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ANNALS OF 
 
 OLD 
 MANHATTAN 
 
 1609 — 1664 
 
 By 
 
 JULIA M. COLTON 
 
 Author of 
 Annals of Switzerland 
 
 With numerous illustrations 
 
 Brentan 0'^ s 
 New York 
 
THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 CONGRESS, 
 Twu Contiij Reosived 
 
 OCT. lib 1902 
 
 CoPVWOffT EHTHY 
 
 OtASS CtXXa No. 
 
 1-^ ^ s r 
 
 COI^Y B. 
 
 f^^^ 
 \ 
 
 •c^-^ 
 
 Copyright y igoi^ 
 by Brentano s 
 
 The Heintzemann Press Boston 
 
ro 
 
 i /» / /» o. 
 

 Contents 
 
 Page 
 
 
 Foreword 
 
 ix 
 
 / 
 
 Concerning the Manahatas 
 
 3 
 
 // 
 
 A Record of Events 
 
 13 
 
 /// 
 
 In the days of Minuit 
 
 29 
 
 IF 
 
 Some Prominent Persons in the 
 
 
 
 Village of New Amsterdam 
 
 53 
 
 V 
 
 T^ he ^^ Comedian'' Van T wilier 
 
 69 
 
 VI 
 
 The Early Administration of 
 
 
 
 William Kieft 
 
 89 
 
 VII 
 
 A Chapter of Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 lOI 
 
 VIII 
 
 The Indian War- Whoop 
 
 119 
 
 IX 
 
 Peaceful Progress 
 
 135 
 
 X 
 
 The Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 149 
 
 XI 
 
 Under the City Fathers 
 
 177 
 
 XII 
 
 The Coming of the English 
 
 21 1 
 
 «u« 
 
Illustrations 
 
 Pearl Street in the Seventeenth Century 
 
 Frontispiece 
 
 Indian Village of the Manahatas 
 
 I 
 
 Old Dutch House in Pearl Street 
 
 36 
 
 Map of New Nether land 
 
 52 
 
 View of Fort Amsterdam 
 
 69 
 
 View of New Amsterdam 
 
 100 
 
 Governor s House and Church 
 
 135 
 
 The ''Graft" or Canal 
 
 142 
 
 Site of the Battery in 1656 
 
 176 
 
 The Stadt Huys 
 
 200 
 
 Governor Stuyvesant' s House (The 
 
 
 Whitehall) 
 
 21 I 
 
 View of the Schoeinge or Sheet Piling 
 
 216 
 
 The Block House and City Gate 
 
 220 
 
 Governor Stuyvesanf s House {in the 
 
 
 Bouwerie) 
 
 230 
 
 Map of Original Grants 
 
 232 
 
 y 
 
 vm 
 
Foreword 
 
 ??3?P?3?3': 
 
 I 
 
 ^AT" the brief records contained in the 
 '^following pages, the consideration of 
 <S some interesting but disputed points 
 fet5t3t5t5ti^ of history has been intentionally omit- 
 ted, for the annals of a country should present 
 statements of fact only. Was Verrazzano the 
 Florentine, with the French expedition of 1524, 
 the first to discover our Hudson, or did the sturdy 
 Icelander, or the restless Viking at an earlier 
 period, fnd safety upon its sheltered shores ? Did 
 Fstevan Gomez, the Spaniard, ascend the river 
 in 1^2^, or fean Allefonsce, the French pilot 
 of Saintonge, in 1542.^ These are questions that 
 must still be accorded a place in the realm where 
 *^ doctors disagreed 
 
 Whether ^*Norumbega" the mythical was the 
 Penobscot or the North River, or, indeed, whether 
 
 tx 
 
Foreword 
 
 the name represented a river or dry land, cannot 
 be stated with assurance, and, therefore, reaching 
 forward unto the things that are beyond, this 
 book atte?npts only to present, as clearly and con- 
 cisely as it may, the true itory of the Dutch in 
 Old Manhattan. 
 
 y. M. C. 
 Brooklyn, N. T., 1902. 
 
 X 
 

 o 
 
OLD MANHArrAN 
 
ANNALS OF 
 OLD MANHATTAN 
 
 I 
 
 Concerning the Manahatas 
 
 |******^ST R A D I T I O N, long current 
 S yV §^"^ong Indian tribes, told of a re- 
 ^ / \ t» mote period when a calm translu- 
 g^^^^^^^^ cid lake surrounded the fair island 
 of Manahata. Gold and silver fishes abounded 
 in the lake ; fruit and flowers were inexhaust- 
 ible upon the land ; and above all brooded 
 the spirit of the sovereign god, Manitto! But 
 suddenly an irruption of the great river laid 
 waste the peaceful spot ; the roadway opened 
 to the sea, and amid the rush and roar of tidal 
 waters the protecting god took flight. 
 
 On that rocky canoe-shaped island, envi- 
 roned by salt rivers and a beautiful bay, dwelt 
 the quivered and plumed tribe of the Man- 
 ahatas. An offshoot of the great Algonquin 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 nation of Lenni-Lenape, they were a hardy, 
 broad-shouldered race, tall, lithe and intelli- 
 gent. Industrious fishermen, they held a com- 
 munity of interest in nets and boats, and in 
 the barter of dried or sunscorched fish, for 
 which inland tribes were eager. They had 
 gained some knowledge of agriculture, and 
 after their own fashion had acquired epicu- 
 rean tastes. Food was so carefully and skill- 
 fully prepared that in the days of the Dutch 
 occupation of the land, experienced house- 
 wives were glad to imitate the palatable In- 
 dian dishes of suppaen, succotash and yockey, 
 and to learn from the squaws a recipe for the 
 preparation of a popular beverage made from 
 hickory-nuts and walnuts, pounded to a pulp 
 and stirred into sparkling spring water. If they 
 possessed the gifts of their kindred in the 
 north, the Manahatas may have cultivated 
 the fine arts, for in John Josselyn's record of 
 voyages to the New England coast (1638 to 
 
Concerning the Manahatas 
 
 1663) he describes the Indians of that locahty 
 as poets whose formal speeches were uttered 
 in rhymed couplets, and as vocal musicians 
 who at marriages and feastings used " many 
 pretty, odd, barbarous tunes." 
 
 Concerning the genesis of the name " Man- 
 hattan" many theories are extant. A plaus- 
 ible and interesting hypothesis traces the root 
 through words which in various Indian dia- 
 lects signify an island : Menatan, a7iy small 
 island ; Menates, the small island ; Menate, 
 or Manhatte, a small island. If this derivation 
 of the name is correct the origin of the dis- 
 tinctive tribal cognomen must be attributed 
 to the place of abode. 
 
 A letter written in 1626 by De Resieres, 
 the secretary to the governor of New Neth- 
 erland, pictures, as he knew them, the In- 
 dians of Manhattan Island, and describes some 
 of their festivities and amusements. A popu- 
 lar game called "sennaca" was played with 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 round rushes, which, we are told, " they un- 
 derstand how to shuffle and deal as though 
 they were playing with cards, and with which 
 they win from each other all they possess." 
 
 Commenting upon the Indian marriage cus- 
 toms, De Resieres records that when an In- 
 dian made up his mind to marry he began to 
 collect sewant, and having secured a reason- 
 able quantity, he visited the maiden of his 
 choice and in the presence of her nearest rel- 
 atives declared his wishes, and entered into 
 negotiations concerning the amount of se- 
 want he must give for a bridal present. That 
 point being settled, he added to the gift " all 
 the Dutch beads he possessed and all sorts of 
 gewgaws." 
 
 After these preliminaries were arranged the 
 man went hunting, and the Indian maiden 
 sat with a blanket over her head, looking at 
 no one during six long weeks. At the expira- 
 tion of that period the hunter returned bring- 
 
Concerning the Manahatas 
 
 ing all the game he had taken, and a great 
 feast was celebrated. From that time forth 
 the bride was obliged to cultivate the ground 
 and provide all the food for herself and her 
 husband with the exception of the game or 
 fish which it pleased him to secure. If her 
 store failed, she was forced to buy with her 
 sewant whatever was lacking. 
 
 Through their extensive trade in fish and 
 oysters, and their manufacture of the current 
 money, the Manahatas became the most 
 wealthy of the river tribes. Sewant, their pur- 
 ple-tinted coin, as well as wampum, the com- 
 mon white currency, was made by the squaws 
 from shells found upon the shore, and these 
 multiple fruits of their labor were not only 
 used as a medium of trade, but, strung upon 
 grasses, or fastened upon skins, were worn for 
 ornament. The site of the forest-hidden vil- 
 lage of the Manahatas was long made mani- 
 fest to the Dutch by the deep debris of 
 
 7 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 broken shells remaining on the hill called 
 Catiemuts, two miles from the southern ex- 
 tremity of the island. Not far from that hill 
 was the " fathomless lake " which floated the 
 Indian canoes, but, imprisoned by the pale- 
 faced intruder, is now pressed beneath the 
 stones of cellar floors.^ 
 
 " Where the sea widens," a company of 
 Manahatas were fishing, when first the Euro- 
 pean stranger approached their shores. Their 
 own stories tell that suddenly upon the distant 
 waters an object appeared " such as had never 
 been seen before ! " Hastening to the land they 
 urged their chiefs to row out, and discover 
 what the strange fish or animal might be ; but 
 even as they looked it moved toward the shore. 
 Runners were sent to carry the news to all in- 
 habited localities, while from the east and the 
 west the warriors were summoned home. 
 
 ' The head-waters of the lake were in Leonard Street, and the 
 main spring is in the cellar of a house close to the building of the 
 New York Life Insurance Co. — Mrs. Van Rensselaer. 
 
Concerning the Manahatas 
 
 Assembled in solemn conclave the chiefs 
 decided that the mysterious object was a large 
 canoe, bearing back to their island the great 
 god, Manitto, and deliberations concerning 
 his reception were followed by the immedi- 
 ate provision of meat for a sacrifice. Conjur- 
 ors were ordered to determine what the visit 
 might portend, but ere their task was ended 
 runners arrived bringing word that the ap- 
 proaching object was a house filled with liv- 
 ing creatures. Perhaps Manitto was bringing 
 them new kinds of game for hunting. Soon, 
 in words they could not comprehend, they 
 were hailed from the "house," and then a 
 smaller house came ashore bringing men ; 
 one among them robed all in red. Forming 
 a circle the chiefs silently awaited the arrival 
 of the strangers, and soon, with friendly sa- 
 lutes, which were as cordially returned, the 
 man in red with his attendants stood in their 
 midst. But what a skin had Manitto and they 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 who had come with him ! Such had the Man- 
 ahatas never seen before ! The servant of the 
 red-clothed man brought a gourd, and from 
 it poured a liquid which his master drank. 
 Then the glass was again filled and handed 
 to an Indian, but he only smelled it cautious- 
 ly, and passed it on. Each Indian around the 
 circle followed that example until a stalwart 
 warrior was reached, who, stepping forward, 
 declared the danger of offending the great 
 Manitto by their refusal of his gift ; and, re- 
 ceiving the glass drank off the contents. Soon 
 he began to stagger,and, falling to the ground, 
 sank into a sleep which the Indians mistook 
 for death. But when he awoke, and declared 
 that never before had he been so happy, the 
 entire assembly desired to share his enjoy- 
 ment, and all became intoxicated. 
 
 The white-faced men then returned to their 
 " house," but came again with beads, stock- 
 ings, axes, hoes, etc., which they distributed 
 
 lO 
 
Concerning the Manahatas 
 
 among the Indians, and then by sign-language 
 explained that they would return upon con- 
 dition of receiving land whereon to sow seed. 
 The next year they came, and all rejoiced. 
 The Indians had worn the axes and hoes as 
 ornaments, and used the stockings as tobacco- 
 pouches ; but the whites put handles to the 
 axes, and cut down trees, and with the hoes 
 dug the ground. Then they proposed to stay, 
 provided as much ground should be allotted 
 them as the hide of a bullock would encom- 
 pass. The hide was brought, the request 
 granted, and the white men cut the hide into 
 thin strips like a rope, and drew it far out 
 and back again, encircling a great piece of 
 ground. But the Indians, having enough land, 
 would not contend, and the white men took 
 possession.^ 
 
 ' For Indian account of the arrival of the whites see N. T. Hist. 
 Soc. Coll., vol. I, zd Series. 
 
 I I 
 
II 
 
 A Record of Events. 1609 — 1626 
 
 ]^********|HE Dutch came to Manhattan 
 
 T* Island in 1609, and journals kept 
 $ by the voyagers note the friendly 
 J^^^^^^^^ greeting of the Indians. But al- 
 though Hudson found the country " as beau- 
 tiful as any the foot of man had trod," the 
 " Half Moon" could not tarry there, and re- 
 ports of the rich products of the land failed 
 to divert the East India Company from the 
 pursuit of a northern route to Asia. There 
 were traders in Holland, however, who were 
 eager for a new enterprise, and Europe of- 
 fered a ready market for such furs as Hud- 
 son's square-sailed galliot had brought. A 
 partnership was speedily arranged, and an- 
 other Dutch vessel, under command of an 
 officer of the East India Company, set sail 
 
 13 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 for the country of the Manahatas. The In- 
 dian river, Cohotatea, named by Hudson's 
 men the River of the Mountains, was the 
 desired goal, and upon its shores, in exchange 
 for trinkets which the Indians coveted, a 
 second cargo of rich furs was secured. 
 
 In 1 6 1 1 , a third vessel ventured forth, char- 
 tered by Hendrick Christiaenson, of Cleef, 
 and Adriaen Block, and loaded with goods for 
 exchange on commission. Again the Indians 
 gave for beads and baubles, the skins the 
 strangers sought; and two young chiefs of 
 Manahata were induced to be the guests of 
 the white men on the return voyage to Hol- 
 land. A triumvirate of Amsterdam merchants 
 then equipped for Block and Christiaenson 
 two larger vessels, called the "Tiger " and the 
 "Fortune," and from North Holland about 
 the same time the "Little Fox," and the 
 "Nightingale" went forth, commanded by 
 Captain Thys Volckertsen and Captain John 
 
 14 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 Dewitt. Interest in the new enterprise in- 
 creased so rapidly, that within three months 
 the owners of the ** Tiger" and the "For- 
 tune" equipped a third vessel, commanded 
 by Captain Cornelis Jacobsen, and destined 
 like the others for the fur trade. Christiaen- 
 son explored the waters adj acent to Manhattan 
 Island, making friends at Indian settlements, 
 and bartering successfully for furs, while Block 
 tarried near the entrance to the North River, 
 One night in the autumn of 1 6 1 2, when the 
 other ships were cruising in distant waters, 
 the "Tiger" took fire at its anchorage and 
 was completely destroyed." Block and his 
 men, forced to seek shelter on shore, found 
 a temporary sojourn among the Indians in- 
 evitable, and erected, near the southern ex- 
 tremity of the land, four small places of 
 shelter, — the first homes of the Dutch upon 
 Manhattan Island. 
 
 ^ Royal Archives of the Hague, August i8, 1614. 
 
 15 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 During the winter a yacht was built, forty- 
 four feet in length by eleven and a half in 
 breadth of beam, and in the spring. Block set 
 forth in this to explore Long Island Sound. 
 
 Passing through the East River, he named 
 it after a stream in Holland, "The Hellgat," 
 a word which Fiske felicitously points out 
 as appropriately signifying a clear passage- 
 way, although with a quite different inter- 
 pretation it has been retained to distinguish 
 the eastern end of the channel. Skirting the 
 coasts of Connecticut and the "Red Island," 
 and ascending the "Fresh River" as far as 
 the present city of Hartford, Block proceeded 
 eastward to Cape Cod, where, unexpectedly, 
 he met Christiaenson, and, as that mariner 
 was disposed to continue his exploration of 
 unfamiliar shores, vessels were exchanged, 
 Christiaenson taking the new yacht, fitly 
 named "The Restless," while Block guided 
 the "Fortune" to Holland. 
 
 i6 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 After Block's return a company of Amster- 
 dam merchants petitioned the States General 
 for a special license to trade in the region be- 
 tween Chesapeake Bay and Cape Cod, and 
 secured a charter granting them exclusive 
 privileges during four successive voyages, pro- 
 vided these were completed within three 
 years from January i, 1615. In this charter 
 the region was first distinguished as New 
 Netherland; and while claim to an unlimited, 
 undisclosed territory on the west was asserted, 
 boundaries on the north, east, and south were 
 defined by the forty-fifth parallel. Cape Cod, 
 and the Delaware or South River with the 
 Bay, explored in 16 14 by Captain Cornelis 
 Mey. 
 
 The New Netherland Company lost no 
 time in sending out their vessels. The River 
 of the Mountains, also known as the North 
 River, was re-christened the " Mauritius," in 
 honor of Prince Maurice, and at its mouth. 
 
 17 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 on the lower end of Manhattan Island, a log 
 building was erected, designed to serve both 
 as a storehouse and a place of refuge in time 
 of danger. Though it possessed slight means 
 of defence, this structure was dignified by the 
 name of Fort Manhattan, and near it, a few 
 huts were built to shelter the guardians of its 
 stores. The Dutch regarded Manhattan Island 
 as a trading-post only, and evinced no dis- 
 position to colonize its shores, until the enter- 
 prise of the English awakened a fear that by 
 occupancy of the soil that nation might gain 
 the "nine necessary points" of law, and de- 
 prive Holland of her lucrative intercourse 
 with the Indians. 
 
 The charter of the New Netherland Com- 
 pany expired at the close of 1617, and the 
 States General refused to extend its trading 
 privileges by more than a yearly license. 
 Efforts were made to form a new corpora- 
 tion to be known as the West India Com- 
 
 18 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 pany, but the project was so strenuously op- 
 posed by influential members of the East India 
 Company that little could be accomplished. 
 
 A proposition to colonize Manhattan Island 
 was presented by the Rev. John Robinson, 
 on behalf of the English dissenters at Ley- 
 den, who were appreciative of the benefits 
 received under Dutch protection, but desired 
 to secure for their children an environment 
 distinct from any to be obtained in Holland. 
 They had received from the London Com- 
 pany a patent authorizing them to settle in 
 Virginia, but religious freedom was not 
 guaranteed, and that was an essential con- 
 dition. 
 
 The Dutch Trading Company favorably 
 inclined to the project of the English, of- 
 fered free transportation, and promised to 
 supply each family of emigrants with cattle; 
 but for the success of the enterprise the sanc- 
 tion of the government was necessary, and 
 
 19 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 that could not be secured. The States General 
 rejected the proposition, fearing, perhaps, to 
 establish people of English blood upon terri- 
 tory already claimed by the English crown. 
 
 The evidence that an English ship touched 
 at Fort Manhattan in 1620 has been ques- 
 tioned; but Captain Thomas Dermer is 
 credited with that visit, and is reputed to 
 have warned the Dutch off English soil, de- 
 claring that he was the discoverer of Long 
 Island Sound, and King James its sovereign. 
 The fact is undisputed that Dermer peti- 
 tioned the King for a grant of lands adjacent 
 to the waters of the Sound, and the English 
 ambassador at the Hague was directed to re- 
 monstrate against Dutch occupation of that 
 territory; but beyond the interest evoked by 
 a spirited diplomatic correspondence, little 
 attention was given to the affair. 
 
 Meanwhile, the projects of the West India 
 Company increased in popularity, and in 
 
 20 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 1 62 1 the desired charter was obtained. It 
 guaranteed a monopoly of trade with New 
 Netherland, and within the boundaries of 
 that province it conferred upon the Company 
 authority almost royal. By their decree, forts 
 might be built, treaties made, and justice ad- 
 ministered, though an appointment of a chief 
 executive and a formal declaration of war 
 were subject to the approval of the States 
 General. 
 
 The West India Company represented a 
 community of interests, and its colonial pro- 
 jects were extensive. Settlements were to be 
 planted upon the Mauritius, the South, and 
 the Fresh Rivers.' Brazil was to be wrested 
 from Spain, and a portion of the African 
 coast was to be secured, whence slaves might 
 be transported to the districts where service 
 was required. The responsibilities for these 
 enterprises were divided among five branches 
 
 ' The Hudson, the Delaware, and the Connecticut. 
 
 21 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 or boards established in various cities of Hol- 
 land, each branch holding in charge the 
 affairs of a specified territory. To the Amster- 
 dam chamber were intrusted all matters per- 
 taining to Manhattan Island, and by a natural 
 sequence the post there established was soon 
 known as New Amsterdam. 
 
 Up the North River, not far from the site 
 of Albany, Fort Nassau had been built by 
 earlier traders, and there Jacob Eelkens held 
 command until floods made a change of posi- 
 tion necessary. Then a stronghold was estab- 
 lished somewhat further down the stream, 
 where, in 1618, Eelkens held an important 
 conference with the chiefs of the Five Na- 
 tions, and consummated a treaty which ren- 
 dered the tribes of that region steadfast allies 
 of the Dutch. In 1624 the locality of the 
 post was again changed, and the stronghold 
 then built was known as Fort Orange, while 
 the name Fort Nassau was transferred to de- 
 
 22 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 fenses on the South River, opposite the pres- 
 ent city of Philadelphia. 
 
 Bound by a provision of their charter to 
 "advance the peopling of unsettled lands," 
 the West India Company in 1623, sent to 
 the "wild coast" of New Netherland, thirty 
 families of Walloons, a Protestant people of 
 French extraction. The greater number of 
 these industrious persons were destined for 
 the settlement at Fort Nassau, but eight men 
 were landed on Manhattan Island,' and Cap- 
 
 ' Deposition of Catelyn Trice, taken in 1688 (New York Col. 
 Mss.): — '* Catelyn Trico doth Testify and Declare that in ye year 
 1623, she came into this country with a Ship called ye Unity, 
 whereof was commander Arien Jorise belonging to ye West India 
 Company, being ye first Ship yt came here for ye s^^ Company. 
 As soon as they came to Mannatans, now called N. Yorke, they 
 sent Two families and six men to Harford River, and Two Families 
 and eight men to Delaware River, and eight men they left at N. 
 Yorke to take Possession, and ye Rest of ye Passengers went with 
 ye Ship as farr as Albany which they then called fort Orange. — 
 Ye s<^ Deponent lived in Albany three years, all which time ye 
 Indians were all as quiet as Lambs and came and Traded with all 
 ye Freedom Imaginable ; in ye year 1 626, ye Deponent came from 
 Albany and settled at N. Yorke where she lived afterwards for 
 many years and then came to Long Island." 
 
 23 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 tain Cornells Jacobsen Mey was made the 
 first director over all the territory included 
 within the jurisdiction of the Company. 
 
 During the year 1624, the income from 
 the New Netherland fur-trade amounted to 
 twenty-eight thousand guilders, and the 
 West India Company, in conclave assembled, 
 decided that a satisfactory recompense might 
 be anticipated for greater efforts to people the 
 land. Inducements to emigrate were publicly 
 offered, and in response, six families and a 
 number of single men volunteered. In three 
 ships and a yacht, these forty-five persons were 
 promptly conveyed to Manhattan Island, with 
 their household goods, farming implements, 
 and one hundred and three head of cattle. 
 A member of this company, William Ver- 
 hulst, was made the second director, Captain 
 Mey having been summoned back to Hol- 
 land. 
 
 The consummation, in 1625, of a treaty 
 
 24 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 of alliance between England and Holland 
 seemed to promise greater security to the 
 Dutch colonies in America, and the West 
 India Company proceeded to formulate a 
 regular system of government for New 
 Netherland. They soon sent over as execu- 
 tor of their authority, Peter Minuit of Wesel, 
 in Westphalia, who reached Fort Manhattan 
 May 4, 1626, in the ship ** Sea-Mew." 
 
 Before organizing his government, Minuit 
 took measures to secure for the Company a 
 legal title to the land, and having summoned 
 to the southern shore the leading Indian 
 chiefs, he made known to them his wish to 
 barter for their island. With unfeigned de- 
 light the savages viewed the treasure offered 
 in beads, knives, and implements of agricul- 
 ture, and quickly concluded the bargain. In 
 exchange for goods valued at sixty gilders, or 
 about twenty-four dollars, Manhattan Island 
 passed into the possession of the Dutch. 
 
 25 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Letter from Peter Jans Schaghen^ Deputy in the 
 States General^ to the West India Company. 
 {Royal Archives at the Hague.) 
 High Mighty Sirs: 
 
 Here arrived the ship "The Arms of Amster- 
 dam," which sailed from New Netherlands out of 
 the Mauritius River, on September 23 ; they re- 
 port that our people there are of good courage, and 
 live peaceably. They have bought the island Man- 
 hattes from the wild men for the value of sixty 
 guilders. It is eleven thousand morgens in extent. 
 They sowed all their grain in the middle of May, 
 and harvested it the middle of August. They send 
 thence samples of summer grain, such as wheat, rye, 
 barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, small beans 
 and flax. 
 The cargo of the aforesaid ship is : 
 7,246 beaver skins. 
 1785^ otter skins. 
 675 otter skins. 
 48 minck skins. 
 ^6 wild cat skins. 
 2,2 minck skins. 
 34 rat skins. 
 
 26 
 
A Record of Events 
 
 Many logs of oak and nut wood (hickory). 
 Herewith be ye High Mighty Sirs commended to 
 the Almighty's grace. 
 In Amsterdam, Nov. 5, 1626. 
 
 Your High Might's, 
 
 Obedient, 
 
 P. SCHAGHEN. 
 
 27 
 
Ill 
 
 In the Days of Minuit. 1 6 2 6 - 1 6 3 2 
 
 |********g NARROW, rocky point of land, 
 5 A jj: traversed by purling brooks, and 
 S / \ $ broken by ocean inlets; a chain 
 S*****^^^of low hills in the background, 
 covered with forests of hickory and chest- 
 nut; valleys sheltering maize fields and wig- 
 wams ; and wide marshes beyond which 
 roamed wolves and bears and panthers. Such 
 was the territory that Peter Minuit had pur- 
 chased, and where, within the semblance of 
 a fort, he was empowered on behalf of the 
 West India Company to exercise authority 
 over the province of New Netherlands. 
 
