Production Note Cornell University Library produced this volume to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. It was scanned using Xerox software and equipment at 600 dots per inch resolution and compressed prior to storage using CCITT Group 4 compression. The digital data were used to create Cornell's replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1984. The production of this volume was supported in part by the New York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials and the Xerox Corporation. Digital file copyright by Cornell University Library 1993.XII. THE CHARTER OF LIBERTIES GRANTED TO PATROONS AND COLONISTS, A.D. 1 6 29, AND MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS, TRANSLATED FROM The Dutch Colonial Records, <J*c. 47CHARTER OF LIBERTIES. Charter of Liberties and Exemptions of 1629.* Privileges and Exemptions for the patroons, masters, or private individuals who shall settle any colony or bring cattle therein, in New Netherlands, considered for the service of the General West India Company in New Ne- therlands, and for the advantage of the patrooxis, masters, and private in- dividuals^ I. That such members of the said company,as may be in- clined to settle any colony in New Netherland, shall be per- mitted with the ships of this company going thither to send three or four persons to examine the situation of the country,, provided, that they with the officers and ship’s company swear to the instrument of conditions (articles) so far as they relate to them; and paying for provisions, and for passage, going and coming, six stuyvers per day: and such as desire to eat in the cabin, twelve stuyvers, and to be subordinate, and to give assist- ance like others, in cases offensive and defensive: and if any ships be taken from the enemy, they shall pro rata receive their proportions with the ship’s company, each according tohis quality ; that is to say, that the colonists eating out of the cabin shall be rated with the sailors, and such as eat in the cabin with those of the company’s men that eat at table, and receive the lowest wages. II. Yet in this respect such persons shall be preferred * Rensselaerwyck MSS. Translated by Abraham Lott, jr. 1762, First published in Moulton’s Hist. New-York. 1826. t The charter was published at Amsterdam the next year, with the follow- ing title prefixed :— Vryheiden by de Vergaderinghe van de Negenthiene van de Geoctroyecrde West-Indische Compagnie vergunt aen alien den ghenen, die eenighe Colo- nien in Nieuw-Nederlandt sullen planten. In het licht ghegheven, &c*. T’ Amstelredam, door Marten Jantz Brandt, &c. Anno 1630. Liberties or Privileges, granted by the Assembly of Nineteen of the author- ized West India Company, to all such as shall or may settle or plant any colo ny in New-Netherlands. Published with a view to make known what profits and advantages result to colonists and their patroons and masters, as also to others who settle colonies in New Netherlands.—Moulton. 389.CHARTER OF LIBERTIES. 371 who have first appeared and desired the same from the com- pany. III. That all such shall be acknowledged patroons of New- Netherland, who shall, within the space of four years next after they have given notice to any of the chambers, (or colleges,) of the company here, or to the commander or council there, un- dertake to plant a colony there of fifty sjmls, upwards of fifteen years old, one fourth part within one year, and within three years after the sending of the first, making together four years, the re- mainder to the full number of fifty persons, to be shipped from hence, on pain in case of wilful neglect of being deprived of the privileges obtained ; but it is to be observed that the company reserve the island of the Manhattes to themselves. IV. That from the time that they make known the situation of the places where they propose to settle colonies, they shall have the preference to all others of the absolute property of such lands as they have there chosen; but in case the situation should afterwards not please them, or that they should have been mis- taken as to the quality of the land, they may, after stating the same to the commander and council there, be at liberty to choose another place. V. That the patroons, by virtue of their power, shall and may be permitted, at such places as they shall settle their colonies, to extend their limits four miles* along the shore, that is on one side of a navigable river, or two miles on each side of a river, and so far into the country as the situation of the occupiers will permit. Provided and conditioned, that the company keep to themselves the lands lying and remaining between the limits of colonies, to dispose thereof, when, and at such time as they shall think proper, in such mariner that no person shall be allowed to come within seven or eight miles of them without their con- sent ; unless the situation of the land thereabout were such, that the commander and council for good reasons should order other- wise ; always observing that the first occupiers are not to be prejudiced in the right they have obtained, other than unless the service of the company should require it for the building of for- tifications, or something of that sort; retaining, moreover, the command of each bay, river, or island, of the first settled colony, under the supreme jurisdiction of their High Mightinesses the Staats General and the Company : but that on the next colony’s being settled on the same river or island, they may, in conjunc- tion with the first, appoint one or more councillors, in order to consider what may be necessary for the prosperity of the colo- nies on the said river and island. * Twelve English miles.372 CHARTER OF LIBERTIES. VI. That they shall for ever possess and enjoy all the lands lying within the aforesaid limits, together with the fruits, rights, minerals, rivers, and fountains thereof; as also the chief com- mand, and lower jurisdictions, fishing, fowling, and grinding, to the