Description of the province of New Sweden. : Now called, by the English, Pennsylvania, in America.

Front matter

DESCRIPTION

OF THE

PROVINCE OF NEW SWEDEN.

Book I. Of America In General

Chap. I. Of America in General, its situation, divisions, settlement by Europeans, and the forms of government therein established, 13

Chap. II. In what manner, at what time, and by what European Nations America was first discovered and settled, ... 24

Chap. III. Of the origin of the Americans, and whence they, and the animals that are in the new world, migrated to that county, - 32

Chap. IV. Of the productions of the American soil, 36

Book II. Of The Province Of New Sweden, Now Called Pennsylvania

Chap. I. Of the American Province of New Sweden, in Virginia, its situation and productions, ---.--- 38

Chap. II. Short description of the principal places contained in the annexed map of New Sweden, ...... 46

Chap. III. Of the climate and temperature of Virginia and New Sweden, 55

Chap. IV. Of Virginia and the neighbouring provinces, to wit: New England, New Holland, and New Sweden; how and at what time they were discovered by the Christians, 61

Chap. V. Of New Sweden; how and at what time it was first visited by the Swedes, -...---. - 63

Chap. VI. Governor John Printz's voyage to New Sweden, in the year 1642, as related by the Rev. John Campanius, grandfather to the author, with the latter's return voyage to Sweden, in 1648, 70

Chap. VII. Of the first emigrants to Virginia, and the conduct of the Indians towards them, .....---73

Chap. VIII. Of the Swedish settlements in New Sweden, and the forts which were erected there, 79

Chap. IX. How the Swedes lost New Sweden, and how the country has been since governed, ....... 84

Chap. X. Of the condition of the Swedes in New Sweden, after it ceased to be under the Swedish crown; how King Charles XI. of glorious memory, sent thither priests with religious books, and in what situation those priests found the people on their arrival, • 90

Chap. XL Of the Swedish priests who first planted the Gospel in New Sweden, .-.'-':■'.'.----■- lor

CONTENTS. V

Chap. III. Of the clothing of the Indians, 119

Chap. IV. Of the food and cookery of the Indians, - - - 121 Chap. V. Of the dwellings and furniture of the Indians, - - 123 Chap. VI. Of the marriages of the Indians and the education of their children, 126

Chap. VII. Of the exercises and occupations of the Indians, - - 128 Chap. VIII. Of the trade and money of the Indians, - - - 131

Chap. IX. Of the government and laws of the Indians, - - - 133 Chap. X. Of the warfare and weapons of the Indians, and their cruelty to

their enemies, 137

Chap. XI. Of the religion of the Indians, and the difficulties in the way of

converting them to Christianity, 139

Chap. XII. Of the funerals of the Indians, 142

ADDENDA.

Chap. I. Of the Minques, or Minckes and their language, Chap. II. Of some rare and remarkable things in America,

Appendix

A list of the Swedish families residing in New Sweden, in the year 1693, with the number of individuals in each family, - - - 164

ERRATUM.

Page 46, line 1st and 2d, of the notes; for " Quequemakee," read, Quequenaku, (pronounced, KWEA-KWEN-AW-KOO.)

DIRECTIONS FOR THE BOOK-BINDER.

1. The Map of the Bay and River Delaware, to face page 46

2. The small Map of Pennsylvania, to face - - 78

3. The Plate representing Trinity Fort, to face - - 82

4. The Plate representing the Siege of Christina Fort, to

face 34

5. The Plate representing an Indian Fort, to face - 122

THE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE,

The book, of which we offer a translation to the public, from a copy kindly lent to us by the Library Company of Philadelphia, was printed at Stockholm, in the year 1702, under the patronage of Charles XII., to whom it is dedicated. Nothing is known of the author, except that his grandfather, the Rev. John Campanius Holm, was a minister of the gospel, who accompanied Governor Printz, as his Chaplain to America, in the year 1642, and remained here six years as pastor of the Swedish churches; during which time he learned the Indian languages, so that he was able to translate Luther's Catechism* into the idiom of the Lenni Lenape, or Renappi, as they were then called: some of the tribes making use of the letter R, where others employed the letter L, which is not uncommon among different tribes of the same Indian nation. It is also known that our author's father was likewise in this country, at the same time with his grandfather; but we are not told in what capacity.

* This catechism was printed at Stockholm, in Delaware and Swedish, in the year 1696, in one volume of one hundred and sixty pages, 12mo; at the end of which is a vocabulary, which our author has inserted in this work, with dialogues, &c. There is a copy of it in the library of the American Philosophical Society, and one in the translator's private library.

I

VI TRANSLATOR S PREFACE.

It is remarkable that a subsequent writer on the history of New Sweden, of whom we shall presently have occasion to speak, although he sometimes quotes our author's work, does not number his grandfather among the ministers of the Swedish congregations, whose pastoral services he records; His silence, however, is not sufficient to contradict what our author says of his father and grandfather, which is confirmed by the work which the former has left behind him, and also because Acrelius, the writer we are speaking of, takes up the history of his church only from the year 1655, and speaks but slightly of the ecclesiastical affairs of the preceding period, although he is very full and particular as to the political history of the country.

It does not appear that our author ever was in America: he does not, in any part of his book, speak of his own knowledge. His information is derived from the notes or memoranda left by his grandfather, and from the verbal accounts which he received from his father; to which he has added those which he derived from the writers who preceded him, and particularly from the manuscript relation of the Swedish engineer, Peter Lindstrom, or Lindhestrom, which is deposited in the Royal Archives at Stockholm.

We cannot say much in praise of this author's talents as a writer; nor of his judgment or sound criticism. Many of the things which he relates, will justly be considered as fabulous. But at the time when he wrote, this country was but little known, and those who visited it were fond of relating wonderful stories, which seem to have obtained general credence. When we read many of the books written in those days on the subject of America, we think we are reading the accounts of Africa, given by those ancient writers whose works are reviewed or analyzed by the Patriarch Photius, in which we find men without heads and other similar monsters. Here we find, not men, it is true, but fishes, translator's preface.

vn that have no heads, and which have only four guts, by means of which they receive and eject their food; and the manetto fish, that spouts up water like a whale. We have also a prophetic grass, by means of which a sick man may know whether he will die or recover. Besides these and other fables of the like kind, our country is peopled with black and white Indians, with lions, hares, sea spiders, large as tortoises, nightingales, and other animals that are known not to exist in this part of the world, as if every country ought to have fables connected with its early history.

Did this book contain nothing else than these fabulous recitals, it would not be worth the trouble of translating it; except, perhaps, to serve as an example of the credulity of mankind, and to show what strange opinions were entertained of our country, within less than a century and a half of the present period. But there are other matters in it which are truly interesting. Such, for instance, as the description of the country once called New Sweden, at the beginning of the last century, so different from what it is at present, that the location of numerous creeks, points of land, towns and other places well known in those days, and the names of which have been preserved, can no longer be accurately determined. It is curious to see the now famous cities of Philadelphia and New York, described as clever little towns, as they were in fact at that time. The political history of the country, from the first settlement of the Swedes to the arrival of William Penn, and for some time afterwards, is not the less replete with interest for the present inhabitants of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, as well as that of the habits, manners, and customs of the Swedes and Dutchmen, who inhabited this country before us. Nothing can be more truly moving, than the account given of those patriarchal times by the venerable pastor Erick Biork, in his letters to his friends in Sweden, of vni translator's preface.

which extracts are contained in the 10th chapter of the second book of this work. It is pleasing, also, to see, described by a foreigner, the happiness of this people, under the government of our illustrious founder.

The vocabulary and dialogues in the Indian language, which are contained in the fourth book, with their translation into English, will also be found interesting to philologists.

