History of the city of Hudson

Preface

Anatole France, the distinguished French writer remarks, as if it were the merest truism "that all historical works which are not lies, are insupportably dull"

In view of this sweeping assertion it requires no little fortitude to confess, that this History is absolutely truthful, to the best of the author's knowledge and belief.

In the adjustment of conflicting facts some seeming errors possibly may be found, but none that have not been carefully examined, and have in

"* ***** nothing extenuate Nor set down aught in malice."

Grateful acknowledgments are made to Mr. Stephen B. Miller's "Historical Sketches of Hudson." Had that work been still in print this would not have been written. The fear that its valuable material would be lost, together with the numerous inquiries in relation to the early history and settlement of Hudson, led to the preparation of this volume.

Thanks are also due to Mr. Peyton F. Miller's "A Group of Great Lawyers," and to all who have so willingly assisted by the loan of books and documents, or by the expression of a kindly interest.

A. R. B.

Hudson, September 15, 1908.

Contents

Page

Introduction

Claim of City of Hudson to Name. — Henry Hudson's Origin. — Grandfather's Quaint Epitaph. — Arms. — Hudson's Early Training. — Contracts Signed Henry Hudson, Englishman. — Wife and Sons, John, and David, Ancestors of Family in America. — Two Voyages for Muscovy Company. — Voyage of 1609 in Employ of Dutch on "Half Moon." — First Sight of North America. — Visits From Indians. — Arrives at Chesapeake Bay. — Anchors Within Sandy Hook. — Indian Attack. — Burial of John Coleman. — Enters New York Bay and Discovers "River of the Mountains. — Anchors off Site of City of Hudson. — Visits Mohicans. — Relics of Indian Village Unearthed. — Hudson Ascends River to Site of Albany. — Descending Anchors Again off This City. — Entertains Mohicans. — Sketch of Mohicans. — Hudson's Soliloquy. — Passes Out to Sea. — Arrives at Dartmouth, England. — Re-called to Service of London Company. — Last Voyage 1910. — Enters Hudson's Bay. — Spends Months in Effort to Find Passage to the East. — Enters Winter Quarters. — Crew Led by Juet Mutiny. — Little Food. — Visit from Savage. — Hudson and Son John Seized and Thrown in Shallop With Six Sick Men of Crew and Set Adrift.— Staafe Would Not Stay in Ship. — Shallop Sighted Once Then Seen no More. — Ship Reached Capes. — Attacked by Savages. — Prickett Escapes and Brings Hudson's Journal Safely Back to England, With Remnant of Crew. — Grief in England Over Hudson's Fate. — Two Ships Sent Out to Look for Him. — No Clue to His Fate Ever Found. — Widow Applies for Aid. — Discovery of Northwest Passage by Amundson. — Comparison of Hudson's Time With the Present xix

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. The Dutch Occupation

Return of Half Moon to Amsterdam. — Formation of West India Company. — Bring Sixty Families in First Ship. — Take Possession for the Netherlands. — Purchase of Manhattan Island. — Colonists Come Slowly. — Holland Free and Happy. — Our First Settler Arrives. — Purchases Tract of Land From Mohicans. — Death of Patentee. — Col. John Van Alen. — Death of Justus Van Hoesan and Wife. — First Cemetery. — Canoe Ferry to Loonenburg. — The Klauver-rachen. — Dutch Historians' Account of Rich Farm Lands. — Abundance of Fruit, Game and Fish. — Colonist Well to Do. — Came in Families, With House Furnishings and Domestics. — Killaen Van Rensselaer Patent and Domine Megapolensis. — Fort Orange. — Commandant Crull. — Church in the Fort. — Schools and Churches

CHAPTER II. The Dutch Occupation

First Census. — Slavery Under Dutch and English Rule. — Emancipation in This State. — Bounty for Killing Wild Animals. — Post Riders. — Inns Opened on Post Road. — Mail Coaches. — Hamlet Gathers. — County Formed. — County Seat at Claverack. — Removed to Hudson. — Revolutionary War. — Claverack Battalion Raised. — Dutch Patriots Furnish Officers and Men. — Capture of Capt. McKinstry. — Indians in Revolution. — Mohicans Loyal to Patriots. — Commended by Washington. — Consideration of Relations Between England and Holland. — Led to Her Surrender of American Colonies

