Salt People

of the

Cloud Houses

the Story oF

Sarah rapalje

anD Dutch Manhattan

a hiStorical Fiction

Fawn Brokaw Doyle

Salt People of the Cloud Houses for my family

Copyright © 2024 by Fawn Brokaw Doyle

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This book is a work of historical fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For more information on the history, genealogy, or to learn which elements in this book were based on records, please visit the website:

http://www.spotch.com

Book and Cover design by BRAWN DESIGN

ISBN: 123456789

Beta Reader Edition: June 2024

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Preface

The following account is a work of fiction strung together by historical personal records (marriages, baptisms, court cases, testimonies, etc) joined with the broader historical context. The friendships, alliances, and emotions are speculative based on proximity, intermarriage of families, employment, sponsors from baptismal records, and contemporaneous accounts. I happened to find these intertwined records because many of the main characters are my ancestors, including Sarah Rapalje, my eighth great-grandmother. There's a great deal to connect and yet much left to the imagination to make a narrative.

Considering it's been around 400 years since the beginning of the relatively short-lived Dutch Manhattan, it's remarkable echoes remain present in the United States today. It's even more surprising the history is not as widely known as the Pilgrims in American founding mythology, because it reflects more in spirit of what our nation, and especially New York City, became. The Dutch colony paved the way for tolerance of different cultures and religions (in pursuit of capitalist interests), gender inclusive rights for business and property, the first bold pushes for representative democracy, the position of district attorney in our legal system, and also Santa Claus, waffles, doughnuts, cookies, coleslaw, and

"pumpkin spice."

Anne Hutchinson

'T LA NGE EYLAN

L O N G

D

I S L

T

A N D

Claes SwitÕs Tavern

HansÕ

Corlaers Hoeck

Land

BOSWIJCK

BUSHWICK

WA

W ALE-

AALE-

BOCHT

BOCHT

JorisÕ

FE

Land

RRY

FERRY

Smits Vly

BREUCKELEN

BROOKLYN

N

E

W

S

CONTENTS

PART 1: NECESSITY

CHAPTER

1

1

1625 - 1626

CHAPTER

2

7

1628

CHAPTER

3

15

1633

CHAPTER

4

24

1636

CHAPTER

5

30

1637

CHAPTER

6

37

1638

CHAPTER

7

42

1639

CHAPTER

8

54

1640

CHAPTER

9

64

1641 - 1642

CHAPTER

10

72

1641 - 1642

PART 2: SAFETY

CHAPTER

11

84

1643

CHAPTER

12

91

1643

CHAPTER

13

99

CHAPTER

28

219

1643

1663

CHAPTER

14

106

1644

PART 4: RESPECT

CHAPTER

15

112

CHAPTER

29

230

1644 - 1645

1664

CHAPTER

16

122

CHAPTER

30

236

1646

1664

CHAPTER

17

128

CHAPTER

31

245

1646 - 1647

1665 - 1666

CHAPTER

18

135

CHAPTER

32

254

1648

1665 - 1666

CHAPTER

19

139

CHAPTER

33

258

1649 - 1652

1667 - 1668

CHAPTER

20

148

CHAPTER

34

265

1653

1671 - 1674

PART 3: BONDS

CHAPTER

35

273

1675 - 1685

CHAPTER

21

156

1654

AFTERWARD

280

CHAPTER

22

167

1654

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS    282

CHAPTER

23

176

1655 - 1658

GLOSSARY

283

CHAPTER

24

185

1655 - 1658

REFERENCES

284

CHAPTER

25

192

1659 - 1661

CHAPTER

26

202

1661 - 1662

CHAPTER

27

211

1663

Is he native to this realm? No, PART ONE

his wide nature grew out of both worlds.

They more adeptly bend the willow’s branches 1624 - 1642

who have experience of the willow’s roots.

NECESSITY

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

Sonnets to Orpheus

Part 1 , Number 6

CHAPTER 1

1625 - 1626

Sarah entered the world with a rush of blood in a bark hut during a moonlit night. Her hearty wale supplanted her mother's and notified twelve other Walloon families, several Dutch fur traders, and the Mahican village across the river of her arrival.

In the past year, since their arrival, their colony dwindled from illness and repatriation. For once, another soul was added to their numbers with Sarah Jorise Rapalje. Her cries lifted their hearts. The new life kindled hope that their colony would survive.

Her parents, Catalyna and Joris, cradled their first baby, the first baby born in New Netherland. They couldn't speak but mirrored awe and joy on their faces in the dim, precious candlelight. They were impulsive teenagers when they'd married four days before their ship departed Amsterdam; besotted, wide-eyed adventurers, with nothing to lose.

