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New Castle History
JimMeek
Fall2018
james.l.meek@gmail.com
AViewofTheTownofNewCastleFromTheRiverDelaware,--Takenthe4thJuly1797--ByIvesleBlanc
Who am I?
� Notahistorian!� CollegeatWilliamandMaryinWilliamsburgandgottolovecolonialrevival!
� Mycareerwasinresearch:� Ph.Dinbiochemistry,postdocwithArvidCarlssoninSweden(NobelPrize,2000)� 14yearsinresearchatNIMH,Washington(livedinvictorianhouse)onCapitolHill� 17yearsinresearchatDupontExp.Sta.(research,crea[ngin-companywebsites)� 2yearsatAstraZeneca� 3yearsattheNewsJournalinthenewsroomdoingwebmapsanddatabasework
� Webought30TheStrand,N.C.in2003,startedresearchingourhouse,thestreet,thetown� TogetherwithpeoplefromU.D.,CourthouseandDelawareHistoricalSocietyIformedNC-CHAP–NewCastleCommunityHistoryandArchaeologyProgram
� Istartedpu`ngtheinforma[onuponnc-chap.organdhaveneverstopped
h5p://nc-chap.org Currently>6,000pages,filesandimagesaccordingtoGoogle!SearchbartofindstuffonthisVERYlargesiteNewinforma[onusedintoday’slectureLecturesfrom2015Resources:Histories,guidebooks,censusandtaxrecordsArchaeology,maps,aerialphotos,Portrait,railroadandrailroadenginemanufacture…Churches:Lutheran,Presbyt.Episcopal,Quaker,MethodistWomeninFt.CasimirVirtualtoursOralHistory,PostcardsDayinOldNewCastle“WilliamsburgontheDelaware”Crime&punishment:hanging,scarletlepers,whipping…...
Course Plan First half of the course:
-dates, wars, people etc. the usual history -the not-usual history – why it happened
Second half of course -virtual tours, clothing, transportaGon, architecture (maybe a few words: beer, punishment, scarlet le5ers, organized religion, prosGtuGon)
TheUsualBeginning,notTheVeryBeginning
1609 H.Hudson-S,N,FreshRivers1625 PeterMinuit&WICbuys
Manhapanfor$241638Minuit,Swedes,KalmarNyckel1651 Stuyvesant/Ft.Casimir1655Swedes/Ft.Trinity1655 Amsterdam/NewAmstel1664 DukeofYork/NewCastle1682GranttoWm.Penn
Visschermap(1650/1685)
Whattheusualbeginningdoesn’tanswer
• WhatkindofatradingcompanywastheWIC--likeMacy’s?• Whatwereit’smajortradeproducts,hereandelswhere?• Whydiditwaitfrom1625to1651tobuildFt.Casimir?• WhowasFt.Casimirnamedfor?• Whatwaslifelikehere?• Whatweretherela[onslikebetweentheDutch&Swedes?• When/whydiditbecomeNewAmstel
The‘usualbeginning’isavailablefromhistoriesfromScharf(1888)toFederalWritersprograminthe30’s
Igotanswerstomostoftheseques[onsfromafewbooks,andserendipitousoccasionsonvaca[ons!
Recommended books
IslandattheCenteroftheWorld(RusselShorto)--Hudson,WIC,NewAmsterdam(NewYork),Stuyvesant..NotmuchaboutNewCastle.AvailableinDelawarelibrariesbothinprintandaudioform.Greattolistentointhecar!MerchantKings:WhenCompaniesRuledtheWorld,1600-1900.(StephenBown)--ChaptersontheDutchEASTIndiaCompany,StuyvesantandtheWIC,andtheHudson'sBayCompany.Perspec[veonthewaypeoplegivenpowertoruleacolonybehavesounlikethebehaviorofthecountrymenathome.Blunt:Stuyvesant:“WederiveourauthorityfromGodandtheWIC,notfromthepleasureofafewignorantsubjects.”Nathaniel'sNutmeg:OrtheTrueandIncredibleAdventuresoftheSpiceTraderWhoChangedtheCourseofHistory(GilesMilton)--DetailsontheSpiceRace--theracefortheincrediblylucra[vespicetradebetweentheEnglishandDutch,andwhyattheendoftheAngloDutchwars,EnglandchosetotakeNewNetherlandincludingNewYork,despiteit'srela[velypunytradeincome,andtheDutchchosetheEastIndieswiththeirfabledspices.NewCastleDelaware,:AWalkThroughTime,Benson&HoffeckerBestbookIknowofonNewCastle.