exclusion of all others, to be holden from the company as an eternal heritage, without its ever devolving again to the com- pany, and in case it should devolve, to be redeemed and repos- sessed, with twenty guilders* per colony to be paid to this com- pany, at their chamber here, or to their commander there, within a year and six weeks after the same happens ; each at the cham- ber where he originally sailed from. And further, that no per- son or persons whatsoever shall be privileged to fish and hunt, but the patroons, and such as they shall give liberty: and in case any one should in time prosper so much, as to found one or more cities, he shall have power and authority to establish offi- cers and magistrates there, and to make use of the title of his colony according to his pleasure and to the quality of the persons. VII. That there shall likewise be granted to all patroons who shall desire the same, venia testandi, or liberty to dispose of their aforesaid heritage by testament. VIII. That the patroons may, if they think proper, make use of all lands, rivers, and woods, lying contiguous to them, for and during so long time as this company shall not grant them to other patroons or individuals. IX. That those who shall send persons over to settle colo- nies, shall furnish them with proper instructions, in order that they may be ruled and governed conformably to the rule of go- vernment made, or to be made by the assembly of nineteen, as well in the political as judicial government; which they shall be obliged first to lay before the directors of the respective col- leges. X. That the patroons and colonists shall be privileged to send their people and effects thither, in ships belonging to the company, provided they take the oath and pay to the company for bringing over the people, as mentioned in the first article ; and for freight of the goods five per cent, ready money, to be reckoned on the prime cost of the goods here : in which are, however, not to be included, such creatures and other imple- ments as are necessary for the cultivation and improvement of the lands, which the company are to carry over without any re- ward, if there is room in their ships. But the patroons shall, at their own expense, provide and make places for them, together with every thing necessary for the support of the creatures. XI. That in case it should not suit the company to send any * A guilder was twenty stivers, or about forty cents.GHARTER OP LIBERTIES. 373 ships, or that in those going there should be. no room ; then the said patroons, after having communicated their intentions, and after having obtained consent from the company in writing, may send their own ships or vessels thither; provided, that in going and coming they go not out of their ordinary course ; giving se- curity to the company for the same, and taking on board an assistant, to be victualled by the patroons and paid his monthly wages by the company; on pain by doing the contrary of for- feiting all the right and property they have obtained to the colony. XII. That as it is the intention of the company to people the island of the Manhattes first, all fruits and wares shall for the present, be brought there, that arise upon the North river, and lands lying thereabouts, before they may be sent elsewhere : excepting such as are from their nature unnecessary there, or such as cannot, without great loss to the owner thereof, be brought there. In which case the owners thereof shall be obliged to give timely notice in writing of the difficulty attend- ing the same to the company here, or the commander and coun- cil there, that the same may be remedied as the necessity thereof shall be found to require. XIII. That all the patroons of colonies in New-Netherlands and of colonies on the island of Manhattes, shall be at liberty to sail and traffic all along the coast, from Florida to Terre Neuf, provided, that they do again return with all such goods as they shall get in trade to the island of Manhattes, and pay five per cent, for recognition to the company, in order, if possible, that after the necessary inventory of the goods shipped be taken, the same may be sent hither. And if it should so happen that they could not return, by contrary streams or otherwise, they shall in such case not be permitted to bring such goods to any other place but to these dominions, in order that under the inspection of the directors of the place where they may arrive, they may be unladen, an inventory thereof made, and the aforesaid recogni- tion of five per cent, paid to the company here, on pain, if they do the contrary, of the forfeiture of their goods so trafficked for, or the real Value thereof. XIV. That in case of the ships of the patroons, in going to, coming from, or sailing on_ the coast,, from Florida to Terre Neuf, and no farther, without our grant should overpower any of the princes of the enemy, they shall be obliged to bring, or cause to be brought, such prince to the college of the place from whence they sailed out, in order to be rewarded by them : the company shall keep the one third part thereof, and the remain- ing two thirds shall belong to them, in consideration of the cost and risk they have been at, all according to the orders of the company.374 CHARTER OF LIBERTIES. XV. That it shall also be free for the aforesaid patroons to traffic and trade all along the coast of Nevv-Netherlands and places circumjacent, with such goods as are consumed there, and receive in return for them all sorts of merchandize that may be had there, except beavers, otters, minks, and all sorts of peltry, which trade the company reserve to themselves. But the same shall be permitted at such places where the company have no factories, conditioned that such traders shall be obliged to bring all the peltry they can procure to the island of Man- hattes, in case it be at any rate practicable, and there deliver to the director, to be by him shipped hither, with the ships and goods ; or if they should