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The Great Republic by the Master Historians
The Settlement of New York
by Bancroft, Hubert H.
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[The Dutch showed less enterprise in planting colonies in America, and less
persistence in sustaining them, than any other of the mari-time nations of
Europe. Their only settlement in North America was that of New Amsterdam,
occupying Manhattan Island, and sending branch hamlets up the Hudson and to the
shores of Long Island Sound and the South or Delaware River. This colony was
held with very little vigor. The Dutch permitted themselves to be supplanted in
Connecticut by the English Puritans, with scarcely any resistance. The Swedes
came into collision with them on the Delaware, though these intruders were
eventually subjected to Dutch authority. And in their central seat on the Hudson
they had to contend with unwarranted English invasions, and were finally
conquered by the English, in times of peace, and without resistance either by
the colony or by the mother-country. The story of this colony is of less
interest than that of most of the other American settlements. It had its
contests, its intestine difficulties, its troubles with the Indians, yet none of
these were of striking importance. We extract from O'Callaghan's "History of New
Netherland" some passages descriptive of the rise and progress of the
settlement. Henry Hudson, the discoverer of the river that bears his name, was
an English mariner, who, in the years 1607 and 1608, made two voyages in search
of a northwest passage to India. He afterwards entered the service of the Dutch
East India Company, and in April, 1609, sailed on a third voyage with the same
purpose. Touching at Newfoundland, he continued his course till he sighted the
American coast, and then turned southward, with the hope of finding a passage-
way to the Pacific through the continent. He entered Penobscot Bay, and landed
at Cape Cod, which he named New Holland.]
The Half Moon hence pursued a course south and west for the next ten days, and
at length arrived, about the middle of August, at the entrance of the Chesapeake
Bay, where the first effectual attempt to plant an English colony had been
commenced only two years before. Hudson now retraced his steps, and in a few
days afterwards discovered, in latitude thirty-nine degrees five minutes, a
great bay, which has since been called Delaware. Here he anchored the Half Moon
in eight fathom water, and took possession, it is said, of the country. From
this place he coasted northward, the shore appearing low, like sunken ground,
dotted with islands, and at length descried the Highlands of Navesinck, which,
the journalist remarks, is a very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land
to see. He found himself, on the following day, at the mouth of three great
rivers, the northernmost of which he attempted to enter; but, having been
prevented by a shoal bar at its mouth, he cast about to the southward, and,
after due examination of the sounding, rounded a low "sandy hook," and moored
the Half Moon, on the following morning, in latitude forty degrees thirty
minutes, at a short distance from the shore, in the waters of "The Great North
River of New Netherland."
While the ship lay here at anchor, the natives from the western shore came on
board, and seemed to be highly pleased at the arrival of the Europeans. They
brought green tobacco, which they desired to exchange for knives and beads. They
had divers ornaments, as well as pipes, made of copper; plenty of maize, or
Indian corn; dresses of deerskins, well cured, hung loosely around them.
The next day some men were sent in the boat to explore the bay farther up. They
landed on the western bank, which was lined with men, women, and children, by
whom they were very kindly received, and presented with tobacco and dried
currants. They found the land covered with dried oaks. The natives continued to
flock on board the ship, dressed in mantles of feathers and fine furs; their
necks adorned with ornaments of copper, and some of the women had hemp.
[Five of the crew were sent to examine the channel of what appeared to be an
extensive river. "They described the land as covered with trees, grass, and
flowers, and the air filled with delightful fragrance." On their return they
were attacked, for no known cause, by a party of Indians, one man being killed
and two wounded. This made Hudson very suspicious of the natives. He would
permit no more to come on board, -- except a few who were detained as prisoners,
but afterwards escaped,-- and soon weighed anchor and stood up through the
Narrows, entering New York harbor.]
Hudson, having ascended thus far, prepared now to explore the magnificent river
which rolled its waters into the sea from unknown regions, in the probable hope
that it would lead him to the long-sought-for passage to the Indies. He
accordingly weighed in the afternoon of the 12th September, and commenced his
memorable voyage up that majestic stream which has since handed his name down to
posterity.
[He sailed on up the river, through the highland region, being everywhere
received with enthusiasm by the natives, who crowded on board with their
commodities.]
