Sltbrarg Interfittg of ^putabitrgli Darlington Memorial Library XT ^ ^^'^• aiiaBB.i"/.o'7 - %aok X>2>S?(,irAj (>'^.f v^ DDJSCl a ¥fe .^^ r II n V •.%■?•''- A-^^tawi JL_ HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE TERRITORY INCLUDED WITHIN ITS LIMITS TO THE PRESENT TIME, % |toto of t\u (Seologn of thu CJounfg, CATALOGUES OF ITS MINERALS. PLANTS, QUADRUPEDS AND BIRD.- in r i 1 1 c n UNDER THE DIRECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF TUE DELAWARE COUNTY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, BY GEORGE J^IVXITH, 3r. I>. PHILADELPHIA : PRINTED BY HENRY B. ASHMEAD, Nos. 1102 AXD 1104 Sansom Strf,et. 18G2. ^^^<.^

8," and that "two little forts were built on the South and North rivers." Better authority is needed to support this claim, than the assertion of an interested party made nearly half a century subsequent to the event. Tiiough reasonable doubts may exist in respect to the visit of Lord Delaware to the Delaware bay, that bay in 1610 did actually receive a transient visit from Captain Samuel Argall, who pro- bably was the first European that entered its waters after its discovery by Hudson.^ The various names by which the Delaware river and bay have been known, are enumerated in Hazard's Annals of Pennsylva- nia.* By the Indians it was called, "Pautaxat, Mariskitton and Makerish-kiskcn, Lenape Whittuck ; by the Dutch, Zuyt or South river, Nassau river. Prince Hendrick river, and Charles river ; by the Swedes, New Swedeland stream ; by the English, Delaware. Heylin in his Cosmography calls it Arasapha. The bay has also been known as New Fort May and Godyns hay. Six years now intervene, before we have any further accounts of discoveries in " New Netherland," a country, which in the estimation of Their High Mightinesses, The States General of Holland, embraced the Delaware bay and river. On the 27th of March, in the year 1614, a general charter was granted, securing the exclusive privilege of trade during four voyages, with "any new^ courses, havens, countries or places," to the discoverer, and subjecting any persons who should act in violation thereof, to a forfeiture of their vessel, in addition to a heavy pecuniary penalty.^ Stimulated by this edict of the States General, the merchants of Amsterdam fitted out five vessels to engage in voyages, in pursuance of its provisions. Among them was the Fortune belonging to the city of Hoorn, commanded by Captain Cornelis Jacobson Mey. Captain Adrian Block com- manded another vessel of this exploring party, w^hich was unfortunately burnt upon his arrival at the mouth of the " Man- hattan river." To repair this misfortune. Captain Block imme- diately engaged in the construction of a new vessel — a yacht, 44i feet long, and 11| feet wide. This craft was of but 16 tons burden, and was named the Unrust (Restless.) She was the first vessel built by Europeans in this country, and her construction, 1 N. Y. Hist. Col. i. N. S. 320. » N. Y. Col. Doe. i. 149 : Hist. New Netherland, i. Appendix E, 41S. » Broadhcads Ili.-^t. N. Y. 51 and note D. * P. 4. 5 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 5. ^ HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1616. under the circumstance, savors more of a YcmJcee proceeding than any event in the history of New Netherland. The Fortune, commanded by Skipper Mey, alone proceeded southerly. The coast, with its numerous inlets and islands, was examined and mapped as he went along, until he reached the mouth of the Delaware bay, to the two proper capes of which he appropriated two of his names ; calling the one Cornells, the other Mey. To a cape still further south he gave the name of Hindlopen, after a town of Friesland.^ All the vessels except the Restless, now returned to Holland, to make a report of their discoveries, and to claim the exclusive privileges of trade, to which, under the general charter granted by the States General, their owners would be entitled. By an edict dated on the 14th of October, 1614, this monopoly of trade was granted to the united company of merchants of the cities of Amsterdam and Hoorn, by whose means the expedition had been fitted out. It was limited, however, to " newly discovered lands, situate in America, between New France and Virginia, whereof the sea coasts lie between the fortieth and forty-fifth degrees of latitude, now named New Netherland," and was to extend to four voyages, to be made within three years from the 1st of January. It will be seen that the Delaware bay is not included in this grant, a circumstance that Avould suggest that the discoveries in that quarter by Skipper Mey, had not been appreciated. Captain Cornells Hendrickson, who had been left in command of the American built vessel Restless, now proceeded to make further explorations, and especially on the Delaware bay. It has even been said that this expedition explored the river as high up as the mouth of the Schuylkill, the discovery of which is credited to Captain Hendrickson.^ If this be correct, the crew of the Restless were the first civilized men who visited the terri- tory now embraced within the limits of Delaware County. The extent of the discoveries made by the worthy captain, can, in a measure, be judged of by his report made to the States General, on behalf of his employers. " Report of Captain Cornells Hendrixz" of Munnickendam to the high and mighty Lords States General of the Free United Netherland Provinces, made on the XVIIF'' August, Ao. 1616, of the country, bay and three rivers, situate in the latitude from 38 to 40 degrees, by him discovered and found for and to the behoof of his owners and Directors of New Netherland, by name Gerrit Jacob Witsen, Burgomaster at Amsterdam, Jonas Witsen, Lambreht Van Tweenhuyzen, Palas Pelgrom and others of their company." 1 Hist. New Netherland, i. 73. 2 Haz. Ann. 7 : Broadhead's Hist. N. Y. 79. 1620.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 5 " First^ he hath discovered for his aforesaid Masters and Directors, certain hinds, a bay and three rivers situate between 38 and 40 degrees." " And did there trade with the inhabitants ; said trade con- sisting of sables, furs, robes and other skins." " lie hath found the said country full of trees, to wit : oaks, hickory and pines; which trees, were in some places covered with vines." " He hath seen in said country, bucks and does, turkeys and partriges." " He hath found the climate of said country very temperate, judging it to be as temperate as this country, Holland." '' He also traded for and bought from the inhabitants, the Minguas, three persons, being people belonging to this company, which three persons were employed in the service of the Mohawks and Machicans; giving for them kettles, beads and merchandise." "Read August 19th, 1616."' It cannot be fairly inferred from this report, that the Schuyl- kill was one of the three rivers discovered by Captain Hendrick- son, and the original " Carte Figurative,"-' found attached to the memorial of his employers, presented on the day before the re- port was made, furnishes almost conclusive evidence that the voyage of the Restless did not extend even to the mouth of the Delaware river. The refusal of the States General, to grant the trading privileges to these applicants, which in justice could not be withheld from the discoverers of "any new courses, havens, countries or places," furnishes additional proof that the discoveries made in the Restless did not go much beyond what had been previously made. If any knowledge of the Delaware or Schuylkill rivers was acquired on this occasion, it was proba- bly obtained from the three persons belonging to the company, purchased from the Indians, or from the Indians themselves. In anticipation of the formation of a Dutch West India Company, exclusive trading privileges were not again granted under the general charter of 1614, except in a few instances and to a very limited extent. The trade to New NetJierland, regard- ed by the Dutch as extending beyond the Delaware, was thrown open, in a measure, to individual competition. This did not last long, for on the 3rd of June, 1621, the West India Company was incorporated. It did not, however, go into operation until 1623. Thus far, trade, and new discoveries for the purpose of extend- ing trade, appear to have wholly engrossed the attention of the Dutch. This year a proposition is made by the Directors of the 1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 13. 2 For a copy of this " Carte Figurative," see N. Y. Col. Doc. i. facing p. 13. 6 HISTORY or DELAWARE COUNTY. [1621. New Netherland trading company, for the emigration to America of " a certain English preacher,' versed in the Dutch language," then residing in Leyden, together with over four hundred fami- lies both out of Holland and England, whom he assured the petitioners, he had the means of inducing to accompany him thither. The petitioners also asked that two ships of war might be provisionally dispatched "for the preservation of the country's rights, and that the aforesaid minister and the four hundred families, might be taken under the protection of the government ; alledging that his Majesty of Great Britain would be disposed to people the aforesaid lands ivith the English nation." After considerable Jelay, this petition was rejected.^ On the 28th of September of this year, and during the time that elapsed between the incorporation of the Dutch West India Company and the time it commenced its commercial operations, the States General granted certain parties permission to dispatch "two ships with all sorts of permitted merchandise, the one to the aforesaid New Netherland, and the other to the aforesaid Ne'W river, lying in latitude between eight and thirty and forty degrees, and to the small rivers thereon depending, to trade away and dispose of their old stock, which they have there, and afterwards bring back into this country their goods, cargoes, clerks and seamen, on condition that they must be home before the 1st of July, 1622. "3 The Neiv river mentioned in the foregoing extract, was un- doubtedly the Delaware ; and it might be inferred from the per- mission asked in respect to the old stock, ^c, that a trading post had been established by the Dutch on the Delaware, prior to this date. There are many facts to show that such a conclusion would be erroneous, and that the Dutch had no trading establishment on that river at this time. At the instance of the British Government, Sir Dudley Carle- ton their Ambassador at the Hague, entered upon an investi- gation of certain charges made against the Hollanders, of having left " a Colonic" at, and of " giving new names to several ports appertaining to that part of the countrie north of Virginia" called by them " New England."^ In the prosecution of this investigation,^ which was rather of a private and informal character, thp Ambassador could not make " any more of the matter but that about fower or five years since, two particular conpanies of Amsterdam merchants, began 1 This preacher was the Rev. Mr. Robinson. Some of the families alluded to em- barked at Delft in the May Flower and Speedwell on the 16th of July, 1620, and though they were destined for the Hudson, they landed at Plymouth, and became the renowned Culonj' of Pilffrims. 2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 22-24. 3 lb. 27. ■• lb. iii. 6. i lb. 7. 1623.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 7' a trade into these parts between 40 and 45 degrees, to w"*" after their manner they gave their own names New Netherlands, a South and a North sea, a Texel, a blieland and the like ; whitlier they have ever since continued to send shipps of 30 and 40 Lasts,' at the most to fetch furres, w'^*' is all their trade; for the providing of w""* they have certain factors there con- tinually residents trading, w"" savages, and at this present there is a ship at Amsterdam, bound for those parts, but I can- not learn of anie Colonic eyther already planted there by these people, or so much as intended." The letter of the Ambassador communicating this information to the British Government, is dated on the 5th of February, 1621. Sir Dudley gives as an additional reason, why he arrived at the conclusion, that the Dutch had not as yet planted a colony, that divers in- habitants of this country (Holland,) had been suters to him to procure them " a place of habitation amongst his Ma""^ subjects in those parts," suggesting the improbability of these people desiring to mingle among strangers, and to be under their govern- ment, if they had settlements of their own. • He did not fail, however, to present to the States General, on behalf of his government, a remonstrance against further com- merce, by the Dutch, with the country in question, and to lay before their High Mightinesses, the British claim thereto by right of first occupation, (jurje primre occupationis.)^ This proceeding of the British Government was intended to prevent their rights from being lost, rather than to enforce any immediate claim. It was so regarded by the Dutch Government, and particularly so by the West India Company, which now, after having secured an amplification of their privileges, and completed their preliminary arrangements, proceeded at once, to carry out the very measures that had been so recently protested against by the British Ambassador. They extended the com- merce of the country, by building up establishments with the view of securing its title to their government, and its trade to themselves — the latter being always a paramount consideration with the company. The West India Company, having by virtue of their charter,^ taken possession of the country, they dispatched the ship Neto Netherland with a number of people thereto, under the direction of Captains Cornells Jacobson Mey, and Adriaen Joriz Tienpont. Mei/ proceeded to the Delaware or South river, on the eastern bank of which, fifteen leagues from its mouth, he erected fort ' A last is nearly equal to two tons when applied to ships ; when applied to the measure of grain, is equal to 80 English bushels. ^ N. Y. Col. Doc. iii.8. 3 For a translation of the charter at length, see Hist. New Netherland, Appendix B ; Hazard's Historical Collections, i. 121-131. 8 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1624. Nassau at a place called by the natives Techaaclio, — supposed to be near the mouth of little Timber creek in Gloucester County, N. Jersey, and a short distance below the present town of Glou- cester.^ There is some discrepancy as to the precise date of the erection of this fort, but the year 1624 is specified in an official report^ on the condition of the country, made in 1644, and may be regarded as the best authority on the subject. The distinc- tion, at all events, belongs to Captain Mey of being the first European to establish a settlement on the Delaware,^ if the erection of this fort, — a mere trading post, abandoned from time to time, as occasion required — can be regarded as a settlement. The seat of government of New Netherland was located at Manhattan Island, now the site of the City of New York, and the superior local officer of the government was styled a Director. Shortly after the commencement of the administration of its affairs by the West India Company, this office was con- ferred on Peter Minuit or Minewit, of Wesel in the Kingdom of Westphalia, who arrived at Manhattan Island in one of two ships dispatched by the Amsterdam department of the West India Company, in 1624, He was assisted in his government by a council of five members and a " Scout Fiscal," whose duties em- braced those now usually performed by a sheriff and district attorney. The authority vested in the Director and his council was ample, being executive, legislative and judicial, and extended to the South as well as the North river. The records of the government, or of the company, give very little information in respect to the administration of Minuit. It lasted till 1632, and is supposed to have been generally successful. It is distinguished by no remarkable event, except the purchase of Manhattan Island from the Indians, which happened in 1626.* The title to this Island, now the site of the City of New York, and estimated to contain 22,000 acres, was acquired for the paltry sum of sixty guilders or 24 dollars. This purchase is important as probably indicating a period when the policy of the Dutch underwent a change ; when from having been merely Indian traders, they began to contemplate a permanent settlement of the country. The commencement of the Directorship of Minuit, is fixed by Wassenaer in his history of Europe, (Amsterdam, 1621 to 1632,)' 1 Edward Armstrong Esq., in a paper read before the New Jersey Historical Society, January 20, 1853, locates Fort Nassau on a tongue of land between Big and Little Tim- ber creeks. 2 N. Y. Col Doc. i. 149. ^ Statement of Mattehoorn, an Indian chief. N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 597. * N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 37. 5 For a translation of the " description and first settlement of New Netherland" from that work, see Documentary Hist. N. Y, by E. B. O'Callaghan, M.D. iii. 27-48. The author says Peter Minuit, cam,e out in the Sea Gull which arrived 4th May, 1626, and "now sends for his wife thither." 102i.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 9 in the year 1626, and he assigns him two predecessors in that office, viz : Willem Van Ilulst for the year 1625, and Cornelis May for the year 1624. These men in conjunction witli Adrien Joriz Tienpont appear, however, to have been merely directors of an expedition, and it wouhl seem that the government of the country, of whicli the territory embraced within the limits of our little county in the estimation of the Dutch constituted a part, commenced with the administration of Minuit. It is a circumstance worthy of note, that the party who erected fort Nassau was accompanied by females. The fact is fully established by the following curious deposition' of Catelina Tricho, said to have been the first white woman at Albany. '• New York, February 14th, 1G84-5. " The Deposition of Catelina Tricho aged fouer score yeares or thereabouts, taken before the right hono'''" Collo. Thomas Leu', and Governour under his Roy" high'^ James Duke of Yorke and Albany, etc. of N. York and its Dependencyes in America, who saith and declares in the pr'sens of God as foUow- eth." " That she came to this Province either in the yeare one thou- sand six hundred and twenty three or twenty fouer to the best of her remembrance, an that fouer women came along with her in the same shipp, in which the Governo"" Arien Jorissen came also over, which fouer women were married at Sea, and that they and their husbands stayed about three weeks at this place, and then they with eight seamen more went in a vessel by ord" of the Dutch Governo'', to Delaware river and there settled. This I Certifie under my hand and y*" Scale of this province." " Tho. Dongan." In the deposition of the same lady taken a few years after- wards (1688,) she states that "two families and eight men" were sent to the Delaware. This effort at a settlement on the Dela- ware was soon abandoned — probably before the expiration of a single year. As Wa8sa7iaer under the date of 1625, says, "The fort at the South river is already vacated, in order to strengthen the Colony (at Manhattan.) For purposes of trade, only one yacht is sent there in order to avoid expense."