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Letter from Augustyn Heerman to vice-director Beeckman

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My Lord: Since I received your letter, I have had no sure opportunity to reply. This one presents itself unexpectedly because the governor and council are presently here on Colonel Utie's island. Nothing could be done with Cornelis Comegys this year, he must wait for the coming year and until some other documents are sent from Manhattan which I shall help you to procure when I return home.[1]

I visited my colony on the Bohemia River and also discovered the most suitable place to carry on trade between here and the South River.[2] I am now busy encouraging people to form a village here which I believe will be established this coming winter; then we shall be able to go overland to the Sandhoeck[3] in a day, and also have a wagon road, because the Mincquas Kill and the aforesaid Bohemia River come within one mile of one another. As a result, one shall soon be able to traffic by water, which will be of service to the inhabitants and an encouragement to New Netherland. I hope to be at Manhattan within 5 or 6 weeks. Had it not been for the accident to the 4 Englishmen who were murdered on the road by the South River Indians, I would have probably come overland to you.[4]

In haste nothing more, after cordial greetings to your wife and children, than to commend you to God. I remain.

My Lord and companion, your faithful servant,

Augustine Herrman

[ P.S.: ] The fears last winter that the South River would be invaded [      ] were unfounded. However, it has not been received well that the captured Indian murderers, who had killed 4 Englishmen and brought their clothing to the Sandhoeck, have been released. The English want prosecution of the murderers or they will make war with the Indians, for which purpose they are conversing with the Sasquahanoks. It would be desirable if Mr. d'Inyniouse replied to the governor and arranged matters to the satisfaction of the English because it probably depends on this whether friendship will be continued and the aforesaid trade carried out or the friendship broken off. The best advice I could give was that a speedy reply be transmitted, for which the governor and council are waiting. Wise counsel is needed!

It is said here that the Sasquahanoks have been invited to the Sandhoeck; it is suspected that it concerns the aforesaid matter.

Speedy and wise counsel is now required.

[ Addressed: ] My Lord Willem Beackman, Vice-Director on the South River at Port Althena.

Notes

This reference to Cornelis Comegys may involve the house and land which Beeckman leased from Comegys in 1658 [see reference in 0'Callaghan's Calendar, 8:1015; original ms destroyed]. Comegys became a naturalized citizen of Maryland on 30 July 1661 [MA, 3:431].
Herrman acquired "letters of denization" in 1660 from Governor Calvert which allowed him to hold land in Maryland.
Sandhoeck was the Dutch name for the area where Fort Casamier and later New Amstel were built.
See MA, 3:412-416; 418; 426 for papers concerning these murders.

References

Translation: Gehring, C. trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vols. 18-19, Delaware Papers: Dutch Period, 1648-1664 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1981).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.