Six Whales Seen in Hudson River--1647

Introduction

 

The following work [Description of the New Netherlands] is the production of a Dutch scholar who in early times joined a colony of his countrymen on the banks of the Hudson.

As his little volume has never appeared until now [1813] in an English dress, it 

has been less known and appreciated, probably, by succeeding writers, 

than its merits deserve. It is, indeed, rather a description of the nat- 

ural features of the country, for the purpose of commending it to the 

attention of a Netherland public with a view to promote emigration, than 

an account of its civil condition, or of what had previously transpired in 

relation to its affairs. Such as it is, however, it will not be found desti- 

tute of interest either to the historical student, or to those descendants of 

the ancient burghers, who, having lost their ancestral tongue, are only 

able to converse with their forefathers through the medium of an inter- 

preter. 

The author, Adrian Van der Donck, enjoys the distinction of having 

been the first lawyer in the Dutch colony. He was educated at the Uni- 

versity of Leydon, and, after pursuing a course of legal study, received 

the usual degree of Juris utriusque Doctor, or as the title-page of his 

book has it, Deyder Rechten Doctoor — Doctor of both laws, that is, 

the civil and canon. He was subsequently admitted to the practice of an 

advocate in the supreme court of Holland. His standing and reputation 

in the Fatherland may be inferred from his having been appointed by the 

patroon of Rensselaerwyck, who must have known something of his 

character, to the important office of Sheriff of that colony. 

Van der Donck arrived here in a bark of the patroon Killian Van 

Rensselaer, in the autumn of 1643, and immediately entered upon the 

discharge of the duties of his office. The colony of Rensselaerwyck, 

which embraced an extensive territory on either side of the Hudson, 

was yet in its infancy. Van Rensselaer himself had been only [a few]

years in the country ; and although a trading-house was established in the 

same quarter as early as 1614, yet the first successful efforts to plant a 

colony were not made until 1630, when the patroon through an agent 

obtained his first title from the Indians, and dispatched a body of colo- 

nists from Holland under a liberal charter of privileges from the West 

India Company. He followed them himself in 1637. The seat of the

colony was at Fort Orange, where Albany is now situated, and there our 

author at first resided. 

A few years after, Van der Donck purchased an estate on the Hudson near 

the upper extremity of Manhattan Island, about sixteen miles from this city, 

afterwards known as Yonkers. One of his grants of land at that place was 

made to him in 1648, under the name of Jonkkr (pronounced Yonker) Van 

der Donck, and it appears that he was familiarly called the Yonker, a com- 

mon appellation for a gentleman among the Dutch farmers. His land was 

Spoken of, as we find in the Colonial Records, as the Yonker’s land, and 

there can be little doubt that the name of the present town of Yonkers 

was in this way derived from [himself]. Van der Donck made several pur- 

chases from the Indians in that neighborhood, and altogether acquired an 

extensive tract of land, bounded on the south by the creek Paprimenin, to 

which the Dutch name of Spyten-duyvel was afterwards given. On the 

north was the Zaeg Kill, or Saw-Mill creek, at the mouth of which is the 

present village of Yonkers, or Phillipsburg, where our author erected 

mills and laid out a plantation. The land and river of Bronck, or Bronx, 

another Dutch planter, bounded the estate on the east. Nearly twenty 

years after, in 1666, when the New- Netherlands had passed into the 

hands of the English, this estate was re-granted, or confirmed, to the 

widow of Van der Donck, who had married a second husband of the name 

of O’neale.

 

Jeremiah Johnson, Mayor of Brooklyn, translater.

 

Excerpt “Of the North River” taken from Description of the New Netherlands. 

We have before noticed the name of this river, with the 

population and advantages of the country ; and, inasmuch as a 

particular and ample account of the same is preparing for publi- 

cation, we will at once say, that this river is the most famous, 

and the country the most populous of any in the New-Nether- 

lands. There are also several colonies settled, besides the city 

of New-Amsterdam, on the island of Manhattan, where the 

most of the trade of this river centres. The river carries flood 

tides forty miles* up the same. Several fine creeks empty 

into this river, such as the Great and Small Esopus kills, Kats 

kill, Sleepy Haven kill,Colondonck's kill or Saw kill, Wap- 

pincke's kill, etc. We can also pass from the North river be- 

hind Manhattan island by the East river, without approaching 

New- Amsterdam. This river still remains altogether in the 

possession and jurisdiction of the Netherlanders, without being 

invaded ; but if the population did not increase and advancing 

there would be great danger of its long continuation. This river 

is rich in fishes :sturgeon, dunns, bass, sheep-heads, etc. I 

cannot refrain, although somewhat out of place, to relate a very 

singular occurrence, which happened in the month of March, 

1647, at the time of a great freshet caused by the fresh water 

flowing down from above, by which the water of the river be- 

came nearly fresh to the bay, when at ordinary seasons the salt 

water flows up from twenty to twenty-four miles* from the sea. 

