Ulster County Under The Dutch - Chapters VI-IX



CHAPTER VI - WILDWYCK AND THE NIEU DORP

DURING the years 1661 and 1662 life in the village ebbed peaceably along. 
Its quiet was unbroken save by an occasional row between some of its 
contentious citizens. The Indians made no disturbance. In May, 1661, 
grants of land were made, by lot, to Hendrick Hartensen, Harmen Hendrick, 
Jan Jansen from Amesfoort, Jacob Barentsen, Jan Lootman, Jacob Joosten, 
Willem Jansen, Pieter van Haelen, Matthys Roeleffs, Jan Willemse, Anthony 
Creupel, and Gerret Jansen van Campen.

The inhabitants of Esopus were ordered to have their land surveyed by the 
sworn surveyor within six months. Have it marked and divided by proper 
signs and, upon certificate of the survey, were to receive a deed for it.

The settlement had grown in numbers and importance. The time had arrived 
when some form of government should be established. On the 16th of May, 
1661, Stuyvesant issued the following order erecting the settlement into a 
village:

"Peter Stuyvesant, Governor and Director-General, commissioned and 
authorized in the control of all matters relating to the public good of 
all the territories of New Netherland, by virtue of the authority and 
permission of the Honorable Lords, the Directors of the Privileged West 
India Company, Greeting:--The aforesaid valiant Director-General, Peter 
Stuyvesant, observing the situation and condition of the place called 
'Esopus' already inhabited six or seven years, and pleased thereat, hath, 
in consideration of its state and population, erected our place into a 
village, and honored it with the name of Wildwyck by which name it shall 
hereafter be called."

In the records the name Wildwyck is variously spelled Wildwyck, Wiltwyck, 
Wildtwyck, Wildwijck. The letters "ij" of the Dutch in names have usually 
been transcribed as "y" in English. While Swartwout kept the Wildwyck 
records he wrote the word "Wildtwyck" afterward the more scholarly Capito, 
"Wildwyck" and I have followed his spelling. Wilt is an old spelling of 
Wild meaning "wild," "savage." The final "d" in Dutch words is not 
pronounced as in English like a soft "d" but hard like "t" so that the 
singular of "wilden" "savages" in Dutch records is written "wilt" instead 
of "wild." "Wyck" is an old form for modern "wijk" and means "retreat," 
"refuge," "quarter." The authorities differ as to the meaning of the word. 
Some give it as "A village or fort, a refuge from the savages." "Wilt" 
also means "game" and therefore others give it the meaning as "a place 
where game is abundant," as Beaverwyck means a place where beavers are 
plenty.

May 5, 1661, a court was established by order of Stuyvesant and his 
council. He appointed Evert Pets, Cornelis Barentsen Sleght and Elbert 
Heymans Rose, schepens of judges.

The jurisdiction, power and authority of the court will be hereafter 
given. It held its first session July 12, 1661. Roeloff Swartwout was 
appointed Schout. His duties combined those of our district attorney and 
sheriff.

Swartwout had a hard time getting his job. He was appointed by the 
directors of the West India Company, April 15, 1660, and a commission, 
defining his powers and duties, issued to him. He was to remain in office 
for four years after which the office would be abolished unless the 
directors might before abolish it or extend the time. On his arrival at 
New Amsterdam Stuyvesant would have none of him. He wrote the directors of 
the company that he was very much astonished at his appointment because of 
his minority and his unfitness for the place. His appointment was 
premature, as there was no court at Esopus and it did not appear that 
there would be one for a long while for want of inhabitants "fit to sit on 
the bench." When the tune came a man of greater age, capacity, and esteem 
would be required.

The directors replied that they were astonished at Stuyvesant's 
objections. Their judgment was sufficient in the matter. He was old enough 
to be fit. If he was deficient in that respect he had time enough to 
outgrow it. They wished their orders strictly obeyed. Although the doughty 
old governor did not like it he thought it better to obey the orders of 
the company and so commissioned Swartwout sheriff, May 23, 1661. In 
November, 1661, Stuyvesant promulgated several ordinances regulating the 
affairs of the village.

No person should perform any work at his ordinary business on Sunday, 
whether plowing, winnowing, transporting wood, hay, straw or grain, 
threshing, grinding or conveying any goods to or from the strand, on the 
penalty of one pound Flemish ($2.40) for the first offense, double as much 
for the second and four times double as much for the third. No one should 
give entertainment in taverns, or sell or give away beer, wine or any 
strong drink on Sunday under the above fine. If any person was found drunk 
on Sunday he was fined one pound Flemish, for the benefit of the officer, 
and be confined in the watch house during the pleasure of the court. In 
order to prevent fires no person should construct any plastered or wooden 
chimneys or kindle any fire in houses with walls or gables made of straw, 
or in the center on the floors of other houses covered with thatch unless 
there be a good, solid plank ceiling in the house.

The court should appoint two fire wardens. They should every fourteen days 
or three weeks inspect all houses and chimneys and see that they were 
properly constructed and cleaned. The negligent should be fined as above 
mentioned.

In order to prevent damage to the cornfields by horses, cattle and hogs 
everyone must keep tight his fences and gates. A pound, in which the 
animals doing damage were to be restrained was ordered erected. The owner 
of the animals should be fined for the damage done. Every person must 
fence his lot within four months and build on the same within one year, 
without selling or conveying to others, in default of which the court must 
grant the lot to others "who are better disposed and more industrious." As 
the stockade had begun to decay and openings had been made in the same 
which remained unclosed during the night, "to the imminent danger of the 
place and advantage of the enemy" the sergeant was commanded to repair it. 
All openings must be closed at night. If anyone did not close and shut at 
night what he had opened during the day he should be fined for the first 
offense three guilders, for the second double as much and for the third 
two pounds Flemish.

Dominie Blom took charge of the congregation at Wildwyck in September, 
1660. In 1661 a parsonage was erected. In order to pay its cost the court, 
on November 12, 1661, was by order of Stuyvesant directed to "levy and 
collect from every morgen (2 acres) of land whether of pasture or tillage 
land, which anyone about the aforesaid village occupies or claims as his 
own, one Rix dollar (a little over $1.00) per morgen, beaver value, in 
good wheat, payable one half down and the other half, without fail, next 
summer and, further, from the other inhabitants who possess only lots and 
no lands according to their means."

The following were the persons assessed and the amounts expressed in 
guilders:

Jurriaen Westvael, tenant on Balthasaer Lasar 
Stuyvesant's bouwery, 25 morgens  62.10
The Hon. Director-General for a point 12 morgens  30.00 
Jurriaen Westvael, for his land, 28 morgens  70.00 
Thomas Chambers, 2 bouweries, each 40 morgens  200.00
Evert Pels, his bouwery, 30 morgens  90.00
Albert Heymans, on the bouwery of Jacob Jansen, 
Stoll's widow, 30 morgens  90.00 
Roeloff Swartwout, tenant on the bouwery of 
Jacob Jansen Stoll's widow, 43 morgens  107.10
Cornelis Barentsen Slecht, tenant on the bouwery 
of Mrs. d'Hulter, 64 morgens  160.00
Cornelis Barentsen Slecht's own claimed land for 
which he has neither survey nor patent estimated 
at 25 morgens  62.10
Mrs. de Hulter's unsurveyed pasture land, estimated 
at 25 morgens  62.10
Albert Gysbert's land, 20 morgens  50.00
Aert Jacob's land, 47 morgens  117.10
Tjerck Glaessen's land, 50 morgens  125.00
Aert Pietersen Tack, 20 morgens  40.00
Michiel Foure, 4 morgens  10.00

The following house lots of those who have no farmlands:

Andries van der Sluys, lot  10.00
Jan Aerts, smith, voluntarily offers  20.00
Michiel Fouree  12.00
Jan Broese  10.00
Jan the Brabander  10.00
Andries Baerents  12.00
Hendrick Cornelisse assessed  20.00
Hendrick jochemse, offers  20.00
Harmen Hendrick  12.00
Jan Jansen, carpenter, assessed  10.00
Jacob Barents, offers  12.00
Jacob Joosten, offers  12.00
Pieter van Aelen, assessed  10.00
Matthys Roelofse, offers  15.00
Jacob Burhamse, offers  20.00
Gerrit van Campen  10.00
Anthony Greupel  10.00
Albert Gerrits  10.00
Baerent Gerrits  25.00
Jacob Blanson  10.00
Jan de Backer offers  1000 bricks.
Willem Jansen  12.00

The amount realized from the foregoing tax not being sufficient to cover 
the cost of the parsonage Stuyvesant, on November 21, 1661, by ordinance 
directed the court for the term of one year to levy and collect an excise 
tax of four guilders from every tun of strong beer; sixteen guilders from 
a hogshead of French wine; six guilders from each anker of Spanish wine; 
brandy or distilled liquors and all larger and smaller casks in 
proportion. Each inhabitant of the village must make a return of the 
liquors in his dwelling or brew house and pay the excise to Jacob 
Burhamse, the collector; the same to be paid in heavy money, twelve white 
and six black wampum beads for one stiver. No person should remove or 
transfer any liquor until a return of the same was made and tax paid on 
forfeiture of the liquors, and five times its value to be applied, one-
third to the officer, one-third to the informer and one-third to the 
church.

