80 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1662. 



siding there " would return hither." In that event, Beekman 

 suggested to the Governor that they might unite in one village at 

 or near Perslajong, (Passayunk) " and not be permitted again in 

 separate spots as is the custom with that sort of men. "^ 



A sad misfortune now befell the Swedish priest Mr. Laers, or 

 Latirentius Careh, as he signs his name. One Jacob Jough 

 eloped with his wife, and although Beekman speedily dispatched 

 expresses in different directions, the fugitives were not arrested, 

 but the trunk of Jough with various articles of Mr. Laers' pro- 

 perty, was found at Upland. Not a month had elapsed till Mr. 

 Laers solicited the consent of the vice director to marry again, 

 his intended bride being but 17 or 18 years of age, and as yet no 

 divorce had been decreed between him and his unfaithful spouse. 

 This was too grave a matter to be determined by Beekman alone, 

 and Avas accordingly delayed in order to obtain the approbation 

 of Governor Stuyvesant. But the reverend gentleman became 

 impatient, and at the expiration of two weeks renewed his appli- 

 cation for permission to marry, " as the situation of his family 

 imperiously requires it."- 



A war is at this time in progress between the Senecas and 

 Minquas Indians, the small-pox being prevalent in the latter 

 nation at the same time. Great alarm spread among the Euro- 

 pean inhabitants, which was fully shared by the Swedes ; for the 

 Senecas were as little known to them as to the Dutch. 



During the early part of this year, the Common Council of the 

 city of Amsterdam, by means of commissioners appointed for 

 that purpose, went into a thorough examination of the causes 

 that had heretofore defeated all their efforts to render the colony 

 of New Amstel prosperous. The result was a negotiation with 

 the West India Company for an amplification of the privileges of 

 the city in respect to trade ; of the powers of the local government 

 rendering it less dependent on the Director-general, and an ex- 

 tension of their territory, so as to embrace the east side of the 

 river as high up as their present limits extended, and the west 

 side to Upland kili.^ 



The introduction of negroes as laborers, had now become more 

 general on the river. As early as 1657, complaints were made 

 against Vice Director Alrichs, "for using the company's oxen 

 and negroes," and in a letter from Beekman to Director-general 

 Stuyvesant, dated on the 18th of March, 1662, he "solicits most 

 seriously," that his Honor "would accommodate him with a 

 company of negroes, as he is very much in want of them in many 

 respects.'^ 



The case of the Swedish priest grows desperate. He obtained 



1 llaz. Ann. 323. 2 lb. 328, Ac. 



a N. Y. Cul. Doc. ii. 168-173, Ac. ♦ Haz. Ann. 331. 



