CHAPTER XI.

Further collision between the Director-general and Rensselaerswyck-Causes thereof Van Slechtenhorst visits New Amsterdam-Is placed under arrestDeparts without leave-Sends his son to explore the Katskill Mountains for silver-Result of the expedition-Stuyvesant claims a separate jurisdiction for Fort Orange-Opposed-Consequences of the conflicting pretensionsJohn Baptist van Rensselaer-Dyckman-Schuyler-Progress of the difficulties-The Beverwyck limits staked out-The court of Rensselaerswyck order the stakes to be pulled up, and remonstrate-The Director-general lampooned -Dismisses Attorney-general Van Dyck-Visits the colonie-Calls on the authorities there to define their bounds-Orders the Patroon's flag to be struck -Van Slechtenhorst resists-A court of justice erected in Fort Orange-Van Slechtenhorst offers further opposition-Is arrested and removed to Fort Amsterdam-Changes in consequence-Dominie Schaets appointed to Rensselaerswyck-New regulations relative to the purchase of Indian lands-Katskill and Claverack excluded from the burthens of patroonship-Van Werckhoven's colonies on the Raritan and Long Island-Further proceedings of Van der Donck in Holland-His remonstrance against the Hartford treaty-Representations on the part of the several chambers-The Amsterdam Directors conciliate the colonists-Trade with Africa opened-Another clergyman sent outNEW AMSTERDAM IncorporateD-Reflections-Proceedings of the States General on Van der Donck's remonstrances-Stuyvesant recalled-The Amsterdam Chamber opposes his recall-The resolution reconsidered-Causes thereof.

THE call for a subsidy from Rensselaerswyck brought CHAP. on a collision between the authorities of that colonie and

XI.

the provincial government. The latter had, already, 1651. peremptorily demanded the excise on wines and strong liquors consumed in the Patroon's district, which was refused. It was considered an invasion of the freedoms, and in direct opposition to the custom of Fatherland. The Patroon had defrayed, from his own resources, the salaries of the minister and other public servants, as well as the general expenses attendant on the settlement of the country. These had amounted, on the 30th of June, 1650, to the sum of twenty-five thousand seven hundred and seventy-three guilders, or more than ten thousand dollars, no part of which had been paid either by the Company, or the co-directors of the colonie.' It would be, therefore,

1 This expenditure is stated in a letter, signed by Johan van Wely and John B. van Rensselaer, and dated 7th April, 1671. Rensselaerswyck MSS.

IV.

BOOK Submitting to a wrong to consent to the demand now put forth. As it was a matter, however, that concerned the 1651. common interests of the country and the privileges of the colonie, Commander Van Slechtenhorst was commissioned to proceed to New Amsterdam, to remonstrate with the Director and Council against it.

April 29. He arrived at the Manhattans towards the close of the month of April, and took the earliest opportunity to represent how contrary to reason, law and usage were the proposed exactions. But Stuyvesant was inexorable, and Slechtenhorst, on his side, was equally unyielding; "for it was a matter of great importance, which may cause not only tumult but bloodshed in the country.” The parties separated, but Slechtenhorst had not yet finished his dinner, when a messenger summoned him before the Director-general and Council. Immediately on his appearance the authorities proceeded to pronounce sentence against him, animadverting in strong terms on his conduct, especially in reference to the settlement of Katskill. Slechtenhorst, no ways daunted, demanded if a man could be condemned unheard? The only answer he received May 1. was an order for his arrest. He was detained four months at the Manhattans, notwithstanding he repeatedly protested against his detention, and the authorities of Rensselaerswyck made several applications for his release. Finally, seeing no prospect of obtaining permission to deSep. part, he embarked in a sloop, and returned to Fort Orange, having given a guarantee to the skipper to see him harmless, should he be prosecuted for having received him on board. It was well for the skipper that he had taken this precaution; for, on his return to the Manhattans, his vessel was arrested, and he was fined two hundred and fifty guilders and costs. Van Slechtenhorst estimated his expenses in consequence of these proceedings at about four hundred dollars.

Sep. 10.

In conformity to instructions from Holland, he dispatched, on his return, his son to Katskill to explore the mountains in that vicinity for precious metals, a maiden of one of the boors having accidentally found a substance thereabouts

IV.

"which some thought was silver." The expedition well BOOK nigh proved fatal to the young man; for on his arrival at the Patroon's farm, heavy rains set in and continued a day 1651. and a night. The mountain torrent became swollen, in the space of three hours, to the unprecedented height of thirty feet. The farm house with all its contents, whilst the inmates were basking in fancied security, was swept into the kill, and the horses and cattle had well nigh perished had not young Slechtenhorst," who was an excellent swimmer," afforded such efficient aid as to succeed in rescuing them. All idea of looking after the silver mine. in the Katskill mountains was of necessity abandoned, in consequence of this misadventure.'