Catalyna, in poignant clarity at the portal of life and death, suddenly realized  Now we have something to lose.

_____________________

"Come, entreat with us," Commander van Crieckenbeeck SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   1

instructed Joris. "Your wife and baby too."

He traded many pelts with the settlers. After their hunt, he Catalyna wrapped Sarah in woolen duffel cloth and followed presented Joris with a bearskin as a token of their friendship. Joris Joris to the center of their palisaded settlement of Fort Orange.

gave him duffel cloth in return.

They met with the Muhhekunneuw, called Maikans or Mahicans Joris wrapped the thick, warm bearskin around himself, by the Dutch and English. Their village of round wigwams Catalyna, and Sarah, embracing the powerful, protective spirit of neighbored to the east. Women and children attended from the animal.

both sides to show friendliness in trade meetings. Commander Winter settled in after Michaelmas and the bearskin proved Beeck, as they called him, motioned for Catalyna to meet  sachem more than a luxury. The snow piled waist deep one month after Monamin and show off the firstling child of their settlement. Sarah the end of the harvest. It stayed so cold that the snow never melted was placid and wide eyed until she suddenly sneezed. Monamin until spring, only heaping more as the months drew protracted smiled and handed Catalyna a thick beaver pelt to wrap Sarah in.

and bitter.

" Wunneet." Catalyna told him  it is good,  a phrase she learned Illness swept through the camp and took the most vulnerable from what the fur traders said when they received fine pelts.

in fits of coughing and fevers. Catalyna struggled through the Catalyna withdrew to the kindly Mahican grandmother, snow to distribute a tea made with goldenseal, horehound, Nkik, whom she already knew. Sarah fascinated squaw and mullein, and valerian. Some recoiled at the bitterness and refused warrior alike with her exotic tufts of white-blond hair and pale more. Several people died from the illness. Two more babies were eyes that changed color as the clouds passed overhead.

born but only one survived.

The matron gave Catalyna a pouch of raspberry leaf tea and In the spring, more families returned to the Netherlands. The fatty beaver tail, to strengthen her and her milk, and a cradleboard.

Rapalje family, along with the families Montfort, du Trieux, and Structured with willow boughs and deerhide, it would allow Vigne persisted.

Catalyna to work in the fields with Sarah strapped to her back.

_____________________

_____________________

"The godless  wilden have murdered Commander Beeck! They That fall, the bounty of the land bestowed them with a stocked are roasting and eating Tymen Bowensen!" Adrienne Cuvelier, wife storehouse. The native crops of corn, pumpkins, and beans did of Guillem Vigne, cried out through their settlement. Although best but they also grew wheat, rye, oats, and barley. They gathered she was a French-speaking Walloon, her use of the Dutch word nuts from hickory, chestnut, and walnut trees. Catalyna shared for savages dripped with venomous contempt. Catalyna ventured with Nkik, trading with her their respective medicinal herbs.

from her dugout home to quiet her.

The Company sent Joris west to accompany Dutch traders to

"Calm yourself. Beeck tried to ambush the Mohawk with a Mohawk village. In contrast to the Mahicans, who were warm, the Mahicans. Do you not see? He disobeyed Company orders.

welcoming, and gentle, the Mohawks had an inherent bravado His death was provoked by his own actions." Catalyna meant to as fierce warriors. Once they made a trade agreement with the reassure her they were in no danger if they didn't seek it.

Mohawks, they also became friendly suppliers of pelts. Joris The Mahicans and Mohawks were at war. The Company trapped and hunted with them, eager to learn.

instructed the New Netherlanders to stay neutral and to treat A warrior named Desagondensta became friendly with Joris.

each tribe with honesty, faithfulness and sincerity and to respect 2   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   3

their land claims.

She was drawn to the brass spyglass, hung at his waist. Catalyna

"You and your husband are far too friendly with the  wilden,"

gave Sarah her teething toy to distract her.

Adrienne huffed and eyed her with suspicion.

"You give her a stick to chew?" Minuit asked.

"Better to be friends than enemies," Catalyna replied.

"She is hungry and she is teething. The willow is good for _____________________

pain relief," Catalyna told Minuit. "Help me grind the corn, if you please."

In early spring Catalyna returned from the fields with eleven She indicated to the quern as she stoked the coals from their month old Sarah strapped in the cradleboard. Sarah was crying fire from that morning. She mixed the ground cornmeal with with hunger. As Catalyna neared their dugout, she saw three pearlash and water, rolled it rounds balls, and placed them in their Company men leaving her home. They chewed her cornmeal cast iron Dutch oven and surrounded it with coals. As it cooked, biscuits meant for Sarah, their last morsel of prepared food.

he told her more about where and when they'd resettle.