What’s new: new perspecGves from trips on the history of Fort Casimir and New Amstel
Detailsonnc-chap.org--thefirstlink(hpp://nc-chap.org/newAmstel/
Hudson’sBayCompany,Banff,Canada.Anothermonopolytradingcompany
Rijksmuseum,Amsterdam.Clothes(withbulletholes)wornbyMr.Casimir
SanJuan,PRwheretheWICbesieged,thenburnedthetown
Curacao.WICcenterfortradeinsaltandslaves
Amsterdam,originaldocumentsforpurchaseoflandfromWICforNewAmstel
Amsterdam,headquartersoftheWestIndiaCompany(WIC)
Cer[ficateinthestairwellintheNewCastleCityofficesgivenbytheCityofNieuwerAmstel(suburbofAmsterdam)ontheoccasionofthe300thanniversaryoffoundingofNewCastlein1651.
Minordiscrepanciesfromfact.ThetownwasoriginallyfoundedasthemilitaryoutpostFt.CasimirbytheDutchWestIndiaCompanyin1651,notbyordinaryemigrants.ItreplacedFt.Nassau(nearcurrentCamden,N.J.)
WhydidtheDutchwanttocometoNorthAmerica?
SealofNewYorkCitySealofNewNetherlands
“ElMorro”SanJuanNa/onalHistoricalPark,PuertoRico
TheWICin1625wassimultaneouslyseekingtoexpandtradingareasinManhapan,DelawareRiverandSanJuan!
TheDutchWestIndiaCompanywasnotjustawarmandfriendlytradingcompany
Cruiseliners
NewSweden,ortheSwedishRiverinEastIndia
TheSwedeshadonlyafewvillagesbutmanyfarmsspreadalong‘their’river.
1492-1508ColumbusdiscoveredPuertoRico,foundgold,builtfort,startedcoloniza[on
1498 PopegaveCaribbeanandWestCoastofAmericatoSpain;PortuguesegotBrazil
TheCaribbeanwasa"closedsea”TradewasrestrictedtoSpain
1500s DutchandEnglishcametoCaribbeananywaytotradesalt,hides,spices,dyewoods
1609 EASTIndiaCompany(VOC)hiredHudsontosearchfornorthwestpassage;hediscoveredDelawareRiver
1621 WESTIndiacompany(WIC)foundedfortradingandformilitaryapacksonSpainandPortuguesecolonies
1625 WICapackedPuertoRico;couldn'tgetintotheforts.BurnedSanJuan;builtfortonSouthRiver(Delaware)
1628 WICseizedtheSpanishsilverfleet,hur[ngSpain
1630 WICconqueredpartofBrazil
1638 FormerWICDirectorGeneralPeterMinuitarrivesonKalmarNyckeltofoundNewSwedenatTheRocks,DutcharealliesofSweden
1643 WICnamesPeterStuyvesantDirectorGeneralofDutchWestIndiesislands:Curacao,Aruba,Bonaire;laterAmerica
1648 Thirtyyearswarover,DutchnolongeralliesofSweden
1651 StuyvesantbuildsFt.CasimirforWICtocounteractSwedishpresence
1655/1656 SWEDISHCAPTUREFT.CASIMIR/STUUVESANTCAPTURESFT.CASIMIR,ITISBOUGHTBYAMSTERDAMRENAMEDNEWAMSTEL
1664 EnglishcaptureNewNetherlandincludingFt.Casimir/NewAmstel(2ndAngloDutchWar)
1674 TreatyofWestminster(3rdAngloDutchWar)EnglandgetsNewYork,NewCastle,DutchgetSurinam,Caribbeanislands
WenowspeakEnglish,notDutch
GeoctroyeerdeWes[ndischeCompagnie
<1650>1650
SummaryoftheVeryBeginning,orwhytheDutchWestIndiaCompanywaspartofthefoundingofFortCasimir/NewAmstel/NewCastle
Dutch(red)&Swedishforts(pink)Hudson’sBayCompanyFortsandTradingPosts
AsseeninaBanff,CanadaHBCstoreAug,2018
Canadianheadquarters:YorkFactory(tradingpost)
LiketheHBC,theDutchfavoredbuilding‘factorijen’,factorysortradingpostswithsoldiersandafewseplers.
