1673.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 99 



in this country, until a Dutch fleet under the conimand of Com- 

 modores Cornelius Evertse and Jacob Benckes, nppearetl hel'ore 

 the fort at New York, on the Gtli of August of the following 

 year. After making a slight resistance, the fort was surren- 

 dered, and the whole country submitted again to the authority 

 of the Dutch. This happened in the absence of Governor Love- 

 lace, who was at New Haven.' 



The two Commodores immediately issued their proclamation 

 appointing Anthony Colve, a Captain of Netherland infantry, 

 to the office of Governor-General of Neiv Nether bind, embracing 

 the full dimensions it possessed previous to its surrender to the 

 English, which included the whole of New Jersey." There ap- 

 pears to have been a ready submission to the Dutch authorities, 

 deputies appearing before the Commanders, including Colve ; 

 who constituted a kind of .Military Council, and held their sit- 

 tings at Fort William Ilendrick, the name now given to the fort 

 at New York. The deputies from the Delaware appeared before 

 this tribunal, and gave in " their submission to their High Mighti- 

 nesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and 

 his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, on the 12th of Sep- 

 tember." In return, they obtained for their constituents, among 

 other privileges, ''free trade and commerce with Christians and 

 Indians;" freedom of conscience; security in the possession of 

 their houses and lands, and exemption from all rent charges aiid 

 excise on wine, beer and distilled liquors consumed on the 

 South river. This last privilege was granted in consideration of 

 the expense the inhabitants would incur "in erecting the fort," 

 and was to continue till 167t) — "Those of the English nation to 

 enjoy the same privileges upon taking the oath of allegiance." 

 At the same time, three Courts of Justice were establi.-^hed on 

 the Delaware — one at New Amstel, one at the Hoern Kill and 

 one at Upland. The jurisdiction of the Upland Court extended 

 provisionally from the east and west banks of Kristina Kill up- 

 wards unto the head of the river." 



The inhabitants were required, "by a plurality of votes," to 

 nominate for each Court eight persons as magistrates. From 

 these the Council at New York selected the Justices of the seve- 

 ral Courts.^ 



Peter Alrichs was appointed by Governor Colve, Commander 

 and Schout, and Walter Wharton was re-appointed Surveyor of 

 the South River district. Peter Alrichs took his oath of office 

 and allegiance without reservation, but Wharton being an Eng- 

 lishman, made it a condition in his fealty, that he was not to be 

 forced to bear arms against his own nation. Alrichs was ap- 



1 N. Y. Col. Doc. iii. 198, 199. Ac. ' lb. ii. 609. 



' N. Y. Col. Doc. ii. 6^4-5. 



