The Island at the Center of the World Part 15

"Meester Adriaen": Gehring, Correspondence, 16471653, Correspondence, 16471653, 22021. 22021.

His mother moved: William Hoffman, "Van der Donck-Van Bergen," 233.

a member of the gang: RNA, RNA, 1:51, 61, 65. 1:51, 61, 65.

The most recent: Charles Gehring, Council Minutes, 16521654, Council Minutes, 16521654, 9193. 9193.

The episode has: As an example of this standard dismissing of the Dutch colony, the distinguished historian Dixon Ryan Fox, writing in 1940, recycled the accepted wisdom that "In New Netherland we do not see Dutch groups insisting on communal privileges, as in New England . . ." and that ". . . local self-government came and developed in New Netherland by reason of New England Puritan invasion." That historians could ignore the long series of pet.i.tions crafted by the Dutch colonists, climaxing with Van der Donck's elaborate and impa.s.sioned mission to the Hague on behalf of self-government, can only be explained as Anglocentric blindness. (Dixon Ryan Fox, Yankees and Yorkers, Yankees and Yorkers, 7175.) 7175.) John Brodhead: John Romeyn Brodhead, The The History of the State of New York, 16091691, History of the State of New York, 16091691, 2:571. 2:571.

Another early: Mariana van Rensselaer, History of the City of New York in the Seventeenth Century, History of the City of New York in the Seventeenth Century, 1:349. 1:349.

was a direct result: My thanks to Dr. Willem Frijhoff for helping me to formulate my argument that Van der Donck played a role in the December 1653 remonstrance.

Doughty in Flus.h.i.+ng: Brodhead, History of the State of New York, History of the State of New York, 1:411, 555, 615. 1:411, 555, 615.

"We do not know": Gehring, Correspondence, 16541658, Correspondence, 16541658, 11. 11.

"made up of various": Ibid., 92.

"natural law": The way it is stated in the supporting pet.i.tion of the New Amsterdam magistrates is: ". . . because the laws of nature give to all men the right to a.s.semble for the welfare and protection of their freedom and property . . ." (Ibid., 100); Stuyvesant, in his reply, rejects "'that natural law gives to all men' such rights." (Ibid., 102.) The invasion squadron: Thurloe, State Papers, State Papers, 2:41819. 2:41819.

Manhattan became Manhattan: I am particularly indebted to Dennis Maika, whose 1995 doctoral dissertation, "Commerce and Community: Manhattan Merchants in the Seventeenth Century," helped change the way historians look at Manhattan under the Dutch. By s.h.i.+fting attention from the West India Company to the new breed of merchant-entrepreneurs that came into being on Manhattan, Maika showed that the crucial date for its rise was not 1664, the year of the takeover, but 1653, the year of the munic.i.p.al charter.

These alliances: I owe this insight to Simon Middleton of the University of East Anglia, who outlined it in his talk, "Artisans and Trade Privileges in New Amsterdam," at the 2001 Rensselaerswijck Seminar in New York City.

red and black: Van Rensselaer, History of the City of New York, History of the City of New York, 2:138; I. N. P. Stokes, ed., 2:138; I. N. P. Stokes, ed., Iconography of Manhattan Island, 14981909, Iconography of Manhattan Island, 14981909, 4:129. 4:129.

old thatch ones: Gehring, Council Minutes, 165556, Council Minutes, 165556, 186. 186.

An order went out: Stokes, Iconography, Iconography, 4:129, quoting Van Rensselaer. 4:129, quoting Van Rensselaer.

Mills, brickyards: Janny Venema, "Beverwijck: A Dutch Village on the American Frontier, 16521664," 7581.

a thousand: Martha Shattuck, "A Civil Society: Court and Community in Beverwijck, New Netherland, 16521664," 911.

They are boarders: Charles Gehring, ed. and trans., Fort Orange Court Minutes, 16521660, Fort Orange Court Minutes, 16521660, 354. 354.

One shows up: Ibid., 355.

Once, in 1659: Ibid., 46364.

their walls hung: Schama, The Embarra.s.sment of Riches, The Embarra.s.sment of Riches, 313, 32021. 313, 32021.