CHAPTER III. Rule of the Proprietors

Nantucket Whaling Industries Ruined by British. — Jenkins Brothers Select "Claverack Landing." — Buy Land. — Build Houses. — Organize. — Minutes of Meetings. — Name Hudson Adopted. — Col. Van Alen Presents Land for Cemetery. — Death. — Monument Erected by City.... 16

CONTENTS XI

Page

Chapter IV

Division of Lots. — Dutch Obtained Good Prices. — Enterprise Draws Settlers of Good Class. — Friends Erect Meeting-house. — Description of Same. — Customs and Dress.— Rhyme of S. B. Miller.— First School.— Ship Building. — Large Tonnage. — Launching. — Industries Connected With Ship Building.— Rope Walk. — Sail Making. — Tanneries. — Brewery. — Wind Grist Mill on Prospect Hill 24

CHAPTER V. Pen Pictures of Proprietors

Preparations for Incorporation. — Minutes. — Petition Drafted. — Presented to Assembly. — Nothing Known of Government or Finances. — Dutch and English Dwelt in Harmony. — Social Life. — High Character of Founders. — Thomas Jenkins' Home. — Death. — Burial. — Seth Jenkins, First Mayor of City.— Seth Jenkins, Jr., Built 115 Warren Street. — Marriage. — Robert Jenkins, Third Mayor. — Built Chapter House. — Presented by Mrs. Hartley to D. A. R. — Cotton Gelston.— Squire Worth. — Capt. John Hathaway. — David Lawrence. — Alexander Coffin. — Ezekiel Gilbert, First Lawyer in City 31

CHAPTER VI. Incorporation

Boundaries of City. — Charter Arrives. — First Town Meeting. — City Officials. — Seth Jenkins Appointed Mayor by Governor. — Seal for City Purchased. — Gaol Erected. — Whipping-post and Stocks. — Gilbert's Residence. — City Ordinances. — Chimney Viewers. — Fire Wardens. — Fire Engines Purchased. — First Fire. — Account of Same. — Fires Frequent 39

CHAPTER VII. Whale and Seal Fisheries

Large Cargo of Sperm Oil. — Oil and Candle Works. — Visit of Talleyrand. — Seal Fishery. — Hudson Port of

Xii CONTENTS

Page

Entry. — Commerce Large. — Various Industries. — Traffic With South. — Causes of Decay of Commerce. — Revival of Whale Fisheries. — Captains Judah and Laban Paddock. — Captain Paddock's "Narrative" Condensed 46

Chapter VIII

Water Supply. — Inspector Appointed. — Town Pump. — Streets Graded. — Sewers Laid. — Columbia Turnpike Co.— Roads Built. — Night Watch Instituted. — Effigies on Signs Distasteful. — First Street Lamps Placed. — Various Ordinances. — Erection of City Hall. — Mayor's Court and Seal. — Change of Currency. — Contest for Capital 54

Chapter IX

Parade Hill.— Weight of Bread Fixed.— Post Office Established. — Post Riders Superseded. — First Mail Coaches. — First Newspaper. — Advertisements 62

CHAPTER X. Early Journalism

Mortality Among Infant Newspapers. — Balance. — Bee. — Wasp. — Democratic Club. — Federal Club. — Croswell's Trial for Libel.— Hamilton's Last Case. — Bishop Doane's Letter. — County Records. — Strange Sentence. — "Bee" Case. — Grandfather of President Roosevelt Interested in Case. — President's Note. — Removal of County Seat. — City Hall Re-modeled 70

CHAPTER XL

Scows Replace Canoes. — Horse Boat. — Steam Ferry Boat. — Sloops. — Sloop Owners. — Fare on Same. — Tourist's Account of Trip to New York. — Fulton's Clermont. — Curious Advertisements. — First Steamboats Owned Here 77

CHAPTER XII. Robert Fulton

Birth. — Early Life. — Paints Portraits. — Buys Home for His Mother. — Goes to London. — Meets West. — Studies Art