come here, without going there, then to give notice thereof to the company, that a proper account thereof may be taken, in order that they may pay to the com- pany, one guilder for each merchantable otter and beaver skin ; the property, risk, and all other charges, remaining on account of the patroons or owners. XVI. That all coarse wares that the colonists of the pa- troons there shall consume, such as pitch, tar, weed-ashes, wood, grain, fish, salt, hearthstone, and such like things, shall be brought over in the company’s ships at the rate of eighteen guilders per last, four thousand weight to be accounted a last, and the company’s ship’s crew shall be obliged to wheel, and bring the salt on board, whereof ten lasts make a hundred. And in case of the want of ships, or room in the ships, they may in ships of their own order it over at their own cost, and enjoy in these dominions, such liberties and benefits as the company have granted ; but that in either case they shall be obliged to pay, over and above the recognition of five per cent., eighteen guilders for each hundred of salt that is carried over in the company’s ships. XVII. That for all wares which are not mentioned in the foregoing article, and which are not carried by the last, there shall be paid one dollar for each hundred pounds’ weight, and for wines, brandy, verjuice, and vinegar, there shall be paid eighteen guilders per cask. XVIII. That the company promises‘the colonists of the pa- troons that they shall be free from customs, taxes, excise, im- posts, or any other contributions, for the space of ten years ; and after the expiration of the said ten years, at the highest, with such customs as the goods are taxable with here for the present. XIX. That they will not take from the service of the pa- troons any of their colonists, either man or woman, son or daughter, man-servant or maid-servant; and though any of them should desire the same, that they will not receive them, muchCHARTER OF LIBERTIES. 375 less permit them to leave their patroons, and enter into the service of another, unless on consent obtained from their pa- troons in writing. And this for and during so many years as they are bound to their patroons ; after the expiration whereof, it shall be in the power of the patroons to send hither all such colonists as will not continue in their service, and until then shall not enjoy their liberty. And all such colonists as shall leave the service of his patroon, and enter into the service of another, or shall contrary to his contract leave his service, we promise to do everything in our power to apprehend and deliver the same into the hands of his patroon, or attorney, that he may be proceeded against, according to the customs of this country, as occasion may require. XX. That from all judgments given by the courts of the patroons for upwards of fifty guilders,* there may be an ap- peal to the company’s commander and council in New-Nether- lands. XXI. That touching such particular persons, who, on their own accounts, or others in the service of their masters here*, (not enjoying the same privileges as the patroons) shall be minded to go thither and settle ; they shall, with the approba- tion of the director and council there, be at liberty to take up as much land, and take possession thereof, as they shall have ability properly to improve, and shall enjoy the same in full- property either for themselves or masters. XXII. That they shall have free liberty of hunting and fowl- ^ ing, as well by water as by land, generally and in public and private woods and rivers, about their colonies, according to the orders of the director and council. XXIII. That whosoever, whether colonists or patroons, for their patroons, or free persons for themselves, or other individu- als for their masters, shall discover any shores, bays, or other fit places for erecting fisheries, or the making of salt pondsr they may take pes&essfon thereof, and begin to work on them in their own absolute property, to the exclusion of all others.. And it is consented to, that the patroons of colonists may send ships along the coast of New-Netherlands, on the cod fishery*, and with the fish they catch to trade to Italy, or other netitral countries ; paying in such case to the company for recognition six guilders per last: and if they should come with their lading: hither, they shall be at liberty to proceed to Italy, though they shall not, under pretext of this consent, or from the company, carry any goods there, on pain of arbitrary punishment: and it remaining in the breast of the company to put a supercargo on board of each ship as in the eleventh article. XXIV. That in case any of the colonists should by his in-376 CHARTER OF LIBERTIES. dustry and diligence, discover any minerals, precious stones, chrystals, marbles, or such like, or any pearl fishery, the same shall be and remain the property of the patroon or patroons of such colony ; giving and ordering the discoverer such pre- mium as the patroon shall beforehand have stipulated with such colonists by contract. And the patroons shall be exempt from all recognition to the company for the term of eight years, and pay only for freight to bring them over, two per cent., and after the expiration of the aforesaid eight years, for recognition and freight the one eighth part of what the same may be worth here. XXV. That the company will take all the colonists as well free as those that are in service, under their protection, and the same against all outlandish and inland wars and powers, with the forces they have there, as much as in their power lyeth to defend. XXVI. That whoever shall settle any colony out of the lim- its of the Manhattes Island, shall be obliged to satisfy the In- dians for the land they shall settle upon, and that they may ex- tend or enlarge the limits of their colonies if they settle a pro- portionate number of colonists thereon. XXVII. That the patroons and colonists shall in particular, and in the speediest