in our opinion, since we learn, that the said English profess now to be good Royalists. The King will not, we believe, support them in their unjustified claims, much less encourage them to usurpation, as the preceding government has undoubtedly done. As to your careful suggestion, that we would do well to take advantage of this change of affairs and endeavor to have the boundary question finally settled, the enclosed copy of our representation will tell you, what we have done and accomplished so far in this matter. Their High: Might: have given special instructions regarding it to their ambassadors and the latter have not only arrived in England, but also have had several audiences of his Majesty; we must now await the result in patience, but are not quite idle, for we have addressed and sent representations to the said ambassadors, asking that the matter might soon be discussed and settled. We are not satisfied with the provisional agreement concerning the boundary, made there, but desire redress for the usurpation of our lands and tresspas upon our jurisdiction at the Fresh river and upon Long Island; because the Company has been injured too much by that agreement and expects to be treated in their good cause with more fairness and justice by the present King and to obtain a, more favorable settlement of the question. We should like, that upon this occasion the absolute liberty of trade between our people and the English there were discussed and if possible conceded, but as we see little hope or chance to obtain this here, while it is a matter of great importance to the province of New Netherland and its inhabitants, we must urge you most earnestly, to use all possible means and treat with your English neighbors there about it, so that the commerce between the two nations and places may become reciprocal and safe. more. We are willing to believe, that the servants of the Company there are satisfied with receiving their salaries in beavers at 7fl, because they lose nothing by it, beavers selling here now at 9fl and But we are not pleased, that the payments cannot be made in this currency at present and you therefore desire to throw this burden again upon our shoulders, as we notice by several new attempts; it is against our orders and intentions, for if the payments cannot all be made in beavers, you must pay out wampum. Nobody need complain, when it is reduced for that purpose to Holland or beaver valuation. Although you seem to insinuate, that the general revenues do not amount to as much, as you require, on account of the present burdens, especially the large military force, we believe, that by applying economy in many cases, you might find yourselves able to make these payments: the books, which you sent us, will probably prove that, when we shall have found time to examine them. If contrary to our belief they show a different state of affairs, then the expenses there must be diminished and cut down; you might begin with the military establishment, for it is utterly unnecessary to keep 250 soldiers in the service now, that you need not fear any troubles from your English neighbors or from the savages, and it is too expensive and beyond the means of the Company to maintain the establishment for the purpose of defying both nations or obtaining their respect. You can enlist soldiers there at all times and keep them under arms for a short period, as the French and English have always done, who in planting their colonies on your continent, in the Caribean and other islands never employed or kept soldiers for their preservation or protection. This has made them so much more cautious and caused less expense while it increased their profits, so that they have flourished and increased so much sooner. We direct and charge you therefore to get rid of as many soldiers as possible, not only by discharging those who have or soon will have served their term, but also by encourgaging the others to apply for their discharge and then to remain in the country. You may offer the latter some inducements, *See Col. Docs. Vol. XII, p. 332. perhaps by allotting and granting them a larger parcel of good land, or whatever else you believe to be the best: the revenues will then not only be sufficient, but even exceed the expenses and we may at last hope to see and enjoy here the long expected profits. You propose, that 24000 to 25000fl should be sent over in goods, but the Company has not the funds to do it now; besides, we think it would be more disadvantageous, than profitable and we have the same opinion of the goods and commodities sent for distribution among the soldiers. Anyway, the Company is not compelled to make such remittances, especially when we pay the soldiers, what we have promised them; this has hitherto been done, as the payments were made at Holland valuation either in beavers or in wampum. It is quite sure that the indolent profit but little by these distributions, as they sell them often at an advance and spend the proceeds in riotous living, while the frugal and careful men see to it and give orders, on receiving their pay there, to have the required things brought from here by some opportunity or by some skipper, to whom they entrust the commission. We send therefore very little this time, for the more you indulge the soldiers the more indolent they grow, as several instances in the Company's foreign service prove, which we need not repeat here, as you have been yourself a witness of what occurred in the City's Colony. * We have written several times about the depreciation of wampum, but we cannot discover any other means to prevent it, than to reduce it again, which must be