1G33.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 17 



York) on liis return to Europe, leaving no Colony behind him, 

 and the whole bay and river free from any European settlement. 

 Umler certain conditions, patroons were permitted to engage 

 in the peltry trade, " at such places where the Company have 

 no factories,"' and it cannot be doubted but this trade, in connec- 

 tion with the whale fishery, had a paramount influence in the 

 establishment of the ill fated colony at Swanendael. Still, there 

 are reasons for believing that it was the intention of the Patroon 

 owners to make it a permanent settlement, and this too in the 

 face of the fact, that no females were carried out on either of the 

 voyages. They were the owners of the soil — they sent out with 

 tlu'ir people, horses, cows, implements of husbandry and seeds ; 

 and when they became the victims of savage cruelty, they were 

 actually engaged in agricultural pursuits. Regarding, then. Fort 

 Nassau as a mere trading post, and nothing more can be claimed 

 for it, the unfortunate Colony at Swanendael may be held to be 

 the first effort of the white race to make a permanent settlement 

 on the Delaware. 



As we go along, it will be necessary to note the changes in 

 the government, to which the country embracing the territory now 

 occupied by our little County was subjected. Director Minuit 

 having been recalled during the past year, he was succeeded by 

 Wouter Van Ttciller, who arrived at Fort Amsterdam in the 

 spring of 1033 in one of the Company's ships, accompanied by 

 104 soldiers, that being the first military force ever detailed for 

 New Netherland." He was a near relative to the patroon. Van 

 Rensselaer, and it is said, owed his appointment more to that 

 circmnstance than to any particular merit he possessed. 



On the 10th of April, 1033, Chancellor Oxensteirn revived 

 the interest Avhich had formerly existed in Sweden in respect to 

 Colonies, in signing by authority of the crown, the proclamation 

 that had been left unsigned by Gustavus Adolphus. The time 

 for uniting with the Company was extended to ihe first of the 

 next year, and William Usselinex appointed the first Director. 



Many authors have assumed that settlements were made by 

 the Swedes on the Delaware, as early as 1031. No settlements 

 were made on that river by the Swedes except by authority of 

 their government. This well authenticated act of the renowned 

 Swedish statesman, leaves no room for doubt on the subject. 



Tlie trade in peltries, at this time, became very profitable, 

 which induced the new Director to turn his attention to that 

 species of trade on the Delaware. With the view of rendering it 

 more secure to the West India Company, it is said he directed 

 Arent Corsen, who had been appointed Commissary at Fort 



' Article XV. Freedoms and Exemptions — Hist. New Netherland, i. 116. 

 - Hist. New Netherland, i. 142. 



