest. OF NEW KETHP:R LANDS. 25 As regards the prosperity of New Netherland, we learn by the arrival of the ship whereof Jan May of Iloorn, was skipper, that every thing there was in good conilition. The colony began to advance liravely and continueH in friendship with the natives. The fur, or other trade, remains in the West India company, others being forbidden to trade there. Rich beavers, otters, martins and foxes are found there. This cargo consists of five hundred otter skins, and fifteen hundred beavers, and a few other things, which were in four parcels, for twenty-eight thousand, some hundred guilders.* This country, or the river Montagne, called by our's Mauritius, was first sailed to by the worthy Hendrick Christiaensen van Cleef. When he went a voyage to the W^est Indies, he happened near there. But his vessel being deeply laden, and a ship belonging to Monichendam having been wrecked in that neighbourhood, he durst not approach that land ; this he postponed, being desirous to do so another time. It so happened that he and the worthy Adriaen Block, chartered a ship with the skipper Ryser, and accomplished his voyage thither, bringing back with him two sons of the principal sachems there. Though *The cargo of the New Netherland, was sold in Amsterdam on 2oth Dec. 1624. 26 FIRST .SF/l'lLEMExN'T very dull men, they were expert enough in knavery. Hudson, the famous English pilot, had been there also, to reach the south sea, but found no passage ; as men will read in the Netherlands History, in the year 1612. This aforesaid Hendrick Christiaensz, after he had dissolved partnership with Adriaen Block, made ten vovages thither, in virtue of a grant from the Lords States, who gave him that privi- lege for the first establishment of the place. On the expiration of that privilege, this country was granted to the West India company, to draw their profits thence ; as has already been done, and shall still further increase from the products which are manifest there, whereof further detail will be given in the next, as much depends on success. Good care having been taken by the directors of the West India company, in the spring to provide everything for the colony in \'irginia, near tlie Maykans on the river Mauritius, by us called New Netherland, special attention was OF N'l W NEl llF.Rl.A.N DS 27 directed this month, (April,) to reinforce it, an follows : As the cotintry is well adapted for agriculture and the raising of every thing that is produced here, the aforesaid Lords resolved to take advant- age of the circumstance, and to provide the place with many necessaries, through thfe Honble. Pieter Evertsen Ilulst, who undertook to ship thither, at his risk, whatever was requisite, to wit ; one hundred and three head of cattle ; stallions, mares, steers and cows, for breeding and multiplying, besides all the hogs and sheep that might be thought expedient to send thither ; and to distribute these in two ships of one hundred and forty lasts, in such a manner that they should be well foddered and attended to. Each animal had its own stall, with a floor of three feet of sand ; fixed as comfortably as any stall here. Each animal had its respective servant who attended to it and knew its wants so as to preserve its health, together with all suitable forage, such as oats, hay and straw, &c. In addition to these, country people take with them all furniture proper for the dairy ; all sorts of seed, ploughs and agricultural implements, so that nothing is wanting. What is most remarkable is, that nobody in the two ships can discover where the water is stowed for these cattle. As it was necessary to have another (ship) on that account, I 28 V I R S T S ETT I . r<: M E N T shall here add :— the above parties caused a deck to be constructed on board. Beneath this were stowed in each ship three hundred tons of fresh water which was pumped up and thus distributed among the cattle. On this deck lay the ballast and thereupon stood the horses and steers, and thus there was no waste. He added the third ship so that, should the voyage continue longer, nothing may be wanting to the success of the expedition. In the eyes of the far seeing, the plan of this colony, which lay right beside the Spanish passage from the West Indies, was well laid. In company with these, goes a fast sailing vessel at the risk of the directors. In these afore- said vessels also go six complete families with some freemen, so that forty five new comers or inhabitants are taken out, to remain there. The natives of New Netherland are very well disposed so long as no injury is done them. But if any wrong be committed against them they think it long till they be revenged and should any one against whom they have a grudge, be peaceably walking in the woods or going along in his sloop, even after a lapse of time, they will slay him, though they are sure it will cost them their lives on the spot, so highly prized is vengeance among them. f)F NEW NF.TIIKRI.ANDS. 29 In our previous discourses, mention is made of New Netherland. Here is additional informa- tion : On further enquiry it is found, that they have a chief in time of war, named Sacjama, but above him is a greater Sacjaina (pointing to Heaven) who rules the sun and moon. When they wage war against each other, they fortify their tribe or nation with palisades, serving them for a fort, and sally out the one against the other. They have a tree in the centre, on which they place sentinels to observe the enemy and