"Robbers! Thieves!" Catalyna drew a knife from a sheath at

"Did you notice coming up the river where it forked to her hip, walking toward them.

the east? That island between the two rivers is Manhattan. It's Their apparent leader stepped forward, shocked at her brazen opportune for defense and will be a convenient port for trade.

confrontation. He removed his hat and bowed his head to her.

It has the most perfect natural harbor I've ever seen. I made an

"Madame, I am Piere Minuit, Director General of New agreement with the Manahatta Lenape Natives that we will live Netherland. Director Verhulst was declared incompetent."

there peacefully. You can leave with us or wait until after the Catalyna did not withdraw her knife and Sarah kept on with harvest this fall. By then we should have lodging set up for you her hungry wailing.

inside the fort. Proper houses will be built, after the sawmill and

"We just arrived. There was no one else about your village gristmill are completed."

to ask for food so we helped ourselves. We are here to inform all

"What if we refuse to leave? You must realize the great toil we settlers to concentrate our population to the isle of the Manahatta.

undertook to establish Fort Orange," Catalyna said.

In repayment for the biscuits, you shall have a milk cow and land

"You will be alone among a few fur traders. And you will not for it to graze. The cow is already there."

receive your cow," Minuit answered. "Manhattan will develop Sarah still fussed while Catalyna considered his words. He and grow while this fort will remain with far less comforts spoke in the same French dialect as her.

of civilization. Your new home could be made of brick and

"A cow downriver does not help me right now," Catalyna clapboards instead of bark."

reasoned. "Are you a Walloon?"

Catalyna listened to Minuit's plans. She became charmed by

"Yes, though I was raised in Germany. Can I help you prepare his description of Manhattan, despite her instinct to dig in her more food?"

heels. Minuit had tenacity and a clear vision.

Catalyna consented and sheathed her knife, realizing she By the time Joris came home, Minuit departed to speak with was threatening not only their new head authority but a fellow the other Fort Orange settlers. She told Joris of the plan to relocate Walloon. She invited him into her home.

to Manhattan and that they should pack their trunk.

Catalyna set down Sarah and released her from the

"All the land cleared and planted, all the work making this cradleboard. She crawled straight to their guest to inspect him.

dugout hut a home—is it all for naught?" Joris asked Catalyna.

4   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   5

"They will help us rebuild a better home. Minuit promised Manhattan will become a bustling center for trade. We aren't strangers to starting over," Catalyna said. "Plus we'll have a cow and land for grazing."

She very much wanted that cow and more neighbors.

CHAPTER 2

1628

Sarah ran naked to the tidal pools in the bay, her flaxen curls bouncing with her as her deft, tiny feet dodged broken clam shells. At the tender age of three, she already learned the hard way to avoid them or suffer a cut foot. She also knew taking off her dress before she planned to get wet and muddy was preferable to her mother.

Joris stood with two taut-muscled men in deerhide breechclouts, adorned with necklaces made of shell beads, dyed deer fur, and feathers that conveyed their authority. He brought his daughter to charm the Lenape  sachems Kakapeteyns and Pewichaas in his attempt to broker a land deal.

Joris turned to the men. They betrayed no expression for a moment, until they looked at one another and smiled. His plan worked. Sarah charmed them as she had with the Mahicans. Their stoic posture softened and the door to negotiations opened.

"I see good land for crops here. My daughter sees good beach for play," Joris told them in Algonquin. He learned some of the Algonquin language from the Mahicans. By good fortune, the Munsee dialect that the Lenape spoke was a branch of Algonquin.

6   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   7

The   sachems nodded and accepted his offering of duffel cloth Joris nodded. The man held out his hand to Sarah and his bolts, two knives, and a belt of shell beads.

daughter took her other hand as they wadded into the deep water They agreed upon a tract encompassing one hundred and of the pool.

sixty  morgens, around 300 acres of land, called Remegakonck, for Joris sat and Kakapeteyns and Pewichaas joined him, sharing the  kill or stream that flowed through it. They allowed him to a tobacco pipe. They observed as Wunita and his daughter taught farm, build a home, and have a friendly trade relationship. Joris Sarah to float on her back.

understood their people would continue to seasonally hunt and In the time it took for three men to exhaust a tobacco pouch, fish on their ancestral land. The agreement was reciprocal and Sarah floated on her own, and the tide was almost high.

not irrevocable. The Company policy was that land needed to be Despite her protests, Joris wrestled Sarah back into her actively improved upon and after ten years he needed to pay taxes discarded chemise and into their canoe to return home.

in crop tithes.