These, we believe, are the reasons that induced the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to cause this work to be translated, and to undertake its publication. It cannot but be well received by those who take an interest in the early history of our country, of which the most correct accounts are to be obtained from those by whom it was first settled.

This work is divided into four books.

The first treats of America in general, and describes it as it was known to geographers at the beginning of the last century. It is curious to compare it with the present situation of this continent; and to observe the great changes that have taken place since that time.

The second contains a brief history of the country situated on both sides of the Delaware, which was formerly called New Sweden, from its first settlement by the Swedes to the time when the author wrote, and a description of it as it existed when the Swedes were in possession of it. This description is almost a literal copy of the fifth chapter of Lindstrom's relation above mentioned; a French translation of which is in the library of the American Philosophical Society, which was procured for them from the Archives of the government at Stockholm, by Capt. William Jones, who was Secretary of the Navy of the United States, and a member of the Society.

The third book gives an account of the Indians who inhabited the banks of the Delaware in the time of the Swetranslator's preface.

dish government, when they had not yet been corrupted by an intercourse with the whites. There is not much in it that is new, nevertheless, it is not without interest.

The fourth and last book contains the vocabulary and dialogues above mentioned, with an addenda of some of the wonderful things that were then current in Europe, respecting this country.

It was thought better to translate the whole work, than to give it by way of extracts, as it might have been thought by some, that what was left behind, was more interesting than that which was presented to the public; as it is, the reader will judge for himself.

There is a later Swedish work on the same subject, which we have already alluded to, and deserves to be made known. It is entitled "A Description of the present and former State of the Swedish Congregations in New Sweden, since New Netherlands, and now Pennsylvania, and in the neighbouring parts on the Delaware, West New Jersey, and New Castle County, in North America. By the Rev. Isaac Acrelius, late Provost of the Swedish Churches in America, and Officiating Minister at Christina." It was printed at Stockholm in 1759.

The author, as it appears, resided in this country in the situation above mentioned, from November, 1749, to February, 1756, a period of more than six years; and, of course, speaks from his own knowledge. His work, which consists of 534 pages, small quarto, is divided into eight books, the five last of which are exclusively devoted to the ecclesiastical affairs of the Swedish congregations; but the three first, contain the civil and political history of the country under the Swedish, Dutch, and English governments, to the time when the author wrote: and that history is in our opinion much more complete, and in every respect superior i '

*mam

I x translator's preface.

to that now presented to the public; to which, however, as being the oldest, the preference has, for the present, been given. We have extracted from it, in the form of notes, the modern names of many of the places, the Swedish and Indian names of which are given by Companius; which, it seems, the latter was not acquainted with, or did not think proper to explain, and we have taken from that work a list of the names of the Swedish families which resided on the Delaware, in the year 1693, with the number of individuals contained in each, which Will be found as an appendix at the end of this translation. We have thought that it would be interesting to the descendants from those families, of whom We believe there are many in this country.

We ought to observe here, that several of those families have changed their names, in order to bring them within the analogy of the English language. Thus, Bengtsen, has been changed to Bankson; Hulling to Fulling-, Gostafson to Justisson; Kyn to Keen; Coin to Cullen; Hesselius to Issilis; Colsberg to Colsberry; Van Neman to Van Nim- ?nen; Diedrickson to Derrickson; Hendrickson to Henderson, &c. This observation is made by Acrelius, so that these changes had already taken place about the middle of the last century; yet, several of the old Swedish names may still easily be recognised.