The names of those who paid the tax and the sum paid, expressed in 
guilders (a guilder 40 cents), are as follows:

Hendrick Jochems  75- 7
Lewis Dubo  11
Pieter Hillebrantz  2
Jan Barentz Snyder  14
Aelbert Gyssbertz  12
Michiel Verbruggen  1
Jacob Burhams  71- 14
Jan Pierssen  12
Gerret Forcken  12
Wouter Aelbertz  24
Walraeff du Mont  24
Thomas Swartwout  12
Jan Barentz Timmerman  1
Pieter van Halen  6
De jonge Gesellen  2
Barent Gerritzen  65
Theunis Voocht  1
Gritiez Westerkamps  1
Cornelis Barentz Slecht  70- 7
Jan Jansen Brabander  14
Arent Jacobs  4
Jan Lambertz  3
Aelbert Heimans  55
Joannes Leblem  2
Mathies Capito  4
Dirck Ariaens  1
Hendrick Cornelissen  3
Jan Barentz Backer  6
Dom. Herm. Blom  58
Juriaen Westphalen  33
Matthiees Roeloffs  16
Michiel Verre  3
Jan van Bremen  4
Gertruyd Andriessen  14
Jan Aertsen Smit  17
Cornelis Jansen, sawyer  13
Wilm. Jansen  12
Dirck Wilmssen  9
Pieter Bruyn  2
Thomas Chambertz  84
Evert Pelsen  40
Schout Swartwout  32
Hendrick Hendrix  4
Pieter Martensen  2
Claes Pietersen  2
Pieter Jellissen  2
Sergeant Christiaen  23
Jonas Rantzoo  5
Andries Barentz  9- 7
Cornelis Brantz  2
Ariaen Huyberts  1
Tjarck Glaessen  8
Maryken Huygen  6
Kerst Kerstensen  2
Pieter, the miller  2
Gerrit van Campen  2
Bart Siebrantz  22
Hendrick Jansen Looman  20
Huybrecht Bruyn  3
Arent Pietersen Tack  6
Matthies Princen  2
Wilm. Jansen Stoll  4
Jan du Parcq  2
Wilm. van VredenBorg  16
Marten Harmsen  17
Matthies Blancian  51
Gyssbert Gyssbert Zen  52

A total of 1111.15 guilders, a little over $444.

On November 22, 1661, the court, Stuyvesant being present, adopted an 
ordinance that a new road be opened from the village to the new and 
undivided lands. The same "shall pass over the land of Evert Pels along 
the side of the kill and over across the land where it is narrowest, over 
Jacob Jansen Stol's land, thence in a straight line through the great lot 
away unto the Dwars Kill."

In order that the cornfields might not be damaged by animals running at 
large on the road the same should be travelled only with wagons or horses 
under bridle or in traces. Loose cattle or foals beside the mares should 
not be driven over the road under penalty of one pound Flemish for each 
animal so driven. A swing gate should be erected at the beginning of the 
road and always kept closed by a person appointed by the court for that 
purpose. He should receive for opening and closing the gate such sum as 
the owners of the farms should agree upon. From others and those with whom 
he could not agree he should receive one stiver for each opening, two 
stivers for each freight or pleasure wagon and one stiver for each person 
therein. Some of those taxed for the building of the parsonage failed to 
pay. The salary of dominie Blom was in arrears. There was a short crop of 
grain. Not sufficient for the garrison. For these reasons Stuyvesant, on 
November 24, 1661, issued an ordinance that no grain was to be exported 
after the freezing up of the river until his further order. The corporal 
at the Redoubt, on the Rondout creek, was directed to permit no liquor to 
enter from the river without his permit, showing the quantity, quality, 
and to whom consigned, in order that it might be entered with the 
collector and the excise paid. Complaint having been made to Stuyvesant 
that unstamped grain measures were used by reason of which the quantity of 
grain delivered fell short of the legal measure, he, on November 27, 1662, 
issued an ordinance forbidding the use of any but legally stamped measures 
under a penalty of twenty-five guilders.

On the same day all persons were forbidden from receiving any articles in 
pawn from the soldiers at the garrison, under a penalty of twenty-five 
guilders for the benefit of the garrison and in addition of restoring the 
pledged articles without the redemption money.

Nearly all the buildings in the village had thatched roofs of reeds or 
straw. The people were in the habit of burning straw and other refuse in 
the streets, thus exposing the buildings to damage or destruction by fire. 
On October 16, 1662, it was enacted that no person should set fire to any 
refuse within the village. The same must be carried a musket-shot outside 
the stockade to posts to be erected by the court. Any person failing to do 
so was to be fined for the first offense, fifty guilders, for the second 
one hundred guilders and the third time to be arbitrarily punished as an 
example to others.

The dangerous practice was continued as late as 1664, for on November 14, 
of that year, the court ordered that all straw and rubbish should be 
carted across the mill dam.

Each person must clean the street in front of his own lot within four 
days, under a penalty of ten guilders.

It appearing in November, 1662, that openings had again been made in the 
stockade the same were ordered to be closed within twice twenty-four hours 
with palisades or proper doors with locks, provided the key be returned 
every night to the guard house. Every person offending was to be fined one 
pound Flemish. March 6, 1663, the court ordered that the owners of private 
meadows near cultivated lands should fence the same. The wolves caused 
great damage to domestic animals.

October 9, 1663, the court offered a bounty of twelve guilders for every 
male and eighteen guilders for every female wolf, payable in wampum, 
killed. The wolf must be taken to the schout for inspection. Every farmer 
was required to contribute one guilder in wampum to pay the bounty. In 
June, 1662, Juriaen Teunissen petitioned Stuyvesant for leave to keep a 
tavern at the mouth of the kill, at the north side of it, where his foster 
father, Kit Davitsen, formerly lived. His request was denied because it 
"would tend to debauch the soldiers and other inhabitants and it is also 
feared that strong liquor might be sold there to the savages."

In the same month Sergeant Christian Niessen applied for an increase in 
pay, saying that his present salary was not enough to live on. He was 
allowed twenty guilders per month. The rich valley of the Esopus was known 
to the residents about Fort Orange. In April, 1662, Philipp Pietersen 
Schuyler, Volckert Jansen (Douw) and Goosen Gerritsen van Schaick, of 
Beverwyck, presented their petition to the council at New Amsterdam. Van 
Schaick came from Westerbroeck, province of Utrecht. In 1637 and for some 
years after he worked upon one of the manor farms at Rensselaerswyck. He 
served as a member of the court at Beverwyck from 1648 to 1651. In 1659 he 
was engaged in tanning. After 1660 he is occasionally referred to as 
Gerritsz van Schaick.

Schuyler came from Amsterdam in 1650. He married Margareta van 
Slicktenhorst, daughter of the director of Rensselaerswyck and resided 
there. They had ten children of whom, Peter, was the first mayor of 
Albany. His grandson was General Philip Schuyler of Revolutionary fame.

Volckert Hanz, after 1651, usually referred to as Volekert janz and 
Volckert Janz Douw, is first mentioned as working at Rensselaerswyck in 
1647. He was a farmer and a trader. The petitioners stated that as the 
prosperity of the province rested principally upon agriculture and 
commerce they desired to establish a new village at the Great Esopus, 
"where a great deal of uncultivated land lies." They asked that a survey 
for a new village be made and that it be laid out in lots. That forty or 
fifty morgens of land be granted them. They promised to immediately enter 
upon the same, cultivate and build houses and barns on the same. April 6, 
1662, the council resolved to lay out a new settlement and to accommodate 
the petitioners as occasion should permit. The place selected for the Nieu 
Dorp (new village) was the rich bottom lands bordering the Esopus creek, 
about three miles west of Wildwyck. The English governor, Lovelace, named 
the village "Hurley" in honor of his family. The Lovelace's being barons 
of Hurley, Ireland. In 1663 grants of land at the new village were made to 
the petitioners Jansen, Schuyler and van Schaick, and also to Anthony 
Crepel (Crispell), Cornelis Wynkoop, Louis DuBois, Roeloff Swartwout, 
Hendrick Cornelisse van Holsteyn Lambert Huyberts (Brink) and Jan 
Tomassen. Others leased lands usually for the period of four years. The 
leases provided that the lessees should have the land rent free for the 
first year, after that at the annual rent of four hundred and fifty 
guilders in beavers at eight guilders, or in grain at the market price, 
beaver valuation, calculating a beaver at sixteen guilders. They should 
cultivate the land and erect buildings which, at the end of the term, 
should belong to the lessor. The lessor was to furnish one hundred boards 
for a house, the use of three mares, one gelding, a young stallion, two 
cows, two heifers, two sows with pigs, six hens and a rooster, a plow, a 
cart with all things belonging to it, except a plow chain. One-half the 
natural increase of the animals belonged to the lessor. Many of the 
lessees purchased the land at the expiration of their lease.

March 30, 1663, Stuyvesant issued an ordinance that all persons claiming 
land at Wildwyck, or in the new village, must apply for and receive deeds 
for the same within two months.

They must also begin to cultivate and fence the same or forfeit the land. 
All persons who had applied for or received lots in the new village must 
fence them within six months or forfeit the lots and a fine of twenty-five 
guilders. Albert Heymans Roose, Jan Joosten and Jan Gerrets were appointed 
overseers to see that the work was done and the fines exacted.

April, 1663, the proprietors of land at the new village petitioned the 
council at New Amsterdam that each might be granted a lot for a garden in 
the low land on the kill. They also asked that they be allowed to pass 
free and unmolested through Wildwyck to and from the strand.

The records of Wildwyck contain two papers of great interest. One is a 
list of the persons to whom lots had been granted prior to 1661 and during 
that year and 1662. The other shows the financial condition of the 
village. They are here given entire.

Old Lots

No.
1. Thomas Chambers
2. Evert Pels
3. Balthazar Laser Stuyvesant
4. Preachers house and lot
5. Mrs. de Hulter
6. Jacob Haps' little bouwery
7. Jacob Haps' second bouwery
8. Henry Zeewant ryger
9. Andries the weaver
10. Jan Brabanter
11. Jan Brouwersen
12. Michiel the first
13. Michiel Verre
14. Jan the smith
15. Andries van der Sluys
16. House and lot of Gertrey Hansen lying opposite to Nos. 6 and 7


New Lots

No.
1. Hendrick Jochemsen
2. Hendrick Martensen
3. Harmen Hendricksen
4. Jan Jansen Timmerman
5. Jacob Barentsen
6. Jan de Backer
7. Jacob Joosten
8. Willem Jansen
9. Pieter van Alen
10. Matthys Roeloflsen
11. Jacob Beerhans
12. Gerrit van Campen
13. Anthony Crupel
14. Albert Gerretsen
15. Meerten Gysbert
16. Dirck Adriaen
17. Matthys Capito
18. Jan Lammersen
19. Carsten de Noorman
20. Barent Gerretsen
21. The Church Yard
22. Jan Barensen
23.
24. Alert Heymansen
25. Juriaen Westvael
26. Nicolaes Willem Stuyvesant
27. Albert Gysbertsen
28. Tjerick Glaesen
29. Aert Jacobsen
30. Jan Schoon
31. Aert Pietersen Tach


"Revenue and Expenditure of the Village of Wildwyck, 
including the Building of the Ministers House. 

Income of Wildwyck Village.

From 525 morgens.

The land pays fl 2.10 st. per morgen in general, which
computed gives a total of . . . . . . fl 1312.10 coin 

The house lots, not paying land tax, have

In wampum  272. f1
In coin  136


The excise on wine and beer, farmed out, has fetched so far,
that is to the

21st of November, 1662  1003.18
In wampum  1505.17
In coin  669. 5. 6
The revenue is altogether  2117.16. 6
Remains a balance of . .   889.11.10


The Outlays for the Ministers House.

Bricks, tiles, lime, boards, wainscoting, slating, iron, hinges,
locks and nails, and everything required for it

In wampum  680.50
In coin  953.13
All reduced to coin  1293.15.8

Paid for wages of the carpenters and masons, hod carrier, for
freight of bricks, tiles, boards to this place

In wampum  1387.5
In coin  570
Reduced to coin  1263.12.8

Board for the carpenters, masons and hod carrier altogether

In coin  450
Total in wampum  fl 2067.10
Total in coin  1973.13

The wampum reduced and added to the coin makes it  fl 3007.8

"Besides the above there must be paid to the Court Messenger for the 
making and keeping in repair of the gates, to Juriaen Westvael for hire of 
the house of Domine Blom, who lived in his upper room, 80 florins." 

New-Year's day, 1663, was ushered in with a parade of the trainband. Very 
brave and formidable they looked marching through the snowy streets. At 
the open door of every house stood mother and the children. The little 
ones, afraid at the unusual sight, clung tight to her ample skirts. The 
boys ran along with the troops, pelting each other with snowballs as they 
ran. Through the little streets, around the stockade, they marched, trying 
to keep step with the drum that had come from over the sea, while the 
colors of Holland kissed the frosty air. Here and there stood an Indian, 
silently, gravely, looking on. No smile rested upon their lips. Not a word 
did they utter. Only the dark eyes flashed and the fingers tightened 
around the gun-barrel as they thought of their brethern toiling in slavery 
in a far away land.

After the parade the Citizen's Council of War adopted and posted up an 
ordinance regulating the conduct of the troops. Each one appearing for 
training without proper side and hand-arms, powder and lead, should, for 
the first time, be fined twelve guilders; for the second time double that 
sum; and the third time according to the judgment of the court-martial. 
Each one absent or coming late was to be fined two guilders, sergeants, 
corporals, and lancepesades double that sum. In case of an alarm of fire 
the members of the captain's squad were to assemble at Barent Gerretsen's, 
the brandy distiller; the lieutenants squad near Albert Gysbertsen's, the 
wheelwright; and the third squad at Hendrick Jochemsen's. No one should 
appear while intoxicated. Any one swearing or profaning God's holy name 
and sacraments should be fined twenty-five guilders. The magistrates 
thinking that these regulations infringed upon their prerogative of 
enacting ordinances tore down the same which does not seem to have caused 
any bad blood between the parties.

The day ended with an entertainment given the soldiers by some of the 
villagers. What a feast they must have had. Lucullus would have given his 
villa at Tusculum to have been present. Supawn. Wild turkey; a saddle of 
venison; roast pig and fried rolletje. Potatoes mashed and in their 
jackets. Onions, squash and cole-slaw. Hazel, hickory and butternuts. 
Apple and pumpkin pie. Crullers and oly-koeks. Hard cider, beer, and an 
anker of brandy from Gerretsen's distillery. All the prominent citizens 
were there. Tom Chambers, Tjerck Glaessen de Witt, Evert Pels, Alaert 
Heymans, Roose, Sergeant Christiaen Nissen, Schout Swartwout, and above 
and beyond all, Dominie Blom. In the huge fire place the logs sputtered, 
cracked, and burst into flame, roaring ever high and higher as the hickory 
sticks were piled on the blaze. Every man of them had pipe and tobacco. 
The fragrant smoke filled the room, swaying, trembling, floating up 
through the great chimney. The mugs of beer and brandy were never empty. 
Every one of them, including the dominie, was trying to drink his neighbor 
under the table. At gibe, and jest and joke their loud honest laughter 
shook the building. Out upon the night air floated the songs of father 
land. The eyes of men who had undaunted faced death in an hundred shapes 
grew misty with tears as they thought of the old home so far away. But by 
and by the revels ceased. Back to their homes they went. Some of them 
singing, swaying, as they tramped through the snow. The silence of the 
night fell upon the village. In each home the lights were put out. The 
back log in the fire place banked in ashes. The old folks went to bed. The 
lover and his sweetheart, locked in each others arms, bundled beneath the 
same blanket and--methinks--above them, an angel hovered, smiling, his 
finger upon his lips.

No disturbance broke the peace of the village during the winter. Then 
spring came and the farmers were early at work in the fields preparing the 
land for the seed. The Indians had been quiet, very quiet. Still doubt and 
mistrust hung in the air. The sale of brandy to them continued. It was 
certain to breed trouble. The traffic was carried on at the new village. 
The magistrates wrote Stuyvesant that they had found half an anker of 
"distilled water" at the house of Loweys Dubo (Louis DuBois), a Walloon 
which had not been reported. They confiscated it "because some mischief 
might result from it," and asked that an order be made that the residents 
of the new village should pay the excise to the collector, Jacob Boorhans, 
at Wildwyck, "for the liquor distilled here is not to the taste of the 
savages which is for the advantage of the savages and to the loss of the 
country."

The presents which had been promised the Indians for the land at the new 
village had not been made. Early in April, 1663, Stuyvesant was warned 
that if this were not done at once trouble would ensue. But above and 
beyond all the captives whom Stuyvesant had banished to the far off isle 
of Curacao had not been returned. This the red men would not forget or 
forgive. The fires of hate and revenge smouldered. Soon they would burst 
into flame.



CHAPTER VII - THE WAR OF 1663

IT was Thursday, the 7th of June, 1663. Away off in the distance the peaks 
of the Catskills pierce the blue of the sky. On the low lands the wheat is 
softly swaying in the breeze, a shimmering sea of green. The brook, just 
below the stockade, laughs and gurgles on its way to the creek and the 
river. The air is redolent with the perfume of spring. The corn fields are 
ready for the plow. The children are at play in the streets. The women 
about their household work. Albert Gysbertsen and Tjerck de Wit are near 
the mill gate. Schout Swartwout with some men at work near his house. 
Dominie Blom with two carpenters are at work on the parsonage. Chambers 
just outside the stockade. A soldier or two lounged near the guard house. 
Most of the men were away at work in the fields. It is between eleven and 
twelve o'clock in the forenoon. Several small bands of Indians sauntered 
through the gates almost unnoticed. Nearly four years had passed since the 
last trouble. The peace had not been broken.

The hatchet remained buried in the earth. No one thought of danger. 
Through the streets strolled the Indians, offering corn and beans for 
sale. They chattered with the women and laughed at the children at play. 
Suddenly a horseman dashed through the mill gate, shouting as he rode, 
"The Indians have destroyed the new village." Instantly the dread war 
whoop of the red men was heard. Then a scream, wild and piercing, the 
scream of a woman rang out. An Indian had snatched the little girl of Jan 
Albert's and buried his hatchet in her head. Crack, crack went the guns. 
Fire, some one shouted. A house on the south side of the village burst 
into flame. The wind was blowing from that direction. The Indians had 
fired the village. In a moment pandemonium reigned. Another house caught 
fire. Then another and another. The smoke rolled in red billows through 
the streets. The sparks fell in showers. The flames roared upward. The 
shrieks of the women and the wail of the children never ceased. Above it 
all rang out the wild yells of the Indians as they ran through the 
streets, slaughtering as they went. Through the palisades rushed Chambers. 
"Lock the gates." "Clear the gun," he shouted. In a few moments the 
handful of men turned on the Indians. It was too late. They were already 
outside the stockade driving the women and children before them. Mothers 
clasped their babes in their arms, shrieking, crying as they were forced 
along. On, on to the woods the Indians drove them. Their piteous wails 
floated back ever faint and fainter until the forest shut them from the 
sight of the helpless men in the village. The wind changed to the west. 
This was all that saved the village from being entirely consumed. The men 
began to return from the fields. What a scene of desolation greeted them. 
The homes of many were burned. The dead lay in the streets. The half 
burned bodies of wife and child smoked in the hot ashes of their homes. 
Well did Dominie Blom say:--"I am he who hath seen misery in the day of 
the wrath of the Lord. O my Bowels--my Bowels. I am pained at my very 
heart, and with Jeremiah, O that my head were water, and mine eyes a 
fountain of tears, that I might weep for the slain of my people; for the 
dead lay as sheaves behind the mower."

Here is the record of that day, written many, many years ago. No pen can 
give a more graphic picture.

"List of the Soldiers and Settlers, killed, wounded, or taken prisoners by 
the Indians at Wildwyck, on the 7th of June, 1663."

MEN
Barent Gerretsen, murdered in front of his house.
Jan Alberts, murdered in his house.
Lichten Dirrick, murdered on the farm.
Willem Jansen Seba, murdered before his door.
Willem Jansen Hap, murdered in Pieter van Hael's house.
Jan the Smith, murdered in his house.
Hendrick Jansen Looman, murdered on the farm.
Thomas Chamber's negro, murdered on the farm.
Hey Olferts, murdered in the gunner's house.