"Tell them ' Wa-ni-shi, '" Joris whispered to Sarah before they The three men traced out his territory, walking up the  kill departed. She repeated the phrase, which meant  May the path be toward the woods but urgent shouting from the shore interrupted good to you, given as thanks for a kindness or service.

them. Joris realized he left Sarah unattended at the tide pools, It took them about an hour to cross the river back home, although there were other Natives fishing nearby in the  kill. He straight across, then hugging the shoreline so the current didn't sprinted back to the shore.

carry them away.

Sarah laid on her side next to a pool. A Native man crouched Their settlement, New Amsterdam, was planted on the over her.

southern tip of the island Manhattan. The lower part of the island

"Sarah!" Joris screamed. The man stood and put his hands up consisted of rolling wooded hills dotted with grassy valleys. The to his chest, palms facing outward.

island was inhabited by bears, wolves, mountain lions, lynxes, Sarah rolled over, coughed, and sat up.

foxes, deer, minks, muskrats, fishers, wolverines, porcupines,

"She slipped on eel grass and went underwater," the man told skunks, and a plethora of small forest creatures. The most Joris in a calm voice.

important animal was the beaver. Beaver pelts were the driving

"I'm all right," Sarah said, getting up and moving tentatively force of the Dutch colony's economy and existence. Castor hats back toward the pool. Joris pulled her back and embraced her as made from beaver felt were in high demand in Europe.

he took in what happened and his pulse slowed.

The Rapalje home sat on the southernmost tip of the island,

"Sarah, you need to be careful!" Joris scolded her in French.

next to the pebbled strand where Natives docked their canoes to

"The girl should learn the water," The man said in Munsee.

trade in the summer months. Their home was on the north side of His tone was soft, not reproachful. He was in his early twenties, a cow-path called Pearl Straat. The street name derived from the about the same age as Joris. He did not wear ornamentation like vast amount of shells accumulated and discarded by Natives long the  sachems.

before their arrival.

"Wunita," He said with his hand on his chest. "My daughter, Their home consisted of two brick walls at the front and back, Weenjipahkihelexkwe." He gestured to a girl a few years older with crow-stepped gable. A carved wooden wheel and sword of than Sarah. Joris hadn't noticed her until now. She was as naked Saint Catherine hung above the lintel. The side walls were daub as Sarah.

and wattle with clapboard siding. They entered and continued 8   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   9

through to the back, where their property opened into a long, swimming today."

narrow orchard and kitchen garden until it abutted one of the _____________________

four masonry bastions of the earthwork-walled Fort Amsterdam.

Her mother, and Sarah's one-year-old sister, Maria, reposed Sarah ran down the dusty path to the Du Trieux home, one on a blanket under the shade of an apple tree. Catalyna laid on of about thirty that comprised the settlement. She cut through her side, eyes closed, one arm under her head and the other rested to their orchard. Sarina sat with her mother, her older sister and on her pregnant belly.

brother in the shade of their trees, just like her family.

" Ma chérie, I made a deal for the land." Joris stood proud,

"Sarina, come play!" Sarah called to her.

arms akimbo, towering above Catalyna. She opened her eyes,

"No,  désolée, she does better to rest in the heat of the day,"

smiled, and shushed him not to wake Maria.

Susannah, Sarina's mother, answered for her. She held her

" Maman, I went swimming!" Sarah gushed, disregarding her newborn, also named Susannah.

mother's command to be quiet. Somehow Maria kept sleeping Sarina almost rose but then rested back again. Her bright while Catalyna reprimanded Sarah with a squint of her eyes and blue eyes looked at Sarah longing to follow. She was only three brow, tapping her index finger to her lips. Neither Sarah or Joris months younger than Sarah but she was much smaller, porcelain-told the part about her almost drowning.

skinned, delicate featured, and knobby-kneed. Her given name

"At least you kept your chemise clean," Catalyna whispered was also Sarah, a popular Old Testament name with the Walloons.

to Sarah. Turning to Joris she said, "I got the trapper's debt settled.

Everyone called her Sarina, little Sarah, because she was the I showed Director Minuit my account book and he advanced us younger and smaller of the two.

the trapper's due."

Sarah turned to go. She didn't want to sit under the trees.

They ran a tavern out of their home, known as Cat's Wheel.

She decided to go down to the waterfront by their house. She ran Joris brewed beer and entertained the guests, mostly fur trappers, past the grist-mill, run by horsepower. It's second story served as sailors, and merchants. Catalyna made their guests' meals and the religious assembly-hall of the new Domine Jonas Michaelius.

kept the accounts. They wanted the additional farmland across Sarah shivered, despite the heat, at the thought of the dour the river to supply food for their tavern guests, whose numbers Domine. Sarah didn't fully comprehend his Dutch sermons but grew with the fur trade.

she understood the severity in his eyes.

