62
 

THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

1625   of the rest ot the fleet, to act as a sort of scout, and perhaps with the
Apr.   intention that she should rejoin the other ships bdonging to the

22    expedition after the dangers ot the channel were safely passed.
Furthermore, as she was a small vessel, ot only 60 tons burden, it
teems very unllkdy that Verhulst (and the coundl) would have
sailed on her rather than in one of the larger ships. If he had, it is
probable that Wassenaer would have recorded the fact, whereas, in
describing her capture, he specifically mentions only one person
on board, a member of the crew "who had assisted in the capture
of Bahia,"

The only reasonably satisfactory explanation seems to be that
the "further instructions" were forwarded on this boat because she
was faster than the larger ships, and that Verhulst sailed earlier,
but probably in the same month, on another boat, ot which no
record has yet been found. It is, however, conceivable that there
were two ships named the "Mackerel," and that the one captured
on the 27th was not the one belonging to Hulft's expedition. It
is of course also possible that Wassenaer is mistaken in some
ot his statements or dates, but, even if this were so, the fact would
remain that weare told In Document D that "furthermstructions"
were forwarded by messenger to Verhulst, who must therefore
have already started.

Although Wassenaer says that this expedition was fitted out by
Pieter Evertsen Hulft, we know from Van Rappard Document D
that it had an official character, and was dispatched by the Amster¬
dam chamber of the West India Co., also that it comprised the ships
"Paert" (Horse), "Koe" (Cow), and "Schaep" (Sheep), accom¬
panied, as we have already noted, by a fast-saihng yacht, named
the "Macreel" (Mackerel), which, according to Wassenaer, appar¬
ently was captured on April 27, and taken to Dunkirk.

Under Nov., 1626 (preface dated June 14, 1627), Part XII,
Wassenaer, evidently referring to Verhulst's expedition (although
he cites part XI, whereas this expedition is recorded In part IX),
says: "In our preceding discourse [part SI] mention was made of
New Netherland and its colony planted by the West India Com¬
pany, situate in Virginia on the river called by the French Mon¬
taigne, and by us Mauritius, and that some families were sent
thither out of Holland, now increased to two hundred souls; and
afterwards some ships, one with horses, the other with cows, and
the third with hay; two months afterwards a fly-boat was equipped
carrying sheep, hogs, wagons, ploughs and all other implements of
husbandry."

Willem Verhulst, who, as we have seen, came over as "commis"
or commissary, with, or just bdore, this first expedition, and as
"provincial director" of the colony of New Netherland, was, accom¬
panied or foUowed by Gerrit Fongersz. as deputy or "Onder-
Commls," and Cryn Fredericksz. as engineer and surveyor.
The cattle were, "on their arrival, first landed on Nut Island, three
miles up the river, where they remained a day or two. There being
no means of pasturing them there, they were shipped in sloops and
boats to the Manhates, right opposite the said island. Being put
out to pasture here, tbey throve wdl, but afterwards full twenty in
all died. The opinion is, that they had eaten something bad trom
an uncultivated soil. But they went in the middle of September
[1625] to meadow grass, as good and as long as could be desired."
(Under Nov., recording the same event, Wassenaer says: "The
cattle carried thither were removed upwards to a convenient place
abounding with grass and pasture.")—Wassenaer, Historisch Ver¬
hael, II, part IX, p, 38, and translation in Jameson'sNar.N.Neth.,
79-83; Van Rappard Documents C, D, and E, Brodhead, Hisl,
Stale ofN. Y,, I: 158,
"          This date is found also on Van Rappard Document E., which

consists of "particular instructions" given by the W'est India Co,
to the engineer and surveyor Cryn Fredericks, who sailed with
Verhulst, for the construction of a town and fortress In New
Netherland, Although the text of this document, which now
belongs to Mr. Henry E. Huntington, has not been made public,
the character of its contents is known, and will be found described
under March 30, 1624,

23          Maurice, Prince of Orange, after many years of active participa¬
tion and leadership In the affairs ot Holland, dies. He was suc¬
ceeded as captain and admiral-general by his brother, Frederick
Henry, Prince ot Orange.—Brodhead, op. cil., I: 160.

