Sep 29
The Treaty of Hartford divides Long Island between the Dutch and
the English and allows the Dutch to keep their Hartford lands.
Nov 29
Peter Stuyvesant's Provincial Secretary Cornelius van Tienhoven
replies to last year's remonstrances to the States-General, denying
the charges on his chief's behalf.
City
Immigrant Jan Aertsen Vanderbilt arrives from der Bilt, Holland.
** A burgher form of government is instituted. ** The Jan Jansson
map of New Amsterdam, originally dated by historians at 1655,
will be re-dated to this year in the late 1990s, by Jan van Bracht
and Günter Schilder.
State
The approximate date the remaining Neutral Indians on the Niagara
frontier are captured and adopted by the Seneca.
Mar 7
The Connecticut General Court summons Maidstone (East Hampton),
Long Island, settler Ralph Dayton to appear before it to register
the colony and receive new laws for its governance. All settlers
will fence their property, load guns for shooting wolves only
outside a one-mile perimeter from the village, and keep their
dogs confined when the animal's in heat.
Apr 16
Maidstone receives a receipt for its grant from Connecticut.
May 14
Maidstone assigns each householder a strip of land behind his
home for his private use, apart from common lands and woodland.
May 19
Maidstone decides that when cattle break through fences and cause
harm the animal shall be marked by a piece of wood on its horns.
Aug 23
Maidstone agrees to pay the Reverend Thomas James, its first minister,
£45 a year, tax free land, and the first grain ground every
Monday.
Oct 7
Maidstone's General Court calls for a three-man committee to officiate
for the coming year, instructs Daniel Turner to find a home with
a local family or leave the area, and gives homeowners six weeks
to acquire a ladder capable of reaching the top of any thatched
roof.
Nov 6
Maidstone establishes a watch for beached whales, places John
Mulford in charge. Provision is made to arm each adult male.
Nov 17
Maidstone residents make plans to build a meeting house, agreeing
that in the meantime Thomas Baker will be paid 18 pence for each
time meetings are held at his house.
City
Peter Stuyvesant receives the deed for a bouwerie (farm) previously
belonging to Wouter Von Twiller. ** The approximate date Jan Jansson's
manuscript map of Belgii Novi (New Netherlands) is created. It
has since disappeared.
State
Peter Stuyvesant has squatter Brandt Van Schlectenhorst jailed
for claiming land awarded by Governor Kieft to Cornelius Anthonisz
Van Schlick. The daughter of one of Van Schelctenhorst's tenant
farmers discovers a heavy stone that probably contains silver,
but she's killed in a mudslide and the stone is never found.
Apr 1
New Netherland director general Pieter Stuyvesant establishes
the village of Beverwyck (Albany), the second municipality in
the future New York State, after Breuckelen (Brooklyn).
May 4
Maidstone arranges for laying out further lots on the "East
plaine" and confirms the claims of Ralph Daiton, William
Edwards, and Thomas Osborne, Sr.
May 8
Maidstone orders the platting of town lots on the plain, with
provision for a road to the village of Wainscott.
May 17
Maidstone orders every landowner with half a dozen cows to provide
a bull as well; six pence in stud fees will be paid for every
cow impregnated, for the rest of the year.
Jul 7
Maidstone's General Court orders that the Accabonacc meadows be
divided into three parts to facilitate the harvesting of salt
hay. Roads are ordered into the northwest meadows, with 30 acres
of hay left uncut for the time being.
Sep 15
Maidstone requires property owners to mark their boundaries, with
a fine of 2s 6d for every lot not marked.
Oct 15
Maidstone encourages those with grievances to let them be publicly
known.
Nov 2
Maidstone's General Court rules that each man shall vote on each
debated issue by show of hand or be fined 6d.
Dec 3
Maidstone appoints Thomas Talmage town whale watcher for the year.
City
Governor Peter Stuyvesant charters Flatbush, on Long Island, and
issues a patent for the Long Island village of Newtown, previously
known as Middleburg. ** Englishman William Hallet, buys 1,500
acres on Long Island along the East River from Stuyvesant. The
Indians are appeased with a blanket, beads, 7 coats, and 4 kettles.
