THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MANHATTAN ISLAND
 

158

;    fences on Manhattan Island, appear at the court of burgomasters

;    and schepens against Pieter vander Linde, Hendrick van Dyck,

I the wife ot Paulus Leendertsen vander Grift, and Egbert Woutersen,
for being in default, "notwithstanding proper notice served on
them," in faifing to repah "the common fencing here on the
Island of Manhattans, conjointly," so "that the,cattle belon^g to
thetn and others" may not escape and be lost. The ddendants are
fined, except Vander Linde, who is "an old man" and has been
excused before from making or repairing the common fencing,—■
RccN,Am,,l: 320-11.

I         The city court of New Amsterdam resolves to propose to the

council the raising ot funds tor the city's needs, by a tax for stamp¬
ing and marking wdghts and measures; also that each tavern-
keeper be obliged to take out quarterly a ficense, and pay therrfor
six guilders. The consideration of this proposal was renewed, on
July 5, when it was signed; but it did not induce authorization
from the council.—Rec. N. Am., 1: 327-28. The burgomasters
and schepens, therdore, renewed their petition, on Jan. 17, 1656,
and urged approval of this proposal, to which Stuyvesant and the
councU assented on.the i8th.—JW., IL 15-16; Cal.Hist. MSS.,
Dutch, 158.

Stuyvesant returns from his visit to the West Indies, where
he tailed lo open up trade rdations with the English,—Brodhead,
op. cil., I:  603,   See Dec. 24, 1654.

I         The burgomasters and schepens resolve ihat, "whereas it is

at present the Dogdays," no ordinary session or court shaU be hdd
"during the said Dogdays,"—flee, .W. Am., 1:  333,

The Jews of New Amsterdam petition Stuyvesant "to be per¬
mitted to purchase a burying place for their nation," The coundl
considers the request and votes that, as there are no deaths and
hence no immediate need of a place, a grant ot land belonging to
the company will be made to them when "the need and occasion
therdor" arises, especially as the Jews Intimate that they do not
wish to bury thdr dead in the common burying-ground.—Cal.
Hist. MSS., Dutch, 150; Oppenheim, Early Hist, of Jews In N. Y.,
75.   The Jews renewed ihe request on Feb, 22, 1656 (q.p.).

Resolullons were passed by the directors at Amsterdam, on Nov,

I 19, 1654, granting to (wo private traders permission to sail In thdr
ship, the "Wittepaert," from Holland "to the coast of Africa and
trade there tor negro slaves to carry to New Netherland and sell
to the inhabitants," which Is done, they say, "in consideration of
the promotion of population and agriculture in New Netherland,"
—A^. r. Col. Docs., XIV: 304-5, This vessel arrived at New
Amsterdam in the summer of 1655, and these "Negroes lately
arrived , . . from the Bight of Guinea" were the occasion of an
ordinance passed by Stuyvesant and the council, on Aug. 6, which
declared that they had been "carried and exported hence" without
the company or the inhabitants ot the province "having derived
any revenue or benefit thereby." On this account, the edict pro¬
vided, there should be paid a duty of ten per cent, ad valorem,
on aU negroes "carried or exported" trom the province "else¬
where beyond the jurisdiction ot New Netheriand."—Laws & Ord.
N.Neth., 191, This was, apparently, the first cargo of negro.slaves
imported directly into New Netherland from Africa, See also
April 4, 1652.

I         The burgomasters and schepens assemble this day to open

a certain letter recdved by the Ship "de Waegh" (the Balance)
of Arasterdam from the directors and'dated May 26 ot this
year, which is read by the secretary. In this letter, the directors
complain ot the failure of the dty to provide subsidies for the ddray¬
ing otthe common burdens ot government, which, they say,is "con¬
trary to the maxims of al! well regulated countries and cities, and
in especial opposition to the government of this city," They urge
that, "in this present conjuncture of time and chcumstances," a
further dday cannot be borne; that they have considered the
necessity of securing means, and, therctore, have resolved upon
the following taxes, vlz:^ten stuivers on each morgen ot land,
per year; twenty stuivers on each head ot bom cattle, per year;
the twentieth penny, yearly, from the rent ot houses. They also
conclude to return the excise revenues to "the general treasury of
the Company."—RecN.Am.  I:  340-41,

This day is set apart by proclamation of Stuyvesant and the
councU as a day of general fasting, thanksgiving, and prayer, for
invoking the divine blessing on the coming Dutch expedition from
New Amsterdam against the Swedes on the Delaware,—JV, Y,
Col. Docs., XII:  91-92,   The proclamation was pubUshed by the
 

burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam "from the City   Aug,
HaU atter previous ringing ot the bell," on the 20th,   AU common   25
business, "such as ploughing, sowing, mowing, fishing, hunting,
etc, as well as all games of tennis, ballplaying, lapping and drink¬
ing," were forbidden on this fast day, "on pain of arbitrary cor¬
rection,"—Rec.N, Am., I:  342-44.   See Sept. 5.