"Sounds like we all had a fruitful day and can enjoy some Sarah arrived at the strand and looked out at the sea lions rest," Joris said, sitting down beside Catalyna. He took off his hat barking and sunning themselves on a smaller island in the bay. A and wiped the sweat from his forehead, pushing back his shaggy, flock of monstrous pelicans bobbed mid-distance to the sea lion sandy-brown hair. He kissed Catalyna and laid down, resting one island. She heard a meow and found their cat Perle had followed hand next to hers on her belly.

her. She reached to pet Perle but the tan cat swished past her,

"I want to play with Sarina." Sarah declared.

skeptical of the rough affection from the child.

"All right, but don't be gone long. You can help make our She let the waves of the river lick her toes. She tested for the evening meal soon," Catalyna murmured with her eyes closed.

stones' slickness, wary of a tumble into deep water again. The

"And look out for Maybelle, shoo her home if you see her."

water felt much colder here than the tidal pools.

"Sarah," Joris said, giving her a stern look. "No more She switched her attention to scanning the pebbled shoreline 10   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   11

for anything interesting among the flotsam. A sun dried fish Sarah as she listened to Joris' footsteps crunching in the snow, carcass caught her attention. She tried to poke it through the eye toward the dugout, bark-clad hut they called the root cellar. It had with a stick. At last she succeeded and waved it around, pretending been their home when they first settled two years ago but now it swam in the air now. Perle's gaze darted after it, lazily intrigued.

served as a pantry storeroom.

Sarah looked past the fish to a large ship coming in, the orange-In late fall, an adolescent bear wandered through many white-blue of the Dutch  Prinsenvlag  whipping against the mast.

backyard orchards, searching discarded fruits on the ground.

She waved her fish at them. None of the sailors took notice. She Sarah watched it "huff-huff hurumph," as it sniffed out apples sat on a large rock and waited to see what they'd bring in.

under fallen leaves, sweetened and softened after a frost. Her Smaller boats went out and brought in passengers. Sarah father hadn't been home. Her mother got out their firelock. She squinted in the blazing sunlight as they drew closer. It held about loaded the gun but hesitated to use it. Instead they held their a dozen people but their faces were in the shade. She went closer breath as it filled it's belly and lumbered northward, out of the and realized they were not in the shade, they were just very dark village, to the white pine and oak forested hills.

colored people, darker than a Native, or anyone she'd seen before.

The door of the root cellar swung open hard followed by a The officer exclaimed to the Company men awaiting him, "A high pitched yowl.  "Visse!"   Joris shouted.

Portuguese prize!"

Sarah placed Jannet next to Maria, who still slept. Sarah Sarah didn't understand what that meant but knew her mother and her mother ran to the back door to peek out. Joris stood would be expecting her home. She wandered up the broad path triumphant. He held up a nearly decapitated, rusty-furred animal.

well trodden by free-roaming livestock, past Pearl Straat, avoiding Although he used the Dutch word for weasel, this animal was the piles of dung. She found their cow, Maybelle, grazing by a pile much larger. It was the size of a fox but heftier, like a baby bear, of stones that meant to be a wall of the fort. She pulled the rope with short feet and long belly like a weasel. Its tail was weasel-like harness at Maybelle's neck and the cow begrudgingly stopped but larger in diameter. Its full length was half the height of Joris.

grazing to follow her home to be milked.

He threw the creature on the ground, turned back to go _____________________

inside their root cellar and Catalyna closed their door to keep out the cold. Baby Jannet fussed and woke Maria.

Sarah awoke at the muffled sound of something shattering.

Jannet suckled at Catalyna's breast as Sarah layered on clothes.

"The root cellar," Joris whispered to Catalyna, as he shot up, She went to milk Maybelle in the Company's barn now that the pulling on his duffel coat and boots. He left the house with an ax.

sun was risen and Maria was crying for milk.

The wane light of dawn peaked through the cracks of the Other housewives and children arrived at the same task shutters. Sarah's breath created a cloud in the faint orange light.

of fetching the morning milk, mucking stalls, and feeding the The coals burned low in the bitter cold winter morning. The animals. Sarah wanted to tell someone of the great feat of her papa family slept on their straw-stuffed bedrolls on pallets in their great but everyone was silent, absorbed in their chores. She shoveled room next to the fire, covered in duffel blankets and furs. Sarah the dung to the mound of manure collecting for the spring fields.

slept well, cuddled with her sisters, between their parents.