CONTENTS xili

Page and Engineering. — Visits Paris. — Invents "Plunger." — Visits Holland. — Experience With English. — Blows up Vessel and Returns to Paris. — Meets Chancellor Livingston. — Experiments on Seine. — Engine Ordered. — Builds Clermont. — Fulton's Report of Trip up Hudson. — New York Press Account. — Fulton's Death. — Mrs. Fulton's Re-marriage. — Death. — Burial in Claverack. — Old Ludlow House. — Relics of Fulton 82

Chapter XIII

Glimpses of City From Press. — List of Tax-payers. — First Charter Election. — First Bank. — Its Failure. — Jemmy Fraser's Fall. — Second Bank Chartered. — Its Failure. — Hudson River Bank Organized. — Farmers' Bank. — Savings Institution, and First National Chartered. — Masons Instituted. — St. John's Hall Built. — Burned and Rebuilt.— War of 1812, and Lieut. Beekman. — Lodges Instituted. — First Odd Fellows' Lodge. — Reception of Hon. John Jay 89"

CHAPTER XIV. Military Companies

First Celebration of Fourth of July. — Party Politics. — Death of Washington. — Gen. Scott Encamped Here. — Visit of West Point Cadets. — Gen. Lafayette. — Death of Lieut. Allen. — Obsequies. — Monument. — Major Gen. Worth. — His Honors. — Birthplace Admirably Restored.. 100'

Chapter XV

First Public Library. — Debating Societies. — Franklin Library Association. — Lectures. — Early Physicians. — Dr. Younglove. — Capture by British. — Dr. Mann. — Drowned. — Dr. Samuel White. — Formation of Medical Society. — Dr. S. Pomeroy White. — Last Meeting of Proprietors. — Noble Record. — Last Survivor, Capt. Coffin. — Post Office. — Postmasters. — Date of Money Order. — Free Delivery. — Site for New Post Office Purchased.... lit

XIV CONTENTS

Page CHAPTER XVI.

Churches.

First Meeting-house Erected for Friends. — Presbyterian Second. — Description of Church. — Purchased Present Site. — Reformed Church Organized. — Built. — Episcopal Church Built on Second St. — Present Property Acquired. — Inception of All Saints. — Baptist Church Organized. — Methodist and Universalist Follow. — Three Lutheran Churches. — St. Mary's Church and Academy. — Italian Society Build. — Two Hebrew Bodies. — Two Afro-American. — Clergy of City. — Y. M. C. A. Organized 118

CHAPTER XVII. Schools

Hudson Academy. — First Teachers. — Young Ladies' School. — Amasa J. Parker's Description. — Hudson Select Academy Called "Shad." — First House on Prospect Hill. — Prospect Avenue Improved. — Private Schools. — Lancaster School, Why So-called. — How Supported. — First Teacher. — African School. — Public Schools. — High School. — Corps of Teachers.— Number Enrolled. — Night School. — Hudson Responsive to Educational Progress in This Country 126

CHAPTER XVIII. The Hudson Bar

Brilliant Galaxy of Talent. — The Two Spencers. — Martin Van Buren. — Elisha Williams. — Ambrose L. Jordan. — Verbal Encounter Between Them 135

CHAPTER XIX. The Hudson Bar — Continued

Hudson Bar. — Anti-Rent War. — John W. Edmonds. — Early Life. — Presides at Trial of Anti-rent Leaders. — Particulars of Anti-rent War. — Grievances of Tenants. — Incendiary Meetings. — Arrest of Big Thunder and Little Thunder. — Great Excitement. — Threats of a Rescue. — Citizens Arm. — Troops Sent by Governor. — Trial Re-

CONTENTS XV

Page

suited in a Disagreement. — A Second Ended in Verdict of Conviction. — Judge Edmonds Presiding. — Tilt Between Counsel 143

CHAPTER XX. The Hudson Bar — Continued

Sketch of Theodore Miller. — Joseph D. Monell. — Edward P. Cowles. — Josiah Sutherland. — Henry Hogeboom. — Samuel Edwards. — Aaron V. S. Cochrane 150