The‘thin’businessmodelofafewemployeescoveringaverylongareadidworkfortheHudson’sBayCompanyformanyyears
HBCstoreinBanff,CanadaRoutenorthofBanffbetweenthePacificandHudsonBay
LastHBCpostbuilt
NewCastleResearchwhiletraveling:FromtheUndergroundRailroadMuseum,Cincinna[,OHAug.31,2018
Viewfrom2ndfloorwindow,pasttemporaryferriswheel,RoeblingbridgeoverOhioR.toKentucky(aslavestate) “TheDutch[WestIndiaCompany]wereamongthemost
vigorouspar[cipantsintheAtlan[cSlaveTrade.”ElsewherestatedmorethanEngland&Portugalcombined.
Birdelectricrentalscooter
Peter Stuyvesant , the West India Company and Ft. Casimir/New Amstel
1643 PeterStuyvesantdirectorgeneralofDutchWestIndiesislandsCuracao,Aruba,Bonaire
1644 HelostrightlegtoacannonballapackingSpanish-heldSintMaarten1645 HebecamegovernorgeneralofallDutchpossessionsinNorthAmerica
andtheCaribbean1651 HefoundsFortCasimironSouth(Delaware)River1654 HetravelstoBarbados;captured,releasedbyAdmiralWilliamPenn1655 StuyvesantrecapturesFt.CasimirfromSwedes1664 EnglishcaptureNewNetherland
PeterStuyvesantapr.H.Couturier
Jews were in Curacao, New Amsterdam, but not permi5ed to trade in Ft. Casimir
New Yorlo Historioal Records. 117 To-day, the of December 1655 the following oath has been taken by J ean Paul
J acq uet before the Honorable Director-General antI Counsel : I promise and swear in the presence of Almighty Goel, that I will be obedient and
faithful to their Noble High Mightinesses, the LOrlls States-General of the United Netherlands, to the Noble Lords-Directors of the Privileged ,Vest-India Company in the same and to their Director-General and Council of now appointed or in future to be appointed, that I will administer good law and jnstice, that I will maintain and advance as much as I can the R eformed religion, as the same is taught and preached here and in the Fatherland conform to s word and the Synod of Dortrecht, that I will take care of the Fort and its to the best of my ability and furth er will, pursuant to the instructions given to me or to be given in future, advance the service of the Company and the wellfare of the country, also do to the best of' my abilities, what a good and faithful Vice-Director is bound to do. So help me God Almighty!
PETITION OF ABRAHAM DE LUOENA AND OTHER J.E\VS FOR PERMISSION TO TRADE ON THE SOUTHRIVER, WITH VOTES OF TUE COIT NCI L AND ORDER THEREON.
November 1055. Copy. To the Honorable \Vorshipfnl Director-General and Conncil of New-
Netherland. Show with due reverence Abraham de Lucena, Salvador d'Andrada and Jacob Cohen
for themselves and in the name of otlHil's of the J ewish nation, residing in this city, that, under date of the 15t!t F ebruary A'? 1655, they, the petitioners, have from the Ronb l
Lords-Directors of the Incorporated ",Vest-India Company, }.fasters and Patroons of this Province received permission and consent, to travel, reside and trade here, like the other inhabitants and to enjoy the same liberties, which is proved by the document here annexed. They request therefore respectfully, that your Noble ,Yorships will not prevent or hinder them llerein, bnt will allow and consent, that, pursuant to tlleir permit, they may, with other inhabitants of this Province, travel to and trade on the Southrivcr of N ew-N etherland, at Fort Orange and other places, situate within the jurisdiction of this Government of New-Netherland. So doing
They shall remain Your N oble Worships' humble servants
(Signed) ABRAnAlII DE L UCENA., SALVADOR D ANDRADA, JACOB COEN .
After the foregoing petition had been read at the meeting of the Director-General and Council, it was resolved, that each of the members of the Council should give hie opinion as to what answer is to make to it.
Opinion of the Honorable Director-General Petrus Stuyvesant. To answer, that the petition is to be denied for weighty reasons.
Vol12
Jewsweregrantedlandforafarmingcommunityonthecoastin1651.Unabletogrowtheirownfoodonthepoorlandtheymovedtownin1674;theirinterestsmovedtobankingandcommerce.Apor[onofthecongrega[onemigratedtoNewportRIin1694.
