Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild

Prince Maurice

New Netherland 1621-1644, Immigrants to New Netherland 1656 in the Prince Maurice.

Columns represent: Name, Sex, Occupation, Country to which they severally belong, Country of which they intend to become inhabitants,

 1* Jacob Alrichs            M  Director                 Holland       America
 2  Alexander D'Hinoyossa    M  Lieutenant               Holland       America
 3* Evert Pietersen          M  Comforter of the sick    Holland       America
 4* Gerrit van Schweringen   M  Supercargo               Holland       America
 5  Jan Barents (Barentsen)  M  Chief boatswain          Holland       America
 6  Jan Gerritsen            M  Sailor                   Holland       America
 7  Joost Theunissen         M  Sailor                   Holland       America
 8  Direk Cornelissen Haen   M  Mate                     Holland       America
 9  Peter Cornelissen Mol    M  Carpenter                Holland       America
10  Martin Kreiger           M  Captain                  Holland       America


Transcriber's Notes:

* An asterisk indicates an error on the part of the original recorder, not
  the transcriber, or is used to call your attention to additional information
  in the transcriber's notes.

 1. Reports- "We proceeded with them on the proposed voyage, and after some storm and other
    obstacles, reached the vicinity of the Manhattans.  Through ignorance of the skipper and
    pilot who were never on this coast, having neared the shore in the evening, she immediately
    grounded, and so shoved, which continued after wards harder and harder, that we were not
    for a moment, sure of our lives, and seeing no escape in the morning, we unanimously
    resolved to save ourselves on a broken coast, which we, some days after, understood to be
    Long Island, An agreement was made with the skipper of the Beaver to charter the passengers
    to the Colony on the South River. The Beaver set sail from New Amsterdam in April 16 to the
    South River, arriving at New Amstel, April 25th, with about 125 persons for the Colony from
    the ship Prince Maurice, including 50 persons who arrived on other ships.  Thirty-eight
    soldiers, with the (Captain Martin Kreiger of New Amsterdam (Reference: Commissioned
    December 5, 1656; History of the State of New York, James Romeyn Brodhead 1853 Vol 1,
    pg 631) and Lieutenant marched overland because there was no room in the Beaver to allow of
    their coming by water.  The ship experiencing contrary wind, the soldiers, on that account,
    started somewhat later from the Manhattans, and therefore arrived at the fort six days
    later than me.
 3. Died before Oct 10, 1661 (reference- Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the
    State of New York E.B. O'Callaghan, Albany Weed Parsons and Co., 1858,
    Holland Documents II, p 181
 4. Gerrit van Schweringen,(Garret Van Swearingen) Founder of the family in America was born in
    Beemsterdam, Holland, in 1631,  (The Beemster is a “poldler”, or newly reclaimed land, just
    to the North of Amsterdam, Prior to the 17th century this was one of the many lakes caused
    by inroads of the sea.—The Baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Beemster goes
    back to the year 1624, and the marriage Records to 1622.  The Originals of these records
    are kept in the Archives of the Kingdom. (Algemoon Ryks Archief) for North Holland at
    Haarlon. He was a younger son belonging to the Nobility from an old Bavarian family and
    received a liberal education. (Ref. Colonial Families of U.S.A., by Mackinzie, Vol 7, p220)
    When a young man, he performed responsibilities in the Maritime Service of the Dutch West
    India Company.  In 1656 when the Company fitted out the ship "Prince Maurice" with supplies
    and immigrants for the Dutch Colony on the Delaware River in America, he was appointed in
    charge of the cargo.  The vessel sailed from the port of Amsterdam December 21, 1656 for
    New Amsterdam, New York.  On March 8, 1657, his ship was wrecked off Fire Island, near the
    south coast of Long Island, and a few days later went to pieces.  The next day, in freezing
    weather, the passengers and crew made their way in a frail boat to the barren shore where
    they remained several days without fire.  On the third day an Indian took word to Governor
    Stuyvessant of New Amsterdam and he came with a sloop and took them away.  Another ship was
    chartered, and with some of the cargo that was saved, they sailed on April 16 for their
    destination.  On April 25, 1657 he took possession of the fort of New Castle.  In 1659 he
    was Commissary General and member of the council at New Amstel (Ref. Archives of Maryland,
    Vol. 5 p 414).  In 1661 he was Commissioner to Holland from New Amstel.  He asked to be
    relieved of his services to the Company, and was permitted to resign.  He settled in New
    Amstel, now New Castle, Delaware.  Here in 1659 he married Barbara de Barrett, born at
    Valenciennes, France (low country belonging to the King of Spayne) of  Norman French
    lineage.  In 1660 he went to Holland, taking his wife with him.  He was there a year and a
    half in behalf of the Colony.  Two of his children were born in New Amstel: Elizabeth and
    Zechariahs.  In April 1669, he, his wife and two children were naturalized by a special act
    of the Assembly, held at St. Marys.  Ownership of land was restricted to British subjects.
    He was a large land owner and Alderman of the city.  Some years after going to Maryland,
    he made out a statement written in English, concerning the Settlement of the Dutch in
    Delaware.  This was sworn to after being made out on May 12 1684 at the Council at Matamy
    Sewall in the Province of Maryland.  It was said that he seemed to know everyone of any
    importance in the Maryland Province and in New Amsterdam. 

