FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
The First Settlement of the Hudson.—In 1610
a Dutch ship visited Manhattan to trade with the Indians and
was soon followed by others on like enterprise. In 1613
Adrian Block came with a few comrades and remained the
winter. In 1614 the merchants of North Holland organized a
company and obtained from the States General a charter to
trade in the New Netherlands, and soon after a colony built
a few houses and a fort near the Battery. The entire island
was purchased from the Indians in 1624 for the sum of sixty
guilders or about twenty-four dollars. A fort was built at
Albany in 1623 and known as Fort Aurania or Fort Orange.
From Wassenaer's "Historie van Europa," 1621-1632, as
translated in the 3d volume of the Documentary History of
New York, a castle—Fort Nassau—was built in 1624, on an
island on the north side of the River Montagne, now called
Mauritius. "But as the natives there were somewhat
discontented, and not easily managed, the projectors
abandoned it, intending now to plant a colony among the
Maikans (Mahicans), a nation lying twenty-five miles
(American measure seventy-five miles) on both sides of the
river, upwards." In another document we learn that "The West
India Company being chartered, a vessel of 130 lasts, called
the 'New Netherland' (whereof Cornelius Jacobs, of Hoorn,
was skipper), with thirty families, mostly Walloons, was
equipped in the spring of 1623."
In the
beginning of May they entered the Hudson,
found a "Frenchman" lying in the mouth of
the river, who would erect the arms of the
King of France there, but the Hollanders
would not permit him, opposing it by
commission from the Lord's States General
and the Directors of the West India Company,
and "in order not to be frustrated therein,
they convoyed the Frenchman out of the
rivers." This having been done, they sailed
up the Maikans, 140 miles, near which they
built and completed a fort, named "Orange,"
with four bastions, on an island, by them
called "Castle Island." This was probably
the island below Castleton, now known as
Baern Island, where the first white child
was born on the Hudson.
In another volume we read that "a colony was
planted in 1625 on the Manhetes Island,
where a fort was staked out by Master Kryn
Fredericke, an engineer. The counting-house
is kept in a stone building thatched with
reed; the other houses are of the bark of
trees. There are thirty ordinary houses on
the east side of the river, which runs
nearly north and south." This is the
description of New York City when Charles
the First was King.
Moreover, we should not forget that
Communipaw outranks New York in antiquity,
and, according to Knickerbocker, whose quiet
humor is always read and re-read with
pleasure, might justly be considered the
Mother Colony. For lo! the sage Oloffe Van
Kortlandt dreamed a dream, and the good St.
Nicholas came riding over the tops of the
trees, and descended upon the island of
Manhattan and sat himself down and smoked,
"and the smoke ascended in the sky, and
formed a cloud overhead; and Oloffe
bethought him, and he hastened and climbed
up to the top of one of the tallest trees,
and saw that the smoke spread over a great
extent of country; and, as he considered it
more attentively, he fancied that the great
volume assumed a variety of marvelous forms,
where, in dim obscurity, he saw shadowed out
palaces and domes and lofty spires, all of
which lasted but a moment, and then passed
away." So New York, like Alba Longa and
Rome, and other cities of antiquity, was
under the immediate care of its tutelar
saint. Its destiny was foreshadowed, for now
the palaces and domes and lofty spires are
real and genuine, and something more than
dreams are made of.
The
Original Manors and Patents.—According to a
map of the Province of New York, published
in 1779, the Phillipsburg Patent embraced a
large part of Westchester County. North of
this was the Manor of Cortland, reaching
from Tarrytown to Anthony's Nose. Above this
was the Phillipse Patent, reaching to the
mouth of Fishkill Creek, embracing Putnam
County. Between Fishkill Creek and the
Wappingers Creek was the Rombout Patent. The
Schuyler Patent embraced a few square miles
in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie. Above this
was the purchase of Falconer & Company, and
east of this tract what was known as the
Great Nine Partners. Above the Falconer
Purchase was the Henry Beekman Patent,
reaching to Esopus Island, and east of this
the Little Nine Partners. Above the Beekman
Patent was the Schuyler Patent. Then the
Manor of Livingston, reaching from Rhinebeck
to Catskill Station, opposite Catskill.
Above this Rensselaerwick, reaching north to
a point opposite Coeymans. The Manor of
Rensselaer extended on both sides of the
river to a line running nearly east and
west, just above Troy. North and west of
this Manor was the County of Albany, since
divided into Rensselaer, Saratoga,
Washington, Schoharie, Greene and Albany.
The Rensselaer Manor was the only one that
reached across the river. The west bank of
the Hudson, below the Rensselaer Manor, is
simply indicated on this map of 1779 as
Ulster and Orange Counties.
New Amsterdam.—For about fifty years after
the Dutch Settlement the island of Manhattan
was known as New Amsterdam. Washington
Irving, in his Knickerbocker History, has
surrounded it with a loving halo and thereby
given to the early records of New York the
most picturesque background of any State in
the Union.
Among other playful allusions to the Indian
names he takes the word Manna-hatta of
Robert Juet to mean "the island of manna,"
or in other words a land flowing with milk
and honey. He refers humorously to the
Yankees as "an ingenious people who
out-bargain them in the market,
out-speculate them on the exchange, out-top
them in fortune, and run up mushroom palaces
so high that the tallest Dutch family
mansion has not wind enough left for its
weather-cock."
What would the old burgomaster think now of
the mounting palaces of trade, stately
apartments, and the piled up stories of
commercial buildings? In fact the highest
structure Washington Irving ever saw in New
York was a nine-story sugar refinery. With
elevators running two hundred feet a minute,
there seems no limit to these modern
mammoths.
The Dutch and the English.—From the very
beginning there was a quiet jealousy between
the Dutch Settlement on the Hudson and the
English Settlers in Massachusetts. To quote
from an old English history, "it was the
original purpose of the Pilgrims to locate
near Nova Scotia, but, upon better
consideration, they decided to seat
themselves more to the southward on the bank
of Hudson's River which falls into the sea
at New York."
To this end "they contracted with some
merchants who were willing to be adventurers
with them in their intended settlement and
were proprietors of the country, but the
contract bore too heavy upon them, and made
them the more easy in their disappointment.
Their agents in England hired the Mayflower,
and, after a stormy voyage, 'fell in with
Cape Cod on the 9th of November. Here they
refreshed themselves about half a day and
then tacked about to the southward for
Hudson's River.'
"Encountering a storm they became entangled
in dangerous shoals and breakers and were
driven back again to the Cape." Thus
Plymouth became the first English settlement
of New England. Another historian says that
it was their purpose "to settle on the
Connecticut Coast near Fairfield County,
lying between the Connecticut and Hudson's
River."
From
the very first the Dutch occupation was
considered by the English as illegal. It was
undoubtedly part of the country the coasts
of which were first viewed by Sebastian
Cabot, who sailed with five English ships
from Bristol in May, 1498, and as such was
afterwards included in the original province
of Virginia. It was also within the limits
of the country granted by King James to the
Western Company, but, before it could be
settled, the Dutch occupancy took place,
and, in the interest of peace, a license was
granted by King James.
The Dutch thus made their settlement before
the Puritans were planted in New England,
and from their first coming, "being seated
in Islands and at the mouth of a good river
their plantations were in a thriving
condition, and they begun, in Holland, to
promise themselves vast things from their
new colony."
Sir Samuel Argal in 1617 or 1618, on his way
from Virginia to New Scotland, insulted the
Dutch and destroyed their plantations. "To
guard against further molestations they
secured a License from King James to build
Cottages and to plant for traffic as well as
subsistence, pretending it was only for the
convenience of their ships touching there
for fresh water and fresh provisions in
their voyage to Brazil; but they little by
little extended their limits every way,
built Towns, fortified them and became a
flourishing colony."
"In an island called Manhattan, at the mouth
of Hudson's River, they built a City which
they called New Amsterdam, and the river was
called by them the Great River. The bay to
the east of it had the name of Nassau given
to it. About one hundred and fifty miles up
the River they built a Fort which they
called Orange Fort and from thence drove a
profitable trade with the Indians who came
overland as far as from Quebec to deal with
them.
The Dutch Colonies were therefore in a very
thriving condition when they were attacked
by the English. The justice of this war has
been freely criticized even by English
writers, "because troops were sent to attack
New Amsterdam before the Colony had any
notice of the war."