DutchIslands:Curacao,Bonaire,ArubaandSt.Maaarten/St.MarHn:Snorkeling,beaches,touristameni[es,earlysynagogue,slaverymuseumStuyvesantwasDirectorGeneralofthefirstthreethenlosthislegtryingtoretakeSt.Maarten
Aruba,Bonaire&Curacaowerenotpar[cularlyprofitable.In1650theWIChadproposedtogiveitawayofopenituptoothercompaniesandtraders.
AstheislandsofCurasao,BonaireandArubahavebeenfoundformanyyearstobeonlyaburdentotheCompany,notproducinganyprofit,wehave,therefore,consideredwhetheritwouldnotbewelltorequestpermissionoftheSupremegovernmenttogiveupsaidIslands:butifsuchwerenotfeasible,'twould,inouropinion,bebest,topermiteveryonetoestablishColoniesonsaidIslands,todistributeandconcedethelandfreeofrent,
DocumentsRela[vetotheColonialHistoryofNewYork,V1,p363
Claims to Delaware by Dutch, Swedes, and English (BalGmore & Penn) were conflicGng
• 1497 ItalianJohnCabotclaimsallNorthAmericaforEnglishbasedondiscoveryofNewfoundland• 1609DutchclaimNewNetherland,includingDelawarebasedonHudsonandseplement• 1632 CharlesIgrantedMarylandfromnorthofthePotomacandWatkinspointto40thparallel• 1638SwedesclaimlandnearFt.Chris[nabasedonseplementandtreaty• 1676 CharlesIIgrantedJames,DukeofYorkJamesII“Hudsonsriver,andallthelandsfromthe
westsideofConnec[cut,totheeastsideofDelawareBay.”(NY,NJ)• 1681 CharlesIIgrantsWm.Penn“AllThattractoflandinAmericaCalledbythenameof
PennsilvaniaasthesameisboundedontheEastbyDelawareRiver,fromtwelvemilesdistanceNorthwardsofNewCastleTowne,untothethreeandfor[ethdegreeofNorthernLa[tude,etc”
• 1682SubsequentgrantoftheNewCastleandsouth(ThreeLowerCoun[es)
Intheend,“mightmakesright”,possessionis9/10….”
LenTan[llo,TheEdgeofNewNetherland,2012PehrLindestrom,1655/1695
FortCasimir/FortTrefalidighet
LocaGon of Fort Casimir
AlexanderB.Cooper,1905
ItemsinDutchPain[ngsfoundatsiteofFt.Casimir
Archaeological evidence for foodways ArGfacts from Ft. Casimir
Redglazedearthenwarepot Wan-Liperiodtableware
Rimofsaltglazedcreamcoloredvesselwithcobaltbluedecora[ons
Fragmentofdarkbrownglazedpoperywithahandleapachment
Follow-uparchaeologicaldigin2014byJohnMilnerAssoc.attheFt.Casimirsiteat2nd&Chesnut
Ini[algroundpenetra[ngradarscantolocateareasofinterest
TrenchawayfromwhereHeitefoundDutchar[factstolookforfor[fica[onlines
Result:foundpossiblepalisadeline.Needsanotherstudytofindoutwhereitgoes,andshape.hpp://nc-chap.org/pdfs/fort_casimir_2014.pdf
WhowasFt.Casimirnameda�er?
BulletHole
AdisplaycaseintheRijksmuseum,Amsterdamhasacoat,onceownedbyHenryCasimir(1628)andahatofErnstCasimir(1628-1640).Bothhadbulletholesinthem,andtheownersbothwere‘Stadsholders’(~kings)ofFriesland,theprovincewhereStuyvesantgrewup.Boththey,andkingJohnIICasimirofPolandhavebeensuggestedasasourceforthename.Howeverwedon’tknow,nordidtheDirectorsoftheCityofAmsterdam.Theywrotein1652“Forwhatreasonthisfortissonamedhasnotbeenrevealedtous.”
The Rise and Fall of the Dutch West India Company
Theheadquarterswasbuiltin1617,rentedtotheWICfrom1623,un[l1647whenthecompanywentbankruptthefirst[me.Stuyvesantwouldhavecomeherea�erhislegwasshotoffin1644un[lhewasnamed"DirectorGeneralofNewNetherland,Curacao,Bonaire,Arubaandtheirdependencies"in1645.Thecompanywasthenindeepfinancialdifficul[esduetothelossofitsBraziliancoloniesandtheexpenseofthewarthereof.Ini[allythecompany'sgoalswerelandconquestandprivateering.Amajorsuccessinthatareawasthecaptureofthe16shipsintheSpanish"Silverfleet".Thecompanywasinfinancialdifficul[esin1656whenStuyvesantretookFt.Casimir,andthatcontributedtosellingittheAmsterdam.A�erthesecondbankruptcyin1674,anewcompanywasformed,mostlyfundedbythefinanciallylucra[veslavetradeintheCaribbean.
