1643.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 33 



them in various capacities ; those who came to the country ' to 

 better their fortunes,' and who, by way of distinction, were call- 

 ed frccnu'n; and a third class, consisting of vagabonds and 

 malefactors," who " were to remain in slavery and were employ- 

 ed in digging earth, throwing up trenches, and erecting walls 

 and other fortifications."' 



Fort Nassau was merely a military establishment to maintain 

 a trading post. It is not known that any actual settlement had 

 been made at that point, previous to the arrival of Governor 

 Printz, or for some time afterwards. The fort was occupied by 

 the soldiers and servants of the Dutch West India Company, 

 and there is reason to believe that at times, some of the latter 

 were negro slaves." 



But little is known of the early doings of the settlement of 

 Hollanders under Swedish authority on the river and bay below 

 Christina. As has been before observed, this colony had its 

 origin in the bitter feuds that existed between the patroons and 

 the West India Company. The chief element in this controversy 

 was the amount of trade which should be enjoyed by the patroons, 

 which the Company seemed determined to wholly monopolize 

 themselves. As the trading privileges contained in the Swedish 

 grant to these Hollanders are strikingly liberal, it is reasonable 

 to conclude that trade at first constituted their chief employment. 



In respect to domestic animals, goats were probably first in- 

 troduced. In the investigation of charges brought against 

 Governor Van Twiller in 1639, a witness mentions "twenty-four 

 to thirty goats, "^ as being in his custody at forts Hope^ and 

 Nassau. The careful and prudent Minuit had no doubt supplied 

 his settlement at Christina with both cattle and sheep. In the 

 grant to the colony of Hollanders, it was provided that they 

 should take "two or three vessels with men and cattle," and as 

 the English settlers at Vrakens kill (Salem) came from New 

 England, they were doubtless well supplied with domestic ani- 

 mals, which were probably left on the river when they abandoned 

 their new home. 



Prior to this period, but very few females of European birth, 

 liad resided on the Delaware. There was not one in the ill-fated 

 colony at Swanendael, by her supplication for mercy, to stay the 



' Campanius. 73. 



- llaz. Ann. 41*. as quoted from the Breviat, case of Penn and Lord Baltimore, 35. 

 The *• Freedoms, privileges and exemptions," proposed by the States General prior to 

 1640. but not adopted, contains this article : " In like manner the Incorporated West 

 India Company shall allot to each patroon, twelve black men and women out of the 

 prizes in which negroes shall be found, for the advancement of the Colonies of New 

 Netherland," X. Y. Col. Doc. i. 99. 



3 Uaz. Ann. 50. — In 1634, the Governor of Virginia sent 6 goats to Director Van 

 Twiller, by De Vries, as " he had understood there were no goats at Fort Amsterdam." 



* Fort Hope was on the Connecticut river. 