discharge arrows. None are exempt in war, but the priests, and the women who carry their husband's arrows and food. The meat they eat consists of game and fish ; but the bread is cakes baked fore- father's fashion, in the ashes ; they almost all eat that in war. They are a wicked, bad people, very fierce in arms. Their dogs are small. When the llonblc. Lambrecht van Twenhuyzen, once a skipper,* had given them a big dog, and it was presented to them on ship-board, they were very much afraid of it ; calling it, also, a vSachem of dogs, being the biggest. The dog, tied with a rope on board, was very furious against them, they being clad like beasts with skins, for he thought they were game ; but when they gave * Traded as early as 1614, 1615, to this country, under a special charter. See O'Call. Hist. N, Nether- land i. 74 et seq. 30 KI i;S l SETTLEMENT him some of their liread made of Indian corn, which grows there, he learned to distinguish them, that they were men. There are oaks of very close grain ; yea, harder than any in this counlr}', as thick as three or four men. There is Red-wood which being burned, smells very agreeably ; when men sit by the fire on benches made from it, the whole house is perfumed by it. When they keep watch by night against their enemies, then they place it in the centre of their huts, to warm their feet by it ; they do not sit, then, up in a tree, but make a hole in the r(;of, and keep watch there, to prevent attacks. Poisonous plants have been found there, which should be studied by those who have a fancy to cultivate land. Ilendrick Chrisliaensen carried thither, by order of his employers, bucks, and goats, also rabbits, but they Were found poisoned by the herbs. The Directors intend to send thither this spring voyage, [1625] a quantity of hogs which will be of great service to the colony ; to be followed by cows, with young calves. Very large oysters, sea fish and river fish are in such very great abundance there, that they cannot be sold ; and in rivers so deep, as to be navigated upwards with large ships. The two lads brought hither by Adriaen Block, were named Orson and ^'alentine. This Orson was a thoroughly wicked scamp, and on his return I OF NEW NETHKRANDS. 31 to his own country was the cause of Hendiick Chrisliaensen's death ; but he was paid in like coin. He got a bullet as his recompence. Chastity appears, on further enquiry, to hold a place among them, they being unwilling to cohabit with ours, through fear of their husbands. But those who are single, evince every friendly dispo- sition. Further information is necessary. What- ever else is of value in the country, such as mines and other ores shall by time and further exploration be made known to us. Much profit is to be expected from good management. At the same time arrived a ship from New Netherland, mostly with furs. As far as good order is concerned, all goes well there. The vessels with the cattle had not yet c;ot there; the crops which our Colonists had planted, looked well, but there was no certain information thereof. The next will bring their owners good news. A ship came, at the same time, to the aforesaid Company from New Germany, loaded mostly with peltries, which had a favorable voyage. The cattle carried thither, were removed upwards to a convenient place abounding with grass and pasture. Only two animals died on the passage. This gave great satisfaction to the adventurers, who had found the voyage so pleasant. 1f3i6tor^ of Wicvo 11-letberlan^, 1626-1630. In our preceding Treatise we made mention of New Nethcrland and its colony planted by the West India Company, situate in Virginia on the river, called by the French Montaigne, and by us, Mauritius, and that some families were sent thither, which now increased to two hundred souls ; and afterwards some ships, one with horses, the other with cows, and the third hay; two months afterwards a fleet was equipped, carrying sheep, hogs, wagons, ploughs, and all other implements of husbandry. These cattle were, on their arrival, first landed on Nut Island, three miles up the river, where they remained a day or two. There being no means of oasturing them there, they were shipped in sloops and boats to the Manhates, right opposite said Island, Being put out to pasture here, they throve well, but afterwards full twenty in all died. The cause of this was that they had eaten something bad from an uncultivated soil. But they went in the middle of September [1625] on new grass, as good and as long as could be desired. MRST SE'ITLEMENT OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 33 The Colony was planted at this time, on the Manhates where a Fort was staked out by Master Kryn Frederycke an engineer. It will be of large dimensions. The ship which has returned home this month (Nov.)* brings samples of all the different sorts of produce there. The cargo consists of 7246 beavers, 675 otter skins, 48 minx, 36 wild cat, and various other sorts ; several pieces of oak timber, and hickory. The counting house there is kept in a stone build- ing, thatched with reed : the other houses are of the bark of trees. Each has his own house. The Director and Koopman live together ; there are thirty ordinary houses on the east side of the river which runs nearly north and south. The Honblc. Pieter Minuit is Director there at present ; Jan Lempo Schout [Sheriff] ; Sebastiaen Jansz Crol and Jan Huyck, comforters of the sick, who, whilst awaiting a clergyman, read to the commonalty there on Sun- days, from texts of Scripture with the Comment. Francois Molemaecker is busy building a horse-mill, over which shall be constructed a spacious room sufficient to accommodate a large congregation, and then a tower is to be erected where the bells brought from Porto Rico will be hung. The Council there administered justice in criminal * The Arms of Amsterdam, sailed from the Man- hattans on 23d Septr. 