Purchase of land from WIC for Ft. Casmir by the City of Amsterdam March 3, 1656
nc-chap.org/newAmstel
AmsterdamCityArchives
SimonHart,DirectoroftheAmsterdamCityArchives,wroteanar[clefortheHalveMaenin1956onthe“ColonyoftheCityofAmsterdamontheDelawareRiver”.Inithequotesa1658leperfromJacobAlrichs,directorofNewAmsteltotheburgomasterswhohadappointedhim.
"Manythatcomehitherareaspoorasworms,andlazytoboot."Compara[velyfewofthenewarrivalswerecapableofdoingagriculturalwork.TheCityFathersthensentoutpoorhouseorphanstothecolony.TheCitycolonydidnotprosper,harvestfailure,heavyrains,sicknessandthebehaviouroftheBri[shallcontributedtoitsdecline.In1658theprevalentfevershadalreadycausedthedeathsofaboutonehundredpersons,owingtowhichmanyfamilieswerele�unsupported.InAugust1659therewere110housesandsomepublicbuildings.Thenumberofreallygoodfarmerswases[matedasbeingthree!Fortherestatotalof137ar[sans(mostofwhomdidnotknowtheirjobs),70soldiersand300womenandchildren,hadcomeintothecolony.Withonething,andanother,theCitywaslosingmoney.ThedebtswhichmanycolonistshadcontractedtotheCityCouncilwereneverpaid.
Thefeelingwasmutual.Fi�yresidents(1659)desertedtoVirginiaandMaryland,apparentlybecauseofAlrichs’“toogreatpreciseness”
What did New Amstel Look Like?
Maybe like New Amsterdam 1650-1657, or Amsterdam (1600-1665)
MaybelikesomeofthebuildingsinNewCastlein1804(and1884)
Gardens in New Amsterdam c1655
CastelloPlan,NYPL
• MosthousesinManhapanhadgardens,eithervegetable,formalororchard
• LotdimensionsinNewAmstelweresimilartothoseinManhapanandweredescribedasfor‘ahouseandgarden’
• ColonialrecordsshowthatgardensinNewAmstelproducedcabbagesandhops.AdamOnkelbach,asoldier,wasaccusedofstealing23cabbagesin1656
Food (Duringgood[mes)
A Common Indian food was Sepawn (suppan/sepon/suppawn) corn meal mush
BoilingstewinwoodenvesselTheodoredeBry,1590a�erJohnWhite’s1585watercolorsofNorthCarolina
"theircommonfareforwhichthisgrain[maize]ismostusedisporridge,thereknownassappaen.ItsuseamongtheIndiansissogeneralthatrarelyadaypasseswithouttheirea[ngit,unlesstheyaretravelingorhun[ng.,andonecanhardlyeverenteranIndiandwellingthatthisporridgeisnotbeingeaten.Whentheyvisitusoroneanothertheyfirstofaskandlookforsappaen.Itiso�encookedwithmeatorfishwhenavailable,mostlynotfreshbutdriedandpoundedintomeal....
ADescrip[onofNewNetherland,AVanDerDonck,Ed.C.T.Ghring,W.A.Starna,D.W.Goedhuys2008.
Transla[onsofprimarydocumentsareonline(google&archive.org):e.g.leperstoandfromStuyvesantandthedirectorsofFt.Casimir&NewAmstelNYHD(NewYorkHistoricalDocuments)
WhatwaslifelikeinFt.Casimir/NewAmstel?