Distrusting the savages all along, Hudson determined now to try an experiment
which, by throwing them off their guard, would elicit any treachery which might
be latent in their dispositions. He accordingly invited several of the chiefs
into the cabin, and gave them plenty of brandy to drink, so as to make them
intoxicated. The result was that one got drunk, and fell sound asleep, to the
great astonishment of this companions, who "could not tell how to take it." They
all took suddenly to their canoes and hurried ashore, leaving their stupefied
countryman behind them. Their anxiety for his welfare soon induced them,
however, to return with a quantity of beads which they gave him, to enable him,
perhaps, to bribe or exorcise "the foul fiend" which had possession of him. The
savage slept soundly all night, and was quite recovered from the effects of his
debauch when his friends came to see him next day. So rejoiced were these people
at finding their chief restored, as it were, to life, that they returned on
board in crowds again in the afternoon, bringing tobacco and more beads, which
they presented to Hudson, to whom they made an oration, showing him the country
round about. They then sent one of their company on land, who presently returned
with a great platter of dressed venison, which they caused Hudson to eat with
them; after which they made him profound reverence and departed, all save the
old man, who, having had a taste of the fatal beverage, preferred to remain on
board.
Such was the introduction among the Indians, by the first European that came
among them, of that poison which, combined with other causes, has since operated
to deprive their descendants of almost a foothold in their native land, and
caused, within a few centuries, the almost entire extinction of the Red race.
The Half Moon had now evidently ascended as high as she could go. She had
reached a little below the present city of Albany, and Hudson, having satisfied
himself, by despatching a boat some seven or eight leagues higher up, that he
had gained the head of the ship-navigation, prepared to retrace his course.
[His descent of the river was much more expeditious than the upward voyage. On
reaching the vicinity of Stony Point he was visited by Indians, one of whom
stole some articles from the cabin and was shot and killed by the mate.]
On the following day they descended about seven leagues farther, and came to
anchor. Here they were visited by a canoe, on board of which was one of the
savages who had made his escape from the vessel as she was going up. Fearing
treachery, Hudson would not allow either him or his companions on board. Two
other canoes, filled with armed warriors, now came under the stern, and
commenced an attack with arrows. They were repulsed with a loss of three men.
More than a hundred savages now pushed off from the nearest point of land, but
one of the ship's cannon, having been brought to bear on these, killed two of
the party, and the rest fled, thereupon, to the woods. But the savages were not
yet discouraged. Nine or ten of the boldest of the warriors, probably incited by
the two who had made their escape from the Half Moon on her way up, threw
themselves into a canoe and made for the vessel; but these fared no better than
those who preceded them. A cannon-shot drove a hole through their canoe, and
killed one of the men. This was followed by a discharge of musketry, which
killed three or four more, and put an end to the battle. The Half Moon now
descended some five miles farther down, probably near Hoboken, and thus got
beyond the reach of all enemies.
Hudson had now thoroughly explored the river, from its mouth to the head of
navigation, and had secured for his employers possessions which would reward
them beyond measure for the expense they had incurred. For himself he had won an
immortality which was destined to hand down his name to the latest age. Happy at
the result, he left "the great mouth of the Great River," and put to sea, with
all sails set, to communicate to those in Holland in whose service he was the
tidings of his valuable discovery.
[For years a trading-station was the extent of the Dutch settlement on Manhattan
Island; yet the number of settlers gradually increased, and in 1615 a settlement
was made at Albany. The country was called New Netherland. In 1618 the settlers
made an important treaty of peace and alliance with the Iroquois.]
When the Dutch arrived in America the tribes composing the Five Nations were at
war with the Algonquin or Canada Indians. But the latter, having formed an
alliance with the French, who some years previous to this date had commenced the
settlement of New France, as Canada was called, derived such powerful aid from
the fire-arms of their European allies that the Iroquois were defeated in almost
every rencontre with their ancient enemy. Smarting under the disgrace of these
unexpected repulses, the Iroquois hailed the establishment among them, now, of
another European nation familiar with the use of these terrible instruments,
which, almost without human intervention, scattered death wherever they were
directed, and defied the war-club and bow and arrow as weapons of attack or
defence. Though jealous by nature, and given to suspicion, the Indians exhibited
none of these feelings towards the new-comers, whose numbers were too few even
to protect themselves or to inflict injury on others. On the contrary, they
courted their friendship, for through them they shrewdly calculated on being
placed in a condition to cope with the foe, or to obtain that bloody triumph for
which they thirsted. Such were the circumstances which now led to that treaty of
alliance which, as the tradition goes, was concluded on the banks of the
Norman's Kill, between the Five Nations and the Dutch.
Nothing could surpass the importance the warlike inhabitants of those ancient
forests attached to the ratification of this solemn treaty. Each tribe sent its
chief as its ambassador to represent it on this occasion. The neighboring tribes
-- the Lenni Lenape and Mohegans -- were invited to attend; and there, in the
presence of the earth, their common mother, -- of the sun, which shed its genial
heat on all alike, --by the murmurs of that romantic stream, whose waters had
been made to flow by their common Maker from all time, was the belt of peace
held fast by the Dutch and their aboriginal allies, in token of their eternal
union. There was the calumet smoked, and the hatchet buried, while the Dutch
traders declared that they should forthwith erect a church over that weapon of
war, so that it would no more be exhumed without overturning the sacred edifice,
and whoever dared do that should incur the resentment of the white man. By this
treaty the Dutch secured for themselves the quiet possession of the Indian
trade, and the Five Nations obtained the means to assert that ascendency which
they ever after maintained over the other native tribes, and to inspire terror
far and near among the other savages of North America.
[Up to 1623 only trading-settlements existed. In that year the actual
colonization of the country took place, though a governor was not appointed till
two years afterwards. Captain Mey, who took out the settlers, also ascended
Delaware Bay and River in 1623, and built Fort Nassau, a few miles below Camden.
This fort was soon abandoned. In 1631 a colony was planted in Delaware, near the
present Lewistown, but the settlers were soon murdered by the Indians. The Dutch
claim now extended from Cape Henlopen to Cape Cod. This claim was disputed by
the New-Englanders, who formed settlements in Connecticut and on Long Island.
They endeavored, also, to trade with the Hudson River Indians. In 1633 one Jacob
Eelkins arrived at New Amsterdam in an English ship called the William. He was
ordered to depart by Wouter van Twiller, the Dutch governor.]
After an interval of five days, the factor of the William went again on shore to
the fort, to inquire if the director-general would permit him, in a friendly
way, to ascend the river, stating at the same time that, if he would not allow
it, he [Eelkins] would proceed without his consent, if it should cost him his
life. But van Twiller was immovable. Instead of consenting, he ordered the
ship's crew on shore, and, in the presence of all, commanded the Prince of
Orange's flag to be run up the fort, and three pieces of ordnance to be fired in
honor of his highness. Eelkins, not to be outdone, immediately ordered his
gunner to go on board the William, to hoist the English flag, and fire a salute
of three guns in honor of the King of England, which was accordingly done. Van
Twiller now warned Eelkins to take heed that what he was about did not cost him
his neck. Eelkins, however, noway daunted, returned on board with the ship's
crew. The anchor was weighed, and the William shortly after sailed up the river,
"near to a fort called Orange."
Director van Twiller, incensed at this audacity, collected all the servants of
the company in the fort before his door, ordered a barrel of wine to be
broached, and, having taken a bumper, cried out, "Those who love the Prince of
Orange and me, emulate me in this, and assist me in repelling the violence
committed by that Englishman!" The cask of wine was soon emptied, but the people
were noways disposed at first to trouble the Englishman. . . .
The William having, in the mean while, arrived in the neighborhood of Fort
Orange, the factor and crew went ashore "about a mile below that fort," set up a
tent, and, having landed all their goods, immediately opened an active trade
with the natives. It was not long before the news of these proceedings came to
the ears of Houten, the commissary at Fort Orange. He forthwith embarked, with a
trumpeter, on board a shallop, over which waved some green boughs, and proceeded
to where Eelkins was. "By the way the trumpet was sounded, and the Dutchmen
drank a bottle of strong waters of three or four pints, and were right merry."
The Dutch set up a tent by the side of that of the English; did as much as they
could to disparage their cloth and other goods, with a view to hinder the
latter's trade; but the Indians, having been well acquainted with Eelkins, who
had "heretofore lived four yeares among them," and could speak their language,
were a good deal more willing to trade with him than with the others, and he
consequently had every prospect of advantageously disposing of his merchandise,
having been fourteen days there, when a Dutch officer arrived from below, in
command of three vessels, a pinnace, a carvel, and a hoy, bearing two letters,
protesting against Eelkins, and ordering him to depart forthwith.
To enforce these commands came soldiers "from both the Dutch forts, armed with
muskets, half-pikes, swords, and other weapons," and, after having beaten
several of the Indians who had come to trade with Eelkins, ordered the latter to
strike his tent. In vain he pleaded that he was on British soil, and that
British subjects had a right to trade there; the Dutch would not listen to any
remonstrances. They pulled his tent about his ears, sent the goods on board,
"and, as they were carrying them to the ship, sounded their trumpet in the boat
in disgrace of the English."
[In this chronicle of the adventures of the first English ship that sailed up
the Hudson we have a scene ridiculous enough to find a place in Knickerbocker's
"History of New York." The succeeding troubles of the Dutch were with the Swedes
and the Indians. In 1640 war began with the neighboring Indians, which continued
till terminated by the mediation of the Iroquois, in 1645. In 1638 the Swedes
settled on the Delaware, near the present Wilmington, and gradually extended
their settlements until 1655, when they were attacked by the Dutch, and all
their forts captured. The Swedes remained, under Dutch government. In 1664 the
King of England granted to his brother James all the country from the
Connecticut to the Delaware, heedless of the claims of the Dutch. A squadron was
sent out, and the Dutch were forced to surrender New Amsterdam. Thus, by an act
of flagrant injustice, while England and Holland were at peace, the Dutch
dominion in North America was overthrown, after half a century of existence. Mr.
O'Callaghan gives some brief details of the condition of affairs in New
Amsterdam in 1646, which we transcribe.]
Slaves constituted, as far back as 1628, a portion of the population. The
introduction of this class was facilitated by the establishments which the Dutch
possessed in Brazil and on the coast of Guinea, as well as by the periodical
capture of Spanish and Portuguese prizes, and the circumstances attendant upon
the early settlement of the country. The expense of obtaining labor from Europe
was great, and the supply by no means equal to the demand. To add to these
embarrassments, the temptations held out by the fur-trade were so irresistible
that the servants, or "boere-knechts," who were brought over from Holland, were
soon seduced from the pursuits of agriculture. Farmers were consequently obliged
to employ negroes, and slave-labor thus became, by its cheapness and the
necessity of the case, one of the staples of the country.
The lot of the African under the Dutch was not as hopeless as his situation
might lead us to expect. He was a "chattel," it is true; but he could still look
forward to the hour when he too might become a freeman. In the years 1644 and
1646, several negroes and their wives, who had originally been captured from the
Spaniards, had been manumitted, in consequence of their long and faithful
services. To enable them to provide for their support they obtained a grant of
land; but as the price of their manumission they were bound to pay yearly
twenty-two bushels and a half of corn, wheat, peas, or beans, and one fat hog
valued at eight dollars, failing which, they were to lose their liberty and
return again to their former state of servitude..The price of a negro averaged
between one hundred and one hundred and fifty dollars..
The greater number of the houses around Forts Amsterdam and Orange were, in
those days, low-sized wooden buildings, with roofs of reed or straw, and
chimneys of wood. Wind-or water-mills were erected, here and there, to grind
corn, or to saw lumber. One of the latter, situated on Nut or Governor's Island,
was leased in 1639 for five hundred merchantable boards yearly, half oak and
half pine. Saw- and grist-mills were built upon several of the creeks in the
colony of Rensselaerswyck, where "a horse mill" was also erected in 1646. A
brewery had been constructed previous to 1637, in the same quarter, by the
Patroon, with the exclusive right of supplying retail dealers with beer. But
private individuals were allowed the privilege, notwithstanding, to brew
whatever quantity of beer they might require for consumption within their own
families.
[These settlements were established under two different systems of government.
The "colonies" were governed on a feudal principle, the Patroon, or proprietor,
having sovereign authority over his vassals, who swore allegiance to him, and
submitted to his special courts, ordinances, and laws. In return he was bound to
protect them. The other system was a municipal one, like that of the manors of
Holland, the qualified electors of cities, villages, and hamlets being empowered
to nominate the magistrates, who needed to be confirmed by the director and
council. Through these regulations the democratic spirit of Holland was carried
over to New Amsterdam, and a republican sentiment of a different type from that
of the English colonies was instituted.]
E. B. O'Callaghan
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