1626. 34 FIRST SETTLEMENT matters as far as imposing fines {boet-straffc), but not as far as capital punishment. Should it happen that any one deserves that, he must be sent to Holland with his sentence. Cornells May of Hoorn was in the year 1624, the first director there j WiUem Van Hulst was the second in the year 1625, He returns now. There is another there who fills no public office ; he is busy about his own affairs. Men work there as in Holland ; one trades upwards, southwards and northwards ; another builds houses, the third farms. Each farmer has his farm and the cows on the land purchased by the Company; but the milk remains to the profit of the Boor ; he sells it to those of the people who receive their wages for work every week. The houses of the Hollanders now stand without the fort, but when that is completed, they will all repair within, so as to garrison it and be secure from sudden attack. Those of the South River will abandon their Fort, and come hither ; no more than fifteen or sixteen men will remain at Fort Orange, the most distant point at which the Hollanders traded ; the remainder will come down to the Manhates. Right opposite is the fort of the Maykans which they built against their enemies the Maquaes [Mohawks] a powerful people. It happened this year, that ihe Maykans, being at war with the Maquaes, requested to be assisted by the Commander of Fort Orange and six others. Com- mander Krieckebeck went up with them a mile from OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 35 the Fort, and met the Maquaes who peppered them so bravely with a discharge of arrows, that they were forced to fly, leaving many slain among whom were the Commander and three of his men. Among the latter was Tymen Bouvvensz., whom they devoured, after having well cooked him. The rest they burnt The Commander was buried with the other two by his side. Tiiree escaped ; two Portuguese and a Hollander from Hoorn. One of the Portuguese was wounded by an arrow in the back whilst swimming. The Indians carried a leg and an arm home to be divided among their families, as a proof that they had conquered their enemies. Some days after the worthy Pieter Barentsen, who usually was sent upwards and along the coast with the sloops, visited them ; they wished to excuse their act on the plea that they had never injured the whites and asked the reason why the latter hatl meddled with them j Had it been otherwise, they would not have acted as they had. There being no Commander, Pieter Barentsen assumed the command of Fort Orange by order of Director Minuit. There were eight families there, and ten or twelve seamen in the Company's service. The fort was to remain garrisoned by sixteen men, with out women, and the families were to leave there this year in order to strenthen with people the colony near the Manhates who were becoming more and more accustomed to the strangers. 36 FIRST SETTLEMENT The natives are always seeking some advantage by thieving. The crime is seldom punished among them. If any one commit that offence too often he is stript bare of his goods, and must resort to other means another time. The husband who abandons his wife without cause must leave all her's ; in like manner the wife the husband's. But as they love the children ardently, these are frequently the cause of their com- ing again together. The girls allow their hair to be cut all around, like the priests, when they are unwell for the first time. They work apart from all the men in a separate house, where food is furnished them on a stick. They remain therein until they are sick a second time. Then they make their appearance abroad again, and are allowed to marry. They then again dress their hair, which before they w ould not touch. The married women let their hair grow to the waist and smear it with oil. When they are unwell they do not eat with their husbands, and they sup the drink out of the hand. The men let the hair grow on one side of the head for a braid j the rest is cut of}. If one kill the other, it is not punished ; whoever it concerns meditates vengeance if satisfaction be not made. In the month of August a universal torment seizes them, so that they run like men possessed, regarding neither hedges nor ditches, and like mad dogs resting no where except from sheer inability. They hold this in singular respect. The birds most common are wild pigeons ; these are so numerous that they shut out the sunshine. OF NKW N ETHK R LANDS. 