Our author has adorned his work with a number of maps, plates and wood cuts, out of which we have selected a few to annex to this translation, the principal ones^ are two maps, the one of New Sweden, including both sides of the bay, and river Delaware up to Trenton falls, as it existed in the year 1654, and the other of Pennsylvania, a few years after the arrival of William Penn. The first is reduced from a larger map, which was made by the engineer Peter Lindstrom, (often mentioned in this work,) for the King of S weden, jn the years mttk translator's preface. xi

1 654 and 1 655. * The names of places are in Indian or Swedish; sometimes both the Indian and Swedish names are given, with the word eller which signifies or. The word udd, or udden, means a point of land, Kil or Kjl, and Kjlen or Kilen means a creek. What farther explanations may be required for the understanding of this map, are given in notes in the course of this translation. The other map is reduced from that of Nicholas Visscher, a Dutch Geographer of that period. It requires no explanation, any more than the three small plates, representing Fort Trinity, the Siege of Fort Christina, and a view of an Indian Fort, which are also annexed.

In this translation, nothing has been aimed at but correctness, a few notes only have been added, where they were thought necessary to elucidate the text; particularly in respect to proper names and places, of which the situation and modern denominations have been given, as far as has been possible.

* The author informs us that the original of this map was destroyed by fire in the conflagration of the Royal Palace at Stockholm, in the year 1697. But it seems that a copy of it had been previously taken, which was, and is siill deposited in the Royal archives. Of this a copy exists in the Library of the American Philosophical Society, which was procured for them by the kindness of Captain William Jones above mentioned. It is of the length of 27 inches and a quarter; and there is a scale of German miles of fifteen to a degree, which makes the distance from the mouth of Delaware Bay to Trenton Falls, considerably greater than it really is, and the other distances in proportion. This map, therefore, is not to be relied on, and can only serve to show the relative positions of places, with their Indian, Dutch, and Swedish names. We must make large allowances for a map made at that period of time, when the country was almost entirely in the possession of Savage tribes, and when the means for carrying on such operations were but scanty. Instead of finding fault with, we ought, on the contrary, to give credit to Mr. Lindstrom for having done so much as he did, under the then existing circumstances. This large map is, most probably, the one from which the small •one annexed to this work was reduced. We hope, at some time or other, it will be published in extenso, as a monument of the early beginnings of our country.

PHHPw

DESCRIPTION, &c.

Chapter I

Of America in general, its Situation, Divisions, Settlement by Europeans, and the Forms of Government therein established.

The whole earth is a round ball, consisting of land and water. Geographers have divided it into two parts, one which they call the Old and the other the New World. The old world is that in which we live: it contains Europe which lies to the north, Asia to the east, and Africa to the south. The New world is called America, and lies out to the west: it has existed as well as the old ever since the creation; but to us who inhabit the Old World it has become but latelyknown. Although the object of this book is only to give a short description of the American prbvinces of New Sweden and Virginia, we have thought that it would not be amiss to preface it with something on the subject of America in general, or, as it is called by sea-faring men, the West Indies.

According to the learned geographer, Philip Cluverius, America is bounded, to the east, by the Atlantic and Ethiopic sea; to the west, by the South sea, or Pacific ocean; to the south by the straits of Magellan and Terra Magellanica; and to the north, by the Icy Sea and the country lying under i

14 A DESCRIPTION, &C.

the Arctic pole. All the geographers and learned men who have given descriptions of the New World, have divided it into North and South America, with the islands to each part respectively belonging. Those parts are divided from each other by an isthmus about fifteen miles broad, which is called the Isthmus of Panama: the country that lies to the north of it, is called North, and that to the south, South America,

To North America, belong the Gulf of Mexico, the great river St. Lawrence, and Hudson's Bay. These are worthy of notice, as being the seats of European settlements, the principal of which are the following: —

Mexico, or New Spain. — This is the chief possession of the Spaniards in America. It was conquered by Fernando Cortez, a Spaniard, in the year of our Lord 1521. There is a fine city in which the viceroy has his residence; it is an archbishop's see, and has a university.

New Mexico, or, as some call it, New Granada, lies beyond New Spain, and consists of several kingdoms which the Spaniards first discovered in the year 1598. There are in that country mines of gold and silver, with other minerals and various kinds of precious stones.