CHAPTER XXI. Civil War

Court House. — Criminal Cases. — Remodeled City Hall. — Court House Succeeded. — City Purchased Present Site With Park. — Its Cost. — Larger Accommodation Required. — New Building Erected. — Burned. — Fourth Court House Nearly Completed. — First Trial for Murder. — Successive Trials. — Civil War. — 128 Regiment Col. Cowles. — "Camp, Kelly." — Fine Appearance as it Left for the Front. — Death of Col. Cowles.— Funeral. — Major Gifford's Death. — Heavy Losses in City and County. — Col. C. L. Best. — Honorable Career. — Lieut. Commander J. V. N. Philip. — A. & H. Association. — Fairs. — Cowles Guard Organized. — Its Career. — Company F. Drum Corp. — Fraternal Societies. — The Elks. — New Club House 156

Chapter XXII

City Hall Built. — Opening Ceremonies. — Bachelors' Ball. — A Social Leader. — City Officers Installed. — Franklin Library. — Lectures Continued. — Library Removed. — Installed in Chapter House. — Endowed by Mrs. Marcellus Hartley. — Hendrick Hudson Chapter D. A. R. Organized. — Active in Many Ways. — Fine Chapter House Gift of Mrs. Hartley. — Early Citizens. — Oliver Wiswall. — Judge Barnard. — Henry P. Skinner. — Lorenzo G. Guernsey 1 67

Chapter XXIII

The Press. — First Daily. — Merged in Daily Morning Republican. — Gazette Revived. — Evening Register Estabyi CONTENTS

Page

lished.— Woolen Mills. — Fulling Mill on Underbill's Pond. — Iron Companies. — Knitting Mills. — Later Industries. — Business Conservative. — Shops Improved. — Hudson & Berkshire Railroad. — Fire Department Re-organized 176

CHAPTER XXIV. Water Supply — Civic Improvement

Water Supply. — Vote Decided for River. — Works Finished. — Quality of Water Becomes Dangerous. — Gravity System Introduced. — Dissolution of Aqueduct Co. — ■ Also Columbia Turnpike Co., Both Venerable. — Lamps in Street Replaced by Gas and Electric Light. — Trolley Lines on Warren St. and to Albany.— Public Square Improved. — Pretty Park. — Promenade Hill Also. — Scenes Witnessed From the Latter. — Henry Hudson's Visit. — Passing of Clermont. — Wreck of the "Swallow " — Statue of St. Winifred Placed. — Civic Improvements 1 83

Chapter XXV

Medical Profession. — Charitable Institutions. — Dr. R. L. Frary. — Dr. A. P. and Dr. C. P. Cook. — Historians' Limits. — Dr. E. Simpson. — Dr. J. C. Benham. — Dr. J. P. Wheeler.— Dr. W. Pitcher.— Dr. H. L. Smith.— Dr. C. E. Fritts. — The Hudson Orphan Asylum. — Home for the Aged. — Hospital. — Volunteer Firemen's Home. — State Training School for Girls 194

CHAPTER XXVI. Distinguished Men

Hon. John S. Gould.— Dr. F. B. Power.— William A. Nash.— Valentine P. Snyder.— Henry A. Smith 203

Artists.

Henry Ary. — Arthur Parton. — Ernest Parton. — Sara Freeborn.— Sanford R. Gifford 209

Glimpses of Authors.

Charles Dickens. — Henry James. — G. W. Curtiss. — Bayard Taylor and Others 214

CONTENTS XV11

Page CHAPTER XXVII.

The Hudson Social Reading Club. — Its Object and Officers. — Sketch of S. B. Miller, Secretary. — Re-organized as "The Fortnightly" on Similar Lines. — Society in Former Years. — Its Simplicity.— Card Clubs. — Deltoton. — Country Club. — Hudson Club. — Musical Taste 216

Notables.

The Ashmead-Bartletts. — Ion Perdicaris. — Cyrus Curtiss. — Hudson's Attraction for Retired Men.— Richard I. Wells. — Doctor Oliver Bronson. — Frederick Fitch Folger. — Joel T. Simpson. — New Era Possibly About to Dawn. — Manufacturing Facilities. — "Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New." 219

INTRODUCTION.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Hudson.