hpps://archive.org/details/documentsrela[v12brod
• Deer• Pork,Bacon• Peas• Wheat,Bread• Corn• Grapes• Cabbages• Vinegar• Cheese• Radishes• Beer• Spanish,GermanWine• Brandy
• Partridges(lawagainstshoo[ngonSundayintown)
• Waterfowl• Driedcodfish• Freshfish
WeDOknowoffoodsshippedintoNewAmstelfromofficialrecordsandoneship’smanifestfromAmsterdam,1863
Common occurrences in Ft. Casimir/New Amstel: hunger, sickness, death, fear
Ihavenotreceived..Duffels,whichisveryinconvenient,aswithoutduffelsitishardtogetdeer-meatormaizefromthesavages.Overonehundredsoulshavealsoarrivednow,withoutthatprovisionshavebeensentwiththem,whichcauseshererathersomescarcityandinconvenience.Itisratherdifficulttoprovideformanymouths,whenonehasbutliplestores,onehardlydarestothinkofitandIamashamedtospeakofitortoaskagainyourHonor,tosendsomenecessariesofgrain,whichisverymuchneededhere,alsoalotofpeasandsomebacon.
GlimpsesofhungerinofficialleperstofromNewAmstel,NewAmsterdam(NYHD)
1658,toStuyvesant:TotheNoble,Honorable,Worshipful,Wise,PrudentandVeryDiscreetMr.PetrusStuyvesant,GeneralinNew-Netherland,Curacaoetc,residingattheManhapansinFortNew-Amsterdam.Byasavage.
The outposts/se5lements were marginal and not self supporGng; supplies came from New Amsterdam
LastSaturdayIdistributedourlastmeat,Ihaveyetaboutonera[onofbaconand200lbs.ofdriedcodfish.IrequestthatyourHonorwillpleasetosendussomebaconandmeatbyfirstopportunity.
Theycomplainedtomelately,thattheyhadnomorevictuals,astheyharvestedliplefromtheirlandlastsummer,theyhadreceivedtheirseed-cornfromAlrichsverylate,whichwasEnglishcornandripenedlate;thereforeitwasmostlyfrozenonthefield,sothattheyhavelipleornoprovisions.Thesefarmershavegotagooddealofwintergrainintothesoil:yetsomesay,thatiftheycannotgethelporassistance,theywillhavetoleave,beforethenewcornripens,fortheyhavesoldtheirremainingclothesforeatableslastwinter.
ToStuyvesantfromBeekman,Ft.Altena,Jan.1660
ToStuyvesantfromBeekman,Ft.Altena,June1660
Sickness a frequent problem
Ihavebeenveryunwellandhavesufferedahardshock,likewisemywife,whoiss[llveryweak,togetherwithsome3or4ofmyhousepeople,forafeverorotherdiseaseprevailshereverymuch,sothathardlyafamilyisfreefromit,althoughnobodyhasdiedyet).
JacobAlrichstoStuyvesant,Oct1657
ExtractfromtheleperofEvertPietersen,Comforterofthesick,andSchoolmasterintheColonieestablishedbythiscity,Amsterdam,ontheSouthriver,inNewNetherland,dated10thAugust,1657.WearrivedhereattheSouthriver,onthe25thApril,andfound20familiesthere,mostlySwedes,notmorethan5or6familiesbelongingtoourna[on.Ifindthelandhererightgoodandwell[mbered…fineoakandhickorytrees;also,excellentlandfor[llagethelandproduceswhateveritcan,butofthebestkind;Ithereforefirmlybelievewerewetohave1to2thousandheartyfarmersweshouldreapanexcellentcrophere,where,therefore,nothingiswan[ngbutpeople.Wharvesarealreadylaidouthereandalmostbuilt;landisalsogivenoutalready,andeveryeffortmadetogetthewintergrainintheground….Ialreadybegintokeepschool,andhave25children,etc.YourHonors'mostobedientservant,(Signed),EvertPietersen.Datedthe10,hAugust,1657.InFortNewAmstel,ontheSouthriver,inNewNetherland.
Someposi[venotesaboutthecolony
More Illlness ToMr.PetrusStuyvesant,GeneralinNew-Netherland,Curacaoetc.residingattheManhapansPerskipperJacob,whomGodmayguide.……Ageneralfever-likediseasehasragedhereagainforsome[meanditisprevailingmuchamongtheinhabitants.TheLordpleasetotakeusintohismercifulprotec[onandrelievemanyweakpeoplefromit.I,too,havebeenillforsomedays,butamnow,thankstoGod,aliplebeper.
Closingherewith.Noble,Honorable,Worshipful,Wise,PrudentSir,Icommendyour Honorandfamilywithcordialsaluta[onstoGod'sAlmightyprotec[on.InNew- Amstel,the6thofAugust1658.YourHonor'sobedientandfaithfulservantJ.Alrichs.