The community becomes Hallets Cove (later Astoria). ** The first
school is opened, meeting at the Stadt-Huys.
Jan 3
Maidstone orders that half the townspeople be sufficiently armed
each Lords Day, subject to a 12d fine, and to bring their arms
to town on one day's notice.
Feb 2
Peter Stuyvesant incorporates the city of New Amsterdam. ** East
Hampton decides to invite Southold weaver "Goodman"
Morgan to relocate, promising him £5 and free land.
Mar 26
Maidstone bans selling provisions to Indians during harvest time.
Any doing so will be fined 6d for each pound of bread or quart
of meal.
Apr 26
Maidstone, fearing plots by the Dutch in New Amsterdam, forbids
Indians to enter town, especially when armed.
May 6
Maidstone rules that the watch will arrive at dusk; if any man
fails to show up a replacement will be hired at the delinquent's
expense. Also shot and powder will be ordered from Connecticut,
to be paid for by butter or cheese at Clarke's home, at Michaelmas.
May 9
Maidstone decides that no citizen shall live away from town without
letting three others know the details of his absence. A fine of
40 shillings shall be leveled for each day's unexplained absence.
Jun 9
Maidstone authorizes a highway west to Georgica.
Jun 13
William Edwards of Maidstone sues a Mrs. Price for accusing his
wife of lying. Thomas Baker testifies that Mrs. Edwards has blamed
her husband for bringing her to a godless place without ministers
or magistrates. Edwards drops the suit.
Jun 23
Maidstone orders a watering pond to be dug at a spring east of
the village, by all those owning cattle. Ralph Dayton and Thomas
Baker are named as overseers of the project.
July
Word arrives in the colonies that England and Holland have signed
a peace treaty.
Aug 2
Maidstone calls for the town's cattle to be driven out to Wainscott
each day, with Thomas Osborne having the first turn, then rotating
among the owners.
Jul 5
Two meadows outside of Maidstone, one at Accabonac and one at
Northwest, are apportioned out to the townspeople.
Sep 16
Maidstone agrees to give "Goodman" Davis 7 1/2 acres
of land after he brings in two more crops on the plain east of
the village.
Nov 3
The Iroquois sign a general peace with the French at Montréal.
Dec 9
Maidstone votes to abide by the laws of Connecticut.
Dec 10
Representatives from four Dutch and four English towns meet in
New Amsterdam, to protest against New Netherland's arbitrary government.
Dec 14
Stuyvesant convenes the colony's first representative assembly,
defies the opinions of "a few ignorant subjects".
City
New York acquires a city council and a town government, in protest
to Stuyvesant's rule. The Dutch West Indies Company's tavern becomes
the city hall. The colony builds a wall across the island to the
north, as a protection against English colonies (after Cromwell
declares war against the Dutch Republic) and Indians, from that
direction. ** Merchant Jacob Krip is appointed first city clerk
of New Amsterdam. ** Immigrant builder Frederick Philipse arrives.
State
Jesuit missionary Father Le Moyne comes to Onondaga with a party
of Huron and Onondaga chiefs, as an envoy to ratify the peace
treaty with the French. ** English settlers from Hempstead are
colonizing the Hicksville, Jericho, Oyster Bay and Westbury areas
of Long Island.
Indians
The Cat Nation (Eries) send 30 ambassadors to New York's Senecas
to renew peace. An Erie accidentally kills a Seneca during a lacrosse
game. The Senecas kill 25 of the ambassadors; 5 escape. The Erie
burn a Seneca village. They ambush the rear guard of a Iroquois
war party, killing 80 of the Indians. Erie scouts capture the
Iroquois leader Annencraos, murder him. The Iroquois will raise
1800 warriors, surround the Erie fortress of Rique (Rigue), overcome
3-4,000 warriors and take the fort.
May 18
The directors of the East India Company write to governor Pieter
Stuyvesant, informing him of a New Amsterdam city seal to be forwarded.
May 23
Maidstone moves the house next to Joshua Garlicke's off the Common
and converts it to a prison.
Jun 8
New Amsterdam settler Teunis Tomasen sues Michael Paulisen for
payment on a chimney Thomasen had built for Paulisen. Tomasen
wins his suit. ** Several male residents of Maidstone are accused
of sexual self gratification.