In writing a history of the city of Hudson at this time it seems eminently fitting to include a biographical sketch of our celebrated namesake, Henry Hudson.

Although countless cities bearing his name are strewn over the land Thick as autumnal leaves in Vallombrosa,' not one, with the exception of Hudson, Ohio, which was founded by his descendants, possesses our peculiar right to it.

A careful perusal of Hudson's journal of the voyage of 1609, as preserved in that quaint old volume entitled "Purchas his Pilgrims," proves that he landed on this site, both on ascending and descending the river.

On his first visit he remained a whole day, and on his return was detained four days by contrary winds, while his good ship "Half Moon" swung at anchor off the shore.

"These," Hudson writes, "I spent both pleasantly and profitably surveying the country, finding good ground for corn and garden herbs, and goodly oaks and nut trees, and trees of sweet wood in great abundance."

He also describes his visit to the Mohicans here at great length. Then too the location of our city on the bank of Hudson's "River of the Mountains" that vies in beauty with the castled Rhine, and to which Hudson himself referred as his most notable discovery. All these considerations add a personal interest to the narrative of the great explorer.

Of Henry Hudson's origin and early history, but little

XX INTRODUCTORY

is known. He was born in England, and was a grandson of Henry Hudson who was an alderman of the city of London, and who with Sebastian Cabot established the Muscovy Company, which traded with Russia through the port of Archangel. Ivan the Terrible, the first of the Czars of Russia, who is referred to by Elizabethan writers as Ivan Vasilivitch, Duke of Muscovy, fostered this traffic and gave the name to the company.

The arms of the Hudson family were " argent semee of fleurs-de-lis gules, a cross engrailed sable." His tomb in the old parish church of St. Dunstan's in the East, bears this inscription:

Here lieth Henry Hudson's corps

Within this Tomb of Stone:

His soul (through faith in Christ's death)

To God in Heaven is gone.

While that he lived an Alderman

And skinner was his state;

To Vertue bare he all his love

To Vice bare he his hate.

He had to wife one Barbara

Which made this Tomb you see

By whom he had of issue store

Eight sonnes and daughters three.

\ There is every reason to believe that Henry Hudson was influenced by the traditions of his house, to look in the direction pointed out by Cabot, and after him by Davis, and Frobisher, for a short route through the polar seas, to the semi-fabulous empire of Cathay.

Hudson had a wealthy kinsman named Sir Christopher

Hudson, who owned a fleet of armed ships, but it seems

. certain that it was in the service of the Muscovy Company,

that he received that training and experience which

INTRODUCTORY XXi

served to develop his inherent qualities of coolness and courage, into the skillful and intrepid navigator.

His most cherished and intimate friend in London, was Captain John Smith, one of the founders of the colony of Virginia in 1607. Mention is made of Henry Hudson's wife and family, in his contract with the Dutch East India Company, wherein it was agreed that he should be paid three hundred and twenty dollars for his services and for the support of his wife and children. Further, that his widow v/as to receive eighty dollars additional, should the explorer be lost during the voyage.

As the few remaining documents, and these contracts even with his Dutch employers, are all signed "Henry Hudson, Englishman," there remains no possible reason for writing his name "Hendrik." As a matter of fact, Hudson's negotiations with the Dutch Company, were conducted with the aid of an interpreter, his ignorance of the language being as unfortunate as it was complete. Undoubtedly a large share of his later troubles with his Dutch sailors, arose from his inability to understand their language.

Hudson's elder son, John Hudson, accompanied him on all his later voyages, and finally perished with him. His second son named David was the ancestor of the Hudson family, who came to this country in the year 1800, and founded the town of Hudson in Ohio. This David Hudson, being the fifth of that name in direct descent from Henry Hudson. It is a pleasant thought that his descendants have been residents of our country for more than a century, and are neither English or Dutch, but citizens of the American Republic.

In 1607, the London Muscovy Company with a renewed desire to extend its search for a shorter passage to the East, offered Henry Hudson the command of their ship, his ability and bravery having been successfully tested and he himself always eager for new adventures.