 The responsibilities of government were 
 shared by an advisory council of five mem- 
 bers, who were appointed in Amsterdam ; a 
 secretary of the council board, and a schout- 
 
 29 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 fiscal; the last-mentioned title implying a 
 promiscuous mingling of the responsibilities 
 pertaining to the offices of sheriff, collector 
 of the customs, and church beadle. The laws 
 were formulated in the Amsterdam Chamber, 
 but local regulations might be made by the 
 director and his council, subject to approval 
 by the Company's agents in Holland. 
 
 The settlement on Manhattan Island com- 
 prised about thirty small houses clustered 
 around the fort, and tenanted by Dutch, 
 Walloons and English. Provided with as 
 much land as they could cultivate, and ex- 
 empt for ten years from taxation, the col- 
 onists contentedly tended their flocks and 
 herds, and raised their flax and rye and wheat, 
 although denied a voice in the government, 
 forbidden to engage in manufactures, and 
 unable to obtain a permanent title to the spot 
 upon which they built their homes. It is re- 
 corded in the early history of a family, who. 
 
 30 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 in 1626, came to New Netherland and were 
 established as tobacco-planters in what is now 
 Manhattan, that they were required to ac- 
 knowledge the directors of the West India 
 Company as their sovereign lords, and at the 
 end of ten years after settlement, were to 
 render "the just tenth part of the products 
 wherewith God may bless the soil," and 
 from that time forth annually " to deliver 
 on account of the dwelling and house-lot, a 
 pair of capons to the director-general for the 
 holidays." 
 
 Peter Minuit was an active, energetic man, 
 firm in temper, friendly in disposition, just 
 and honorable in his dealings. The fact 
 that he was a native of Westphalia has given 
 plausibility to the statement that he was of 
 German birth ; but Wesel, just over the 
 boundary line of Holland was, during the re- 
 ligious persecutions of Alva, a place of refuge 
 for the Dutch Protestants ; and as Minuit 
 
 31 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 was a deacon in the church, composed prin- 
 cipally of descendants of Dutch refugees, it is 
 probable that his parents belonged to that 
 company. His government of New Nether- 
 land, though despotic in theory, granted, in 
 practice, entire religious liberty and a fair 
 amount of political freedom. The director 
 had power to collect fines, and to administer 
 justice up to the limit of the death penalty ; 
 but where that was imposed, the criminal 
 must be sent to Holland for the execution of 
 his sentence. This law must have been abro- 
 gated somewhat later, for under subsequent 
 governors there are records of executions in 
 New Amsterdam. 
 
 Having secured possession of the territory, 
 established friendlyrelations with the Indians, 
 and organized his government, Minuit's next 
 undertaking was the erection of a fort for 
 the protection of his domain. He had brought 
 to the colony a competent engineer, Kryn 
 
 32 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 Frederijke, under whose direction the work 
 was promptly begun. Fort Amsterdam was 
 to have " four angles" and to be faced with 
 solid stone ; but owing to the difficulty of 
 procuring either expert workmen or suita- 
 ble material, the structure when completed 
 proved but a precarious refuge, and quite 
 unfitted for a stronghold. 
 
 During the year 1626, the arrival of several 
 vessels with colonists increased the popula- 
 tion of the little settlement to about two hun- 
 dred. A warehouse was erected, and in one 
 corner of that substantial stone building was 
 opened the first village store. The next nota- 
 ble structure was a mill, which was worked 
 by horse-power. Its loft was set apart for re- 
 ligious purposes, and the building was adorned 
 by a tower, wherein bells, captured from the 
 Spaniards of Puerto-Rico, sounded a summons 
 to worship. Two "visitors of the sick," Se- 
 bastian Jansz Crol, and Jan Huyck, who had 
 
 33 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 been sent from Holland with Minuit, con- 
 ducted a service every Sunday, until the ar- 
 rival of the first regularly ordained minister, 
 the Rev. Jonas Michaelius. A letter written 
 by Dominie Michaelius soon after his arrival 
 at Manhattan, to the Rev. Adriaenus Smou- 
 tius in Holland, presents an uninviting picture 
 of life in the colony in 1628. He describes 
 the Indians as "proficient in all wickedness 
 and godlessness; as thievish and treacherous 
 as they are tall," and he complains that "there 
 are no horses, cows, nor laborers to be ob- 
 tained for money," and ^^xvo refreshment of 
 butter, milk, etc., to be found." Household 
 arrangements were certainly lacking in lux- 
 ury in those early days, and although the 
 comforts of life in Holland exceeded those 
 considered essential in other countries of Eu- 
 rope, yet the emigrants to New Amsterdam 
 lived in a style extremely primitive. Minuit, 
 his secretary, De Rasieres, and Sheriff Lam- 
 
 34 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 po, during three years occupied one house. 
 The dwelHngs were built of logs, and their 
 thatched roofs proved sometimes a precari- 
 ous protection, easily inflammable under the 
 scorching rays of the summer sun. The letter 
 of Dominie Michaelius alludes to "a general 
 conflagration," in which the colonists lost 
 many of their possessions. 
 
 But in the seventeenth century, the Dutch 
 had already gathered experience in the 
 science of colonization, and better than other 
 Europeans knew how to provide for their 
 people. The New England settlers faced 
 privations, and the Virginia colonists braved 
 perils, of which thp early inhabitants of New 
 Netherland had no experience. When free 
 from fear of the Indians, theirs was an un- 
 eventful, but an industrious and cheerful life, 
 and soon the lively little hamlet, with its 
 windmills whirling on the hilltops, formed a 
 pleasant picture. There the stout Dutchmen 
 
 35 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 were placidly puffing their long pipes; the 
 thrifty vrouwen, in short gowns and spotless, 
 close-fitting caps were busy with household 
 cares; while the blithe young girls, wending 
 their way to the brook, with flax to soften for 
 the distaff, trod so often that winding path, 
 that it won its name, "The Maiden's Lane." 
 About the time of Minuit's arrival, war 
 broke out between the Indian tribes of Mo- 
 hicans and Mohawks, among the hills of the 
 upper Hudson. The Mohawks sought aid 
 from the commander of Fort Orange, who 
 foolishly promised partisanship, and with six 
 of his men marched forth upon the war- 
 path. About a mile from the fort a party of 
 Mohawks was encountered, and Commander 
 Krieckenbeck was killed, with three of his 
 men, one of whom, says the old record, "the 
 Indians devoured, after having well cooked 
 him."' 
 
 ^ Documentary History of New Netherlands. 
 
 36 
 
■':-:% 
 
 m 
 
 S'^-^;fSi«»ffi3R?r5i! 
 
 ivVfiir,;. ,^^i 
 
 OLD DUTCH HOUSE JN PEJRL STREET 
 
 Built 1626. Rebuilt i6gj. Demolished 1828 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 Anxious for a continuance of trade with 
 the Dutch, the Mohawks sent envoys to Fort 
 Orange, bearing excuses for their conduct ; 
 and Minuit, wisely accepting their protesta- 
 tions of friendship, renewed the old treaty 
 of alliance, and sent Peter Barentsen to fill 
 Krieckenbeck's place. But the incident in- 
 duced a feeling of insecurity, and the gover- 
 nor, deeming discretion the better part of 
 valor, soon transferred to Manhattan Island 
 the families settled at Fort Orange, and left 
 at that post only the garrison of sixteen 
 soldiers. 
 
 With the view of promoting advantageous 
 intercourse between the Dutch andtheir Eng- 
 lish neighbors at Plymouth, Minuit, in 1 627, 
 opened a correspondence with Governor 
 Bradford. The letters written by the secre- 
 tary, De Rasieres, were transcribed in both 
 Dutch and French, and conveyed in cour- 
 teous terms many sentiments of esteem and 
 
 37 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 good will for the English. In the first letter, 
 which is dated " From the Manhatas in ye 
 fort Amsterdam, Mch 9, 1627," De Ra- 
 sieres, in the name of the director, proposed 
 an exchange of serviceable Dutch commod- 
 ities for beaver and otter skins, or other 
 merchandise in which the Plymouth settlers 
 might be disposed to traffic. Governor Brad- 
 ford, in his history of Plymouth Plantation 
 alludes to "the complementall titles" by 
 which he was addressed, but in his own 
 missive of March 19, which he terms his 
 " obliging answer," while deprecating the 
 " over-high titles " accorded to himself and 
 his associates, he pays his respects to Minuit 
 and the council by saluting them as " Your 
 Honours, Worships, and Wisdoms." After 
 expressing joy in the consummation of the 
 treaty of alliance between England and Hol- 
 land, and referring to the kindness received 
 in Leyden by many members of his colony. 
 
 38 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 Governor Bradford declared his disposition 
 to trade with the Dutch whenever his people 
 should be in need of the goods proffered, and 
 desired to be informed how they would take 
 "beaver by ye pound and otter by ye skine." 
 But, notwithstanding the friendship ex- 
 pressed for the people of New Amsterdam, the 
 letter distinctly intimated the English gover- 
 nor's conviction that the Dutch were trespass- 
 ers, and Minuit was warned that there were 
 "divers others unto whom commissions have 
 been granted as to us, to expulse or make 
 prize of any strangers who shall attempt to 
 trade or plant within their limits." Such sug- 
 gestive language naturally evoked another 
 letter from the director of the New Nether- 
 land, vindicating the rights of the Dutch to 
 their territory, and, as Governor Bradford 
 made no haste to reply, a special messenger 
 was dispatched to Plymouth, who bore a 
 third missive containing reiterated assurances 
 
 39 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 of friendliness, and, as an evidence of Minuit's 
 personal good will to the governor, the gift 
 of "a rundlet of sugar and two Holland 
 cheeses." 
 
 Governor Bradford's response to these at- 
 tentions was couched in phrases as formally 
 and notably courteous as the other letters, 
 and asserted a disposition to live in friendly 
 association with the NewNetherland Colony. 
 His opinions respecting the English claims 
 were not revoked, but he requested that an 
 ambassador be sent to Plymouth for the ad- 
 justment of boundary lines. Minuit deter- 
 mined to dispatch a formal embassy, and 
 appointed De Rasieres envoy. Attended by 
 soldiers and trumpeters, and carrying articles 
 of traffic, the secretary embarked in the ship 
 " Nassau," which conveyed him to Mano- 
 met ' at the head of Buzzards Bay, and about 
 eight miles from Plymouth. From that point 
 
 ' Now Monument Beach in the township of Sandwich. 
 
 40 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 he despatched a courier with a message to 
 Governor Bradford, asking that a way be 
 provided for accomplishing the remainder 
 of the journey with as little fatigue as pos- 
 sible, as he " could not travill so farr over- 
 land." A boat was accordingly sent through 
 a shallow creek running inland from Cape 
 Cod Bay to within four or five miles of 
 Manomet, and De Rasieres was safely landed 
 at Plymouth, *' honourably attended with a 
 noyse of trumpeters." 
 
 Bradford alludes to his guest as " a man of 
 fair and genteel behaviour," and that he was 
 politic we know, for he himself states that he 
 sold sewan to the Pilgrims, " because the 
 seeking after sewan is prejudicial to us, inas- 
 much as they would by so doing discover the 
 trade in furs, which if they were to find out, 
 it would be a great trouble to us to maintain ; 
 for they already dare that if we will not leave 
 ofl^ dealing with that people they will be 
 
 41 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 obliged to use other means, and if they do 
 that now, while they are yet ignorant how 
 the case stands, what will they do when they 
 get a notion of it ? " 
 
 The secretary seems to have proved a skill- 
 ful diplomatist, for after spending a few days 
 at Plymouth, during which it is recorded 
 that he " demeaned himself to his own 
 credit," he was made the bearer of another 
 letter from Bradford to Minuit, in which, 
 although reiterating his desire that the Dutch 
 should "clear the title of their planting in 
 these parts which his Majesty hath by patent 
 granted to divers his nobles," the governor 
 of Plymouth made no distinct reference to 
 the disputed boundary lines, but, professing 
 himself "tied in obligation" to the Dutch, 
 promised to perform all good offices toward 
 the colonists of New Netherlands. If friendly 
 zeal for the prosperity of his neighbors was 
 not exaggerated in its expression, the worthy 
 
 42 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 governor must have been gratified by the 
 edict of King Charles, which soon afterward 
 threw open all English ports to vessels of the 
 West India Company ; but in view of the 
 intimation that the Dutch title to their land 
 might still be disputed, Minuit wrote to 
 Holland, asking for a military support. 
 
 Meanwhile the directors of the West India 
 Company complained that their New Neth- 
 erland enterprise was less profitable than other 
 investments, the expenses attendant upon the 
 protection of so small a colony often averag- 
 ing more than the income it yielded. Traders 
 visited the coast, but the farmers of Holland 
 found their homes in that country too satis- 
 factory to be abandoned. Dutch ingenuity 
 devised a new project, however, which Dutch 
 enterprise speedily carried into execution. By 
 a charter framed by the Company, and con- 
 firmed by the States General in 1629, a tract 
 of land not exceeding sixteen miles on one 
 
 43 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 side of a navigable river, or eight miles on 
 both sides, and extending inland indefinitely, 
 was offered to any member of the Company 
 who at his own expense, and within four 
 years, should found a colony of fifty adults. 
 The entire district of the New Netherland 
 was offered for this enterprise, with the ex- 
 ception of Manhattan Island, over which the 
 Company, as a unit, retained exclusive pro- 
 prietorship. 
 
 The founder of a colony, having secured his 
 claim upon the land by giving satisfactory 
 compensation to the Indians, received the 
 title of patroon, and was accorded certain 
 fixed privileges. He was free to trade in every- 
 thing except furs, under the sole restriction 
 that goods should first be landed at Fort 
 Manhattan, where port-charges of five per 
 cent were claimed by the Company. All fish 
 in the sea and minerals in the mountains be- 
 longed to the patroon ; and his colonists, over 
 
 44 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 whom he might exercise the rights of a feu- 
 dal lord, were bound to his service for a stip- 
 ulated period. The patroon bore all expenses 
 of preparing the land and building the houses 
 and barns, but he received for these a fixed 
 rental in stock or produce, in addition to his 
 legitimate share as over-lord, and the farmer 
 could not sell any product of the estate be- 
 fore offering it to the patroon. The colonists 
 were exempt from taxation, and were prom- 
 ised by the Company protection from the In- 
 dians, and an adequate number of negro 
 servants ; while each patroon was under ob- 
 ligations to provide for the support of a 
 minister and a schoolmaster, and was respon- 
 sible during a certain length of time for the 
 supply of cattle, wagons, and utensils of labor. 
 After the estate had become self-supporting 
 a division of net-profits was promised to the 
 settlers. 
 Before the conditions of this Charter of 
 
 45 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Freedoms and Exemptions had been publicly 
 promulgated, Godyn and Blommaert, two 
 directors of the Amsterdam Chamber, dis- 
 patched an agent to purchase land from the 
 Indians on the South River, and Kilian Van 
 Rensselaer, a wealthy merchant of Holland, 
 bartered through another emissary for a wide 
 district on the Mauritius. When these trans- 
 actions were revealed, the dissatisfaction 
 among other shareholders in the Company 
 was so vehemently expressed, that a division 
 of the appropriated territory was rendered 
 imperative. Van Rensselaer's estate on the west 
 side of the Mauritius, "stretching two days 
 into the interior," and on the east side, north 
 and south of Fort Orange, "far into the wil- 
 derness," was separated into five shares, three 
 of which were yielded to other members of 
 the Company, Van Rensselaer reserving for 
 himself only two-fifths of his original pur- 
 chase, although the entire district retained 
 
 46 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 the title of Rensselaerswijck. Wise provision 
 was made on the estate of the first patroon for 
 the prosperity of colonists, who were sent out 
 from Holland in Van Rensselaer's own ships, 
 with implements of agriculture and other 
 articles necessary for their comfort. 
 
 Into the partnership in lands on the South 
 River, Godyn and Bloommaert received 
 several new members, and David Petersen 
 de Vries, an experienced mariner of Holland, 
 having refused the proffered post of under- 
 patroon, was admitted upon an equality with 
 the directors of the Company. Michael Pauw 
 secured the extensive district of Hoboken- 
 Hacking, on the New Jersey shore, which 
 he called Pavonia, as well as Staten Island, 
 so named in honor of "the Staten" or States 
 General. Pauw's colony, distinctively known 
 as the "Commune," has been commemo- 
 rated by the name given to the locality first 
 settled, Communipauw. 
 
 47 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 When the Indian chiefs who surrendered 
 the land selected by the patroons had ap- 
 peared before Minuit at Fort Amsterdam, 
 and formally ceded the territory, the condi- 
 tions prescribed by the Charter of Freedoms 
 and Exemptions were considered to be ful- 
 filled, and the patroons received their peculiar 
 property-rights, involving conditions closely 
 akin to those of the old feudal system. 
 
 But ere long there were dissensions among 
 the "Worshipful Directors" in Holland, for 
 the patroons, tempted by the opportunities 
 presented, began an independent barter for 
 furs, with the Indians. The West India Com- 
 pany, as a corporation, claimed the exclusive 
 right to engage in that trade, and, as the 
 patroons were members of the Company, 
 the house was divided against itself. Among 
 the directors of the Amsterdam Chamber, 
 there were hot words, threatening hotter 
 strife, until the matter in dispute was referred 
 
 48 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 to the College of XIX, a committee of nine- 
 teen directors, charged with the general super- 
 intendence of affairs for the five boards of the 
 Company. While they were deliberating, an 
 incident, apparently irrelevant, precipitated a 
 decision unfavorable to the patroons, and dis- 
 astrous to the governor of New Amsterdam. 
 With the ostensible aim of exhibiting the 
 strength and size of timber grown in the col- 
 ony, some ship-builders proposed to construct 
 a mammoth vessel, and having secured en- 
 couragement from Minuit, emphasized by 
 the promise of payment from the Company's 
 funds, they built at New Amsterdam a ship 
 of eight hundred tons burden, which carried 
 thirty guns. But when the bills for this costly 
 enterprise were presented in Holland, there 
 was widespread dissatisfaction, and numerous 
 complaints concerning the Company's man- 
 agement induced an investigation of their 
 affairs by the States General. These "High 
 
 49 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Mightinesses" decided that the patroons de- 
 served censure, having shown a greater in- 
 terest in individual accumulation of wealth 
 than in the welfare of the colonists, or the 
 benefit of the associated Company, and their 
 opinion was confirmed by the report pre- 
 sented by De Rasieres, who, having fallen into 
 disgrace with Minuit, had returned to Hol- 
 land. The director general fell also into 
 disfavor, being accused of partiality for the 
 patroons, and of having ignored the illegality 
 of their proceedings, and the West India Com- 
 pany determined to recall him. 
 
 Late in 1631, Conrad Notelman was sent 
 to succeed Lampo as schout of New Nether- 
 land, and by his hand the summons home was 
 sent to Minuit. In the spring of 1632, the 
 governor set sail from Fort Amsterdam, and 
 for over a year the young colony was left 
 without a head. 
 
 Minuit's vessel, the " Eendragt," when off 
 
 50 
 
In the Days of Minuit 
 
 the English coast, encountered a fierce storm, 
 and was driven into the port of Plymouth, 
 where, on a charge of having traded illegally 
 in the domain of the English sovereign, ves- 
 sel, crew, and passengers were detained. Min- 
 uit wrote for assistance to the States General 
 of Holland, and in elaborately composed epis- 
 tles the subject of sovereignty in America was 
 discussed by their High Mightinesses and the 
 Statesmen of England. The attention of the 
 latter was, however, claimed by a complica- 
 tion of affairs within their own realm, and, 
 in the course of time, the "Eendragt" was 
 quietly released, and Minuit reached Holland. 
 After his testimony had been received, special 
 agents were sent to the New Netherland to 
 publish an edict, which forbade all private 
 dealing in sewan, peltries, or maize. 
 
 51 
 
IV 
 
 Some Prominent Persons in the Village of 
 New Amsterdam 
 
 S********8N the spring of 1633, by the ship 
 « I S^Zo^^herg," three notable per- 
 $ JL ^sons arrived at Fort Amsterdam. 
 ^^^^^^^^^ They were Wouter Van Twiller, 
 the new director, Dominie Bogardus, the 
 second clergyman and Adam Rolantsen, the 
 first schoolmaster. 
 
 Van Twiller had been a clerk in the office 
 of the West India Company at Amsterdam, 
 and in the interests of his employers had 
 made two previous voyages to America ; a 
 fact that environed him with a nimbus of 
 attributed knowledge, which shone irides- 
 cent in the light of the seventeenth century, 
 but has failed to endure the crucial tests of 
 later times. He had married a niece of the 
 
 53 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 patroon, Kilian Van Rensselaer, whose influ- 
 ence in the Council of XIX, perhaps, pro- 
 cured an appointment which provided an 
 interested superintendent for the estates of 
 Rensselaerswijck, if it failed to secure a com- 
 petent governor for the colony of New 
 Netherland. The new director was attended 
 by one hundred and four soldiers, the first 
 military force in the country, and as the 
 " Zoutberg" brought also to port a Spanish 
 caravel, captured on the ocean, the arrival 
 was an event that aroused the enthusiasm 
 of the people, who flocked to the fort with 
 cordial greetings. 
 
 Van Twiller's personality was not impres- 
 sive ; Irving's vivid picture portrays him as 
 " exactly five feet six inches in height, and 
 six feet five inches in circumference," but 
 perhaps a portrait more nearly exact may be 
 conceived by the aid of contemporary testi- 
 mony, which describes him as short and stout. 
 
 54 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 with sandy hair and small blue eyes. He was 
 kind-hearted and good-natured, but intellec- 
 tually untrained and inefficient. Experienced 
 in the duties of a tradesman only, he assumed 
 his new office devoid of all practical knowl- 
 edge of its responsibilities ; and by his hesi- 
 tating decisions and irresolution in emer- 
 gencies soon won the title of " Wouter the 
 Waver er." 
 
 Quite the reverse in temperament as well as 
 in physique was Dominie Bogardus, a tall and 
 stately man of " high character but hot tem- 
 per." His eyes were of the ** dark and pierc- 
 ing type," but mercy was mingled with justice 
 in the expression of his mobile mouth. He 
 was in no wise an exponent of " the poore 
 parson of the towne," for the house built for 
 his use, with the Company's money, was one 
 of the most attractive in the little hamlet, and 
 its front door was distinguished above others 
 by the elegant adornment of a bright brass 
 
 SS 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 knocker. Hints have echoed along historic 
 corridors, concerning the convenient vicinity 
 of this residence to the Company's brewery, 
 and there are intimations that the good domi- 
 nie sometimes pressed his principles with 
 unwarranted force, until even the epithet 
 "quarrelsome" was associated with his rev- 
 erend name. It is certain that with Van Twil- 
 ler he frequently differed in opinion, and it is 
 recorded that once, from the pulpit, a pedi- 
 gree the reverse of "complimentall" was as- 
 cribed to the honorable director, and he was 
 threatened with "a shaJce that would make 
 him tremble." 
 
 But the dominie was a man of many es- 
 timable traits, and a powerful personality in 
 the province. If he was relentless in the de- 
 nunciation of conduct he disapproved, we 
 may believe that he was actuated by a con- 
 scientious sense of responsibility. Even to his 
 declining years the strength of his convic- 
 
 56 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 tions remained unimpaired, and we read of 
 differences with Governor Kieft when feel- 
 ing ran so high that drums were ordered to 
 be beaten during sermon time to drown the 
 preacher's voice. 
 
 Although often at variance with the guard- 
 ians of the law, the dominie claimed legal 
 protection when needful, and records tell of 
 "a female," who, for slandering the minister, 
 was summoned to appear in the fort at the 
 ringing of the bell, and compelled before 
 governor and council to declare that " she 
 knew the dominie to be honest and pious, 
 and that she had lied falsely." 
 
 For Dominie Bogardus the first church in 
 New Amsterdam was erected; a plain wooden 
 structure, situated on the north side of Parel 
 Straat (Pearl Street), between the present 
 lines of Broad and Whitehall Streets. It was 
 built in 1633 with the Company's funds, and 
 the congregation of fifty members was then 
 
 SI 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 transferred from the mill-tower to a conse- 
 crated edifice. 
 
 Intellectual attributes seem to have been of 
 secondary importance in the required quali- 
 fications of a New Amsterdam schoolmaster, 
 but the incumbent of that office was expected 
 to supplement the work of the dominie by- 
 acting as a worthy consoler of the sick, by 
 " promoting religious worship " in the ca- 
 pacities of precentor and church-clerk, and, 
 by turning the hour-glass, to indicate to the 
 preacher that the time allotted for a sermon 
 had elapsed. 
 
 Adam Roelantsen, the first schoolmaster, 
 ran a turbulent career, amid many antago- 
 nistic conditions, in which his conduct did 
 not entitle him to the respect of the com- 
 munity. Although he had no rivals in his 
 profession, he failed to achieve either a rep- 
 utation for scholarship or satisfactory pecu- 
 niary reward for efforts to train the young 
 
 58 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 burghers-elect, and, to supplement his slen- 
 der stipend, he took in washing, perhaps 
 finding relief from uncongenial pedagogic 
 tasks in the athletic exercise that work im- 
 posed. 
 
 But unalloyed success did not immediately 
 crown even this labor, for court archives of 
 1638 record a lawsuit brought by the school- 
 master against Gillies De Voocht, for pay- 
 ment due for washing the defendant's linen, 
 and judgment was rendered in favor of De 
 Voocht, on the ground that the money was 
 not due until the expiration of the year cov- 
 ered by Roelantsen's contract to perform the 
 work. 
 