done, whenever you think, that the time and circumstances are convenient, as we told you in our last letter. Your statement, that the continued reductions impoverish the inhabitants and ruin houses and lands and that therefore we cannot go on reducing it, unless some other currency is brought into the country, astonishes us, because we have before us so many instances to the contrary, not only among the heathens, but also among Christian people, for instance your own neighbors, English and French, there and in the Caribean and other islands of the West Indies, where no silver money is in circulation, † and nevertheless they flourish. We see no way of bringing coin there, much less to keep it, if brought Your repeated proposition, to reduce beavers and other peltries and keep them under the market price here, has been realized by accident or rather by the scarcity of beavers here, which sell now at 9 and more guilders. Your further proposition, that the duties there should be paid in silver and that cash be paid for the provisions and other goods, sent from there to Curaaço, requires our deliberate consideration, because it is a matter of great importance. We shall inform you of the results of our deliberations in due time. over. We shall also consider the request for two or three suitable candidates or ministers, to be located in the English and Dutch villages; we are inquiring for such persons, that both nationalities and churches may soon be properly provided. * * * * * Thus far in answer to your general letter, but as we have noticed several points in the Director-General's private despatch, we shall now reply to them. First, you ask our advice, what to do, if it should happen, that in consequence of the change of government in England, many people of that nationality were to remove into the jurisdiction of the Company, whether you shall admit them and under what conditions. We reply briefly as to their admission, that we do not believe, they will come in such number, that danger may be apprehended from them, because your general letter informs us, that the English at the North *New Amstel, now New Castle, Del. See Vol. XII, Col. Doc. The Directors are mistaken in New England silver money of their own coinage was in circulation together with wampum, Massachusetts having established a mint in 1652 and in the West Indies the Spanish coins were used as circulating mediums.-B. F. unexpectedly profess to be good Royalists; as to the conditions, they can only be the general ones imposed upon all our inhabitants and on which they are admitted. We have been pleased to receive the map of the City of New Amsterdam: we noticed, that according to our opinion too great spaces are as yet without buildings, as for instance between Smee Street* and Princes Gracht† or between Prince Street† and Tuyn Street, ‡ also between Heeren Streets and Bevers Gracht, || where the houses apparently are surrounded by excessively large lots and gardens; perhaps with the intention of cutting streets through them, when the population increases, although if standing closer together, a defense might be easier. We leave this to your consideration and care. * * * * * As D' Selyns has asked us, to send a good bell for the church at Brooklyn, which could be used to call together the country people in times of distress, we have resolved to send it if possible with this ship, also another for the Esopus, that they may use them on proper occasions. The agreement, made by us with the executor and co-heirs of the late Baron Frederick van der Capelle tho Ryssel, concerning his pretended claim upon Staten Island and its dependencies, is here enclosed for your information. You are now directed and authorized, to receive, demand and have properly conveyed to you such rights, houses, buildings, implements, cattle and other things, as the said Baron van der Capelle tho Ryssel may have had or laid claim to on the said island, and to take immediate possession of it, that nothing of the property may be carried off to the detriment of the Company. You may believe, we would not have been so liberal in this matter, if the executor and the other heirs had not been perfectly willing to take in payment outstanding accounts against the Province of Guelderland. COUNCIL MINUTE. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST QUAKERS AT JAMAICA, L. I. LAND AT FLATBUSH. Anno 1661. In the name of the Lord, Amen. T Whereas some inhabitants of Rustdorp have urgently requested that one of the clergymen of this City come over some day, to preach and baptize several children; and whereas his Honor, the Director-General, has been informed by letters from said village and from Vlissingen and Middelborgh, that members of the sect, called Quakers, have uncommonly free access to the house of one Henry Touwnsen of said village, who was therefore arrested a few days ago, Domine Samuel Driesius and the Under Schout were to-day sent there with the following letter, to obtain better information about it: Lovinge Friends Vppon petition of sum of yow beeinge desirous that theyre Children might be Baptysed, we have sent one of our Ministers, to witt: Mr. Samuel Driesius & Whereas we Credibly were jnformed that jf the quaeckers and other Sects contra to Order & Law private Conventickles had been kept, We have sent our substitute Scholt and one of our Clercques for to tacke notice of it-Requiringe & Orderinge you by these presents that you shall give vnto them, an Exact account & true Information ware in wath house, such vnlawful conventicles ware kept, and wath persons therein had Exercysed, wath persons-men, or womman there had beene present-& which