Historic Pelham

Presenting the rich history of Pelham, NY in Westchester County: current historical research, descriptions of how to research Pelham history online and genealogy discussions of Pelham families.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

More on the Settlement of Westchester Planted by Thomas Pell in 1654


Yesterday's Historic Pelham article described important new scholarship regarding the history of the tiny English settlement of Westchester (also known as West Chester) planted by Thomas Pell in late 1654 in an area near today's Westchester Square in the Bronx.  See Tue., Apr. 24, 2018:  Important New Scholarship on the Men to Whom Thomas Pell Sold Part of the Manor of Pelham in 1654.

 The story of the founding of Westchester is interwoven with the early history of what became the Manor of Pelham.  Thomas Pell and, perhaps, some of his English colleagues planted the settlement most likely to defy New Netherland authorities and to expand the confines of the United Colonies of New England into an area claimed by the Dutch.  

 Those who settled the area, however, soon found themselves holding the tail of a tiger.  Dutch authorities warned them to leave.  They refused.  Soon, however, the Dutch sent a force of men who took most of the male settlers at Westchester prisoners and placed them on a prison ship in the waters off New Amsterdam.  Remaining settlers including women petitioned for release of the prisoners.  Most, except a handful, were released.

 A group of sixteen settlers petitioned Dutch authorities to allow them to remain in Westchester under Dutch rule.  The petition was granted.

 This, by no stretch, is a complete picture of the early history of Westchester as it relates to the Manor of Pelham.  Yet, it provides context to assess some of the original documentation available online from the New York State Archives regarding Thomas Pell and the settlers of Westchester, the settlement after which today's County of Westchester is named.

 Today's Historic Pelham article combines images of original material in Dutch and in English relevant to Thomas Pell and the settlers of Westchester held in the New York State Archives with translations of the Dutch and transcriptions of the English text prepared by Dr. Charles T. Gehring.  The material is not complete.  There is much more material relevant to Thomas Pell and the Westchester settlers in the digitized collections of the New York State Archives and in the translations prepared by Dr. Gehring.  The partial set of material below provides an interesting overview of a time very early in the history of the lands that became the Manor of Pelham and is important reading material for students of Pelham history.

 *          *          *         *         *

April 19, 1655 "Protest against Thomas Pell settling on lands
belonging to the Dutch, with notice to quit" in Dutch.  Page 01
(visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.
Translation Appears Below.

April 19, 1655 "Protest against Thomas Pell settling on lands
belonging to the Dutch, with notice to quit" in Dutch.  Page 02
(visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.
Translation Appears Below.

 "[6:31c] 

 [PROTEST AGAINST THOMAS PELE FOR SETTLING ON LAND IN VREEDLANT WITHOUT AUTHORITY] 

 19 April 

 Comelis van Tienhoven, in his capacity as fiscal over the province of New Netherland and guardian of the authority and jurisdiction, conveyed and granted by commission of their High Mightinesses, the states general of the United Netherlands and the honorable lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, lords and patroons of New Netherland, to the highly esteemed lord Petrus Stuyvesant, director general, and the high councilors of New Netherland; 

 To you, Tomas Pele, or whomever else this may concern: having been ordered by the aforesaid lord director general and high councilors to proceed to and upon the lands of Vreedlant [taken possession of] during the time of the late lord director general [Kieft, and bought from and paid for to the actual owners and proprietors, natives of this country] as can be seen in the register [of deeds by their signatures], whereby [I inform and warn you and] all whom it may concern, herewith, that you and your associates have not only settled upon lands bought many years ago by the Dutch nation and possessed under patent by the late lord general Kieft, but that you also occupy it by usurpation contrary to the agreement of Hartford and the peace concluded between the two nations in Europe, against the will and consent of the director general and high councilors of New Netherland. 

 Therefore, the fiscal, on behalf of the aforesaid high and mighty states general and the honorable lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, does hereby notify you and all whom it may concern, by the bearer of this, Claes van Elslant, court messenger, summoned and commissioned for the execution hereof, on the aforesaid land purchased and long possessed, and done contrary to the agreement made at Hartford, not to continue with construction or with clearing of land, foddering of livestock or mowing of hay, or whatever else might in any way pertain to cultivation or agriculture, that in fifteen days after being served this summons you shall depart from the aforesaid lands located in the jurisdiction of New Netherland, with the people accompanying you, servants or slaves, furniture, livestock, tools and everything that you and your nation has brought there of your own, under penalty, if you or any of yours shall be found to have done contrary to this after the aforesaid period of time, that I, ex officio, shall be required to proceed against you and whomever it may concern as is appropriate; in the meantime, I protest against all damage, injury, mischief and trouble, which might arise as a result of your subsequent actions, declaring before God and the world to be innocent thereof. 

 Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 34-35 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

April 19, 1655 "Order to the court messenger to serve the protest
against Thomas Pell", in Dutch.  "Order to the court messenger to serve the
protest against Thomas Pell", New York State Archives (visited Apr.
22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.  Translation
Appears Below.
"[6:33a] 

[ORDER TO SERVE THE ABOVE PROTEST AND SUMMONS] 

[Whereas the present situation does not permit that the fiscal of New Netherland should serve the foregoing] notice and protest [in person, therefore] the court messenger, Claes [van Elsland, is authorized] to do it. Done at Amsterdam [in N. N. dated as above].

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, p. 35 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

September 27, 1655 "Letter from Thomas Wheeler to the English
settlers at Gravesend".  Source:  "Letter from Thomas Wheeler to
the English settlers at Gravesend", New York State Archives (visited
Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

 "[6:90a] 

 [COPY OF A LETTER FROM THOMAS WIELER TO THE ENGLISH AT GRAVESANDE] 

 Westchester, 27 th September 1655 

 Respected friends after my Respects presented unto you I am sensible of your feares & it is not without grounds I feare to use the Best, meanes as is in my power shall not be wantinge in mee to you for your preservation to speake with the Indians wee know not how the bearer hereof can further informe you But if you send a messenger about saterday with your mijnde I Thincke our saggamaker* will be hear but if you doe not, my true indeaver shall be used for your safetye and my weake advise to you at present iff you intend your preservation & alsoe the Duth that are amongst iff they meane to save theyre lives there must be meanes used for them to retoume to theyr owne contriemen for safeguard for this I fully understand that the Indians will pick them out of every English towne upon the Band & in New England it is a trouble to our saggamacker that there is soe many duth with you. for feare the should wrong you in killing of them. Soe desiring the Lord to protect you I Rest.

 Was subscribed Tho: Wieler 

 The Indians intend noe wrong to the English if they assist no the Duth with men and provision."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 86-87 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

 [6:90b] 

 [NOTE CONCERNING THE PRECEDING LETTER]

 On 12 October 1655 the foregoing was collated in our presence, the underwritten, and found to agree with the original (being in the hands of the deputies from the magistrates of Gravesande: Will. Willekens, and Willem Bouwns) dated and signed as above. Ady ut supra. 

 [   ] we the undersigned attest: 
Wille Bonne This is the [His Mark] mark of 
Will. Willekens made himself 
P. Stuyvesant 
LaMontagne 
Cor: van Tienhove"

 Source:  Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 86-87 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

March 7, 1656 "Instructions to captain de Coninck for the expedition to Westchester
[Copy of Volume 6:318b]", Page 1 of 2 (In Dutch).  Source:  "Instructions
6:318b]", New York State Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  Note:  Click
on Image to Enlarge.  (Charles T. Gehring Translation Below.)

March 7, 1656 "Instructions to captain de Coninck for the expedition to 
Westchester [Copy of Volume 6:318b]", Page 2 of 2 (In Dutch).  Source:  "Instructions
6:318b]", New York State Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  Note:  Click
on Image to Enlarge.  (Charles T. Gehring Translation Below.)

 "[6:318b] 
[INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXPEDITION TO WESTCHESTER] 

 Instructions for the valiant Captain Frederick de Coninck, Captain Lieutenant Brian Nuton, and the lord fiscal Comelis van Tienhoven, commissioned to go to Westchester, pursuant to the resolution of the honorable lord director general and councilors dated 6 March 1656, and there to execute their orders. 
1 

 They are to proceed tonight with the designated detachment of soldiers to Vreedlant in order to occupy the houses of the English who have settled there on the honorable Company’s land, and to order them to depart with all their moveable goods and livestock.
2 

 If they are not disposed to break up and depart at once, the English are to be made to depart, if it is possible, willingly or unwillingly; and if they show any opposition by shooting or other resistance, to oppose force with force, and according to the instructions of the honorable lords superiors, to move against the usurpers as against an enemy.
3 