 But although the record states that "people 
 did not speak well of him," the schoolmaster 
 succeeded in winning the favor of a widow, 
 who probably endowed him with some 
 worldly goods, for after his marriage the 
 laundry-business was relinquished, and, in 
 
 59 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 1642, there is a record of his contract for a 
 residence. In the stipulations for this domicile, 
 thirty feet in length, eighteen in width, and 
 eight in height, mention is made of two 
 doors, a mantelpiece, an entry, three feet 
 wide, a pantry, a staircase to the attic, and a 
 bedstead. The last item seems to have formed 
 a corporate part of a dwelling-house of the 
 period, and was fitted into a recess in the side 
 of the living-room, and hidden during the 
 day behind closed doors. In many houses this 
 bedstead was reserved for the accommodation 
 of chance travelers to whom hospitality 
 might thus be easily accorded. 
 
 The year after his establishment as a prop- 
 erty-holder, Roelantsen entered upon the civic 
 duties of weighmaster in New Amsterdam, 
 and a brief period of prosperity ensued, at- 
 tended presumably by domestic happiness 
 with his wife, Lyntje Martens, and four chil- 
 dren. He purchased another lot of land and 
 
 60 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 seems to have conducted himself in a way to 
 win some measure of respect from his associ- 
 ates, for he subsequently filled several public 
 offices, while a successor occupied the peda- 
 gogic chair. 
 
 But again troubles arose. In 1646, upon his 
 return from a visit to Holland, he refused to 
 pay his passage money, on the ground that he 
 had been promised free transportation in ex- 
 change for his labors in aiding the sailors, 
 and saying the prayers. This time Roelantsen 
 shines as a victorious contestant, but only a 
 few weeks did he exult in the triumph, for 
 when again he was summoned before the 
 court it was to receive censure for evil deeds, 
 and having been condemned to suffer punish- 
 ment by means of his own implements of 
 torture, the ex-schoolmaster was publicly 
 flogged. An additional clause in the sentence 
 pronounced against him ordained that he 
 should be banished from the colony, but this 
 
 61 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 penalty was remitted out of consideration for 
 the welfare of his children, whose mother had 
 died before that date. 
 
 In 1635, Roelof Jansz and his family came 
 to New Amsterdam from the Van Rensselaer 
 estate on the Mauritius. Jansz was one of the 
 colonists sent to New Netherland in 1630, 
 and, having served out his term under the 
 patroon, he sought to improve his condition 
 in the position of an independent settler on 
 Manhattan Island. Fortune seemed to favor 
 this ambition, as for some reason hitherto un- 
 explained, the new comer was presented by 
 Van Twiller with a bouwerie (farm) of sixty- 
 two acres, adjoining ground reserved for the 
 use of the director, and beginning about a 
 mile from the fort.' Here Jansz built a house, 
 but failed further to realize his earthly de- 
 sires, for he died soon after the completion 
 of the home, leaving his widow, Annetje, 
 
 ' O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, I, 142; II, 35, 58. 
 
 62 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 with five children to maintain. Annetje's 
 mother, Tryntje Jonas, was probably with 
 her daughter at this time, having been sent 
 out by the West India Company in the ca- 
 pacity of professional nurse, and somewhat 
 later a house was built for her on Parel Straat, 
 near the home of Annetje's sister Marritje, 
 who was the wife of Tymen, the prosperous 
 carpenter. 
 
 About two years after the death of Roelof 
 Jansz, Annetje married Dominie Bogardus, 
 and, with her five children, went to live in the 
 house which possessed the knocker brought 
 from Holland, and a garden where, bordered 
 with box, the gayest flower-beds in New Am- 
 sterdam were seen. There were curious cus- 
 toms in names among those early colonists 
 who boasted no lineage of renown, but passed 
 a patronymic from father to children, and from 
 husband to wife, modified according to cir- 
 cumstances. Roelof Jansz was probably Roelof 
 
 63 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the son of Jan, and Roelof 's wife, Annetje, 
 modestly abbreviating her husband's cog- 
 nomen for the feminine form, was known as 
 Annetje Jans, while the son of Roelof and 
 Annetje, reversed his father's signature, and 
 was called Jan Roelefsen. 
 
 The first representative of the medical pro- 
 fession in New Amsterdam was the Hugue- 
 not, Johannes La Montagne, who, in 1637, 
 came from Leyden where he had obtained 
 his degree. The family of his first wife, 
 Rachel De Forest, had previously emigrated 
 to New Netherland, and after several years 
 experience of practice in Holland, La Mon- 
 tagne was tempted to follow. Before his ap- 
 pearance the Zieckentroosters (comforters 
 of the sick) aided by professional nurses, had 
 performed all needed offices for those afflicted 
 by illness, and in days when a remedy recom- 
 mended by the most famous physician in 
 London was a Balsam of Bats, and the chief 
 
 64 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 ingredient in a popular decoction was "rasp- 
 ings from a human skull unburied," we may 
 question the advantage accruing to the resi- 
 dents of New Amsterdam by the arrival of 
 the learned M.D. 
 
 Dr. La Montagne was, however, a man of 
 varied gifts, who subsequently occupied 
 several stations of trust under the govern- 
 ment. His name appears as a member of the 
 council and as official schoolmaster ; and 
 after the arrival, in 1638, of the surgeon, 
 Hans Kierstede, he seems to have entirely re- 
 linquished the duties of the medical profes- 
 sion for those connected with the civil and 
 military service, where his light is dimmed 
 in an atmosphere of cruel deeds for which 
 he cannot be wholly relieved of responsi- 
 bility. 
 
 Fearless of Indians, the settlers established 
 themselves outside the walls of the fort, and 
 engaged in farming, though suffering great 
 
 6s 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 inconvenience from a scarcity of horses and 
 cattle. Before any streets were laid out, a dis- 
 trict north of the fort was divided into bou- 
 weries, and six of these were reserved as the 
 exclusive property of the Company. The 
 grant to Roelof Jansz bounded the base of 
 a chalk hill known as the Kalch Hoek, and 
 extended from a line nearly identical with 
 Canal Street on the north to that of Warren 
 Street on the south. The district now bounded 
 by Baxter, White, Elm, Duane and Park 
 streets was covered by the waters of the 
 " Collect," a pond currently reported to be 
 fathomless and the abode of terrible mon- 
 sters. The western outlet of the Collect was 
 a stream which traversed a marshy land to 
 the Mauritius River, and was deep enough 
 to allow the passage of small boats; while on 
 the other side of the pond a brook made its 
 way to the East River. The Collect was fed 
 by streams of pure water from a hilly land 
 
 66 
 
Some Prominent Persons 
 
 around it, where Indian wigwams had dotted 
 the forests, and industrious Indian squaws 
 had occupied themselves in the work of open- 
 ing and drying oysters, which they strung 
 upon reeds for future use. The accumulated 
 shells gave a name to Kalch Hoek near the 
 pond, and the word Collect itself is believed 
 to be a corruption of those explanatory 
 terms. 
 
 Not far from the Collect, on the bank of 
 the East River, Van der Donck relates that 
 enormous oysters, many inches in diameter, 
 were found, and sold at eight or ten stuyvers 
 per hundred ; and there lobsters from four to 
 six feet long were caught, according to the 
 same authority. It would seem that the pro- 
 verbial grain of salt might have been requisite 
 as an aid to digestion both of shell-fish and 
 story. 
 
 If the chronicler may be trusted, the "lus- 
 cious food of water-terrapin " was also abun- 
 
 67 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 dant, and wild turkeys, weighing from twenty 
 to thirty pounds, were frequently shot. Cran- 
 berries, raspberries and blackberries grew in 
 profusion, while strawberries were so wildly 
 redundant that colonists *' lay down in their 
 midst " to enjoy a feast. 
 
 68 
 
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 The " Comedian " Van T wilier. 1633— 1637 
 
 ^********^N the year 1632, the mariner- 
 
 IJpatroon, De Vries, sailed from 
 S Holland in command of an expe- 
 S*******^ dition sent out to test the success 
 of whale-fisheries at the mouth of the South 
 Bay. When he arrived at the spot where two 
 years previous a colony had been established, 
 he found the fort destroyed and the ground 
 strewn with the bones of the murdered col- 
 onists. Having propitiated some Indians 
 whom he encountered, he learned from them 
 the story of a terrible massacre, but wisely 
 pursuing a course of conciliation, he suc- 
 ceeded in cementing with the savages of the 
 locality a formal treaty of peace. 
 
 Convinced of the impracticability of pur- 
 suing the whale-fishery to advantage in that 
 
 69 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 section, De Vries then decided to spend some 
 time in exploring the coast of New Nether- 
 land, and arrived at Fort Amsterdam soon 
 after Van Twiller had assumed the govern- 
 ment. While he tarried at the fort an English 
 vessel named the " William " entered the bay, 
 desiring to proceed up the Mauritius River. 
 The commander of the vessel was Jacob Eel- 
 kins, a former agent of the Dutch at Fort 
 Orange, who, having been dismissed from 
 that position, had entered English service, 
 and now in the interests of his new employ- 
 ers projected a voyage for trading purposes 
 through the familiar waters of the river. As 
 he declined to show his commission Van 
 Twiller refused to permit him to proceed, 
 whereupon Eelkens announced that he would 
 go if it cost him his life, and sailed defiantly 
 past the fort. 
 
 Van Twiller was enraged, but instead of at- 
 tempting to check the intruder with the guns 
 
 70 
 
"Comedian''' Van Twill er 
 
 at his command, he sent forth a crier to sum- 
 mon the people, ordered a cask of wine to be 
 broached, and called upon all under authority 
 to pledge him protection against "the vio- 
 lence which the Englishman had committed." 
 Posterity will not forget this little tableau 
 enacted at Fort Amsterdam by the ** wine- 
 bibbing governor," while unmolested the 
 "William " sailed quietly up the broad river. 
 De Vries, an energetic, clear-headed man, 
 frankly censured Van Twiller's conduct, and 
 counselled sending the "Zoutberg" up the 
 Mauritius to drive the English vessel from 
 Dutch waters ; and after a few days of " doubt- 
 ing," the governor dispatched on this errand 
 "a caravel, a pinnace, and a hoy." At the 
 point where the trader was found encamped, 
 armed troops promptly assisted him to collect 
 his goods, which were confiscated and carried 
 to Fort Amsterdam, while at the peremptory 
 word of the Dutch commander, the "Wil- 
 
 71 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 liam" weighed anchor, and, convoyed by the 
 small fleet from the Fort, sailed swiftly down 
 the river and out to sea. 
 
 "The Waverer," having been taught a les- 
 son in methods of enforcing his authority, 
 proceeded to practice it on occasions less op- 
 portune, and when De Vries proposed to send 
 his yacht through the East River, for pur- 
 poses of trade with the New England colo- 
 nists, the guns of the fort were ordered to be 
 trained upon the vessel of the Dutch patroon. 
 De Vries did not hesitate to characterize in 
 emphatic syllables the illegality of that meas- 
 ure, and his yacht was finally permitted to 
 proceed. 
 
 Van Twiller had found the fort in a dilap- 
 idated condition, and African slaves, imported 
 by the West India Company, were immedi- 
 ately set to work to strengthen and extend its 
 defences. Two years were occupied in this 
 labor, and when completed the improvements 
 
 72 
 
"Comedian''' Van Twill er 
 
 had cost the Company four thousand one hun- 
 dred and seventy-two guilders ! The new fort, 
 three hundred feet in length, by two hundred 
 and fifty in breadth, was quadrangular in 
 shape, with a bastion at each corner, that at 
 the northwest being faced with " good quarry 
 stone." Within the inclosure were erected a 
 guard-house and barracks for the newly-ar- 
 rived soldiers, a "big house" of brick for the 
 governor's residence, and three windmills. 
 Without the walls were built the little 
 wooden church with its peaked roof, and the 
 house not far away for the dominie, and on 
 the west side of the Heere Straat (Broadway) 
 the first burying-ground was laid out. 
 
 Van Twiller ordered also the erection of 
 houses at Pavonia, Fort Orange, and Fort Nas- 
 sau on the South River ; being expert in the 
 distribution of the Company's money for the 
 improvement of their property, during those 
 early years of his government, though later 
 
 73 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 his zeal seems to have been chiefly manifested 
 in the pursuit of private purposes. His im- 
 provements upon land known as the Bossen 
 Bouwerie may not have been prosecuted with 
 eyes single to the Company's service, for hav- 
 ing erected there a dwelling-house, boat- 
 house, and barn, the honorable director soon 
 assumed possession of the property, as perquis- 
 ites, perhaps, of his office. 
 
 The Bossen Bouwerie covered the site of the 
 old Indian village of Sappokanican, and ex- 
 tended through a wooded district, where green 
 fields sloped between low hills to the beach 
 on the Mauritius river; one boundary line be- 
 ginning at the point where Little Twelfth 
 Street and Washington Street now cross. The 
 bouwerie stood in the Company's name un- 
 til the greedy governor succeeded in transfer- 
 ring the title to himself, making his " farm- 
 house in the woods ' ' the first habitation beyond 
 the little settlement around the fort. On this 
 
 74 
 
"Comedian''' Van Twill er 
 
 bouwerie, Van Twiller began the cultivation 
 of tobacco, which soon gained the reputation 
 of being the best in the colony, and yielded 
 a revenue that notably contributed to the ex- 
 pansion of those capacious pockets, accused at 
 the close of the governor's administration of 
 being unwarrantably distended. 
 
 Some islands in the Sound were added to 
 the possessions of this prosperous director, who 
 is said to have owned seven wide estates in 
 New Netherland ; and, in 1637, he bought 
 from the Indians the isle of Pagganck, called 
 by the Dutch " Nutten Island," on account 
 of its hickory and chestnut groves. Separated 
 from the Long Island shore by a channel, 
 at that time so narrow that at low-tide it 
 was frequently forded, this accessible plot of 
 ground was, in 1 698, set apart by English de- 
 cree for the benefit of " his Majesty's Gov- 
 ernors and Councillors."' 
 
 ' Historic New York, Vol. I. 
 
 IS 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 The origin of its modern name, " Gover- 
 nor's Island," has been often ascribed to the 
 fact of Van Twiller's purchase; but in Sep- 
 tember, 1 664, the territory was mentioned as 
 Nutten Island in a letter relating to the sur- 
 render of New Amsterdam, written by the 
 City Court to the West India Company, and 
 with this evidence in its favor the supposition 
 seems plausible that the English name was 
 first linked with the land by people speaking 
 the English tongue. 
 
 Complications with the New England col- 
 onists soon disturbed Van Twiller's peaceful 
 career. In a grant to the Earl of Warwick, 
 Charles I. had included a district claimed by 
 the Dutch in right of their discoveries in 
 1 614; and, in anticipation of contests for the 
 possession of this territory, the West India 
 Company instructed the director to purchase 
 from the Indians the land on both sides of 
 the Fresh River (the Connecticut). The Pe- 
 
 76 
 
"ComediarC'' Van Twill er 
 
 quods had recently been victorious over the 
 other tribes of the region, and Jacob Van Cor- 
 lear was sent to secure from the chiefs of that 
 nation a formal deed of transference ; while 
 a redoubt near the present city of Hartford, 
 begun in 1623, and named Fort Hope, was 
 fortified with two small cannon, and in token 
 of ownership, the arms of the States General 
 of Holland were affixed to a tree not far from 
 the mouth of the river, at a point called Kie- 
 vit's Hook.' 
 
 Governor Winthrop, having received intel- 
 ligence of this proceeding, dispatched a letter 
 to Fort Amsterdam, in which, in the name 
 of the King of England, he laid claim to the 
 entire valley of the Connecticut; and Van 
 Twiller, more diplomatic in correspondence 
 than in speech, sent a courteous reply, asking 
 that the question of boundary lines between 
 English and Dutch territories might be re- 
 
 I Holland Doc. 
 
 11 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 ferred to the home government, in order that 
 the people of both colonies might live "as 
 good neighbors in these heathenish coun- 
 tries." But from some Indians who had been 
 expelled by the victorious Pequods, Win- 
 throp purchased a precarious title to a district 
 north of that occupied by the Dutch, and 
 sent troops under command of Lieutenant 
 William Holmes to take possession. Passing 
 Fort Hope, they were ordered back by Van 
 Corlear, but Holmes valiantly asserting his 
 determination to execute his orders at all 
 hazards, the little band proceeded on their 
 way, and, having reached their destination, 
 "clapped up the frame of a house which they 
 had brought with them, and palisadoed it 
 about." 
 
 Van Twiller sent them a formal notice to 
 " depart forthwith," but this produced little 
 effect upon men who, in the fulfilment of 
 their purpose, had defied the guns of the fort; 
 
 78 
 
"ComediarC^ Van Twill er 
 
 and the perplexed governor of New Nether- 
 land, with no energetic counsellor at hand, 
 was plunged into a condition of bewilder- 
 ment from which the authority of the Am- 
 sterdam Chamber seemed alone sufficient to 
 extricate him. That body issued commands to 
 dislodge the intruders, but before the peremp- 
 tory message reached Fort Amsterdam open 
 warfare broke out between the Dutch and the 
 Pequods, and so greatly increased the hazards 
 of the enterprise, that although seventy men 
 were dispatched "with colors displayed" to 
 execute the order, they withdrew on pretense 
 of danger from the Indians, when the Eng- 
 lish manifested an intention to dispute the 
 ground. 
 
 Among the indefinitely defined English 
 grants which so often overlapped one an- 
 other, was territory adjacent to the Connecti- 
 cut River, claimed by Lord Saye and Lord 
 Brooke. In 1635, a party led by the younger 
 
 79 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Winthrop arrived at Kievit's Hook, and on 
 behalf of the English nobleman named the 
 spot Saybrooke. Two years later Winthrop 
 received from Lord Warwick's grantees a 
 commission as ** governor of the River of the 
 Connecticut with the places adjoining there- 
 unto," and the English advancing into the 
 country, tore down the arms of the States 
 General, and ** engraved a ridiculous face in 
 their place." ' Troops sent from Fort Amster- 
 dam to resist these encroachments were not 
 permitted to land, and the newcomers, having 
 erected a fort, pursued their purpose of occu- 
 pying the adjacent country until a narrow 
 district in the neighborhood of Fort Hope 
 was all that remained to the Dutch in Eastern 
 New Netherland. 
 
 The assertion of De Vries that Van Twiller 
 had been promoted from a clerkship to per- 
 form a comedy in New Netherland, seemed 
 
 ' Holland Doc. 
 
 80 
 
"Comedian'' Van Twill er 
 
 justified by the patroon's experiences. Before 
 returning to Holland, De Vries again called 
 at Fort Amsterdam, and offered to be the 
 bearer of any letters the director might wish 
 to send to the home government. Van Twil- 
 ler, with pretentious assumption of authority, 
 declared a resolution to detain the outward 
 bound vessel until its cargo had been in- 
 spected by his officials, and when protest 
 was entered against such unauthorized pro- 
 ceedings he sent musketeers to the shore to 
 prevent the ship's departure. In the face of 
 this demonstration De Vries ordered his boat 
 to row out of the harbor, but before taking 
 leave in person, he returned to the fort and 
 again administered wholesome counsel to the 
 discomfited director, while, on the shore, 
 "spectators mocked the guard." 
 
 The following morning a slight skirmish of 
 words occurred on De Vries' ship, when it was 
 visited by Remund and Notelman, the secre- 
 
 8i 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 tary and the schout of New Amsterdam, who 
 brought Van Twiller's budget of letters. 
 Remund threatened to confiscate a few bear- 
 skins which he found on the deck of the 
 vessel, and which had not been entered at 
 the fort, but Notelman interfered, desiring 
 him to let the patroon account for his goods 
 in Holland. The secretary, zealous in his 
 office, declared a determination to send a 
 ship in pursuit of De Vries, and the exasper- 
 ated patroon once more found occasion to 
 deliver in emphatic phraseology his opinion 
 of official rule at Fort Amsterdam. 
 
 Affairs on the South River next demanded 
 the attention of the director. In 1635, intel- 
 ligence was brought to Manhattan that the 
 vacant fort in that locality had been seized 
 by the English, and at once Van Twiller dis- 
 patched an armed force to dislodge the in- 
 truders. But when, easily overcome, the enemy 
 were brought prisoners to Fort Amsterdam, 
 
 82 
 
"Comedian''' Van Twill er 
 
 the incompetent governor was plunged into 
 a new dilemma, for he had received no in- 
 struction in methods of dealing with captives. 
 Fortunately the ubiquitous De Vries again 
 touched at Manhattan, on his way to Chesa- 
 peake Bay, and at Van Twiller's urgent peti- 
 tion, detained his vessel until the English 
 could be conveyed aboard, to be returned to 
 their own colony at Point Comfort.' The 
 Dutch then re-occupied Fort Nassau, and for 
 several years held undisturbed possession. 
 
 But private estates had suffered through 
 failure of the West India Company to afford 
 the guaranteed protection, and the patroons 
 brought suits to indemnify themselves for 
 these losses ; while quarrels concerning the fur 
 trade continued until the College of XIX, 
 weary of the discord, commissioned their 
 agents to purchase as far as possible the prop- 
 erty rights of the patroons throughout New 
 
 ' New York Hist. Col. Ms. II, III. 
 
 83 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Netherland. The territory on the South River 
 was first secured; soon afterwards Michael 
 Pauw surrendered Pavonia and Staten Island, 
 and Rensselaerswijck alone was retained by its 
 owner. De Vries, delivered from the respon- 
 sibilities of his original patroonship, contem- 
 plated founding a colony in the vicinity of 
 Fort Amsterdam, and requested Van Twiller 
 to reserve Staten Island for his occupancy. An 
 amusing incident is associated with his return 
 to Manhattan in the spring of 1636, when 
 unseen by garrison or sentinel he sailed up the 
 bay and anchored off the fort two hours after 
 midnight! At daybreak, unchallenged, he an- 
 nounced his arrival by firing three guns, 
 whereupon the startled garrison rushed wildly 
 to their posts, and the sleepy governor, in at- 
 tire much disarranged, ran, pistol in hand, to 
 the fort. 
 
 Another story tells of De Vries' excursion 
 across the river in company with Van Twiller 
 
 84 
 
"ComediarC'' Van Twill er 
 
 and Dominie Bogardus, to give greeting to a 
 new "head-commander" named Van Voorst, 
 who had recently arrived at Pavonia, and was 
 reputed to have brought with him some good 
 Bordeaux wine. This social event was not free 
 from the occurrence of disputes between the 
 governor and minister, but the company were 
 all upon friendly terms when the visitors took 
 leave of their host, and Van Voorst attempted 
 to honor the director with a salute. But his 
 cannon stood too near the house, and his 
 courtesy cost him his home ! A spark fell 
 upon the thatch of his roof, and the depart- 
 ing guests' pathway across the river was illu- 
 minated by the burning building. 
 
 One act of unquestionable bravery dignified 
 the closing period of Van Twiller's rule. Dur- 
 ing the progress of the Pequod war, in an at- 
 tack made by the savages upon the English 
 settlement at Wethersfield, nine colonists were 
 killed, and two young girls were carried into 
 
 85 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 captivity ! When the news of this calamity 
 reached New Amsterdam, the director dis- 
 patched a force to redeem the captives, with 
 orders to effect this purpose by any means 
 whatsoever. Suspicious of an attempt to re- 
 gain the lost territory in Connecticut, the 
 garrison at Saybrooke refused to allow the 
 Dutch sloop to proceed beyond that point 
 until a pledge was given that the release of 
 the captives should be made their chief de- 
 sign. Having passed Saybrooke the party 
 reached their destination unmolested, but the 
 Pequods refused all offers of ransom for their 
 prisoners, until the Dutch had succeeded in 
 capturing six or seven savages whom they used 
 as a medium of exchange, and the rescued 
 maidens were then restored to their friends. 
 The "Comedy" was soon to close. The 
 schout-fiscal, Lubbertus Van Dincklagen, de- 
 scribed with doubled imagery as " an upright 
 man and a doctor of laws," had criticised the 
 
 86 
 
"Comedian''* Van Twill er 
 
 methods of government in the colony, and 
 openly censured the director. Van Twiller 
 refused payment of Van Dincklagen's salary, 
 and wrathfully ordered him out of the coun- 
 try. Returning to Holland, the schout ap- 
 pealed for justice to the States General, and 
 presented a review of Van Twiller's adminis- 
 tration. His memorial was referred to the 
 Amsterdam Chamber, but was there dealt 
 with in so unsatisfactory a manner that Van 
 Dincklagen prepared a second document, and 
 again asked the interposition of the home 
 government. Upon the arrival of De Vries his 
 knowledge of affairs was also promulgated, 
 and his opinions freely expressed, and the 
 States General notified the West India Com- 
 pany that they must refute the charges against 
 Van Twiller or recall him. 
 The latter measure proved the easier, and in 
 1637 the Waverer was removed from office. 
 He remained for a while in New Amsterdam 
 
 87 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 occupying the Company's bouwerie, which 
 he had fitted up to his own satisfaction, and 
 for which he paid two hundred and fifty 
 guilders a year, while finding profitable occu- 
 pation in the care of his own estates in New 
 Netherland. When the greater portion of 
 these reverted to the Company, Van Twiller 
 returned to Holland, where his death in 1 657 
 is recorded. 
 
 88 
 
VI 
 
 The Early Administration of JVillia?n Kieft 
 1638-1641 
 
 |********gROCLAMATIONS,protestsand 
 
 P? restrictions made eventful the 
 S first months of William Kieft's 
 S?******^ administration in New Nether- 
 land. The third governor arrived in the spring 
 of 1 638, and immediately became engrossed 
 in the reformation of colonial affairs; issuing 
 regulations so rapidly, that Fiske comprehen- 
 sively comments : '* If proclamations could 
 reform society, the waspish and wiry little 
 governor would have had the millenium in 
 full operation within a twelvemonth." 
 