17         Concerning the capture of the "Mackerd," which Wassenaer

records on this date, he observes (translated): "Prudence Is the
foster mother ot all wisdom;   imprudence causes misfortune; such
 

has experienced a small ship, saifing for New Netherland loaded Apr.
with some necessaries, measuring about 30 lasts (60 tons), when on 27
the 25th of the same month [April, 1615], she left the Texel, and on
the 27th was already in the enemy's possession, who flying the
Orange colours, discovering it in a fog, called to the skipper just to
come on board; he being a simple man unhesitatingly compfied
and was immediatdy captured. Thus the little vessel was also
conveyed to Dunkirk, to the loss ot the West India Company.
She had a crew of 12 among them one who had assisted in the cap¬
ture ot Bahia, doubtless bdng a source ot danger, because similar
people are not by them considered as traders but as man ot war's
men."—Wassenaer, Historisch Verhael, Vol. II, part IX, p. 39.
This record from Wassenaer, and Brodhead's remarks on the same
(Hisl. State cfN. Y., I: 158), are certamly perplexing, as it seem*
clear trom Van Rappard Document D that the "Mackerd" started
out In company with the ships "Horse," "Cow," and "Sheep."

Under this mouth (the preface is dated Dec. 1,1615),Wassenaer, July
records: "At the same time arrived a small ship from New Nether- —
land, mostly with furs. As far as good order Is concerned, all goes
welt there. The vessels with the cattle had not yet got there; the
crops which our colonists had planted, looked well, but there was
no certain information thereof. The next will bring thdr owners
good news" (should be translated full information).^ a meson,
Nar. N. Neth., 82.

It is alleged by Innes {New Amsterdam and Its People, 4, 152, Sum-
271) that a common pasture was laid out In this summer on Manhat- mer
tan Island, which "was commenced at once" after the arrival of the
colonists, and that this was the beginning of the later well-known
Schaapen Wdde, or Sheep Pasture which lay at the upper end of
the present Broad St., reaching to the Strand (present Pearl St.).
No evidence has been found to substantiate this claim; the colo¬
nists who arrived in the summer ot 1625 put their cattle on Nut
(Governors) Island for a "day or two," but "there bdng no means
of pasturing them there, they were shipped In sloops and boats to
the Manhates." Here they throve well for a time, but afterwards
about twenty died, probably trom eating poisonous vegetation.
The cattle, were then "removed upwards" in the middle of Sep¬
tember "to a convenient place abounding with grass and pasture."
Wassenaer,ffiiWrJidi Verhael, in Jameson'iNar.N.Neth., 82, 83.
The statement above quoted is ambiguous, and "upwards" may
rder to pasturage farther north on Manhattan Island, or to some
point higher up the river, perhaps in the ndghbourhood ot Fort
Orange (Albany), These colonists and animals probably arrived
either late in June or early in July, 1625, and the surviving animals
were removed "in the middle of September to meadow grass, as
good and as long as could be desired,"—Wassenaer, Historisch
Verhael, In Jameson's Nar. N. Neth., 79, 8j, 83. The first
known reference to (he Sheep Pasture is in a deed dated July i,
1652 (j.ti.).

The Treaty ot Southampton is signed, by which the Dutch and   Sept,
English ate brought into closer aUiance against Spain, the common    7=17
enemy.   One clause ot the treaty provides that the ports of each
signatory shall be open to the war and merchant vessels of the
other,—Brodhead, op. cit., I: 161, 182.

"A ship came, at the same time, tor the aforesaid Company Nov,
from Nova Germania, laden mostly with peltries; and had had a —
favorable voyage, [The margin has the reading "Nieu Nederlant,"
and the reference is clearly to New Netherland; although it is
interesting to note that Wassenaer, pt. VII, fol. 89, under date of
June, 1624, speaks of: "the coast of wild Brazil (by DomlnePetrus
Plandus called Nova Germania, because the Nether Dutch and
especially the worthy Dnck Claesz, Burch, have had agents there
on nearly alt the rivers.)" On fol. 90, Wassenaer says: "The entire
Wild Coast (by the worthy Petrus Plancius called Nova Germania,
a little too soon) is completely plundered by the Spanish."] The
cattle carried thither were removed upwards to a convenient place
abounding with grass and pasture. Only two animals died on the
passage. This gave great satisfaction to the freighter, who bad
managed the transportation so, neatly."—Wassenaer, Historisch
Verhael, in Jameson's Nar. N. Neth., 82. The expedition here
referred to is evidently that which sailed in April, 1625 (see April
22—Van Rappard Document D).

Pieter Minuit proposed to leave Holland on this day,—Was-   Dec,
senaer, Historisch Verhael, in Jameson's Nar. N. Neth., 87, Ap-    19
parently, however, he did not sail until Jan, 9, idifs—Ibid., 88,
See March 30, 1624 (next to last paragraph).