The History of New Jersey

THE

HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.

CHAPTER I.

Comprising Events from the Discovery by Europeans, to the Grant from Charles I. to James Duke of York.-I. Ancient and Modern Principles of Colonization.II. Voyages of the Spaniards and Portuguese upon the East Coast of North America. III. Voyages of the Italians, Verrazano and the Cabots.-IV. First English Attempts at Discovery.-V. Efforts of Raleigh to establish a Colony.-VI. Gosnold opens a new Road-London and Plymouth Companies created.-VII. Voyages and Discoveries of Hudson.-VIII. Intercourse of the Dutch East India Company with America, and Formation of the Amsterdam Licensed Trading West India Company.--IX. Settlement of the Puritans at Plymouth.-X. Formation of the Great West India Company in Holland.-XI. Voyage and Proceedings of Cornelius Jacobse Mey.-XII. Measures of the Company to promote Emigration; Purchases of large Tracts of Land from the Indians.-XIII. Voyages of De Vries; Colony planted-The Delaware abandoned by the Dutch.XIV. Minisink Settlements on the Delaware.-XV. Settlements of the Swedes on the Delaware-first Project of a Colony-first Colony-increase of Settlers.XVI. Colonial Government established-Colonel Printz first Governor.-XVII. English Settlements upon the Delaware-prostrated by a united Force of Dutch and Swedes.-XVIII. Swedish Government under Printz and his Successors.XIX. Swedish Colony subjected by the Dutch.-XX. Dutch Colonial Government on the Delaware-Possessions on the East of New Jersey.-XXI. Account of the English Settlements upon the Delaware previous to 1664-under Patent from Lord Baltimore-under Grant to Sir Edward Ploeyden-by Traders from New Haven.-XXII. Plans of New England Settlers for Conquest of the Dutch Colonies.-XXIII. Duke of York's Charter from the Crown and Grant to Berkeley and Carteret.-XXIV. Conquest of New Netherlands, by Colonel Nicholls.XXV. English Government established on the Delaware.-XXVI. Condition of New Netherlandts at the time of the Surrender.,

I. A distinction has frequently been taken between ancient and modern colonization; ascribing the former to military, and the latter to commercial principles. But this classification does not embrace the various species of colonies, in present or past time. A more happy division of the subject would seem to be, into colonies founded by individuals, in their search of happiness; and colonies planted by states, with a view to military or commercial purposes. By the first, our race was originally spread over the face of the globe. It has prevailed at all times, as well among the Egyptians, Athenians, and other ancient people, as among the moderns, who instituted the communities of the North American confederacy. The early Greek colonies, generally, sprung from the desire of the citizens to ameliorate their condition; and the immediate impulse was, excess of population, the ambition of chiefs, the love of liberty, or contagious and frequent maladies. The bonds of filiation connected the colony with the parent state; and the endearing names of daughter, sister and mother, sanctioned and preserved the alliances between them. But in the Grecian colonies of latter date, we trace commercial and political views. The Carthaginians, also, seem to have established colonies upon commercial principles; and two treaties, recorded

by Polybius,* between them and the Romans, are in the true spirit of modern colonial policy. On the other hand, the Roman colonies were military establishments, designed to maintain or extend their conquests; and their agrarian allotments, to disbanded veterans and discontented and clamorous citizens, partook of the same character. Commercial motives seem rarely to have blended with the policy of these haughty conquerors. Such, also, in more recent days were the colonies of the Normans, in England, France, and the south of Europe; of the English, in Ireland and Indostan; of the Portuguese and Dutch in either India; and of a portion of the Spanish settlements in the New World.

In general, the civil colonies of the ancients were independent of the authority of the parent state; though, necessarily, influenced by the ties of charity which connected them with her. But, modern history, we believe, furnishes no instance of a colony independent in its inception; unless the short-lived religious communities of the Jesuits, in America, and of the Moravians in the northern parts of both continents, be so considered. The colonies of the western hemisphere were, generally, commenced under the sanction of, and in dependence upon, some European state. Even the ascetic Brownists, in their torpid settlement of New Plymouth, began their labours under the auspices of James I. of England: and though for some years, they were unnoticed by the crown, they claimed and enjoyed the protection due to English subjects.