The new products: Maika, "Commerce and Community," 12829; Gehring, Council Minutes, 16521654, Council Minutes, 16521654, 162. 162.

a new, two-tiered: RNA, RNA, 7:150. 7:150.

Nearly every resident: Ibid., 15053.

burgher system: Ibid., 14954. Also, my brief overview of the "burgherright" system of New Amsterdam relies on Maika, "Commerce and Community," especially chapter 3.

a looser relations.h.i.+p: Venema, "Beverwijck," 304.

"to bake any": RNA, RNA, 3:391. 3:391.

koeckjes: Peter Rose, Peter Rose, The Sensible Cook: Dutch Foodways in the Old and New World, The Sensible Cook: Dutch Foodways in the Old and New World, 3435. 3435.

Koolsla: Ibid., Pehr Kalm, Ibid., Pehr Kalm, The America of 1750: Peter Kalm's Travels in North America; the English Version of 1770, The America of 1750: Peter Kalm's Travels in North America; the English Version of 1770, 28. The sample New Amsterdam dishes (pike, meatb.a.l.l.s) come from 28. The sample New Amsterdam dishes (pike, meatb.a.l.l.s) come from The Sensible Cook. The Sensible Cook.

"Saint Nicholas": Paul Zumthor, Daily Life in Rembrandt's Holland, Daily Life in Rembrandt's Holland, 185. 185.

"There's more legal": Personal interview, Albany, New York, June 18, 2002.

If they couldn't: RNA, RNA, 7:200; Maika, "Commerce and Community," 224. 7:200; Maika, "Commerce and Community," 224.

The initial bloc: James Riker, Revised History of Harlem: Its Origin and Early Annals, Revised History of Harlem: Its Origin and Early Annals, 183. 183.

In all, a quarter: Joyce Goodfriend, Before the Melting Pot: Society and Culture in Colonial New York City, 16641730, Before the Melting Pot: Society and Culture in Colonial New York City, 16641730, 17 17.

intermarriage in New Amsterdam: Samuel Purple, ed., Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, vol. 1, vol. 1, Marriages from 16391801 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York. Marriages from 16391801 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York.

"thievish, lazy": Stokes, Iconography, Iconography, 4:74. 4:74.

"laziness and unwillingness": Gehring, Council Minutes, 16551656, Council Minutes, 16551656, 26768. 26768.

But there are also: Peter Christoph, "The Freedmen of New Amsterdam," de Halve Maen, de Halve Maen, 161. 161.

"true and free": Charles Gehring, unpublished translation of New Netherland doc.u.ment no. 10(3).332.

In its first decades: Robert Swan, "The Black Presence in Seventeenth-Century Brooklyn," de Halve Maen, de Halve Maen, 1. Some historians have claimed that Stuyvesant himself owned forty slaves, but I think this figure is too high. It is based on a 1660 account from a minister who reports that "there are forty negroes" at the "the Bouwery." But by that time "the Bouwery" had become a village, and we know that several families of freed blacks owned property there, along what is now Fourth Avenue. So the figure of "forty negroes" surely included both slaves and free blacks. 1. Some historians have claimed that Stuyvesant himself owned forty slaves, but I think this figure is too high. It is based on a 1660 account from a minister who reports that "there are forty negroes" at the "the Bouwery." But by that time "the Bouwery" had become a village, and we know that several families of freed blacks owned property there, along what is now Fourth Avenue. So the figure of "forty negroes" surely included both slaves and free blacks.

by the time: Goodfriend, Before the Melting Pot, Before the Melting Pot, 13. 13.

"724 pine planks": Charles Gehring and J. A. Schiltkamp, eds., Curacao Papers, Curacao Papers, 16401665, 16401665, 175. 175.

One such: On these events of 1651 I am relying on Jonathan Israel, "The Intellectual Debate"; Jonathan Israel, The Dutch Republic, The Dutch Republic, 706709; and James Williams, "'Abominable Religion' and Dutch (In) tolerance: The Jews and Petrus Stuyvesant." 706709; and James Williams, "'Abominable Religion' and Dutch (In) tolerance: The Jews and Petrus Stuyvesant."