manner, endeavour to find out ways and means whereby they may support a minister and schoolmaster, that thus the service of God and zeal for religion may not grow cool, and be neglected among them ; and that they do, for the first, procure a comforter of the sick there. XXVIII. That the colonies that shall happen to lie on the respective rivers or islands (that is to say, each river or island for itself,) shall be at liberty to appoint a deputy, who shall give information to the commander and council of that western quar- ter, of all things relating to his colony, and who are to further matters relating thereto, of which deputies there shall be one altered or changed, in every two years ; and all colonies shall be obliged, at least once in every twelve months, to make exact report of their colony and lands thereabout, to the commander and council there in order to be transmitted hither. XXIX. That the colonists shall not be permitted to make any woollen, linen, or cotton cloth, nor weave any other stuffs there, on pain of being banished, and as perjurors to be arbitra- rily punished. AXX. That the company will use their endeavours to sup- ply the colonists with as many blacks as they conveniently can, on the conditions hereafter to be made ; in such manner, how ever, that they shall not be bound to do it for a longer time than they shall think proper.MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. 377 XXXI. The company promises to finish the fort on the Island of the Manhattes, and to put it in a posture of defence without delay ; and to get these privileges and exemptions approved and confirmed by their High Mightinesses, the Lords States General. Extracts from the Letters of the Directors of the West India Company., contained in the MS. Colonial Records. Vol iv. p. 25. Your apprehensions in regard to the Rev. Backenus have been verified. He has made a common cause with the complainants who arrived here from your country.— These silly persons, at least the largest part of the petitioners* have been imposed upon by a few worthless persons, viz. Cor- nelis Melyn, Adrian van der Donck, and a few others, who, as it appears, will leave nothing untried to abjure every kind of sub- jection to government, under pretext that they groaned under a too galling yoke. In this frantic opinion they are confirmed by Wouter van Twilier, who aims to appoint himself as the only commander on the North river, and dares to declare in public that he does not intend to permit any one to navigate this river with a commercial view, and that he will repel with force every one who with that purpose should come there, or in Rensselaerwyck* asserting besides that Fort Grange was constructed on the soil of Rensselaerwyck, consequently that the Company has no right whatever to permit particular persons either to build a house, or exercise any trade, without considering that said Fort Orange, fifteen years before any mention of Rensselaerwyck exists* was constituted and actually garrisoned by the Company ; that besides a house of commerce (trading house) was established in the fort, till the year 1644; so that the fur trade till our days was exclusively reserved to the Company, and ought to re- main on the same footing whenever the Company shall be enabled to provide their magazines with sufficient store goods. Neither are we without hope to discover and employ the means as soon as the opportunity is offered, to exclude from this commerce these impertinent fellows; using this sovereign right with the best title to the confusion of this ungrateful individual, who, if we may so express it, has sucked his wealth from the breasts of the Company which he now abuses ; upon which the merchants pretty generally transmitted to us the inclosed petitions, request- ing to be maintained by us in their right to a free trade. Appre- hending from warnings that Wouter van Twiller might again become so presumptuous as to obstruct once more by force the 48378 MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. navigation on the North river, and use violent means against the merchants, vilifying in this matter the right of jurisdiction? in the Company; in such a case it is our express will that your Honours shall repel him, with prudence for your guide,, by force of arms. If he should plant again some guns, near the river, as he did before, your Honours will carry them off and keep them in your custody till you have received our further orders. He has requested us in behalf of Rensselaerwyck, to freight his own ship with 600 lb. powder and 600 lb. lead, which we fear he may abuse; It is our intention to provide you too with some powder and lead, not with the intention to offend any one with it, but only to maintain the rights of the Company, which in our opinion are in danger through the ma- chinations of many. It is your duty to keep a watchfuheye on the ship of this Wouter van Twiller, and in case any articles were discovered in it besides our general invoice, or freighted without the consent of the company, then you must take the whole into your possession, and institute a lawsuit upon it by the Attorney General conformably with the laws of the land. Amsterdam, Feb. 16, 165Q. No more can we discover on what ground the colonists of Rensselaerwyck did occupy Bears Island, which they called Rensselaer-stein, which possession they have usurped in such a lofty way that they named this place “ The place by right of arms,” and compelled every one, exempting only the com- pany’s property, to pay a toll of 5 gl. &c. p. 46. We do not know in what these persons do trust, but we are confident they will be disappointed, and more so yet, if said Yan Twiller intends to monopolize the trade upon the North river, which we know to have been his aim a great while, with his toll on Bears Island, now called by them Rensselaer-stein ; but we have no intention to permit this ; every one shall navi- gate this river unmolested and enjoy a free trade at our Fort Or- ange which these colonists pretend to have constructed on their own territory. Who ever heard a more impertinent pre- tension !” p. 49. 