She forked clean straw for the floor. Maybelle ate her fresh hay

"The bear,  Maman?" Sarah held baby Jannet as her mother while Sarah milked her and carefully carried the full pail home, stoked the fire. Catalyna held a finger to her mouth to shush excited for details of the great weasel-beast her father had slain.

12   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   13

When she arrived home, her father was still out in the root cellar. Catalyna boiled water, ground maize, and cooked  sappan, the cornmeal porridge that was their staple meal. The aroma of fresh baked bread wafted in from Company bakery down the street. It made her stomach growl. Bread was a luxury they couldn't afford every day, until they grew their own grain. Eating sappan amidst the smell of bread would suffice.

Sarah washed her face and hands in the basin of warm water that her mother set out. She drew a cup of milk for each member CHAPTER 3

of her family from the pail into wooden cups.

1633

Just then, her father came in carrying the pelt of the root cellar interloper.

"A fisher. The critter smashed our crock of beans. He must have leapt from that to the smoked venison hanging from the ceiling. He paid the price with his pelt, though. His teeth and claws were sunk into the venison when he met my ax," Joris announced.

Sarah pinched off a piece of the silky curds sticking to the

"I'm glad he broke the crock to alert us. He could've eaten linen cloth, freshly strained from the whey. Her impatient fingers us out of all provisions for the winter otherwise. How did he get and tongue were slightly scalded but the furtive bite was worth it.

in?" Catalyna asked.

"Tsk Tsk," Catalyna said, without even looking at her

"You should see the claws and teeth on him! He scratched daughter. In making cheese with Sarah, some went missing in and chewed through the bark cladding and muscled through two the process. "Add it to the pot with the  sappan. No more tastes.

posts. I made a makeshift repair but I need to go split some wood Stir until it's melted in and then add the smoked ham," Catalyna to seal it up properly." He said, indicating the length of the claws instructed, while she cut thick slices from fresh loaves of bread.

and teeth as he pretended Sarah was the wall of the root cellar. He Sarah could hardly hear her above the raucous conversations.

pawed at her making her squeal and giggle.

The trappers and traders in their packed tavern, about to travel

"This is worth a broken crock," Catalyna declared as she north, needed rich food to send them off for the season.

brushed her hand along the luxurious fur. "Leave it in the root Sarah did as instructed, then ladled portions into wooden cellar until we can clean it though. It's giving off a terrible musk.

bowls and handed them out. She came to her father, sitting at Can we eat such a vile smelling animal? We will grind him into their long dining table next to their new neighbor, Hans. He was sausage for what venison he stole."

a ship builder for the Company, originally from Norway.

"If you meet the Mohawk first, ask for Desagondensta. He's a friend and a reliable hunter and trapper," Joris told him in Dutch.

They didn't look up as she placed down their bowls and lingered. Hans' disarming, deep blue eyes were locked on Joris.

14   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   15

"Offer the duffel bolts first. If he wants more give him the

" Papa, will you tell us a story of the old country?" Jannet loose  sewant beads. If he has more than thirty beaver or a good asked. "Please!"

amount of mink, give him the  sewant  belt."

" Oui, ma petite chérie...  We are Walloons, descendants of the Hans pulled his mustache absentmindedly while he tried to great artisans of Burgundy and the fierce tribes of Gallia. Do you absorb Joris' instructions. His mustache had the same effluvient, know why they call us Walloons?"

feathery wings as his blond hair, like a dove taking alight from his

"Why?" Jannet and Maria ask in unison. Sarah heard this lips. He was taller, seated, than eight year old Sarah was standing call-and-response tale many times. She was going hunting with next to him.

her father the next day, perhaps that meant she was too old for Sarah moved on and served the rest of the men, invisible as childish stories. She restrained herself, to not reply with her little they chattered away their plans for peltry. Sarah then joined her sisters, but she listened.

little sisters to make sure they weren't in the way. In a corner of Joris continued, "We are called Walloons because when the the great room, they shelled dried corn.

ancient people of Gallia were traveling the length and breadth of She waited until the men ate and dispersed, gathered the the earth, they had asked each other..."

dirty bowls in a basket, and went to the waterfront to wash them.

" Où allons-nous?" Her sisters answered.

She found an area where the ice was thin enough she could crack Where are we going? Sarah wondered, would her people ever a larger area open with a rock. She cut horsetails, the scouring be home if they called themselves such a name?

rushes. She sometimes used them to clean her teeth, as well as

"They settled in the  Pays-Bas, the Low Countries. They were dirty dishes. Her two front adult teeth recently emerged into as skilled in craft as in sword. Julius Caesar sent his soldiers to place. Catalyna told her to take good care of her teeth; this set conquer the  Pays-Bas and what did he call us?"

would need to last her whole life.