37 When the fort, staked out at the Manhates, will be completed, it is to be named Amsterdam. The fort at the South River is already vacated, in order to strengthen the colony. For purposes of trade, only one yacht is sent there, in order to avoid expense. The Sickejianes dwell about the north, between the Brownists and the Dutch. The chief of this nation hath lately made an agreement with Pieter Barents, not to trade with any other than him. Jaques Elekes had imprisoned him in the year 1622 in his yacht and obliged him to pay a heavy ransom, or else he should "cup" him. He paid one hundred and forty fathoms of zeewan, which consists of small beads they manufacture themseivcs, and which they prize as jewels. On this account he has no confidence in any one but Barentsen now. The Brownists, who live beyond them, are English- men, who removed thither by consent of the King. They are called Puritans, because they seek after purity in the orthodox religion. They wished not to live in England ; desiring not wealth, but merely necessaries and frugality. The most distant nations from there, known to the traders, are the Indians from French Canada. There- about are the Orankokx, the Achkokx and others, both men and women. On entering the river, if they bring women with them, 'tis a sign they are friends ; if they visit the yachts without these, every one must be on his guard. KIKSI SKl'TJ.KMKN'l' The belief of the Maikans regarding the separation of the soul is, that it goes up westwani on leaving the body. There 'tis met with great rejoicing by the others who died previously ; there they wear black otter or bear skins, which among them are signs of gladness. They have no desire to be with them. The Mahieu, captain of the Maykans, who is named Cat, pretends that death is the offspring of the devil, who is evil. A skipper denying this, said, God had control over death. Thereupon he asked, if He being good had the power to give, or take away life ? And he was answered, Yea ; which he could not under- stand, how this good God should inflict evil, that is death. But there was no one to furnish him proper instruction ; he therefore remains in his darkness. When they have a corpse, they place it, in the act of dying, squat on the heels, like children sitting in this country before the fire ; and so lay it in the grave, all sitting ; its face to the east. It appears that the Sickanamers, before mentioned, make a sort of sacrifice. They have a hole in a hill in which they place a kettle full of all sorts of articles that they have, either by them, or procured. When there is a great quantity collected a snake comes in, then they all depart, and the Manittou, that is the devil, comes in the night and takes the kettle away, according to the statement of the Koutsinacka, or devil hunter, who presides over the ceremony. This Pietcr Barentz, already spoken of, is con- OF NEW NETHERLANDS. 39 versant with all the tribes thereabout ; he traded with the Sickenames, to whom the whole north coast is tributarv ; with the Sinnekox, Wappenox, Maquaes and Maikans, so that he visited all the tribes with sloops and traded in a friendly manner with them, only for peltries. And he brought back this year a valuable cargo in the ship the Arms of Amsterdam, whereof Adriaen Joris is skipper, who went out there on the 19th of December of the year 1625 with the Sea-gull {Jiet Meeutji) and conveyed Pieter Minuit aforesaid, who now sends for his wife thither. The Sea gull arrived there ifi^ May, 1626. Two ships came from New Netherland for the benefit of the said (W. I.) Company, with ten thouf-and peltries, or skins, together with a large quantity of timber fit for the building of the vessels which are shortly to be launched. Those ships were despatched by the Commander there, called Minuict ; one ship was the Th^'ee Kings, skipper Jan Jacobsz of Wieringh ;* the other was, the Arms of Amsterdam. The government over the people of New Nether- land continued on the 19th of August of this year in the aforesaid Minuict, successor to Verhulst, who went thither froni Holland on 9'h January, Anno, 1626, and took up his residence in the midst of a nation called Manhates, building a fort there, to be called * Sent in 1627 from the Dutch as delegate to New Plymouth. 40 FIRS'I SETTLEMENT Amster.lani, having four points am! faced outside entirely with stone, as the walls of sand fall down, and are now more compact. The population consists of two hundred and seventy souls, including men, women, and children. They remained as yet without the Fort, in no fear, as the natives live peaceably with them. They are situate three miles from the Sea, on the river by us called Mauritius, by others, Rio de Montagne. These strangers for the most part occupy their farms. Whatever they require is supplied by the Directors. The winter grain has turned out well there, but the summer grain which ripened before it was half grown in consequence of the excessive heat, was very light. The cattle sent thither have had a good increase, and every thing promises better, as soon as the land is improved, which is very poor and scrubby. There are now no families at Fort Orange, situated higher up the river among the Maikans. They are all brought down. They keep five or six and twenty persons, traders, there, Bastiaen Janz Crol is Vice Director there ; he remained there since the year 1626, when the others came down. Those of the West India Company have removed all those who were at the South River. Only one trading vessel is kept there. Traders who come from a great distance make mention of lion skins which will not be bartered, because they are used for clothing, being much warmer than others. TO NEW NETHERLANDS. 