"would pave the way": Stokes, Iconography, Iconography, 142. 142.

twenty-three Jews: Leo Hershkowitz, "New Amsterdam's Twenty-Three Jews-Myth or Reality?"

"for important reasons": Gehring, Council Minutes, 16551656, Council Minutes, 16551656, 166. 166.

"the aversion and": Ibid., 81.

"consent is hereby": Ibid., 128.

The Jewish community: Ibid., 26162; Gehring, Correspondence, 16541658, Correspondence, 16541658, 83. 83.

"love peace and libertie": Docs. Rel., 14:402403.

But here, too: On the historical importance of the Flus.h.i.+ng Remonstrance, I am relying on Haynes Trebor, "The Flus.h.i.+ng Remonstrance" and David Voorhees, "The 1657 Flus.h.i.+ng Remonstrance . . ."

"Singing Quakers": Docs. Rel., 3:415.

Here he deployed: Details from this scene come from Charles Gehring, Delaware Papers, Delaware Papers, 1: 3747, and from Charles Gehring, 1: 3747, and from Charles Gehring, "Hodie Mihi, Cras Tibi: "Hodie Mihi, Cras Tibi: Swedish-Dutch Relations in the Delaware Valley." Swedish-Dutch Relations in the Delaware Valley."

"forest Finns": My sources on the forest Finns are Terry Jordan and Matti Kaups, The American Backwoods Frontier: An Ethnic and Ecological Interpretation; The American Backwoods Frontier: An Ethnic and Ecological Interpretation; Terry Jordan, "The Material Cultural Legacy of New Sweden on the American Frontier"; Per Martin Tvengsberg, "Finns in Seventeenth-Century Sweden and Their Contributions to the New Sweden Colony"; and Juha Pentikainen, "The Forest Finns as Transmitters of Finnish Culture from Savo Via Central Scandinavia to Delaware." Terry Jordan, "The Material Cultural Legacy of New Sweden on the American Frontier"; Per Martin Tvengsberg, "Finns in Seventeenth-Century Sweden and Their Contributions to the New Sweden Colony"; and Juha Pentikainen, "The Forest Finns as Transmitters of Finnish Culture from Savo Via Central Scandinavia to Delaware."

"rest.i.tution of our": Charles Gehring, Delaware Papers, Delaware Papers, 16481664, 16481664, 39. 39.

"Hodi mihi": Ibid., 39. Ibid., 39.

He decided to invite them: Ibid., 46, 54.

"Maquas, Mahikanders": Ibid., 35.

Such a multicultural: I am indebted to Cynthia J. van Zandt of the University of New Hamps.h.i.+re for this insight, which she outlined in a paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Historical a.s.sociation in 1998 ent.i.tled "'. . . our river savages . . . betook themselves (unknown to us) and went to Manhattan City, in New Holland, to exact revenge on our behalf': Cross-Cultural and Multi-Ethnic Alliances in the 17th-Century Mid-Atlantic."

"had been a good friend": Gehring, Council Minutes, 16551656, Council Minutes, 16551656, 204. 204.

Van der Donck's wife: William Hoffman, "Van der Donck-Van Bergen," 34041.

Croats and Prussians: These nationalities come from marriage records of the colony post 1656.

"So, reader": My thanks to Elisabeth Paling Funk for translating this poem.

Three hundred settlers: Docs. Rel., 2: 4; list of supplies Docs. Rel., 1: 64344.

"I have been full": Docs. Rel., 2: 17.

CHAPTER 14 14.

Meanwhile, outside: Samuel Eliot Morison, The Founding of Harvard College, The Founding of Harvard College, 25758; F. O. Vaille and H. A. Clarke, eds., 25758; F. O. Vaille and H. A. Clarke, eds., The Harvard Book . . . , The Harvard Book . . . , 2532. 2532.

a "perfidious rogue": John Beresford, G.o.dfather of Downing Street, G.o.dfather of Downing Street, 150. 150.

and blamed his faulty: Ibid., 29.

literally leaving the man: John Romeyn Brodhead, The The History of the State of New York, History of the State of New York, 1: 695; Robert Black, 1: 695; Robert Black, Younger John Winthrop, Younger John Winthrop, 20910. 20910.

twenty-seven pounds: Docs. Rel., 2: 460.