SOLDIERS
Hendrick Martensen, on the farm.
Dominicus, in Jan Alberts' house.
Christiaen Andriessen, on the street.

WOMEN
Lichten Dirrecks' wife burnt, with her lost fruit, behind Barent 
Gerretsen's house.
Mattys Capito's wife killed and burnt in the house.
Jan Albertsen's wife, big with child, killed in front of her house.
Pieter van Hael's wife shot and burnt in her house.

CHILDREN
Jan Alberts' little girl murdered with her mother.
Willem Hap's child burned alive in the house.

TAKEN PRISONERS
Master Gysbert's wife. (She was the wife of Gysbert van Imbroach, a 
surgeon, and the daughter of La Montagne, vice director at Fort Orange.)
Hester Douwe.
Sara, the daughter of Hester Douwe.
Grietje, Dominie Laer's wife. (The wife of a Luthern dominie.)
Femmetje, sister of Hilletje, being recently married to Joost Ariaens.

Children
Tjerck Claessen de Witt's oldest daughter.
Dominie Laer's child.
Ariaen Gerritsen's daughter.
Two little boys of Mattys Roeloffsen.

KILLED IN THE NEW VILLAGE
Marten Harmensen found dead and stript naked behind the wagon.
Jacques Tyseen beside Barent's house.
Derrick Ariaensen shot in his house.

TAKEN PRISONERS
Men
Jan Gerritsen on Volckert's bouwery.

                         Women  Children
Of Lowis du Bois           1       3
Of Mattheu Blanchan        1       2
Of Antoni Crupel           1       1
Of Lambert Huybertsen      1       3
Of Marten Harmensen        1       4
Of Jan Joosten             1       2
Of Barent Harmensen        1       1
Of Grietje Westercamp      1       3
Of Jan Barents             1       1
Of Michiel Ferre           2
Of Hendrick Jochems        1
Of Hendrick Martensen      1
Of Albert Heymans          2

Women-Children   8   26


HOUSES BURNT IN WILDWYCK

Of Michiel Ferre     1          Of Hans Carolusen   1
Of Willem Hap        1          Of Pieter van Hael  1
Of Mattys Roeloffsen 1          Of Jacob Boerhans   2
Of Albert Gerretsen  1          Of Barent Gerretsen 2
Of Lichten Dirrick   1          Of Mattys           1

Houses  12

The new village is entirely destroyed, except a new uncovered barn, one
rick and a little stack of reed.

WOUNDED IN WILDWYCK
Thomas Chambers, shot in the woods.
Henderick Jochemsen, shot in his house.
Michiel Ferre, shot in front of his house. (Died of his wounds June 16, 
1663.)
Albert Gerretsen, shot in front of his house.
Andries Barents, shot in front of his house.
Jan du Parck, shot in the house of Aert Pietersen Tack.
Henderick, the Heer Director General's servant, in the street in front of 
Aert Jacobsen.
Paulus the Noorman, in the street."

It will be observed from the above that most of the persons taken 
prisoners came from the new village. (Hurley.)

News of the massacre reached Stuyvesant on June 12, 1663. He sent a letter 
to the surrounding towns informing them of the event and cautioning them 
to be on their guard.

On the 14th he was at Wildwyck. Christiaen Niessen, the commander of the 
militia; Thomas Chambers, the captain of the train band; Hendrick 
Jochemsen, the lieutenant; Swartwout, the Schout; and Albert Gysbertsen, 
Tjrick Cleassen de Witt, Gysbert van Imbrogh, the magistrates, were 
appointed a council to take charge of all matters. The people were 
commanded to obey its orders. Matheus Capito was appointed secretary. The 
council at New Amsterdam convened on June 17 to consider the condition of 
affairs at Wildwyck. To at once attack the Indians would be perilous. They 
would at once kill the captives. To ransom them would be very costly and 
the Indians would not consent unless a treaty of peace was made, only to 
be again broken. It was finally resolved not to make peace, but to try to 
get the Mohawks and Senecas to effect the release of the prisoners. In the 
meantime the relatives of the captives were to be urged to ransom them 
without the knowledge of the council, for which purpose they would be 
assisted with merchandise for presents to the Indians.

Johan de Decker, one of the council, was sent to Fort Orange to obtain 
assistance. He was instructed to get the magistrates there to induce the 
Mohawks to procure the prisoners without ransom and without any engagement 
for a treaty of peace. If this could not be done to capture some of the 
Esopus Indians, to be used in exchange. He was to ascertain if volunteers 
for an attack upon the Indians could be obtained and was authorized to 
engage to pay them eight or ten guilders per month at the usual rate of 
sixteen pieces of wampum per stiver and furnish them with weapons. He was 
also to negotiate a loan with the merchants of three thousand or four 
thousand guilders, half in goods and half in wampum, for which the 
governor and council would give as security not only the company's but 
their private property.

Decker did not meet with much success. The Senecas were at war with the 
Minquas. The settlers were panic stricken at the news from Wildwyck and 
flocked to the fort for protection. All was in confusion and nothing could 
be done.

At last an Indian, "Smiths Jan," accompanied by several Mohawks and "Jan 
Dirck," a Dutchman, were prevailed upon to visit the Esopus Indians.

These Mohawks reached the fort of the Indians. One of them by a present of 
a piece of wampum got one of the Esopus chiefs, who had Mrs. van Imbroch 
in charge, to promise to deliver her to him in the morning. But at dawn 
the Esopus and his captive had gone. The other chiefs offered to return 
the wampum which the Mohawks indignantly refused, saying that if they had 
their arms with them they would take the woman by force. The party 
returned to Wildwyck and reported that the Indians cared not so much for 
the captured savages as for payment for the land taken for the New 
Village, if that were done they would release the prisoners. In the 
meantime Mrs. van Imbroch had escaped and returned to Wildwyck. Mrs. van 
Imbroch reported that the fort of the Esopus in which she and the other 
captives were kept was about eight hours' march south of Wildwyck. It was 
at the foot of a hill to which it leaned at one side. On the other side 
the land was flat.

A creek, not deep, and which could be easily crossed washed one corner. 
There were two rows of palisades and a third was being erected. The fort 
had two gates, one to the north and the other to the south. About thirty 
men were in the fort. They manifested great anxiety concerning their women 
and children and lodged them with the prisoners outside the fort during 
the night.

On June 25th Stuyvesant issued a call for volunteers for an attack on the 
Esopus Indians. They were offered "free plundering and all the barbarians 
who are captured." For the term of one year they were to be exempt from 
guardmounting, firewatch and chimney tax. The owners of bouweries were 
exempt from tithes for six years and those having no bouweries to have the 
same exemption when they established bouweries in addition to the ten 
years commonly allowed. Those wounded were to be properly treated by the 
surgeon.

For the loss of the right arm they would receive eight hundred florins, 
for the left arm five hundred florins, for the loss of a leg four hundred 
and fifty florins, for the loss of both legs eight hundred florins, for 
the loss of an eye three hundred florins, for both eyes nine hundred 
florins, for the loss of the right hand six hundred florins, for the left 
hand four hundred florins, and for both hands one thousand florins.

Volunteers came in slowly. Only five or six from the English villages on 
Long Island and nine from Bergen. On June 30, Marten Kregier, one of the 
Burgomasters of New Amsterdam, was commissioned commander of the force to 
be sent to Wildwyck. He, with Nicolas Stillewel, Pieter Wolphertsen van 
Couwehoven and Sergeant Christian Niessen were constituted a council of 
war and to them was committed the conduct of the same.

Cregier arrived at Wildwyck July 4, 1663. Things were in bad shape. The 
people were disheartened. Fearing another attack they had shipped most of 
their cattle, over one hundred head, to Fort Orange. The soldiers had 
received their last ration. Food was scarce. There were not over one 
hundred men capable of bearing arms. Nine of the Negroes were wounded and 
six were at the Redoubt on the river. According to report the Esopus 
Indians, together with a few Wappingers and Manissings who had joined 
them, numbered about two hundred. A band of these had crossed to the east 
side of the river and lay concealed back of Magdalen Island (near Tivoli). 
Cregier dispatched some soldiers against them. A skirmish took place in 
which five Indians were killed. Among the number was Veldoverste, an 
Esopus chief. They cut off his hand and brought it back with them, 
together with a squaw and three children they captured. But one soldier 
was killed and one "bitten by a rattle snake." It was learned from the 
squaw that the Esopus were about eighty strong and a number of Manissings 
had joined them. Their fort stood on the brow of a hill, was quadrangular 
in shape, and defended by three rows of palisades. The dwellings within 
were encircled by thick cleft palisades with port holes and covered with 
bark. At night the prisoners were kept in the woods. On July 9 additional 
troops under Lieutenants van Couwenhoven and Stillewel arrived. On the 
16th three of the Mohawks who had come down from Fort Orange with "Smiths 
Jan" were sent to the Indian fort to negotiate for a return of the 
prisoners. They took with them one of the captured Indian children and 
sixty-three guilders in wampum for ransom. They obtained the release of 
five prisoners, two women and three children, who were freely given, on 
their promise to return three of the prisoners held by the whites. The 
fort had been abandoned, the Indians scattered among the hills, the 
prisoners distributed among them. They again returned to the fort, taking 
with them the squaw and two children. This time they succeeded in securing 
the release of but one captive, a woman. The Indians refused to release 
any more unless Corlaer and Rentslaer came to the fort with goods for 
ransom and a peace was concluded, which must be done in ten days.

Cregier seems to have had considerable trouble with the people of the 
village. They did not manifest a lively disposition to assist him. Some 
refused to furnish teams and wagons to bring up supplies from the river. 
"Some refused to work for the company; some gave for answer if another 
will cart I also shall cart; some said, my horses are poor, I cannot cart; 
others said, my horses have sore backs, and other such frivolous answers." 
Tjerck Classen de Wit, although a magistrate, threatened to turn some 
soldiers out of a small house they occupied. He said he had hired it, 
although he neither had possession "nor procuration for it." Cregier told 
him that the soldiers would be removed on condition that he, "as a 
magistrate, would have them billetted in other houses as the men could not 
lie under the blue sky, and as they had been sent here by the chief 
government for the defense of the settlers. But he made no answer to this 
and so there are other ringleaders and refractory people in this place."