At this season, two whales, of common size, swam up the river 

forty miles, from which place one of them returned and stranded 

about twelve miles from the sea, near which place [four] others 

also stranded the same year. The other ran farther up the river 

and grounded near the great Chahoos falls, about forty-three 

miles from the sea. This fish was tolerably fat, for although the 

citizens of Rensselaerwyck broiled out a great quantity of train 

oil, still the whole river (the current being still rapid) was oily 

for three weeks, and covered with grease. As the fish lay rot- 

ting, the air was infected with its stench to such a degree that 

the smell was offensive and perceptible for two miles to leeward. 

For what purpose those whales ascended the river so far, it 

being at the time full forty miles from all salt or brackish water, 

it is difficult to say, unless their great desire for fish, which were 

plenty at this season, led them onward.

*A Dutch mile is about three English miles. – Jeremiah Johnson, Trans.

Credit: Google Book Search

Reference: New York Historical Society 

Train oil

Charles Lodwick Describes Manhattan, May 20, 1692 (Part 2)

Most sorts of Fish are here in aboundance, some not usual in England ; one sort call'd

 

Sheepshead, from its having teeth in its upper and nither jaw not unlike a sheep, and is

 

supposed to eat grass in ye bottom of ye rivers, it is in shape something like a bream, tho'

 

much thicker ; one

will weigh sometimes twelve pound ; they are taken here

by ye sea side in great quantityes, in June, July, and Au-

gust, with netts, and are excellent food ; here is also an-

other Fish called here black-fish, is of tast and shape not

unlike a Tench, and has also teeth like ye Sheepshead, but

not above one 8th part so big, is also a Seafish, and is taken

generally among ye Rocks, where sea grass grows. The

Indians tell us of several medicinall herbs excellent for

green or old sores, but are very sparing of their informa-

tion where they find them ; some that are conversant with

them, pretend to know them ; I have heard of very admi-

rable cures performed by ye Natives with herbs. Shoe-

mach and Saxifras is here in aboundance also, and most

sorts of Trees usual in England ; ye common sorts here are

Canow or white wood, (not unlike Spruce, being soft, but

of a white colour,) Walnutt, red and white Oak ; our wood is

of shorter growth and by far not so durable as in England,

which we find by experience ; a ship built of European

Timber will last thrice as long as one built of this timber,

altho' it is as fair to ye Eye, Doubtless this country has

Gold and Silver, tho' not any thing material yet discover'd,

several Iron Mines are here (of which is made excellent

Iron,) and other ponderous Mineralls, a yellow and a myrry

red clay, very good Marble, Isinglass and several shining

Stones, which are most used here for building. Our har-

bour is made by Long Island Southward of ye Town, where

ye tide flowes South East makes high water att — a clock, at

full or change ; ye usual spring tides rise abt 9 foot, un-

less a strong Easterly wind blow, which considerably

raises ye water, sometimes 2, sometimes 3 foot, or that

a strong Nor-West wind blow which decreases it as

much ; at nip tides ye water rises about 7 foot and 1/2, along

ye coast, and several leagues to ye Eastward, is a con-

tinual currant which runns commonly East, sometimes more

North, or South, ye tide of Flood comes commonly along

Shore from ye East and by South, and ye tide of Ebb runs

again W. by N. nearest ; ye tide is not perceiv'd abt 3 or 4

leagues at most of ye Shore.

 

We have little fishing on our coast of at Sea, (I mean

from ye Government of New York,) altho' here is at ye

Seasons, cod, haddock, herring and mackrell, but plenty

of Fish at our doors makes us less industrious to fetch them

from abroad ; all ye winter we have Perch when ye Ice

hinders not ; in ye Spring, Basse and Shadds, which first

continue generally most of ye Summer, and are taken be-

fore ye Town, going up ye River, into ye fresh water to

spawn : May, June, July and August, we have those black-

fish and Sheepsheads before mention'd, and a Sea Perch,

which is ye only [word omitted] which is taken of ye coast in

8 fathom water. Sturgeon is here in aboundance almost

all ye year, both in Salt and fresh water, but ye greatest

quantity in Spring and Fall, altho' we cannot arrive to that

perfection of curing them as in Danzig, as we lye here

in ye Lat: of 40 Deg: 40 Min:, we should consequently

have but little hard winter, were it not for those many moun-

tains and Lakes of fresh [water] lying north of us, which

engender strong Nor- West winds, which prove extream

boisterous and cold, and produces great Snows and hard

Frosts, and is ye most common wind we have all ye win-

ter long ; Nor-East winds are our Rainy winds. Southerly

and South East blasting, tho' it seldom happens, all ye

Summer long we have little but S. and S. S. E. winds ;

our Sea breazes, which cools and refreshes ye air, and

makes ye heat tollerable ; this country is much subject

to thunder gusts all ye Summer long, rising in ye N. W.

with extream gusts, and rain yet lasts not above 7 or 8

minutes, tho' sometimes half an hour. The Country is

generally healthy, tho' 2 years ago ye Small Pox, which was

very mortal, especially to grown people, a sort of pleurysye,

(not cured but increasing by bleeding,) and violent fevers

took away a great many, v."^ is rather to be lookt upon as

a particular hand of God, than any inclination of ye cli-

mate ; a hott summer, sometimes caused by ye want of our

usual sea breazes, causes violent fevers, yet not generally

mortall ; sweating is counted ye quickest and safest rem-

edy if ye Patient be not too weak ; the Ague has been lately

ryfe amongst us, tho' with much less cold than in Europe,

and ye most common every other day.  