 The houses are to be demolished, except for 3 or 4 for sheltering goods and soldiers; the most prominent fugitives and criminals, who have fled there, are to be brought here as soon as possible. 
4 

 They shall be allowed to leave, according to their discretion, some of the less prominent men to watch over the goods, and to command them to remove all their property and livestock from there within 3 days, on pain of being prosecuted accordingly. 
5 

 They are to prevent any thievery, plundering, and similar activity, as much as possible; and strictly forbid the soldiers from doing so. 
6 

 If they encounter Indians, which is not hoped for, they are to defend themselves, defensively or offensively, as the situation requires. Done at our session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra. Was signed: P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 258-59 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).  

March 13, 1656 "Propositions of the people of Westchester [Copy
 of Volume 6:342]", Page 1 of 2.  Source:  "Propositions of the
Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.
Handwritten Text Transcribed Below.

March 13, 1656 "Propositions of the people of Westchester [Copy
 of Volume 6:342]", Page 2 of 2.  Source:  "Propositions of the
Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.
Handwritten Text Transcribed Below.

 "[6:342] 

 [PROPOSITIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTCHESTER] 

 Honoured Sir 

 The propositions that wee in the Behalfe of the inhabitans of Freedland and our selves desiere to have rattified and confirmed unto us by your honour are as follow 

 1. That wee may not have any plantation nor villig nor farme nor farmes nor any Iland or passill of land graunted nor given unto any person or persons what ever with in toe hollands milles of the senter of the plantation where wee doe nou sitt downe called freedlant not of any side of it. 

 2. That wee may have Libbertie to disspose to Inhabitans that either nowe are or shall be here after Receved by the Consent and approbation of your honnour with our selves: that is to say such as have land graunted by your honnour wee may have Libertie to lay it out in such places as may be leeft preiuditiall to the Towne and convenient for them to whome it is given and graunted by your honnour.

 3. That as your honour hath power to Receive in as inhabitants into the place where wee live or Detaine and Reep backe any from liveing and possessing landes in the place soe alsoe wee desire that wee may have Libertie to Receive in such any be benefitiall to the towne or such as are not scandolus but sevell [civil] Livers Where by we may popelate our towne alsoe that wee may have Libertie to obiect against and keeppe backe any from liveing and possessing land in our towne or within the limits there of provided wee have iust cause to obiect against any person that hath a desier to be Received in to the Towne. 

 4. That all men that have land graunted and given unto them shall be ingaged to plante and bule [build] and dwell in the towne with in Sixe mounths after he hath his land graunted to him or else to lowse his graunte: and alsoe that all men that doe take up land within the limits of our towne shall be liable to pay such common charge as shall justly arise in the towne according to the proportion of land graunted to him and according to his vissibule estate extent. 

 5. That we may have liberty within our selves to choose offisors to [e]xecutt justice according to law amongst our selves that may be for the mayntayning of peace and equity in the place where we live and allsoe to these select men for the Caring and towne affares in the townes behalfe and alsoo to Chuse millitari officers amonghst our selves for the disciplining of our selves in a millitary way; that soe wee may be able to oppose any that shall un Justlie assalt us.

 6. That wee may have a Copie of your lawes Drawne out in English that we soe may know how to Regulate and Conforme our selves accordingly and alsoe we may know when we doe trance gresse and alsoe know how to punnish any accordingly that doe trancegresse. 

 7. That we may have Liborty to make orders for towne affares amonghst our selves as may not be Repugnant to the fundamentals of your lawes. 

 8. That wee may have protecktion from your honnor to deffend us from ether Indians or any that shall un Justly assault us: that we may have amonition from you that is powder lend [lead] and gunnes that soe we may be able to defend our selves that is provided we satisfie for it & that those armes that are wanting may be maide goode to according to your promise. 

 9. That whatsoever writings are trance acted betweene you and us may be written in English that soe we may be fully and parfectly understand them."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 282-83 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

March 15, 1656 "Application to the fiscal that notice to quit be
served on the remaining intruders at Westchester [Copy of
Volume 6:329b]", in Dutch.  Page 01 of 03.  Source:  "Application 
to the fiscal that notice to quit be served on the remaining
intruders at Westchester [Copy of Volume 6:329b]", New York
State Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image
to Enlarge.  Translation Appears Below.