The "Encyclopedia Britannica" thus briefly
puts the history of those far-off days when
New York was a town of about 1500
inhabitants: "The English Government was
hostile to any other occupation of the New
World than its own. In 1621 James I. claimed
sovereignty over New Netherland by right of
'occupancy.' In 1632 Charles I. reasserted
the English title of 'first discovery,
occupation and possession.' In 1654 Cromwell
ordered an expedition for its conquest and
the New England Colonies had engaged their
support. The treaty with Holland arrested
their operations and recognized the title of
the Dutch. In 1664 Charles the Second
resolved upon a conquest of New Netherland.
The immediate excuse was the loss to the
revenue of the English Colonies by the
smuggling practices of their Dutch
neighbors. A patent was granted to the Duke
of York giving to him all the lands and
rivers from the west side of the Connecticut
River to the east side of Delaware Bay."
"On the 29th of August an English Squadron
under the direction of Col. Richard Nicolls,
the Duke's Deputy Governor, appeared off the
Narrows, and on Sept. 8th New Amsterdam,
defenseless against the force, was formally
surrendered by Stuyvesant. In 1673 (August
7th) war being declared between England and
Holland a Dutch squadron surprised New York,
captured the City and restored the Dutch
authority, and the names of New Netherland
and New Amsterdam. But in July, 1674, a
treaty of peace restored New York to English
rule. A new patent was issued to the Duke of
York, and Major Edmund Andros was appointed
Governor."
New York.—On
the 10th of November, 1674, the Province of
New Netherland was surrendered to Governor
Major Edmund Andros on behalf of his
Britannic Majesty. The letter sent by
Governor Andros to the Dutch Governor is
interesting in this connection: "Being
arrived to this place with orders to receive
from you in the behalf of his Majesty of
Great Britain, pursuant to the late articles
of peace with the States Generals of the
United Netherlands, the New Netherlands and
Dependencies, now under your command, I have
herewith, by Capt. Philip Carterett and Ens.
Cæsar Knafton, sent you the respective
orders from the said States General, the
States of Zealand and Admiralty of Amsterdam
to that effect, and desire you'll please to
appoint some short time for it. Our soldiers
having been long aboard, I pray you answer
by these gentlemen, and I shall be ready to
serve you in what may lay in my power. Being
from aboard his Majesty's ship, 'The
Diamond,' at anchor near. Your very humble
servant. Staten Island this 22d Oct., 1674."
After nineteen days' deliberation, which
greatly annoyed Governor Andros, New
Amsterdam was transferred from Dutch to
English authority.
"In 1683 Thomas Dongan succeeded Andros. A
general Assembly, the first under the
English rule, met in October, 1683, and
adopted a Charter of Liberties, which was
confirmed by the Duke. In August, 1684, a
new covenant was made with the Iroquois, who
formally acknowledged the jurisdiction of
Great Britain, but not subjection. By the
accession of the Duke of York to the English
throne the Duchy of New York became a royal
province. The Charters of the New England
Colonies were revoked, and together with New
York and New Jersey they were consolidated
into the dominion of New England. Dongan was
recalled and Sir Edmund Andros was
commissioned Governor General. He assumed
his vice regal authority August 11, 1688.
The Assembly which James had abolished in
1686 was reestablished, and in May declared
the rights and privileges of the people,
reaffirming the principles of the repealed
Charter of Liberties of October 30, 1683."
From this
time on to the Revolution of 1776 there is
one continual struggle between the Royal
Governors and the General Assembly. The
Governor General had the power of dissolving
the Assembly, but the Assembly had the power
of granting money. British troops were
quartered in New York which increased the
irritation. The conquest of Canada left a
heavy burden upon Great Britain, a part of
which their Parliament attempted to shift to
the shoulders of the Colonies.
A general Congress of the Colonies, held in
New York in 1765, protested against the
Stamp Act and other oppressive ordinances
and they were in part repealed.
A Page
of Patriotism.—During the long political
agitation New York, the most English of the
Colonies in her manners and feelings, was in
close harmony with the Whig leaders of
England. She firmly adhered to the principle
of the sovereignty of the people which she
had inscribed on her ancient "Charter of
Liberties." Although largely dependent upon
commerce she was the first to recommend a
non-importation of English merchandise as a
measure of retaliation against Britain, and
she was the first also to invite a general
congress of all the Colonies. On the
breaking out of hostilities New York
immediately joined the patriot cause. The
English authority was overthrown and the
government passed to a provincial congress.