 

The Natives were very numerous att the Christians first

sitting down here, tho' since, their number is much de-

creased, by reports from one hundred to one : ye small

pox took many of them away lately, and they yet dayly de-

crease, some think by  their takeing to drink rum, (a Liquor

we have from Barbadoes, distilled off their sugar canes.)

which they exceedingly covet ; and will not be satisfyed till

they are very drunk with it. As to their Religion, they are

heathens ; and thro' ignorance, are seduced to worship

the Devil, who, as themselves report, often appears to them

in a shape ; they have some blind apprehensions of a supe-

riour being whom they fear, because they think he is able

to do them hurt. I could never observe any sett form of

Worshipp amongst them, or any sett apart for Priests, tho'

when they go to War, or fear some sudden destruction, they

have their pouwaw, which is more properly a conjuration,

where many of them dance in a ring, singing, and some

howling in Antic postures, while others invoke their Mo-

netto, or God, praying him not to hurt or kill them. This

is perform'd generally by their Cap’t and great Man ;

formerly, they sacrificed one another, which has been dis-

used now some years. Their manner of habitt is ye Men

naked except a small peece of Duffetts which comes be-

tween their Legs, and is tyed with a string abt their loyns

to cover their secret parts ; the women have short petty-

coats of duffetts to their knees ; each have a blankett or a

fato length of duffetts abt their shoulders like a mantle;

they have no more in ye coldest wheather ; they anoynt

their bodyes with bears Greece to harden their skinn, that

cold may less penetrate; they are generally healthy, lusty

tall men and women, strong bodyed, rarely one crooked

amongst them, and by what we can understand of them,

(for they can neither read nor write,) some have lived 100

years ; their women bring strong children, tho' not so

many generally as Women in Europe ; they are often de-

liver'd as they travel from one place to another ; if they

find their pains coming, they step aside under a Tree all

alone, and sometimes in less than [ ½] an hour, they follow

their company with their newborn babe, lapp'd up in a

corner of their blankett, having first washt that and them-

selves att ye next brooke of water they come att ; their cheif

food is Maiz, or Indian Corn, which they plant ; it is about

ye bigness of a horse bean, is a very fruitfull grain; one

corn planted often yielding 2000 fold ; Venison dryed in ye

sun without salt, clams and oysters, also dryed, is their

usual food for travelling, tho' they generally eat ye flesh

of what they kill by ye way, and till lately did also eat

mairs flesh, when they took any of their Enemys Prison-

ers. Their houseing where they reside are most Hutts or

Wigwams as they call them, with long thin poles bent,

and both ends stuck in ye ground arch manner, not unlike

our Arbers in England, and these covered with bark, make-

ing their fire under it ; in their travells they only cutt down

a few boughs, sticking them in ye ground to windward,

and makeing a good fire, lye down to sleep on ye bare earth,

covering themselves with ye blanketts ; they generally

carry their utensills with them, ye Man wath his gun,

hatchet, and knife, ye woman a kettle, a small wooden,

dish, and their dryed provision and some maiz ; to grind

their corn they use only 2 stones to pound it, and then

boyl it with water and so eat it ; they are generally of good

natural parts, strong memories and very apprehensive ;

they trouble themselves not about Religion : their languages

are different each nation, as there are, I believe, 10 or

12 ; have their peculiar speech, tho' they have a Lingua

Franca, (as I may call it,) by which they all understand one

another. Their w'omen are obliged to prepare their Land,

and plant their corn ; ye Men hunt and provide provisions,

which ye women again must carry ; they have a sort of

Despotic Government among them by a Sacamaker, who

is over their nation ; his word is a law, tho' in cases of

great consequence, all, both Men and Women, are often

consulted ; they are very cruel in their Warrs, tormenting

and often burning their prisoners in cold blood; if any of

them have lost a friend or Relation in ye Warrs, ye others

offer their Prisoners to such, as if a Man has lost his Son,

a Prisoner is offered to him. If he wall accept ye Prisoner

as his Son, ye loss is supposed to be made up, and ye per-

son so taken is lookt upon in all respects as ye Relation lost,

but if he refuses, ye Prisoner must immediately be burnt,

and this sentence is irrevocable. They labour not much, but

in absolute necessity, are generally lazy, affect not any

Sports, but mostly employ themselves in hunting and fish-

ing, in which they are very dexterous, and as good marks-

men as most Christians ; they have no occasion to preserve

any food unless for their journeys, haveing always game-

enough in ye woods. — finis.

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Reference:

New York Historical Society