21 March, 1651. Answer to the petition of Adrian van der DoncJe, addressed by the Company to the Governor. Yol. iv. p. 3. As Mr. Adrian van derDonckhas petitioned our college, first, that as he has received his degree at law in the1 University of Leyden, and been admitted to practise it before the Supreme Court of Holland, he may be permitted to follow BisMISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. 379 profession as advocate in New Netherlands. Secondly, that he may examine all the records and documents in the secretary’s office to accomplish his history of New Netherlands, which he did undertake to write. So is our resolution upon these points: we consent and permit him that, in conformity with the rules and customs of this country, he may follow his profession as ad- vocate in New Netherlands, to give his advice to all who may de- sire to obtain itbut as regards his pleading before the courts, we cannot see that it can be admitted yet with any advantage to •the Directors and Council in New Netherlands. Besides that we are ignorant if there be any of that stamp in your city, (who nevertheless before they can be admitted must apply to your Honour, or directly to our Department,) who can act and plead against said Van der Donck in behalf of the other side. We trust that in this you will consult the interest of your gov- ernment, and the welfare of the inhabitants.” 24 July, 1653. RENSSELAERWYCK. At the request of Covert Lookermans, declared the un- dersigned witnesses, viz. Cors Peterson, about thirty-three years of age, Harmen Arentsen, from Bremen, thirty-five years old, Cornelius Mauntsen Bout, twenty-seven years old, Willem Petersen, twenty years old, Joannes Vetbrugge, about twenty years old, Carman Douwes, about twenty-six years old, Har- man Bastiansen, twenty-five years old, Jacob Jansen, twenty- three years old, and Elbert Hebers, twenty-four years old, who jointly and separately declared, which declaration they were willing to confirm by an oath whenever it is required, that it is true that Govert Lookermans with the witnesses sailed from Fort Orange in the yacht the Good Hope, and when they arrived near the Bears’ Island on which Nicholas Koren resides in the name of the patroon Van Rensselaer, the said Nicholas Koren cried out to Govert Lookermans, when we were passing by, “ Loiver thy colors ! ” “ For whom should Ido so?” retorted Lookermans. Then Koren replied, “ For the staple-right of RensselaerwyckP Then Govert Lookermans answered, “ I lower not my colors for any individual except the Prince of Orange and the Lords my Masters.” Thereupon Nicholas Ko- ren immediately fired a gun; the first shot went through the sail, broke the ropes and the ladder ; a second shot passed over us, and 1 he third, fired by a savage, perforated our princely col- ors about a foot above the head of Lookermans, who kept the colors constantly in his hand. But we continued our course notwithstanding this insulting assault without returning the fire, or making any other reprisal whatever, and gently descendedMISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. 380 the river. All which we declare to pay our homage to the truth, without any malice or lurking wish to court the favour of any individual. Done before Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands, 9 July 1644. (Signed by the above named deponents.) In presence of Cornelius van Tienhoven, Secretary. Appeared before me, Cornelius van Tienhoven, Secretary in New Netherlands, Isbrant Claesen, forty-four years old, and John Tomasen, about forty years old, who jointly and separately at the request of Nicolas Koorn, sheriff in Rens- selaerwyck, declare, which declaration they are willing to confirm with a solemn oath, that it is true, that Govert Looker- mans, when sailing down the river some time ago, came about Bears Island, when Nicolas Room fired a gun without ball as a warning. When Govert continued his course, Nicolas Room said “ Strike P ’Govert Looker mans replied, “ F or whom shall I strike ?” Nicolas Room answered, “ To pay homage to Rensselaer stein” Govert then exclaimed, “ I strike for nobody but the Prince, or those by whom I am employed” Then Nic- olas ordered to fire behind the bark, when Govert Lookermans vociferated, “ Fire ye dogs9 and the devil take you.” Then the sheriff offered to fire once more, when the shot struck and per- forated the sail. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands, 7 October, 1644. Vol. iii. 219. I, Cornelius Huyghens, Attorney General in New Nether- lands, to Mr. Nicolas Room in behalf of Mr. Van Rensselaer in his colony. Whereas I am informed with certainty, that it is your inten- tion, and that you are qualified by your patroon, to establish yourself on Bears’ Island, situated three miles* below Fort Or- ange with a body of men, to build there a fort, for which you have provided guns to defend it ;—and whereas this is incon- sistent with the privileges granted to patroons and lords of ma- nors, since a colony may not be further extended than four miles along the coast, or two miles on both sides of the river, as is evident from Article 5th of the grant; and whereas said Bears’ Island is more than two miles from the limits of the said colony —besides the bold attempt to construct there a fort which might command the river, and debar Fort Orange from the free navigation—all which would be ruinous to the interests of the Company: Therefore I desire to know what authority you have, and by whom you have been invested with it. If you do not directly comply with this demand, then I forbid you to con- struct any building whatever, much less any fortification out of * Nine English miles. This island retains its original name.MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. 381 the limits of the said colony of Rensselaerwyclc ; and if you notwithstanding this prohibition dare to proceed, then I protest against the damages which must be the consequence of such lawless transactions, which I shall prosecute against you, or any other persons whom it may concern. I, Nicolas Koorn, commander in Rensselaer-stein,# in behalf of the Honorable Killian van Rensselaer, under the high alle- giance of their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands and the privileged West India Company, first commander of the colony on the North river in New Neth- erlands, make it known to you, Cornelius van Huyghens, Attor- ney General of New Netherlands, as the vice-commander of the Hon. Van Rensselaer, that you will not presume to oppose and frustrate my designs on the Bears’ Island, to defraud me in any manner or to cause me any trouble, as it has been the will of their High Mightinesses the States General and the privileged West India Company, to invest my patroon and his heir with the right to extend and fortify his colony, and make it powerful in every respect; wherefore you Cornelius Van Huyghens, At- torney General, will take care to avoid any attempt on these rights, and if you persist in doing so, I, Nicolas Koorn, protest against the act of violence and assault committed by the Hon. Lords Majors, which I leave them to settle between them and my Hon. patroon, while the undertaking has nothing else in view than to prevent the canker of freemen entering his colony. The Attorney General persists in his interdiction, and renews his protest. Done in Manhattans, 18 Now 1644, in New Netherlands. Cornelius Van der Huyghens, Attorney General. Nicholas Koorn, } David Provost, > Witnesses. Stoffel Stevenson. ) Vol. iii. 187. AWARD OF REFEREES. John Underhill and Isaac Allertont are authorized by the Honorable Director and Council in Newr Netherlands, to settle the accounts between Mr. Moor and Mr. Wedderley to their * Stein in Netherlands and Germany is used for castle. Trans. t Both of these persons were of some note in the annals of New England.— AHerton was originally settled at New Plymouth ; he afterwards removed to New Amsterdam, but is supposed to have passed the latter part of his life at New Haven, where he died in 1659. Morton's Memorial—Ed. of Judge Davis. Appx. 393. Mass. Hist. Coll. 3d Series, vii. 243. Memoir of Isaac Mlerton.-~ Underhill died at Oyster Bay, in 1672. See an interesting memoir of him in Thompson’s valuable History of Long Island, p. 336.382 MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS, best knowledge ; and having thoroughly and impartially exam- ined said affair, so it is, that they declared that the half of the bark ought to remain the property of Mr. Moor, provided he delivers to Mr. Wedderley 250 lbs. tobacco, or its value, and leaving it further to Wedderley to settle with Ridder in Virgin- ia. Whereas for the truth thereof, this act has been signed on 26 November, 1644, in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherlands. John Underhill, Isaac Allerton* CASTLE ISLAND. Vol. xxiv. 167. Extract from the answer of Governor Stuyvesant to the application of the General Court of Massa- chusetts, soliciting a free passage for their vessels on the North river to Fort Orange, April 20, 1660. “ That this North river of New Netherlands was first dis- covered at the expense of the Netherlands in the year 1609, by Hendrick Hudson, skipper and merchant of the yacht Half- Moon, in the service of the East India Company; upon the report of said Hudson, several merchants of Amsterdam sent in the following year, 1610, another ship up the North river, who obtained the next year a grant of their High and Mighty Lords, the States General, to sail upon that river and to navi- gate ; for whose security they built, in the year 1615, a small fort from which an island near Fort Orange yet bears the name of Castle Island, and the monuments of which can yet be shownwhich small fort by high water and ice was three years after highly injured, so that at length it entirely decayed.5’ CONTRACT FOR THE BUILDING OF A CHURCH. Vol. iii. 31. “Appeared before me, Cornelius Van Tien- hoven, Secretary in behalf of the general privileged West India Company in New Netherlands, the Honorable William Kieft, church-warden, at the request of his brethren, the church- wardens of the church in New Netherlands, to transact and in their name to conclude the following business. So did he, as church-warden, agree with John Ogden about a church in the following manner, viz.:— John Ogden of Stamford, and Ritsert Ogden, engage to build, in behalf of said church-wardens a church of rock-stone, seventy-two feet long, fifty-two feet broad, and sixteen feet high above the soil, all in good order, and in a workman-like manner. They shall be obliged to procure the stone and bring it on shore * Isaac Allerton was plaintiff in a suit before the Burgomasters’ Court in fort Amsterdam, March 24, 16.54.MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. 383 near tbe fort at their own expense, from whence the church- wardens shall further convey the stone to the place where it is intended to build the church, at their own expense. The church wardens aforesaid will procure as much lime as shall be required for the building of the aforesaid church. John and Ritsert Ogden shall at their own charge pay for the masonry, &c., provided that when the work shall be finished the church wardens shall pay to them the sum of 2500 gl.,* which payment shall be made in beaver, cash, or merchandize, to wit:—if the church-wardens are satisfied with the work, so that in their judgment the 2500 gl. shall have been earned, then the said church-wardens shall reward them with 100 gl. more ; and fur- ther promise to John Ogden and Ritsert Ogden to assist them whenever it is in their power. They further agree to facilitate the carrying the stone thither, and that John and Ritsert Ogden may use during a month or six weeks the Company’s boat; en- gaging themselves and the aforesaid John and Ritsert Ogden to finish