While Cregier and the magistrates were examining the Wappinger Indians at 
the house of Chambers as to the whereabouts of the Esopus Albert Heymans 
Roose (Roosa) and Jan Hendrickensen appeared at the door and threatened to 
shoot the Indians. Cregier told them they must not do it. To which they 
replied, "We will do it though you stand by." "I told them in return to go 
home and keep quiet or I should send such disturbers to the Manhattans. 
They then retorted I might do what I pleased, they would shoot the savages 
to the ground, even though they should hang for it." Roosa, nothing 
daunted, came into the room and told the magistrates that one of them 
should step out. Cregier naively adds, "What his intention with him was I 
can't say." To our mind it is very clear. Albert was a fighter. He thought 
he could lick the entire court, at least one of its members.

It was now determined to attack the Indian fort. The expedition, led by 
Cregier, started from Wildwyck on the morning of July 26, 1663. It 
consisted of ninety-one men of Cregier's company and thirty from 
Lieutenant Stillewel's. Lieutenant van Couwenhoven commanded forty-one 
Indians from Long Island. There were six volunteers from Manhattan. 
Thirty-five men from Wildwyck, of whom eleven were horsemen. There were 
seven of the company's Negroes. Each had one pound of powder, one pound of 
ball, two pounds of hard bread, one-half a soft loaf, two pounds pork and 
one-half a Dutch cheese. This left at Wildwyck thirty-six soldiers and 
twenty-five freemen. By evening they were "two great miles" from Wildwyck. 
Here they bivouacked, not being able to get through the woods at night. 
The next morning the march was resumed. The trail they followed ran 
through an unbroken wilderness. Trees had to be felled to make bridges 
over swamps and streams. The hills were so steep that the wagon and cannon 
had to be hauled up by ropes. On reaching the fort in the evening they 
found it abandoned. The Indians had fled. A squaw, cutting corn, was 
captured. On the 28th, a detachment of one hundred and forty men were sent 
to the mountain where Mrs. Imbroch, who had been taken along as a guide, 
had been held prisoner. No Indians were to be seen. The captured squaw 
pointed out another mountain about two miles away to which she said the 
Indians had fled with seven prisoners. Again the troops pushed on through 
the forest, only to be again disappointed. Their foes had gone. The squaw, 
being again asked if she did not know where the Indians were, pointed out 
another mountain, but there was no path and the troops were compelled to 
return. On the 28th and 29th all hands were engaged in cutting down the 
fields of growing corn surrounding the fort. Over two hundred and fifteen 
acres were destroyed and over one hundred pits full of corn and beans were 
burned. On the 31st the fort and all the wigwams were set afire. Were the 
red men watching? What would be their answer to the destruction of their 
homes? For a little, the troops stood looking at the blaze roaring upward; 
then at the word of command, they began the march back to Wildwyck, which 
they reached about nine o'clock in the evening. The course from Wildwyck 
to the fort was mostly southwest about ten miles. Various locations have 
been assigned for the fort. From all the data it is probable that it stood 
on what is known as Indian Hill. in the village of Warwarsing, about 
twenty-two miles southwest from Kingston on the homstead property of the 
late John C. Hoorbeek, deceased.

The Indians still lurked in the woods about the village. To venture forth 
without protection was dangerous. On August 4th, the Council of War 
adopted an ordinance forbidding either large or small parties to leave the 
village without the consent of the Captain Lieutenant and only under 
proper convoy of soldiers. To stop the waste of powder and ball, every one 
unnecessarily discharging any firearm was to be fined three guilders for 
each shot. The court was kept quite busy imposing fines upon persons who 
violated these ordinances. The soldiers would get drunk even on Sunday. 
Every member of the militia was, by ordinance, forbidden from selling or 
pawning the goods advanced to him for liquor. All those engaged in selling 
strong drink were prohibited from receiving such property for liquor and 
from furnishing drinks on Sunday.

During the month of August the farmers were busily engaged in getting in 
the grain. A great rain interfered with the harvest and carried away 
several of the palisades of the fort.

Some of the Esopus were hiding with the Wappinger Indians just north of 
Newburgh. Lieutenant van Couwenhoven sailed down the river and secured the 
release of four of the captives, a woman and three children. He brought 
two of the Wappingers. They reported that they had been with the Esopus 
where they were building a new fort about four hours from the fort that 
had been destroyed. Cregier determined to attack it with a force of one 
hundred and twenty men. The magistrates of the village were requested to 
furnish twenty horsemen from the hired men of the village to accompany the 
soldiers, and some horses to be used in bringing back the wounded. "After 
great trouble they obtained six horses from a few, but spiteful and 
insulting words from many. One said, let those furnish horses who 
commenced the war, another said, I'll give 'em the Devil-if they want 
anything they will have to take it by force. The third said, I must first 
have my horse valued and have securit3 for it; and so forth, with much 
other foul and unbecoming language, not to be repeated." Thomas Chambers, 
without solicitation, gave two horses.

With one of the Wappinger Indians as a guide, and Christoffel Davids as 
interpreter, Cregier and his force left Wildwyck September 3, 1663, at one 
o'clock in the afternoon, and marched three miles to the creek, "which 
runs past the Redoubt." Here they passed the night. It rained very hard. 
The creek was high, the current very swift. They got across by holding on 
to a rope they had thrown across the stream. After a march of about four 
miles they camped for the night. They set out at daybreak, on the morning 
of the 5th, and about noon came to the first corn field of the Indians, 
where they saw two squaws and a Dutchwoman who had come from the fort to 
gather corn. About two o'clock in the afternoon they came within sight of 
the fort. It was situated on a lofty plain. It was not as large as the one 
previously destroyed. It was a perfect square with one row of palisades 
set all around, being about fifteen feet above and three feet under 
ground. Two angles of stout palisades, as thick as a man's body, having 
two rows of portholes, one above the other, had been completed and the 
Indians were busy at the third angle. When near the fort, the attacking 
party was seen by a squaw who at once let forth a terrible scream. "The 
Indians rushed forthwith through the fort towards their houses, which 
stood about a stone's throw from the fort, in order to secure their arms, 
and thus hastily picked up a few guns and bows and arrows, but we were so 
hot at their heels that they were forced to leave many of them behind. We 
kept up a sharp fire on them and pursued them so closely that they leaped 
into the creek which ran in front of the lower part of their maize land. 
On reaching the opposite side of the hill, they courageously returned our 
fire, which we sent back, so that we were obliged to send a party across 
to dislodge them. In this attack the Indians lost their chief, named 
Papequanaehen, fourteen other warriors, four women and three children, 
whom we saw lying on this and on the other side of the creek, but probably 
many more were wounded when rushing from the fort to the houses, when we 
did give them a brave charge. On our side, three were killed and six 
wounded and we have recovered three and twenty Christian prisoners out of 
their hands. We have also taken thirteen of them prisoners, both men and 
women, besides an old man who accompanied us about half an hour, but would 
go no further. We took him aside and gave him his last meal. A captive 
Indian child died on the way, so that there remained eleven of them still 
our prisoners." It was necessary to get the wounded home as soon as 
possible, for which reason the growing corn was allowed to stand for the 
present. The wigwams contained a considerable quantity of bear and deer 
skins, blankets, elk hides, guns, powder and belts and strings of wampum. 
Placing the wounded upon horses, one upon a litter, loaded with booty, 
accompanied by their prisoners and the rescued captives, the little army 
took up the march back to Wildwyck, which they safely reached September 
7th at about noon. An additional force of forty Marsepingh Indians arrived 
under van Couwenhoven. On October 1st, Cregier and his troops started for 
the scene of their late victory. The fort was deserted. Not an Indian was 
seen. The dead braves had been thrown into large pits. These the wolves 
had rooted up and devoured some of the bodies. The corn was pulled up and 
thrown into the creek. The fort and wigwams tore down, piled in a heap and 
burned to ashes. The fort was about twelve miles from Wildwyck on a course 
of South, Southwest. The way was very bad and hilly. Several large creeks 
had to be crossed. In some places there was very fine land.

The fort destroyed was situated in the town of Shawangunk, about four 
miles west of Wallkill village, just above the Shawangunk Creek. The 
property is now (1917) owned by Antonia Blaustein. A detachment of troops 
was sent to Sagers Killetie (Saw Creek) in the present town of Saugerties, 
about twelve miles north of Kingston to destroy some corn fields of the 
Indians. They reported that it was beautiful maize land, suitable for a 
number of bouweries and for the immediate reception of the plow. September 
25, an awful tragedy happened. "A soldier, Jurien Jansen, fell out of a 
canoe at the Redoubt and was drowned; he was reaching for a squirrel and 
the canoe thus upset and he was drowned."

Demon rum still held sway. Some of the villagers got so drunk "that they 
cannot distinguish even the door of the house." Fights and brawls 
disturbed the peace. Something must be done. So, on September 26th, the 
"valiant Council of War" directed Schout Swartwout "to notify and forbid 
the tappers and retailers of strong drink who follow the profession of 
selling liquor in this village, that they do not under present 
circumstances sell strong drink to any one, be he Christian or Indian, 
under forfeiture of the liquor that may be found in his house."

October 7th, a girl who had been held captive by an Indian at his but in 
the mountain on the other- side of the creek, escaped and returned to the 
village. On the 9th, forty of the militia and the Marseping Indians (from 
Long Island), who had fought with the whites, went back to Manhattan. They 
took with them the captured Esopus. On the 17th, another detachment of the 
soldiers returned, leaving about sixty at Wildwyck under the command of 
Ensign Niessen.