41 Beyond the South River, in 37 degrees, English- men are settled, freemen, but planted there by merchants on conditioa that they deliver as much tobacco to their masters as is agreed on ; the remainder is their own. Considerable trade was carried on with them, and many ships come thither from England, On the north side are the English Brownists, who maintain themselves very well and acquire consider- able strength, supporting their reputation bravely with the natives, whom they do not fear, having acted strictly with these from the first, and so continuing. In the. beginning of this year, war broke out between the Maikans near Fort Orange and the Makwaes, but these beat and captured the Maikans, and drove oft" the remainder who have settled towards the north by the Fresh River so called ;* where they begin again to cultivate the soil ; and thus the war terminated. After ths Right Honble Lords Directors of the Privileged West India Company in the United Netherlands, had provided for the defence of New Netherland and put everything there in good order, they taking into consideration the advantages of said place, the favorable nature of the air, and soil, and that considerable trade and goods and many com- modities may be obtained from thence, sent some persons, of their own accord, thither with all sorts of cattle and implements necessary for agriculture, so * Connecticut River. 42 FIRST SETTTLEMENT OF NEW NETHERLANDS. that in the year 1628 there already resided on the island of the Manhattes, two hundred and seventy souls, men, women, and children, under Governor Minuit, Verhulst's successor, living there in peace with the natives. But as the land, in many p'aces being full of weeds and wild productions, could not be properly cultivated in consequence of the scanti- ness of the population, the said Lords Directors of the West India Company, the better to people their lands, & to bring the country to produce more abundantly, resolved to grant divers privileges, freedoms, and exemptions to all patroons, masters or individuals who should plant any colonies and cattle in New Nether- land, and they accordingly have constituted and published in print (certain) exemptions, to afford better encouragement and infuse greater zeal into whomso- ever should be inclined to reside and plant his colonic in New Netherland. FINIS. APPENDICES. — »§«-3o— APPENDIX I. EARLY DUTCH SETTLEMENT ON THE DELAWARE. (Deed Book, VII.) N. York, february 74: 1684-5. The Deposicon of Catelina Trico aged fouer score yeares or thereabouts taken before the right hono'''l'=. Coll°. Thomas Dongan Lieut, anci Governour under his Royll. highss James Duke of Yorke and Albany etc. of N York and its dependencyes in America, who saith and Declares in the pi'sens of God as followeth That she Came to this Province either in the yeare one thousand six hundred and twenty three or twenty fouer to the best of her remembrance, and that fouer Women Came along with her in the same Shipp, in which ship the Governor Arian Jorissen Came also over, which fouer Women were married at Sea and that they and their husbandes stayed about three Weekes at this place and then they with eight seamen more went in a vessell by ordr. of the Dutch Gover- 44 AITENDICES. nOr. to Dellaware River and there settled. This I Certifie under my hand and seale of this province. THO. DONGAN. The Deposicon of Arien Dirksen Korn aged about sixty five yeares being Deposed saith That he Came in this Country of New York formerly called the new Netherlands in the yeare one thousanii six hund'i. and thirty the 24'''! of May with the ship Vnity John Brower Commander and hath ever since eontinued here in this country, and saith further that att the said time of his arrivall here this Deponent heard and was Informed by persons then arriving here from Delleware River that the said River was settled by the dutch west India Company, who had sent a parcell of men there in order to whale fishing, and this Deponent saith further that some short time After to his best Remembrance it was about one yeare or one yeare and a half after news Came here att New York from Deleware, that all the said people in Delleware were Cutt of by the Indians, and further this Deponent saith nott. Deposed by the said Aron Dirksen Korn Coram me the i6th, March 1684-5. Peter Lawrrsen aged sixty seaven yeares being deposed saith that he came into this Province a servant to th west India Company in the yeare 1628 APPENDICES. 45 and in the yeare 1630 by order of the West india Company hee with seven more were sent in a sloope with hoy sayle to dellaware where the Company had a trading house with ten or twelve servants belonging to it which the deponant himselfe did see there settled, and he further saith that at his returne from Delaware River the said vessell stopt at the hoorekill where the Deponant did alsoe see a settlemt. of a brickhouse belonging to the west India Company, and the Deponant further saith that upon an Island neare the falls of that River and neare the west side thereof the said Company some three or fouer yeares afore had a trading house where there were three or foure familyes of Walloons the place of there settlemt. he saw and that they had been seated there he was Informed by some of the said Walloons themselves When they were returned from thence and further this Deponent saith not. This Deposicon was taken upon oath before me which I doe Certifie under the scale of this Province this 24th of March A". 1684-5 New Yorke. T. D. APPENDIX II. THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN ALBANY. (N. Y. Col : MSS. XXXV.) Catelyn Trico aged about 83 years born in Paris (loth Testify and Declare that in ye year 1623 she came into this Country w h a Ship called yc Unity whereof was Commander Arien Jorise belonging to ye West India Company being yc first Ship yt came here for y^ s