the undertaken work in the manner as they contracted. Done in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherlands. (Signed) William Kieft, John Ogden, Richard Ogden, Gysbert op Dyck,, Thomas Willett.f EXTRACT FROM JOSSELYN’s VOYAGES.jl “ The whole country is divided into colonies, and for your better understanding, observe a colony is a sort of people that come to inhabit a place before not inhabited, or colonus quasi, because they should be tillers of the earth. From hence by a About one thousand dollars. + There is no date legible in the original of this contract, which was signed by the parties in the book of Records. The date was probably inserted at the beginning, which is rendered partially illegible by the mouldering of the leaves ; but as the other documents both immediately preceding and following this m the Records are of the date 1642, there can be no doubt that it was executed in that year; the church was commenced in 1643. This is the church mentioned by De Vries (see above p. 265). It stood within tne walls of the Fort, and remained unaltered until 1691, when it was remodelled, and afterwards used for the service of the church of England. It was. finally destroyed by fire in 1741. The Dutch congregation built a church on Garden street in 1691, to which they removed. Governor Stuyvesant erected a chapel near his country-house about 1660, on the present site of St. Mark’s Church. The church in the Fort and the Governor’s chapel were the only churches existing in the city prior to tho one in Garden street, with the exception of the original place of worship that preceded the stone church, and which De Vries calls a *~barn ’ from the homeli- ness of its appearance. At what period the latter was erected is unknown.. The first notice of it that we have seen is in the deposition respecting the pub- lic property taken in 1638, at the commencement of Kieft’s administration- (See above p. 279). t “ An account of two Voyages to New England, &c. By John Josselyn^ Gent. London, 1674.” Dedicated to “ the Right Honorable and Most Illustri- ous the President and Fellows of the Royal Society.”384 MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. usual figure the country where they sit down is called a Colony or Plantation. “ The first of these that I shall relate of, though last in posses- sion of the English, is now our most southerly colony, and next adjoining to Maryland, scil. the Manadaes or Manahanent, lying upon the great river Mohegan, which was first discovered by Mr. Hudson, and sold presently by him to the Dutch, without authority from his sovereign the king of England, anno 1608. The Dutch in 1614 began to plant there, and called it New Netherlands, but Sir Samuel Argal, governor of Virginia, routed them; the Dutch after this got leave of King James to put in there for fresh water in their passage to Brazil,* and did not offer to plant until a good while after the English were set- tled in the country. In anno 1664, his majesty Charles the Second sent over four worthy gentlemen commissioners to re- duce the colonies into their bounds, who had before encroached upon one another, who marching with three hundred red-coats to Manadaes or Manhataes, took from the Dutch their chief town then called New Amsterdam, now New York; the twenty- ninth of August, turned out their governor with a silver leg, and all but those that were willing to acknowledge subjection to the king of England, suffering them to enjoy their houses and estates as before. Thirteen days after Sir Robert Carr took the fort and town of Aurania, now called Albany; and twelve days after that, the fort and town of Awsapha [Esopus]; then De-la-Ware Castle, manned with Dutch and Swedes. So now the English are masters of three handsome towns, three strong forts and a castle, not losing one man. The first governor of these parts for the king of England was Colonel Nicols, a noble gentleman, and one of his majesty’s commissioners, who coming for England in anno Domini 1668, as I take it, surren- dered the government to Colonel Lovelace. “New York is situated at the mouth of the great river Mo- hegan, and is built with Dutch brick alla-moderna, the meanest house therein being valued at one hundred pounds; to the landward it is compassed with a wall of good thickness. At the entrance of the river is an island well fortified, and hath command of any ship that shall attempt to pass without leave.” pp. 152—154. * The same story is told in Thurloe’s State Papers, that the Dutch “ by the permission of King James had granted from him to their States only a certain island, called therefore by them States Island [Staten Island], as a watering place for their West India fleets; although as they have encroached upon, so they have given it a new Dutch name, * * * wiping out the old English names in those ports of America in their old sea charts, and have new Dutchijied them.” See the document at length in Hazard’s State Papers, i. 604—5. This story of a * watering place ’ is as probable as that of the sale by Hudson; both equally 'unsustained by the history of the country.TABLES OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. The following statistical tables are taken from De Laet’s History of the West India Company. That work has not been translated, but from an examination of its index it appears to contain nothing else of interest relating to the colony of New Netherlands. EXPORTS, From New Netherlands by the West India Company, from A. D. 1624 to 1632. Date. Beavers. Otters, &c. Guilders. 1624 4,000 700 27,125 1625 5,295 463 35,825 1626 7,258 857 45,050 1627 7,520 370 12,730 1628 6,951 734 61,075 1629 5,913 681 62,185 1630 6,041 1,085 68,012 1632 13,513 1,661 143,125 1633 8,800 1,383 91,375 1635 14,891 1,413 134,925 IMPORTS. 1624 In two ships, goods, wares, &c. Guilders. 