Xxii INTRODUCTORY

"The wealth of the Indies" had passed into a proverb, and all the nations of Europe were restless and dissatisfied because of the delays and difficulties — says an early authority — in the way of obtaining it; the commerce of that region being slowly and laboriously brought to them, partly overland and then floated through the Mediterranean Sea. Hudson gladly accepted the commission and on the 19th of April, 1607, repaired with his crew of eleven men including his son John, to the church of Saint Ethelburga in Bishopsgate Street, and there received the sacrament, as was the custom of the time. In the good ship Hopewell on May first, he dropped down the Thames and headed north, as he says in his journal "for to discover by the North Pole a passage to China and Japan."

Suffice it to say, that this voyage and also a second, undertaken for the same purpose in the following year were unsuccessful, and the London Company becoming disheartened, Hudson passed over to Holland, and offered his services to the Dutch East India Company. His fame as a bold and skillful navigator had preceded him, and he was speedily engaged for the same object "to discover if possible a shorter route to the East, and thus increase their facilities for trade." The quaint little "Half Moon," a vessel of only about 80 tons burden was soon equipped, and manned with a crew of twenty English and Dutch sailors, of whom Robert Juet was Masters Mate

On the 25th of March, 1609, Hudson set sail from Amsterdam and in a little over a month doubled the North Cape, and a short time afterward reached the coast of Nova Zembla. Here he encountered powerful head winds, huge icebergs and dense fog, as in his former voyages, and finding it impossible to proceed farther north he determined to sail westerly, and perhaps add to the vast discoveries of which he had heard from his friend Captain John Smith. Hudson had also obtained some

INTRODUCTORY XX11I

maps from him, on one of which was marked a strait south of Virginia offering a passage to the Pacific Ocean or "Great South Sea," as it was called, and he hoped by this means to reach the East Indies.

So retracing his course he soon doubled the North Cape again and by the last of May arrived at one of the Faroe Islands. From thence he sailed for Newfoundland, but being driven about by fierce tempests in one of which his fore-mast was swept away, it was not until early in July that he succeeded in reaching it "and saw a great fleet of French fishing boats off the banks." "Being becalmed he sent his crew to try their luck and they were very successful, taking in one day 130 codfish."

The wind springing up they set sail, cleared the banks, passed the shore of Nova Scotia and on the morning of July 12th had their first glimpse of North America. The fog now became so thick they were afraid to approach the land, but on the 18th the weather cleared and they ran into "a goodly harbor." This was Penobscot Bay, on the coast of Maine.

Hudson here for the first time came in contact with the natives of the country, two boats coming off to him containing six Indians "who seemed very glad at their coming." He gave them some trifling presents and "they ate and drank with him." One of them could speak a little French, and Hudson learned "that there were gold and silver and copper mines near by, and that the French people were in the habit of trading with them."

Hudson remained here several days, mending sails and re-setting a new fore-mast, while some of the crew filled the water-casks and others amused themselves catching lobsters. The Indians meanwhile came on board in great numbers "seeming not at all afraid of Hudson's men while the crew viewed them with suspicion."

On the day before leaving, one of those acts of cruelty

XXIV INTRODUCTORY

was perpetrated by Hudson's men, which serve to explain if not to justify the "Indian atrocities" of later times. Two French shallops filled with Indians came to the ship bringing beaver skins and fine furs which they wished to trade for articles of dress or knives, hatchets and trinkets. The men "noting where the shallops were laid manned a boat with six of the crew armed with muskets, took one of them and brought it on board." This was base enough but not satisfied with this, "they landed a boat load of armed men, drove the Indians from their houses and took the spoil of them." The Indians had shown them only the greatest kindness and good will, and such conduct can only be accounted for on the ground that Hudson could not control his crew, although he was reputed to be a strict disciplinarian.

It is recorded that "they had many quarrels with the natives, and were a wild ungovernable set of men." In the light of the tragic events of the following winter, when Hudson himself fell a victim to their treacherous malignancy, we can readily believe that a spirit of insubordination incited by the unscrupulous first mate Robert Juet, had even then undermined his authority.