New York Sons of Liberty.—In 1767, in the
eighth year of the reign of George III.
there was issued a document in
straightforward Saxon, and Sir Henry Moore,
Governor-in-Chief over the Province of New
York, offered fifty pounds to discover the
author or authors. The paper read as
follows: "Whereas, a glorious stand for
Liberty did appear in the Resentment shown
to a Set of Miscreants under the Name of
Stamp Masters, in the year 1765, and it is
now feared that a set of Gentry called
Commissioners (I do not mean those lately
arrived at Boston), whose odious Business is
of a similar nature, may soon make their
appearance amongst us in order to execute
their detestable office: It is therefore
hoped that every votary of that celestial
Goddess Liberty, will hold themselves in
readiness to give them a proper welcome.
Rouse, my Countrymen, Rouse! (Signed) Pro
Patria."
In December, 1769, a stirring address "To
the Betrayed Inhabitants of the City and
County of New York," signed by a Son of
Liberty, was also published, asking the
people to do their duty in matters pending
between them and Britain. "Imitate," the
writer said, "the noble examples of the
friends of Liberty in England; who, rather
than be enslaved, contend for their rights
with king, lords and commons; and will you
suffer your liberties to be torn from you by
your Representatives? tell it not in Boston;
publish it not in the streets of
Charles-town. You have means yet left to
preserve a unanimity with the brave
Bostonians and Carolinians; and to prevent
the accomplishment of the designs of
tyrants."
Another proclamation, offering a reward of
fifty pounds, was published by the
"Honorable Cadwalader Colden, Esquire, His
Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New
York and the territories depending thereon
in America," with another "God Save the
King" at the end of it. But the people who
commenced to write Liberty with a capital
letter and the word "king" in lower case
type were not daunted. Captain Alexander
McDougal was arrested as the supposed
author. He was imprisoned eighty-one days.
He was subsequently a member of the
Provincial Convention, in 1775 was appointed
Colonel of the first New York Regiment, and
in 1777 rose to the rank of Major-General in
the U. S. Army. New York City could well
afford a monument to the Sons of Liberty.
She has a right to emphasize this period of
her history, for her citizens passed the
first resolution to import nothing from the
mother country, burned ten boxes of stamps
sent from England before any other colony or
city had made even a show of resistance, and
when the Declaration was read, pulled down
the leaden statue of George III. from its
pedestal in Bowling Green, and molded it
into Republican bullets.
In 1699 the population of New York was about
6,000. In 1800, it reached 60,000; and the
growth since that date is almost incredible.
It is amusing to hear elderly people speak
of the "outskirts of the city" lying close
to the City Hall, and of the drives in the
country above Canal Street. In the
Documentary History of New York, a map of a
section of New York appears as it was in
1793, when the Gail, Work House, and
Bridewell occupied the site of the City
Hall, with two ponds to the north—East
Collect Pond and Little Collect Pond,—sixty
feet deep and about a quarter of a mile in
diameter, the outlet of which crossed
Broadway at Canal Street and found its way
to the Hudson.
Greater New York.—In 1830, the population of
Manhattan was 202,000; in 1850, 515,000; in
1860, 805,000; in 1870, 942,000; in 1880,
1,250,000; in 1892, 1,801,739; and is now
rapidly approaching three million. Brooklyn,
which in 1800 had a population of only
2,000, now contributes, as the "Borough of
Brooklyn," almost two million. So that
Greater New York is the centre of about six
million of people within a radius of fifteen
miles including her New Jersey suburbs with
almost five millions under one municipality.
Brooklyn.—In June, 1636, was bought the
first land on Long Island; and in 1667 the
Ferry Town, opposite New York, was known by
the name "Breuckelen," signifying "broken
land," but the name was not generally
accepted until after the Revolution.
Columbia Heights, Prospect Park, Clinton
Avenue, St. Mark's Place and Stuyvesant
Heights are among the favored spots for
residence.
Jersey City
occupies the ground once known as Paulus
Hook, the farm of William Kieft, Director
General of the Dutch West India Company. Its
water front, from opposite Bartholdi Statue
to Hoboken, is conspicuously marked by
Railroad Terminal Piers, Factories,
Elevators, etc. Bergen is the oldest
settlement in New Jersey. It was founded in
1616 by Dutch Colonists to the New
Netherlands, and received its name from
Bergen in Norway. Jersey City is practically
a part of Greater New York, but state lines
make municipal union impossible.
