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