person the meetinge did call, and further of all Circumstances belonginge to it. So after my Love I shal Rest. Amsterdam in the New Your lovinge friend & Governour D' Driesius, Resolveert Waldron, the Provost and Nicolaes Bayard, Clerk, proceeded pursuant to the foregoing letter to Rustdorp, last Saturday, the 8th of January, where they arrived in the evening. D' Driesius preached twice the next day and baptized eight children and two aged women. The Under Schout had mean while been informed, that a meeting of Quakers was being held at Gravesend, and in company of Nicolaes Bayard went there early on Monday morning, but the Quaker had escaped. They returned to this place in the evening, bringing with them the Quaker's cloak and Sam Spycer, because he with several others had not only followed and listened to the Quaker in several conventicles, but also entertained him in his mother's house. They further brought the following notice and the list of persons who were present at the Quaker meeting: Notition of the Names that havebeen jn the meeting of the quaecker, named N. N. ju the house of Henry Townsen given vp to vs by Mr. Ritchard Everett & Nathaniell Denton : 1 Henry Townsen hath beene a warninge the People from doore to doore or they would nott come to his house for their was a learned man. 1 Sam Spicer 1 Goedie Tilton of Gravesande. 1 Sam Andries. 1 Ritchard Harcker. persons 11 2 Samuel Deen & his wife. 2 John Townson & his wife. 1 Ritchard Brittnell. Thus Testifyed in the Presence of Resolveert Waldron in the house of Ritchard Everett att Rustdorp this 9th Jannuary A° 1661. Nota: The name of the Quaker above mentioned is George Wilson. was underwritten. RITCHARD EVERETT. January 13th, Thursday. Present his Honor, the Director-General Petrus Stuyvesant, aud the Councillors Nicasius de Sille and Johan de Deckere. To their Honors, the Director-General and Council of New Netherland. Show with due reverence the Schout and Schepens of the village of Midwout: your Honors have been pleased to give your verbal consent to the people of said village of Midwout, that they might mow every year a certain piece of meadowland near the Canarisse, to supply themselves with fodder for their cattle, which, praised be God, number now many heads; the inhabitants of this village have done so for some years past without being prevented, but your petitioners bear in mind, that suddenly somebody else might lay claim to these meadows, which, if it happened would tend not only to the decrease and disadvantage of the said village, but also to the complete ruin and destruction of the same and its inhabitants, who are engaged there in tilling the soil and have made considerable improvements; for besides the said meadows they have already not enough land to make hay for their present number of cattle, which is increasing daily. To prevent such a calamity, your petitioners feel bound by their official duty, to submit the matter to your Honors and respectfully to request, that your Honors may pass a written document, confirming to the said village the aforementioned meadowland between the Fresh kil and the Canarisse, stretching S. S. E. from the sea to the woods, as it has been mowed by the inhabitants for some years past, as your Honors have granted them to the village of New Utrecht and other places. Which doing, etc. By their order, Your Honors' willing subjects and servants The Schout and Schepens of The foregoing petition was receivea and read. Upon a vote being had it was decreed: The Director-General and Council affirm their former consent and allotment of the meadow mentioned herein; the petitioners may have it surveyed by the sworn Surveyor, which done, they shall receive a properly executed document. Date as above Nicasius de Sille, ex-officio Plaintiff against Henry Townsend and Sam Spicer, prisoners. The plaintiff asserts and proves by trustworthy witnesses, that Henry Townsend has not only lodged Quakers, but also informed his neighbors and others, that a Quaker was at his house and asked them, to come and hear him. He has admitted, that the Quaker preached at his, Townsend's, house in his presence and that the said Sam Spicer was present at the meeting of the Quakers not only in Rustdorp, but also at Gravesend and that he lodged them in his mother's house, contrary to the placat, published against conventicles and separate gatherings. The plaintiff therefore, demands, that the prisoners be condemned to a fine of 600 fl each, conform to the placat.* The defendants were asked, whether they acknowledged, what the Fiscal charges against them, and answered that they would not criminate themselves, but the charge had to be proved. The Fiscal having done it, they brought forward many frivolous excuses; that they had only called on their friends, that no law forbade friends to meet each other, etc. As they gave no pertinent answer, the Fiscal was directed to give them a copy of his charge and demand for sentence, to which they are to give answer on the next court day. They were then taken back to their confinement. Date as above.t Loovinge Friend. Whereas the Experiancy from tyme to tyme to our great displeasure & Contempt hath * This "Ordinance against Conventicles" was passed Feb. 1, 1656. See Laws of New Netherland, p. 211 and Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan's note following it.-B. F. A few days later Henry Townsend was condemned to a fine of 25 pounds Flemish, and Sam Spicer to pay 12 pounds. John Tilton of Gravesend and John Townsend of Jamaica were banished, and Mrs. Micah Spicer, Sam's mother, was acquitted upon her assertion, that she did not know Geo. Wilson as a Quaker. |