12 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



city of New York but his vineyard, as indicated in the grant, was located 

 on Long Island. It may be assumed that this was the first attempt to 

 grow grapes commercially in the State of New York. It would seem that 

 the governor by granting a monopoly of the grape and wine industry took 

 the surest means of killing the infant industry. The Earl of Bellomont, a 

 later governor of the Colony, wrote to London with assurances of a great 

 future of viticulture in the Colony.' For over a century after, there were 

 spasmodic efforts to grow the Old World grape in and about New York 

 Citv, and at the beginning of the Revolutionary War there were a few small 

 vinej'ards and some wine-making on Manhattan Island. 



There were many attempts to grow foreign grapes in New England. 

 John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, had planted a 

 vineyard in one of the islands, known as " Governor's Garden," in Boston 

 Harbor before 1630. Vine-planters were sent to this colony in 1629.= 



to provide vines and to p'pare the ground and make it fitt for production of wines ; ffor an Encouragerat 

 to the said Paul Richards in his proceedings therein, I have thought fitt to grant unto him these 

 following privileges (viz.) 



" That all wines of the growth of such vines as the said Paul Richards shall plant, or cause to 

 bee planted at the place aforesaid, shall be free from any kind of impositions for ever if sold in grosse, 

 and not by retaile: 



" That the said Paul Richards, his heirs, e.^ecutors, or assignes shall have the privilege to have 

 such wines sold by retaile in any one house in New York for the term of thirty years to come, from 

 the time of the first selling of his wines, free from all imposts or excise: 



" That every person who shall hereafter for thirty years to come, plant vines within any place in 

 this Government, shall upon the first yeares improvement pay unto the said Paul Richards, his heirs, 

 executors, or assignes, five shillings for every acre so planted as an acknowledgement of his being 

 the first undertaker and planter of vines in these parts. For the confirmacon of the privileges above 

 specified, I have hereunto put my hand and seale. 



" Given at ffort James in New York this loth day of January, 1664. RIC. NICOLLS." 



' Bellomont's letter is as follows: "As to propagating vines in these plantations to supply all 

 of the dominions of the Crown, I can easily make that appear. In the first place Nature has given 

 us an index in these Plantations that points to us what may be done in that by the help of art. There 

 grows wild grapes in all of the woods here in very great abundance; I have observed them in many 

 places but especially above Albany on the side of the Hudson river where the vines all along twine 

 around great trees and fair clusters of grapes appear som'.-times above 30 foot from the ground. I 

 have eaten of the wild grapes which I thought tasteful! enough, only somewhat harsh as an effect 

 of their wildness." Then follows an account of how the French had previously made wine in Canada 

 but that the Court of France had forbade its being made fearing that it might be prejudicial to the 

 wine trade of the French. Earl of Bellomont to the Lords of Trade. Nov. aS, 1700. Documents 

 Relating to Colonial History of the State of Xew York, 4:787. 



"Francis Higginson wrote in 1630: "excellent Vines arc here up and dov\'ne in the Woods, 

 Our Govcrnour hath already planted a Vineyard with great hope of encrease." 



