Journal kept on board of the frigate named the Zee-hond, Capt. Cornelis Evertsen, sailing with the Commissioners, Councillor Cornelis Steenwyck, Captain Charles Epen Steyn, and Lieutenant Charles Quirynsen, from New-Orange to the East end of Long Island. 1673.
We sailed on the 31 October, being Tuesday, about noon, with a southerly wind, and were thrown ashore by the current near Corlears hook—but throwing out the anchor we warped afloat, and sailed to the farthest point of the Hellgate, where we met the flood, so that we were compelled to return and anchor near Barents Island, where, a short while after, the sloop Eendragt, Luycas Andriessen, skipper, arriving from Boston, passed us. We dispatched our boat to inquire if there were any letters for us. Coming on board, we received several letters for the Hon. Steenwyck, and were informed that Maestricht had been taken by the French.1 November The wind blew very hard from the east, so that we were compelled to remain at anchor; in the meanwhile rowed the Commissioners to Barent's Island. On their return they touched a rock near the Pot, when the boat was nearly upset by the stream, so that they were indeed in imminent danger.2 November The wind as before, with rain and violent gusts; about breakfast broke our rope, but somewhat nearer its bight; exerted all our endeavors to recover our anchor, but could not find it. The Commissioners rowed in the meanwhile to N. Haerlem, and returned on board towards evening.3 November The wind N. N. West; we again weighed anchor, and sailed against the tide through the Hellgate; towards noon the wind veered again to the east, and as the tide was against us, we could not proceed further than the White Stone, where we cast anchor; then went in the boat ashore to procure water. Towards evening we were favored with a Northerly breeze—got under sail, and when we arrived near Minnewits Island, the wind again veered to the N. East, so that we were obliged to cast anchor there.4th November We sailed at day-break, the wind N. West; towards noon, the wind blowing very fresh, we lowered our topsail; towards evening took in all sail with two reefs in our mainsail, and were about South of Newhaven, the wind very cold, the waves rising and the night dark. About three o'clock in the morning, saw Falcon's Island, about a pistol shot to leeward; we intended to avoid it, but could not succeed, through the violence of the wind, so that we tacked quite close to the rocks, with great good luck. Night approaching, the storm sensibly increased, and about day-break it was a complete hurricane.5th November The wind as before, but somewhat more Westerly, we ran on with a reef in our foresail; about eight o'clock, our boat broke adrift, which compelled us to return; we recovered it with great difficulty after three hours, and when we had her on board, saw that nearly all the stauncheons were torn in pieces—a short while after the wind increased in violence, so that once more we were compelled to run to leeward, and about four in the afternoon cast anchor near the riff of the Little gatt—our boat full of water and utterly unfit for use—so that we abandoned her to the deep. 6th November Lying at anchor. In the morning at day-break, in Pluymgat, the wind N. W. and W., weighed anchor again, and discovered a sail to leeward; we pursued with our courses set, and hoisted English colors; we supposed him to be a West Indiaman; hoisted our topsail. The tide turning against him, he anchored near Silvester Island in 8 or 10 foot water; we then lowered the English colors and hoisted those of the Prince, whereupon they instantly struck their colors. Commanding them to come on board, the skipper arriving with two men, reported that they came from New London, and that Capt. Winthrop and Mr. Willis were in his ship, being commissioned by those of Connecticut. Sent the boat for them; when on board, they said they would show us their commission, to take a copy of it. They farther stated, that those of Connecticut dispatched a Letter to the Governor-General A. Colve, of which a copy should be shown to us; whereupon we showed them our commission, together with the Article penned by those of the East end of the Island, and in consequence of it, their nomination, and subsequent election, &c.; the answer thereto was exhibited, to wit: That the 9th article had not been consented to, and consequently all the other articles, together with their subsequent nomination and their actual submission to their High Mightinesses, had been rendered null & void. We then, after having treated them to the best in our power, permitted them to go on shore in the ship of Lieut. Quirynsen. Towards evening we again hoisted sail and anchored before Silvester's; towards evening at a signal, Silvester sent his son with a boat on board, to carry the Commissioners on shore, who staid that night with him.7th November In the morning, the Commissioners of Connecticut delivered us a copy of their commission as follows:"Whereas by divers Reports & Informations wee are given to Vnderstand that there are some forces Expected spedily from New Yorke at the Eastern End of Long Island to force and Constrayne the People there to take the oath of Obedience to the States generall & Prince of Orange; Wee have thought it Expedient to desire & Empower you Samuel Willis Esquire & Captain John Winthrop or Either of you to take such necessary attendance as you Judge meet & forthwith to goe over to the said Island or Shelter Island & treat with such forces as there you shall meet & doe your Endeavor to divert them from using any hostility against the said People & from Imposing uppon them letting them know if they do proceed notwithstanding it will provoke us to a due Consideration what wee are Nextly oblidged to doe. Dated at Harford October 22th 1673.
