54: Agricultural, Manual 



sings, and the many Long Island tribes, the general name of which 

 was Matawacas. 



After 1664, when the English assumed control of the colony 

 of Xew York, the Iroquois came to fear that the French would 

 make serious encroachments upon their territory, and turned to 

 New York for assistance. At Albany, in L684, a treaty was held, 

 in which the Indians asked for protection from the French. 

 From this time dated the formal English claim of lordship over 

 the Iroquois and their lands. 



EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT 



The year 1609 witnessed two important events in the history 

 of Xew York State — the expedition of Champlain and the 



explorations of Hudson. On the policy adopted by these two 

 leaders in their treatment of the Indians depended the fate of 

 the early settlements attempted by the French and the Dutch 

 within the state. As a result, therefore, the first permanent 

 settlements were made by the Dutch, who established trading 

 posts at Albany, Rondout, and Xew York. After a profitable busi- 

 ness in fur trading had been carried on for about ten years, 

 Holland made an agreement with a company of "Walloons," or 

 French-peaking Protestants, to become the first colonists in the 

 new country. A few settled on Manhattan Island and a few in 

 Connecticut and in Xew Jersey; but the greater number were 

 taken at Albany, where the chief settlement, known as Fort 

 Orange, was made. 



Some years later the plan of patroonship settlement was pro- 

 claimed, whereby the amount of land included in a grant was 

 proportionate to the number of families that were induced to 

 settle the estate. In return the proprietor was to have almost 

 unlimited rights of control. Several settlements were begun, 

 of which Van Rensselaerwyck, founded in 1G30, was the largest 

 and most important. This settlement included the present Rens- 

 selaer County and all the land surrounding Fort Orange. During 

 the period of Dutch government in Xew Xetherlands, settlers from 

 the Xew England colonies established themselves in Westchester 

 County and en the west end of Long Island. 