 Director Kieft did not enter office with an 
 unsullied reputation, for he had been a bank- 
 rupt in business in the mother country; a 
 misfortune that in Dutch estimation merited 
 
 89 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the ignominious publicity procured by the 
 annexation of his portrait to the gallows of 
 his native city. Subsequent to this humiliation 
 he had been sent to Turkey to negotiate the 
 freedom of Christian captives, but rumor 
 maintained that some were left in bondage 
 whose ransom-money had been intrusted to 
 the unworthy deputy. Although he was not 
 cordially received in New Amsterdam, the 
 activity and energy evinced by the "fussy, 
 fiery Kieft," soon shone in vivid contrast to 
 Van Twiller's dilatory deeds, and few were 
 found able to evade the arbitrary edicts of 
 the new governor. His first measures were 
 strongly suggestive of a determination to ren- 
 der his individual authority the only law in 
 the colony, for, having been granted the 
 privilege of fixing the number of his council, 
 he chose but one representative, the learned 
 and law-loving, polished and prudent Jo- 
 hannes La Montagne. To this distinguished 
 
 90 
 
Administration of Kief t 
 
 councillor Kieft gave but one vote, however ; 
 while, "to prevent all danger of a tie," two 
 were retained for himself. 
 
 There was abundant scope for all the di- 
 rector's efforts at reform. The fort, " open at 
 every side, except the stone-point," presented 
 a discouraging view of dismounted guns ; 
 while windmills that would not work, farms 
 without tenants, and vessels falling to pieces 
 in the harbor, formed a trio of embarrass- 
 ments fitted to challenge the courage of a less 
 energetic man. The colonists found little re- 
 ward for farming when they were denied a 
 title to the land they cultivated, and smug- 
 gling of both furs and tobacco was widely 
 practised, while arms were sold to the Indians 
 whenever such trade proved profitable. 
 
 Kieft posted his placards on barns and trees 
 and fences ; forbidding, on pain of death, the 
 sale of guns or powder to the savages, and 
 affixing heavy penalties to the illegal traffic 
 
 91 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 in furs. In order that his authority might 
 more readily be enforced, restrictions were 
 placed upon personal freedom ; no one was 
 permitted to leave the island without a pass- 
 port ; and sailors were forbidden to be absent 
 from their ships after nightfall. The director 
 was a strictly temperate man, and endeavored 
 to prevent the occurrence of the "lively ca- 
 rousals" which had been too obviously in 
 accordance with Van Twiller's tastes to suffer 
 restraint under his legislation. Kieft's law 
 enacted that no liquor should be sold at retail 
 except "wine in moderate quantities," and 
 every evening at nine o'clock the town bell 
 proclaimed the proper hour for retiring. 
 Morning and evening the same messenger 
 summoned and dismissed the laborers, and on 
 Thursdays its tones were the signal for prison- 
 ers to appear in court. 
 
 The complaints against Van Twiller having 
 directed the attention of the States General 
 
 92 
 
Administration of Kief t 
 
 of Holland to the complications in New 
 Netherland affairs, their High Mightinesses 
 considered it prudent to continue their inves- 
 tigations, and at length informed the West 
 India Company that measures must be taken 
 "such as should be found advisable for the ser- 
 vice of the state and the benefit of the Com- 
 pany." Thereupon the Amsterdam Chamber 
 proposed more liberal conditions for colonists. 
 A farmer willing to emigrate was to be car- 
 ried free of expense to New Netherland, where 
 a farm as large as he could satisfactorily culti- 
 vate would be provided, with house and barn, 
 horses, cows, pigs, and needful implements of 
 agriculture. For this equipment the farmer 
 was to pay a quit-rent equivalent to two- 
 hundred dollars per annum, for six years, and 
 at the end of that period he might claim the 
 land, with all that had been gained above the 
 value of the stock originally furnished. Each 
 colonist was required to sign a pledge to sub- 
 
 93 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 mit to the authority of officers appointed by 
 the West India Company, and that corpora- 
 tion again agreed to keep in repair the fort 
 and the pubhc buildings, and to provide 
 ministers, schoolmasters, and negro slaves. 
 Somewhat later, a revised charter for the 
 patroons modified the privileges of the aris- 
 tocracy, and gave the colonists commercial 
 and manufacturing rights. 
 
 Among the earliest settlers of New Neth- 
 erland the thrifty and prosperous element of 
 Holland's population was not widely repre- 
 sented, but the later charter of privileges 
 tempted members of good families to emi- 
 grate, and the West India Company reaped 
 the reward of their more liberal policy. In 
 1639, the number of bouweries on Manhat- 
 tan Island had increased from seven to over 
 thirty, and the tolerant temper shown by the 
 Dutch toward persons of every religion 
 brought, not long afterward, to New Nether- 
 
 94 
 
Administration of Kief t 
 
 land many New Englanders, who had been 
 exiled from their homes by the fanatical 
 zeal of magistrates. Among these was Anne 
 Hutchinson, that "masterpiece of wit and 
 wisdom" whom Winthrop claimed to have 
 entangled in twenty-nine errors, and the 
 dissenting clergyman, Francis Doughty, who 
 while preaching at Cohassett, had been 
 dragged from his pulpit for saying that Abra- 
 ham's children ought to have been baptized.' 
 Many fugitive servants "carrying their pass- 
 ports under the soles of their shoes" came 
 also from New England and from Virginia, 
 until the conduct of some immigrants having 
 been reported to occasion " mischief and com- 
 plaint," Kieft forbade the people of New Am- 
 sterdam to harbor any stranger more than one 
 night, or to provide for him more than one 
 meal, without notification to the director, ac- 
 companied by the name of the newcomer. 
 
 ' Fiske's Dutch and ^aker Colonies. 
 
 95 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Upon taking an oath of obedience to the States 
 General, the ahens were received; equal rights 
 and entire religious freedom were granted to 
 all, and New Amsterdam entered upon its 
 cosmopolitan career. 
 
 Trespassers upon territory on the South 
 River soon called Kieft's attention from af- 
 fairs at Fort Amsterdam. The ex-director, 
 Peter Minuit, after returning to Holland, 
 had offered his services to the government, 
 then guided by the great Chancellor Oxen- 
 stein, and his proposition to plant a Scandi- 
 navian colony in America had been favorably 
 received. With about fifty Swedes, includ- 
 ing a Lutheran minister, Minuit arrived in 
 Delaware Bay, and for "a kettle and other 
 trinkets " purchased from the Indians a tract 
 of land not far from Fort Nassau. Through 
 the deed signed by the sachem, the Swedish 
 claim included all the territory on the west 
 bank of the Delaware River from Cape Hen- 
 
 96 
 
Administration of Kief t 
 
 lopen to Trenton Falls, and extending inland 
 indefinitely. A fort was built and named for 
 the young queen, Christiana, and as Minuit 
 had brought material for the Indian trade, he 
 was soon able to send to Europe a cargo of 
 furs. 
 
 Angry messages of remonstrance against 
 these encroachments upon the rights of the 
 Dutch were issued from Fort Amsterdam, 
 and a Swedish sloop challenged from Fort 
 Nassau was warned to depart from the waters 
 of the South River, but Minuit ignored these 
 protests, and, as it was not the policy of Hol- 
 land to offend Sweden, the little colony re- 
 mained for several years unmolested. Minuit 
 on a voyage to Sweden perished in a hurri- 
 cane, and under the next governor, John 
 Printz, the settlement of New Sweden was 
 rapidly strengthened, and the West India 
 Company's trade with the Indians of that 
 region was for a time practically closed. 
 
 97 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 After the English settlements in the neigh- 
 borhood of Long Island Sound had united 
 their strength in the federal colonies of New- 
 Haven and Connecticut, the Dutch boundary 
 line on the Fresh River was again narrowed 
 by the advance of settlers. Declaring that it 
 was "a sin to leave unused ground that could 
 produce such excellent corn," the English 
 began to cultivate the land in the immediate 
 vicinity of Fort Good Hope, where Gysbert 
 Op Dyck was established with a garrison of 
 fourteen or fifteen men. " They gave out," 
 said De Vries, " that they were Israelites and 
 that the Dutch were Egyptians." The situa- 
 tion elicited several new proclamations from 
 Kieft which failed to tranquilize affairs, how- 
 ever, and finally Op Dyck relinquished a 
 position which brought only annoyance with- 
 out honor. 
 
 In 1 64 1, Kieft ordered a force of fifty men 
 to protect the thirty acres which alone re- 
 
 98 
 
Administration of Kief t 
 
 mained to the Dutch, but just at that time 
 hostile demonstrations from the Indians com- 
 pelled him to detain the troops at Fort Am- 
 sterdam, and Winthrop joyfully wrote, ** It 
 pleased the Lord to disappoint this purpose." 
 De Vries, finding Staten Island an unsatis- 
 factory estate, pursued his habit of leisurely 
 travel, and left for the perusal of future gen- 
 erations an entertaining account of intelligent 
 journeyings at a time when the Falls of 
 Cahooes appeared " as high as a church." 
 He explored the shores of the Mauritius as 
 far as Fort Orange, and although his proph- 
 ecies concerning settlements upon the river's 
 bank were not optimistic, he purchased a few 
 miles north of New Amsterdam a tract of 
 land to which he gave the name of Vriesen- 
 dale. 
 
 LcfC. 
 
 99 
 
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 ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 ivb 
 
 ^ 
 
 
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 <u 
 
 <»' 
 
 K^ 
 
 
 
 
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 m 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 ui 
 
 
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 K 
 
 
 
VII 
 
 A Chapter of Disgraceful Deeds. 1640 — 1643 
 
 mN 1634 that ** weak brother, Van 
 Twiller," had compassed a deed 
 of great importance to the colony 
 5^^^^^$^^ at Fort Amsterdam, by conclud- 
 ing an advantageous peace with the Raritan 
 Indians. The friendly relations then estab- 
 lished were maintained for several years, but 
 when the colonists began to employ Indians 
 as household servants, the temptations pre- 
 sented were too strong for savage nature to 
 resist ; and, after possessing themselves of prop- 
 erty belonging to their employers, the ser- 
 vants often departed suddenly to use their 
 knowledge of the settlers' habits to the latter's 
 disadvantage. The savages had learned to be 
 shrewd in trade and exacting in their bargains, 
 ** requiring a cod if they gave a herring," 
 
 loi 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 and when it was no longer found profitable 
 to indulge them, they were treated with con- 
 tempt. 
 
 Other irritating conditions were fostered 
 when the Dutch, in their eagerness for trade, 
 neglected the care of their bouweries, and 
 their straying cattle, intruding upon the un- 
 fenced cornfields of the Indians, were killed 
 or captured. The edict against the sale of fire- 
 arms to the Indians had been often evaded, 
 and they, who at first looked upon a gun as 
 ** the devil," and refused to touch one, became 
 so debased by familiarity with that implement 
 of destruction that in their eagerness to pos- 
 sess a musket they would offer twenty beaver 
 skins in exchange. Tempted by such extra- 
 ordinary profits many colonists traded, until 
 they were devoid of all means of defence in 
 time of danger, and the savages were equipped 
 for the war soon to be precipitated by the rash 
 and reckless director. 
 
 I02 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 Upon the pretext that the savages were re- 
 sponsible for the necessity of maintaining the 
 forts and their garrisons, and on the plea of 
 express orders from Holland, Kieft levied a 
 tax of *' maize, furs, or sewant," upon the In- 
 dians. Naturally the tribute was refused by 
 the warriors, on the ground that the troops and 
 the fort furnished them no protection; and, 
 declaring that the Dutch were still under ob- 
 ligations for food provided them during the 
 early years of the settlement, the Indians con- 
 cluded by announcing, *' If we have ceded to 
 you the land you occupy, we will yet remain 
 masters of what we have retained."' 
 
 By this injudicious attempt at taxation, the 
 River Indians were totally estranged, and as 
 there were rumors of a projected attack upon 
 Fort Amsterdam, Kieft ordered all inhabit- 
 ants of Manhattan to provide themselves with 
 firearms. But the burning brand was cast by 
 
 'Brodhead, vol. I, 311. 
 
 103 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the governor's own hand. Some petty thefts 
 committed on Staten Island were charged up- 
 on Raritan Indians, and although there was 
 no proof that the criminals belonged to that 
 tribe, soldiers were sent to demand from them 
 restitution. In the conflict that ensued, al- 
 though Van Tienhoven, the leader of the 
 troops, made an effort to restrain his men, sev- 
 eral Indians were killed, and the crops in the 
 Raritan settlement were destroyed. This epi- 
 sode occurred in 1 640, and revenge was not 
 long delayed. In 1641 the unprotected plan- 
 tation of De Vries, on Staten Island, was at- 
 tacked by the Raritans, the buildings burned, 
 and four planters killed. Kieft, more savage 
 than the savages, more revengeful than the 
 wronged De Vries, proclaimed a bounty of 
 ten fathoms of wampum for the head of any 
 Raritan ; thus inciting against them the In- 
 dians of other tribes, and before long one of 
 the River savages brought to the fort a hand 
 
 104 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 which he declared to have belonged to the 
 chief who had murdered the Dutchmen on 
 De Vries' estate. 
 
 Meanwhile, in accordance with Indian cus- 
 tom, a vow of vengeance religiously cherished 
 for long years was executed, and retribution 
 followed an evil deed done in the days of 
 Minuit's rule. A Weequaesgeek Indian, on 
 his way to Fort Amsterdam to dispose of 
 beaver skins, had been attacked by three of 
 Minuit's servants, robbed and murdered; but 
 his nephew who accompanied him, a young 
 lad and swift of foot, escaped to plan methods 
 of revenge. Grown to manhood, he went to 
 the house of a harmless old man named Claes 
 Smits, upon pretence of bartering beaver- 
 skins for cloth, and while, unsuspicious of 
 evil, the victim stooped over his chest to find 
 the articles desired, he was killed by a blow 
 from the Indian's axe. 
 
 Kieft demanded that the murderer should 
 
 105 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 be surrendered for punishment, but the chief 
 of the Weequaesgeeks refused, on the ground 
 that he had but avenged the death of his 
 uncle, and the wrathful governor was only 
 restrained from immediate declaration of war 
 by the popular opposition to that course. In 
 the serious exigencies of the situation, Kieft 
 was induced temporarily to relinquish his au- 
 tocratic method of procedure, and represen- 
 tatives of the families of New Amsterdam 
 were summoned to meet in council. 
 
 On August 28, 1 64 1, this first popular as- 
 sembly of New Netherland was convoked, 
 and by its vote twelve men were appointed 
 to co-operate with the governor, in measures 
 for securing the welfare of the colony. This 
 committee agreed that the murder of Claes 
 Smits must be avenged, but ** God and the 
 opportunity" must first be considered. They 
 advised a continuance of trade with the In- 
 dians until the hunting season should arrive. 
 
 106 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 when the scattered foe might be more easily 
 overcome ; and when the proper time for an 
 attack should be at hand, they agreed that the 
 governor "ought to lead the van." But the 
 pacific policy of De Vries exerted its influ- 
 ence upon all the meetings of the council, 
 and when the hunting season came, and the 
 savages were still on their guard, the choleric 
 Kieft was forced again to delay his antici- 
 pated vengeance, though to possess his soul in 
 patience was quite beyond his power. 
 
 The Twelve Men once more convened, 
 availed themselves of the opportunity for se- 
 curing some popular rights long desired by 
 the democratic Dutchmen, and although the 
 director angrily dissolved the meeting, he 
 found, like the second Stuart sovereign of 
 England, that his prerogatives rested upon 
 the will of the people. The Twelve Men 
 demanded that thenceforth the governor's 
 council should consist of at least five mem- 
 
 107 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 bers, of whom four should be chosen by 
 popular vote, ** to save the land from oppres- 
 sion"; and for all colonists they claimed the 
 right to trade with neighboring people, and 
 the privilege of visiting vessels arrived from 
 abroad. 
 
 Hitherto Kieft had exercised the right to 
 impose taxes and fines, and to change the 
 value of wampum as he chose, thus affecting 
 all property values. His had been the sole 
 voice of authority in the settlement of all 
 criminal questions, as well as civil contro- 
 versies, and in autocratic complacency he had 
 regarded his position as supreme and invul- 
 nerable. But now he realized the imprudence 
 of refusing concessions to the Twelve Men, 
 and feigning to yield to their wishes in many 
 points, he replied to the demand for a per- 
 manently enlarged council by announcing 
 that "some persons of quality," appointed in 
 Holland, were expected soon to arrive. 
 
 io8 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 Promptly following this news appeared a 
 proclamation forbidding any meeting for the 
 discussion of public affairs, unless by the di- 
 rect summons of the governor. 
 
 The Twelve Men continued to refuse their 
 sanction to active operations against the In- 
 dians, and at length Kieft, assuming personal 
 responsibility for the act, sent Ensign Van 
 Dyck with eighty men against the Wee- 
 quaesgeeks. "But," says the chronicle, *'the 
 guide lost his way and the commander his 
 temper," and the party returned ingloriously 
 to Fort Amsterdam. The Indians were, how- 
 ever, alarmed by the demonstration, and sent 
 to the fort to sue for peace. With the stipu- 
 lation that the murderer of ClaesSmits should 
 be surrendered, a treaty was concluded, but 
 the promise given was never fulfilled, and the 
 peace was soon violated. 
 
 Near Hackensack,one evening in 1643, De 
 Vries encountered a drunken Indian, who 
 
 109 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 vehemently asserted a purpose to seek revenge 
 for the theft of his beaver-skin coat. If ven- 
 geance could be executed, the individual 
 upon whom it was visited was of little ac- 
 count, and the following day a settler, quietly 
 engaged in the work of thatching his house, 
 was shot by the savage. 
 
 The chiefs of the tribe, anticipating retal- 
 iation, sought advice from the trusted De 
 Vries, and offered to give the widow of the 
 murdered man twenty fathoms of wampum. 
 De Vries persuaded them to go with him to 
 Fort Amsterdam, but Kieft refused to agree 
 to any terms of peace in which the surrender 
 of the murderer was not included. The chiefs 
 declared that he had fled "two days' journey 
 away," and, asserting that strong drink had 
 caused the crime, they again offered atone- 
 ment in money. Before negotiations had been 
 concluded, however, the River Indians were 
 attacked by the Mohawks, those "kings of 
 
 I lo 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 the forest," whom all feared, and flocking to 
 the Dutch for protection, several hundred 
 savages encamped at Pavonia and on Man- 
 hattan Island. The time seemed at hand for 
 securing their permanent friendship, but 
 Kieft viewed the conditions in a different 
 light, and, supported by some members of the 
 council, rejoiced in the opportunity afforded 
 for striking the long delayed blow. Dominie 
 Bogardus, La Montague, and De Vries argued 
 in vain. At midnight of February 25, 1643, 
 detachments of soldiers were sent from Fort 
 Amsterdam, and eighty Indians, men, women, 
 and children were massacred at Pavonia; 
 while at Corlear's Hook, forty more were 
 murdered in their sleep. Dutch annals were 
 dyed deep in wickedness that night. The next 
 morning Kieft welcomed home his brutal 
 bands, who came bringing the heads of vic- 
 tims, while many inhabitants of New Am- 
 sterdam, with evil passions inflamed by the 
 
 1 1 1 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 bloody sight, extolled the most disgraceful 
 deed in all their history. 
 
 Intelligence of the massacre incited the 
 colonists on Long Island to seek occasion for 
 attacking the Indians in their neighborhood, 
 and although Kieft directed them to continue 
 at peace unless signs of hostility were shown, 
 movements innocent of evil design were 
 often construed into hostile indications by 
 those who coveted neighboring cornfields ; 
 and in return for the loss of grain there were 
 deadly deeds of Indian vengeance. 
 
 Retaliation for the massacre at Pavonia 
 was not delayed. Eleven Algonquin tribes 
 made common cause against the Dutch, and 
 began those stealthy tactics to oppose which 
 the civilized soldier possessed no weapons. 
 Farmers were shot down on their bouweries, 
 their families carried into captivity, and their 
 homes destroyed by an enemy, who myste- 
 riously appeared, and as suddenly vanished 
 
 I 12 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 when his work was done. Only those within 
 the protecting walls of the fort were secure 
 of life, and to prevent the colonists from re- 
 turning to Holland, Kieft was compelled to 
 receive many into the Company's service 
 as soldiers. Even Vriesendale was attacked, 
 though saved by the intervention of an In- 
 dian, whose life the patroon had protected 
 on the night of the Pavonia massacre. 
 
 Realizing too late his error, Kieft again sum- 
 moned a popular assembly, who chose eight 
 men as councillors. Five of these were Dutch; 
 two English; and one, named Kuyter, a Ger- 
 man.' By their advice, efforts were made to 
 pacify the savages on Long Island, but, 
 characterizing the governor's messengers as 
 "corn thieves," those Indians scornfully de- 
 clined to consider any proposition for peace. 
 
 ' The Eight Men were Jochem Petersen Kuyter, Cornells Melny, 
 Jan Jansen Dam, or Damen, Barent Diercksen, Abram Pietersen, 
 Gerrit Wolfertsen, Isaac Allerton, and Thomas Hall ; but when 
 the other men declined to act with Damen, Jan Evertsen Bout was 
 chosen to take his place. 
 
 113 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 The destitute and wrathful farmers charged 
 the director with responsibility for all that 
 had befallen them, and the project of send- 
 ing him back to Holland was openly dis- 
 cussed. Kieft endeavored to throw the blame 
 upon others, until he roused the people to 
 such frenzy that some officials on whom he 
 had cast discredit made efforts to assassinate 
 him. Their agent was shot down and his 
 head set upon the gallows, but the policy of 
 the governor was not vindicated. 
 
 One morning in the spring of 1643, three 
 delegates from the Indians on Long Island 
 approached Fort Amsterdam bearing a white 
 flag. The director dared not go forth to meet 
 them, but sent De Vries and Jacob Olfertsen, 
 to whom the messengers communicated the 
 desire of their chief that the Dutch would 
 " go to speak with him at the sea coast." 
 The dauntless patroon and his companion 
 thereupon accompanied the savages to a 
 
 114 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 point near Rockaway, Long Island, where 
 three hundred of the tribe were assembled. 
 The visitors were offered refreshments, and 
 at daybreak were led into the woods, where 
 were gathered the sixteen chiefs of Long 
 Island. Seating themselves in a circle, the 
 sachems placed the two white men in the cen- 
 tre, and then one chief arose, who carried in 
 his hand a bundle of small sticks. This chosen 
 orator then began a long harangue, enumer- 
 ating the wrongs which the Indians had en- 
 dured, and laying down his twigs one by one 
 as he recounted his grievances. He was at 
 length interrupted by De Vries, who asked 
 the Indians to return with him to Fort Am- 
 sterdam, promising them an atonement for 
 their injuries, in gifts from the director. To 
 this proposition the sachems consented, for 
 though warned by some of their number 
 against putting themselves in the power of the 
 man who had slain so many of their race. 
 
 115 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 they had faith in the patroon, from whose lips 
 they said they ** had never heard lies, as they 
 had from other Swannekens/ " 
 
 At the Fort, gifts from Kieft cemented an 
 informal treaty, but the governor's request 
 that these chiefs would persuade representa- 
 tives of the River tribes to come to New Am- 
 sterdam for conference, did not secure the 
 desired results. The injured savages were not 
 easily appeased, and although the sachem of 
 the Hackensacks made a covenant of peace 
 for some neighboring tribes, the presents 
 given failed to satisfy, and the colonists lived 
 in constant fear of attack. At midsummer a 
 friendly Indian warned De Vries that danger 
 was impending, and, at the patroon's request, 
 went with him to warn the director. 
 
 Kieft, ignorant and impolitic, tried to bribe 
 the messenger to put to death the foes of the 
 Dutch, but his proffered gifts were indig- 
 
 ' Indian name for the Dutch. 
 
 ii6 
 
Disgraceful Deeds 
 
 nantly spurned by the savage. "Had you at 
 first fully atoned for your murders," he de- 
 clared, " they would have been forgotten ; I 
 shall do my best to pacify my people, but 
 fear I cannot, as they are continually crying 
 out for vengeance." 
 
 117 
 
VIII 
 
 The Indian War-whoop . 1 6 4 3 — 1 6 4 6 
 
 |********SARLY in the autumn of 1 643 the 
 
 E 5 war-whoop was sounded. Near 
 ^ New Rochelle the home of Anne 
 ^********» Hutchinson was burned, and the 
 family murdered, with the exception of one 
 little girl who was carried into captivity. At 
 Pavonia and Hackensack, bouweries were sur- 
 prised, houses burned, andsoldiers slaughtered. 
 West Chester and Long Island were made 
 " almost destitute of inhabitants and stock"; 
 and on Manhattan Island not more than half 
 a dozen bouweries remained undestroyed. 
 The fort at New Amsterdam was almost in 
 ruins, but only within its barriers was there 
 protection for the colonists and for their starv- 
 ing cattle. Seven allied tribes, " well supplied 
 with muskets, powder and ball," threatened 
 
 119 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 this place of refuge, and for defense the Dutch 
 could muster only about two hundred soldiers. 
 
 When the Eight Men were again convoked, 
 two ships belonging to the West India Com- 
 pany lay before the fort, loaded with provi- 
 sions for Cura^oa. It was proposed to take 
 possession of the cargoes, and to draft the crews 
 into service on land. The council voted also 
 to apply for aid from the New England col- 
 onies, and as a guaranty of payment for their 
 troops to offer a mortgage upon the territory 
 of New Netherland.' Kieft considered the 
 first proposition " inexpedient," but dis- 
 patched ambassadors to seek assistance at New 
 Haven, who soon returned to the disheart- 
 ened Dutch bearing a refusal of their request, 
 on the ground that the English "were not 
 satisfied that the war with the Indians was 
 just. 
 