25,569 1625 Several ships, 8,772 1626 Two ships, <c 20,384 1627 Four ships, «< 56,170 1628 1629 no imports Three ships, a 55,778 1630 Two ships, it 57,499 1631 One ship, u 17,355 1632 One ship, «t 31,320 1634 One ship, it 29,562 1635 One ship, tt 28,875 49386 MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. List of the wealthier citizens of New •Amsterdam, A.D. 1653. T The following list is taken from a MS. volume of the City Re- cords recently translated from the Dutch, at the request of the Corporation of New-York, by Rev. Mr. Westbrook, of Peekskill. “ On Thursday, in the afternoon, being the 18th March, 1653, in session at Fort-Amsterdam:— Arent van Hattem, Burgomaster, P. Leendersen Yandergrist, ~ William Beekman, Allard Antony, > Schepens. M. Yan Geele, Pieter Wolfersen, The Burgomaster Marten Krigier absent. A List of the persons who shall provisionally contribute the following sums for the purpose of putting the city in a state of defence. guilders. His Mightiness Werckhoven, 200 Johannes van Beeck, 200 Johannes P. Verbrugge, 200 Johannes G. Verbrugge, 100 Johannes de Peyster, 100 Cornelis van Steenwyck, 200 Govert Lookermans 150 Olof Stevensen, 150 Jacob Schellinck, 200 Pieter Prins, 100 Antony van Hardenbergh, 200 Johannes Nefius, 100 Gulyan Wys, 200 Pieter Buijs, 10Q Adriaen and Johannes Keyser, 100 Paulus Schrick, 100 Jacob G. Strycker, 100 Francoijs Fijn, 100 Matewis de Vos, 100 Adriaen Blommaert, 100 Evert Tesselaers Commisen, 200 Jacob Backer, Nicolas Boodt, Isaack Foreest, Abram Geenes, Jacob Steendam, Antony Claesen, Jan Jansen, jr. Borger Joris, Jan Vinje, Arent van Hattem, Marten Krigier, Paulus Leendersen, William Beekman, Peter van Cowenhoven, Maximilyen Geel, Allard Antony, Abram de la Nooy, Daniel Letschoet, Philip Genaerdy, Egbert van Borsum, Hendrick Kip. guilders.. 150 100 100 100 100 50 50 100 50 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 50 100 50MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS. 387 TAX LIST OF NEW-AMSTERDAM, a.d. 1674. The extraordinary expenses attending the repair of the fortifi- cations, and providing for the public defence, after the re-conquest of the city by the Dutch, in 1673, led to the imposition of a direct tax on those citizens whose estates were worth at least 1000 guilders. The following list was made out by a Board of six Assessors specially appointed for that purpose. Adolph Petersen, estate valued at (guilders Holland value,) 1000 Andrias Jochems, 300 Albert Bosch, 500 Abraham Carmar, 300 Allard Anthony, 1000 Abraham Jansen, carpenter, 600 Anthony Jansen Van Sale, 1000 Adrian Vincent, 1000 Abel Hardenbroeck, 10 JO Abraham Verplanck, 300 Asser Leevy, 2500 Abram Lubbersen, 300 Anthony De, 1000 Anna Van Borssum, 2000 Barent Coersen, 3500 Balthasar Bayard, 1500 Boele Roelofsen, 600 Barnadus Hasfalt, 300 Bay Rosevelt, 1000 Balthasar de Haert’s House, 2000 Claes Lock, 600 Carsten Leursen, 5000 Cornelis Steenwyck, 50,000 Cornelis van Ruyven, 18,000 Cornelis Janse van Hooren, 500 Claes Bordingh, 1500 Coenraed Ten Eyck, 5000 Christopher Hoogland, 5000 Cornelis Chopper, 5000 Corel Van Brugges’s Houses, 1000 Cornelis Van Borssum, 8000 David Wessels, 800 Cornelis Direksen, from west- veen, 1200 Cornelis Barentse Vander Cuyll, 400 Dirck Smet, 2000 David Jochems, 1000 Daniel Hendricks, 500 Dirck Van Cleef, - 1500 Dirck Wiggerse, 800 Dirck Sieken, 2000 Dirck Claesse, Potter, 400 Aegidius Luyk, 5000 Egbert Wouterse, 300 Evert Pieterse, 2000 Evert Wesselse Kuyper, 300 Evert Duyckmgh, 1600 Ephraim Harmans, 1000 Elizabeth Di-iseus, 2000 Elizabeth Bedloo, 1000 Ffrancois Rombouts, 5000 Ffrederick Philipse, 80,000 Ffrederick Arentse, turner, 400 Ffrederick Gisberts, 400 Guiliane Verplanck, 5000 Guiliam de Honioud, 400 Gabriel Minville, 10,000 Gerret Gullevever, 500 Mary Loockermans, 2000 Harmanus Burger & Co., 400 Hendrick Kip, sen., 300 Hendrick Bosch, 400 Hendrick Wessels Smit, 1200 Hendrick Gillesse, shoemaker, 300 Hendrick Willemse Backer, 2000 Hermanus van Borsum, 600 Hans Kierstede, 2000 Hendrick van Dyke, 300 Hartman Wessels, 300 Harmen Smeeman, 300 Henry Bresier, 300 Johnannes Van Brugh, 1400 Johannis de Peyster, 15 000 Jeronimus Ebbmgh, 30,000 Jacob Kip, 4000 Isaacq van Vlecq, 1500 Jan Meleynderse Karmar, 300 Isaack de Foreest, 1500 Junan Blanck, 1600388 TAX LIST OF NEW-AMSTERDAM, A1674. Jacob de Naers, 5000 Jan Hendrick Van Bommel, 1500 Jacob Leumen, 300 Jeremias Jansen Hagenaer, 400 Jacobus van de Water, 2500 Jan Dirckse Meyer, 600 Isacq Van Trieht, in his bro- ther’s house, 25(*) Jacob Abrahamse, shoemaker, 2000 Jan Van Breesteede, 500 Jonas Bartels, 3000 Jan Herberdingh, 2000 Jacob Teuniss Key, 8000 Jan Spiegelaer, 500 Jan Jansen, carpenter, 300 John Lawrence, 40,000 James Matheus, 1000 Jan Reay, pipemaker, 300 Jan Coely Smet, 1200 Jan Schakerley, 1400 Jan Joosten, Banquier, 2500 ♦Jacob Leyslaer, 15,000 Jan Vigne, 1000 Jacob Varrevanger, 8000 Laurens Jansen Smet, 300 Luycas Andries, Banquier, 150G Laurens V an de Spiegel, 6000 Lammert Huybertse Moll, 300 Laurens Holst, 300 Luyckes Tienhoven, 600 Marten Kregier, sen., 2000 Marten Jansen Meyer, 500 Matheys de Haert, 12,000 Nicholas de Meyer, 50,000 Nicholas Bayard, 1000 Nicholas du Puy, 600 Nicolas Jansen Backer, 700 Olof Stevensen Van Cortland, 45,000 Peter Jacobs Marius, 5000 Peter Nys, 500 Paulus Richard, 5000 Peter de Riemer, 800 Paulus Turcq, 300 Pieter Van de Water, 400 Pieter Jansen Mesier, 300 Philip Johns, 600 Reynier Willemse Backer, 5000 Stephanus Van Cortland, 5000 Simon Jantz Romeyn, 1200 Sibout Claess, 500 S’ouwert Olp heresse, 600 Thomas Leurs, 6000 Thomas Louwerss Backer, 1000 Wilhelm Beeckman, 3000 Wander Wessels, 600 Willem Van der Schueven. 300 The foregoing list was copied from the Colonial Records, and published in Moulton’s sketch of New-Orange, (as the city was called on its re-conquest by the Dutch,) with some interesting de- tails relating to that period. * This remarkable man took the lead in a popular movement in 1688, when he assumed the government. He was afl erwards tried on a charge of high treason and executed. His attainder was reversed at a later period by act of Parliament, and his estates restored to his family,—Ed.