. Florida, which was also taken possession of by the Spaniards, and was so called in consequence of its having been discovered on Palm Sunday, which in their language is called Pascua de Flores. They have only made settlements a little way into the country, where they have the towns of St. Matheo and St. Augustine. But the country called Carolina, which lies between them and Virginia, belongs to the English, who took it from the French in the year 1600. The French had begun to settle it in 1564. There are in that country mines of various metals, particularly of copper and lead.

Canada, under which name is included all the remaining territory lying to the north, as far as Hudson's Bay. That country was first taken possession of by the Spaniards; but

AMERICA IN GENERAL.

they, not finding in it what they wanted, afterwards abandoned it, calling it Cabo de Nada; that is to say, Cape Nothing.* It consists of several provinces, among which is New France, on the river St. Lawrence, which was first settled by the French in the sixteenth century, under the reign of Francis the First. There are in that country mines of copper and lead. Quebec is the chief town, where the French viceroy resides. It was taken by the English in the year 1629.

Louisiana lies next to Virginia, and was- taken possession of by the French, in 1678, and so called after the name of her monarch. The whole province is considered as part of New France.!

Eslotiland, Terra Laborador, or Nova Britannia, lies on Hudson's Bay, to the north of New France: there gold and silver are found, as well as precious stones, and also marble, jasper, and emeralds.

Virginia,:}: — where there are European colonies;- to wit: New Sweden, New England, and New Holland, of which we shall speak in their proper places. There is much said about them in various books and treatises.

* this is a fanciful etymology, which has no foundation in fact. It is now well known, that Kanada, in the Iroquois languages, means a town, so that the first French settlers mistook the name of a part for that of the whole. See Transact, of the Hist. Com. of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. I. p. 437.

f New France and Louisiana were under separate governments; but the limits of each were never accurately defined. The question was settled by the cession of Canada and all the eastern part of Louisiana to Great Britain, in 1763.

* At the beginning of the 18th<;entury, all the country between Canada, or New France and Florida, was called Virginia.- the Dutch and Swedish settlements on the North river, and the Delaware, were considered by geographers within its limits. It would have been well, perhaps, if, at the declaration of independence, that name had been adopted by the United States for the Union, instead of America, which belongs to other nations, as well as to ourselves.

I t '

A DESCRIPTION, &C

There is a part of Virginia which is called Maryland, or Terra Marias, whence the Europeans are supplied with the best Virginia tobacco. Farther across the wilderness, there are several newly discovered lands, among which are North Wales, South Wales, and New Denmark. The sea which washes them is called Mare Christianum; but all beyond it towards the Arctic pole is Terra incognita.

In this northern part of America, there are, also, large tracts of land, which were discovered towards the end of the last century; that is to. say, in the year 1680, and the following, which till then were unknown to the Europeans. They were travelled over by Father Lewis Hennepin, a missionary friar, of the order of Recollects, and an apostolical notary. Those lands lie between New Mexico, and the Icy Sea, and greatly exceed in size all Europe; extending over 800 miles in length. They are inhabited by 200 nations or tribes, who all speak different languages, and the country is watered by a large river which flows through it.

Father Hennepin describes an immense fall of water in the river Niagara, between Lakes Ontario or Frontenac and Erie, the like of which is not to be found in the whole world. It is above 600 feet high, and falls down a high rock, which it divides into two parts; so that the water falls down on both sides. The water, in falling from that enormous height, makes such a tremendous noise, that it may be heard in fine weather at fifteen miles' distance. See Father Hennepin's description of that wonder of nature.

There are some, who are of opinion that North America extends to Japan; whence they infer that a shorter way might be found than that hitherio followed to reach that country, and also China, without crossing the equinoctial line. The same Father Hennepin, who during eleven years travelled over America, has explained this fully in the third part of the relation of his travels. The first part is en-

V

OF AMERICA IN GENERAL.