More Illness
aburningandviolentfever……..ragedbadly……almostallpeoplehere…..butfewoldoneshavedied,butrathermanyyoungchildren,whocouldnotendureit;wehavealsohadourturnwithsixofus,but,Godbepraised,Imyselfdidnotlielong.ThemembersoftheCouncilMessrs.HinijossaandRynevelt,aswellastheSheriffandalltheSchepenshavemostofthemhadalongsicknessandaremostlys[lla-bed,butIhope,itwilltakeaturntothebeper,asthediseasenowbeginstosubsideandthegoodGodmaypleasetotakeitawayen[relyandkeepitfromus.
AlrichstoStuyvesantOct1658,p226
Alrichs’ response to criGcisim of his leadership and lack of ability to hire soldiers in defense of town includes illness and acts of God
AlrichstoCouncilinManhapan,Oct,1659
The Minister dies
Beekman,Ft.AltenaDec.1659
Director Alrichs dies Noble,Honorable,VeryWorshipful,Wise,VeryPrudentSir.Sir.SincemylastbytheGaliotwelosttheHonlDirector,Mr.JacobAlrichs,whodiedatNew-Amstelonthe30thofDecember.HisHonor'sdeathcausesagreataltera[onintheColony,especiallyamongtheCouncilandtheheirs.Mr.HinojossaisdesiredassuccessorbyaclauseinthelastwillofthelateMr.Alrichsandestablishedhimselfalreadysomewhatsharplyandharshly,asIaminformed.Theinhabitantsdesire(tosee)yourHonorhereinthespring,tobringeverythinginorderandappointanotherDirector.…IhavebeenyesterdayatNew-Amstelthefirst[mea�ermysevereillness,goingoverland.Manyoftheinhabitantsreceivedmecordiallyandrejoicedatmybeingwell.IdidnothearthatmanymoreareinclinedtogotoVirginia,theyprefertheManhatans.…Iwouldhaveliketosendthislepersooner,butcouldnotgetasavageforthejourney,
BeekmaninFt.AltenatoStuyvesant,Feb1660
Prayer and fasGng
Gentlemen!Ireceivedonthe9'"inst.yourHonors'ordersanddirec[onsinregardtoageneraldayoffas[ngandprayer,whichweshallobserveandcarryoutaccordingtotheircontents.
Irefertomylastregardingourwants;wearealmostdes[tuteofeverything.BeekmantoStuyvesantAug,1663
[Stuyvesantorderedgeneraldaysofprayerandfas[ngatvarious[mesincludingforgeneralsickness,prepara[onforapacksontheSwedes,an[cipa[onofapacksbytheEnglish…]
Summary: Two periods of Dutch of New Castle: Ft. Casimir and New Amstel
� FoundedbyDirectorGeneralPeterStuyvesantfortheWICin1651� DirectresponsetoincreasedSwedishForts&endof30yearswar� Itwasamilitarygarrisonwithminimalgoalofseplement� WICinfinancialdifficul[es,recapturefromSwedesaddedtothese
� BoughtbyCityofAmsterdamin1656withgoalofcrea[ngacolony� Ini[altroubleswithqualityofseplers,harvests…� ClosetomakingatradingprofitwhenEnglishcaptureditin1664
Architectural Features – Early Georgian, 1700-1750
String/beltcourse
Watertable
GlazedheaderFlemishbondBrickwork
Arch
AmstelHouse,2E4th McWilliamsHouse,8TheStrand
New Castle, A Walk Through Time Benson & Hoffecker, 2011
NewCastleisanextraordinarytown,anearlyoutpostofEuropeanexplorersandseplersandacolonialcapitalbeau[fullysituatedononeofAmerica'sgreatrivers.Inacompactspaceitprovidesanunusualrichnessofarchitecturethatspansmorethanthreecenturies.Some[mespeoplesaythatNewCastleissobeau[fulbecauseitisatownthat[meforgot,butthatisn'texactlytrue…thetownitselfisnotamuseum,norisitaplacethatremainsfrozeninanearlierera.
New Castle – an acGve adult community but not limited to over 55
• Easywalktolibrary,postoffice,drugstore,seniorcenter,parks,ac[vi[es,churches,restaurants
• Strongsenseofcommunity• Housingismodestsizedandaffordable(maybequirky)• Lipleornoyardmaintenance• Manyyoungerci[zensincludingyoungfamilies• Safe,cute,interes[ng,picturesque
JimMeek
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