From James Town and St. Mary’s by Henry Chandler Forman
"Leading from the Statehouse of 1676 diagonally back across the Governor's Field was
 Aldermanbery Street, laid out in 1672.  Along which lived certain Alderman of the town. On
 five one-acre tracts, granted to five St. Mary's gentlemen.  In order along the road, the
 tracts were arranged as follows; the lot of Thomas Dent 1673 and the lots of Thomas Notley,
 Philip Calvert, William Calvert, Garrett Van Sweringen 1672.  
"Not the least interesting of these worthies was Mon.' Garrett Van Sweringen, or Van Sweringen,
 who hailed from "Rennsterdam" in Holland and who came from New Amstel (Delaware) to Maryland. 
 It is said that when his colony on the Delaware River surrendered to the English, he publicly
 broke his sword across his knee.  The influence of this man on St. Mary's was considerable,
 and he had many descendants.  He was an original Alderman of the town, and kept (1671) an
 ordinary in his city house by license from the Secretary.  This tavern must have been on Van
 Sweringen's acre on Aldermanbery Street; and here he must have accommodated the Jurymen of the
 city, for whose lodging he received payments from the Province.  In 1685, the one acre and
 house belonging to Van Sweringen were given by will of Mark Cordea to Mark's son-in-law, Mr.
 James Cullen.
"But this was not the only acre the Dutchman possessed within the city.  The fifty acres of
 Van Sweringen's Point (1671) formed a little country estate down on St. Inigoe's Creek, where
 he is supposed to have had a domicile, and which Robert Ridgely only ten years later (1681)
 left by will to his wife Martha.  The Dutchman also owned (1672) the Smith's Town House, the
 First State House, the site of which we have already visited.  Here he kept a tavern, and,
 after its disastrous fire of 1677 or 1678, he rebuilt it with brick.  In this historic mansion
 one can imagine this man from Beemsterdam, the picture of conviviality, bringing forth the
 punch bowls among such characters as Frans Hals would have loved to paint.  When the "Mon."
 Van Sweringen died in 1698, as both St. Mary's and the century were beginning to come to an
 end, he left his dwelling-house, --presumably the rejuvenated Smith's Town House, -- and also
 'ye Council Rooms and Coffee House, --and land thereunto belonging,'--probably the Secretary's
 office with its Council Chamber, not far from the Smith's Town House.
"Thus did the Dutchman keep taverns in the town.  On occasion he turned carpenter and made for
 the settlement a whipping post and stocks and a chest in which to secure the Provincial
 records."
 He was appointed High Sheriff in 1686-87.  In March he was appointed a member of the Council. 
 Also, in 1694. (Ref. Colonial Families of U.S.A., Rodes, Vol 7, page 220).
 Garret Van Swearingen's first wife, Barbara deBarrette, died about 1670 in the faith of the
 English Church.  He married his second wife, Mary Smith, of St. Marys--the ante-nuptial
 marriage settlement being executed October 5, 1676.  He died soon after 1698, in the faith of
 the English Church.  His will was drawn October 26, 1697, and probated February 4, 1698. (Van
 Sweringen's will is in Lib. 6, Fol 210) He had three children by his first wife: Elizabeth,
 Zacharias, and Thomas (first two born in Delaware), and six children by Mary:  Joseph,
 Theresa, Dorothy, and another daughter, who married a Bladen.Charles, Eleanor, married a
 Carrol.

Compiled from: Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York,
E. B. O’Callaghan, Albany Weed Parsons, and Co., 1858 Holland Documents II, p 8-10, 179-181.

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