about twenty years past;" the right of calling a synod by the English churches that might be gathered in New Netherland, for the regulation of their ecclesiastical affairs; "the right to administer justice in all civil matters within themselves, by magistrates of their own selection," without appeal to other authorities; the purchase of the lands by the Dutch government from the natives, and a full conveyance thereof to the associates forever; none to "be allowed to settle among them except by their own consent; the right to collect debts;" and a written charter stipulating these rights in full.*

To all these the Governor readily consented, except the concession of full powers of self-government without appeal; Stuyvesant being unwilling to grant them, in this respect, greater liberties than were enjoyed by the other towns and colonies of New Netherland. But the deputation was strenuous in securing a full concession of popular rights, inasmuch as a controversy between Stuyvesant and his people had for years been carried on, and with some considerable asperity, on this very point; the people demanding that no laws should be enacted, and no magistrates appointed, but with their consent and approbation; and the governor stoutly resisting the demand. The conference, thus broken off, was renewed in March, 1662, with the same result. The whole matter was then referred to the Directors at Amsterdam. They would have been pleased, they say, in their reply, March 26, 1663, with the arrangement, as the "settlement. might serve as a bulwark to our nation against the savages on the Raritan and Minisink." They instruct Stuyvesant to insist on retaining appellate jurisdiction in certain criminal cases, "as long as it is tenable;" but, "if the object in view is not obtainable without this sacrifice," then the Governor was "authorized to treat with the English on such terms as in his opinion are best adapted to promote the welfare of the State and its subjects." The negotiations were renewed in June, 1663, but with what result the record does not state. As no settlement was attempted during the con

* O'Callaghan's N. Neth., II. 447-8. Albany Records, IX. 897, 899, 907; X. 73, 77.

tinuance of the Dutch dominion, it is altogether probable that the disagreement remained.*

Later in the year, the English towns on Long Island had succeeded in throwing off the authority of the Dutch Government, and had put themselves under the jurisdiction of Connecticut. Early in December, a party of twenty Englishmen, from Jamaica, Flushing, and Gravesend, proceeded, in Stoffel Elsworth's sloop, to the Raritan River, with the intention of purchasing a plantation from the Indians. But the design was arrested by an armed party under command of Captain Kregier, sent out for the purpose by Governor Stuyvesant, in the Company's yacht.†

These were the only attempts, so far as we can learn, by any parties previous to the year 1664, to occupy this part of the country. Denton, in 1670, says:

Whilst it was under the Dutch Government, which hath been till within these six years, there was little encouragement for any English, both in respect to their safety from the Indians, the Dutch being almost always in danger of them; and their Bever-trade not admitting of a War, which would have been destructive to their trade which was the main thing prosecuted by the Dutch. And secondly, the Dutch gave such bad Titles to Lands, together with their exacting of the Tenths of all which men produced off their Land, that did much hinder the populating of it; together with that general dislike the English have of living under another Government.‡

* O'Callaghan's N. Neth., II. 448-9. Whitehead's E. Jersey, pp. 183-4. Brodhead's New York, I. 707-8.

+ Whitehead's E. Jersey, p. 177.

Denton's New York, Ed. of 1845, pp. 16, 17.

CHAPTER II.

A. D. 1664-1665.

Charter of Connecticut-Royal African Company-Grant to the Duke of York-Expedition against New Netherland - Surrender of New Amsterdam Gov. Nicolls - Petition of Bailey, Denton, and others for leave to plant a Colony-Indian Purchase and Deed-Nicolls' Grant - Proposals for Settlers Early Descriptions of the Country-Extent of Nicolls' Patent Date of the Settlement - Tradition of four Families- -Associate PurchasersRev. Thomas James.