Jun 10
The total of Maidstone men changed rises to four.
Jun 20
New England recruits setting out to attack New Amsterdam learn
that the English and the Dutch have made peace.
Jun 26
Three of the four accused in Maidstone, servant Daniel Fairfield,
a servant of Joshua Garlicke, and John Davis, are whipped, while
Fairfield is pilloried as well. The fate of the fourth man, John
Hand, Jr., whose father is on the investigating committee, is
unrecorded.
Jun 29
Maidstone agrees to a request from Connecticut to assist England
against the Dutch.
Jul 4
Manhattan's Dominies Hook, on the North (Hudson) River between
Duane and Canal streets, is acquired by ground brief from Peter
Stuyvesant.
Jul 17
The approximate date (possibly the 18th) the Dutch ship Peartree
sails from Holland with the New Amsterdam city seal.
Aug 22
Jacob Barsimon becomes the first Jew to settle in the city.
Sep 7
23 Sephardic Jews, refugees from Brazil, arrive in New Amsterdam
aboard the French armed vessel St. Charles. The ship's
captain claims he's owed 1600 guilders for the trip.
Oct 3
Maidstone votes to adopt a version of the Connecticut constitution.
Oct 24
Maidstone signs a Covenant, incorporating the town on religious
principles in the Connecticut manner. 40 inhabitants sign.
Nov 9
Maidstone passe legislation placing Lion Gardiner in charge of
whale watchers, calling for a road across the swamp to the plain,
requiring each man to initial the corners of his property, and
placing Thomas Baker in charge of the Ordinary (tavern).
Dec 8
Stuyvesant presents the city seal and accompanying signet to burgomeister
Martin Crigier.
Apr 3
Maidstone votes to send a delegation to Connecticut next month
to discuss a merger.
Apr 26
The Dutch West India Company rules that Jews be allowed to remain
in New Amsterdam.
May 28
Maidstone severely limits the amount of alcohol that can be sold
or given to an Indian.
Jul 6
Maidstone apportions meadow lands around Hook Pond to the Reverend
Thomas James, Lion Gardiner, Ananias Conklin, Thomas Chatfield
and William Hedges.
September
The Dutch from New Amsterdam, under Peter Stuyvesant and a force
of 317 men oust the Swedish settlers in the Delaware River Valley,
capturing Fort Christina and Fort Casimir from New Sweden governor
Rysingh.
Oct 3
Maidstone elects Thomas Baker, Lion Gardiner, and John Mulford
as town representatives for the coming year.
Dec 3
Mulford, Gardiner and Baker write to Connecticut governor Thomas
Welles, to support their attempt to banish accused thief Arthur
Chandler, when spring comes.
City
The city is surveyed and its streets are straightened. ** Several
thousand Hudson River area Indians go on a three-day rampage in
the city, as well as on Staten Island and in New Jersey. Over
a hundred Dutch settlers are killed. More than 150 are kidnapped.
** Lady Deborah Moody is allowed to vote in town meeting. ** Stuyvesant
denies Jews the right to serve in the military. ** Orphans and
other poor children arrive from the Netherlands, in an effort
to boost population. ** Brooklyn area Indians, trusting the Dutch
to defend them, are completely wiped out by Mohawk Indians for
failing to pay tribute. ** The approximate date Claes Janszoon
Visscher publishes a map of New Netherland, correcting the 1650
map (until 1988 assumed to be dated 1651) by Jan Jansson.
State
The approximate date the Seneca establish a town in an area known
as the Dann-Mack site. today in Mendon township, probably abandoning
the site by 1670 and moving on to found Totiakton (Rochester Junction).
** The approximate date a French settlement in the future Onondaga
County area is abandoned. ** Exiled Scot Alexander Lindsay Glen
secures a patent to land north of the Mohawk River, opposite Schenectady.
** Maidstone starts a school in Samuel Parson's home.
Feb 12
Maidstone (East Hampton) promulgates laws against striking anyone,
or bearing false witness. Fines are set, with medical expenses
levied against the attacker.
Feb 22
The Dutch States General ratifies its 1650 agreement with the
United Colonies, changing the boundary between the two to a line
drawn south from Oyster Bay.