To South America belong the river of the Amazons, which flows eastwardly under the equinoctial line, into the Atlantic Ocean, and the river La Plata, which, more to the south, follows a similar course. They are both worthy of notice, as they are the seats of the principal settlements, which are the following: —

Terra Firma lies on the Mexican Gulf, south of the Isthmus of Panama, and belongs to the Spaniards, who have divided it into several provinces; as Terra Firma, proper, whom some also call Castilla, or Auria. Panama is a fine commercial city. Portobello, or Portus Pulcher, has a fine harbour, situated on the Gulf of Mexico. Farther, are Carthagena, Santa Martha, Venezuela, New Andalusia, Carrabana, Paria, New Granada, &c.

Peru or Regnum Peruvianum, is, next to Mexico, the most important province in America. It was conquered in the year 1529, under the reign of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, by Francisco Pizarro, a Spaniard, and since that time has remained in the possession of Spain. That country is divided into three governments, or prefectures, which are the following: —

1st. The prefecture of Quito, which lies close under the line. Its chief town is Quito, which is the seat of the royal council, and has a university.

2nd. Los Reyes, or Prsefectura Regum, lies south of the above, and is thus in the middle of Peru. Its capital is Lima,

* That country was no other than the beautiful valley of the Mississippi, which when this book was written, had but lately been discovered. Vol. III. 3

IS

DESCRIPTION, &C.

otherwise called Los Reyes, or Civitas Regum. It is the finest city in America, and was built by the Spaniards, in the year 1535. It is the residence of the viceroy of Spanish South America.

3d. Los Charcas, or Prsefectura Charcarum, has for its chief town La Plata, otherwise called Argentea, which is an archbishop's see. Potosi, or Potosium, in that province, has the best mines in all America.

Chili. This country was taken possession of by the Spaniards, in the year 1535. The climate is rather cold. St. Jago, or Fanum Sancti Jacobi, is the capital and the governor's residence.

Terra Magellanica is so named after Fernando Magellan, a Portuguese, who discovered it in the year 1520. From its situation the climate is pretty cold. The Spaniards built there two towns, St. Philip and Nombre de Jesus; but, finding the country too cold, they afterwards abandoned it.

Tucumania. The Spaniards possessed the greatest part of this country: St. Miguel, or Fanum S. Michaelis is the principal town. St. Jago del Estero, or Fanum S, Jacobi de Storea, is the place of the governor's residence.

Paraguay. This country also belongs to the Spaniards,

Brazil. This country was taken possession of by the Portuguese, in the year 1501 ; who still retain the same, though they have been some time driven out by the Hollanders: it yields to them a good profit, particularly by the culture of sugar. St. Salvador, or Fanum S. Salvatorisf is the capital, where there is an archbishop's see, a good harbour, and two strong fortresses. There has been lately discovered here a rich gold mine, which produces yearly a great income. It is said that the deeper and the longer you dig, the richer is the ore that is found. There are here snakes that are not venomous, and are used for food.

AMERICA IN GENERAL.

Amazonia is a large tract of country, with small cultivated districts, lying on the river of the Amazons. It is not much settled by Europeans.

Of the islands that encircle and belong to America, the following are the principal of those which are settled by Europeans:—

The Azores, or Hawks' Islands, (Insula? Accipitrum,) lie very near Europe; so that it is not determined whether they belong to this part of the world or to America. While they belonged to the Netherlands, they were called Insula? Flandrias. They now belong to the king of Portugal, and are nine in number. They are all very fruitful. Terceira is the principal island; Jingra is its capital.

The Antilles, which have been so called by the Spaniards, as being Insula? ante Americam. Several of these islands lie before America, and are met with when you sail from Europe to that continent. There is a considerable number of them, and they are divided into four classes. 1. The Larger Antilles, (Antillse Mqjores.) 2. The Windward Islands. 3. The Leeward Islands. 4. The Lucayan Islands.

The larger Antilles are the following: —

1. Hispaniola, the greatest part of which belongs to the Spaniards. St. Domingo is the oldest and the principal of all the capital cities that the Spaniards have in America. The French have settled themselves on the northern part of the island.