* It is not re- markable that this policy should have been adopted, as the whole colony at Manhattan, at this period, scarcely numbered two hundred souls. The fort was abandoned to the Indians, who did not fail to occupy it as their occasions required ; and the country again passed into their possession as completely as it was on the day Hudson touched at the Capes. • Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 49. * lb. 45. 10 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1620. Gustavus Adolplius, the reigning monarch of Sweden, through ■whose wisdom and valor that nation had acquired an elevated standing among the governments of Europe, now sought to con- fer still further benefits upon his country by extending its com- merce. Chiefly with this view, a charter was granted by him for a Swedish West India Comijany} This company, which was to go into operation on the 1st of May, 1627, and to con- tinue twelve years, had every necessary power conferred upon it for the establishment of a colony, with the promised aid of the government, to a very liberal extent. William Usselinex, a native of the low countries, represented as having spent much time in seeking out new ports, and as being " the inventor in Holland of the West India Company," had counselled and ad- vised the adoption of the measure, and was to have a share in its management. While these proceedings were in progress, the war in Germany in which Gustavus became so largely engaged, postponed for a time the project of Swedish colonization in America ; and his death which happened in 1632, would have led to a total aban- donment of the scheme, but for the persevering energy of his renowned minister Oxenstiern. Seventeen years had now elapsed since the discovery of the country by Hud^n, and yet but little had been accomplished to- wards making it a permanent home for civilized man. The whole population of Manhattan the seat of government, at this period, was two hundred and seventy souls, consisting chiefly of the officers and servants of the company w^th their families.^ But few others resided elsewhere on the Hudson, and as has been shown, no permanent establishment of any kind was maintained on the Delaware. The trade of the country was, however, by no means inconsiderable, the Delaware contributing a fair propor- tion of it. The ship that carried to the "Fatherland" the news of the purchase of Manhattan from the Indians, was freighted with 7246 beaver skins, 853J otter skins, 81 mink skins, 36 wild cat skins, and 34 rat skins, besides a considerable quantity of oak and hickory timber.^ But this was chiefly Indian trade — a trade that must necessarily diminish in proportion to the vigor with which it was prosecuted. Foreseeing this, and with the more prosperous colonies of the English on either side of them, the settlement of the country was determined upon by the Dutch as the only means by which it could be saved from passing into other hands, while its trade at the same time would be augmented. ' For a translation into English of this Charter, see Haz. Ann. 16, N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592. '■^ Original Settlements i>n tbe Delaware. 40. 3 n,_ 42. 22 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1638. on the Delaware, Director-general Kieft dispatched Jan Jansen,^ clerk of Fort Amsterdam, to keep a watch over their doings, with instructions, in case Minuit intended to do anything to the dis- advantage of the Dutch, "to protest against him in due form." This duty was faithfully performed, but failing to have the desired eifect, Director Kieft caused the Commander of the Swedes to be served with a protest under his own hand, of which the follow- ing is a copy. " Thursday, 6th of May, 1638. I, Wilhelm Kieft, Director-general of the New Netherlands, residing on the island of Manhattan, in the Fort Amsterdam, under the government which appertains to the high and mighty States General of the United Netherlands, and to the West India Company, privileged ' by the Senate Chamber in Amsterdam, make known to thee, Peter Menuet who stylest thyself com- mander in the service of her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, that the whole South river of New Netherland, both the upper and lower, has been our property for many years, occupied with forts, and sealed by our blood, which also was done when thou wast in the service of the New Netherlands, and is therefore well known to thee. But as thou art come between our forts to erect a fort to our damage and injury, which we never will permit, as we also believe that her Swedish Majesty has not empowered thee to erect fortifications on our coasts and rivers, or to settle people on the lands adjoining or to trade in peltry, or to undertake any other thing to our prejudice ; now therefore we protest against all such encroachments, and all the evil consequences from the same, as bloodshed, sedition, and whatever injury our trading company may suffer ; and declare that we shall protect our rights in a manner that shall appear most advisable."" Acrelius gives this protest the above date, but it is without date, as recorded in the Albany Dutch documents, where it stands between papers dated respectively, on the t)th and 17th of May.^ Minuit being perfectly aware of the weakness of the Dutch at Manhattan, and of the disinclination that government would have at that time, to have a misunderstanding Avith her SwT^dish Majesty, had but little regard for these paper missiles, but pro- ceeded on with the erection of his fort, which was. soon com- pleted, when he heartily engaged in the trade of the country ; a business he had learned in the service of the Dutch. Before the end of July, both vessels had- departed for Sweden well freighted with furs. This rapid progress of the Swedish Colony, Avhich 1 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592. 2 Acrelius, 409; Haz. Reg. iv. 82 : Ilaz. Ann. 44. ■'' Minuit made no reply to the Protest of the Governor, but retilied in writing to that of Junsen. N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 592. 1G38.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 23 was doubtless owing to the intelligence and experience of the Connnander, became so alarming to the Dutch Governor at Man- hattan, that he at once adviseil the West India Company in re- spect to it, by a letter dated on the 31st of July, 1638, of which tlie following is an extract. " Minuyt erected a fort on the South river, five leagues from ouis ; attracted all the peltries to himself by means of liberal gifts; departed thence with two attendant ships, leaving 24 men in the fort, provided with all sorts of goods and dtctd.J.'eiiecas. Colden's Hist. Five Nations. 1st part. 1. In 1712, the Tiiacanjia»,a kindred nation from North Carolina, removed to western New York and joined the CDiitederacy, after which it was known as the ''Six Xations." By the French these Indians in the aggregate were known as the IroquoU. '^ At a treaty held at Philadelphia in July 1742, Canapatego, a chief of the Onondagon, thus reprimanded and taunted the Delawares, who were present, for continuing- on lands they had sold: •• We conquered you; we made women of you ; you know you are women and ciin no more sell land than xcumen.'' Colden's Five Nations, part ii 79 » Bancroft's Hist. U. S. iii. 238. ♦ One Swedish mile is equal to six of our miles. 36 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1643. tributary to them ; so that they dare not stir, much less go to "war against them.''^ The Minquas Indians, as a tribe, belonged to the Five Nations. They resided upon the Conestogo, but their visits to the Dela- ware for purposes of trade or to fish were fi'equent. It will thus be seen that the early settlers on the Delaware, had two classes of Indians very different in character to deal with ; the one a constant inhabitant of the country whose presence was familiar to them and caused no uneasiness ; the other, an occasional visitor whose stay amongst them, when the object of it was not well understood, excited apprehensions for their safety. The Lenape lived in small tribes, generally occupying the tribu- taries of the Delaware. Each tribe was frequently known to the settlers by the Indian name of the stream it occupied. In returning from a digression that seemed necessary, to pro- ceed with our narrative, we will confine our observations more closely hereafter to the small district of country under notice. Governor Printz possessed many qualifications that fitted him for the position he occupied. His plans were laid with good judgment, and were executed with energy. He managed the trade of the river with the natives so as to monopolize nearly the whole ; and while the jealousy of the Dutch, on this account, was excessive, he succeeded during his whole administration, in avoiding an open rupture with that government. But he was imperious and ha'ughty, and sometimes gave offence, especially in personal interviews, when a milder course would have better befitted the occasion. Though the Swedes had erected a fort on the Jersey side of the river, they never placed so high an estimate on their title to the land on that side, as to that on the western shore. As a consequence, most of their settlements were at first made on this side of the Delaware, up which, and the Schuylkill they were gradually extended. These rivers and our numerous tide-water creeks, constituted the highways of the Swedish settlers, and it was in close proximity with these streams their habitations were erected. The annual pay of the Governor was 800 Rix dollars,^ which of course did not include his rations. In addition to this, and in remuneration of the long and excellent services that he had ren- dered to the crown of Sweden, and was then rendering, his sovereign, by a deed of gift executed on the 6th of November, 1643, granted to him and his heirs, the whole Island of Tinicum.^ If we can rely upon the statement of De Vrics who visited the Governor on the 13th of October, 1643, and remained with him several days, he was a man of enormous dimensions, weighing ' Campanius, 158. '^ Haz. Reg. iv. 314. ^ Appendix, note A. 1644.] HISTORY OF Delaware county. 37 over four hundred pounds.^ At the time of this visit by De Vries, the Swedish fort at " Verchens kill" was not "entirely fiiiisheil," and there were "some liouses" at Fort Christina. The vessel in which De Vries made his visit, was laden with Madeira wine, a portion of which the skipper exchanged with the Gover- nor for heavers. John Papet.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 47 had made a particular request in his letter. She "was well dis- posed to grant him what was just," but the cautious government of Sweden ro([uire(l that the business should first be examined in the "chamber of finance," and that it should be ascertained that the lands he asked '' had not been given away or were not required for the cavalry or soldiers."' Printzdorp, hereafter to be mentioned, was probably granted in response to the letter of the Governor. On the 17th of August, Iludde delivered to Governor Printz, a protest which he had received from Director General Stuyve- sant, and having obtained permission to visit Manhattan, he carried back with him the reply of the Swedish Governor. These documents do not appear to be on record. The ship Sivayi, which had accompanied Printz, arrived a second time during the year 1647, bringing more people. Three other vessels are mentioned as arriving during the administration of Printz — the Black Cat, the Key and the Lamb.^' On the 20th of January, 1648, the Government of Sweden issued letters patent in favor of the South Company, " for the State of New Sweden and the payment of those in their employ, granting one third of the excises of the crown upon nil confiscated tobacco, besides fines and forfeitures, and provided that in case the revenue from this source should be insufficient to furnish the necessary sum for the annual support of the State of New Sweden," the deficit was to be made up from the other resources of the crown. In addition, all merchandise from Holland transported to New Sweden, and not landed in Sweden to be sold, was to be free from payment of duty, as were also tobacco and furs sent from New Sweden to the mother country.'^ This was a wise stroke of policy on the part of the Swedish Government, as it secured the regular payment of wages to the persons in their employ, and at the same time gave the colony commercial ad- vantages as favorable as could be desired. A Swedish bark in going up the river, in violation of an understanding between the two governments, neglected to show her colors in passing Fort Nassau. This Hudde regarded as a national insult, and sent eight men in pursuit, which proved unsuccessful. The testy commissary was not disposed to allow the affair to pass unnoticed, particularly as the offending skipper, on his return, had aggravated his offence by telling Iludde, that his act was intended as a personal insult. The result was a for- mal protest to Governor Printz, which, if it had no other effect, 1 For the Queen's letter, see Haz. Reg. iv. 315. Unfortunately the letter of Printz is not among the documents procured by Mr. Russell and presented to the Philoso- phical Society. 2 Acrelius, 410. 3 Haz. Reg. iv. 373. 48 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1648. it gave reason to suspect that the representative of New Nether- land, on " the South river," was disposed to make the most out of a very small matter.^ Governor Printz was generally successful in the execution of every scheme in which he engaged, but this year Stuyvesant was advised that he (the governor) was tampering with the Minquas, and endeavouring to obtain their consent to the erection of a Swedish trading post in their country.- Either the Dutch gover- nor was misinformed, or Printz had over-estimated his influence with this distant savage nation ; for no such trading post was ever established. During the winter, the Swedes had been engaged in bringing together a large quantity of logs, and had already carried a great number of them to the Schuylkill. This made Hudde appre- hensive, " that the Governor had an intention to construct some buildings near the place where the vessels are now usually laying at anchor;" and he says, "as these, trading as before, had been driven from Kinsessing, and Ave cannot otherwise approach the large woods to trade with the Minquas, by which consequently the trade being lost to us, the possession of the river, as I well observed before, would deserve very little consideration."^ In case the Swede went on with the building, and took possession of some yet unoccupied places, Hudde humbly proposed ^'to take possession of the tract of land nearest to him, in the name of the Company.'' It happened very opportunely for the commis- sary, and affords him some excuse for his subsequent proceedings, which otherwise might have been considered as an act of aggres- sion, " that on the fourth day of the same month, some sachems came to him from the savages of Passayonk, Avho asked him why he did not build on the Schuylkill ; that the Swedes had already there some buildings constructed." Circumstances sometimes almost miraculously adapt themselves to our wishes, or we might suspect that Hudde had some instrumentality in bringing about this kind invitation of the Passayonk savages, for the Dutch to occupy their lands. Having received " correct information with regard to the anti- cipation by the Swede ; and particularly so with regard to some places of the highest importance," he directly prepared himself to build near the place ^ and on the 27th "went thither with the most necessary timber, calling then without delay for the sachems, and stating to them, that at present, he came there with the ' Hudde's Rep. 437. 2 jjist. New Netherland, ii. 79. 3 Hudde's Report, 438. This langnage of Hudde, confirms what has before been suggested that the Dutch vessels were not driven from their usual place of anchorage and trade in the Schuylkill, by the Swedes, and had only been interfered with when they themselves were the siggressors. They were very properly driven from "Kinsess- ing," where the Swedes had their " Strong House" as a regular trading post. 1G48.] niSTORY OF Delaware county. 49 intention to buil Iliukle-:- Report, 438. 2 ib. 439. 4 50 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1648. and if we would proceed with it ? To which I answered, what was commenced must be finished too; upon Avhich, he commanded that his men shouki lay down their muskets, and each of them should take his axe in his hand, and cut down every tree that stood around or near the house — destroying even the fruit trees that I had planted there." This House of Contention, afterwards became what was well known as " Fort Be vers Rheede," though the fact is not directly stated by Hudde. As permission for its erection was obtained from the Passayunk Indians, the site of this fort must have been at some point on the east bank of the Schuylkill, now in the first ward of the City of Philadelphia, and within the limits of the former township of Passayunk. An approximate location has been assigned to this fort, on " the map of the early settle- ments," after taking into consideration the suitableness of loca- tion in connection with the facts above stated.^ It will be observed, that in the harangue of the Passayunk Savage, Upland is mentioned as a Swedish settlement. This is the first notice of that tOAvn under its Swedish name, on record ; but doubtless one or more of the plantations observed by Hudde, in November, 1045, was at that place. It may also be inferred from that harangue, that up to this time, the Dutch had not made, what the speaker considered, an actual settlement. It is noAV observable, that the Dutch became more anxious to acquire an Indian title to the lands on our river, and particularly to those lands that had been granted by the savages to the Swedes. With this object, a committee of the high-council at Fort Amsterdam, consisting of Vice-director Dinclage and the Hon. La Montagne, were commissioned to proceed to the South river, where they arrived on the 7th of June, and on the 10th, obtained a confirmation, in writing, of a transfer said to have been formerly made to Arent Corson. This document is given at length, on page 18. By a reference thereto, it will be seen that the savage grantors claim to be " sachems over the district of coun- try called Armenverius." This country on the Dutch map is located on the Jersey side of the river, in the vicinity of Fort Nassau, and not at all likely to include " the Schuylkill and adjoining lands." Passaytink embraced the Eastern shore of the Schuylkill from its mouth some distance upwards, and is given by Campanius as one of the "principal towns or places" of the Indians, on the river ; and Hudde him- self, but a little over a month previously, had recognized the authority of its sachems to make a grant for the erection of a 1 The East bank of the Schuylkill has a bold shore half a mile above the Penrose Ferry bridge, which continues some distance, and is the only suitable locality for a fort or trading post within the limits of Passayunk. 