Mar 19
Maidstone sends Thomas Baker, John Hand and Lion Gardiner to Hartford,
to form a union with the Connecticut colony. Later in the month
Hartford takes Maidstone under its protection, placing a local
deputy in the General Court.
Jun 2
The cornerstone is laid for the first church in Beverwyck (Albany)
by the congregation of the Reformed Dutch church.
Sep 6
Mohawk Indians request that the Dutch not sell rum to their people.
Oct 7
Maidstone announces fines for anyone selected Constable, Secretary
or Townsman who refuses to serve.
Nov 24
Maidstone restricts Indian activity, ruling against renting them
land, or allowing wigwams to be set up in town without permission.
They are not allowed to travel through town on the Sabbath.
City
Governor Pieter Stuyvesant has the first map of the city made
and sent to the Netherlands. He grants the future Jamaica land
on Long Island to the English. The West India Trading Company
complains that the streets are too broad. The first census is
also made. It shows 120 houses and about 1,000 inhabitants. **
Brewer Michiel Jansen sinks a well in Bevers Graacht and opens
a tavern, after his previous business in Pavonia (today's Jersey
City, New Jersey) was burned by Indians last year. ** A market
stand is built at Broadway and Battery Place near the northeast
corner of the fort.
State
A party of 50 French arrive at Onondaga Lake, where they help
six Jesuits establish a mission. ** The last 600 Erie surrender
to the Iroquois. ** Fort Orange (Albany) trappers take 30,000
beaver pelts.
Netherlands
A pulpit is built that will end up in Albany, New York's 1798
First Dutch Reformed Church.
1657
Feb 4
Maidstone (East Hampton) forbids the planting of Indian corn within
eight feet of any outer fence, and the forming of any cornstack
or haystsack on that same ground.
Apr 7
Maidstone shifts the General Court sfrom the first three days
of April to the first three of March.
Apr 21
Stuyvesant's party reorganizes Fort Casimir as New Amstel.
Jul 9
Maidstone agrees to pay the Reverend Thomas James's £50
salary in redeemable merchndise credit.
Oct 1
Early Maidstone settler Ananias Conklin dies.
Oct 5
Robert Bond and William Mulford inventory Conklin's estate.
Oct 7
Maidstone sets fines for anyone named constable or secretary who
refuses to serve without good cause.
Nov 3
Maidstone rules that matters to be brought before the town council
by outsiders should always be done through a resident of the town.
December
After Quaker missionaries arrive from England and Henry Townshend
of Flushing is fined by the Dutch under a new law, for entertaing
Quakers, his neighbors rally, sign the Flushing Remonstrance,
declaring for freedom of religion. They will soon bow to pressure
and withdraw their support for Townshend.
City
The approximate date of construction of Peter Stuyvesant's mansion,
Whitehall, in lower Manhattan. ** Thatched roofs are prohibited,
as a fire safety measure. ** The approximate year Stone Street
is built, between Broad Street and Hanover Square. ** The burgomasters
order that citizens must sweep in front of their homes and bring
their garbage to five official areas for disposal. The orders
are mostly ignored until fines are levied for dumping in the canal
ditch. ** Following the mother country's much earlier example,
the right of the burgher class (Burgher-recht) to engage in professions
or crafts, is introduced in the city.
State
Father Pierre-Joseph-Marie Chaumonot visits the Senecas at Boughton
Hill (Ganagarro).
Jan 25
Stuyvesant bans tennis during church service hours and also prohibits
"pulling the goose."
February
In Maidstone Lion Gardiner's daughter Elizabeth Gardiner Howell
falls ill, accuses Joshua Garlicke's wife of being a witch and
cursing her. When Elizabeth dies an investigation is called for.
Feb 19
The court at Maidstone hears testimony against Goody Garlicke
from Samuel Pasons, William Russell and Elizabeth's husband Arthur.
Feb 23
Father, Lion Gardiner, and husband, Arthur Howell, agree that
the latter will become legal guardian for Elizabeth Gardiner Howell's
infant daughter, including portions of Elizabeth's state received
from the Gardiners.