And further delivered us a copy of the Letter which was sent by the Court of Connecticut to the Governor, Anthony Colve, and requested that we should abandon our voyage and not proceed further in persuading the English of Easthampton, Southold or Southampton to take the oath, whereunto we answered that we were in duty bound to execute our commission and so departed from Silvester's Island. In the mean while those of Connecticut hoisted the King's Jack at their mainmast which was permitted them as they were Commissioners.
About 10 o'clock the Connecticut gentlemen rowed up towards Southall in the boat belonging to Silvester's ship, with the King's Jack in the stern, when the Commissioners immediately followed in a boat they had borrowed from Captain Silvester, with the Prince's flag also in the stern; arrived at 2 o'clock in the afternoon about Southold, when they heard the drum beat and the trumpet sounded, and saw a salute with muskets whenever the Connecticut gentlemen passed by. Meanwhile the water being low and the tide on the turn, the boat being slowly dragged along by the sailors, the Commissioners were obliged to land. Approaching somewhat nearer, they discovered a troop of cavalry riding backward and forward, four of whom advanced towards us, and when they reached the Commissioners, offered them their horses, on which these mounted, ascended the heights, where they met Captain Winthrop and Esquire Wyles with a troop of 26 or 28 men on horseback, and so they rode on together towards the village, on reaching which they found a company of about sixty foot men in arms. After tarrying a few moments, they marched into the village to the house of one Mr. Moore, where dismounting from their horses, they were invited to enter. After having been a little while in the house, Mr. Steenwyck requested that the inhabitants of the village might be convoked to communicate to them the cause of their arrival, also the commission of the Governor, to which those of Connecticut answered, that (he inhabitants of that village of Southold, being subjects of his Majesty of England, had nothing to do with any orders or commission of the Dutch, and then said to the inhabitants, Whosoever among you will not remain faithful to his Majesty of England, your lawful Lord and King, let him now speak, to which not one of the inhabitants made answer. Mr. Steenwyck replied thereupon, that they were subjects of their High Mightinesses the States-General and his Highness the Prince of Orange, as appeared by their colors and constable's staff, by the nomination of their Magistrates, presented by them to the Governor, and by the election subsequent thereon; he further requested that these elected persons might be called, of whom Thomas Moore appeared, but Thomas Hudsingsen absented himself, and could not be found. When the election of Governor Colve was communicated to said Moore, he would not accept it; saying, that he had nothing to do with it; then Isaack Aernouts, who had been already sworn in as Sheriff of the 5 easterly villages on Long Island was asked, who declared that he had already resigned his office as Sheriff, because it was not in his power to execute that office, having been already threatened by the inhabitants that they would plunder his house. Mr. Steenwyck again asked the people, most of whom were present, if they would remain faithful to their High Mightinesses and take the oath ? But not one person answered; signifying plainly enough by their silence that they would not. Then orders were given to read to them the commission of the Governor, which being perceived by the Committee from Hartford, they said, as before, that the inhabitants of that place, being subjects of his Majesty of England, had nothing to do with a commission of the Dutch. So that after many discussions pro and con., we took up our commission and papers after having entered due protest and resolved to depart out the village. On leaving the place, some inhabitants of Southampton were present; among the rest one John Couper, who told Mr. Steenwyck to take care and not appear with that thing at Southampton, which he more than once repeated; for the Commissioners, agreeably to their commission, had intended to go thither next morning; whereupon Mr. Steenwyck asked, what he meant by that word Thing, to which said John Couper replied, the Prince's Flag; then Mr. Steenwyck inquired of John Couper, if he said so of himself, or on the authority of the inhabitants of Southampton. He answered, Rest satisfied that I warn you, and take care that you come not with that Flag within range of shot of our village. When taking leave of the Connecticut gentlemen they asked us to what village we intended to go first to-morrow morning, and they assured us that they should be there, as they intended to be present at every place the Commissioners should visit. Entered the boat and rowed again toward Schelster Island, and resolved not to visit the other two villages, as we clearly perceived that we should be unable to effect anything, and rather do more harm than good. Arrived about ten in the evening at Sylvester's Island where we passed the night.
8th Wednesday. The wind being S. E. we set sail again about 12 at noon, with the ebb, towards New Orange. When the sun being yet about an hour high, passed Plum-gut with a spanking breeze. Saw two sails; spoke one, belonging to Aghter Kol, they who passed N. Orange a day after us.
9th In the morning at day-break, we had Onkeway on our beam; about north of us, espied a mizzen sail ahead, near the White Stone, when it became very calm, so that we were compelled to row, and arrived by dark at Deutel bay, whence the Commissioners traveled by land to New Orange, and arrived about eight in the evening at Fort William Henry, delivering a report of their transactions to Governor A. Colve. The ship the Zeehond anchored in the harbor about midnight.