The colonization of America was prompted and directed by various passions. The Spaniards and Portuguese were inspired by visions of sudden wealth, by the love of that fame which chivalric adventure gave, and by an apostolic desire of spreading their religious faith among the heathen. The founders of states in the northern continent, were actuated by more sober, but not dissimilar views. Raleigh and his associates sought wealth and reputation, by extending the power and fame of their mistress and their country; and the provincial proprietaries, holders of large grants from the crown, were excited by ambition and avarice; which in Calvert and Penn, at least, were blended with a noble philanthropy, delighting to assure religious and civil liberty to their associates and their successors. The subgrantees and settlers who subdued the wilderness, came with great diversity of purpose. Many fled from religious, some, from political persecution; but, the larger portion was induced by that well founded hope of ameliorating the condition of themselves and their posterity, which flowed from the unrestricted possession of a rich and virgin soil, in whose fruits they were protected, against lawful and lawless violence. The religious instruction of the savage is a condition of every royal grant; and afforded to the grantor, doubtless, a full extenuation of the injustice of invasion. The extensive grant of Charles II. to his brother, of York, was moved by political causes, and designed, probably, also, to reward the services of others, which he could not, in a different manner, acknowledge. The immediate grantees of the Duke, were wise enough to see, that their interest lay in the adoption of the most liberal principles of political association, which circumstances would permit; and these circumstances were most favorable, to civil and religious liberty.

The period in which the foundations of the Anglo-American colonies were laid, was rife with events, which sowed the indestructible seeds, and reared into strength the scions of human liberty. The integrity and infallibility of clerical power, had been shaken to pieces by Luther and Calvin; and the divinity of kings had expired with the unhappy Charles. The religious contests, and the transition of power from one religious sect to another,

* Lib. iii. c. 22.

had taught to Catholic and Protestant, the advantages, if not the necessity, of religious toleration. Letters, the cause and power of religious freedom, had been equally serviceable to civil liberty; and the great truth which, for ages, had laid buried in the ruins of civilization, beneath sacerdotal palaces and prisons, and the gothic gorgeousness of the feudal system, the great truth, that political power belonged to, and was made for, the people, had been rediscovered-was proclaimed abroad, and had become generally understood among men-among Englishmen. That truth had wrenched the sceptre from the grasp of an obstinate and bigoted despot, and borne him to the block-had overthrown a monarchy and created a republic; and because of the abuse of republican forms, had again established a throne. Religious and political freedom were in England terms as familiar as household words, and enforced, even from the hate of her princes, the most profound respect.

It was vain, therefore, to think of the formation of new political societies, without adverting to, and securing these great essentials. Kings and proprietaries, who would establish colonies, were compelled to stipulate for religious toleration, and legislative power in the people. Hence, the first Charles, who abominated a parliament, required the proprietary, Calvert, to obtain all subsidies, by the assent of the people-hence, the second Charles introduced the same principle, in the grant of Pennsylvania-hence, they, and the Carterets, and the Berkeleys, and the minor Proprietaries, were compelled to their liberal charters. All were results of improvement in the moral condition of our species, which individuals might promote, but could scarce retard. We are guilty, therefore, of the worst species of idolatry-of man-worship, when we give to individuals the praise of creating measures, of which they could only be the servants. Our plaudits for their concurrence in the good work, are, however, due; and should be frankly and fully paid, as the just incentive to virtuous actions.

In this spirit, we adopt the expressions of a late writer upon colonial history: A North American may feel grateful exultation in avowing himself the native of no ignoble land-but of a land which has yielded as great an increase of glory to God, and happiness to man, as any other portion of the world, since the first syllable of recorded time, has had the honour of producing. A nobler model of human character could hardly be proposed to the inhabitants of the North American States, than that which their own early history supplies. It is, at once, their interest and their honour, to preserve with sacred care, a model so richly fraught, with the instructions of wisdom and the incitements of duty."*

No portion of the history of this great country is more filled with cause for this "grateful exultation," than the State of New Jersey-none can boast greater purity in its origin-none more wisdom, more happiness in its growth. To develope her unpretending, but instructive story, is the object of the following pages; in which, however, we must, necessarily, blend a portion of that of the adjacent states, which for half a century were identified with her.