March 15, 1656 "Application to the fiscal that notice to quit be
served on the remaining intruders at Westchester [Copy of
Volume 6:329b]", in Dutch.  Page 02 of 03.  Source:  "Application 
to the fiscal that notice to quit be served on the remaining
intruders at Westchester [Copy of Volume 6:329b]", New York
State Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image
to Enlarge.  Translation Appears Below.


March 15, 1656 "Application to the fiscal that notice to quit be
served on the remaining intruders at Westchester [Copy of
Volume 6:329b]", in Dutch.  Page 03 of 03.  Source:  "Application 
to the fiscal that notice to quit be served on the remaining
intruders at Westchester [Copy of Volume 6:329b]", New York
State Archives (visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image
to Enlarge.  Translation Appears Below.

"[6:329] 

 [CHARGE OF THE FISCAL AGAINST THE ENGLISH SETTLERS AT WESTCHESTER, WITH THE ORDER THEREON] 

 To the honorable lord director general and councilors of New Netherland. 

 Esteemed lords, 

 Not only do your honors [know] but everyone else living in these parts that many years ago the land called Vreedlant was settled by various people with patents from your honors’ predecessor,* and possessed in peace by this government until the general war of 1643. It now happens that a certain Mr. Pel, resident of Onckewaay in New England, has undertaken, against all Christian laws and customs, to repurchase recently these same lands from the same natives, which had been bought and paid for from the natives by your honors, according to the register of conveyances, and to take possession of them in his name and to live there without your honors’ knowledge or consent, and contrary to the settlement of the boundaries agreed upon with the United Colonies of New England at Hardfort in 1650. Against which usurpations the fiscal, in his capacity, and in the name and on behalf of his lords superiors, has protested.* After these protests were made, Lieutenant Wheller (who is in command there as chief officer) has remained there with the remainder of his associates, continuing to build and plant, and receiving [and sheltering several fugitives, vagabonds, and thieves, who on account of their bad behavior had to flee. Thereupon] your honors, according to the instructions and orders of the lords directors and in order to uphold the agreement of Hardfort, have resolved to eject the aforesaid Wheller and his associates with a detachment of armed men. Which persons, according to their declaration dated 14 March, drew up in armed formation opposite the lord general, who was present there with the rest of the troops, and demonstrated their unwillingness to be ejected, saying that it was their land. Whereupon the aforesaid English were disarmed, and 23 of them were brought the same day aboard the ship de Waegh as prisoners. A few were left behind with their women and children to look after their possessions. Therefore, the fiscal requests that your honors will be pleased to send the court messenger with one or two of the oldest men to Vreedlant in order to summon the remaining English, who are still there, to depart with all that they had brought there, on pain of appropriate legal action if they do otherwise; also, that the aforesaid Lieutenant Wheller and his associates pay the expenses incurred by your honors in going up there with boats and armed men because of their actions and disobedience; and especially, to sign a document and promise therein by oath never again to come and live, build, plant, sow, or mow without your honors’ special order and consent upon our lords superiors’ lands located at Vreedlant, recently named by them Westchester, or upon any other other lands located within the limits agreed upon at Hardfort, on pain of suffering corporal punishment according to the circumstances of the case, if they do otherwise.

 Having read and further deliberated the foregoing charge or complaint of the fiscal, as plaintiff and preserver of the peace, against the imprisoned Englishmen, recently taken from Vreedlant, named Westchester by them, together with the humble remonstrance of the women, hereto attached, f all of which, considering the dangers of the time and the inconvenience of the winter, we, the director general and councilors of New Netherland, for these and other important reasons, have resolved that after the imprisoned Englishmen promise under oath, signed by their own hands, to depart from the lands of Vreedlant and out of this jurisdiction within or in about the time of six weeks with their possessions and livestock, and never to return to these places without our special consent, which having been sworn and signed with their usual signatures, the fiscal is hereby authorized and ordered to release these Englishmen from their imprisonment, against whom he, as preserver of the peace, has no other complaint than those previously stated, after incurred expenses have been satisfied, at the discretion of impartial men, and this shall be his sufficient warrant. Concerning the fugitives or other criminals, as well as those who refused to comply and adhere to the aforesaid promises, to arrest the same, pursuant to yesterday’s resolution, and to proceed against them according to law. Thus done in our session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra. Was signed: P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 269-71 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

March 16, 1656 "Petition of Thomas Wheeler and other settlers of
Westchester submitting themselves to the government of New
Netherland and asking certain privileges", in Dutch.  Source:
and asking certain privileges", New York State Archives (visited
Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.  Translation
Appears Below.