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FOR several years previous to the Restoration of Charles II., serious differences had existed between the Dutch and English Colonies in North America. The latter were far the more numerous and powerful. Having settled on the seacoast of New England, and their patents for land giving them an indefinite extent of territory westward, they found themselves brought into collision with the Dutch who claimed on both sides of the North River to its source. Repeated conferences resulted inore and more unfavorably for peace. The new charter of Connecticut, obtained from the king, and bearing date April 23, 1662, expressly granted them all the territory between the Massachusetts line and the sea, extending from Narragansett Bay to the Pacific Ocean. The Dutch were, accordingly, told, by the Hartford people, that "they knew of no New Netherland province, but of a Dutch governor over the Dutch plantation on the Manhattans." Representations were, also, made to the Court, designed to further these claims, and to lead to the extinguishment of the Dutch government in America.*

Charles had, for some time, meditated the reduction of the American Colonies to a state of immediate dependence on

Brodhead's New York, I. 721.

the crown, and the extension of his power along the whole coast of America. He was ready to embrace the first opportunity, therefore, that might offer for extending his jurisdiction over the coveted territory. "The Company of Royal Adventurers of England trading with Africa,” more commonly known as "the Royal African Company," had just (January 10, 1663) been chartered, with the Duke of York as their President. They were nothing more nor less. than slave-traders. In the prosecution of their nefarious traffic, they had been greatly annoyed, and very seriously damaged, by the powerful and monopolizing West India Company of the United Provinces. Early in the following year, therefore, an expedition was secretly sent out, by the Royal African Company, against the African possessions of the Dutch Company; the two countries being at peace.*

The more successfully to compete with the Dutch, and to cripple them in their rivalry, the Duke sought, and readily obtained, from his royal brother, the king, March 13, 166, a grant of Long Island, and all the land from the west side of Connecticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay, together with what is now the State of Maine, and the Islands along the coast of New England, together with the right of government, or sovereignty; including thus, not only the Dutch province of New Netherland, but, also, a large part of the territory given by royal patent, less than two years previously, to the Connecticut Colony. A very cool proceeding, and a clear case of usurpation.†

The Duke, as Lord High Admiral, had control of the Royal Navy. An expedition was immediately fitted out, of four ships-of-war, under the command of Col. Richard Nicolls, a faithful adherent of the Royal Family, to whom the Duke granted, April, a commission to serve as his deputy-governor within the whole grant. With him were associated, also, April 26, [May 5,] 1664, Sir Robert Carr, Knight, George Cartwright, Esq., and Samuel Maverick, Esq., as Royal Commissioners to visit the American Colonies,

*Brodhead's New York, I. 735.

Ibid. Leaming and Spicer's Grants and Concessions, pp. 3-8.

with plenary powers to adjust disputes, appeals, and complaints of every description, and provide for the public welware, looking well, of course, to the rights of the crown.‡

1.

The fleet cast anchor in the outer bay of New Amsterdam, on Friday, August . The surrender of the town of Manhattoes was demanded, the next day. After various negotiations, protracted through the following week, the terms of capitulation were arranged on Saturday, August 27 [September 6]. On the Monday following, the Dutch authorities surrendered the town and fort, and the English took possession. New Amsterdam became New York; and Fort Amsterdam, Fort James. Nicolls was proclaimed deputygovernor for the Duke of York, and the people, not a few of them gladly, very quietly submitted to the sway of the English conquerors. A few weeks sufficed to bring the whole province of New Netherland into subjection, and to give the control of the whole coast, from Maine to Carolina, to the crown of Great Britain.

To the English inhabitants of the west end of Long Island, the change of government was peculiarly acceptable. They had met with so many obstructions from the Dutch, and had been so stoutly denied a voice in the government, that they could not but regard the advent of the English fleet with favor, and rejoice in their success. Immediately the attention of those settlers who had, several years before, sought a removal to Achter Kol, west of the North River, was directed again to these inviting regions. An Association was at once formed, and several of their number deputed to go down to New York, and secure of the Governor the liberty to purchase and settle a plantation, which they had sought in vain from his predecessor under the Dutch Government. Four weeks had scarcely elapsed since the surrender, when we find them presenting the following petition :

To the Right honourable Col. Richard Nicholls Esq Governour of New-York &c. The Humble peticôn of us subscribed sheweth:

That several of us Yo' Peticôners being Intended formerly to have purchased and setled a plantation upon yo River called after-cull River be

Brodhead's New York, I. 735-6.