LANCASTER COUNTY. 17 



Among historical writers there is a diversity of opinion 

 as to the time when the first permanent settlement was 

 made in Delaware. Darby, in his View of the United 

 States, says, that a Swedish colony, under the auspices of 

 Gustavus Adolphus, reached Delaware, 1628. Accord- 

 ing to Gordon's History, Darby's assertion appears to be 

 erroneous. The fact, however, that Delaware bay and 

 river were explored as early as 1623, by Captain May, is 

 well established. He sailed up the river as far as Glou- 

 •cester point, in New Jersey, a few miles below the city 

 of Camden, where he built a fort called Nassau. Accord- 

 ing to Gordon, the Swedes visited Cape Henlopen, which, 

 on account of its verdure and fertility, they named Para- 

 dise Point, and began a settlement on the Delaware bay 

 and river; having, however, previous to making their 

 settlements, bought land of the measurably civilized na- 

 tives.* *' Their first settlement was near Wilmington, at 

 tlie mouth of Christina creek, and they afterwards built 

 forts at Lewistown and Tinicum isle : which last was the 

 seat of government of their colony of New Sweden. — 

 Here John Printz, their governor, built himself a spacious 

 mansion, to which they gave the name Printz^s halV 

 According to Watson, the Swedes settled many other 



ber of men, chosen on both sides. With this he appointed 

 commissioners to treat with the Indians, about purchasing land, 

 and promised them, that he would shortly come and converse 

 with them in person." Belknap, II. 40. 



*The Indians at the Swedish settlement were very industrious 

 and civilized. They sold the use of the land very cheap : 400 

 acres of land for a yard of baize or a bottle of brandy. They 

 had large fields of maize, beans, gourds, pumpkins, melons, 

 &c., with orchards of plum and peaches. Holm confirms this, 

 and even says that the squaws spun and wove cloth of yarn, 

 out of nettles, and wild hemp, which Kalm called Apocynum 

 . cannabinum. MSS. Remarks on the early His. Pa. p. 13. 



2* 