Abraham Martens  Clock  receives  a ground-brirf for  a  lot   26
mnning trom the present Pearl to Stone St., faring Hanover Sq,—
See CasteUo Plan, C, Pis. 82, 82e, Vol. II, and U:  323;  Map ot
Dutch Grants, C, Pl. 87, Vol. II, and H: 405.

The captains and officers of the train-bands otNew Amsterdam 28
having asked Stuyvesant and the council "whether the Jewish
people" who reside in the city shaU also "train and mount guard
with the Citizens' bands," after consideration, the council de-
dares that "the said nation" is "not admitted or counted among
the citizens" for such purposes In old Amsterdam or any other city
in HoUand, and that for this and other reasons they exempt them
from military service in New Netherland, subjecting, however, aU
male Jews between sixteen and sixty years to a monthly tax, in
lieu ot service, and in consideration of the exemption.—N. Y. Col.
Docs.,XH: 96; Laws & Ord. N. Neth., 1^1-^2. On Nov, 5, the
council heard a petition from Jacob Barsimson and Asser Levy,
two Jews, asking for leave to stand guard with other burghers of
the city or dse to be relieved trom the tax, "as they must earn
thdr living by manual labor," This request was refused, but
consent was given to them "to depart whenever and whither"
Ihey wished.—Cal. Hist. MSS., Dutch, 155, translated hi fuU in
Oppenheim's EartyHist. of Jews InN. Y., 25, Il is evident, how¬
ever, that Levy was admitted to keep "watch and ward" (lochi en
wachi) before April 11, 1657 (q.v.), when he made the fact the
ground ot his application for admission as a burgher of the city,—
Rec.N. Am., VU:  154.   C/. Oppenheim, 0/1. cil,, 24-25, 35.

The coundl orders the enrollment into the militia companies    "
of New Amsterdam of alLpersons who live by sailing sloops up
and down the river, and who have no fixed place of residence in
the province,—Cflf. HiJ(. MSS., Dulch, 151.

On this day (Sunday), "after the sermon," the squadron ot Sept.
seven vessds, with a force on board of between 600 and 700 men, 5
sets sail for the South River, against the Swedes. Stuyvesant is In
command, accompanied by Vice-Dhector De Sille and Domine
Megapolensis, On Sept. 11, they secured, without firing a gun,
the capitulation ot Fort Casimir, which the Swedes had hdd since
June 1, 1654 (j. c,),—Brodhead, op. cit., 1: 604. On Sept, 25, the
Swedish Fort Christina surrendered.—Ibid., I: 605. For fuller
treatment of this subject, with different dating ot the above events,
see Johnson, Swedish Settlements on the Delaware, H: Chap.
47; JV. Y. Col. Docs., XH: 91-97,

The Indians make an unexpected attack on Manhattan and 15
its environs, murdering and robbing the people and burning thdr
property,—flec.A^. ^m., I: 365; N.Y.Col.Docs.,X!l: 99. It was
an act of vengeance, due to the suspended schout-fiscal. Van
Dyck, killing a squaw whom he had detected stealing peaches in
his garden.—Brodhead, Hist, State ofN, Y., I: 606-7, There is
another good contemporary account in Hotlantse Mercurlus, ded
6,  130-31,    See also Van Tienhoven's account under Nov. 14,

165s.

To protect Stuyvesant's bouwery on Manhattan Island, during —
the Indian uprising at this time, some Frenchmen are hired by
Corndis Aertsen, by order ot the company's fiscal, to remain on the
property with him. Smyvesant is absent on his expedition against
the Swedes on the Ddawarc.—flec.iV. .iim.,n: 90-91. SeeMarch
6, and May 1,1656.

The provincial council writes to Stuyvesant on the Delaware, 17
informing him of the Indian depredations at Manhattan and its
environs, thus: "Madame, your Honor's wffe, with her whole
family and aU those, in whom your Honor and she are concerned,
are well. As the cithens are unwilling to guard other people's
houses tar trom the Manhattans, we have, with her advice, hired
10 Frenchmen, to protect your Honor's bouwery on the Man¬
hattans, subject to your Honor's pleasure. We'll keep as good
watch as possible, and expect your Honor's speedy retum, for to
Ue in the fort night and day with the cithens, has its difficulties,
as they cannot be commanded IU:e soldiers. , , , We had much
(mote) to say, but not to grieve your Honor any more, we wiU be
silent, till another occasion, about the great murder ot 100 men
in 9 hours;   all the country-people arc flying, except those of