1648.] HISTORY OF Delaware county. 51 trading post on their lands, while it will be seen that these same sachems are not among those who joined in this pretended con- veyance, or rather confirmation without consideration, of a pre- vious conveyance to Arent Corson, of the same lands, by the same parties, part of the purchase money for which, was still due ! A late writer has very properly remarked that, " the readiness which the natives manifested to part with their terri- tory, was equalled only by their willingness to sell it again to any who might choose to purchase it."' lie might have added, as applicable to this period in the history of our river, that there was no lack of these purchasers, at second hand. After the Hon. Committee of the Dutch Council had concluded their purchase and had taken public and lawful possession, they ''with a becoming suite, sailed for Tinnekonk," where they met with a very cold reception from Commissary Huygen and Pape- goya, the son-in-law of Governor Printz, who kept them stand- ing in a constant rain about half an hour. After being admit- ted to an audience " they delivered, among others, their Solemn protest against the aforesaid Printz, against his illegal possession of the Schuylkill."- Governor Printz promised to give his answer before their departure, of which Hudde has made no note. Places of settlement on the ScJiuylkill were now assigned to several freemen. On the 2nd or July, one of the number com- menced to build, but w.is prevented by the son-in-law of the Governor, who caused to be pulled dow^n and burnt what he had raised, and adding insult to injury, threatened, " that if he there came again, he would carry off with him a good drubbing."^ Hudde records similar proceedings, though not so violent, on the part of the Swedes, towards one Thomas Braes w^ho attempt- ed to settle and build at a place named by them " New Holm." This is probably the same occurrence mentioned by Acrelius as happening in 1646, in which Thomas Broen was the person de- siring to build. If so, " New Holm" was located in the neigh- borhood of Mantua Creek in New Jersey. Printz offered Broen permission to build under Swedish jurisdiction, which he re- fused.^ Commissary Hudde being temporarily absent on a visit to his superiors at Fort Amsterdam, Governor Printz erected a build- ing, about 30 feet long and 20 wide, immediately in front of the new Dutch Fort Beversreede on the Schuylkill, " so that the vessels that came to anchor under the fort could discover said fort with diflSculty." The back gable of the house was only 12 feet from the gate of the fort and on the outer side of it. Alex- ' Mr Armstrong's Introduction to Record of Upland Court, 15. 2 Hudde'8 Report, 440. ^ lb. 440. * Acrelius, 411. 62 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1648. ander Boyer, who had charge of the interests of the Dutch during Hudde's absence, very properly regarded the buikling of this house by Governor Printz, as intended more to insult his "lords and masters than to reap, for himself any real advan- tage from it," because, he said, "the ground in the same range with our fort is large enough to admit twenty similar build- ings."^ Boyer also reports two Swedes, as having been murdered by the Maquas^ — the first instance on record of Swedish blood having been shed by the Indians. Hudde returned on the 5th of October, with a few freemen, to whom had been delivered letters patent to settle and build on the Schuylkill. He says he " was directly informed that the Swede placed his best hope on the country of the Minquas against the bargain concluded by us," and "to prevent similar frivolous pretentions, and to shew that the contract^ was by no means broken by the honorable committee," he addressed a note to Hendrick Huygens, intended to be shown to the Governor, of which the following is an extract :— " Honorable and obliging good friend, accept my cordial salutation. It was with deep regret that I was informed on my return, that our fugitives can find no residence in the Minquas country, against the good intentions indeed of our Director- general, who Avill not permit That anything shall be undertaken by his subjects against our contract., but expects that similar conduct shall be holden from both sides. "^ It is evident from the foregoing extracts from Hudde, as has been before suggested, that a contract existed between the Swedes and the Dutch, that contained some specifications in re- spect to the trade and occupancy of the Schuylkill ; and it is but reasonable to conclude that the harsh conduct of Governor Printz towards the Dutch on that river, resulted from a belief that their acts were in violation of that contract. It may also be inferred that the Minquas maintained a kind of ownership over the coun- try about the mouth of the Schuylkill, as in my apprehension the allusion to their country in the quoted language of Hudde, had no reference to the usual place of residence of that poAver- ful tribe of savages, which will be shown hereafter was on the Susquehanna. This ownership might have been for the purposes of trade or fishing, and to serve their convenience during their periodical visits. Whatever it was, Hudde was evidently appre- hensive, that the late act of the committee of the Dutch Council might be regarded with disfavor by these savages. In a subse- quent negotiation with the Dutch, in which some of the same 1 Huilile's Report, 441 ; Albany Records, Haz. Ann. 103. •■« Uaz. Ami. 101. ' Uuddc's Reports, 441. 1G48.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 63 sachems who confirmed '' the Schuylkill and adjoining lands" to the honorable committee, participated, when asked whether •' they were chiefs and proprietors of the lands situate on the west side of this river, at present partly incorporated and settled by the Swede?" replied that they "were great chiefs and pro- prietors of the lands, both by ownership and descent, and hj appointment of 3Iin(/uas and river Indians.''^ The Schuylkill river was not the highway by which the Miiujuas reached the trading mart near its mouth, or at Kin- sesni/h/, as might be inferred from the language of some writers. Their route passed diagonally over the whole extent of Delaware county, entering Philadeli)hia at the head of tide water on Cobb's creek near the site of the Swede's mill; doubtless a branch of the usually travelled path to their more southern trading post at Fort Christina. - The land assigned to the freemen, who accompanied Hudde on his return, was located on the Schuylkill, at a place then known as "Mast-makers Corner," "Point," or "Hook." In their efforts to occupy and build on these lands, they met with the same determined opposition from the Swedes, that others had experienced. The officers to whom this work of demolition was assigned, did not hesitate to avow, that they were acting under the special instructions of Governor Printz. The exact position of Mast-makers Corner is not known. It was on the east side of the Schuylkill, and probably but a very short distance from the Dutch Fort Beversreede. An account of these harsh pro- ceedings on the part of the Swedes, forwarded to Fort Amster- dam by Hudde on the 7th of November, closes the often cited report of that vigilant functionary.^ Two days later, Adrian Van Tiedhoven, " Clerk of the court on the South river," also reported sundry of the Swedish out- rages above noted, but he arrives at the conclusion that these cannot cause much injury to the Dutch trade with the Indians. He, however, regards commerce here, as "nearly spoiled," as he says, "we are compelled to give two fathoms white, and one of black Seawant* for one beaver ; one fathom of cloth for two beavers ; every fathom of Seawant amounts to three ells, some- times one-sixteenth less, so that in my opinion, this barter is too much against us, as the Indians always take the largest and tall- est ainonj them to trade with us.^'^ > X. Y. Col. Doc. i. 597. -' St-e map "f Early Settlements, and also plot of the survey for an Indion walk in thisi volume. ' Hudde's Rep. 442. "in X. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. For correction of date, see O'Callag- han's Hist. New Netherlands, ii. S3, (note.) .\n application for damages to the Dutch government, places the Mast-maker Hook affair in 1649, see N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 594. * The Dutch name fecember, when it may be supposed he had ah'eady embarked. He was urged to dehiy his departure until " the best arrangements could be made in regard to his successor." It has been said that Printz became unpopular, "by the exercise of a too rigid authority."^ This letter is conclusive, that he possessed the entire confidence of his government. The commission^ of John Eysingh, the successor of Printz, bears the same date with the above letter. Both documents show that the government contemplated the continuance of Printz in the country for some time longer, during which period Rysingh would act as his aid. But the interval between the de- parture of the old Governor and the arrival of the new one, during which the burden of the government devolved on Papegoya, must have been brief — not exceeding five or six months. The semi-romantic claim and settlement of Sir Edmund Plow- den or Ployden, although its vague boundaries probably included the district now embraced within the limits of Delaware County, has not been noticed in its proper order of time, because it has little or no historical value in connection with the early settle- ments on the Delaware. To show, however, that the "Earl Palatine of New Albion" had a real existence, and was not a myth, we give the following extract, from " The Representation of New Netherland." " We cannot omit to say," (remarks the author Vander Donck,) " tnat there has been here, (at Manhat- tan,) both in the time of Director Kieft, and that of General Stuyvesant, a certain Englishman who called himself Sir Ed- ward Plowden, with the title of Earl Palatine of New Albion, who claimed that the land on the west side of the North river to Virginia, was his, by gift of King James of England ; but he said he did not wish to have any strife with the Dutch, though he was very much piqued at the Swedish Governor, John Printz at the South river, on account of some affront given him, too long to relate. He said that when an opportunity should offer, he would go there and take possession of the river. "^ It is presumed the ''''opportunity''' never did offer, and the reader, in consequence can only imngine the character of the threatened exploit. The grant was not made, however, by King James as mentioned in the extract, but it was obtained in the reign of King Charles the 1st, (1634,) from the Deputy General or vice-roy of Ireland.^ The salary of Rysingh, was 1200 dollars per annum, in silver, 1 Clay's Annals, 24. a Haz. Reg. .398. •t N. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. ii. 279. (Translation hy Henry C. Murphy, Esq.,) also N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 289. — Renders who may wish to examine this subject more fully, are referred to Haz. Hist. Col. : Haz. Ann. and .Mulford's Hist. N. J. * Hist. New Netherland, i. 2S1.— X. Y. Hist. Col. ii. N. S. 323, (note B.) 1654.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 61 " in addition to the special appointments which he might receive from the company of the South." His instructions' clearly sliow that his government did not intend to vest in him the same powers that had been enjo^'cd by Printz. Until he received further orders, he was to "' place into the hands of John Amund- son, all that relates to the military and the defence of the country ; establishing in the interim, a council formed of the best instruc- ted and most noble officers in the country, of which Rysingh shall be Director — in such a manner, however, that neither he, in his charge, nor John Amundson, as Governor of militia, in his, shall decide or approve anything, without reciprocally con- sulting each other." ^Vhile the inijiortance of obtaining a con- trol of the mouth of the river, is presented in strong general terms, his instructions in regard to Fort Casimir, were si)ecific. '* With respect to the fortress that the Dutch have built upon our coast, if he cannot induce them to abandon it by arguments and serious remonstrances, and without resorting to hostilities, it is better that our subjects avoid the latter, confining themselves solely to protestations." A fortress '' lower down towards the mouth of the river, below that of the Dutch, in order to defend the passage, and render theirs useless," is recommended, but the recommendation is coupled with a strict injunction for " employ- ing the mildest measures, because hostilities will in no degree tend to increase the strength of the Swedes in the country." The commercial privileges were as liberal as could be desired, and in this respect, were in striking contrast with those of the Dutch. The purchase and cultivation of land was encouraged — the purchases to be made " either from the company or the sa- vages," and, "in respect to the lands thus purchased, subjects recognizing the jurisdiction of the crown of Sweden," were to enjoy " all franchises and allodial privileges, themselves, and their descendants forever." In consideration of the very faithful and zealous services, that Rysingh had rendered, and was still disposed to render, her Majesty granted " to him and his wife, and to their legitimate male heirs and their descendants, as much land in the West In- dies, and New Sweden as he shall be able to cultivate with 20 to 30 peasants ; ceding to him the aforesaid country with all its dependencies, with all, »S:c., .... to enjoy, employ nnd keep the same, in the same manner and with the same franchises as our nobles, and as a perpetual property."- This Royal grant was located on the river a short distance below New Castle. Arriving in new Sweden towards the end of May, 1054. on board of the government ship Aren. (Eagle.) Rysingh commenced his administration by capturing the Dutch Fort Casimir in direct ' IIuz. Reg. iv. 399, 400. 2 lb. 398. 62 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1 654. violation of his instructions. There is some variation in the accounts given of this transaction,' which it will not be necessary to notice. Gerit Bicker was in command of the fort, and seeing a strange sail in the distance, dispatched Secretary Van Tien- hoven and others, " to ascertain the particulars." The messengers did not return till the next day, and then only two hours in advance of the Swedish ship, which they reported to be full of people, with a new governor, who made known to them his in- tention to take the fort, " as it stood on ground belonging to the Swedish crown." Bicker was urged to give orders to defend the fort, but declined because "there Avas no powder." Soon after a boat's crew consisting of 20 or 30 Swedish soldiers, landed under the command of the former lieutenant of Governor Printz — Swen Schute^ who were welcomed by Bicker "as friends." Escorted by him, the Swedes passed immediately into the fort, took possession, and stripped the few Dutch soldiers by whom it was garrisoned of their military equipments, even of " their side arms." Bicker seems to have stood paralyzed, while these pro- ceedings were in progress, and it was not till Van Tienhoven made the suggestion, that he and two others were deputed to demand from Governor Rysingh his authority for taking forci- ble possession of Fort Casimir. The governor claimed "to act by orders of her Majesty in Sweden," and he further informed the embassy that when complaints had been made by the Swedish Ambassador to the States General in respect to the building of the fort, they referred him to the West India Company, who in their turn denied giving any authority for its erection, and had further told the Swedish Ambassador, "that if our people are in your way there, drive them off." The truthfulness of the reply of Rysingh is in a measure corroborated by a letter from the Company to Governor Stuyvesant on the subject of the erection of the fort before referred to ; from which it may reasonably be supposed that a correspondence between them and the Swedish Ambassador would ensue, and that the company was disposed to make concessions to the Swedish crown. This correspondence may have resulted in additional orders to Rysingh, subsequent to the issuing of his general instructions, in which the capture of the fort was authorized. It is not, however, to be supposed that such orders would afford any palliation or excuse for the rash and ^ From the official investigation by Governor Stuyvesant, together with the com- mandant's letter and that of Governor Rysingh to him, the most full account of the transaction may be obtained; for which, see, N. Y. Cil. Doc. i. 601-606; also, Acre- lius, 414: Haz. Ann. 148 ; Hist. New Netherland, ii. 274. 2 Mr. Hazard in his Annals, says the attacking party was commanded by Captain Swensko who was also the commander of the ship. And concludes that Rysingh acted without communicating with the Swedish authorities on the river. The fact that Swen Schute commanded the attacking party, shows that the authorities resident on the river were consulted. 1654.] iireTORY of Delaware county. 