The stockade was in need of repair. The Court ordered that each farmer 
should set up new palisades in front of his lot. The others, being 
inhabitants or burghers, occupying thirty-nine lots in the village, should 
repair and place new palisades "from the water gate along the curtains 
unto the lot of Arent Pietersen Tack." They must be at least two feet in 
circumference and thirteen feet in length. Every person must appear on 
Monday, October 22, at 7 o'clock "at the gate near Hendrick Jochemsen's, 
to proceed with the work."

November 7th, Lieutenant van Couwenhoven returned from Manhattan, bringing 
with him two children captives whom he had exchanged with the Esopus for a 
squaw and a big girl. Eight of the Indians captured at the new fort were 
sent back with him. He was accompanied by a Wappinger chief, who offered 
to return home and bring back one of the captive women who was among the 
Wappingers. He kept his promise and was given in exchange an Esopus squaw 
and child and two pieces of cloth. He said he would do his best to get all 
the prisoners held by the Esopus within ten days.

On November 29th he was back again, bringing six of the captives with him. 
For these he was given a captive squaw and two children, thirty strings of 
wampum, one piece of cloth, two cans of brandy, one-half an anker of 
brandy, fifteen strings of wampum, three yards of duffel, and ten pounds 
of powder. He said that he had given wampum to another Indian to look up 
the child of Albert Heymans (Roosa) and would bring all the other 
prisoners within three days. He returned on December 2nd, having two 
children with him, for which he was given an Indian child and three pieces 
of cloth. He could not return the remaining captives, five in number, 
because they were at the hunting grounds of the Esopus and he could not 
find them, but he had an Indian looking for them. Two were in his 
vicinity. The squaw who kept them would not let them go because she was 
sick, had no children and expected to die when he would get them and 
Roosa's daughter, who was also at the hunting grounds.

On the last day of the year, December 31, 1663, Cregier, his work well 
done, sailed away for Manhattan.

During December, 1663, the chiefs of the Hackingkesaky and Staten Island 
Indians appeared before the council at Manhattan. They stated that 
Seweckenamo, one of the chiefs of the Esopus, was anxious for peace. He 
was ashamed to come himself because he could not bring with him the five 
remaining captives. He could not get them because they were with the 
Esopus at their hunting grounds. He promised to get them as soon as 
possible. The Council concluded a truce with the Esopus for two months, 
during which the captives must be returned.

On March 6, 1664, the child of Jan Lootman was returned, and on the 25th, 
the chief of the Wappingers brought back another child. He said there were 
only three more captives among the Esopus. On April 26, 1664, Stuyvesant 
wrote the directors of the company that they had got back all the captives 
but three and his proclamation of May 31st, designating June 4 as a day of 
thanksgiving for the return of the captives, states that all of them had 
been returned. Legend has it that one of them, the daughter of Berent 
Slecht, married a young brave called "Jan." They settled on the bank of 
the Esopus Creek in the present town of Marbletown, where they lived for 
many years. Her name is not among the list of captives. Some of these 
prisoners were in the hands of the Indians for nearly a year. They were 
held by "savages," by "barbarians" panting for revenge upon the white man. 
All but one were women and children. Not one of them was sent away into 
slavery. Not one was killed. Not one was injured. The honor of no woman 
was assailed. All were returned. A most remarkable fact to reflect upon 
when forming our estimate of the nature of the red man.

On May 15, 1664, a notable gathering assembled in the council room at New 
Amsterdam. His "Noble Worship the Director-General Petrus Stuyvesant 
presided. About him were the Hon. Nicasius de Sille, the Hon. C. V. 
Ruyven, the Hon. Cornelis Steenwyck, the Hon. Paulus Leenderstsen van der 
Grist, Burgomasters of the city, Captain Lieutenant Marten Cregier, 
Lieutenant van Couwenhoven, Govert Loockermans, of Staten Island; Thomas 
Chambers, Commissary of the village of Wildwyck; Jacob Backer, President 
of the Schepens, and Abraham Wilmerdonk. Sara Kierstede acted as 
interpreter. There, gazing proudly at the white men, stood the chiefs of 
many of the tribes of the red men. Seweckenamo, Onagotin and Powsawwagh of 
the Esopus. t'Sees-Sagh-gauw of the Wappingers. Meeght Sewakes of the 
Kightewangh. See-Segh-Hout of the Reweuhnongh of Haverstraw. Sauwenarocque 
of the Wiechquaskeck. Oratamy of the Hackingkesacky and Tappaen. Matteno 
of the Staten Island and Nayack. Siejpekenouw, brother of Tapusagh of the 
Marsepingh, with twenty warriors of his tribe.

Old Seweckenamo, holding a stick in his hand, his arms folded, said: I 
have asked my God Dachtamo that I may do some good here. Let a treaty be 
made here as solid as this stick. The chiefs here are well pleased that 
peace be made between my people and the Dutch. It shall include the 
Marsepingh. I come to ask for peace for my people. A peace as firm and as 
binding as my folded arms. The other chiefs of the Esopus cannot be here. 
One is a very old man and blind. The others are friends of mine. I speak 
for them.

After much talk the terms of the peace was agreed upon. The treaty 
provided that all that had happened should be forgiven and forgotten. All 
the land that had previously been given to the Dutch and that which they 
had taken in the late war as far as the two captured forts should remain 
the property of the Dutch. The Indians should not plant this land again 
nor come into the villages at Esopus. In order that they might not be 
entirely deprived of their land they might during this year plant around 
the old and new fort. No Indian should come upon land which the Dutch were 
cultivating or using for pasture. They might come to the Redoubt to sell 
their corn. They must not come with more than two or three canoes at once 
and must send a flag of truce ahead to tell that they were coming. For 
their accommodation a house should be built over the hill. If a Dutchman 
should kill an, Indian or an Indian a Dutchman war should not be 
immediately begun. A meeting should be first held over it and the murderer 
punished by death in the presence of the Indians and the Dutch. If the 
Indians should happen to kill any of the live stock of the Dutch the 
chiefs should pay for it. If they refused one of them should be kept in 
prison until the animal killed was paid for. No Dutchman should do any 
damage to the Indians.

This treaty marks the passing of the Indian. He was no longer a menace or 
a terror. The Esopus were scattered among the other tribes. Their forts 
and villages had been burned. Their corn fields destroyed. Once again, in 
July, 1664, Seweckenamo appeared at Manhattan. He told the council that 
his people were sick and "very lean" for want of food. He asked that 
provisions be sent to them to their country "on the other side of 
Haverstraw." He was told that it would be better for them to come to 
Manhattan for supplies, but they could purchase provisions of the whites 
in their country. They gave him some wampum and a piece of duffels. In 
return he presented several strings of wampum and an elk skin and then, 
sadly, proudly, strode from the council chamber. On May 6, 1664, Dominie 
Blom and his consistory sent a petition to Stuyvesant asking that June 7th 
of every year be designated as an anniversary or thanksgiving day, on 
which no work should be done, to commemorate the rescue of the captives 
and to "thank his Divine Majesty for it." The pious governor promptly 
complied with the request.

On May 31st, he issued a proclamation to all the magistrates of the colony 
designating June 4th a general day of thanksgiving for the conclusion of 
the peace with the Indians and the return of the captives. The magistrates 
were directed to deliver the same "to the reverend ministers of God's 
word, that it may be by them communicated from the altar to the 
community."



CHAPTER VIII - INTERNAL AFFAIRS

DURING the war and the negotiations for peace and the return of the 
captives, little else of interest occurred at Wildwyck. During the fall of 
1663 the magistrates of the court on the one side and dominie Blom and the 
consistory of the church on the other, got into an angry controversy. Each 
claimed the right to administer upon the estates of persons dying without 
heirs. Tjerck Claesen de Wit, curator of the estate of William Jansen 
Seba, was enjoined by the consistory from rendering his account, and 
Cornelis Barentsen Slecht from paying any of the bills of Seba. The 
dominie sent a letter to the magistrates telling them that the consistory 
could not legally release the estate because they came to it 
ecclesiastically, "not that it was seized by the consistory as the 
Honorable Court dares falsely to assert."

Then the good dominie raps the court by saying that the consistory "is 
really astonished that the Honorable Court meets on Sunday, as there are 
enough other days in the week, and this is the reason why the Magistrates 
pew in the church is vacant Sunday morning and afternoon." The court 
referred the whole matter to Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant wrote the consistory 
that it was the duty of the magistrates to appoint administrators and 
orphanmasters, have estates inventoried and properly administered. The 
consistory had nothing to do with such matters. If the consistory or 
overseers of the poor had a claim against an estate they should proceed 
according to law and get an order of attachment. As to the complaint of 
the dominie that the magistrates claimed the right to dispose of what was 
collected in the community for the church or the poor, he tells the 
consistory and the magistrates that such funds should remain in the hands 
of the consistory. He admonished both parties "to remain within the 
bounderies of their respective positions and to continue, as well 
officially as privately, to live together in mutual friendship and 
harmony." To this Blom made answer that the consistory had done no more 
than to send its clerk to Slecht to request him not to give up the surplus 
of estates before the consistory had examined whether the overseers of the 
poor were authorized to receive it. That they maintained that position. 
They had no desire to meddle in matters belonging to the civil 
authorities, as they had enough to do in attending to their own duties.

Schout Swartwout and Magistrates Gybertsen, deWit, Chambers and van 
Imbroch then undertook to lecture Stuyvesant. They wrote him that they 
were "highly astonished" that he had taken away the small privileges of 
the village and destroyed their authority by directing that the surplus of 
estates should be placed in the hands of the overseers of the poor. If 
such order was to stand they asked that he would: "transfer not only part, 
but all the duties and rights of the commissioners to Dominie Blom and his 
consistory, Albert Heymansen, for before or during our time no deacon has 
been elected who could either read or write, except the Dominie alone, who 
sides with Albert Heymansen, who has shown himself more than once as an 
instigator of quarrels."