 "[6:335] 

 [PETITION OF THOMAS WHEELER FOR PERMISSION TO SETTLE AT WESTCHESTER UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW NETHERLAND] 

 Honored Sir with the Rest of your honoured Court the Governour and Court to the New Netherlands: 

 May you be pleased to take in to your Consideration the humble Request of your pore and humbell petisinors that wheras it doth appeare that you make claim to the plase where we ware to bee the writ of the hye and myghtie states of the Netherlands wee whose names are underwritten are willing to submit our selves unto the gouerment of the said Netherlands soe long as we Continow within theyr jurisdiction provided that wee may injoy our Liberties in chusing our ofisors for the administration of such Lawes as may be maid for the good of our tounship which wee now inhabit as alsoe we may have our armes Restored according to your promise which were taken from us: whereby we may be abell to attend our selves from such as may unjustlie a salt us and to make such Lawes and orders as my be for the particular good and welfare of the said place not being Repugnant to the Generali Lawes and to distribut our landes unto the inhabitans none admitted according to first proposition as Lyckewyse to Reseue [receive] such inhabatans as may be comfortabell to us in particklar and the good of the generall as for [far] as we are able to judge. March 16: 56

 Thomas [His Mark] Neuman 
Thomas Wheeler 
Robbert Basset 
Isayh Gillbert 
John Roes 
Robert Roes 
John Broundish 
Edwart Waters
Samuell Baret 
William Ward
Eermod Caniff
Nicklis Hill
William [His Mark] Benfull
John [His Mark] Yennet
Robert [His Mark] Meaker
Obodiah Gilbert"

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, pp. 274-75 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).


March 16, 1656 "Grant to Thomas Wheeler and other settlers to reside
at Vreedland", in Dutch.  Source:  "Grant to Thomas Wheeler and other
settlers to reside at Vreedland", New York State Archives (visited Apr. 22,
2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.  Translation Appears Below. 

 "[6:336] 

 [ORDER ON THE FOREGOING PETITION] 

 [The director] general [and council of New Netherland having] seen and further considered the foregoing petition, grant to the petitioners that, upon taking an oath of allegiance as good [subjects] of this province, they may remain and live at the place called Vreedlant on such conditions and [patents] as other free people in the villages of Middelborch, [Breukelen], Midwout, and Amesfoort enjoy; likewise, they shall have the right of nominating a double number of officers and magistrates for the better governing of the aforesaid village of Vreedlant, whose selection and confirmation is reserved to the director general and councilors (in conformity with the general orders). Thus done in our session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra, the 15th of March 1656. (Was signed:) P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne, Comelis van Tienhoven."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, p. 275 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

March 25, 1656 "Order for the discharge of capt. Richard Panton
and 4 other Englishmen of Vreedland (Westchester)", in Dutch.
Englishmen of Vreedland (Westchester)", New York State Archives
(visited Apr. 22, 2018).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.  Translation
Appears Below.

 "[6:338a] 

 [ORDER ON THE DISCHARGE OF SEVERAL MEN FROM WESTCHESTER] 

 The director general and [council of New Netherland have read the answers given] in the interrogatories of the lord fiscal Comelis van Tienhoven by [Capt. Richard] Panton, Willem Elit, Black March[and, Jan Gray, and] Rogier Wheales, all Englishmen, detained for having taken up arms at Vreedlant against the lord director general and accompanying troops on the [left blank], and having received and heard the report of the commissioners who were authorized to attend the interrogation, the director general and councilors have resolved, considering that the same laid down their weapons on the promise of good treatment, not regarding their previous misdemeanors in consideration of the same, to discharge the aforesaid prisoners from their detention and to order the same to depart from the jurisdiction of New Netherland, or unless some of the inhabitants of the villages will post bond for them and assure their good behavior. Thus done in our session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra."

 Source:  Gehring, Charles T., Trans. & Ed., Council Minutes 1655-1656, p. 277 (Syracuse, NY:  Syracuse University Press, 1995).

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