Three years had now elapsed since Director Stuyvesant set up a claim for a separate jurisdiction for Fort Orange, distinct and independent of that of Rensselaerswyck. Yet the question remained still unsettled. Lines were not drawn in those days with as much precision as in our times. The Indians measured by the day's journey; Stuyvesant by the cannon ball. The jurisdiction of the fort, as claimed by him, extended over a circumference within the range of gun shot, which he estimated at six hundred paces of five feet to a pace; a distance subsequently estimated at one hundred and fifty rods. As the hamlet of Beverwyck, now becoming every day more populous and valuable, would, by this operation, be severed from the colonie; and as the Company could not fail, in consequence, to secure the greater part of the fur trade, to the serious injury of the Patroon, considerable opposition was manifested to Stuyvesant's pretension. The authorities of Rensselaerswyck maintained that the fort stood on the Patroon's soil; that the whole territory from Beeren island to the Cohoes was his; and that, consequently, the fort could have no jurisdiction beyond its walls. As for trading in furs, or cutting timber, it was, they insisted, a flagrant spoliation of the Patroon's property.

1 Rensselaerswyck MSS.

• De forts gerechticheyt synde, naer gemeene ordre ende gebruyck, ontrent de doel van een gotelings schoot, gereckent op ses hondert geometressche passen.

CHAP.
XI.

Jean Baptiste van Rensselaer, the first of that family who visited this country, was elected one of its magistrates, 1651. whilst this controversy was at its height. Shortly afterNov. 23. wards, an order was issued that all the freemen and inhabitants should take the oath of allegiance to the Patroon and his representatives.'

Oct. 18.

1 FORM OF OATH TAKEN BY THE COLONISTS OF RENSSELAERSWYCK TO THE PATROON. "I, N. N., promise and swear that I shall be true and faithful to the noble Patroon and Co-directors, or those who represent them here, and to the Hon'ble Director, Commissioners and Council, subjecting myself to the Court of the Colonie; and I promise to demean myself as a good and faithful inhabitant or Burgher, without exciting any opposition, tumult or noise; but on the contrary, as a loyal Inhabitant, to maintain and support offensively and defensively, against every one, the Right and Jurisdiction of the Colonie. And with reverence and fear of the Lord, and uplifting of both the first fingers of the right hand, I say-So TRULY HELP ME GOD ALMIGHTY."

This date, 15th July, 1649, hath Steven Jansen Carpenter taken the Oath of allegiance from the hands of the Honorable Director before the commissioners of the colonie. Witness, A. DE HOOGES, Secretary.

23d Nov., 1651. RESOLVED, that all Householders and Freemen of this Colonie shall appear on the 28th day of November of this year, being Tuesday, at the house of the Honorable Director, and there take the Burgerlyke oath of Allegiance.

The following persons have taken the Oath at the appointed time, according to the foregoing formulary :

XI.

These conflicting pretensions were necessarily produc- CHAP. tive of a bad state of feeling between the opposing parties.n On New Year's night, some soldiers, armed with match- 1652. locks, sallied from the fort, and fired a number of shots at Jan. 1. the Patroon's house. Several pieces of ignited wadding settled on the roof, (which was of reed,) and had caused the destruction of the building, had not the inmates been on the alert. On the following day, the soldiers assaulted young Slechtenhorst in the street, "and not only beat him black and blue, but dragged him through the mud and mire in the presence of Joannes Dyckman, the Company's commissary,' who cried out all the time, "Let him have it now, and the d-l take him!" Philip Pietersen Schuyler endeavored to save his brother-in-law. Dyckman, hereupon, drew his sword and threatened to run Schuyler through, if he interfered. The soldiers struck others of the commander's children, and threatened to shoot them, but were prevented. The friends of the family were justly incensed at this outrage, and menaced revenge. This coming to Dyckman's ears, he, it is represented, ordered the guns of

1 Dycknian had been first clerk to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, and sailed in the Waterhound, in the spring of this year, for New Netherland, having been appointed bookkeeper, at a salary of 30 fl. per month and board. On his arrival he was sent as Commissary and Vice Director to Fort Orange, which offices he filled until 1655, when, having become deranged, he was superseded.

This was the first of the Schuyler family who settled in this country. He came from Amsterdam to America in 1650, and was married on 22d December of that year, to Margritta van Slechtenhorst, aged 22, daughter of the Director of Rensselaerswyck, by Anthonie de Hooges the secretary of the colonie, "in presence of the officers both of Fort Orange and Rensselaerswyck, and of some of the principal inhabitants thereof." By this lady he had ten children, viz. : Guysbert, Gertrude, (who married Stephanus van Cortland ;) Alida, (who married, first, Rev. Nicholas van Rensselaer, second Robert Livingston ;) Pieter, Brant, Arent, Sybilla, (died, aged four weeks,) Philip, Johannes, and Margritta. Peter Schuyler was the first mayor of Albany. John, the youngest son, held a captain's commission in 1690, when he led an expedition into Canada, and penetrated as far as La Prairie, being then only twenty-two years of age. He possessed great influence among the Indians, and is referred to frequently in La Potherie's History of North America. His grandson, General Philip Schuy ler, occupies too high a place in the history of this State, to need further remark here. Philip Pietersen Schuyler died at Albany, on the 9th March, 1683-4, and was buried on the 11th of the same month in the church of that place, then situated at the junction of State street and Broadway. His will bears date Tuesday evening, 1st May, 1683, O. S.