This letter aroused the ire of the governor. He immediately, December 19, 
1663, suspended Schout Swartwout from office and appointed Mathys Capito 
as clerk. He characterized their letter as insolent. He told the 
magistrates that if they resigned their office they must remove from the 
village and its jurisdiction within six months. Captain Cregier, who was 
the bearer of the governor's letter, was authorized "to fill the places of 
the obstinate and evil-minded officers by others, selected from the most 
pious and honest inhabitants."

The magistrates did not resign. Swartwout stood it being out of office 
until February 14, 1664, when he petitioned Stuyvesant and his council to 
reinstate him. He says that he had been induced to sign the letter "by 
fair words, persuasions and impositions." He had made a grave mistake 
which he regrets "from the bottom of his heart." He had always acted 
honestly and piously. He was "burdened with a wife and eight small 
children" and needed the emoluments of the office for the support of his 
family. He "humbly prays and requests" that he be pardoned. He promises to 
serve as Schout "honestly and faithfully, with due regard and obedience to 
his superiors, and courtesy, urbanity, modesty, temperateness and 
simplicity toward the inhabitants." He was reinstated by order dated 
February 14, 1664, which order states that he is graciously forgiven this 
time in hope of amendment, although his unfitness to act as Schout has 
several times been apparent.

In January, 1664, Ensign Niessen wrote Stuyvesant that a "strange disease 
afflicted the people but the Almighty's will be done."

In April, 1664, Chambers and van Imbroch petition that the jurisdiction of 
the court be enlarged to the same extent as the court at Fort Orange. That 
as cases often came up which required a prompt remedy and as during the 
winter season no news could be obtained from Manhattan that the court be 
authorized to enact and enforce provisional ordinances for the good and 
welfare of the village. That instructions be given to the court messenger 
as to his duties. Whether the Schout or the Secretary should act as 
auctioneer. Whether the duties of jailer and executioner belonged to the 
Schout or the Secretary. That as the school master was "making rather 
absurd demands for school money from the children, which compels many 
people to keep their children at home," a fair salary be granted him. That 
the tapsters' impost on beer, wine, brandy, and distilled waters be let 
annually by the court and that the same be applied to the expense of the 
village. That no one be allowed to sell drinks before he has obtained a 
tapsters' license. The request that the court be allowed to enact 
ordinances was granted provided that the same, with the reasons for their 
necessity, be first submitted to the governor and council and their 
approval obtained. If this could not be done during the winter season or 
other inconvience the court might execute provisional orders in an 
emergency on condition that they be submitted for confirmation at the 
first opportunity. Before anything was done toward giving the schoolmaster 
a salary the council desired to be informed how much the people paid him. 
An order defining the duties of the clerk was issued. Sales at voluntary 
auctions were to be conducted by the clerk or secretary. All Schouts and 
involuntary sales by the Schout. The tapsters' excise should be let 
publicly to the highest bidder. One-half the proceeds should be used to 
pay the debts of the village. No one should sell beer or liquors without 
permission.

To encourage the people to rebuild the New Village, Stuyvesant arranged to 
erect there a "stockaded place of refuge and keep there provisionally one-
half of the garrison at Wildwyck." For this purpose he ordered hemlock 
planks to be sent from Fort Orange.

In July, 1664, Stuyvesant and his council, deeming it necessary to have a 
representative at Wildwyck, who should have general charge of all matters, 
appointed Wilhelm Beeckman commissary. Every person at Wildwyck was 
directed to obey his orders. He was to make an inventory of all property 
belonging to the company and receive the balance there might be in the 
hands of Ensign Niessen, Matthys Capito, the clerk, and Jacob Burhans, the 
collector. All goods sent for the garrison were to be consigned and 
charged to him. He was to convene the Schepens, preside at the meetings of 
the court and in case of a tie have the casting vote. Whenever he was a 
party to a suit or acted for the Lords Patroons or on behalf of the law 
for the Hon. Fiscall, he must leave the bench and have no vote. In his 
place one of the Schepens should preside. In the absence of the governor 
or his deputy he had supreme command. He must uphold the law to the best 
of his knowledge in both civil and military matters. He was to take care 
that the provisions of the late treaty with the Indians were enforced. He 
should, at the first opportunity, let out the tapsters' excise.

Beeckman first sat as presiding officer of the court on July 14, 1664. Our 
old friend Swartwout had at last forever lost his office.

The affairs of New Netherland were in bad shape. The Indian war had been 
expensive. The treasury was empty. Discontent existed everywhere. The 
English towns on Long Island had revolted and set up a government of their 
own. In March, 1664, Stuyvesant turned to the people. At the request of 
the Burgomasters and Schepens of New Amsterdam he and his council convoked 
a general assembly of delegates from the several towns to take into 
consideration the state of the province. This was the first the principle 
of popular representation was fully recognized in the colony. Wildwyck 
chose Thomas Chambers and Gysbert van Imborch as delegates. The record of 
this, the first election in Ulster County and the first direct 
participation of the people in the management of the government, runs as 
follows

"Election held March 31, 1664, by a plurality of votes, for the purpose of 
sending two delegates from the village of Wildwyck to the Manhattans to a 
formal Assembly. Whereas, according to a written invitation of the 
Director-General and Council of New Netherland to the Schout and 
Commissaries here, dated March 18th last, it was requested that two 
delegates from our village of Wildwyck be sent to a formal gathering of an 
Assembly, the Schout and Commissaries have, therefore, called upon us, the 
undersigned inhabitants of Wildwyck, to meet together on the day named 
below to select two able persons of the community, and to depute them as 
delegates to the said meeting, which is to take place on April 10. We 
have, therefore, selected, by a plurality of votes, the worthy persons, 
Thomas Chambers and Gysbert van Imborch, to whom we hereby give full power 
and authority to do what may be necessary for the common interest and that 
of this place, and also to act in any matter as shall seem to them 
advisable, confirming what they, -the delegates may, according to their 
obligation, have lawfully done for the common welfare. For which purpose 
we have personally subscribed to these presents, at Wildwyck, this March 
31, 1664. Albert Gysbertsen, Tjerck Claesen deWitt, Cornelis Berentsen 
Slecht, Evert Pels, Albert Gysbertsen, Juriaen Westphael, Jan Willemse 
Hoochteylingh, Aert Jacobs, Ariaen Gerretsen van Vliet, Aert Martensen 
Doorn, Pieter Jacobsen, Mattys Roelofson, Jan Broersen, Jacob Barents Cool 
Henderick Jochemsen." Of the above all but deWitt, Slecht, Pels, Jacobs 
and Jochemsen sign by their mark.

The convention met in the city hall at New Amsterdam April 10, 1664. 
Delegates were present from the towns of New Amsterdam, Rensselaersyck, 
Fort Orange, Wildwyck, New Haerlem, Staten Island, Breukelen, Midwout, 
Amersfoort, New Utrecht, Boswyck and Bergen. Its proceedings need not 
concern us here as they had no bearing on the affairs of Wildwyck.

In accordance with Dutch custom the excise was "farmed out." That is the 
right to collect and receive the tax imposed on those using liquors was 
sold at auction to the highest bidder, who was called the "farmer of the 
excise." The lowest bid that would be received was stated by the 
auctioneer, who began with a high price and gradually reduced the same 
until a bid was received. The profit of the farmer was the difference 
between the amount he received for taxes and the sum bid by him.

July 22, 1664, the court fixed the excise as follows: For an anker (about 
10 gallons) of brandy, Spanish wine, distilled waters or others of the 
same quality, thirty stivers. For an anker of French wine, Rhine wine, 
wormwood wine or others of the same quality, fifteen stivers, a hogshead 
to be reckoned as five ankers For a tun of good beer, one guilder. For a 
tun of small beer, six stivers. Larger or smaller casks in proportion The 
excise must be paid to the farmer in good braided sewan, twelve white or 
six black beads for one stiver The farmer must pay one-quarter of the sum 
bid by him every three months in the same currency at the same rates. The 
auction was held on the same day with the following result, the sums bid 
being expressed in florins (a florin forty cents): Tjerck Claesen (de 
Witt) bids 50; Tomas Harmens, 75 ; Tjerck Claesen, 100; Tomas Harmans, 
125; Evert Pels, 150; Roelof Swartwout, 175; Evert Pels, 200; Tomas 
Harmens, 225; Tomas Harmensen, 250; Roelof Swartwout, 275; Tomas 
Harmensen, 300; Tomas Harmensen, 325, Tomas Har mensen, 350. Tomas 
Harmensen was the successful bidder and gave Tjerck Claesen de Wit and 
Waldran du Mont as sureties for the faithful performance of his duties.

On August 16, 1664, the court ordered that no "innkeeper or vendor of wine 
or beer" should sell without first obtaining a license from the court, 
which must be renewed every three months, and for which he must pay every 
time "for the use of the judges," one pound Flemish under penalty of 
suspension of his business. Those who made a business of brewing and 
distilling brandy must not tap or sell wine by measure.

This was the last judicial and legislative act of the court under Dutch 
domination. New Netherland surrendered to the English September 6, 1664. 
On September 1, 1664, the court directed the "burghery and inhabitants" to 
keep watch for the coming of the English. On the 4th, replying to the 
question of the Schout as to what should be done in case the English 
approached the village, it was directed that: "at the discharge of a 
cannon, all the burghery shall repair to the head watch, there to receive 
further orders, and that in the meantime the Honorable Schout, together 
with the Honorable Court, shall seek to parley with said English beyond 
the gates. Meanwhile the burgher officers are recommended to ascertain 
what powder and shot there are among the burghery, as we cannot tell how 
the savages will act in these circumstances."



CHAPTER IX - THE COMING OF THE ENGLISH

THIS is not the place to discuss the justice of the claim of England to 
New Netherland. On the 12th of March, 1664, King Charles II, by royal 
patent granted to James, Duke of York, afterward James II, all of New 
Netherland, to be held by him in free and common socage under the yearly 
rent of forty beaver skins when demanded. The duke lost no time in taking 
possession of his domain. Several men-at-war, carrying about four hundred 
and fifty of the king's soldiers, were dispatched to New Netherland. 
Richard Nicolls was appointed commander-in-chief of the forces and 
governor of New Netherland. The fleet arrived at New Amsterdam in August. 
Resistance was useless. The fort contained but few soldiers. Ammunition 
was short. The guns of the fleet were trained upon the town. Stuyvesant 
held out to the last but finally, upon the almost unanimous prayer of the 
people, frantic at the thought of war and the destruction of their homes, 
consented to surrender.