"The bravest," Sarah said reflexively with her sisters, eager to She semi-submerged the open weave basket and got to work claim that portion of her heritage.

scouring. The backs of her little hands were bright red and cracked _____________________

from the frigid water by the time she finished.

She returned home. Her parents sat together, on the bench Joris woke Sarah up before dawn. They silently got ready by the fire, looking pleased. Their tavern made a decent profit without waking Catalyna, Maria, and Jannet. Once outside, they adjacent to the seasonal pelt trade.

exhaled the breath they were holding. In the light of their pierced

" Papa, can I come hunting with you tomorrow?" Sarah asked tin lantern, their breath looked like peachy plumes of fire.

him, knowing he planned to deer hunt north of their settlement Sarah wore Catalyna's boots, stuffed with cloth in the toes the next day.

to fit her, lashed to willow-framed snowshoes. Each step felt

" Oui, ma petite puce," he answered jovially. "But only if like going deeper into a foreign realm. The snow glimmered as Maman doesn't need you here."

the lantern light swayed and illuminated brief glimpses of the

" Oui, you may go. You were helpful today," Catalyna said, trail in the dark. Out of town, the snow deepened. Yet with the as she swathed tallow infused with calendula on Sarah's cracked snowshoes, she never sank into the white morass.

hands. She rose to grab her basket of sewing and knitting supplies.

They followed the Weckquaesgeek's trail north until they

"I made some new winter stockings for you."

came to an open meadow by a stream. They found a spot on the 16   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   17

edge of the meadow shrouded in brush and hunkered down. Joris one herself, although she'd seen her father make them. She took brought out a little flask and dribbled it around them until the the hatchet and cut down two saplings while Joris continued to scent of doe urine enveloped them.

carefully eviscerate the deer.

The sun rose, distracting Sarah from her limbs stinging with Joris hoisted the buck to hang from the hickory tree. He the cold and from staying so still. Squirrels woke and rustled the began skinning the hide while it bled out.

branches above them, sending shards of ice hailing down. Sarah Sarah arranged the two saplings into an X and placed shook her head at them but remained silent.

branches across the lower portion. She lashed the pieces together A young buck strode into the clearing, seeking the source with sinew cordage. Next she interwove pine boughs to create a of doe scent. He rubbed his quad-pointed antlers on a shagbark floor of the  travois.

hickory trunk and then his forehead. Not seeing any female deer, Joris pulled down the skinned deer and placed it on the he went to drink from the stream.

makeshift sled. He used the hide to hold the entrails and organs, Joris drew his bow, careful and as silent as possible. He trembled placing them alongside the carcass. They would find a use for a moment with the drawn back bow but steadied himself. When every part. He secured everything to the  travois with the rope he'd the buck turned back toward the meadow, showing the broadside used to hang the deer. Field dressing completed, Joris and Sarah of his body, Joris loosed the arrow. It found it's mark right behind went to the stream to rinse their hands.

the shoulder crease. The buck bolted.

When they returned to the  travois, Joris picked up the short Joris rose and strolled after the deer. Sarah followed, stumbling end of the frame. Sarah was relieved the frame held the weight on stiff legs. The blood trail stood out on the snow. It led them of the deer. Joris pulled down the duffel covering his mouth and to the buck, who didn't get far. Sarah came upon Joris kneeling nose and smiled at Sarah.

over the deer where it collapsed in some brush. He removed the

"Well done,  ma petite," he said and started their walk home.

arrow that broke when the deer fell. He saved the arrowhead. He Sarah felt like she'd just been to Mass and had communion gestured for Sarah to kneel next to him and they both put a hand with the wild world. Her father told her that in the old country, on the deer's side.

Protestants held clandestine worship in forests and caves to evade

"Forgive me. Thank you for your life so that my family may the Catholic inquisitors. She wished they continued that practice, eat and survive another winter," Joris solemnly spoke to the deer.

not out of fear, but reverence. The forest was sacred.

They stayed like that for a few minutes.

Her parents taught that they owed their happiness to the Joris stood, pulling off the rope coiled and worn across his Source of all happiness. They meant God. To her, God existed chest. He tied the deer's feet together and they dragged him back as the sunlight jumping on waves in the river, the trees swaying to the meadow by the stream. Joris rolled the deer on it's back and together in the wooded hills, and creatures all around, including had Sarah hold the hind leg to keep it there. He used the tip of the bear that rambled into their yard for apples, or the deer whose his knife to cut through the skin from throat to tail of the deer's life would feed them this winter. It was what the Algonquin called underside. He rolled the deer back onto its side and the entrails Manitou or what the Dutch called the Holy Spirit. It was all one.

began to spill out.

It was whatever was so wonderful it exceeded human capacity.

