Research

Series:

Scanned Document:

Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise, Prudent and very Discreet Lords:

My Lords, nothing notable has occurred since the departure of the ship, St. Jacop, except for hearing that on 27 August the Hisopus Indians were camping at the head of this river, or near the Menissins,^[1] who have allied themselves with them. These Indians say that recently two captive women have escaped. I hope that the Lord God has delivered them.

On the 28th of last month I went upriver to inquire about the aforesaid. At Kinses I learned that two Esopus Indians had been there on the 24th and remained there about one day. They complained that you had destroyed all of their crops.

Three Mincquas passed through here on the 25th of August, reporting that they had come from the Maquas where they went to offer gifts, and that the Maquas had killed three of them, together with two of those River Indian women who were in their company. They also said that the Minquas would assist the Sinnecus against the Minquas.

Recently the governor of Maryland assisted the Minquaes with some powder and lead, as well as with two small pieces of artillery and four men to handle them.

My Lords, this also serves to inquire whether you deem it necessary that some repairs be made on the fort, since the palisades and everything else are in decay. I would also like to inform you that almost all of our provisions are depleted. I have contracted for some grain so that it is necessary to be sent some Osnaburg and Flemish linen as well as duffels and other things in order to replenish our magazine.

We also urgently need for the soldiers before winter two dozen shirts and two dozen pairs of stockings and shoes, together with cloth and lining for four or five men's outfits.

We also require here some shot and flints for snaphances.

Mr. Andries Hudde anxiously awaits his discharge and settlement of accounts. He says that he has petitioned you for them by way of Mr. Huygen. He has been in Maryland and intends to settle on the Sassafras River.

In conclusion, I commend you to God's protection, and remain, after wishes for a prosperous administration and a long life.

Your most devoted and loyal servant,
Willem Beeckman

Altena,
1 September 1663

[ P.S.: ] My Lord, since the bearer is being held up by severe weather and contrary winds, I thought it necessary, in the meantime, to inform you of the following: Iver Hinderson Pin, whom I brought along upon my arrival there, has been here since 20 June. Mr. Hendrick Huygen has informed me verbally that you had given Evert permission to come and go in order to take care of his affairs. He has already sold his house some time ago, as well as some livestock. He intends to settle here in the colony, so the schout, van Sweringen, has told me, and has asked him for land. This is contrary to your order which has forbidden him [ to live on ] the river.^[2] About six weeks ago at New Amstel, he treated one of our magistrates in a very insulting manner on the street, and ten days ago at Oplant challenged another magistrate to a fight, causing once more an uproar. At the suggestion of Oele Stille, I went there at once. Upon my arrival, Iver de Fin fled into the woods and refused to come out, although I sent him a message that for the present he would not be harmed in the least, but that I only came to inquire about his reasons for being hostile with this or that person. He goes about proclaiming that you have given him permission to live wherever he wants, just as the schout, van Sweringen, and others have told me.

Enclosed is a note from Mr. Huygens in which you can deduce the same opinion of Iver de Vin, although he is now the reason, by your intercession, that we are again troubled by this scoundrel.

I request your instructions concerning how we are to proceed in this matter. In the meantime, I remain.

Notes

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.