Feb 2
New Amsterdam officially becomes New York.
Feb 6
The Dutch West India Company authorizes all their officers and
colonists to war against the English.
Feb 8
New York governor Richard Nicolls asks each Long Island town to
send two delegates to a meeting in Hempsted at the end of the
month, to adopt the Duke's Laws.
Feb 9
East Hampton designates Thomas Talmage and Thomas Thomson to meet
with deputies from Southold and Southampton to consider means
to have legal representation at Hempsted, apart from Hartford.
Mar 1
Nicolls introduces the Duke's Laws to an assembly from Westchester
and Long Island. The laws require that those who took out patents
under the Dutch acknowledge the English proprietors' right to
the land by taking out new patents.
Mar 10
The approximate date delegates of New York colonies meeting at
Hempstead, Long Island, rubber stamp the Duke's Laws, as their
new legal code.Long Island, Staten Island and parts of Westchester
are divided into ridings, with an appointed sheriff in charge
of each. All Protestants are granted continuing religious freedom.
Mar 13
Gysbert Schuyler, son of Philip and Margretta Schuyler, dies at
the age of 12, in Albany.
Jun 12
Nicolls grants a charter to the City of New York, denying it self-government.
Jun 22
Nicolls notifies the towns on eastern Long Island that war is
being declared on the Dutch by the Crown. All are advised to be
on the lookout for enemy warships and, if spotted, militias should
travel to the western end of the island and await instructions.
Jun 24
The Assembly of Representatives sets rules for dealing with stranded
whales. They are to be reported to the governor and the person
finding the animal is to be given the fifteenth gallon of oil
extracted.
Sep 5
East Hampton decrees that no one under the age of 18 be left to
tend the cattle enclosed on the Great Plain and that those who
perform the chore, remain until relieved, or face a fine.
Sep 11
East Hampton resident John Kirtland transfers the contract of
his Indian apprentice Hopewell to the Reverend Thomas James.
Oct 4
Easthampton and Montauk/Shinnecock chief Quashawam come to an
agreement concerning boundaries between town and Indian land;
setting up rules regarding mutual use for grazing, hay cutting,
land disposal, etc.
Oct 5
Governor Nicolls issues a patent to David Gardiner, making the
property of the Gardiner's Island landowner accountable only
to the colonial governors' office; charging an annual quit rent
of £5.
Oct 12
East Hampton forbids its citizens to entertain or sell accommodations
to "Scandalous person or persons".
City
Population: 1,500. ** Governor Nicolls appoints Thomas Willett
the city's first mayor, for the year. For many years the post
will remain appointive and mostly ceremonial. ** Governor
Nicolls opens the first court of admiralty at the old Stadt Huys.
** Peter Stuyvesant is recalled to Holland to explain the
loss of New Amsterdam.
State
A French colony is established in the area of the future Onondaga
County near Jamesville. Jesuit missionary Francis Creuxius describes
the Onondaga valley, mentioning the salt springs. ** Nicolls
signs a peace treaty with the Esopus Indians. The natives agree
to remain on their own lands.
New Jersey
Elizabethtown, founded by settlers from Long Island, is made the
capital of East Jersey by Governor Philip Carteret.
Canada
600 troops, lead by New France's new governor Daniel de Rémy
de Courcelles and lieutenant-general Alexandre de Prouville de
Tracy, head into New York to attack the Mohawks.
1666
February
Royal Governor Richard Nicolls confirms the 1645 letters patent
granted for the Queens village of Flushing.
Mar 6
Nicolls confirms the 1652 letters patent granted for the Queens
village of Newtown.
Mar 13
The Suffolk County town of East Hampton is incorporated under
patent by governor Nicolls.
Oct 16
Military governor of New France Alexandre de Prouville, the Marquis
de Tracy, leading a force of 1000 regulars, 600 militia and 100
Algonkians and Hurons, torches New York Mohawk villages, including
Andarague, after making peace with the Seneca and Oneida. Prouville
claims Iroquois territory for Louis XIV.