He spent thirteen days: Black, Younger John Winthrop, Younger John Winthrop, 210; Brodhead, 210; Brodhead, History of the State of New York, History of the State of New York, 1: 695. Detailed notes: Doris Quinn, "Theft of the Manhattans." 1: 695. Detailed notes: Doris Quinn, "Theft of the Manhattans."

comparing notes: E. B. O'Callaghan, Calendar of Historical Ma.n.u.scripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, Calendar of Historical Ma.n.u.scripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, 296. 296.

parrots and parakeets: Charles Gehring and J. A. Schiltkamp, Curacao Papers, 16401665, Curacao Papers, 16401665, 115. 115.

"He has always": Docs. Rel., 14: 525.

later Winthrop wrote: John Beresford, G.o.dfather of Downing Street: Sir George Downing, G.o.dfather of Downing Street: Sir George Downing, 128. 128.

a map that Winthrop: Doris C. Quinn, "Theft of the Manhattans," 29.

Hamlet, 'Tis a Pity: Samuel Pepys's diary for July through October 1661; Robert C. Black III, Samuel Pepys's diary for July through October 1661; Robert C. Black III, The The Younger John Winthrop, Younger John Winthrop, 212. 212.

confused with Josiah Winslow: Black, Younger John Winthrop, Younger John Winthrop, 244. 244.

Charles had given: Ibid., 225.

Winthrop's reply: Ibid., 264.

"your anxiety over": Docs. Rel., 14: 551.

Stuyvesant complained: Ibid., 2: 230, 48488; O'Callaghan, Calendar of Historical Ma.n.u.scripts, Calendar of Historical Ma.n.u.scripts, 307. 307.

"a sad and perilous": Docs. Rel., 2: 484.

"yield obedience": Black, Younger John Winthrop, Younger John Winthrop, 268. 268.

"unrighteous, stubborn": Docs. Rel., 2: 484.

j.a.pan would trade: Jonathan I. Israel, Dutch Primacy in World Trade, 15851740, Dutch Primacy in World Trade, 15851740, 172; other products: Israel, chapters 5 and 6. 172; other products: Israel, chapters 5 and 6.

"be instruments of good": Beresford, G.o.dfather of Downing Street, G.o.dfather of Downing Street, 155; Downing's att.i.tude and convictions: Pieter Geyl, 155; Downing's att.i.tude and convictions: Pieter Geyl, Orange and Stuart, Orange and Stuart, 191. 191.

"Go on in Guinea": Keith Feiling, British Foreign Policy 16601672, British Foreign Policy 16601672, 13031. 13031.

The second Charles Stuart: My characterization of Charles is based on Antonia Fraser, Royal Charles: Charles II and the Restoration; Royal Charles: Charles II and the Restoration; John Macleod, John Macleod, Dynasty: The Stuarts, 15601807, Dynasty: The Stuarts, 15601807, chapters 8 and 9; and Arthur Bryant, ed., chapters 8 and 9; and Arthur Bryant, ed., The Letters, Speeches, and Declarations of King Charles II. The Letters, Speeches, and Declarations of King Charles II.

James Stuart: My characterization of James is based in part on Maurice Ashley, James II; James II; Jock Haswell, Jock Haswell, James II, Soldier and Sailor; James II, Soldier and Sailor; and J. S. Clarke, and J. S. Clarke, The Life of James the Second . . . . The Life of James the Second . . . .

Reading the letters, minutes: Feiling, British Foreign Policy, British Foreign Policy, 97131; Docs. Rel., 3:5166; Royal African Company, "The several declarations of the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa . . ." 97131; Docs. Rel., 3:5166; Royal African Company, "The several declarations of the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa . . ."

In his years of exile: Haswell, James II, James II, 10420. 10420.

Royal Mint commemorated: K. G. Davies, The Royal African Company, The Royal African Company, 181. 181.

Reorganized as: Ibid., 346.

"the Royal Company being": Royal African Company, "The several declarations of the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa . . ."