174         New Netherland  to   1628

The increase of the country's population was not of
much direct benefit to Manhattan, for only eight men
were left on the island. Two entire families and six
men were sent to the Fresh River (Connecticut), two
more families and eight men proceeded to the South
River (Delaware), and the remainder of the emi¬
grants, comprising eighteen families, were taken by
the ship up the Hudson River almost to the head of
navigation. Here the newly projected Fort Orange
was immediately completed, and the colonists pro¬
ceeded to build their huts under the protection of
its cannon. While May was at Manhattan, Jorissen
superintended the settlement at Fort Orange, remain¬
ing with them throughout the summer and the fol¬
lowing winter.' As soon as the ship had been light¬
ened of her precious freight. May had put his son Jan

^ Catalyna Trico, the wife of Joris Jansen De Rapelje, states in her deposition,
made in 1680, fifty-six years later: "s'd Comman Arien Jorise staid with them
all winter [at Albany] and sent his sonne home with ye ship." In this she must
have been mistaken, meaning May's son instead of Jorissen's. Jorissen doubtless
went to Fort Orange, where he assumed command, and Jan May was left in
charge of the ship. Wassenaer, according to Documentary History of New Tork,
iii, 37, says: "As regards the prosperity of New Netherland, we learn by the
arrival of the ship ^New Netherland, which arrived at Amsterdam in the latter
part of 1624] whereof Jan May of Hoorn was skipper, that everything there was
in good condition. The colony began to advance bravely and continues in friend¬
ship with the natives."