63 unsoldler-likc manner in which the capture was effected. Rysingh was not a soldier, and it does not appear that Annmdson, com- missioned as his military colleague, accompanied him, or was ever in the country. The exploit of capturing Fort Casimir, happened on Trinity Sundcv/, and in commemoration of that circumstance, the captors changed the name of the fortress to Trefalldigheet or Trin'dij fort. News of the event was duly communicated to Governor Stuyvesant, both by Rysingh and Bicker, — their statements of course, varying somewhat in the details of the transaction. Three or four of the Dutch soldiers, including Bicker, remained on the river, who, with nearly all the Dutch freemen residing there, took an oath of fidelity to the Swedish governor. The depositions of Van Tienhoven and the 8 or 10 soldiers who returned to New Amsterdam, place the conduct of Bicker in a very unfavor- able light. His behaviour served as an invitation, to a small body of men, to capture the fort, who probably had only been detailed to make a formal demand for its surrender, preliminary to the usual negotiations in such cases. But the " brave and courageous Lieutenant Swen Schute," who commanded the Swedes, was not the man to allow so favorable an opportunity to pass unimproved, for he was never more in his element than when administering a lesson of humility to the Dutch. With the capture of Fort Casimir, the authority of the Dutch on the river, for the time being, was suspended. The Engineer Peter Lindstroom, who came to the country with Rysingh, caused this fort to be greatly strenghtened. He also laid out the town of Christina back of the fort of that name, and constructed a map of New Sweden.' There also arrived with Rysingh several officers, some troops and a clergyman ;- and all the Dutch accounts men- tion that he was accompanied by a large number of people. We are informed by Acrelius, that Papegoya soon went home, and that Rysingh assumed the title of Director-general.^ On the ITth of June, a great convocation of Indians including ten sachems was held at Printz Hall on Tinicum ; at which " it was offered on behalf of the Queen of Sweden, to renew the ancient league of friendship that subsisted between them and the Swedes, who had purchased from them the lands they occupied. The Indians complained that the Swedes had brought much evil upon them ; for many of them had died since their coming into the country," whereupon considerable presents were distributed among the Indians, which brought about a conference among themselves. The result was a speech from one of their chiefs, Naaman, in ' Engravings of these are containe*! in the translation of Campanius, by the late Pettr S. Dupooceau. ^ Aerelius, 414. ^ lb. 64 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1654. which he rebuked his companions," for having spoken evil of the Swedes, and done them an injury, and told them he hoped they would do so no more, for the Swedes were very good people. "Look," said he, pointing to the presents, "and see what they have brought to us, for which they desire our friendship." So saying he stroked himself three times, down his arm, which among the Indians was a token of friendship ; afterwards he thanked the Swedes on behalf of his people, for the presents they had recei- ved, and said that friendship should be observed more strictly between them than it had been before ; that the Swedes and the Indians had been in Governor Printz's time, as one body and one heart, (striking his breast as he spoke,) and that thenceforward they should be as one head ; in token of which he took hold of his head with both hands, and made a motion as if he were tying a knot, and then he made this comparison ; that as the calabash was round without any crack, so they should be a compact body without any fissure ; and that if any one should attempt to do any harm to the Indians, the Swedes should immediately inform them of it, and on the other hand, the Indians would give immediate notice to the Christians of any plot against them, even if it were in the middle of the night. On this they were answered, that that would be, indeed, a true and lasting friendship, if every one would agree to it ; on which they gave a general shout, in token of consent. Immediately on this, the great guns Avere fired, which pleased them extremely ; and they said. Poo, hoc, hoo ; mokirick picon ; that is to say, " hear and believe, the great guns are fired." Then they were treated with wine and brandy. Another of the Indians then stood up, and spoke and admonished all in general, that they should keep the league and friendship, which had been made with the Christians, and in no manner to violate the same, nor do them any injury, or their hogs or cattle, and that if any one should beguilty of such violation, they should be severely punished as an example to others. The Indians then advised that some Swedes should be settled at Passyunk, where there lived a great number of Indians, that they might be watched and punished if they did any mischief. They also expressed a Avish that the title to the lands which the Swedes had purchased, should be confirmed ; on which the copies of the agreements (for the originals had been sejit to Stockholm,) were read to them word for word. When those who had signed the deeds, heard their names, they appeared to rejoice ; but when the names were read of those who were dead, they hung their heads in sorrow. Then there were set upon the lloor in the great hall two large kettles, and many other vessels filled with jSappaun, which is a kind of hasty pudding made of Maize or Indian corn, which grows there 1(154.] niSTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 65 in great abundance. The sachems sat by themselves ; tlie other Indians all fed heartily and were satisfied."' This proceeding, copied nearly entire from Campanius, is highly characteristic of such transactions with the Indians. Other treaties with the aborigines may have been held within our limits, but this is the only one, the recorded proceedings of which have come down to us. It is conclusive that the Swedes had purchased from the Indians the lands then occupied by them ; and the fact that one of the principal chiefs, Naaman, who was a party to this transaction, resided on the creek that bears his name, renders it almost equally conclusive that the former purchase of the Swedes had been made from "the right owners," the pretension set up by the Dutch to the contrary notwith- standing. The treaty thus so solemnly made between the Swedes and Indians, we are informed by Campanius, " has ever since been faithfully observed by both sides. '"- A private letter from Governor Rysingh to Count , con- nected with the home government, dated at Fort Christina on the 11th of July, 16o4,' furnishes some facts worthy of notice. He estimates the ground (under cultivation it is supposed) as ''four times more than when we arrived." It was also much better peopled, "for then," he says, "we found only 70 persons, and now, including Hollanders and others, there are 368 persons." This estimate of the population on the river is certainly only in- tended to embrace actual settlers, for as long ago as 1645, Hudde estimated the force with which Printz could man his forts, at from 80 to 90.^ He takes the credit of everything that had been done to him- self. Captain Shute and Pappegoya ; but for the particulars and for all " that relates to the actual state of the country and colony,"" the minister to whom the letter was addressed is referred to an official communication that had been sent to him and the College of Commerce. Unfortunately this document is not ex- tant. Among the wants of the governor was that of a wife, and though " sufficiently* plain offers" had been made him by the English who had been here, he relied with more confidence " for this object" upon the minister, "than any other person in the world," and desired that he would send him "a good one/' Christina, to whose dominions the land we live in belonged, now, at the age of twenty-nine years, abdicated the throne of Sweden in favor of her cousin, Charles Gustavus. The war between England and Holland having been concluded, ' Campanius, 77. ^ Page 78. 3 A MS. copy of this letter is in the possession of the American Philosophical Society. It was first published in Haz. Ann. which see, 153. * Huddes Rep. 429. 5 66 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1655. and the Dutch having been driven from the Delaware, a favor- able opportunity was presented to the New Englanders to renew their claims on the river. These were pressed on the ground of purchases made from the Indians, and gave rise to a correspon- dence between Governor Rysingh and the Commissioners of the United Colonies which it will not be necessary to notice. A Swedish vessel, called the " Golden Shark," by accident or design, was piloted into the Raritan river. The vessel was im- mediately seized by Governor Stuyvesant, who regarded this as a fair opportunity to force the Swedes to restore Fort Casimir. The event gave rise to considerable correspondence,^ which did not result in a restoration either of the fort or the vessel. The affairs of the Swedes on the Delaware were now approach- ing a crisis, but nothing had occurred to arouse the suspicions of the home government. The triumph of Rysingh was regard- ed as a reconquest of usurped territory, and no other means to reclaim it by the Dutch were apprehended, beyond the usual one of protest. This was a fatal delusion ; for at the close of 1654, while estimates were being made in Sweden for the sup- port of their colony, during the ensuing year, on a peace basis,^ an armament was being fitted out in Holland, not only sufficient to replace "matters on the Delaware in their former position," but to drive " the Swedes from every side of the river." In the spring of 1655, five armed vessels well equipped, were forwarded to Stuyvesant, with a carte blanche, to charter others.'^ The armament when completed at New Amsterdam, consisted of seven vessels, and from six to seven hundred men. The greatest caution was used in providing against every contingency, in fit- ting it out, and a day of thanksgiving and prayer Avas observed before the sailing of the expedition ; which happened on Sunday the 4th of September, ^'- after sermon.'^ It was commanded by Governor Stuyvesant in person, and arrived in the bay of South river the next day about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The de- serted Swedish Fort Elsingborg was visited on the following day, but it was not till Friday that the expedition reached Fort Trinity or Casimir. This fortress was under the immediate command of Swen Schute, while Governor Rysingh in person had charge of Christina. To prevent a communication between the two forts, Stuyvesant had landed fifty men. The demand made by the Dutch was " a direct restitution of their own pro- perty," to which Commander Schute, after having had an inter- view with Stuyvesant, reluctantly yielded on the following day, upon very favorable terms of capitulation. For the reduction 1 For this correspondence, as well as that with the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and proceedings connected therewith, the reader is referred to Haz. Ann. 155-172. 2 Haz. Reg. v. 15. ^ Hist. New Netherland, ii. 284. 1655.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 07 of Fort Christina a bloodless siege of fourteen days was re- quired. As a matter of neeessity, it yielded to an immensely superior force on the 2oth of September, on even more favor- able terms than had been granted to the garrison of Fort Trinity. Agreeably to special instructions from the home government, an offer was made to restore the possession of Fort Christina to Governor Rysingh, but he declined the off'er, preferring to abide by the articles of capitulation. ' The magnificent scale on which the expedition was got up by Stuyvesaut for the captin-e of these inconsiderable forts, with the slow caution observed by him in conducting the siege of Fort Christina, borders on the ridiculous, and has afforded an ample field for the satire of the veritable Knickerbocker. Ilis igno- rance of the weak condition of the enemy, will, in a measure, defend him from the shafts of ridicule, but it will be difficult to find an excuse for the acts of wantonness his soldiers were per- mitted to exercise towards the peaceable inhabitants of the country. If the official report of Rysingh is to be relied upon, " they killed their cattle, goats, swine and poultry, broke open houses, pillaged the people, without the sconce, of their property, and higher up the river they plundered many and stripped them to the skin. At New Gottenburg, they robbed Mr. Papegoya's wife of all she had, with many others, who had collected their property there."^ Nor does Rysingh fail to remind Stuyvesant of these unjustifiable acts. "His men," he says, "acted as if they had been on the lands of their inveterate enemy," as for example, the plundering of '" Tennakong, Upland, Finlandt, Printzdorp, and several other places,^ * * * * j^,j|. ^^^ ^.^^ ^ word of what was done in Fort Christina, where women were violently torn from their houses, whole buildings destroyed, and they dragged from them, yea, the oxen, cows, swine and other crea- tures, were butchered day after day ; even the horses were not spared, but wantonly shot, the plantations destroyed, and the whole country left so desolate, that scarce any means are re- maining for the subsistence of the inhabitants." He also tells him, "your men took away at Tennekong, in an uncouth manner, all the cordage and sails of a new vessel, and then they went to the magazine, and without demanding the keys entered it alone, broke the boards of the church, and so took away the cordan^e and sails."^ 1 Hist. New Netherland, ii. 289. ^ X. Y. Hist. Col. N. S. i. 446. ' Smith, in his history of N. J. sajs, they " destroyed New Gottenburg, with such houses a:* were without the fort, plundering the inhabitants of what they had and kill- ing their cattle," p. 34. It would appear from Smith's account of the transaction, that the fort at Tinicum was defended fourteen days, and that the depredations were com- mitted previous to iti surrender. * Rysingh's reply to Stuyvesant, Haz. Ann. 201 ; as extracted from Albany Recordi, xiii. 363-367. 68 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1656. Campanius says " the Dutch proceeded to destroy New Got- tenburg, laying waste all the houses and plantations without the fort, killing the cattle and plundering the inhabitants of every- thing that they could lay their hands on." A late writer^ con- cludes that "this is unquestionably erroneous," and assigns two reasons for his opinion. First, " the Dutch had no motive for such destructive cruelty, the country being now theirs by a formal surrender and they were bound by their treaty at Chris- tina," &c. Second, "that the church at Tinicum was standing twelve years afterwards, and Printz Hall at the commencement of the present century." But the writer has failed to observe, that the depredations were committed during the siege of Fort Christina, and not after its surrender and the conclusion of the treaty ; and that a fair construction of the language of Campa- nius will not warrant the inference that any building, except the fort, was actually destroyed. The Dutch were not, however, permitted to practice these cruelties towards the Swedes with impunity. Even before the return of the fleet to New Amsterdam, to use the language of Governor Stuyvesant, "it pleased God to temper this our victory with such an unfortunate and unexpected accident, as New Netherland never witnessed, inasmuch as in less than three days, over forty of our nation were massacred by the barbarous natives ; about one hundred, mostly women and children, taken prisoners ; boweries and some plantations burnt and laid in ashes, and in and with them over 12,000 schepels of grain yet un thrashed."^ With one half of the force taken to the Delaware, the conquest of the Swedes would have been equally certain, and far more creditable to the conquerors, while the other half could have guarded their own people against such a dreadful calamity. By the terms of capitulation^ of Fort Christina, all the Swedes and Finns who desired to remain in the country, were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to the States General of the United Netherlands — even those who intended to leave, but who were obliged to remain for a time to dispose of their lands and settle up their business, (for which one year and six weeks were allow- ed,) were not exempted from taking the oath, to be binding so long as they remained. Thus ended Swedish sovereignty on the continent of America. Deriving its only title from the savages, which is not recognized by the law of nations, no very protracted endurance could have been anticipated for the colony as a dependency of Sweden ; but ' Ferris' Original Settlements on the Delaware, 97. ■i N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 639. 3 For this paper, see Col. Doc. i. 607, Acrelius 415 and Ilaz. Ann. 187, in which work sub. an. 1655, all the important papers connected with the capture of'the Swedish forts will be found. 1655.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. t>9 its sudden downfall was manifestly the direct result of the rash, unjustifiable and unauthorized acts of Governor Rysingh, in capturing Fort Casiniir. The hardships of the Swedes, though they were not protracted under the Dutch government, did not terminate with the capture of their forts. We are informed by Acrelius, that " the flower of their troops were picked out and sent to New Amsterdam, under the pretext of their free choice, the men were forcibly carried §n board the ships. The women were ill treated in their houses, the goods pillaged, and the cattle killed.""' But little has come down to us in respect to the domestic administration of affairs in the Swedish Colony. The admin. s- tration of justice was doubtless conducted by means of a military tribunal of which the Governor was the head. Printz felt himself disqualified for the performance of the duties of a judge, and in a dispatch to the Swedish West nidia Company, dated February 20th, 1647, he makes known his difficulty in this wise : " Again, I have several times solicited to obtain a learned and able man. 1st, To administer justice and attend to the law business, some- times very intricate cases occurring, in which it is difficult, and never ought to be for one and the same person to appear in Court as plaintiff as well as judge."- .... As the seat of govern- ment was located at Tinicum from the commencement of the Administration of Governor Printz, it may be concluded that the seat of justice was also located there. Mrs. Papegoya the daughter of Governor Printz, it will have been seen did not return to Sweden with her husband. For many years she continued to reside at Tinicum, rather in poverty than affluence. Tinicum is no longer mentioned as a fortified place, and if the fort was not destroyed by the Dutch as mentioned by Campanius, it was suffered by them to go into decay. The government of the Dutch on the river was established by the appointment of John Paul Jaquet as vice-director, and com- mander-in-chief, and Andreas Hudde as secretary and surveyor, and keeper of the keys of the fort, kc. The council was to consist of the vice-director, Hudde, Elmerhuysen Klienand two sergeants in purely military affairs ; in matters purely civil, or between freemen and the company's servants, two of the most expert freemen were to be substituted for the two sergeants. The in- structions given Jaquet, show a want of confidence in the Swedes. " Good notice" was to be taken of their behaviour, and in case any of them were found to be not well affected, they were re- quired to depart, "with all imaginable civility,'" and if possible 1 Acrelius, 417. ■^ Record of Upland court, 29, (note) as copied from Swedish MSS., Archive Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 70 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1656. to be sent to New Amsterdam ; and no Swede living in the country was to remain in the fort all night. The seat of govern- ment was established at Fort Casimir — provision having been made for extending the town, which took the name of Neio Amstel. " In granting lands, care was to be taken that a community of 16 or 20 persons reside together. The rent to be 12 stivers per morgen, per annum ; but permission to plant was only to be granted, on taking an oath to assist the fort, or to be trassported in case they refuse the oath."^ '' The free persons of the Swedish nation residing on the second corner above Fort Cassimer," solicit counsel "that they may re- main on their lands, as they have no inclination to change their abode, neither to build in the new village," claiming the promise made to them by Stuyvesant. Their petition was granted until the expiration of the year and six weeks, mentioned in the capitulation. As evidence that the Swedish government had been kept in ignorance of the intended conquest of New Sweden by the Dutch, was the arrival on the 24th of March, 1656, of the Swedish ship 3Iercury^ with 130 souls on board, intended as a reinforcement to the colony. They were forbidden to pass the fort, but a party of Indians joined the crew and conducted the ship up the river, the Dutch not venturing to fire a gun against them.^ The Mercury was allowed to pass the fort owing to the num- ber of Indians on board, the Dutch feeling no disposition to pro- voke their animosity,^ The passengers of the Mercury were landed contrary to the direct orders, sent at considerable trouble, from New Amsterdam, but the captain and crew of the vessel were exonerated from all censure ; the responsibility resting with the Indians and resident Swedes. Among the passengers was Mr. Papegoya the son-in-law of Governor Printz, Avho wrote to Governor Stuyvesant immediately upon his arrival. There were also two clergymen on board, one of whom, named Matthias, who continued to reside in the country during two years. Andres Bengston was also a passenger who was still living in this country in itOS." Much negotiation was occasioned in consequence of the arrival of the Mercury,^ and though the Dutch government never yielded its assent to the landing of the immigrant passengers, they all did land and probably most of them remained in the country. The vessel was allowed to proceed to New Amsterdam and dis- 1 Haz. Ann. 205-6. 2 Acrelius as taken from N. Y. Reo. 3 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. UZ. * Clay's Ann. 29. — Aercliu? represents Mr Bengrston ns a clergyman, 419. 5 Most of the papers connected with this transaction, copied from the Albany Records, will be found in Haz. Ann. 211-219. 1656.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 71 charfjc lier cargo at a reduced duty, and to take in provision for her return voyage. The conquest of New Sweden was not quietly acquiesced in hy the home government. Their minister protested against the outrage, and chiimed restitution,' but this chiim was disregarded ; the Dutch being well aware that nothing more serious than paper missiles could be resorted to, the Swedes at that time being en- gaged in a war Avith Poland. The Directors of the West India Company did not hesitate to communicate to Stuyvesant their approbation, in general, of his conduct.^ After Governor Printz left the country, his plantation at Tinieum seems to have been very much neglected, and for a time wholly abandoned. The interference of Commander Jaquet to prevent his daughter, Mrs. Papegoya from resuming the possess- ion of the property, gave this lady occasion to memorialize the Director-general. She says, "It is, without doubt, well known to the Director-general, that our late lord governor, my highly revered lord and father, prepared a farm, partly cultivated by freemen, who are returned to Sweden, and surrendered it to him, and partly cleared by his orders, and cultivated for several years; that this was granted by the King (Queen ?), and by the present royal majesty was confirmed, but which now since three years, being abandoned, was again covered with bushes, and the dwel- ling-house nearly destroyed by the Indians, and so I have been obliged to repair it, by three Finns, and to sow its fields, when, unexpectedly, I was forbidden by the present commander, to take possession of it again ; wherefore I am compelled to inform the Director-general of this event, with humble supplication that it may please him graciously, and from the friendship between him and my lord and father, to favor me with this possession, as I am confident his honor will do ; and solicit further that my people may remain unmolested at Printzdorp,^ and continue to cultivate its soil ; and that his Honor, (fcc, may be pleased to grant me, for my greater security, letters patent for that spot, and so too for Tinnakonk. I hope that my lord and father Avill acknowledge it as a mark of great friendship, and as far as it is in his power, be remunerated with thankfulness ; Avith which I recommend the Director-general to the protection of God Almight}'. Dated at Tinnakonk August 3, 1656. The Director General's humble servant, Armgard Printz."* » Ilaz. Reg. i. 36; N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 587. 515, Ac; Haz. Ann. 210. The final settlement of this controversy wa«i not made till 1667. See Hist. New Xetherlaml, ii. Appendi.x H. * The directors regarded the capitulation as too formal, and make that the occasion of giving Stuyvesant a lesson in diplomacy. " What is written and copied," they say " I* too lontj preserved, and may sometime, tchen it is neither desired nor expected, be brought forward, ichereas words not recorded, are by lemjth of time foryotten, or may be explained, construed or excused. Haz. Ann. 209. * The precise location of Printzdorp will be established hereafter. * Albany Rec. xi. 618; xiii. 154; Haz. Ann. 219. 72 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1657. " The suppliant is permitted, agreeably to the capitulation, to take possession of the lands of her lord and father in Printzdorp,' and to use it to her best advantage," was the response of the Director-general. The Dutch West India Company had become greatly embar- rassed by the large amount of their debts, which had been in- creased by the aid afforded by the city of Amsterdam, towards the conquest of the Swedes on the Delaware. To liquidate this debt, that part of the South river extending from the west side of Christina kill to the mouth of the bay, " and so far as the Minquas land extended" was, after much negotiation, transferred to that city, with the company's rights and privileges, and sub- ject to conditions agreed upon by the contracting parties. These conditions with a slight modification, were ratified by the States General on the 16th August, 1656 — the Colony thus established taking the name of Nieuer Amstel} As the jurisdiction of the City's Colony, as thus established, did not extend over the district claiming our particular attention, the doings within it will only be briefly noticed. The government of the Colony was organized by the establishment of a board of commissioners to reside in the City of Amsterdam ; 40 soldiers were enlisted and placed under the command of Captain Martin Krygier, and Lieutenant Alexander D'PIinoyossa, and 150 emi- grants, freemen and boors, were forthwith dispatched, in three vessels, to settle in the new Colony. Jacob Alrichs accompanied the expedition as Director of New Amstel.'^ Alrichs assumed the government of the Colony towards the close of April, 1657, when Hudde was appointed to the com- mand at Fort Christina, (the name of which was changed to Al- tona,) and also of New Gottenburg.^ Over the Swedes and Finns, who were exclusively the inhabi- tants of the river above the Colony of the City of Amsterdam, Goeran Vandyck had been appointed with the title of schout fis- scal and under him Anders Jurgen. Goeran Vandyck, the schout, suggested to Stuyvesant the necessity of concentrating the Swedish inhabitants, and procured from him a proclamation inviting them to assemble in one settle- ment, either at Upland, Passayunk, Finland, Kingsessing or where they pleased. The invitation was not accepted.* The appointment of " one Jurgin the Finn on Crooked Kill," as court messenger is mentioned.^ Andries Hudde, who held a military command under the Company, was also provisionally engaged in the New Amstel Colony, as clerk in " the dispatch of law suits and occurring 1 See. N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 619-636; Hist. New Netherland, ii. 327-:?:57. 2 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 441-446. » Hist. New Nefherlaud,ii. 336. * Acrelius, 421. 5 Haz. Ann. 236. 1G5H.] UlSTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 73 differences;" and as he understood "somewhat of surveying" he was also employed in that capacity.' Evert Pieterson, who held the office of schoolmaster, comforter of the sick and setter of the psalms, in the City Colony, writes to the commissioners that upon his arrival in April, he found but twenty families in New Amstel, all Swedes except five or six families. He appears to have been a man of observation, and suggests our black walnut timber for making gun-stocks ; requests that inquiries be made of the gunsmiths in respect to its value, and in what shape it should be cut. In August he had a school of twenty-five children.- This is the first school established on the river of which we have any account. Director Alrichs not only communicated with the Commission- ers of Amsterdam City, but also with Stuyvesant. He advises that seventy-five men be sent to Altona, thereby showing that he was under some apprehensions on account of the Swedes.'^ The winter of 1657 was remarkable for its severity. "The Delaware was frozen over in one night, so that a deer could run over it, which, as the Indians relate, had not happened within the memory of man."* In the spring of 1658, a vessel which had taken in hickory wood at Altona that was cut by Stuyvesant's orders, completed her cargo with rye straw at Tinicum.^ The aff"airs of the South river, in the opinion of Governor Stuyvesant and his council, ''required to be examined into," and "some regulations" also becoming necessary among the Swedes, his excellency in person, accompanied by Mr. Tonneman repaired to the river, and on the 8th of May in this year, visited Tinicum. Here they were met by the scout or sheriff Van Dyck ; Oloff Stille, Mathj^s Hanson, Pieter Rambo and Pieter Cock, magis- trates; Swen Schute Captain, Andries D'Albo Lieutenant, and Jacob Swenson Ensign. After renewing their oath of allegiance to '"the high and mighty lords, the States General of the United Netherlands and lords directors of the general privileged West India Company with the director general and council already appointed, or in time being," these Swedish officials presented their petition, asking, that a court messenger might be appointed for executions ; for free access to the soldiers of Altona, in case they wish their aid for the execution of resolves ; that no person shall leave their limits without the knowledge of the magistrates, much less male and female servants, kc. Some subsidies were also asked for. The Director-general thought the jailor could perform the duties of court messenger, as he is now employed ' N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 18. ^ lb. 17. 3 Haz. Ann. 240, as extracted from Albany Rec. xii. 4l'7. * Campanius, 55. » Haz. Ann. 241. '^4 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1658. by the sheriff and commissioners to make summons, arrests and executions. Free access to the soldiers was granted, if solicited by the sheriff. No person was to leave without the consent of the commissary, first obtained of the Director-general and council, and subsidies were allowed, " when they can be obtained with least incumbrance to the Swedish nation." Those who had not taken the oath of allegiance were required to do so.^ It is probable that the above named petitioners, except Van Dyck, constituted what remained of an organized government at the close of the Swedish authority on the river. The articles of capitula- tion are silent in respect to a continuance of Swedish officers in power, but it would appear that those who remained in the coun- try and took the oath of allegiance to the Dutch government, con- tinued to exercise their functions, in which they seem to have been officially recognized by the Director-general at the meeting at Tinicum. Unfortunately, no record of their official acts has been preserved. After the Director-general returned to New Amsterdam, he reported to the Council that the Swedes, after taking the oath of allegiance, desired that in the case of a difference between the crown of Sweden and the Netherlands in Europe, that they might occupy the position of neutrals, Avhich was agreed to. The military officers mentioned at the meeting at Tinicum were at the same time elected to their respective offices.^ But the Director in his visit to the South river had found "many things there, not as they ought to be, chiefly smuggling and fraud on the Company's recognitions on goods imported from Holland." The city of Amsterdam being subject to the "same regulations as others," in respect to duties and tolls and all matters connected with the revenue, it became necessary for the West India Company to have an officer of their own, whose jurisdiction in respect to such matters should extend over the whole river. William Beekman, a schepen (alderman) and elder of New Amsterdam, was selected for this position, Avith the title of commissary and vice-director.^ Outside of the New Amstel district he was also charged with the administration of civil and criminal justice and the superintendence of military aftairs. Within that district, as the officer of the city of Amsterdam, this authority was vested in Alrichs. Beekman was to occupy provisonally "the dwelling-house in Fortress Altona," but his permanent residence was to be at or near New Amstel, where he was authorized to hire convenient rooms or a dwelling for a year at the expense of the Company.'' He probably continued to re- side at Altona. > Ha/,. Ann. 243, extracted from Albany Rec. xiv. 249. 2 Haz. Ann. 244; Albany Rec. xiv. 245. 2 Acrelius, 421. * lb. 421 ; Albany Rec. xiv. 314. 1G50.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 75 Tlie summer of 1658 was a season of great sickness and mor- tality at New Amstel and the surrounding country. In a letter from Alrichs to the cominissioners of the City Colony, dated on the 10th of October of this year, he speaks of " two parcels of the best land on the river on the west bank, the first of which," he says, " is above Marietens hook, about two leagues along the river and 4 leagues into the interior ; tlie second on a guess, about 3 leagues along the same including Skuylkil, Passajonck, Quinsessingh, right excellent land, the grants or deeds whereof signed in original by Queen Christina, I have seen; they remain here." He also expresses the belief that " the proprietors as they style themselves, or those who hold the ground briefs," would willingly dispose of these lands for a trifle, according to their value or worth.' The documents connected with this period of the history of the Delaware are very voluminous, but they relate chiefly to the colony of New Amstel and its vicinity. The Swedes, who were the exclusive occupants of the river higher up, were constantly looked upon with suspicion, which was increased by their appli- cation to be considered as neutrals in case of a difi"erence between Sweden and the Netherlands. The Holland directors of the Company regarded the application as "a bold proposal," and condemned the appointment of Swedish officers made by Stuyve- sant. The error was to be corrected by supplying their places with officers of the Dutch nation, and the first favorable oppor- tunity was to be embraced to disarm them, upon the least symptom of disaff'ection. Even the Swedish sheriff" and commis- saries were to be supplanted by Dutchmen at the expiration of their terms, "to render their associations fruitless and to dis- cover their machinations with more ease." "Fair means" were also to be used to induce the Swedes to settle among the Dutch inhabitants.^ The prosperous commencement of the City Colony was soon followed by evils that almost threatened its dissolution. Sick- ness, a scarcity of provisions and failure of crops, followed by a severe winter, spread dismay and discontent among the people. The arrival of additional settlers not properly supplied with pro- visions greatly increased the prevailing distress. In the midst of this general gloom, news arrived that the Burgomasters of Amsterdam had changed the conditions on which the colonists had agreed to emigrate, making them less favorable to the emi- grants."* Discontent was increased, and many of the inhabitants deserted to Maryland, carrying with them the news of the dis- 1 N. Y. Col Doc. ii. 53. 2 Haz. Ann. 252, as quoted from Albany Ree. iv. 291-292. 3 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 57. 76 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1659. tressed condition of the col)ny. News of a threatened invasion by the English reached the ears of the colonists, and added to the general feeling of insecurity. In the midst of this anxiety and alarm, commissioners from Maryland arrived with a letter from Governor Fendal and instructions to command the Dutch to leave, or to acknowledge themselves subjects of Lord Balti- more.^ An immediate answer was demanded, but at length Col. Utie, the head of the Maryland commission, granted a delay of three weeks in order that Alrichs and Beekman might confer w^ith their superiors. Upon being advised of the visit of the Maryland commissioners, Governor Stuyvesant forwarded a reinforcement of sixty soldiers, with Captain Krygier and Secre- tary Van Ruyven to regulate matters on the South river. He also sent Augustine Heemans and Resolved Waldron as ambas- sadors to Maryland, wuth instructions to remonstrate against Col. Utie's proceedings, and to negotiate a treaty for the mutual rendition of fugitives. Upon the arrival of the ambassadors in Maryland a protracted conference ensued, in which the Dutch title to the lands on the Delaware river and bay was defended with considerable ability.^ The land from Bombay Hook to Cape Henlopen Avas secured by purchase from the savages, and a fort erected a Hoern kill as a further security against the English claim. It was attached to the district of New Amstel. Alrichs had become unpopular from the exercise of a too rigid authority. The clashing of interests between the city and the Company, taken in connection with the adverse circumstan- ces with which he was surrounded, rendered his position one of great difficulty. But death^ relieved him from his troubles towards the close of the year — his wife having departed this life at its commencement. Previous to his death, Alrichs nominated Alexander D'Hinoyossa as his successor and Gerit Van Gezel as secretary. The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam, soon discovered that their colony of New Amstel would be attended wnth more expense and trouble than profit, and entered into negotiations with the company for a re-transfer of the same to them. Trade was the prime object of the company, and as the city colony served as a defence to the southern border of New Netherland without diminishing their commercial advantages, the negotiation, of course, was a failure. In September, 1659, Alrichs says there are 110 houses in New 1 Acrelius, 422 ; N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 73. 2 Dr. O'Callaghan attributes the position that the State of Delaware now occupios as an independent sovereignty, to the stand taken by the Dutch in 1659. Hist. New Netherland, ii. 388. 3 Hist. N. Netherland, ii. 375 : Acrelius, 423. 1660.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 77 Amstel, 16 or 17 more on land belonging to the Dutch, and 13 or 14 belonging to the Swedes.' In a pro})Osition to tax the Swedes and Finns within the jurisdiction of the West India Com- pany, towards the close of 165*J, the number of their families is esti- mated at 200. By estimating five persons to each family at the close of this year, the whole European population of the river would amount to 1,700. The Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam failing to get rid of their American Colony, made a new loan, and showed a dis- position to act with more vigor in promoting the interests of the colonists. A year, however, was allowed to pass away before the inhabitants of New Amstel felt the invigorating effects of this change in the policy of their rulers. They were even in a state of uncertainty during the most of the year 1660, whether ar- rangements had not been made for their re-transfer to the Com- pany. As a consequence, many disorders ensued, among which jangling and quarreling among the ofiicials were the most promi- nent. As a means of averting the evils with which the colony was surrounded, days of public thanksgiving were occasionally obser- ved, but this year the ungodly coiuicil of New Amstel command- ed that " a fast and prater da// should be holden on the first Monday of each month."- Sheriff Van Dyck estimates the number of men in the '' Swe- dish and Finnish nation," capable of bearing arras at 130. Some of them were allowed to be enlisted as soldiers, while at the very same time an order from Stuyvesant was in force to collect them all into one or two villages. Preparatory to carrying this unjust and unreasonable order into execution, Beekman spent a few days amongst the Swedes and Finns, and found that different settlements could not converse with each other, " for want of a knowledge of their reciprocal language." There was a difference of opinion between the sett- lers about Aroutnerk and those of Kenescs, as to which was the more eligible for the proposed Swedish village. It was argued against the latter " that there was no defence whatever, neither a place for safe retreat, as considerable under-wood and many streams must be passed;" and in favor of Arounderyk, that " there is a pretty large kill, Avhich might be chosen to cover a retreat or prepare for defence." Besides " at Aroundei'yk they might cultivate their fields on the other side of the kill, on the Passayung road, where is a rich, fruitful soil, and last har- vest a considerable quantity of seed was sowed." lie found some willing to compromise, by accepting the proposals, while 1 N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 76. 2 Beekman's letter, JIaz. Ann. 30.^, a? quoted from Albany Rec. xvii. 39. 78 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1660. Others were fur maintaining their own rights, in keeping their own farms and lots. Miss Printz, (as Mrs. Papegoya is usually called by the Dutch writers,) was among the latter. She could not remove her residence, " the heavy building not permitting her to change it, and the church where she usually worships being upon that spot." She says further that " she offers her lands without any compensation, but can nevertheless induce no person to settle in her neighborhood."' Finding that the Swedes could not agree among themselves, Beekman commanded a list to be delivered to him within eight or ten days, designating where it suits best for every person to fix his future residence ; promising his assent in case it comport- ed with the Governor's order ; otherwise he would be compelled to designate where each of them should reside. At the urgent request of the Swedes, from four to six weeks more time was granted ; Miss Printz and others requesting Beekman to aid them ; for which purpose, he informs Stuyvesant, " more soldiers will be required." At the solicitation of the Swedish Commissaries, Beekman asks permission from the Governor to allow the Swe- dish nation, "to remain in their present possessions till they have harvested their corn." He had understood that they intended to unite them in one village at Perslajough,^ &c. Peter Kock, Peter Andrieson and Hans Moenson w^ere among those who took a decided stand against removing to Passayunk. There was not sufficient land obtained there "for the pasture of their creatures,"' and they " ardently wished not to remove." They add "if com- pelled to go, then we will go, or depart to a spot ivhere ive may live in peace.''^ Beekman eventually became convinced of the injustice of the order for removing the Swedes into one village. He represented to Stuyvesant that it was "unmerciful to force people from their cultivated lands, and put them to new labor and expense." The Swedes were therefore allowed to remain at their respective settlements ; a result not brought about by any kind feelings en- tertained towards them by the Director-general. Persuasion had failed, and as for compulsion, the means were not at hand. The Swedes outnumbered the Dutch on the river, and within the ter- ritory of the company, very few if any Dutch had settled. Dis- sensions were also rapidly growing between the officials of the two Colonies. More favorable privileges being offered by D'Hin- oyossa, a number of Swedes had joined the city colony, and others had removed to Sassafras river.^ Apprehensions that the whole Swedish territory would be abandoned, may also have had some weight in suspending the operation of this iniquitous measure. 1 Beekman's letter to Stuyvesant, Ilaz. Ann. .306. 2 Passayunk. ^ llaz. Ann. 314. * Acrelius, 422. 16G1.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 79 The Dutch having got into difficulties with tlie Esopus Indians on the North River, sent to the Swedes and Finns tor recruits. They couhl not he persuaded to go to Esopus as soldiers ; though " they wouhl not be unwilling, provided tlwii coidd remain there in peace with the savages.''^ The sheriff, Van Dyck, and some of the commissaries, are accused with discouraging, and actually preventing, some individuals from emigrating to Esopus. Miss Printz, instead of her recognitions, (taxes) requests per- mission to make payment in a fat o.x, fat hogs, bread and corn.^ The seat of justice for the company s jurisdiction was at Altona, ■where annually three or four courts were held "as circumstances might reiiuire." Among the Finns was a married couple who lived together in constant strife, the wife being daily beaten and "often expelled from the house like a dog."^ A divorce was solicited by the priest, the neighbors, the sheriff and commissaries, on behalf of these parties, and that their small property and stock be divided between them. The matter was referred to the Governor, but the result is not known. As the parties were Finns, they probably resided in the vicinity of Marcus Hook. The Swedish priest had married a young couple against their parents' consent, and without ^/u' usual proclamations, for which he was fined 50 guilders. Olojf Stille was suspected by Beek- man of having "arrogated to himself to qualify the priest,'" to officiate at the marriage, for which Oloff opposed him pretty warmly at court, denying Beekman's right to meddle with the affair, that being the province of the Swedish consistory. Even in a case of assault and battery committed on the Swedish priest, the jurisdiction of the court was questioned.^ About this time, mention is made of Israel Helm carrying on trade at Passayung. He took a prominent part in the transac- tions on the river till some time after the arrival of Penn. Beekman becomes alarmed in consequence of a threatened war between the Indians and the English of Maryland, and is appre- hensive that the savages will again claim and take possession of these laniJs, or that tliey will be eventually settled ivith English and Swedes. During the early part of 1661, Oloff Stille, one of the commis- saries, with a few Finns, visited Mar^-land for the purpose of taking up land and emigrating there in the spring. Not finding their friends on Sassafras river in the satisfactory condition they expected, the project was abandoned, and Stille on his return, expressed the opinion that many, if not all the Finns, then re- 1 Beekman's letter, Ilaz. Ann. .309. 2 Acrelius has understood this as an annual bounty to Mrs. Papegoya, on account of her poverty, evidently a mistake. See p. A2i. 3 D'liinuyosa's Haz. Ann. 331. 6 82 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1662. the court, he is a ruined man, and submits a petition to the Governor in which his deep humility is apparent. He alleges that he broke the door in search of his wife, and both in this proceeding and in his marriage by himself, he acted in ignorance. He had already paid nearly 200 gl. and craved the aid of the General to save him from further punishment, and also to " save his reputation and condition as a minister."^ A corn-mill was now in the course of erection at " Turtle Falls, about one and a half miles (Dutch) from Fortress Altona," on condition, however, " that the garrison should not pay for their grist." A mill of some kind was in existence at New Am- stel called a Rosmolen (Ross mill,) to which the people of Altona resorted, or when they could not be served, were compelled to go to the old ^'Swedish miW at the distance of six miles (Dutch) from Altona. This old Swedish mill was the mill built by Gover- nor Printz on Cobb's creek. The West India Company having assented to a favorable modi- fication of the conditions under which the City of Amsterdam held its colony, and the city having agreed to furnish pecuniary aid to emigrants, a reasonable prospect was presented, that immigration in that direction would proceed with great rapidity. Among those who were allured by the proposed advantages, was a com- munity of Menonists, who proposed to plant themselves at Hore- kill. Their articles of association are remarkably singular. The associators were to be married men or single men twenty-four years old. Clergymen were excluded from the community, as were also, " all intractable people — such as those in communion with the Roman See ; Usurious Jews ; English stiff-necked Qua- kers ; Puritans ; fool-hardy believers in the Millennium ; and obstinate modern pretenders to revelation." Laws, subject to the approval of the authorities of the City of Amsterdam could be passed by the votes of two thirds of the members, but no magistrate was to be allowed any compensation for his services — *' not even a stiver."^ Enticed by the favorable terms offered to emigrants by the City of Amsterdam, sixteen or eighteen families, chiefly Finns, had embraced them by removing within it^ jurisdiction. They were to be eighteen years free from tax and to have their own judges and religion, Avhile at the same time they meant to retain the lands from which they emigrated.^ The location of Printzdorp has presented a difficulty to wri- ters on the early settlements on the Delaware. The following extract from a letter written by Beekman to the Director-general 1 Haz. Ann. 332. Ac. 2 Broadhead's Hist. N. Y. 1698.— N. Y. Col. Doc ii. 175. 3 Haz. Ann. 337, from Albany Rec. 1662.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 83 on the 14th of Se{)tember, 1662, leaves no room for doufit on that subject. "I inquired, at the request of Hendrick Iluyfren, into the situation of a certain lot of land, situated at the south-west side of Upland-kill, and was informed by the Swe. * lb. 345-72. 1667.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 89 of the fort, (lid not meet with the approbation of Col. Nicolls. In his report to the Secretary of State, he speaks dispara<:;ingly of his selfish conduct in respect to the plunder, and particularly of his presumption in appropriatinir "the prize to himself," and of ''dispositui; of the confiseations of the houses, farmes and stocks to whom he doth think fitt." The Col. soon visited the Delaware to attend to the interests of his sovereign". Captain Robert Needham was subsequently deputed to the command of the Delaware.* With the change of masters, the name of New Amsterdam was changed to New York^ and that of New Amstel to Netv Castle. Even before the Duke of York had acquired tlie possession of his American territory, he conveyed all that portion of it which now constitutes the State of New Jersey, to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. At the time of the English conijuest of the Delaware, the settlements on the east side of the river were so few, that no notice is taken of them, in any account of the transaction, that has come under my notice. Col. Nicolls acted as Governor of both New York and the Delaware. The Swedes were benefited by the change in the government, as under the new order of things, nearly all restric- tions on their trade were removed. But independent of any pe- cuniary advantage, they must have felt a secret satisfaction in seeing their ancient enemies, the Dutch, humbled. Beavers still continued to be used as currency ; and in the pay- ment for imported goods, the standard A'alue fixed on each beaver, by the Governor, w\^s 8 guilders or 13s. 4d. The export duty on beavers, was 10| per cent ; on tobacco, two cents per pound.^ In 1666, an order was issued by Col. Nicolls granting a temporary immunity from all duties, for the purpose of en- couraging trade.^ In July of tliis year, an order was issued by the Court of Assizes of New York, which applied to the country on tbe Dela- ware, for a rencAval of all tlie old patents that had been granted for land, and that those who had no patent should be supplied. Col. Nicolls performed the duties of Governor both of New York and its dependencies on the Delaware, for about three years. He was succeeded by Col. Francis Lovelace in May, 1667. Tlie administration of Nicolls was conducted with pru- dence and judgment ; his efforts being especially directed to the promotion of trade. There was no popular representation in the government. " In the governor and his subservient council, were vested the executive and the highest judicial powers ; with 1 N. Y. Col. Doc. 70. 2 Sec. State's office, Albany. Book "General Entries," i. 112. ^ jb, 143. 90 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1668. the Court of Assizes, composed of justices of his own appoint- ment, he exercised supreme legislative power, promulgated a code of laws and modified and repealed them at pleasure."^ The laws thus enacted and promulgated, called the " Duke's Laws," were collected out of the several laws then in force in the British American colonies, and if not an improvement on these laws, they are divested of the worst features of some of them.^ This year, a Swedish church was erected at Crane Hook, at which Mr. Lock officiated as well as at the church at Tinicum.^ On the 21st of April, 1668, the government at New York adopted "Resolutions and directions for the settlement of a gar- rison on the Delaware." Under this head, directions were given, that it was only " necessary to hold up the name and counte- nance of a garrison, with 20 men and one commissioned officer." But the more important matter of establishing courts of justice, was also contained in the "Resolutions and directions." To prevent " all abuses or oppositions in civil matters, so often as complaint is made, the commission officer Capt. Carre, shall call the scout w"" Hans Block, Israel Helm, Peter Rambo, Peter Cock, Peter Alrich, or any two of them as counsellors, to advise, hear and determine, by the major vote, what is just, equitable and necessary, in the case or cases in question." It was besides directed, " that the same persons also, or any two or more of them, be called to advise and direct, what is best to be done in all cases of difficulty, which may arise from the Indians, and to give their counsel and orders for the arming of the several plantations and planters, who must obey and attend their summons, upon such occasions." " That the Fynes or Preminires and light offences be executed . with moderation, though it is also necessary that all men be pun- ished in exemplary manner." The commissioned officer, Capt. Carr, when the votes were equal, was to have a casting vote. It was also ordained, " that the laws of the government estab- lished by his Royal highness, be showed and frequently commu- nicated to the said counsellors and all others, to the end that being therewith acquainted, the practyce of them may also, in convenient time be established w"'' conducteth to the publique welfare and common justice."^ Three of the newly appointed counselors Avere Swedes, resi- ding up the river, and as no time or place is mentioned for hold- 1 Bancroft's Hist. U. S. ii. .320. 2 For the " Duke's Laws," see N. Y. Hist. Col. i. 307 to 428. 3 Ferris, 145—147. * Sec. State's office, Albany '• Orders, Warrants and Letters," ii. 207, .fee. 1668.