Feb 24
Elizabeth's nurse Goody Howell, and her mother, both make depositions
before John Mulford, John Hand and Thomas Baker. Both women testify
that Elizabeth told them Goody Garlicke was tormenting her.
Feb 27
Testimony continues. Goody Brookes says Mrs. Gardiner told her
Elizabeth was bewitched by a woman. Goody Burdsill testifies that
she heard Goody Davis's infant died because she was cursed by
Goody Garlicke. Goodman Vaile and his wife refute this, claim
Davis gave her child to an Indian woman to nurse and it died of
starvation.
March
Stuyvesant establishes the town of Nieuw Haarlem, in the northern
half of Manhattan.
Mar 11
Goody Burdsill gives further testimony, says she heard Mrs. Howell
accuse Goody Garlike of 'jear'ing her.
Mar 19
The Maidstone council assigns Thomas Baker and John Hand to travel
to Connecticut on government matters, escorting Goody Garlicke
there for trial.
May 3
Maidstone places itself under the Connecticut government.
May 20
The Connecticut Court exonerates Goody Garlicke, but commends
Maidstone authorities for their diligence.
May 22
Maidstone signs a treaty with Montauketts chief Wyandanch, negotiating
pasturage at Montauk for seven years and first refusal if the
land is ever sold.
Aug 12
New Amsterdam gets its first police force - the Ratelwacht (Burgher
Guard).
Nov 13
Chief Wyandanch agrees to convey half of the whales washed up
on the beach to minister Thomas James and the other half to Wyandanch's
friend Lion Gardiner, paying only what they deem fair for any
whales after the first one.
Nov 30
Maidstone extends its eastern boundary.
City
The council bans kolven, a forerunner of golf. ** The council
outlaws privies with street level outlets. The order is pretty
much ignored. ** Failing to sustain a ban on loose pigs in the
street the council orders them at least ringed through the nose,
to make them easier to catch. ** The city considers digging a
public well north of the wall; nothing is done. ** Dutch immigrant
Gerritt Remmersen arrives in Amersfoort (Gravesend, Brooklyn)
Long Island.
State
Settlers from Onondaga Lake, fearing an imminent Indian attack,
flee, pausing to bury gold and cannon on Stowell (Treasure) Island,
in the Oswego River. ** Settler Alexander Lindsay Glen erects
a mansion on the bank of the Mohawk opposite Schenectady.
Indians
The Iroquois, backed first by the Dutch, then the English, begin
nine years of devastating warfare against the French.
Mar 2
Maidstone (also now being referred to as East Hampton) formulates
laws regulating taverns, which must be licensed by the town.
Apr 19
Maidstone requires landowners to mark their fences with their
initials and to keep their livestock penned up except for grazing
times on common land.
Apr 25
The directors of the Dutch West India Company write to Stuyvesant,
inquiring about a petition for land and mineral grants in the
Catskill Mountains made by Garrit Jansen Kuiper and Abel de Wolfe.
Stuyvesant will stall, not supplying the information.
Jul 14
Wyandanch gifts Lion Gardiner with a patch of land between Huntington
and Seatacut, for his aid in conflict with the Naragansetts in
1653. The sachem dies later this summer, reportedly poisoned.
November
Unrest among the Esopus Indians compels the Fort Orange (Albany)
authorities to call for the building of a stockade around the
settlement. It's left open on the Hudson River side at first but
soon all residents living along the river are ordered to erect
new fences the same height as the stockade, within eight days.
City
Alexander Carolus Curtius (Cursier) opens a Latin School, the
first in the city. ** The city orders 100,000 bricks and
12,000 tiles from Holland. ** More orphans and other poor
children arrive from the Netherlands. ** Merchant-poet Jacob
Steendam describes Manhattan's waters. ** Willem Gerritsen,
his wife Mary, and two sons, Willem and Cornelius, arrive in Amersfoort
(Gravesend, Brooklyn) Long Island, from Bermuda. ** The
village of New Haarlem is founded at the northern end of Manhattan.
State
Under 500 Metoac Indians remain on Long Island.
England
Howell's English Proverbs refers to the wisdom of the men
of Gotham.
© 2002, 2003 David Minor / Eagles Byte