II. Soon after the discovery of America, by Columbus, the Spaniards and Portuguese explored the northern Atlantic coast, as high as Labrador; to which, the latter gave its present name. As they approached by the West Indies, they may have visited the shores of the Delaware and Hudson rivers; but possessed of the fine climates, and richer countries of the south, they had no inducement to make permanent settlements in regions less attractive. Florida was occupied by the Spaniards, in 1512; and its boundaries, as

* Grahame's History of the American Colonies.

given by the charter of Philip II. to Menendez, extended from Newfoundland to the 22d degree of northern latitude.

III. To the genius of the Italian navigators, the world is deeply indebted, as well for the early exploration, as for the discovery, of America. John de Verrazano, and the enterprising and skilful Cabots, were the worthy successors of Columbus and Americus Vespucius. Verrazano, whilst in the service of Francis I. of France, visited, it is supposed, the bay of New York.* It is certain, that, in 1523, he coasted the American continent, from the 30th to the 50th degree of north latitude, landing and communicating with the natives in several places; and that by virtue of discoveries made by him, and some French navigators, Henry IV. gave to Des Monts, the lands lying between the 40th and 46th degrees of north latitude. The loss of Verrazano, with his vessel and crew, on a subsequent voyage, (1524) procrastinated, for ten years, the efforts of the French to establish colonies in America. The voyages and discoveries of Quartier, in 1535, directed their attention, particularly, to the shores of the bay and river of St. Lawrence.

IV. Under the patronage of Henry VII. of England, Sebastian Cabot discovered the islands of Newfoundland and St. Johns, and explored the coast of the continent, from the 38th to the 67th degree of north latitude. But no fruit was, immediately, derived from his labours. During the reigns of the voluptuary, Henry VIII., of his son, Edward VI., and daughter, the bigoted Mary, no effort was made to prosecute these interesting discoveries. It was reserved for the maritime enterprise of Elizabeth's reign, to give to the English nation a fuller knowledge of the new world, and a proper sense of the advantages which might be drawn from it. Encouraged by the Earl of Warwick, Martin Frobisher, in three successive voyages, visited the shores of Labrador and Greenland.§ Sir Humphrey Gilbert, in 1580, made two unsuccessful attempts to establish a colony in North America, in the last of which, he perished.

V. But the fate of Gilbert did not deter his half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, alike distinguished for his genius and courage, from pursuing the same object; which, indeed, had taken strong hold of the affections of the principal men of the kingdom. He formed a company, under a charter, obtained from the queen, granting them all the lands they should discover between the 33d and 40th degrees of north latitude. Two vessels despatched by them, under captains Armidas and Barlow,** visited Pamptico Sound, and Roanoke Bay; and on their return, reported so favourably of the beauty and fertility of the country, that the company were excited to new exertions; and Elizabeth gave, to the newly discovered region, the name of Virginia, as a memorial that it was discovered in the reign of a virgin queen. But the subsequent efforts of this company proved abortive. A colony was, indeed, planted at Roanoke, in 1585; but, having been reduced to distress by the delay of supplies, they returned to Europe, in the following year, with Sir Francis Drake; who touched at their island on his way home, from a suecessful cruise against the Spaniards. Undiscouraged by this ill success, Raleigh despatched another colony to the same place, under the direction of captain John White,†† which perished by famine, or the sword of the natives; having been deprived, by the preparations of the Spaniards, for invading England, of the succour which White had returned to seek.

* Dr. Miller's Discourse, 1 vol.-N. Y. Historical Collection.

2 Hackluyt's, 1. N. Y. Historical Collection. Williamson's History of North Carolina, vol. i. 15. Moulton's History of New York, vol. i. 134.

1498. A Mr. Hare is said to have followed Cabot, and to have brought to Henry VIII, some Indians from North America.

§ In 1576, 1577, 1578.

15th September, 1584.

26th March, 1584. March, 1590.

Sailed, 27th April, returned,

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The History of New Jersey: From Its Discovery by Europeans, to the Adoption ...