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 01 innj the courts, and as the three Swedisli gentk'iiien mentioned were all justices of the first Upland Court of which the record has heen preserved, it may reasonally he concluded tliat the court thus established, occasionally exercised its functions at Upland. If so, it will mark the earliest period at which that place could have been a seat of justice. In the order for establishing a judicial tribunal on the Dela- ware, it was directed, '' that no oftensive war should be made against the Indians" before directions were received from the government for so doing. Recourse was also to be had to the government, by way of appeal, in all cases of difficulty. In consequence of the commission of two murders by the In- dians while in a state of intoxication, Peter Rambo proceeded to New York, bearing a request from the Indians " that there should be an absolute prohibition upon the whole river of selling strong liquors to the Indians." The whole matter Avas referred to Captain Carre and those associated with him in commission, with the promise that what they should (upon discourse with the Indians) conclude, should be confirmed.' Before Mrs. Papegoya visited Sweden in 1662 or 1663, she had sold the island of Tinicum, as has been mentioned, to a Mr. De Lagrange, but the consideration in whole or in part was a protested bill of exchange. It will be seen hereafter that when she returned to the country, she prosecuted her claim to be re^ instated in possession of the island with success, though in the end, her title to it was decided not to be good. Printzdorp, however, was confirmed to that lady under the name of Ufro Papegay, on the 18th of June, 1668, which renders it probable that she had then returned to reside on the river. The following is a description of the property : " A parcel of cleared land situate on the w^est side of the Delaware river between two creeks, the one called Upland, the other Le Mokey's creek, including all the land being between the said two creeks, as also the valley or meadow ground there- unto belonging, and containing by estimation, as it lies along the river side twelve hundred tread or single paces" * * as held and possessed by the said Ufro * * * '"- The situation of this land cannot be mistaken. It subsequently became the property of Robert Wade.* During this and the two succeeding years, several tracts of land within the limits of Delaware county and vicinity, were confirmed to persons who held titles from the Dutch, including a few lots in Upland. Brief extracts from some of these ancient documents, will be found in the Appendix, note 0. 1 Sec. State's Office, Albany — •• Ordersi. Warrants, Letters," ii. 200. * Sec. State's Office, Albany — •• Abstract of Patents," ii. 54. ^ Mrs. Papegoya resided during several years at Printzdrop. 02 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1669. The order issued in 1666, for repatenting lands, was renewed l>y Governor Lovelace, and William Tom was appointed collector of quit-rents on the Delaware. Those who had neglected to take out patents, are not on that account to„be exempt from the payment of these dues. The Swedes and Finns had conducted themselves Avith so much propriety, that they had very fully secured the confidence of the government. But this year an insurrection broke out, headed by one Marcus Jacobson, generally known as the "Long Finn," who gave out that he was "the son of Coningsmark," heretofore one of the king of Sweden's gene/als. He had for a confederate, one Henry Coleman, also a Finn, and a man of property. Cole- man had " left his habitation, cattle and corn" to reside among the Indians, with whose language he was well versed, where also the Long Finn generally kept. No treasonable acts are charged against these confederates except "raising speeches, very sedi- tious and false, tending to the disturbance of his Majesty's peace and the laws of the government." On the 2nd of August, Governor Lovelace issued a proclama- tion* for the arrest of the parties, with an order to confiscate the property of Coleman, in case he did not surrender himself in fifteen days. The principal in the insurrection was soon arrest- ed, and upon information of that fact being communicated to the governor and council, they expressed their great satisfaction on account "of the prudence and careful management" of the oflS- cers on the Delaware, " in circumventing and securing the prime mover of this commotion."^ Jeuffro Papegay, Armgart Printz, was somewhat implicated, " though what she had done was not of any dangerous conse- quence, yet it was a demonstration of her inclination and temper to advance a strange power, and a manifestation of her high in- gratitude for all those indulgences and favors she hath received from those in authority over her."^ The Governor also perceived from the papers sent to him that " the little domine'^ hath played the trumpeter in this disorder." The quality of his punishment was referred to the discretion of Captain Carr. The instructions to Captain Carr were " to continue the Long Finn in custody and irons, until he can have his trial;" the ap- pearance of " those of the first magnitude concerned with him was to be secured by imprisonment or by taking security ;" but J Sec. State's Office, Albany— " Orders, Warrants," Ac, ii. 2f)fi ,• Ilaz. Ann. 375. 2 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Council Book," iii. 13. » Haz. Ann. 377 ; Albany Roe. " Orders," &e., ii. 271. * Mr. Hazard suposes the "Little Domine" here mentioned to have been the Rev. Mr. Fabricius. Thi.s gentleman wns not then on the Delaware. The reference must have been to the Rev. Mr. Lawrence Carolus, or Mr, Lock as he is frequently called, who probably was a Finn. 1669.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 03 ''the poor deluded sort," were to be subjected to a method for keeping them in order which the Governor is pleased to say was prescribed by their own countrymen, and which is, " severity, and laying such taxes on them as may not give them liberty to entertain any other thoughts but how to discharge them."' In the commission for the trial of the insurgents on the Dela- ware, the names of the judges are omitted in the record." The sentence was passed by the council at New York on the Long Finn, or that passed by the commission on the Delaware was confirmed. He was deemed worthy of death, but, " in regard that many others being concerned with him in the insurrection, might be"* involved in the same premunire," amongst them " divers simple and ignorant people," the said Long Finn M'as sentenced "to be publicly and severely whij)i)"ed and stigmatized or branded in the face with the letter (11.) with an inscription written in great letters and put upon his breast, that he received that punishment for attempting rebellion." After undergoing this sentence the culprit was to be sent to " Barbadoes and some other of those remote plantations and sold." In compliance with the latter part of his sentence, he was put on board of Mr. Cossen's ship Fort Albany, bound for Barbadoes, in January, 1669-70, where, no doubt, he was sold into slavery.^ What be- came of Coleman is not certainly known. He probably remained among the indians for some years, when his oflFence was over- looked by the government.^ So few of the names of those implicated in the insurrection are given, that it is diflScult to fix on the particular district of country that was its principal seat. The leader was a F'inn ; the '"'Little Domine" was a Finn, and as the Swedes and Finns did not understand each other's language well, it is probable that the hot bed of the conspiracy was in the district of country chiefly settled by Finns below Upland. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that Mrs. Papegoya was implicated ; for though not a Finn, she doubtless then resided on her estate of Frintzdorp in the vicinity of the Finnish settlement; she not being in possession of Tinicum at this time.^ 1 Mr. Bancroft gives to this order a general application. It evidently had reference only to the more ignorant and deluded of those who joined in the conspiracy. See Hist. U. S. ii. 321. 2 Sec. State's Office, Albany—'' Court of Assizes," ii. 437. * Sec. States Office, Albany — " Court of Assizes," ii. 464; " Council Book," iii. 14. * In 1076, by virtue of a warrant from Governor Andros, one hundred acres of land in the south part of Darby township was surveyed to Heniin'ck Coleman and Peter PuUen. Coleman was probably the same person. See " Delaware Lands," Sec. State's Office. Albany. Henry Coleman conveyed his share of the same land in 1696. See Recorder's Office, Chester Co. Book A. * The object and expectations of the conspirators are not well understood. Secretary Matthias NicoUs, sent by Col. Niculls " to make inquiry into the matter," says, " they pretended an e.vpectation of some Swedish ships to come and reduce the place," N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 186. 94 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1671. It will be remembei-ed that Mrs. Papegoya had sold the island of Tinicum to a Mr. De La Grange. The grantee soon after died, and his widow Margaret intermarried with Andrew Carr. This year Governor Lovelace issued a patent confirming the whole island to the said Andrew and his wife. See Appendix, note 0. Previous to the insurrection of the Long Finn, there had been, as before stated, two murders committed on the river by the Indians. As yet the murderers had not been apprehended, but the Governor by his orders to Captain Carr, evinces a determina- tion not to let them go unpunished. On the 13th of April, a pass was granted "to the Magister •Jacobus Fabritius, pastor of the Lutheran confession,*-' to go to New Castle, or any place on the Delaware.^ This personage, who at this period, and for some years later, bore no very en- viable reputation, subsequently, it will be seen, became the first clergyman at Wiccaco, and by a course of good conduct gained the confidence and respect of his employers. Early in 1671, at the suggestion of Captain Carr, several orders were made by the Governor and council in respect to the Delaware. No persons were to be permitted to distill liq-uor without license; the number of victuallers and tapsters to be ascertained — three only to be allowed in New Castle, and "some few up the river," who may be licensed; constables are to be appointed to keep the king's peace. As to the tenure of lands on the Delaware, it was to be held " in free and common socage as his Royal Highness, by his Majesty's patent, holds all his territories in America, that is to say according to the custom of the Manor of East Greenwich, only with this proviso, that they like- wise pay, the Quit rents reserved in their several patents, as acknowledgments to his Royal Highness." As to the mill, that Carr had represented to the council as being "up Delaware river at y^ Carcoons Hooke," and which " did heretofore appertain to y^ publique, and now is endeavour- ed to be engrossed by some particular persons for their private uses," it was ordered "that care be taken for y" letting out y^ said Mill for y** best advantage to some person who will under- take y*" same, and that y*' profitt thereof be reserved for y" pub- lique."^ This is the old Swedes mill on Cobb's creek. At a council held at New York on the 25th of September, at which Peter Alricks was present to give particular information in respect to the two murders committed by the Indians ; as to the number of Indians, &c. One proposition for having the mur- derers destroyed, came from an Indian sachem. It was " to cause a Kinticoif" to be held, and in the midst of their mirth, 1 Sec. State's Office, Albany—" Court of Assizes," ii. 502. •^ lb. 713 to 720. 3 Did our word " Cantico" originate with the Indians ? 1671.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 95 that then one should he hired to knock them in the head."^ Two days previous to this meeting, Governor Lovelace had notified the Governor of New Jersey, that the Indians accused of the murder were within his jurisdiction, at a ])lace called Suscunk, four miles east of Matiniconk Island, where the murder was committed. - The officers on the Delaware had hccome very apprehensive that an Indian war was about to break out, and had communi- cated their views to the Governor and council. In reply, orders were issued for placing the settlement in the best possible posi- tion for such a contingency. Orders that had already been given by the local authorities for the people to retire into towns for their better security, were approved. Every person " that could bear arms, from sixteen to sixty years of age, was to be always provided with a convenient proportion of powder and bullets ;" no powder or ammunition was to be sold to the In- dians ; no corn or provisions to be transported out of the river, and the Susquehanna Indians or others were to be induced, by appropriate rewards, "to join against the murderers and such as should harbour them."^ The Governor of New Jersey, after receiving notice, was in a very short time, " prepared with a handsome party ready to have stepped into the work to bring the murderers to condign punish- ment." But the backwardness of the people of the Delaware, "put a stop to the forwardness of those of New Jersey." This was in the month of November; and although, one month earlier, Carr had been instructed by the Governor, that the season of the year was unfit for the commencement of an Indian war, his excel- lency made the fact of the New Jersey preparations the occa- sion to administer to that officer a severe rebuke for his tardi- ness and neglect of duty. But the masterly inactivity of Commander Carr, proved to be the wisest policy., and still preserved the country of the Delaware in its peculiar exemption from hostilities between the Indians and whites. In eleven days after xllrick's return from New York, a conference was held at Peter Rambo's house with the Indian sachems, which resulted in a promise by them to bring in the murderers within six days, dead or alive. One of the criminals made his escape, while the other — the more courageous of the two, allowed himself to be surprised. One of the two Indians in pursuit, being his friend, was unwilling to shoot him, but finding that the sachems had said he must die, and that his brothers were of the same opinion, he was shot at his own request. ' Sec. State's Office, Albany — " Council Book," ii. 71. - See. State's Office — " General Entries," ir. .35. This island is nearly opposite Burlington. 3 Haz. Ann. 31*2. 96 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1672. His body was removed to Wiccaco, and from thence to New- Castle where it Avas hung in chains. William Tomm who com- municated this information to the Governor, became satisfied from the conduct of the sachems, that they desired no war. The sachems promised to bring in the other Indian alive, and to the young men brought with them, they held up the fate of the murderer, as that which should be visited on evei'y Indian who should act in like manner.' A prohibition had been in force against vessels trading direct- ly to any point on the river above New Castle. This prohibition was removed early in 1672, in respect to such vessels as sailed from New York. Immediately thereafter, a pass was obtained by the wife of Laurs Hoist, " to go in the sloop of Krygier to Delaware, and thence up the river in some boat or canoe, to the Sivedes' plantations, with shoes and such other of her husband's trade, and return without hindrance."^ Early in this year, ample preparations were made by Governor Lovelace for a visit to the Delaware by the overland route, cross- ing that river at Matineconk Island near the present town of Burlington. A body guard and an advanced guard were ap- pointed, and instructions were sent to the river to make prepara- tions for the reception of his Excellency. If this visit was ac- complished, it was without result, or there has been an omission to record anything that transpired on the occasion, or if recorded, the record has been lost. English laws are now to be established more fully on the river. The office of Schout is to be converted into that of sheriff, to which office Edmund Cantwell received the appointment, as well as to that of collector of quit rents on the Delaware, William Tom having resigned the latter office.'^ In August of this year, the court of Uplayid, is authorized, with the assistance of one or two of the high court, to examine into a matter of difficulty between "Jan Cornells Mathys and Martin Martinson, [Morten Mortenson,] inhabitants of Amesland," and Israel Helme, about " a parcel of valley or meadow land, upon an island over against Calcoone Hook.''^ The daughter of Governor Printz still resided on the river, but it will appear from the following order of the Governor made upon her petition, that she did not live in much affluence : " Whereas Jeulfru Armigart Printz, alias Pappegay, living in Delaware Kiver, did make a request unto me, that in regard she lived alone, and had so little assistance by servants, having only one man-servant, and likewise in harvest time, or other seasons of the year for husbandry, when she was constrained to hire 1 Sec. State's Office, Albany — " General Entries," iv. 74 ; Ilaz. Ann. 393. ■^ Haz. Ann. 395. 3 Sec. State's Office, Albanj' — " General Entries," iv. 184. * Ibid. 1672.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 97 Other people to help her, for whose payment in part, and relief also, she was wont to distil some small (juantities of liijuors from corn, as by divers others is used in that river, that I would ex- cuse her man-servant from ordinary attendance at trainings in the company in which he is enlisted, and also give her license to distil in her own distilling kettle, some small quantities of liquors for her own use, and her servants and laborers upon occa- sions as before mentioned. I have thought good to grant the request of said Jeuffro Pappegay, both as to the excuse of her servant's being at trainings, (extraordinary ones, upon occasion of an enemy or invasion, excepted,) and likewise that she have license to make use of her distilling kettle as is desired, provided it be done with such moderation, that no just complaint do arise thereby, to continue one year."' The limited means of Mrs. Papegoya is accounted for by the fact that she was engaged in a heavy law suit for the recovery back of the Island of Tinicum. There had been a trial in the " High Court on the Delaware," from which the case was taken by appeal to the Court of Assizes at New York, where it is thus set down : " JeufFro Pappegay ^ als. 1 N. Y. Oct. 2, Armijj-art Prince | 1672. Andrew Carr and Margaret Persill, [Priscilla] his wife, by John Carr their attorney." The case was tried on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of October, Various documents were read on the trial, translations made and interpreters employed. The counsel for the defendant desired time "for other witnesses out of Hol- land," but it was thought fit "to delay the case no longer; so the court recommended it to the jury," who brought in the following verdict. " In y*" case depending between Armgart Prince, als. Mrs. Pappegay Ptff., and Mrs. La Grange, Deft., y* jury having seriously considered the Matf, do find for y*" Ptff"., and award y* Deft, to pay y*' principall w"" costs of suite and all just damages."