Articles of capitulation were signed by Nicolls on September 6th, and 
ratified by Stuyvesant and his council on the 8th. The Dutch troops, 
headed by Stuyvesant, with "arms fixed, colors flying, drum beating and 
matches lighted," marched out of Fort Amsterdam and embarked for Holland. 
An English guard took possession of the fort. The ensign of the United 
Provinces was lowered and the flag of England flung to the breeze.

The articles of capitulation provided that all people should continue free 
denizens and enjoy their lands, houses and goods and dispose of them as 
they pleased. Those desiring to remove from the country were given a year 
and six weeks in which to do so. The Dutch should continue to enjoy the 
liberty of conscience in divine worship and church discipline, and have 
their own customs concerning inheritances. No judgment that had been given 
by any court should be questioned. All contracts and bargains made before 
the surrender should be determined according to the manner of the Dutch. 
All inferior civil officers and magistrates should, if they pleased, 
continue until the customary time of election and then new ones to be 
chosen by themselves.

In September, Nicolls sent Colonel George Cartwright with a detachment of 
troops to take possession of Fort Orange and Wildwyck. The name of the 
former was changed to Albany after the Scotch title of the Duke. On his 
return from Albany, in the latter part of September, 1664, Cartwright 
stopped off at Wildwyck.- No opposition was shown. The local officers were 
retained in power. A company of soldiers were left in the fort under the 
command of Daniel Brodhead, an officer in the English army who had come 
over with Nicolls. In 1669, Governor Lovelace, who had succeeded Nicolls, 
appointed a commission to regulate and settle the affairs of Esopus and 
the adjacent villages. On September 17, the commission named the New 
Village, which had been rebuilt after its destruction by the Indians in 
1663, "Hurley," after the ancestral seat of Governor Lovelace's family in 
Berkshire, England.

A little settlement had grown up southwest of the New Village which, on 
the same day, was named "Marbleton," probably from the character of the 
rocks abounding there.

On September 25th, the commission changed the name of Wildwyck to 
"Kingston," also in honor of the governor, the family seat of whose mother 
was at Kingston Lisle, Berkshire.

Nine years under Dutch rule passed away. Kingston and the adjacent 
villages had grown in numbers and importance. In July, 1672, war broke out 
between the Netherlands and England and France. August 7, 1673, a Dutch 
fleet under the command of Admirals Cornelis Evertsen and Jacob Benckes 
sailed up the harbor of New York and trained its guns on the city which, 
on August 9th, surrendered. Evertsen and Benckes, together with Anthony 
Colve, Nicoles Boes and Abram Ferdinandus van Zyll, captains in the fleet, 
constituted themselves a council of war and assumed the reins of 
government. Colve was selected as Governor General. A proclamation was 
issued seizing all the property and debts belonging to the kings of France 
and England or their subjects. Two hundred troops were sent to reduce 
Albany and Kingston. News of the surrender soon reached Kingston. On 
August 5th, 1673, the magistrates directed Everdt Pels and Robert 
Gouldsberry to go to New York and ascertain the condition of affairs 
"because we have been informed that there are some Holland vessels there 
for the purpose of taking the country." Each was to receive a schepel of 
wheat per clay for his trouble. It was further ordered that a man should 
keep watch at the Ronduyt and that Captain Chambers, at the last report, 
should call the burghers to arms and then send some delegates to the 
troops. In the meantime to act in accordance with the report of the 
messengers.

The following proclamation was issued: "We, the magistrates, burghers and 
residents of the village of Kingston and jurisdiction of the same, declare 
under oath that owing to the surrender of the country, hitherto called New 
York, on account of which we have been discharged from the oath of 
allegiance taken to his majesty of Great Britain, we absolutely submit to 
the authority of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the 
United Netherlands and his serene highness the prince of Orange, to be 
true and faithful to them and at the least written notice of him who shall 
be here in authority, or should be authorized by him for said purpose, to 
keep ourselves in readiness against all enemies whoever they may be, for 
the purpose of assisting to protect the rights of their High Mightinesses 
as it is the duty of all pious and faithful subjects. But, whereas, there 
are several people living here who are native-born Englishmen, therefore, 
they are permitted, in case it should happen that we should be inimically 
attacked here by the order of his royal majesty of Great Britain to remain 
quiet and to remain unarmed without in any manner taking part in it. But 
in case with the aforesaid English any enemies of whatever other nation 
should be allied then the English residents here shall be obliged to 
defend themselves against them by every possible means without being 
permitted to take the least exception."

August 26th, the magistrates requested some of the oldest burghers to give 
their views in writing "within twice twenty-four hours" as to what matters 
concerning the village should be made to the "vigorous council of war" at 
New York, and Joost Adriaensen and the secretary, W. Montagne, were 
dispatched to New York for that purpose. These representatives appeared 
before the council of war which, on September 1, 1673, changed the name of 
Kingston to "Swaenenburgh," after the flag ship of Admiral Evertsen. The 
council directed that the towns of Swaenenburgh, Horley, and Marbletowne 
should "conjointly nominate by their deputies" three persons for Schout 
and three for secretary, from which the council would select a Schout and 
Secretary for the three towns. The "commonalty" of Swaenenburgh should 
nominate eight persons as schepens. Hurley and Marbletowne having been 
under one bench of justice should continue so, and they should nominate 
eight persons as schepens. From the persons so nominated the council would 
select the magistrates. A double number should in like manner be nominated 
for chief officers of the militia. No one unless of the Reformed religion 
must be nominated and none unless they were at least friendly to the 
Dutch.

From the nominees so made the council, on October 6, 1673, named the 
following officers:

For magistrates of Swaenenburg, Cornelis Wyncoop, Roeloff Kierstede, 
Wessell Ten Broeck, Jan Burhans.

For officers of the militia, Captain Mathys Mathysen, Lieutenant Jan 
Willemsen, Ensign Mathys Barentsen.

For magistrates of Hurley and Marble town, Louis DuBois, Roeloff 
Hendricksen, Jan Joosten, Jan Broersen.

For officers of the militia, Captain Albert Heymans, Lieutenant Jan 
Broersen, Ensign Gerrit Adriaensen.

For secretary of the three towns, William Lamontagne.

William Beeckman, who had been nominated for Schout, had removed to New 
York and declined. The inhabitants were directed to nominate another 
person by "plurality of votes," and Isaac Grevenraet was nominated and 
appointed. An order defining the duties and powers of the schout and 
magistrates was issued. It substantially restored the government to the 
form it had been under Stuyvesant.

The council of war made but few orders relating to the three villages. The 
inhabitants of Hurley were commanded "not to remove their dwellings 
outside the village" unless they obtain special consent. The schout was 
refused a salary because none had ever been allowed. He was to act as 
auctioneer and with the secretary collect the excise. The .Burgher Watch 
was to assist him "in arresting evildoers." The magistrates must see to it 
that good watch be kept "to which end some of the burghers should repair 
every evening, about sunset, to the usual guard house, and not leave 
before sunrise." They should see that the officers of the militia were 
respected and obeyed by their men. Their arms must be inspected and they 
must be supplied with ammunition. During this brief period of Dutch rule 
little of interest happened in the villages. The courts found little to 
do. The stockade was ordered repaired. Roelof Kierstede and Alberdt Jansen 
were appointed fire wardens and directed to inspect all chimneys every two 
weeks and see that they were kept clean. Every person must clean the 
street in front of his house of refuse and dirt.

Hendrick van Wyen was fined one hundred guilders for assaulting Gretje 
Westercam and, in addition, was condemned to pay the fees and expenses of 
the doctor. One-fourth of the fine went to the poor, one-fourth for the 
village and one-half to the officers. Anna Nottingham was fined one 
hundred guilders for calling Schout Grevenraet a "hungry cur" and a 
"hungry raven." Klaes Tysen sued Cornelis Wynkoop for four hundred 
schepels of wheat, the price of a negro sold him. Wynkoop defended on the 
ground that the negro was represented to be "hale and sound" whereas he 
had lost a finger and another finger and a thumb were stiff. The court 
referred the matter to arbitrators who reported that the negro was not 
sound and Tysen must take him back. The decision was approved by the 
court. Robberdt Biggerstab brought an action against Jan Gerretsen for 
damage for running over his pig. "Defendant says that when he was passing 
with his wagon he heard a pig squeal. His wife, going to the spot, found 
no pig." Plaintiff was ordered to prove his case. What became of the 
litigation or of the pig the record does not disclose. Dutch supremacy 
continued but for a brief period. A treaty of peace between England and 
the Netherlands was signed at Westminster February 19, 1674. By it New 
York was restored to the English. The King commissioned Edmund Andros 
governor of New York, July 1, 1674.

On July 7, 1674, the State's General dispatched an order to Governor Colve 
to deliver New Netherland to Andros. The order reached Colve October 15, 
1674, and on November 10, 1674, the formal surrender took place at New 
York. Andros appointed George Hall sheriff and Robert Peacock constable of 
Kingston. Cornelis Wyncoop, J. Adriaensen and George Hall, who had been 
magistrates at Kingston on its surrender to the Dutch, were reinstated in 
office. December 20, 1674, the old court met for the last time.

Schout Grevenraet presented an order of Governor Andros relieving the 
magistrates from the oath of allegiance they had taken to the State's 
General and the Prince of Orange. The order reinstating the old 
magistrates was published. They immediately took the oath of allegiance to 
King James.

The new court convened January 12, 1675. The sceptre swayed by the Dutch 
over New Netherland, from the day that Henry Hudson sailed up the river 
that bears his name, forever ceased to govern.