Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-01-14

new company was chartered in Hol-
land, under the name and title of the
Dutch West India Company for the
tekm of twenty-four years 1t was
endowed with all the powers of the
States General, and invested on the
part of the Netherlands government,
with "the ve{s5rivilege to traffic,
and to plant colonies on the coast of
Africa, from the Tropic of Canser to the
Cape of Good Hope; and on the coast
of America from the straits of Magel-
Ian to the remotest lands of the
north" Under it's authority and di-s
rection in the year 1923, was des-
patched number of c0lonists, pro-
We'd with the means of subsistence
traffic and defence under the command
of Captain Mey and Adriaen JorRs
Tienpoint. After landing at Manhat-
tan and leaving some of their passen-
gers at that post, among whom we're
five women, four of whom had been
married at sea they again set sail and
entered the Delaware, which in addi-
ton to it's other names was now called
Prince Hendricks river. They ascend
ed the stream to the mouth of one of
the tributaries of its eastern shore a
few miles below the city of Camden.
This tributary was known to the In
dams by the name of "Sassacon, but
the explorer gave it the name of Tim
merkill- Kill-a-creek, doubtless on
account of the heavy growth of TIM
ber along its shores. Many Indians
we're found dwelling there in village
called by them "Hermaomissing !"
Here Captain Mey anchored his yes
sci, the "Good Tidings," and after duly
prospecting the surroundings, conclud-
ed that the place was a favorable one
for his contemplated settlement The
waters not yet filled up with the allu-
yion from cultivated fields, was deep,
and the shores bold for mornings The
\ natives were friendly, and gave to
| the new comers welcome. The STAN
dard of Holland was raised and the
arms of the States General were
erected. A block house or fort was
built for defence, and for trading
post; and dwellings, constructed for
| the colonists whose numbers we're
4 very soon increased by accessions
\ from Manhattan Most probably a
/ large clearing was made about this
\ place of defence and abode. not only
! that there might be an unobstructed
and timely view of the approach of
the natives, but also for the growing
of maize and other supplies for the
garrison and settlers. This fort was
1 to be the head quarters of the power
and authority to have oversight and
! protection of the Dutch interests
everywhere on the territory border
| ing the South River" AS a means Of
asserting and maintaining that au.
thority a sloop was to be kept in readi-
ness to sail to points wherever adven-
turers from Sweden or any other coun-
| try might presume to set up their ma
tional arms or government sway. The
! fort was built of heavy hewn logs pro-
vided with lookout, and loopholes for
small arms, and embrasures for can,
non. 1t was named Nassau in honor
Of the birth place of William Prince
of Orange, the hero of the war fol
Dutch independence.
In the records of the West India
Company no account appears of the
dimensions of the fort. It was prob
! ably spacious, as there was no stint of
materials from which to build it.
Whether or not Captain Mey had au-
! thority to act as commandant of the
post he had erected, does not appear.
Evidently he had, as no other person
| is mentioned in that connection. The
natives brought to the post large guam
titles of the skins of beavers, offers.
deer and many other animals, then
everywhere so abundant in the sur
rounding wilderness, in exchange for
| blankets, cloths. knives. rum. trinketS
beads, utensils and other articles suit
| ing their rude fancies
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