^ Execution was issued against Andrew Carr and his wife Per- sill in Delaware river and precincts for three hundred and fifty pounds with costs, for the use of Jeufi'ro Armgart Prince, " and for that it is thought the most considerable part of their pro- perty is upon the Island of Tinicum," the sheriff was empowered " to put the said Jeuffro Prince in possession of the said Island and the stock thereof * * * *."3 The celebrated George Fox, the founder of the religious Society 1 Haz. Ann. .399; N. Y. Sec. State's Office. Albany— "General Entries," iv. 190. * Sec. State's Office, Albany—'' Court of Assizes," ii. 293-304. 3 Ibid, '' General Entries," iv. 261. 7 98 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1672. of Friends, in returning from a religious visit to New England this year, had occasion to pass through the whole extent of the territory now included in our County, but it appeared he had no mission to the Swedish settlers here. According to his own account, after remaining all night in a house near the present site of Burlington, " which the Indians had forced the people to leave," and which he speaks of as the "head of Delaware Bay," he says: "The next day Ave sAvam our horses over a river about a mile, at twice, first to an Island called Upper Dinidock (Tene- conk), and then to the main land, having hired Indians to help us over in their canoos. This day we could reach but about thirty/ miles, and came at night to a Swede's house, where we got a little straw and lay there that night. Next day, having hired another guide, we travelled about forty miles through the woods, and made us a fire at night, by which we lay, and dried our- selves; for we were often wet in our travels in the day time. The next day we passed over a desperate river, which had in it many rocks and broad stones, very Hazardous to us and our horses. From thence we came to the Christian-river, where we swam our horses, and Avent over ourselves in canoos. From thence we came to a town called JVeio Castle, heretofore called New Amsterdam : And being very weary, and inquiring in the town where we might buy some corn for our horses, the Gover- nor came into the street and invited me to his house: and after- wards desired me to lodge there ; telling me he had a bed for me, and I should be welcome."^ The Brandywine is sufficiently identified by its "rocks and broad stones;" but in reaching that "desperate river" from the point at which he crossed the Delaware, our worthy preacher has greatly over-estimated the distance. Benj. Ferris^ supposes the Swede's house, at which he lodged, was at the Blue Bell tavern, near the site of the Swede's mill. To have reached this point, he would have passed over fully one-half of the distance from Upper Dinidock to the Brandywine. But the Swede's house was thirty miles from the former and forty from the latter; and as the mill, then a rarity in the country, is not mentioned, and the Swedish settlements of Upland and Marcus Hook are not noticed, it is probable our travellers crossed the country higher up. A war broke out between the English and Dutch in 1672, but scarcely any notice appears to have been taken of the matter 1 George Fox, his Journal, ii. 194. * Original Settlements on the Delaware, 131. Our author has also fallen into the error of supposing thnt the Governor mentioned by George Fo.x as lodging him at New Castle, was Lord Lovelace. Lord Lovelace was not on the Delnware at that time. It is Ciipt. John Carr, si/metimcs c-alled Governor, who is entitled to the credit of extending to the eminent Qualier, such marked civility. 1673.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 99 in this country, until a Dutch fleet under the conimand of Com- modores Cornelius Evertse and Jacob Benckes, nppearetl hel'ore the fort at New York, on the Gtli of August of the following year. After making a slight resistance, the fort was surren- dered, and the whole country submitted again to the authority of the Dutch. This happened in the absence of Governor Love- lace, who was at New Haven.' The two Commodores immediately issued their proclamation appointing Anthony Colve, a Captain of Netherland infantry, to the office of Governor-General of Neiv Nether bind, embracing the full dimensions it possessed previous to its surrender to the English, which included the whole of New Jersey." There ap- pears to have been a ready submission to the Dutch authorities, deputies appearing before the Commanders, including Colve ; who constituted a kind of .Military Council, and held their sit- tings at Fort William Ilendrick, the name now given to the fort at New York. The deputies from the Delaware appeared before this tribunal, and gave in " their submission to their High Mighti- nesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, on the 12th of Sep- tember." In return, they obtained for their constituents, among other privileges, ''free trade and commerce with Christians and Indians;" freedom of conscience; security in the possession of their houses and lands, and exemption from all rent charges aiid excise on wine, beer and distilled liquors consumed on the South river. This last privilege was granted in consideration of the expense the inhabitants would incur "in erecting the fort," and was to continue till 167t) — "Those of the English nation to enjoy the same privileges upon taking the oath of allegiance." At the same time, three Courts of Justice were establi.-^hed on the Delaware — one at New Amstel, one at the Hoern Kill and one at Upland. The jurisdiction of the Upland Court extended provisionally from the east and west banks of Kristina Kill up- wards unto the head of the river." The inhabitants were required, "by a plurality of votes," to nominate for each Court eight persons as magistrates. From these the Council at New York selected the Justices of the seve- ral Courts.^ Peter Alrichs was appointed by Governor Colve, Commander and Schout, and Walter Wharton was re-appointed Surveyor of the South River district. Peter Alrichs took his oath of office and allegiance without reservation, but Wharton being an Eng- lishman, made it a condition in his fealty, that he was not to be forced to bear arms against his own nation. Alrichs was ap- 1 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 198, 199. Ac. ' lb. ii. 609. ' N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 6^4-5. 100 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1674. pointed to administer the oath of allegiance to the inhabitants of the South River, and also authorized to enlist ten or twelve soldiers "on government account," including two corporals.^ While freedom of conscience was granted to the inhabitants of the Delaware, the instructions to Alrichs directed that "the pure, true Christian Religion, according to the Synod of Dort, should be taught and maintained in every proper manner, with- out suffering anything to be attempted contrary thereunto by any other sectaries."^ Public property belonging to the crown of England, together with the debts due the government, was confiscated, but property belonging to officers of the late government was restored to them upon taking the oath of allegiance. On this condition, upon the petition of his wife Petronella, Capt. John Carr, late Commander on the Delaware, was reinstated in his possessions.^ The re-establishment of the Dutch authority in their former American possessions did not continue long. By virtue of the treaty of peace between England and the Netherlands, signed on the 9th of February, 1674, it became necessary to restore these possessions again to the English. Lest the title of the Duke of York should be impaired by the Dutch conquest, a new grant was made to him by his brother, whereupon the Duke, on the loth of July, constituted Major, afterwards Sir Edmund Andros, his Lieutenant and Governor. Upon the arrival of Governor Andros at New York, the government was surrendered to him agreeably to the terms of the treaty, the allegiance of the Dutch having become formally absolved by Governor Colve. On the 9th of November, Andros issued his first proclamation, confirm- ing "all former grants, privileges or concessions," and "all estates legally possessed," under his Royal Highness, before the late Dutch government, and all legal judicial proceedings under that government. By this proclamation the Book of Laws, known as the "Duke's Laws," and also the former Courts, with the time and manner of holding them, were established, and "all magistrates and civil officers belonging thereunto, were to be chosen accordingly."* Edmund Cantwell and William Tom were commissioned by the Governor to take possession of the Fort at Newcastle, and of all military stores there, or on any other part of the river, on behalf of his Majesty of Great Britain. Under this commis- sion, in the Record at Albany is the following list of Justices : • N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 614-617. The pay of a corporal was hut 48 stivers per week, and that of a private 35 stivers, Holland. The rations of each soldier per week, 61bs. beef or 3i of pork, 61bs. rye bread, ilb. butter, one-seventh of a half barrel of small beer, and 1 skepel of peas per month. '^ lb. 618. 3. lb. 678, 579. A simple promise of allegiance was accepted from the Quakers, instead of an oath. ♦ lb. iii. 227.— Documentary Hist. N. Y. iii. 79. 1075.] HISTORY OF DECAWARE COUNTY. 101 "Names of y" Justices for Newcastle are: Mr. Ilans Block, Mr. Jii" Moll, Mr. Fopp Outhout, Mr. Joseph Chew, Mr. Di- rick Alberts. For the River: Mr. Peter Cock, Mr. Peter Rainbo, Mr. Israel Helm, Mr. Laers Andrieson, Mr. WooUe Swain."' These Justices had no fcn-mal commissions issued to them at this time, but simply an order from the Governor, directed to them under the title of Commissaries, "to resume their places as Maifistrates." Captain Edmund Cantwell was connnissioned to administer to these Justices their official oath, he having been reinstated in his office of Sheriff or Schout. Ca})t. Cantwell, in conjunction with Johannes De Haas, was also appointed Collec- tor of Quit-rents on the Delaware, and of all other duties, whe- ther custom or excise. - It has already been shown that a Court was established in 1668, embracing three of the above mentioned Justices of Up- land Court; and two of tliese Justices, with the Commander, being sufficient to form a Court, it is rendered almost certain that Courts were then occasionally held at Upland. In 1672, an order issued from the Governor "to authorize and em- power the Court at Upland, with the assistance of one or two of the High Court.,'" to examine into a matter of difficulty then pending. This order requiring the aid of Justices of the High Court in a special case, proves that the SAvedish Justices alone at that time usually held the Court at Upland. It is quite probable that the Justices now reinstated are the same who con- stituted the Upland Court in 1672, and who doubtless exercised their functions during the short intervening period that the country was under the dominion of the Dutch. Capt. Cantwell, besides holding the office of Sheriff, appears to have been entrusted with the charge of affairs generally on the Delaware. In letters addressed by him to the Governor, on the 30th of November and 9th of December, he assures him of the general satisfaction of the people with the change of go- vernment, and also acquaints him with the prospect of the ar- rival of new settlers. The Governor gives notice of his inten- tion to visit the Delaware in the Spring, but in the meantime authorizes Cantwell to supply the new comers with a reasonable quantity of land, and to act as Surveyor of the whole river and bay.3 Governor Andros visited the Delaware in May of this year, and on the 13th and 14th of that month held a special Court at New Castle. At this Court it was ordered "that Highways 1 Sec. State's Office, Albany. '• Orders, Warrants, Passes," 1674 to 1679, p. 3. Haz Reg. iv. 56. 2 Ilaz. Reg. iv. 56. » lb. i. 93. 102 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1675. should be cleared from place to place, within the precincts of this government."**^ It was also ordered "that the church or place of meeting for divine worship in this towne, and the aifaires thereunto belong- ing, be regulated by the Court here in as orderly and decent manner as may bee; that the place for meeting att Crane Hoeck do continue as heretofore;" and "that the Church att Tinne- cum Island do serve for Upland and parts adjacent." "And whereas there is no Church or place of meeting higher up the river than the said Island, for the greater ease of the in- habitants there, Its ordered that the Magistrates of Upland do cause a church or place of meeting for that purpose to be built att Wickegkoo, the w'^'' to bee for the inhabitants Passayunk & so upwards. The said Court being empowered to Raize a tax for its building and to agree upon a competent maintenance for their minister, of all of which they are to give an account to the next General Court, and they to the Governor, for his appro- bacon." This Court also established regulations in respect to various other matters on the river, among which was an entire prohibi- tion of the sale "of strong drinke or liquors to the Indians by retayle, or a less quantity than two gallons att a tyme, under the penalty of five pounds;" and a prohibition against distilling grain by any of the inhabitants, under a like a penalty. It was also ordered " that a ferry boate bee maintained and kept att the falls att the west side of this river; a horse and a man to pay for passage 2 Guilders, a man without a horse, 10 Stivers. '"- This is the earliest record of the proceedings of any Court on the Delaware. They are recorded incidentally among the pro- ceedings of the regular New Castle Court, for the early part of 1677 (N, S.) The functions of this Court, which was intend- ed to be held annually, were rather legislative than judicial. The order "that Highways should be cleared from place to place," seems to have been the first step taken for the establish- ment of roads, in the States of Delaware or Pennsylvania. It is our first road law. As early as 1672, the Court of Assizes, held at New York, ordained in respect to Parochial Churches, "that y'' law be at- tended [to]; but although persons bee of difi'erent judgments, yet all are to contribute to y" allowed minister."^ Strangely as this ordinance may contrast with the liberty of conscience grant- ed in the articles of capitulation, when the country was first 1 The manner of making the roads was left to the respective inferior Courts. 2 Records of New Castle ; Liber A. 49, 50. 3 Sec. State's Office, N. Y. " Court of Assize," ii. 323. 1675.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 103 surrendored by tlie Dutch, it will sufficiently explain the order of the Special or General Court at New Castle to the Upland Court, in relation to the maintenance of the minister for the new church at Wiccaco, and the action of this Court in respect to such matters that followed. A number of settlements ha Smith's Hist, of N. J. p. 79. See also Smith's Hist. Penna. in Reg. Penna. vi. 182. One moiety of New .Jersey had been granted by Lord Berkley, one of the proprietors, to Ji hn Fenwick. in tru.-t for Edwd. Billinge. It was under the charge of Fenwick, who was a Friend, that the colonists who came in the Griffith made their settlement at Salem. » New Castle Records. Liber A 62. 104 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1676. at his house. After meeting they took boat and went to Salem, "where they met with John Fenwick and several families of Friends, (who, with those at Chester,) had come from England in that year with John Fenwick."' From thence Robert Wade accompanied the travelling Friends to New Castle, where their horses had been sent, and from thence to Upland. Doubtless the House of Robert Wade, at which the meeting was held, was the famous Essex House, at which William Penn was entertained upon his first landing at Upland ; but whether it was erected by Wade, or had been built by the daughter of Governor Printz, when she occupied the premises, is uncertain. The fact that Robert Wade, within, at most, a few months after his arrival in the country, had house room sufficient for the accommodation of a Friends' meeting, and was prepared to make a journey to Maryland, would suggest that he had been fortunate enough to secure a dwelling already erected to his hand. It is not known what other members of the Society of Friends, of those who accompanied Fenwick, besides Robert Wade and his family, settled at Upland. They were the first members of that society who settled within the limits of our County or of the Commonwealth. The special execution granted in 1672 to Mrs. Papegoya, or " Jeuff"ru Armigart Printz," as she is called, and which put her in possession of Tinicum, failed to satisfy the judgment obtained against Andrew Carr and his wife. Sherifi" Cantwell is ordered to proceed to a full execution of the judgment.^ About this time, William Penn, as trustee, became interested in the settlement of West Jersey; a circumstance that brought to his notice the not yet appropriated territory West of the De- laware, and gave rise to the idea of planting a colony there on principles that, in all future ages, will claim the admiration of the world for their liberality. Since the final establishment of British rule on the Delaware, Capt. Cantwell, in addition to his office of Sheriff and other ap- pointments, had acted as the superior military officer. On the 23d of September, 1676, he was superseded in the latter office by the appointment of Captain John Collier as "Commander in Delaware River and Bay."^ On the same day Justices of the Peace were commissioned for the jurisdictions of New Castle and Upland, for one year or till "further order;" any three of whom Avould constitute a Court of Judicature. Ephraim Her- man was appointed Clarke of both Courts.^ 1 Smith's Hist. Penna. in Haz. Reg. vi. 182. 2 Haz. Ann. 423. ^ New Castle Rec. A. i. p. 2. Capt. Collier was also appointed " Sub-Collector of His Majesties Custouies of Now Castle in delawar." * Upland Court Rec. 37. 1676.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 105 The Justices commissioned for Upland District were, Peter Cock, Peter Rambo, Israeli Helm, Lace Andrieson, Oele Swen^ and Otto Ernest Cock, bein<^ the former Justices, with the addi- tion of the last named. They were all Swedes. From this period to the present time, the judicial proceedings in the district embracing the limits of Delaware County, have been preserve