Hudson finally set sail on July 26th, steering southward along the coast and sighting Cape Cod. Here the men on landing found "goodly grapes and rose-trees which they brought to the ship," also, "Indians who were great smokers and had an abundance of green tobacco, and pipes, the bowls of which were made of earth and the stems of red copper."

Proceeding, Hudson passed Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, and on August 18th arrived at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay. Here he was near the mouth of "Kings River," as the James was then called, on which the first English settlement had been made two years before, and named Jamestown. Hudson would have been delighted to pass up this river and visit his countrymen, and es-

INTRODUCTORY XXV

pecially his friend Captain John Smith in the wilds of America, but the wind was blowing a gale, so he passed on. After sailing south until he reached the thirty-fifth degree of latitude he changed his course to the north, having become convinced that there was no passage into the Pacific Ocean, and being desirous of making some discovery which might prove profitable to his employers. On the 28th of August, after passing the shores of Maryland, Hudson discovered a great bay now known as Delaware Bay. "He examined here the currents and took soundings but did not land." For nearly a week he now sailed northward "passing along a low marshy coast, skirted with broken islands, and on the 2nd of September he spied the highlands of Neversink." The sight pleased him greatly for he says, "it is a good land to fall in with, and a very pleasant land to see." On the morning of the 3rd the weather was dark and misty, but "Hudson having passed Long Branch sent his boat up to sound, and receiving a favorable report, in the afternoon, brought the 'Half Moon' within Sandy Hook." The next morning seeing that "there was good anchorage and a safe harbor" he passed farther up, and anchored within Sandy Hook Bay. Having observed great quantities of "salmon, mullet and rays in the water" he now sent his men ashore with a net. It is said they first landed on- Coney Island, and found "plum trees loaded with fruit and embowered in grape-vines, while snipe and other birds were floating on the water." The fishing proved excellent, for they took "ten mullets a foot and a half long apiece, and a ray as great as four men could haul into the ship." While lying at anchor Indians from the Jersey shore came on board and "seemed greatly delighted to see their new visitors." "They were dressed in deer skins well cured, and had copper ornaments and pipes. They had an abundance of food, their land yielding a fine harvest of maize, or Indian corn, from which they

XXVI INTRODUCTORY

made very good bread." "But they brought with them green tobacco which they wished to exchange for beads, knives and trinkets."

During the night a gale sprang up and the ship was driven ashore but fortunately without injury, being floated off at high tide the next morning. Hudson then sent a boat to sound the bay and soon the shores were lined with natives, men, women and children being drawn thither by curiosity. The men immediately landed and were treated with great kindness. Some of these Indians were more richly dressed than any they had seen, "wearing mantles made of fine fur or feathers and ornaments of copper around their necks."

Hudson now sent out five men who passed through the Narrows making soundings as they went, and discovered the hills between Staten Island and Bergen Neck, "which were covered with grass, trees and flowers, the fragrance of which was delightful." On their return to the ship at dusk they were attacked by two canoes full of Indians. It was raining hard and they could only trust to their oars to make their escape. Unfortunately one of the men, John Coleman, who had been with Hudson on his first hard voyages, was killed by an arrow, and two others were slightly wounded. It was now very dark and they lost their way, wandering to and fro all -night, but the next morning they returned to the ship bringing the body of Coleman. Hudson ordered it to be taken ashore and buried at Sandy Hook, and in memory of the poor fellow who had met so sad a fate he called the place, Coleman's Point.

Hudson now prepared for an attack but nothing further came of it, the Indians indeed seeming to be entirely ignorant of any trouble, and after a week spent in exploration south of the Narrows, he passed through them into the Bay of New York, and "finding it an excellent harbor for all winds," cast anchor.

INTRODUCTORY XXVll

We left the brave Explorer resting quietly upon the ■waters of New York Bay unconscious that he would win undying fame on the morrow by the discovery of the most beautiful river of the New World. His ship was lying off the entrance to that river and he was filled with wonder and delight as he watched its majestic waters rolling down to the sea. He thought too of the probability that this great body of water coming from the far north, might prove the long sought passage, to the gems and spices of the East Indies.