The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-13

out who would repair the blunders OF Kieft
' subdue the Indians and resist the encroach
ments OF the English already planted far t.
the westward OF the Connect River and II
: Long Island. Luckily for the interests OF tn,
company their choice fell upon Peter Stuyve
SAINT who remained the Director General Of
New Netherland as long as the Dutch flag
nonted at Manhattan.
| II.
II seems that the word Stuyvesant. innppro-
priately enough. signifies shifting sands" q
condition characteristic OF parts OF the coast
OF Holland. but not In the least characteristic
OF the Director. General Of New Netherland.
Peter was the son OF Balthazar Stuyvesant.
a clergyman Of the reformed religion.
Previous to 1919 Balthazar was settled
In southern Friesland. but in 1884 no re-
moved his family to Cumberland. whore
he died in 1887. In 1926 he lost his
first wife. who loft two children. Peter. and a
| daughter. Anhake. Two years later he mar
ried Styntie Peters OF Harlem. by whom he
| had three more children. The eldest son,
Peter, had his own way to make. and his i'm
| petuous character led him into the adven-
turous rather than the peaceful paths
of Dutch commercial life. At the time
of his appointment to the Director-Gene-
| ralship OF New Netherland his record
| was we'll known to the West India Company.
| in whose service he had fought the Spaniards
| and Portuguese in South America For some
years he had been Governor OF the Island OF
Curacao, and had sent thence. In 1914. force
Of 40 soldiers to relieve Kieft. who was in
extreme distress in New Amsterdam. ow-
ing to the Indian war. During his COM
mand at Curacao. Stuyvesant had mado a
naval attack upon the Island Of 81. Thomas
his management OF which was afterward u
subject Of dispute between his friends and
enemies 1t Is certain that the attack was un-
successful. and that Stuyvesant's leg was so
badly injured that he was Obliged to return to
Holland. where 1t was amputated. He had
married at Amsterdam a daughter OF Bal
thazar Bayard. French Protestant. who had
fled to Holland, and. when he set sail for New
Amsterdam in 1G4G. he took with him not only
his wife. but also his sister Annake the
widow Of Nicholas Bayardl with her three sons,
Balthazar. Peter. and Nicholas.
Stuyvesant arrived at New Amsterdam in
May, 1647 and with the exception of visit
to Holland after the conquest of the colonies
by the English. he remained in New Neither
lands until his death In 1872 For detailed
account OF Stuyvesant's administration We
must refer the reader to Mr.. Tuckerman's
book. The character OF the man is brought
out plainly in the authors narrative OF events.
Honest blunt, and passionate. his faults were
rs puLenJ 10 al men rs MS NlrtueS- 10 tne |
West India Company he was a faithful servant.
guarding its interests with jealous fidelity. |
and promoting them with untiring zeal. In
the service Of his employers he mover lacked |
vgor or courage. yet, at the same time. in his |
enforced conflicts with other colonies he |
showed judgment and foresight. yielding when
he must. but struggling against odds while
any hope OF victory encouraged him. He drove
the Swedes from the Delaware River. and it was
not his fault. but the lack OF a sufficient
Dutch emigration. that the Dutch territory in
that quarter remained undeveoped He made
the best attainable compromise with the Eng
lish in Connecticut and Long Island. and. had
the West India Company confirmed it. New
Amsterdam might have resisted for many
years the English pressure. In his dealings
with the Indians he pursued policy OF stern
Justice which won their respect and conf
dence. No Indian war can BIO laid to his
charge. and during his presence on Manhat-
tan Island the sleep Of the Dutch settlers was
undisturbed by fears Of savage invasion. His
conduct as Director-General was marred by
conflicts with those under his authority. which
we're caused. however. not SO much by harsh
ness OF nature as by an unnec essarily rigorous
dea OF his duty. To govern a colony OF adven.
urous men settled in the wilderness. sur
founded on the one hand by savage enemies
md on the other by aggressive neigh
)ors OF uncertain friendliness. he conceived
hat his mastery must be unquestloned.
rs the responsibility was his. the authority.
lie thought, must be his also. His life had
,een spent in Dutch colonial adventure. where
he word that was passed from the quarter
lock was the law without appeal. Hence tho
which characterized the early
ears OF his rule in New Netherlands. and the
Ittitude OF apparent tyranny In which he ap-
feared. As time wore on. he and the burghers
Understood each other better. and a mutual
espect succeeded to the old antagonism.
and violent In his temper he al
Ways was. but animated by good motives.
aithful 10 the line OF his duty and seeking the
interests Of those committed to his charge {
Stuyvesants last years were passed in Sc f
fusion on the old bowery or farm which had l
een the home OF his family for some years }
efoie the capitulation in 1864. Tho dwelling ]
ouse was OF wood, two stories in height. with I
projecting rafters. 1t stood about $50 feet east /
I Third avenue. and about forty feet north Of C
'welfth street. In front OF 1t was a stiff Dutch r
arden laid out with formal paths and flower
eds Near the house Stuyvesant had planted u
pear free which. for more than 200 years. A
MARKED the spot where had been the Drec- n
or's garden. AS new streets were laid out {
nd the open fields OF Stuyvesant's bowery be- \
anne city lots. the pear tree found itself on the q
Orner OF lnlru avenue ana thirteenth 8
treet protected by an iron railing. In b
ebruary. 1867 1t was blown down In a II
torn. The boundaries Of Stuyvesants "
owery farm were. roughly speaking. p
outh avenue on the west. the East o
liver on the east Seventeenth street on the II
orth. and Sixth street ON the south: it con- h
,ined about 900 acres. We have said that L.
cter Stuyvesant died in 1872. His death p
'ok place at his bowery. and his remains b
ere inferred in vault beneath the chapel Il
hch he had built near his house. When the Il
resent st. Marks Church was erected on the fl
to OF the old chapel the vault was preserved. a.
nd commemorative stone placed upon its o.
all still marks the grave OF the sturdy d.
'ctor Of New Netherland. His widow. Judith D
ayard. lived upon the bowery until her death al
, 1887. BY her will she founded st. Marks b,
hurch. She had two sons. Balthazar born in In
CAT. and Nicholas William. born year after. W
nlthazar went to tho West Indies. where he b,
ed. leaving u daughter. Nicholas William al
arried first Maria Beekman and secondly Sc