 The destruction of the colony seemed im- 
 
 'Hoi. Doc. Ill, 1 1 6, 117. 
 
 I 20 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 minent, and De Vries, having again lost all 
 his possessions, resolved to return to Holland. 
 He parted from Kieft with the prophecy, 
 " The murders in which you have shed so 
 much innocent blood will yet be revenged 
 upon your own head." 
 
 Only through aid from Holland could the 
 colonists hope for rescue, and an appeal signed 
 by each of the Eight Men was addressed to 
 the College of XIX,' while another letter sent 
 to the States General carried to that august 
 body a statement of the trials endured by the 
 people of New Netherland. " We have no 
 means of defense against a savage foe," they 
 wrote, "and we have a miserable despot to 
 rule over us." 
 
 When hostilities were reopened, disgraceful 
 atrocities again marked the warfare of the 
 Dutch. On suspicion of treachery among the 
 Canarsee Indians, a force under command 
 
 'Hoi. Doc. Ill, 134-140. 
 
 121 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 of La Montagne, Cook, and Underhill, sent 
 to surprise them, killed over a hundred, and 
 brought several prisoners to Fort Amsterdam, 
 where one was forced to perform the death 
 dance of his race, while, armed with long 
 knives, the Dutch soldiers barbarously cut and 
 beat their victim until he dropped dead; and 
 another, also mutilated, was beheaded on a 
 millstone, while the director and La Mon- 
 tagne viewed the deed.' As winter approached, 
 and the colonists found themselves in need of 
 many necessaries of life, a ship from Holland, 
 destined for Rensselaerswijck, was stopped at 
 Fort Amsterdam, and fifty pairs of shoes de- 
 manded, for which Kieft offered to pay in 
 silver, beavers, or wampum. The request hav- 
 ing been refused, the vessel was seized and 
 searched, and on the plea that it contained 
 contraband articles, its cargo of guns and am- 
 munition was confiscated. 
 
 ' Hoi. Doc. Ill, I 2 1-122. 
 
 122 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 Early in the year 1 644, the English refugee, 
 Underhill, was sent, with one hundred and 
 fifty men, against the Connecticut Indians, 
 and on a moonlight night approached the 
 village near Greenwich, where, owing to 
 the celebration of a festival, seven hundred 
 savages had gathered. Finding them on their 
 guard, the Dutch charged upon their strong- 
 hold, and although several sallies were made, 
 and the arrows of the besieged effected some 
 damage, the guns of the besiegers were more 
 fatal, and within an hour one hundred and 
 eighty Indians had been killed. Underhill 
 then gave orders to fire the encampment, 
 and, as the savages attempted to escape, they 
 were shot down by foes as cruel as themselves. 
 It is stated that only eight escaped, while 
 among the Dutch but fifteen men were 
 wounded. Again, for a deed of barbarity, 
 Kieft ordered a public thanksgiving, when 
 fasting and repentance would seem to have 
 
 123 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 been a more fitting consummation of the 
 affair. 
 
 As spring approached, a few Indians ap- 
 peared at Fort Amsterdam and pledged them- 
 selves to peace; but many tribes remained 
 hostile, and their scouts were frequently seen 
 prowling about the town. For protection of 
 straying cattle, a fence was therefore erected 
 "from the great bouwerie across to the plan- 
 tation of Emanuel," covering a line from the 
 North to the East River which Wall Street 
 now partially indicates. 
 
 In desperate straits for money to pay the 
 troops, Kieft again summoned the Eight Men, 
 proposing a tax upon wine, beer, brandy, and 
 beaver; but on the ground that the right of 
 taxation could not be claimed by the gover- 
 nor of a province, the measure was opposed, 
 while Kieft, unwilling to admit such a limi- 
 tation of his authority, defiantly asserted that 
 he was his own master in New Netherland, 
 
 124 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 having received his commission from the 
 States General, and not alone from the West 
 India Company. But the people of New Am- 
 sterdam were struggling toward the burgher 
 government which they were soon to attain ; 
 and against the proclamation which falsely 
 declared that by advice of the council the 
 duties would be collected, brewers and tap- 
 sters protested, on the ground that if they paid 
 the tax they would ** offend the Eight Men 
 and the whole community." 
 
 At this juncture, unexpected relief arrived. 
 Driven out of Brazil by the Portuguese, one 
 hundred and thirty Dutch soldiers had arrived 
 at Cura^oa, where Peter Stuyvesant was at 
 that time director for the West India Com- 
 pany. Not needing the troops, Stuyvesant sent 
 them to New Amsterdam under command of 
 Jan de Fries; and upon their opportune arri- 
 val, Kieft decided to "billet the new comers 
 on the commonalty," while procuring the 
 
 125 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 clothing they needed by means of the con- 
 temned duties on liquors. The brewers were 
 taxed, not alone for every tun of beer sold, 
 but were ordered to " make a return of the 
 exact quantity they might brew," ' and hav- 
 ing refused obedience to this edict, they were 
 summoned before the council, where "judg- 
 ment was recorded against them and their 
 beer was given as a prize to the soldiers." 
 
 Encouraged by the assistance now provided, 
 the director resolved to renew active measures 
 against the Indians; but little was accom- 
 plished during the summer, and after their 
 autumn crops had been secured, the savages 
 grew bolder, and wandering about Manhattan 
 Island by night rendered it so unsafe that "no 
 one dared to fetch a stick of firewood with- 
 out a strong escort." 
 
 Remonstrances and petitions to Kieft failed 
 to secure the conditions required for safety, 
 
 'Hoi. Doc. Ill, 187. 
 
 126 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 and at last the Eight Men addressed another 
 memorial to the West India Company. It 
 was prepared by the town surveyor, Andries 
 Hudde, and after detailing the unhappy 
 phases of affairs in the colony, where "fields 
 lie fallow and waste, and dwellings are 
 burned," it stated the complaints concerning 
 the director's arbitrary rule, rested upon him 
 responsibility for the condition of warfare, 
 and warned the Company against relying 
 upon statements written in "the book" Kieft 
 had sent home, which contained, it was as- 
 serted, " as many lies as lines." The paper con- 
 cluded with a petition that a 'new governor 
 might be sent to the colony, or the afflicted 
 petitioners be permitted to return to the 
 fatherland. 
 
 Meanwhile the letter received by the States 
 General in the preceding year had been re- 
 ferred to the West India Company, with 
 commands that immediate relief should be 
 
 127 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 sent to the colonists; but the bankrupt cor- 
 poration could only plead their inability to 
 obey, through failure to receive the antici- 
 pated profits from New Netherland. When 
 the second appeal for help was received, the 
 College of XIX, realizing that some measures 
 for immediate relief must be taken, issued 
 orders for Kieft's recall, and appointed 
 Lubbertus Van Dincklagen as temporary oc- 
 cupant of the director's office. While schout- 
 fiscal under Van Twiller,Van Dincklagen had 
 been "well liked by the Indians," and now, 
 having satisfactorily adjusted his affairs with 
 the Company, he was ready to return to New 
 Netherland. 
 
 By command of the Amsterdam Chamber, 
 the "Bureau of Accounts" prepared a report 
 which, after reviewing the history of the 
 colony, recommended measures for its " profit 
 and advancement." A conviction was stated 
 that, "without the knowledge, much less the 
 
 128 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 order of the XIX, and against the will of the 
 Commonalty there," the province through 
 Kieft's unnecessary wars had fallen into ruin ; 
 but could not consistently be abandoned, al- 
 though from 1626 to 1644 it had cost the 
 Company over five hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand guilders.' 
 
 It was therefore resolved that the boundary 
 question between the Dutch and English 
 should at once be settled; that the Indians 
 should be appeased ; and that the government 
 of New Netherland should be vested in a 
 Supreme Council, consisting of a director, 
 vice-director, and fiscal. Privileges were to be 
 granted to emigrants, manufacturers encour- 
 aged, and colonists settled in towns and vil- 
 lages were to be permitted to choose deputies 
 to represent them at a semi-annual assembly 
 at Manhattan. A garrison of fifty-three sol- 
 diers was to be maintained at Fort Amster- 
 
 I Brodhead, Hoi. Doc. 
 
 129 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 dam, where repairs were ordered; and every 
 civilian was commanded to provide himself 
 with a musket. It was also ordained that 
 Kieft should be summoned to justify himself 
 for "the bloody exploit of February, 1643." 
 There was rejoicing in New Amsterdam 
 when the news of Kieft's recall was received, 
 and the people did not hesitate openly to ex- 
 press their pleasure. Two or three persons, 
 too frank in speech for their own safety, were 
 arrested and fined or banished ; while the di- 
 rector signalized the last period of his rule by 
 conducting affairs in a manner more arbitrary 
 than ever, and refused all right of appeal from 
 his decisions. Dominie Bogardus, having 
 been accused of drunkenness by the highest 
 authority in the Province, in righteous wrath 
 denounced the prosecutor from the pulpit, 
 and encouraged the populace in their antag- 
 onistic sentiments toward him. The quarrel 
 between governor and dominie was an open 
 
 130 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 one, and Bogardus, braving a violation of the 
 law, refused to obey when cited to appear be- 
 fore the court, and rejected the proposition to 
 refer the case to the other clergymen. Dough- 
 ty and Megapolensis; while Kieft absented 
 himself from church, and encouraged noisy 
 amusements during the hours of service. At 
 last the tangled woof of affairs was somewhat 
 smoothed, through the interference of peace- 
 makers, and arrangements having been made 
 for Dominie Megapolensis to occupy the pul- 
 pit on a certain Sunday, Kieft again appeared 
 in church. 
 
 Meantime entanglements with the Swedes 
 on the South River were of frequent occur- 
 rence, and New England colonists, complain- 
 ing of" insufferable disorders" at Fort Hope, 
 declared themselves " much unsatisfied " with 
 the view of affairs taken by the governor of 
 New Netherland. But the close of Kieft's 
 administration was to be marked by one 
 
 131 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 atoning episode. When the spring of 1645 
 opened, Indian delegates appeared at Fort 
 Amsterdam desiring to consummate a treaty 
 of peace. Kieft was now as eager to secure 
 tranquillity as he had been to execute those 
 deeds that precipitated the war. He followed 
 without hesitation the advice of his council, 
 and, having entered into an agreement with 
 the Indian emissaries, secured their services 
 for negotiations with tribes who continued 
 hostile. Through diplomacy more was ac- 
 complished than had been gained by all the 
 powder and shot the Dutch had used, and 
 in a short time peace was established with 
 all the savage tribes in the vicinity of Man- 
 hattan. 
 
 On the 29th of August, 1645, summoned by 
 the sound of the bell, the citizens gathered 
 at Fort Amsterdam to listen to the articles 
 of the peace treaty, with the assurance that 
 " if any could give good advice he might de- 
 
 132 
 
The Indian War-whoop 
 
 clare his opinions freely." On the following 
 day, in front of the fort, dark doublets and 
 peaked hats were in vivid contrast with feath- 
 ered and bead-ornamented costumes, when 
 Dutch and Indians met to smoke the pipe of 
 peace and to take pledges of eternal friend- 
 ship. Henceforth no armed Indian was to ap- 
 proach the houses of the colonists and no 
 armed Dutchman was to visit a village of the 
 savages, unless with a native escort. The treaty 
 of Fort Amsterdam brought security and joy 
 once more to the province, and the day of 
 thanksgiving next appointed was heartily ob- 
 served. 
 
 When news of the consummation of peace 
 reached Holland, the officers of the West 
 India Company were divided in opinion con- 
 cerning the policy to be pursued in the 
 government of New Netherland, and Van 
 Dincklagen's departure was delayed. His pro- 
 visional appointment was finally revoked, 
 
 133 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 when Peter Stuyvesant was named for the of- 
 fice of director, with Van Dinklagen as vice- 
 director, and Hendrick Van Dyck as fiscal. 
 The three officials took oaths of office in July, 
 1 646 ; but before their departure from Hol- 
 land, a document was presented to the States 
 General, embodying Stuyvesant's views con- 
 cerning the government of New Netherland, 
 and a prolonged discussion of those theories 
 followed, while Kieft continued to rule at 
 Manhattan. 
 
 134 
 
THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE JND THE CHURCH IN 
 THE FORT, UNDER THE DUTCH 
 
IX 
 
 Peaceful Progress 
 
 s^********SOME progress was made in ways 
 
 S\ of peace during the stormy years 
 S of Kieft's administration, and one 
 \'99^^^9^^ of the most important works ac- 
 complished was the erection of a new church. 
 When, during a council dinner, De Vries had 
 contrasted the sacred edifices of New England 
 with the small wooden church in New Am- 
 sterdam, his comments were so disparaging 
 to Dutch piety that the governor was stimu- 
 lated to the desire to erect a more imposing 
 place of worship, and a favorable occasion 
 for soliciting contributions for this work was 
 soon found. At the marriage of Sara Roelofs, 
 the eldest daughter of Anneke Jans, to the 
 surgeon, Hans Kierstede, " after the fourth 
 or fifth round of drinking " De Vries passed 
 
 135 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 a subscription paper, which he and the gover- 
 nor had headed, and a goodly sum was se- 
 cured. Although next morning some of the 
 company " well repented their generosity," 
 Kieft forbade any subscription to be with- 
 drawn ; and a contract was promptly signed 
 with John and Richard Ogden of Stamford, 
 Conn., for the erection of a stone church 
 seventy-two feet long, fifty-two wide, and 
 sixteen "over the ground." The sum of 
 twenty-five hundred guilders was agreed up- 
 on for the work, with one hundred more if 
 it proved satisfactory. The building was soon 
 begun, and the governor proclaimed his own 
 share in its erection by an inscription upon a 
 stone in the front wall which stated that 
 
 "Anno Domini, 1642, 
 
 William Kieft, Director General 
 
 hath the Commonalty caused to build this 
 
 temple." 
 
 For security against the Indians a site had 
 
 136 
 
Peaceful Progress 
 
 been chosen within the walls of the fort, and 
 in honor of a tutelary genius of the father- 
 land, the edifice was called the Church of 
 St. Nicholas. When completed, five years 
 later, its actual cost had amounted to eight 
 thousand guilders. 
 
 The old church building was in time util- 
 ized as a store, where Allard Anthony is re- 
 corded to have traded "a hanger" to Jan 
 Van Clief, for "as much buckwheat as An- 
 thony's fowls will eat in six months." ' 
 Among other substantial buildings were the 
 Company's storehouses and bakery, and the 
 tavern, erected in 1642. 
 
 The trading facilities at New Amsterdam 
 brought from Fort Orange, New England, 
 and Virginia, a greater number of visitors 
 than the governor found it convenient to en- 
 tertain, and at the Company's expense the fine 
 stone tavern was built, with its " crow-step 
 
 ' Mrs. Lamb's History of New York. 
 
 ^37 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 gables "and brick-floored " stoup." It stood 
 alone, facing the water, on ground that was 
 later called Parel Straat, from the many shells 
 that lined its shore, at a period when the land 
 forming the present Water, Front and South 
 streets was all beneath the tide. Within this 
 primitive predecessor of many city hostelries, 
 it was the duty of the "goode vrouw" or her 
 maid to show the traveller to his room and 
 open for him the bedstead, and, after he had 
 retired, to return and blow out the candle. 
 In the morning the curtains must be drawn 
 at the hour he had fixed to rise. 
 
 The fort occupied the space now bounded by 
 Bowling Green, Whitehall, Bridge and State 
 streets, and around its walls were clustered the 
 humble homes of the first settlers. Before many 
 streets were laid out, there were two roads from 
 the fort, one extending in a northerly direc- 
 tion and destined to become De Heere Straat, 
 the early Broadway; while the other, along 
 
 38 
 
Peaceful Progress 
 
 the water-front, led to the ferry which, about 
 1642, was opened to Long Island. The land- 
 ing-place on Manhattan Island was near the 
 spot now occupied by Peck's Slip, and on Long 
 Island, at a point almost identical with the 
 present terminus of Fulton Ferry. Cornelis 
 Dircksen, whose bouwerie on Manhattan lay 
 in the vicinity of the landing, was summoned 
 by a horn which hung against a tree, and for 
 three stivers in wampum carried the passen- 
 ger in his skiff to the opposite shore. 
 
 After roads had been planned, the houses 
 were built with gable ends upon these high- 
 ways. The first dwellings had usually two 
 rooms on the ground floor and a garret above; 
 but when larger houses were erected, an acute 
 angle of roof elevation above the wall was 
 considered a mark of aristocratic pretension, 
 and often gave room for garret, loft, and cock- 
 loft. The great fireplaces were sometimes six 
 feet in height, with a stone oven at the side. 
 
 39 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 About 1660 a brickyard was established on 
 Manhattan Island, and opportunity was af- 
 forded for architectural decoration when, to 
 avoid waste, the bricks that were baked black 
 were used for ornamental designs or distinc- 
 tive checker-work upon the gable ends of 
 new domiciles. The home of Jeronimus Eb- 
 bing, in Brouwer Straat, was distinguished 
 above its neighbors as a building of brick, two 
 stories high; and Peter Cornelisen Vander- 
 vier's house, on the corner of the present 
 Whitehall and Pearl streets, attained honor- 
 able mention for the same reason. Great care 
 was taken in the selection of material for the 
 low, unplastered ceilings, whose beams were 
 often ornamented with carvings. The aver- 
 age value of a dwelling was about one hun- 
 dred and twenty-five dollars, and an average 
 house-rent about twenty-five dollars per an- 
 num. Hendrick Van Dyck and his wife Du- 
 vertie Cornelisen, who lived on the west side 
 
 140 
 
Peaceful Progress 
 
 of the Heere Straat, possessed some notable 
 shade trees, imported from Holland, as well 
 as a still more famous peach orchard. There 
 is a record of a wedding at their house in 
 1655, when their daughter Lydia married 
 Nicholas De Meyer, and a rival lover came 
 as unbidden guest to interrupt the festivities. 
 On one corner of Whitehall and Pearl streets 
 a swinging sign gave notice that Surgeon Hans 
 Kierstede dispensed drugs, performed ampu- 
 tations, and extracted teeth ; and between Wall 
 Street and Maiden Lane extended the bou- 
 werie of Jan Jansen Damen. Mrs. Damen 
 appears to have been a woman of unfettered 
 action and great freedom of expression. She 
 is credited with having influenced her son- 
 in-law Van Tienhoven to slaughter the In- 
 dians, and her name has descended to history 
 as that of a Dutch daughter of Herodius, who 
 danced through the lanes of New Amster- 
 dam with the bleeding head of a savage. 
 
 141 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 An inlet of the bay extended over the line 
 of the present Broad Street, and into this a 
 marshy district, lying above the Beaver's Path, 
 was drained by a brook which came from the 
 sheep pasture on the north. The canal, six- 
 teen feet wide, was known as De Heere Gracht 
 (the Great Drain). Soon after the incorpora- 
 tion of the city, its sides were lined with planks, 
 and its banks were then considered a desira- 
 ble locality for the finest residences. The first 
 mention of "Smid's Vleye" or the Smith's 
 Valley occurs in De Vries' ** Voyages." It was 
 the old name for the marshy ground between 
 Pine, Fulton, and Pearl streets, and it is re- 
 corded that on one of the patroon's visits to 
 New Amsterdam, his ship being in need of re- 
 pairs, was hauled into the " Smid's Vleye." 
 
 As early as 1643, a lot opposite the Bowl- 
 ing Green was granted to Martin Cregier, 
 probably the first lot laid out on the Heere 
 Straat. For a house-lot, thirty by one hundred 
 
 142 
 

 
 Viezv of the "GRAFT'', or Canal, in Broad Street, and the 
 FISH BRIDGE, i6j9 
 
Peaceful Progress 
 
 and twenty-five feet, the average price at that 
 time was equivalent to twelve dollars, but a 
 transfer is on record of a lot thirty feet front 
 by one hundred and ten deep for nine dollars 
 and sixty cents.This property, located on what 
 was later known as Bridge Street, was con- 
 veyed by Abraham Van Steenwijck to An- 
 thony Van Fees. 
 
 When the settlement had attained to the 
 employment of a herdsman, the cattle were 
 every morning driven out to "the Flat," the 
 locality of the present City Hall Park, whence 
 at evening they were guided home through 
 the cherry orchard, and along the borders of 
 the swamp. 
 
 The Dutch settlements on Long Island 
 had hitherto been chiefly confined to the dis- 
 tricts known as the Waal-boght and the 
 Roode Hoek, but Kieft bought large tracts 
 of land from the Canarsie Indians, and after 
 the grant to Lord Stirling, the English set- 
 
 143 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 tiers on the eastern end of the island came 
 often in conflict with their "noxious neigh- 
 bors," the Dutch. 
 
 Soon after 1642, a group of houses known 
 as "The Ferry" were clustered about the 
 boat-landing, while bouweries bordered the 
 heights, and extended inland along the line of 
 the present Fulton Street. In 1 646, the settlers 
 requested permission " to found a town at their 
 own expense," and Kieft, promptly giving per- 
 mission for the deed, confirmed the election of 
 Jan Evartsen Bout and Huyck Aertsen as first 
 schepens of Breuckelen. 
 
 There are records of some bickerings among 
 the early colonists besides those between the 
 governor and the dominie. When Mrs. Bo- 
 gardus, on social duties intent, went to call 
 upon a member of her husband's flock, she 
 discovered upon reaching the entry of the 
 house that another visitor named Grietje 
 Reniers was within. Grietje's reputation in 
 
 144 
 
Peaceful Progress 
 
 the colony was not praiseworthy, and the 
 dominie's wife, wishing to avoid a meeting, 
 decided to postpone the call. But, as she 
 started homeward, Grietje followed, com- 
 menting upon the incident with unpleasant 
 vehemence; and when, in passing a black- 
 smith's shop, where the road was muddy, 
 Annetje slightly raised her skirts, Grietje's 
 remarks concerning the display of pretty feet 
 were very disagreeable. The dominie, to 
 whom they were reported, considered a rep- 
 rimand necessary and the affair was finally 
 brought before the court, by whom Grietje 
 was compelled to pay a fine, while her hus- 
 band, who was in arrears for church dues, 
 was forced promptly to settle those accounts. 
 In 1 64 1 a more serious quarrel occurred 
 among slaves of the West India Company, 
 and one man was murdered. Six negroes 
 were implicated in the crime, and to discover 
 the real criminal the common method of tor- 
 
 145 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 ture was proposed. To escape this the negroes 
 all professed responsibility for the deed, and 
 the director, unwilling to lose so many ser- 
 vants, decided that lots should be drawn to 
 determine who must expiate the murder. 
 The victim designated by this process was a 
 man of huge stature, who was known as the 
 giant, and although two ropes were employed 
 to lift him upon the gallows, these supports 
 gave way and he fell to the ground. The 
 assembled multitude then begged so earnestly 
 for his life that pardon was granted. 
 
 Much trouble was created in New Amster- 
 dam by the circulation of poor wampum. 
 The best wampum was manufactured by the 
 Long Island Indians, but an inferior article 
 made in New England was soon brought into 
 New Netherlands. In 1641 the first law 
 passed to regulate the currency ordained that 
 all coarse sewant should pass for one stiver. 
 The value of good wampum was estimated 
 
 146 
 
Peaceful Progress 
 
 by the fathom, and when this unit of measure 
 was defined as, " as much as a man could 
 reach with his arms outstretched," the shrewd 
 Indians, when disposing of beaver skins, chose 
 their tallest men for traders. 
 
 A book published in Holland in 1671 re- 
 cords that while in converse with one of the 
 savages employed as intermediary in termi- 
 nating the Indian wars, Kieft noticed that his 
 face was streaked with a glittering yellow 
 substance, and suspecting the presence of gold 
 in the mineral used, he succeeded in procur- 
 ing a sample for the crucible. According to 
 the chronicle, the result of his experiment 
 was shown in two pieces of gold valued at 
 three guilders. Arend Corsen was immedi- 
 ately dispatched to Holland with samples of 
 the ore, but the ship in which he sailed never 
 reached its destination, and the search for 
 precious metal was not pursued by the Dutch. 
 
 Valentine gives an interesting extract from 
 
 H7 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 some official records during Kieft's adminis- 
 tration, wherein deeds for the conveyance to 
 the West India Company of lands on Long 
 Island are signed in Indian fashion by the 
 original proprietors/ 
 
 The established mark of Sey Sey. 
 
 The established mark of Sipento. 
 
 The established mark of 
 Ponltarannackhzne. 
 
 ^Valentine's Manual iox 1847, p. 143. 
 
 148 
 
X 
 
 The Honorable Peter Stuyvesant. 1647— 1653 
 
 5S********SE came like a peacock, with great 
 § I I ^ state and pomp," said an old 
 ? J t $ writer describing the arrival of 
 »^i^*****^ Stuyvesant. Salutes from the fort 
 almost exhausted New Amsterdam's supply 
 of powder, while the rejoicing colonists 
 shouted and cheered in response to the new 
 governor's declaration, " I shall rule you as 
 a father his children." 
 
 It was the eleventh of May, 1647, for al- 
 though the ship had left Holland on Christ- 
 mas Day, the West Indies and the scenes of 
 Stuyvesant's early exploits at Cura9oa had 
 been visited before its course had been di- 
 rected to Manhattan Island. The man de- 
 scribed by Washington Irving as " a valiant, 
 weatherbeaten, mettlesome, obstinate, leath- 
 
 149 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 ern-sided, lion-hearted old governor" had 
 been trained by many experiences before his 
 appointment to rule in New Netherland. 
 
 The son of a clergyman of Friesland, he 
 had received a liberal education, and having 
 chosen a military career, had early entered 
 the service of the West India Company. 
 