City
Thomas Delavall is named mayor for the year. ** British army officer
Captain John Manning acquires Minnahannock Island, in the East
River. It will become Roosevelt Island. ** Nicolls has a well
dug within the walls of Fort Amsterdam.
State
The Senecas ask the French for missionaries. ** Sweer Teunise
Van Velsen erects the future Schenectady's first grist mill. The
passing road will be named Mill Lane.
Canada
De Courcelles and de Tracy's expedition limps back from New York,
having reached as far as Schenectady, but accomplishing little.
Jan 16
East Hampton's constable and overseers set fines for missing town
meetings.
Jul 19
Nicolls writes to the Long Island towns, telling them to organize
their militias for mutual defense.
Jul 21
The Dutch and the English sign the Treaty of Breda, ending the
Second Dutch War. New Netherland is transferred to the British
and Acadia is restored to France.
Oct 11
Nicolls confirms the 1652 patent for Brooklyn's Flatbush area.
Nov 29
Nicolls issues a patent for Oyster Bay, on the north shore of
Long Island.
City
Former mayor Thomas Willett is again appointed to the post.
** Former Dutch director-general Peter Stuyvesant has the
tile of his bouwerie (farm) confirmed.
State
William and Sarah Teller settle on Croton Point.
Indians
The Iroquois treat for peace with the French.
1668
Mar 25
English captain Sylvester Salisbury is presented with a silver
bowl when his horse wins a race at Hempstead - the first sporting
trophy in America.
May
Royal Governor Richard Nicolls is recalled and replaced by Colonel
Francis Lovelace.
September
A epidemic (possibly yellow fever) kills many New Yorkers.
City
Governor Lovelace begins sponsoring the horse races at Hempstead,
Long Island. ** Cornelius Van Steenwyck is appointed mayor, serving
for the next three one-year terms.
State
The French Jesuit, Father Jacques Fremin, after first stopping
at St. Michel (Gannogarae, consisting of Huron, Neutral and Onondaga
captives) takes up residence with the Seneca Indians at Totiakton,
founds the mission of La Conception. ** The approximate date the
French settlement near Jamesville is visited by a party of Spaniards
from the Mississippi by way of Olean, seeking silver. When the
French and Spanish begin quarreling the Iroquois kill them all.
1669
August
Father Fremin visits Huron captives at Gandougarie (East Bloomfield).
Father Garnier visits the Ganondagon area, possibly establishing
a mission on the Dann site.
Aug 10
La Salle, DeCasson and Sulpician father René de Brehant
de Galinée, his chaplain, trying to get to the Ohio River
tribes, arrive at Lake Ontario's Irondequoit Bay. They land at
Indian Landing, in today's Ellison Park, Rochester.
Aug 13
La Salle and Galinée arrive at Totiakton (Rochester Junction),
on Honeoye Creek. They present the Indians with a two-barreled
pistol, for the destruction of two of their enemies, the Andostoue
from near Waverly, and the Mohegan. Other presents include kettles,
hatchets, knives and glass beads. The French asks for a captive
to guide them.
Aug 14
The Indians stall La Salle saying they await the return of a party
of young warriors from the Dutch settlements with the captives,
give the French wampum belts. While awaiting the return of the
party they are treated to dog meat and the sight of the torture
and dismemberment of Toagenha, a war captive. Indians dance and
make noises to frighten their spirits away. La Salle will end
up departing without a guide.
Oct 9
Royal governor-general Francis Lovelace writes to the mayor and
alderman, presenting them with a seal for the corporation, a silver
mace and seven gowns for the mayor, aldermen and sheriff.
City
Lutheran minister Jacobus Frabriceius arrives in the colony.
State
The Seneca take La Salle to Bristol to view the "water that
burns", a local oil spring.
Great Lakes
Father Joliet discovers Lake Erie.
© 2004 David Minor / Eagles Byte