 A commission to be director of the colony 
 at Cura9oa opened opportunities well suited 
 to his daring temperament, at a period when 
 the Hollanders stood strenuously opposed to 
 every threatening force upon the sea; but 
 having led an attack upon the Portuguese 
 island of St. Martin, Stuyvesant was wounded 
 in an unsuccessful conflict, lost a leg, and 
 was forced to return to Holland for surgical 
 aid. Restoration to health was followed by 
 the acceptance of the appointment as gover- 
 nor of New Netherland, and he arrived at 
 Manhattan accompanied by his refined and 
 attractive wife, his cultivated sister, Mrs. 
 
 150 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 Bayard, and her three little sons with their 
 tutor. Van Dincklagen, Van Dyck, and sev- 
 eral other officials, as well as a company of 
 free colonists, came by the same vessel, and 
 on the twenty-seventh of May the new 
 director and his assistants were formally in- 
 augurated. 
 
 There was ample opportunity for the ex- 
 ercise of Stuyvesant's imperious ability, for 
 the disastrous Indian wars, and the rule of a 
 man whom the people could not respect and 
 hardly tolerated, had left all civil statutes 
 in a condition of wavering force. Over the 
 new court of justice, which was promptly 
 established, Van Dincklagen was appointed 
 judge, except on occasions when the director 
 should himself see fit to fill the position. 
 Stuyvesant's first proclamation, "done at 
 Fort Amsterdam on the last day of May, 
 1 647, " commanded a more strict observance 
 of Sunday; forbade any liquor to be drawn 
 
 151 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 on that day " before two of the clock in case 
 there is no preaching, or else before four, 
 except to a traveller and those who are daily- 
 customers, fetching the drinks to their own 
 homes." Innkeeper, landlords, and tapsters 
 were forbidden to keep their houses open 
 on any week day after the ringing of the 
 bell at nine o'clock in the evening, and 
 fines were imposed for "drawing a knife or 
 sword rudely or in anger." 
 
 The financial affairs of the colony were in 
 chaotic confusion, and laws for the protec- 
 tion of the revenue were promptly enforced. 
 Excise duties were for the first time levied on 
 liquors, and the export duty on peltries was 
 increased, while, free from suspicion of re- 
 proach, two of the Company's yachts were 
 ordered to cruise in the West Indies for the 
 purpose of capturing the rich galleons on their 
 way from South America to Spain. 
 
 The vigorous director did not neglect the 
 
 152 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 minor details of municipal interest. Proprie- 
 tors of vacant lots were directed to improve 
 them within nine months, or forfeit their 
 titles to possession ; and Van Dyck, in his office 
 of fiscal, was required to make complaint 
 against all delinquents and transgressors of the 
 military laws, "and all other our instructions 
 and commands." The last comprehensive 
 phrase was indicative of the new director's 
 methods in legislation. His conception of the 
 parental government he had promised in- 
 volved only the promulgation of laws on his 
 part and unquestioning obedience from the 
 people. 
 
 When, after Stuyvesant's arrival, Kieft form- 
 ally resigned his office to the new director, a 
 proposition to offisr the retiring officer the 
 conventional vote of thanks was rejected by 
 Kuyter and Melyn, two members of his 
 council, on the just ground that they had no 
 reason to thank him. These men subsequently 
 
 153 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 presented a petition asking for a judicial in- 
 quiry into Kieft's conduct as governor, but 
 Stuyvesant, perhaps fearing to establish a 
 dangerous precedent if he acceded to the re- 
 quest, declared that it was " treason to peti- 
 tion against a magistrate whether there was 
 cause or not." 
 
 Kieft revenged himself upon Kuyter and 
 Melyn, by charging them with having been 
 the authors of "a false and calumnious letter," 
 prepared, he asserted, clandestinely, and sent 
 in the name of the Eight Men to the College 
 of XIX. To this charge the accused were 
 ordered to reply within forty-eight hours; 
 but when they brought evidence to sustain 
 their charges against Kieft, their " frank an- 
 swers" were adjudged an aggravation of their 
 offense, and fiscal Van Dyck was ordered to 
 prosecute them for having " fraudulently ob- 
 tained the signatures of the Eight Men, to 
 the letter," as well as for offences against the 
 
 154 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 Indians and toward the West India Company. 
 Although these charges were fully answered 
 by the accused, the prejudged case was soon 
 decided against them, and both Kuyter and 
 Melyn were banished from the province. The 
 right of appeal to the fatherland was denied 
 them, and Stuyvesant threatened to " hang 
 them on the highest tree in New Nether- 
 land," should they venture, subsequently, to 
 carry the matter to the home authorities. The 
 director openly declared, " If any one during 
 my administration shall appeal, I will make 
 him a foot shorter, and send the pieces to Hol- 
 land, that he may appeal in that way." 
 
 On the sixteenth of August, 1 647, Kieft set 
 sail for Holland, taking Kuyter and Melyn 
 with him as prisoners, and carrying away a 
 private fortune, estimated at four hundred 
 thousand guilders. In the same ship sailed 
 Dominie Bogardus, who had resigned his 
 charge that he might clear himself before 
 
 ^SS 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the classis of Amsterdam of the accusations 
 brought by Kieft. But their ship, the " Prin- 
 cess," was never to reach its destination. It 
 was wrecked off the coast of Wales, and about 
 one hundred passengers, including Bogardus 
 and Kieft, were drowned. Kuyter and Melyn 
 were among the saved, and testified that 
 in the time of peril Kieft had confessed his 
 injustice, and asked their forgiveness. Before 
 continuing their journey to Holland, these 
 wise councillors had the waters dragged in 
 the vicinity of the sunken ship, until the box 
 containing their papers was recovered,^ and 
 with these documents they secured from the 
 States General justification for their conduct 
 in New Amsterdam. 
 
 After the treaty of peace some Indian tribes 
 had evinced dissatisfaction with the presents 
 distributed among them, and Stuyvesant, 
 anticipating a renewal of hostilities, wished 
 
 ■ Fiske, Dutch and ^aker Colonies. 
 
 56 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 to " use dispatch " in repairing the fort. But 
 for this work money was needed, and resis- 
 tance to arbitrary taxation was continued. 
 The council, therefore, advised concessions 
 to the people, and, in September, 1 647, the 
 residents of Manhattan, Breuckelen, Mid- 
 wout (Flatbush), Amersfoort (Flatlands), 
 and Pavonia were summoned to assemble at 
 New Amsterdam, where an election was held 
 at which eighteen of the " most notable, 
 reasonable, honest, and respectable men " 
 were chosen, from whom the director select- 
 ed nine " to assist in promoting the welfare 
 of the colony." ' 
 
 Having assembled this council, Stuyvesant 
 communicated to them his projects for re- 
 pairing the fort, completing the church, 
 which Kieft had begun five years previously, 
 
 ' The Nine Men were Augustine Heermans, Arnoldus Van 
 Hardenberg, Govert Loockermans, jan Jansen Dam, Jacob Wol- 
 fertsen Van Couwenhoven, Hendrick Hendricksen Kip, Machyel 
 Janssen, Jan Evertsen Bout, Thomas Hall. 
 
 ^Sl 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 and providing a school-house. The represen- 
 tatives of the people expressed their willing- 
 ness to be taxed for the church and the school- 
 house, but they declared that the expenses at- 
 tending repairs upon the fort should be met by 
 the West India Company, who were pledged 
 to protect the colonists. 
 
 While the discussion of these matters was 
 engrossing his council, Stuyvesant's attention 
 was called to affairs in other parts of the 
 province. Commercial supremacy had been 
 acquired by New Amsterdam through the 
 prerogative of staple right, which gave that 
 port a monopoly in the imposition of duties 
 upon all goods carried up or down the river. 
 Officers of the patroonship of Rensselaers- 
 wijck claimed that this prosperous estate was 
 held directly from the States General of Hol- 
 land ; and, regardless of the authority of the 
 West India Company, they assumed a right, 
 from their fortress on Bear's Island, to collect 
 
 .58 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 a toll from every passing vessel, vi^ith the ex- 
 ception of those in the Company's direct em- 
 ploy. The commander on Bear's Island also 
 decreed that in passing his fort every vessel 
 should strike its colors in homage to the 
 patroon, and when Govert Loockermans, on 
 his way from Fort Orange to New Amster- 
 dam, refused this expression of deference, his 
 boat became a target for the guns of the 
 island, though valiantly declaring, "I strike 
 for nobody but the Prince of Orange and the 
 States General," he pursued his way. 
 
 In 1646, Brandt van Slechtenhorst was 
 appointed to govern Rensselaerswijck, and 
 seized the first opportunity for asserting his 
 disregard for the authority of the New 
 Netherland director. Stuyvesant, having ap- 
 pointed a day of fasting and prayer for the 
 province, sent the proclamation to Rensse- 
 laerswijk, but Van Slechtenhorst refused to 
 permit it to be publicly read, and openly de- 
 
 159 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 iied the director when he arrived in person 
 with a guard to enforce his authority. 
 
 Further to show his independence, Van 
 Slechtenhorst ordered the erection of some 
 houses at forbidden places within range of 
 the guns of Fort Orange, and hostiHties cen- 
 tered at that point when, the director having 
 ordered the palisades around the fort to be 
 replaced by stone-work. Van Slechtenhorst 
 forbade stone to be quarried or timber cut 
 upon the patroon's estate. An order to pull 
 down the newly-erected houses, and to arrest 
 Van Slechtenhorst, increased the excitement 
 and highly entertained the Indians. These 
 phlegmatic people held their own opinion 
 of Stuyvesant, whom they called ''Wooden 
 Leg," and on the occasion of a dispute in 
 which the honorable director had displayed 
 more than his usual spirit, one of the Mo- 
 hawks remarked," Wooden Leg very drunk ! " 
 " Impossible ! " replied a Dutchman, '* the 
 
 1 60 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 governor never drinks to excess." " Not 
 drunk with rum," continued the Indian, 
 " Wooden Leg born drunk ! " 
 
 Adriaen Van der Donck, a former sheriff 
 of the colony of Rensselaerswijck, and a man 
 of firm and high principles, soon acquired 
 great influence in New Amsterdam. He was 
 the first lawyer in New Netherland, and after 
 leaving Rensselaerswijck he had settled on 
 land north of Manhattan Island, which be- 
 came known as de Jonkheer's land, Jonkheer 
 being a Dutch title applied to the sons of 
 noblemen ; and which, corrupted by the Eng- 
 lish tongue to Yonkers, has perpetuated the 
 name of a large estate. 
 
 When the pressure of public sentiment 
 forced Stuyvesant to concede some rights for 
 which the people had long contended. Van 
 der Donck was appointed secretary of the 
 Nine Men. The increase of financial diffi- 
 culties at New Amsterdam, where high duties 
 
 i6i 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 restricted trade, induced these councillors to 
 propose sending a committee to Holland, 
 with requests for long-promised reforms ; and 
 the director, designing to present to the States 
 General his own conception of the situation, 
 approved the project, but opposed it when he 
 discovered the intention of the people to re- 
 veal their point of view. 
 
 The Nine Men promised to provide him 
 with a copy of every statement in their com- 
 munication, but Stuyvesant obstinately re- 
 fused to sanction the preparation of the 
 document, and forbade any assembly to be 
 convened for discussion of the situation. 
 Members of the council then secretly can- 
 vassed the settlement to learn the sentiments 
 of the people, and when this proceeding was 
 discovered by the director he ordered the 
 arrest and temporary imprisonment of Van 
 der Donck, who was accused of seditious 
 conduct, and, in opposition to the advice of 
 
 62 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 the vice-director, Van Dincklagen, was ex- 
 pelled from the council. 
 
 Meanwhile the States General had sus- 
 pended the sentence against Kuyter and 
 Melyn, and cited Stuyvesant to appear at the 
 Hague, either in person or by deputy, to 
 justify his decree against the two men. In the 
 midst of the excitement caused by Van der 
 Donck's arrest, Melyn returned, bringing this 
 order and his own exoneration, and demanding 
 that both documents should be publicly read. 
 Stuyvesant was compelled to comply, but re- 
 fused to reverse his own sentence against 
 Melyn, and the latter again left New Amster- 
 dam. The director wrote to the States Gen- 
 eral that if discharged by the Company, he 
 would appear in response to their command, 
 but otherwise he would send an attorney ; but 
 he ventured no longer to interfere with the 
 action of the Nine Men, and, in July, 1649, 
 they addressed a document to their High 
 
 163 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Mightinesses of Holland, petitioning for the 
 establishment of a burgher government at 
 New Amsterdam, and the settlement beyond 
 dispute of boundary lines. A " Remonstrance" 
 from the people, signed by a committee of 
 eleven, was also prepared, detailing griev- 
 ances and soliciting relief, and Van derDonck, 
 Van Couwenhoven, and Jan Evertsen Bout, 
 were commissioned to carry the papers to 
 the Hague.' 
 
 But though the home government saw "no 
 reason to object to a commission for the 
 settlement of boundaries " the first request 
 was not granted, and the West India Com- 
 pany upheld the action of Stuyvesant, who, 
 thus encouraged, became more imperious 
 than ever. He had appointed the crafty Van 
 Tienhoven to represent him at the Hague, 
 
 ' The memorial was signed on behalf of the people by Augus- 
 tine Heermans, Arnoldus Van Hardenberg, Jacob Van Couwen- 
 hoven, Machyel Janssen, Thomas Hall, Elbert Elbertsen, Govert 
 Loockermans, Hendrick Hendricksen Kip, and Adriaen Van der 
 Donck. 
 
 164 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 and this ambassador reached Holland soon 
 after Melyn's arrival. During the winter of 
 1649—50 the discussion of colonial affairs 
 dragged its slow length along before the States 
 General, while the Dutch people were read- 
 ing Van der Donck's '* Vertoogh " descriptive 
 of New Netherland ; and, alluding to the in- 
 fluence of that little book, the West India 
 Company wrote to Stuyvesant, "The name of 
 New Netherland was scarcely ever mentioned 
 before, and now it would seem as if heaven 
 and earth were interested in it." 
 
 In New Amsterdam the months were mem- 
 orable for financial difliculties and scarcity 
 of food. When Stuyvesant supplied a vessel 
 for Cura9oa with provisions of which the 
 colonists had need, the council remonstrated, 
 and a quarrel ensued, which culminated in 
 an open rupture when the delegates to 
 Holland returned, bringing a stand of colors 
 for the burgher guard : Stuyvesant refused to 
 
 ■6s 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 allow these insignia to be presented, and in 
 a childish determination to take revenge 
 upon the Nine Men for opposition to his 
 will, he deprived them of their special pew 
 in church. 
 
 But the governor's attention was diverted 
 from the complications at New Amsterdam 
 by matters connected with the New Eng- 
 land colonies, where jealousies against New 
 Netherland were still fostered. Soon after 
 his arrival in New Amsterdam, Stuyvesant had 
 dispatched a letter to Governor Winthrop, 
 wherein, alluding to the "indubiate rights 
 of the Dutch" to the territory they occupied, 
 he had proposed an adjustment of all exist- 
 ing claims. Winthrop communicated the 
 contents of the letter to the New England 
 commissioners, then assembled at Boston, but 
 although some of the delegates were in favor 
 of accepting the proposal for a conference, 
 the Connecticut people thought "it would 
 
 1 66 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 be more to their advantage to stand upon 
 terms of distance." 
 
 When Cromwell arose to power in Eng- 
 land, the West India Company sent a mes- 
 sage to Stuyvesant to "live with his neighbors 
 on the best terms possible," and, as there 
 were claims to be adjusted on Long Island as 
 well as in New England, arrangements were 
 at length made for a meeting at Hartford. 
 Stuyvesant and his suite, travelling in state 
 by way of Long Island Sound, arrived after 
 four days at their journey's end, where "the 
 great Muscovy Duke," as Van Dincklagen 
 called the director, gave offense immediately 
 by dating the first paper he presented from 
 "Hartford in New Netherland." His apology 
 was accepted, however, and the discussion of 
 territorial rights was amicably continued for 
 several days. At last it was agreed to submit 
 the decision to four arbiters, and George 
 Baxter, Stuyvesant's English secretary, and 
 
 167 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Thomas Willett of Plymouth were chosen 
 for the Dutch, and Simon Bradstreet and 
 Thomas Prince for the EngHsh. They de- 
 cided that the boundary Une between Eng- 
 Hsh and Dutch possessions on the main land, 
 starting east of Greenwich Bay, four miles 
 from Stamford, should run north, but never 
 come within ten miles of the Mauritius 
 River; while on Long Island the line of sep- 
 aration should cross from Oyster Bay to the 
 Atlantic. 
 
 Concerning this conference, it was after- 
 wards written, ** The English entertained the 
 director of New Netherland like a prince, 
 but he never imagined that such hard pills 
 would be given him to digest!" and when 
 Stuyvesant heard the arbiters' decree he ex- 
 claimed, ** I have been betrayed ! " This treaty 
 of 1650 was, however, never formally rati- 
 fied by the English, whose policy would not 
 permit so direct a recognition of the province 
 
 168 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 of New Netherland; and the fact that Stuy- 
 vesant had consented to the appointment of 
 Englishmen as arbiters for the Dutch raised 
 a storm of opposition in New Amsterdam. 
 The Nine Men declared that "the director 
 had ceded away territory enough to found 
 fifty colonies, each four miles square," ' and 
 again called attention to " the grievous and 
 unsuitable governor of New Netherland."^ 
 
 Soon Captain John Underbill, who had quar- 
 relled with Stuyvesant, offered his services to 
 the English, and, sailing up the Connecticut, 
 posted upon the abandoned Fort Good Hope 
 a notice that it had been confiscated, and thus 
 ended the Dutch domain in New England. 
 
 Upon Stuyvesant's return to New Amster- 
 dam, he was so exasperated by the conduct 
 of the Nine Men that, at the next election, 
 he refused to fill the vacancies in their board; 
 
 ' Mrs. Lamb's History of New York. 
 2 Holland Doc. 
 
 169 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 and when Van Dincklagen and Van Dyck 
 wrote to the Holland government, protesting 
 against the director's methods, and once more 
 calling attention to the dissatisfaction among 
 the colonists, those officials were expelled 
 from the council. 
 
 Van Dincklagen denied Stuyvesant's pre- 
 rogative in this action, and refused to abdi- 
 cate, on the ground that he had been installed 
 by the higher authority of the States General ; 
 but the audacious governor summarily com- 
 manded the vice-director to be seized and 
 thrown into prison. Although released in a 
 few days. Van Dincklagen was not reinstated, 
 but, joining Melyn on Staten Island, he there 
 awaited the turn of the tide. 
 
 At the patroon's fortress on Bear's Island, Van 
 Slechtenhorst continued to repudiate the au- 
 thority of the New Netherland governor, until 
 Stuyv6sant compassed his arrest, when he was 
 carried to New Amsterdam and imprisoned. 
 
 170 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 He escaped and returned to Rensselaers- 
 wijck, but was soon drawn into a quarrel with 
 Dyckman, the commander at Fort Orange, 
 concerning the extent of their respective 
 jurisdictions, and the excitement among their 
 partisans grew so intense, that Stuyvesant's 
 presence was necessary to subdue the tumult 
 occasioned. Bv his command, Van Slechten- 
 horst was again seized and taken to New 
 Amsterdam, while the director issued patents 
 to colonists sent by the West India Company, 
 for land claimed by the patroon within the 
 village of Beverwijck. 
 
 During the course of these events, the vice- 
 director's protest had been received by the 
 States General, and, before their High Mighti- 
 nesses, Van der Donck had replied to Van 
 Tienhoven's defence of Stuyvesant. Believing 
 his errand accomplished, Van Tienhoven re- 
 turned to New Amsterdam, where his con- 
 duct elicited the comment that he "was like 
 
 171 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 an evil spirit scattering torpedoes." In 1652, 
 he was appointed to fill Van Dyck's place as 
 fiscal, while Carel Van Brugge succeeded to 
 the vacated office of provincial secretary.^ 
 
 Opposition to Stuyvesant's arbitrary rule was 
 continued, at home and abroad, till it became 
 evident to the directors of the West India 
 Company that the province would be lost if 
 concessions were not made, and, in 1652, 
 they consented to the establishment of a 
 burgher government at New Amsterdam, in 
 which the two burgomasters, five schepens 
 and a schout were to be elected by the people. 
 At the same time the export duty on tobacco 
 was remitted, the price of passage to New 
 Netherland was reduced, ammunition was 
 ordered to be sold *' at a decent price," and 
 colonists were permitted to procure negro 
 servants from Africa. 
 
 But still greater honor awaited the active 
 
 ' Mrs. Lamb's History of New York. 
 
 172 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 settlement of eight hundred people. On 
 the second of February, 1653, the city of 
 New Amsterdam was incorporated, and a 
 government was promised, modeled upon that 
 of Amsterdam in the fatherland. Preceded by 
 that honorable functionary, the **klink" or 
 bell-ringer, the director-general and the 
 magistrates went in august procession to the 
 church to inaugurate the new city; and from 
 his room in the fort, dedicated by an inscrip- 
 tion to "the Son of Peace," the klink, on his 
 return, had liberty, no doubt, to sound a glad 
 accompaniment to the shouts of the people. 
 
 But Stuyvesant still magnified his office, and, 
 like Louis XIV, cherished the sentiment, 
 *' I am the State." Although an election of 
 burgomasters and schepens had been com- 
 manded, the director, disregarding the order, 
 assumed authority to name those officers, and, 
 until compelled to surrender the privilege, 
 presided at the meeting of the magistrates as 
 
 173 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 often as he saw fit. The first burgomasters in 
 office were Arendt van Hallan and Martin 
 Cregier; the schepens, Wilhelm Beeckman, 
 Paulus LeendertsenVan der Grist, MaximiHan 
 Van Gheel, AUard Anthony, Pieter Wolfert- 
 sen Van Couwenhoven; but the provincial 
 secretary, Jacob Kip, was expected to do 
 duty for the young city, and the provincial 
 schout-fiscal was at first thought equal to the 
 necessary functions in New Amsterdam. After 
 a few months, however, a city schout was 
 appointed, and Johann Kuyter, who in Hol- 
 land had vindicated his name from Kieft's 
 charges, was first chosen to fill the office, 
 though before the commission reached him 
 he was murdered by the Indians. 
 
 The services of burgomasters and schepens 
 were at first given without emolument, al- 
 though the acceptance of office was compul- 
 sory ; but before the first year of municipal life 
 had passed, these officials found their duties 
 
 ^74 
 
4 
 
 
 VIEW OF THE SITE OF THE PRESENT BATTERY 
 IN 1656 
 
Honorable Peter Stuyvesant 
 
 so arduous that they petitioned for salaries, 
 and Stuyvesant granted to each burgomaster 
 three hundred and fifty florins per annum, or 
 about one hundred and forty dollars,' while 
 each schepen received annually two hun- 
 dred and fifty florins, equal to one hundred 
 dollars. 
 
 The place of Dominie Bogardus had been 
 filled by Dominie Backerus who arrived with 
 Stuyvesant; but, in 1649, he returned to Hol- 
 land, and New Amsterdam was left without a 
 minister until Dominie Johannes Megapo- 
 lensis resigned his position at Rensselaers- 
 wijck, where, since 1 642, he had preached to 
 the Dutch and the Indians. Stuyvesant per- 
 suaded him to take charge of the church in 
 New Amsterdam, and there he remained un- 
 til his death in 1669. 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. 
 
 ^7^ 
 
I 
 
 XI 
 
 Under the City Fathers. 1652— 1658 
 
 S********SN 1652, hostilities were reopened 
 
 between England and Holland, 
 
 and although Van Tromp and De 
 
 8*******^ Ruyter were sweeping European 
 
 waters with their broom-bedecked vessels, 
 
 danger threatened the Dutch colonies in 
 
 America. 
 
 In New Amsterdam the magistrate or- 
 dained precautionary measures, and secured 
 from the principal burghers a loan of live 
 thousand and fifty florins for the purpose of 
 repairing the fort. A ditch and palisades 
 around the inland side of the city were also 
 ordered to be constructed, and, that the de- 
 fenses might be speedily completed, every 
 man was required to assist in the work. When 
 it was learned that military preparations were 
 
 177 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 in progress in New England, a day of fasting 
 and prayer was observed throughout the Dutch 
 province, the work of fortifying New Am- 
 sterdam was pressed by every possible effort, 
 and a night-watch was posted at points of 
 danger. The contemplated attack upon the 
 city was, however, prevented by the refusal 
 of the Massachusetts court to sanction the 
 enterprise. Two years later, the height of the 
 palisades was doubled, ** to prevent the over- 
 loopin of Indians," and two entrances were 
 constructed, the " Water Gate," at the pres- 
 ent junction of Pearl and Wall streets, and the 
 ** Land Gate " where Wall Street meets Broad- 
 way.' 
 
 The large amount of money expended upon 
 defenses had heavily taxed the people of New 
 Amsterdam, and, in 1653, the burgomasters 
 and schepens voted that nothing more should 
 be contributed until the whole excise duty 
 
 ' Historic New York. 
 
 178 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 on wines and beer had been surrendered. Stuy- 
 vesant refused to comply with this demand, 
 but was forced finally to yield to the persist- 
 ent claim of the sturdy burghers called to act 
 as an advisory council, though he added the 
 proviso that *' burgomasters and schepens shall 
 furnish subsidies, by which the public works 
 may be repaired." 
 
 Then the magistrates decided that money 
 should be raised by a direct tax upon citizens, 
 in proportion to their wealth, and, in 1 6 5 5 , the 
 sum of seven thousand guilders was thus added 
 to the city treasury. The largest amounts were 
 paid by P. Stuyvesant, C. Van Tienhoven, A. 
 Anthony, O.S.Van Cortlandt, J. P. Bruggh, 
 C.Steenwyck, Govert Loockermans, Jacobus 
 Backer, J. L. Van der Grist, J. Van Couwen- 
 hoven, P. L. Van der Grist, J. Nevius, J. de 
 Peyster, Martin Cregier, Domini Megapolen- 
 sis, Domini Drisius, Jeremias Van Rensselaer, 
 Isaac de Forest, Cornelis Van Ruyven, Wil- 
 
 179 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 helm Beeckman,HendrickVan Dyck, Ludo- 
 wyck Kip, Arent Van Corlear, Jacob Kip, 
 Isaac Kip, Conraet Ten Eyck, Abram Ver- 
 planck, P. C. Van derVeen, H. J. Vandervin. 
 Alarm was again excited by news that Eng- 
 lish war vessels had arrived at Boston, and an 
 immediate attack might be expected. This 
 was no idle rumor, for the ships had delayed 
 only to gather an additional force from the 
 New England troops, and, but for a sudden 
 change in European tactics, the Dutch do- 
 minion in America might have been swiftly 
 terminated. But just as the British force, num- 
 bering nearly a thousand men, was about to 
 set sail from Boston, peace between England 
 and Holland was proclaimed. Danger to New 
 Amsterdam was again averted, and a day of 
 thanksgiving was observed throughout the 
 province. The proclamation read, " Praise the 
 Lord, O England's Jerusalem ; and Nether- 
 land's Zion, praise ye the Lord ! He hath se- 
 
 i8o 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 cured your gates and blessed your possessions 
 with peace, even here where the threatened 
 torch of war was Hghted." 
 
 The spirit of unrest fitfully manifested up- 
 on Long Island, in criticism of the govern- 
 ment, was, in December, 1653, openly 
 revealed by a popular assembly, where dele- 
 gates from Breuckelen, Vliessingen (Flush- 
 ing), Middleburg (Newtown), Hempstede, 
 Gravesend, Midwout (Flatbush), and Amers- 
 foort (Flatlands), demanded for their dis- 
 tricts the laws in force in the fatherland. 
 Against Stuyvesant's autocratic rule they 
 threatened to protest to the States General, 
 and although the unpopular director declared 
 that his authority was derived "from God 
 and the Company," another appeal from his 
 judgments was forwarded to Holland. 
 
 The friendly relations long maintained be- 
 tween the Dutch and their neighbors on 
 the South River had been interrupted after 
 
 181 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the accession of Charles X to the Swedish 
 throne; and while Stuyvesant, occupied with 
 the danger threatening New Amsterdam, was 
 unable to defend the distant post. Fort Casi- 
 mer, a stronghold built in 1650, had been 
 seized. In the autumn of 1653 a Swedish 
 ship, having wandered from its course and 
 entered the lower bay, was captured by the 
 Dutch, and brought to Fort Amsterdam; 
 while a message was conveyed to the Swed- 
 ish commander on the South River, stating 
 that the prize would be retained until " a 
 reciprocal restitution should be made." 
 
 When all danger of attack from the Eng- 
 lish seemed averted by the consummation of 
 peace in Europe, Stuyvesant projected a 
 voyage to the West Indies for the purpose 
 of promoting the commercial interests of his 
 infant city, and the administration of affairs 
 during his absence was committed to the 
 vice-governor, De Sille and the council. 
 
 182 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 The burgomasters and schepens passed a 
 resolution "to compliment" the director 
 before his "gallant voyage," and to provide 
 "a gay repast" in the council chamber of 
 the Stadt-Huys. In response to this courtesy 
 the governor presented the city with a seal, 
 bearing a beaver for its crest, while the arms 
 of the old city of Amsterdam, the initial 
 letters indicating "Chartered West India 
 Company" and the legend "Sigillum Ams- 
 tellodamensis in Novo Belgio" were all 
 within a border of laurel leaves. 
 
 After a fruitless journey, Stuyvesant returned 
 and found awaiting his arrival a fleet of four 
 vessels from Holland. They bore orders that 
 the director should assemble an additional 
 force in New Netherland, and drive the 
 Swedes from the South River. Preparations 
 for an expedition to that locality were im- 
 mediately begun, and in September, with 
 seven hundred soldiers, the governor arrived 
 
 183 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 at Fort Casimer. The Swedes, having no suf- 
 ficient opposing force, immediately capitu- 
 lated and while, with sounding bugles and 
 flying colors, the Dutch took possession of 
 the stronghold, the colony swiftly changed its 
 allegiance from Sweden to Holland. 
 
 During Stuyvesant's absence on this expedi- 
 tion, events prolific of dire results occurred 
 in New Netherland. Van Dyck having dis- 
 covered an Indian woman stealing peaches 
 in his orchard, hastily shot her. A few days 
 later nearly two thousand warriors arrived in 
 canoes at Manhattan Island, and, under pre- 
 tense of a search for Mohawks, thronged 
 the streets and entered the houses. The offi- 
 cers of the city invited the sachems to a con- 
 ference at the fort, and persuaded them to 
 withdraw their warriors to Nutten Island. 
 But when darkness arrived, and the terrified 
 populace were again in their homes, the 
 savages returned, and proceeding to Van 
 
 184 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 Dyck's house on the Heere Straat (Broad- 
 way), they struck him down with an axe, 
 and killed also a neighbor who attempted a 
 rescue. The citizens, seizing their arms, joined 
 the burgher guard in the defence of their 
 homes, and the Indians were driven to their 
 canoes, but the spirit of vengeance was not 
 satiated. 
 
 Soon the country was thrilled by news of 
 burning settlements at Hobokenand Pavonia, 
 and desolated farms on Staten Island, where 
 one hundred persons had been massacred, 
 and one hundred and fifty made captives. 
 Colonists thronged to the fort for protection 
 against prowling savages, and Stuyvesant was 
 hastily summoned from the South River. The 
 valiant old soldier adopted a wise policy of 
 conciliation, and succeeded in concluding 
 with the sachems a treaty of peace. Many 
 prisoners were ransomed, and the people, 
 once more relieved from fear of attack, ad- 
 
 185 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 justed themselves anew to their conditions of 
 life, while the magistrates industriously en- 
 acted ordinances for the benefit of a city 
 already cosmopolitan. During the wars in 
 Kieft's administration, the population of 
 New Amsterdam had been reduced from 
 nearly twenty-five hundred to about eight 
 hundred. In 1656, when a census was taken, 
 there were, including the negro slaves, a 
 thousand people in the city, and it was as- 
 serted that no less than eighteen dialects were 
 spoken in the streets. 
 
 In 1657, municipal privileges, known in 
 Holland as Burgher Rights, were introduced. 
 To those who did not receive the preroga- 
 tives by inheritance of station, the Great 
 Burgher Right might be secured by the pay- 
 ment of fifty guilders. It was a necessary 
 qualification for any city office, and for a cer- 
 tain period it exempted the holder from 
 " watches and expeditions," and freed him 
 
 186 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 from liability of arrest by any inferior court 
 in the province. Possessors of the Small 
 Burgher Right were enabled to keep " an 
 open store in the city in a hired or owned 
 room," and for this privilege a preliminary 
 fee of twenty-five guilders was required. 
 
 Soon after the act of incorporation had been 
 passed, Stuy vesant addressed a communication 
 to the magistrates, in which we find intima- 
 tions that even in the budding city official 
 promises sometimes failed of prompt fulfill- 
 ment. In this interesting document, the gov- 
 ernor announced to his " Honorable, Dear, 
 and Distinguished Friends," that hogs have 
 damaged the walls of the fort, and as "pigs 
 are seen daily upon these defenses," burgo- 
 masters and schepens are requested, in accord- 
 ance with former promises, to "give an order 
 and prevent the pigs.'' 
 
 Burgomasters and schepens then decided to 
 engage a herdsman, but apparently the evil 
 
 187 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 was not remedied, for, in August, 1653, we 
 find on record another letter from Stuyvesant 
 to his "Respected and Ven^ Dear," wherein, 
 after calUng attention to "the injurious and 
 intolerable destruction daily committed by 
 the hogs," he proceeds to threaten that, as 
 " Burgomasters and schepens, in violation of 
 their solemn promise, will not lend a hand in 
 repairing and strengthening the walls, they 
 must "clear themselves of all damage and in- 
 jury that may follow."^ After this rebuke, the 
 guardians of the law evidently determined 
 to shift some of their responsibilities to the 
 shoulders of the citizens, for the court mes- 
 senger was instructed to notify the burghers 
 that every one should take care of his own 
 hogs until the fort had been fenced in with 
 palisades. Five years later, another ordinance 
 was rendered imperative by the fact that 
 roads and streets were injured by the same 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam, vol. i . 
 
 188 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 inquisitive peregrinating animals, and their 
 owners were ordered to "put a ring through 
 the noses of pigs to prevent them from root- 
 ing." 
 
 An ordinance of 1647 had commanded all 
 inhabitants of New Netherland to fence their 
 land that cattle might not trespass, and soon 
 afterwards surveyors were appointed to deter- 
 mine the limits of lots. Inspectors of chim- 
 neys were responsible for proper cleanliness 
 within the circle of their espionage, and the 
 building of wooden or plastered chimneys 
 was forbidden, although those already com- 
 pleted might be used if properly protected. 
 If anybody's house was burned, however, 
 "either by negligence or his own fire," the 
 owner was condemned to pay a fine. 
 
 Regulations concerning the drawing of beer 
 were repeated in 1648, with the revelatory 
 comment that "profit being so easily made in 
 that business, one-fourth of the city of New 
 
 189 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Amsterdam had been turned into taverns." 
 Those engaged in taprooms were ordered to 
 have also "another honest business, with a 
 convenient and decent burgher dwelling." ^ 
 In April, 1648, a proclamation was issued 
 stating that, because the Sabbath had not been 
 kept as intended, a sermon would be preached 
 in the afternoon as well as in the forenoon, 
 and during the hours of service all secular 
 occupations were forbidden, and all persons 
 were required to attend church. But some- 
 thing more than repeated ordinances seemed 
 necessary to ensure an observance of the day 
 of rest, according to the Dutch dictum, for 
 on September 28, 1660, it is recorded that 
 the schout, Pieter Tonneman, fined the wife 
 of Andraes Rees because there were ninepins 
 at her house during preaching, and " the can 
 and glass stood on the table," whereat, the 
 defendant appeared in court and said that 
 
 ' Records oi New Amsterdam. 
 
 190 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 " some one came to her house who said that 
 church was out." ' On the same date several 
 persons were fined for having sold fish on 
 Sunday, but as they proved that the deed was 
 done before the ringing of the bell, their 
 punishment was remitted. 
 
 It seems evident that evasions of the law 
 were frequent, and that the interval al- 
 lowed for secular occupations gave abundant 
 opportunity for excuses. On September lo, 
 1663, it is verbosely recorded that "Where- 
 as, Director General and Council of New 
 Netherlands, experience and perceive that 
 their previously enacted orders for the obser- 
 vance of the Sabbath, conformable to God's 
 law and their good intentions, are not ob- 
 served," they " hereby order and command, 
 that not only a part but the whole Sabbath 
 shall be observed. Whereby, each and every 
 one is hereby warned that pending the Sab- 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. 
 
 191 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 bath, from the rising to the setting of the sun, 
 no customary labor shall be performed." ' 
 After the prohibition of " all unusual exer- 
 cises, such as games, boat, cart, or wagon- 
 racing, fishing, sailing, nutting, or picking 
 strawberries," the penalty for disobedience is 
 declared to be, for the first offence, the for- 
 feiture of the upper garment or the payment 
 of six guilders. 
 
 In the autumn of 1648, an ordinance for 
 the protection of commercial interests de- 
 creed that, " As Scottish merchants and small 
 traders injure trade with underselling, and, 
 having sold, return to their ships without any 
 benefit to the country," ^ therefore, traders 
 " shall not be allowed to do any business in 
 the country unless they remain in New 
 Netherland three consecutive years, and build 
 in New Amsterdam a decent burgher dwel- 
 ling-house, each according to his means. "^ 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. ^ Ibid. 3 Ibid. 
 
 192 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 We find by examination of the court archives 
 that Htigants presented their own cases. The 
 lawyer Van der Donckwas refused permission 
 to practice his profession, on the ground that, 
 " as there was no other lawyer in the country 
 there would be no one to oppose him." 
 
 One year after the incorporation of the 
 city, the first Ferry Ordinance was recorded. 
 Under date of July i, 1654, it states that : 
 
 Daily confusion occurring among the Ferrymen 
 on Manhattan Island, so that the inhabitants are 
 waiting whole days before they can obtain a pas- 
 sage, and then not without danger, and at an ex- 
 orbitant price. It is ordered by the Director Gen- 
 eral and Council : 
 
 I. That no person shall ferry from one side of 
 the river to the other without a license from the 
 magistrates, under a penalty of ^i flemish for the 
 first offence, £^1 for the second, and ;^3, with con- 
 fiscation of boat and corporal punishment, for the 
 third infraction of this order ; one-third of the fine 
 to be paid to the legal ferryman, one-third to the 
 
 193 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 attorney general, and one-third at the disposition 
 of the Judge. 
 
 II. The Ferryman shall always keep proper ser- 
 vants and boats, and a lodge on both sides of the 
 river to protect passengers from the weather. 
 
 III. The Ferryman is to be allowed for a wagon 
 or cart (either with horse, oxen or a head of cattle): 
 For a one horse wagotiy Fl. 2 10 sL 
 For a plough^ FL 2 
 
 For a hog^ sheep ^ buck or goaty j st. 
 
 For a savage y male or female^ 6 st. 
 
 For each other person^ j st. 
 
 Half for a child under ten years. 
 
 For a horse or four-footed horned beast y Fl. i. 10 st. 
 
 For a hogshead of tobaccOy 16 st. 
 
 For a tun of beery 16 st. 
 
 For an anker of wine or spirits y 6 st. 
 
 For a keg of butter or anything elsCy 6 st. 
 
 For four schep els of corny 1st. 
 
 IV. The Ferryman cannot be compelled to ferry 
 anything over before he is paid. 
 
 V. The hours of the ferry shall be from 5 o'clock 
 A.M. to 8 P.M. in summer; after this last mentioned 
 hour, double ferriage. 
 
 194 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 VI. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter, but he is 
 not obliged to ferry during a tempest or when he 
 cannot sail. 
 
 VII. The director and members of the council, 
 the court messenger, and other persons invested 
 with authority, or dispatched by the executive, are 
 to be exempt from toll.' 
 
 In January, 1656, a notable resolution was 
 passed by the city fathers, when the treasury, 
 being destitute of funds "to disburse there- 
 from what the burgomasters and schepens 
 should yearly receive as a salary," it was 
 proposed "to open a city account and place 
 the same to their credit, to be paid from the 
 treasury when circumstances permit.'' 
 
 To expedite trade, an ordinance of Septem- 
 ber, 1656, proclaimed that, whereas, people 
 from the country bringing wares to sell " re- 
 main a long time to their damage" because 
 the community were in ignorance of their 
 arrival, therefore Saturday should thenceforth 
 
 I Albany Records, VII, 267. 
 
 195 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 be kept as a market day. ** Let every one who 
 has anything to sell or buy, govern himself 
 accordingly." ^ The market was held " at or 
 around the house of Mr. Hans Kierstede, 
 where, after him, everyone shall be permitted 
 to buy or sell." 
 
 Three years later, arrangements were made 
 for an annual sale of cattle. This market was 
 held on the green during six weeks of the 
 autumn, and within that halcyon period no 
 visitor in the city could be arrested for debt. 
 
 As early as 1645, the youth of New Am- 
 sterdam were instructed by Arien Van Offen- 
 dam, whose terms for tuition were two dried 
 beaver-skins per annum; but educational ad- 
 vantages in the city suffered limitations, for 
 although ** the bowl had been going round 
 a long time for the purpose of erecting a 
 schoolhouse," that structure had been "built 
 with words" only. In 1652, the West India 
 
 I Records of New Amsterdam. 
 
 196 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 Company wrote to Stuyvesant: "A public 
 school may be established, for which one 
 schoolmaster will be sufficient, and he maybe 
 engaged at 250 florins annually. We recom- 
 mend Jan de La Montagne — You may ap- 
 propriate the city tavern for that purpose if 
 practicable." 
 
 Dr. La Montagne appears to have served 
 the city in the capacity of schoolmaster, but 
 there is no evidence that the tavern became 
 a classic hall, and later records seem to in- 
 validate that theory. In 1656, a "reverential 
 request" to the burgomasters and schepens 
 was presented by Hermanns Van Hoboocken, 
 city schoolmaster, who desired the hall and 
 side-room of the Stadt-Huys for the use of 
 the school, as during the winter children 
 require a place "adapted for fire and to be 
 warmed." This modest application was sup- 
 plemented by the more personal statement 
 that as the petitioner "is burthened with a 
 
 197 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 wife and children" he is greatly in need of 
 a dwelling for them.^ In response to Ho- 
 boocken's appeal, the room he asked for 
 being "out of repair, and moreover wanted 
 for other uses," the council voted one hun- 
 dred guilders, **in order that the youth, who 
 are here quite numerous, may have means 
 of instruction." "" 
 
 Efforts to establish private institutions of 
 learning did not find favor in the eyes of all 
 city officials. After Jacob Van Corlear, hav- 
 ing secured a license, "arrogated to himself 
 to keep school," though he was not ac- 
 cused of any misdemeanor, except that of 
 imparting knowledge, he was warned, by 
 command of the governor and council, that 
 his school-keeping must cease. But at length 
 the colonists demanded that "in so wild a 
 country" at least two good schoolmasters 
 should be provided, and, in 1658, stimulated 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. ^ Ibid. 
 
 198 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 perhaps by New England's attainments, the 
 magistrates of New Amsterdam made a sig- 
 nal effort to secure educational advantages. 
 They wrote to the West India Company 
 that most of the youth in the colony could 
 read and write, and as some of the citizens 
 would like to send their children to a teacher 
 "who understands Latin," the Company was 
 besought to send such an accomplished in- 
 structor, for whom, on their part, the council 
 promised to provide a schoolroom. 
 
 The request appears to have been granted 
 with unusual promptness, for the following 
 year Alexander Carolus Curtius arrived. If his 
 name was an emblematic guaranty of classi- 
 cal culture, his learning must have been mar- 
 vellous; but although suitable honors and 
 emoluments were decreed him, he seems to 
 have failed in ability as a disciplinarian, and 
 he was soon succeeded by Egidius Luyck, who 
 remained until the Dutch rule was ended. 
 
 199 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 There is evidence that the teacher's pecuni- 
 ary recompense was sometimes withheld. In 
 court records of 1 66 1 , "Jan Rutgersen, pltf., 
 vs. Mighiel Cuperus, deft." the plaintiff de- 
 mands from defendant, thirteen guilders in 
 sewant ; attorney of defendant answers, that 
 defendant demands from plaintiff two quar- 
 ters of a year's school money for his son's little 
 boy, for whose schooling he contracted ; also 
 for a leg of goat's meat, and says, ** he offered 
 to let debt go against debt." Plaintiff says, 
 he " did not agree for the little boy, and earned 
 the little leg," which statement the honora- 
 ble court ordered to be proven.^ 
 
 In 1654, when the municipal government 
 was organized, the stone tavern was appro- 
 priated for civic purposes and called the Stadt 
 Huys. This massive building, fifty feet square, 
 was three stories high in the walls, with two 
 more in the high peaked roof. Over the bench 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. 
 
 200 
 
1.1,5 
 
 • 'i^';:«-a'l'' 
 
 -rli* 
 
 STADT HVrS, 
 
 Corner of Pearl Street afid Coenties Alley 
 Built in 1642 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 of justice in the great court room hung a coat- 
 of-arms sent from Holland for the young city, 
 and the hall was gay with the orange, blue, 
 and white of the West India Company. The 
 building stood so close to the river that its 
 walls were washed by the rising tide, until a 
 barrier of stone was built along the shore. This 
 protection, known as "the schoeyinge," was 
 between the present Wall and Broad streets, 
 and was formed by planks driven end-wise into 
 the earth. 
 
 In front of the Stadt Huys stood the gal- 
 lows, and a platform, from which public no- 
 tices were read after the bell had been tolled 
 three times to assemble the citizens. In the rear 
 of the Stadt Huys was Hoogh Straat, leading 
 to the ferry. The same line of highway was 
 called Brouwer Straat (the Brewer's Street) 
 between the present Broad and Whitehall 
 streets, and, early in 1658, in response to a 
 petition from the citizens, the magistrates 
 
 201 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 ordained that this section should be paved. 
 Two burghers were appointed to superintend 
 the work, for which owners of property along 
 the line of this improvement were to be 
 assessed. After the cobble-stone pavement was 
 completed, the street was known as the Stone 
 Street. Whitehall Street was first called Winck- 
 el Straat, or the Shop Street, and was one of 
 the thoroughfares early paved. Brugh Straat 
 (Bridge Street) led to the largest of the bridges 
 across the broad canal. At the end of the Beavers 
 Path was the swamp included in the property 
 owned by Wilhelmus Beekman. Coenties Slip 
 was then an inlet upon land owned by Con- 
 raet Ten Eyck, whose nickname " Coentje" 
 has thus attained to fame. 
 
 Some complaints brought before the magis- 
 trates in the old Staat Huys, reveal amusing 
 glimpses of life in those early days. On Feb- 
 ruary I 8, 1658, before the council, Jan Cor- 
 nelesen accused Rutgert Jansen of having 
 
 202 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 applied to him the opprobrious title, ** Indian 
 dog," whereupon strife ensued until the schout 
 interfered. Official evidence having proven that 
 Rutgert had suffered a beating at the hands of 
 the insulted Jan, the court sentenced theplain- 
 tiff to pay the defendant twelve guilders, *' for 
 smart and pain ' ' ; while the schout received his 
 perquisite from Rutgert's penalty of six guil- 
 ders for foul and abusive language." ' 
 
 On June 8, 1660, the schout, De Sille, re- 
 quested that Hans Dreper ** be condemned 
 in a fine for the poor, as he did not hesitate 
 to say before the court, * thou lyest ! ' " ' Hans 
 was called in and informed that for this im- 
 proper language he must pay to the poor the 
 sum of six guilders. 
 
 November 15, 1 66 1 , Mesaack Martens was 
 tried for a theft of cabbages, which he ac- 
 knowledged, and for having pawned a gown, 
 taken without the knowledge of the owner 
 
 • Records of New Amsterdam. 
 
 203 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 from a chest left in his house. He was con- 
 demned to stand in the pillory with cabbages 
 upon his head, and then to suffer banishment 
 from the city for five years. 
 
 At intervals the names of some women of 
 New Amsterdam appear upon court records. 
 Anneke Kockz seems not to have possessed 
 a placid temperament, as she was disciplined 
 by the city fathers ** for pulling the cap off 
 the head of Mrs. Jan De Witt, and pulling 
 the hair out of her head."^ Some character- 
 istics of another female were revealed by the 
 complaint of Nicolaas Velthuysen that Saartje 
 Sandels continued to '* ^oi censuring him." 
 Saartje received a reprimand from the court, 
 and was ordered ** not to go snapping and 
 cackling."^ 
 
 For a brief period the city annals are stained 
 by a record of religious intolerance. In 1656, 
 Stuyvesant refused the petition presented by 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. ^Ibid. 
 
 204 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 German settlers for the establishment of a 
 Lutheran church. The States General cen- 
 sured this action, but when, in the following 
 year, the Rev. Ernestus Goetwater came from 
 Amsterdam with a commission to act as pas- 
 tor for the Lutherans, he was arrested and 
 sent back to Holland.' At Vliesingen (Flush- 
 ing), the sheriff, William Hallett, was re- 
 moved from office and fined for holding 
 Baptist meetings at his own house ; but of all 
 denominations the Quakers endured the most 
 severe and unwarranted cruelty. Robert Hod- 
 shone, while speaking at Hempstede, was 
 seized, tied to a cart and dragged to New Am- 
 sterdam, where he was thrown into a cellar. 
 After several days he was taken before Stuy- 
 vesant, who, enraged by Hodshone's refusal 
 to take off his hat, sentenced him to the pay- 
 ment of a heavy fine, or the performance of 
 hard labor. Having no money for the fine, 
 
 ' Fiske, Dutch and Quaker Colonies. 
 
 205 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 younger men were continually urging them to 
 fight. "Let them come forth!" cried Stuy- 
 vesant defiantly ; " I will place twenty men 
 against fi^rty of your hot heads; but it is mean 
 and contemptible to threaten farmers and 
 women and children, who are not war- 
 riors!"^ 
 
 The governor had succeeded in efi^ectually 
 humiliating the savages, and in gaining their 
 respect. They brought some fathoms of 
 wampum as reparation for their recent deeds, 
 and selecting a plot of ground about two 
 hundred and ten yards in circumference they 
 proffered it to Stuyvesant, " to grease his feet 
 after the long journey he had taken to visit 
 them." This ground became the nucleus of 
 the new village of Esopus (Kingston), and 
 for its protection the governor left a guard 
 of twenty-four soldiers. The colonists did 
 not feel secure, however, until, in the autumn, 
 
 ' Mrs. Lamb's History of New York, 
 
 208 
 
Under the City Fathers 
 
 Stuyvesant again visited them and left fifty 
 soldiers to guard the post. 
 
 But it was the wickedness of the Dutch that 
 again precipitated disaster. Upon an estate near 
 Esopus seven or eight Indians were employed 
 as servants, and one evening, having obtained 
 some brandy, they became intoxicated, and 
 by their shouts startled the settlers as well as 
 the soldiers at the fort. Having ascertained the 
 cause of the disturbance the officer in com- 
 mand at the fort forbade his men to molest 
 the offenders, but some of the colonists freely 
 used their muskets, and several Indians were 
 wounded. It was not long before their tribe 
 retaliated. A host of savages besieged the fort 
 at Esopus, while over the surrounding coun- 
 try, burning houses and barns, slaughtered cat- 
 tle, and tortured captives testified to the bitter 
 enmity awakened. 
 
 Stuyvesant was ill, but his energy was not 
 abated. Taking with him as large a force as 
 
 209 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 could be raised, he started for Esopus, and 
 upon his arrival the foe fled. A truce was ar- 
 ranged, but was trusted by few, and subsequent 
 events justified the general doubt of savage 
 faith. 
 
 2IO 
 
GOl^. STUrrESJNT'S HOUSE, erected 1658, afterwards 
 called ' ' THE I'FHI TE HAL L ' ' 
 
XII 
 
 'The Coming of the English. 1 6 5 8— 1 664 
 
 S********SIIEN Stuyvesant returned from 
 ;^\ II y J;Esopus, in the autumn of 1658, 
 * y Y * repairs long contemplated upon 
 »********« Fort Amsterdam were immedi- 
 ately completed, and a stone wall, ten feet 
 high, took the place of the old protecting 
 palisades. In succeeding months of peace, the 
 governor built for himself a mansion of stone, 
 which, under English rule, was long known 
 as the White Hall, and bequeathed a name 
 to the street on which it fronted. The little 
 city, with a population of about sixteen hun- 
 dred souls, was pressing onward by every 
 effort to achieve prosperity, when news was 
 received of another swift revolution in Europe, 
 and the ** restoration " of Charles Stuart to 
 the English throne. 
 
 211 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 The indolent sovereign who, according to 
 his flattering courtiers, 
 
 " Never said a foolish thing, 
 And never did a wise one," 
 
 took little interest in colonial affairs, but his 
 council was forced to give attention to the 
 proposed treaty of alliance with Holland, 
 which, in September, 1 66 2,was consummated. 
 In the spring of that year, John Winthrop, 
 the younger, had made his historic voyage to 
 London, wearing the ring which is said to 
 have secured the Connecticut charter. By that 
 document the assigned western limit of the 
 English colony was the Pacific Ocean; and 
 as its southern boundary in the sea included, 
 besides the mainland, ** all the islands there- 
 unto adjoining," Winthrop notified the in- 
 habitants of Long Island, as well as those of 
 Westchester, to send delegates to the court 
 of Connecticut. When Stuyvesant protested 
 against these comprehensive claims of the 
 
 212 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 English, asking, " Where lies New Nether- 
 land if Connecticut extends to the Pacific?" 
 the Hartford committee calmly replied, '' We 
 know not, unless you can show us your char- 
 ter. 
 
 In the summer of 1 663, a severe earthquake 
 terrified the people of New England, and the 
 Dutch colonists, from Beverwijck to New 
 Amsterdam. Following the excitement thus 
 aroused, came news of another Indian attack 
 upon Esopus, where houses had been burned, 
 women and children butchered, and many 
 persons taken captive. 
 
 Stuyvesant promptly dispatched to the lo- 
 cality a body of troops, under command of 
 Martin Cregier and Peter Van Couwenhoven; 
 and guided by Rachel La Montagne,who had 
 been carried away a prisoner but had escaped, 
 the party found the fortress to which the sav- 
 ages had first led their captives. But the place 
 was deserted, and although the next morning 
 
 213 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 Couwenhoven and his men pressed farther 
 into the wilderness, guided by a squaw fa- 
 miliar with the way, the search still proved 
 fruitless. Then, with fifty-five men, Cregier 
 set out, and after a march of two days achieved 
 the object of the expedition. The savages were 
 surprised in a stronghold recently built, the 
 chief and fourteen warriors were slain, thir- 
 teen prisoners were taken, and twenty-three 
 captives recovered. By another expedition 
 nearly all the remaining captives were soon 
 rescued, and a nominal armistice was again 
 arranged. 
 
 An episode in English courts induced some 
 changes in New Netherland, for the sub- 
 ject of Lord Baltimore's claims was again 
 agitated, and, with a view of more effectually 
 securing their territory against English en- 
 croachments, the West India Company trans- 
 ferred to the burgomasters of Amsterdam 
 all their rights over the district of the South 
 
 214 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 River. The burgomasters appointed De 
 Hinoyossa governor of the country, and upon 
 his arrival at New Amsterdam, Stuyvesant 
 ceded to him all authority over the southern 
 division of the New Netherland province. 
 
 In the autumn of 1663, the exigencies of 
 colonial affairs demanded that commissioners 
 should once more be sent to Hartford; but 
 there was no money in the treasury for the 
 expenses of the embassy, and so unstable 
 seemed the situation that Stuyvesant could 
 not borrow upon a government draft the sum 
 of four thousand guilders, until, as security, 
 he had pledged four of the brass cannon of 
 the city fort. In November the city fathers 
 sent a letter to Holland charging the West 
 India Company with responsibility for the 
 condition of affairs throughout the province, 
 but no help came for their desperate need. 
 Before long the villages on Long Island 
 were threatened by an Englishman named 
 
 215 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 John Scott, who, assuming official authority, 
 announced that he would free "those who 
 had been enslaved by the cruel and rapa- 
 cious Dutch." New Amsterdam was again in 
 danger, and in that "highly imperious ne- 
 cessity" the director was urged to convoke 
 a General Provincial assembly, "to enact 
 what shall be found proper for the prosper- 
 ity and peace of the province."' 
 
 But, through the city records of March i8, 
 1664, we learn that although the meeting 
 was called in November, it was attended by 
 deputies from neighboring towns only, the 
 delegates from Rensselaerswijck, Beverijck, 
 and Wildswijck "being unable to come 
 down and sail back at the same time, owing 
 to the inconvenience of the approaching 
 winter." ' 
 
 In April, 1664, the "inconvenient" obstacles 
 of the winter being removed, a General As- 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. ^Ibid. 
 
 216 
 

 
 g^^^^i^?i]t.^^"- 
 
 l^'iew of the " SCHOEINGE'' or Sheet Piling on the East 
 River Shore, near Coenties Slip, l6j8 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 sembly was convened at New Amsterdam, 
 and the Hon. Jeremias Van Rensselaer was 
 appointed chairman. Measures for raising 
 money were discussed and another appeal to 
 Holland was prepared, but no adequate pro- 
 vision for united action was outlined, and 
 the city continued dependent upon its own 
 limited resources. 
 
 Early in 1664, the records show that "the 
 openness of the place along the water side, 
 both along the East and North rivers, being 
 notorious and manifest," it was deemed ad- 
 visable "to set this off as quick as possible 
 with palisades,"' but the city's income was 
 insufficient to pay for the labor, and the di- 
 rector was therefore requested to " lend the 
 Company's negroes to cut and haul palisades 
 with the city's negroes."^ On February 22, 
 the magistrates recorded a proposition " to 
 make the city strong with a stone wall on 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. ^ /^y^^ 
 
 217 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the land side, and palisades along both the 
 river fronts; the money required to be raised 
 among the wealthiest inhabitants on condi- 
 tion that they may have the tapster's excise 
 on w^ine and beer.' 
 
 This proposal having been favorably re- 
 ceived by the council, was made known to 
 the principal burghers of the city, and a loan 
 of twenty-seven thousand five hundred florins 
 was secured. 
 
 Meanwhile the harassed governor of New 
 Netherland had again been forced to con- 
 tend with bands of maurauding Indians in 
 the neighborhood of Esopus; — but, at last, 
 three of the sachems came to New Amster- 
 dam with propositions for peace, and, while 
 the wife of Dr. Hans Kierstede acted as in- 
 terpreter, a formal treaty was concluded. 
 
 There was peace also in Europe between 
 Holland and England, but it was the calm 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. 
 
 2l8 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 before the storm : Charles II issued in his 
 brother's favor "that most despotic instru- 
 ment recorded in the colonial archives of 
 England," and the Duke of York fitted out 
 the "Guinea," the "Elias," the "Martin," 
 and the "William and Nicholas" for the 
 conquest of New Netherland. Five hundred 
 veteran troops were assigned to Colonel 
 Richard NicoUs, who was appointed deputy 
 governor of the province he was enjoined 
 to conquer, and with whom sailed also the 
 commissioners of a new government, Sir 
 George Cartwright, Robert Carr,and Samuel 
 Maverick. Bearing dispatches which com- 
 manded the people of New England to "join 
 and assist vigorously," they came sailing across 
 the sea in August, 1664, and news of the event 
 was borne swiftly to New Amsterdam. 
 
 A council summoned to meet the emer- 
 gency ordained that the city should be put 
 in a state of defense, guards be constantly 
 
 219 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 maintained, and to meet immediate expenses 
 a loan from Rensselaerswijck should be so- 
 licited. Ships on the point of sailing for 
 Cura9oa were detained to give aid at home, 
 and emissaries were sent forth to collect pro- 
 visions, that the people might be able to 
 withstand a siege. Then from blinded Hol- 
 land came the message that the English fleet 
 had been dispatched to establish an Episco- 
 pacy in New England, and Stuyvesant, re- 
 lieved from keen anxiety concerning his 
 province, started upon an errand to Fort 
 Orange. Fleet messengers were sent to recall 
 him, bearing the startling tidings that the 
 enemy were on their way from Boston to 
 New Amsterdam. The governor returned at 
 once, and three days after his arrival the 
 English ships came into view. 
 
 Every effort for defense was made. On the 
 twenty-fifth of August, the council ordained 
 that one-fifth of the inhabitants of the city 
 
 220 
 
THE BLOCKHOUSE AND CITY GATE 
 
 {Foot of the present Wall Street^, i6j4 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 should " appear in person, or put another in 
 his place, furnished with a shovel, spade, or 
 wheelbarrow, to labor every third day at the 
 city's works."' 
 
 The council was besought to ** favor the 
 place " with " eight pieces of good and heavy 
 cannon," twenty pieces being already pro- 
 vided, and for each piece fifty pounds of 
 powder were requested, with six hundred 
 pounds of lead for bullets, to be used by the 
 burghers for their muskets. A company of 
 burghers appointed to keep guard at night 
 asked that they might be strengthened by sol- 
 diers, and that a day watch might be kept at the 
 gates. All these requests were promptly grant- 
 ed, and it was decreed that every person who 
 should mount guard should receive a pound 
 of powder, and a pound and a half of lead.^ 
 
 But four hundred men were all that could be 
 depended upon to bear arms, and six hundred 
 
 ' Records of New Amsterdam. ^Ibid. 
 
 221 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 pounds of powder was all the fort possessed/ 
 One thousand pounds of powder with six 
 pieces oi artillerv' were secured from other 
 points in the province, but Fort Orange 
 could give no aid, owing to danger from the 
 treacherous Indians. 
 
 On that August morning, when, unan- 
 nounced, the English tleet came to anchor off 
 the Long Island shore, while English troops 
 seized the block-house on Staten Island and 
 a strong force was landed near Breuckelen, 
 the undaunted governor of New Nether- 
 land dispatched a deputation of four citizens 
 with a letter inquiring the object of the visit. 
 Inreplvcame the blunt message from Nicolls, 
 that he had arrived to reduce the country- to 
 obedience to the English sovereign, and on 
 the following dav would send his communi- 
 cation to Stuvvesant. At the appointed time. 
 Sir George Cartwright, with a suite of three 
 
 I Mrs. Lamb's History of New York. 
 
 222 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 gentlemen, arrived at the fort and was re- 
 ceived with salutes of honor. He bore from 
 Nicolls to Stuyvesant a formal summons to 
 surrender " the province of New Netherland 
 with all its towns and forts," but to every in- 
 habitant, life, liberty, and possession of his 
 estate was promised. 
 
 The city magistrates, realizing that resist- 
 ance was vain, counselled submission, but 
 Stuyvesant steadfastly asserted an inexorable 
 determination to defend his post, and work 
 upon the fortifications was continued. The 
 burghers, holding a meeting at the Stadt Huys 
 to discuss the terms Q>i surrender, addressed 
 to the governor and council a remonstrance 
 against the course of resistance. " Granting," 
 they said, *' that the fort could hold out against 
 its assailants, one, two, three, five, or six 
 months (which to our sorrow it cannot), it 
 is still undeniable that it cannot save the small- 
 est portion of our entire city, our property. 
 
 223 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 and what is dearer to us, our wives and chil- 
 dren, from total ruin ; for after considerable 
 bloodshed even the fort itself could not be 
 preserved. Wherefore, to prevent and arrest 
 all the aforesaid misfortune, we humbly and 
 in bitterness of heart, implore your honors not 
 to reject the conditions of so generous a foe.'* 
 
 Stuyvesant, shortly asserting that surrender 
 was out of the question, still tried to win ap- 
 proval of his position, but tried in vain. The 
 citizens clamored for the public reading of 
 the summons from Nicolls, until the gover- 
 nor unwillingly yielded the document. Then, 
 under a flag of truce came Governor Win- 
 throp of Massachusetts, accompanied by 
 some English gentlemen who brought a sec- 
 ond letter from Nicolls to Stuyvesant, in which 
 a peaceful surrender was again urged, only to 
 elicit another emphatic refusal. 
 
 Governor Winthrop then passed to Stuy- 
 vesant a letter which he had received from 
 
 224 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 Nicolls, and which stated the policy to be 
 pursued by the English in regard to New 
 Netherland. This letter Stuyvesant read to 
 the assembled burgomasters, who then re- 
 quested permission to read it to the people; 
 but the governor, considering this course in- 
 judicious, refused to relinquish the paper, and, 
 when urged to reconsider his refusal, wrath- 
 fully tore the letter into fragments. This ac- 
 tion failed to bring submission to his will ; 
 the meeting broke up in confusion, and the 
 angry councillors left the fort condemning 
 the conduct of their governor. The people, be- 
 coming aware of the condition of affairs, sud- 
 denly ceased their work upon the fortifications 
 and clamored for the director. Three reso- 
 lute men appeared before Stuyvesant, and with 
 threats demanded a copy of the letter he had 
 destroyed ; while a tumult arose in the city 
 which officials tried in vain to quiet. " The 
 letter ! the letter ! " the people shouted around 
 
 225 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 the fort, until Nicholas Bayard, Stuyvesant's 
 secretary, gathering the scattered fragments ot 
 paper, produced a copy which was given to the 
 burgomasters, and publicly read. 
 Letter from Xicolls to Winthrop : 
 
 Mr. Winthrop : 
 
 As to those particulars you spoke to me, I do 
 assure you that if the Manhadoes ' be delivered up 
 to His Maiestv, I shall not hinder, but any people 
 from the Netherlands may freelv come and plant 
 there, or thereabouts ; and such vessels of their 
 owne countrv mav freelv come thither, and any of 
 them may freely returne home in vessels of their 
 owne countrv, and this & much more is contained 
 in the privilege of His Ma]est)''s English subjects ; 
 and thus much you mav, by what means you please, 
 assure the governor from, Sir 
 
 Your verv affectionate servant, 
 
 Richard Nicolls. 
 
 Stuvvesant prepared a reply to Nicolls' let- 
 ter, asserting the title of the Dutch to New 
 
 ' The name bv which the pro\'ince of New Netherland was 
 commonlv known. 
 
 226 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 Netherland, by discovery, settlement, and pos- 
 session, and, pointing out the weakness of the 
 English claim, proposed to treat with dele- 
 gates. He sent four of his most able coun- 
 cillors to argue the subject with Nicolls, but 
 all discussion was declined, and re-asserting a 
 determination to take New Amsterdam by 
 force if peaceful surrender was refused, the 
 English commander began his preparations 
 for storming the city. 
 
 Summoning the people on Long Island, he 
 proclaimed in their presence the patent from 
 King Charles to the Duke of York, and 
 promised to confirm all commissions pre- 
 viously granted. From all points upon the 
 island, volunteers joined his forces, and troops 
 encamped below Breuckelen waited for the 
 signal to attack the doomed city. It was 
 rumored that six hundred savages and one 
 hundred and fifty Frenchmen had also joined 
 the English troops. 
 
 227 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 On the fifth of September, Nicolls advanced 
 and anchored his fleet between Fort Amster- 
 dam and Nutten Island. Stuyvesant awaited 
 the approach from an angle of the fort, an 
 artillery man standing by his side, holding a 
 lighted match. It was a pivotal moment ! 
 
 " It is a matter of desperation, rather than of 
 soldiership, to attempt to hold the fort," said 
 Vice-Governor De Sille. 
 
 " Do you not see that there is no help for 
 us, either to the north or the south, the east 
 or the west ? What can our twenty guns do 
 in the face of sixty-two pointed toward us on 
 yonder frigates? " queried Dominie Megapo- 
 lensis. But the governor, obstinately brave, 
 remained inflexible. 
 
 Then a paper was presented, signed by ninety- 
 three of the chief citizens, including bur- 
 gomasters and schepens, and Balthazar Stuy- 
 vesant, the governor's son. It besought the 
 director to surrender, that the city might be 
 
 228 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 saved from destruction, and the shedding of 
 innocent blood avoided. The commander's 
 only reply, " I had rather be carried to my 
 grave ! " revealed a spirit still indomitable, 
 but he yielded to the people's will and the 
 white flag waved above the fort. 
 
 The following morning, September 6, Eng- 
 lish commissioners met with Dutch deputies 
 to sign the twenty-four articles of capitu- 
 lation by which New Amsterdam became 
 New York. Security for property, customs, 
 and conscience was guaranteed, a represen- 
 tative government was promised, and until 
 the usual time for a new election all civil of- 
 ficers were to be retained in their positions. 
 The terms imposed were accepted on behalf 
 of Stuyvesant by Jan de Decker, Nicolas Var- 
 lett, Samuel Megapolensis, Cornells Steen- 
 wyck, Jacques Cousseau and Oloff Stevensen 
 Van Cortland ; and, on September 8, the 
 governor ratified the treaty. 
 
 229 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 The Dutch garrison marched out of their 
 frail fort with all the honors of war, Stuy- 
 vesant leading his band; and, proceeding at 
 once to the water-side, the troops were em- 
 barked for Holland on the ship "Gideon." 
 With ceremonious formalities, Nicolls was 
 proclaimed deputy-governor of the English 
 province, and Fort Amsterdam became Fort 
 James. Two weeks later the English flag 
 was raised above Fort Orange, which was 
 then named Albany, and the entire territory 
 granted to the Duke was in his honor called 
 New York. 
 
 Hostilities between England and Holland 
 were immediately resumed; and, by angry 
 directors of the West India Company, Stuy- 
 vesant was soon summoned to render an 
 account of his administration and to explain 
 the surrender of his city. The burgomasters 
 and schepens of New Amsterdam drew up 
 a statement testifying that " during eighteen 
 
 230 
 

 
 GOVERNOR STUri^ESJNT'S HOUSE 
 
 (/;/ M^ Bomverie) 
 
The Coming of the English 
 
 years' administration his Honour hath con- 
 ducted and demeaned himself not only as a 
 director-general as, according to the best of 
 our knowledge, he ought to do on all occa- 
 sions, for the best interests of the West 
 India Company, but besides as an honest 
 proprietor and patriot of this province, and 
 as a supporter of the Reformed Religion."' 
 Other documents from prominent persons 
 enabled the unhappy hero to vindicate his 
 action before the States General, and in 
 1667, after the peace of Breda, the ex- 
 governor returned to his "bouwerie" in the 
 city of New York. There he died in Febru- 
 ary, 1672, and there his body was interred 
 in a vault beneath the chapel he had built 
 near his home. 
 
 A century later, a great-grandson of the il- 
 lustrious director donated land and money 
 for the erection of the church of St. Mark, 
 
 ' Colonial Documents. 
 
 231 
 
Annals of Old Manhattan 
 
 which, in 1799, was completed upon the 
 site of the ancient chapel. The vault remained 
 undisturbed, and in the outer wall of the 
 church a tablet indicates the spot where, 
 "after life's fitful fever," rests the last gover- 
 nor of New Netherland. 
 
 Peter Stuyvesani's Tombstone 
 
 232 
 
Index 
 
 Amsterdam Chamber^ The^ 22, 30, 48, 93 
 Assemblies^ Popular^ 106, 107, 113, 157, 181 
 Assembly^ General Provincial^ 216, 217 
 
 Parent sen ^ Peter^ 37 
 
 Baxter^ George^ 167 
 
 Blocks Adriaen^ 14, 15, 16, 17 
 
 Blommaerty 46, 47 
 
 Bogardus, Dominie, 53, 55, 57, 85, 130, 131, 155, 
 
 156 
 Boundary Lines , 168 
 Bouweries, 66 
 Bouwerie, The Bosson, 74 
 Bradford, Negotiations with Gov., 37—42 
 Bradstreet, Simon, 168 
 Breuckelen, Incorporation of, 144 
 Burgher Government, Establishment of, i']i 
 Burgher Rights, 186, 187 
 Burgomasters, First, 1 74 
 
 Census of 16 c,6, 186 
 
 Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions, 43-45 
 Christiaenson, Hendrick, 14, 15, 16 
 Church of St. Nicholas, 136-137 
 
 233 
 
Index 
 
 Churchy The Firsts 57 
 
 City Officers J First, 1 74 
 
 City Ordinances y 188-196 
 
 City Seal, 1 83 
 
 City T'axeSy 179 
 
 Cohotatea River , The, 1 4 
 
 Collect y The, 66 
 
 College ofXIXy ThCy 49, 83, ia8 
 
 Comforters of the Sick, 33, 64 
 
 CommunipauWy Origin of, 47 
 
 De Hinoyossa, 215 
 Dernier, Thomas, 20 
 Be Rasieresy 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 50 
 Be VrieSy Bavid Petersen, ^'],6g,']i,'] 1, 80, 84, 87, 
 99,104,107,109, no. III, 114, 116, 121,135 
 Be Witt, John, 1 5- 
 Birckson, Cornelis, 139 
 
 East India Company, The, 13 
 
 Eelkens, Jacob, 22, 70 
 
 Eight Men, Appointment of the, 113 
 
 Ferry Ordinances, 193, 194, 195 
 Fort Amsterdam, 33, 73 
 Fort Amsterdam, Treaty (j/", 133 
 Fort Casimer, Capture of, 1 84 
 Fort Good Hope, 77, 98, 131, 169 
 
 234 
 
Index 
 
 Fort James ^ 230 
 Fort Nassau^ ii^ 23, 83 
 Fort Orange, 22, 36, 37, 46 
 Fortune, The, 14, 15, 16 
 Frederijke, Kryn, 23 
 Fresh River, The, 1 6 
 
 Godyn, 46, 47 
 
 Half Moon, The, 13 
 Hellegat, The, 16 
 Hoboken-Hacking, 47 
 House Lots, First, 142 
 
 Incorporation of City, 1 73 
 
 Indians, Expedition against, 1 23 
 
 Indian Massacres, 185 
 
 Indian Outbreaks at Esopus, 206, 209, 213 
 
 Indian Signatures, 148 
 
 Indians, Treaty with, 218 
 
 Jacobson, Cornelis, 1 5 
 y«»j-, Annetje, G';^^ 
 Jansz, Roelof 62 
 
 ir/<?//, William, 89-156 
 Kierstede, Hans, 6^, 141 
 Kuyter, Johann, 153, 155, 156 
 
 235 
 
Index 
 
 La Montagne^ Johannes^ 64, (it^^ 90, 122, 197 
 Lampo^ Sheriff, 34, 50 
 Loockermans, Govert, 159, 206 
 
 Maiden s Lane, 'The, "^^ 
 Manhattan, Fort, 18, 20 
 Massacres at Pavonia and Corlear s Hook, 1 1 1 
 Mauritius River, The, 17, 21, ^6 
 Megapolensis, Dominie, 131, 175, 228 
 Melyn, 153, i55> 156, 163 
 Mey, Captain Cornelis Jacobsen, 17, 24 
 Michaelius, Rev. Jonas, 34, 35 
 Minuit, Peter, 25, 29, 3 1, 32, 34, 36-40, 42, 43, 
 48, 50, 51,96,97 
 
 New Amsterdam, Incorporation of, 173 
 
 New Amsterdam, Population of, 1^6 
 
 New England, Complications with, 76, 80, 166 
 
 New Netherland Company, Charter of, 17, 18 
 
 Nine Men, Appointment ofic^'j 
 
 Notelmann, Conrad, 50, 81, 82 
 
 Nut ten Island, "j ^,'jG,i2i 
 
 Op Dyck, Gysbert, 98 
 
 Patroons, The, 44 
 
 Pavonia, Origin of, 47 
 
 Petition for Burgher Government, 1 64 
 
 236 
 
Index 
 
 ^akerSy Persecution of^ 205 
 
 Remundy Secretary y 81,82 
 Rensselaerswijcky Contentions with^ 158-160 
 Rensselaerswijcky Foundation of, 46, 47, 84 
 Robinson, Rev. John, 1 9 
 Rolandson, Adam, c^i^, 58-62 
 
 Schools and Schoolmasters^ 1 96— 1 99 
 
 South River y The, 17, 23, 46, 96, 131, 182 
 
 Stadt HuySy 'The, 200 
 
 States General, T'he, 18, 20, 21, 43, 93 
 
 'Treaty with Indians, 116, 133 
 Twelve Men, Appointment of the, 106 
 
 Van der Donck, Adriaen, 161, 171 
 
 Van Dincklagen, Lubbertus, 86, 87, 128, 133, 134, 
 
 151, 153,170 
 Van Dyck, Hendrick, 134, 140, 151, 153, 170 
 Van Rensselaer, Jeremias, 217 
 Van Rensselaer, Kilian, 46, 54 
 Van Slechtenhorst, Brant, 159, 170, 171 
 Van Tienhoven, 104, 171 
 Van Twiller, W outer, c^'^, 54, 70-88 
 Vriesendale, 99 
 
 JVaal-boght, The, 143 
 
 237 
 
Index 
 
 Walloons^ The, 23, 30 
 
 West India Company, The, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 
 
 White-Hall, The, 211 
 Willett, Thomas, 168 
 
 238 
 
 H 99 78 
 
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