"Sarah, can you make a  travois?" Joris asked her, indicating As they drew closer to the settlement under midday sun, to his hatchet in his hip sheath. She nodded. She never made the silence they'd maintained all morning no longer seemed too 18   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   19

sacred to break.

colony though. They forced the settlers to buy it imported by

" Papa,  are prayers to the deer a Reformed faith tradition?"

them.

She asked.

Her thoughts returned to her handsome neighbor and hoped

"No," He laughed, surprising her with his amusement. "I he would return. Sometimes agents sent to buy pelts would simply learned it from hunting with the Mahicans and Mohawks. You disappear, dying in the wilderness or absconding with the goods.

must respect the animal's life. They are our brothers of the land."

_____________________

"In honor of  Manitou?"  Sarah asked.

"Yes! Where did you learn that?"

The wind sliced icy drafts through their house. Normally, the

"Weenji, at bible studies."

day would be spent indoors by the fire, Sarah and her sisters would

"Did   ziekentrooster Krol know you were learning about learn new  passement bobbin lace patterns, recite their letters from Native beliefs?"

the embroidered  abécédaire Catalyna made, or practice reading

"I don't know. He was just happy there was a Native girl from their Geneva bible.

attending his bible studies."

Today was different though. It would be their first school day.

The affairs of men crept into her mind.

Sarah was nervous and elated at the thought. There was a new

" Papa, why were you telling the neighbor about your Mohawk Director, Wouter van Twiller. Minuit had been recalled because he friend?" Sarah asked.

refused to ban private pelt trade. Van Twiller enlisted the first real

"Hans went with our cloth and  sewant to trade for pelts. Your schoolmaster, Adam Roelandsen, to teach the settlement's boys Aunt Marie in Amsterdam is married to a silk merchant. We want and girls in the style of  Patria, the Fatherland. They would learn to exchange some pelts for fine fabric."

spelling and reading centered around The Lord’s Prayer, the Ten

"Isn't that illegal? Why don't you just sell them to the Commandments, the Twelve Articles, the Heidelberg Catechism, Company?" The Company had a monopoly. Selling pelts to and other texts and proverbs. They may even continue on to other merchants was forbidden. Only designated  Patroons, feudal arithmetic ciphering and writing with a quill.

landowners whose vast estates were rented to tenant farmers, were Sarah and Maria left the house well before they needed to, allowed to do so.

though it was only less than a five minute walk to the church,

"I'll sell  some to the Company. We'll get a higher price for where lessons would be held. As they neared the cavernous, rustic selling or exchanging the fabric here than selling pelts to the church, they were joined by Sarina and her little sister Susannah, Company. It'll take longer but there will be a much better profit,"

who was Maria's age.

he explained.

They entered and sat on the bench in the front. Rachel and Most of the Walloons worked in the textile industry before Jan Vigne, Jan Pieterszen, and a girl they didn't know entered emigrating. The Low Countries had been known for the most after them. They greeted their fellow pupils.

exquisite European fabrics for the past two centuries. Joris was

"Hallo, my name is Sarah Jorise Rapalje," Sarah introduced a  boratweeker, a wool worker of the duffel cloth that the Natives herself in Dutch to the new girl.

prized. Her mother's family name, Tricot, referred to the type of

"I'm Sara Roelofs," the girl replied, in a slightly accented jacquard woven fabric that her family made for generations. The Dutch. "May I sit with you?"

Company did not allow fabric production in the New Netherland

" Ja, we are three Sarah's in a row, then," Sarina added giggling 20   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   21

and moved to put her in between herself and Sarah.

said with snide satisfaction. "We shall remedy that with discipline, Sarah was trying to place her accent when the schoolmaster diligence, and obedience. We shall also rid those of you of your entered. He cleared his throat, ending their chatter.

French lisps." He looked with disdain at Sarah, Sarina, and the

"I am Master Adam. You are very lucky children. The Dutch Vigne children.

Reformed Church encourages literacy so you may read the bible _____________________

without need of a church official," he stated and added, pointedly,

"And the Dutch Republic is the only European country to offer After three hours going over biblical verse in a methodical primary education to girls, so you may teach your children to manner, to learn spelling, they concluded for a two hour break.

read." He let that linger in the air a moment for his mostly female The students went home for a midday meal and chores.

students before he continued. "You are also lucky to have the

"I'm not sure this is better than mending clothes with Statenbijbel, the first bible directly translated from the original Maman," Sarina whispered to the other girls.

text into Dutch."

"I'd like to try my hand at a quill," Sara said.

He pointed to the heavy leather-bound bible on the lectern

"There's not enough rag paper in the colony for Master Adam and then pointed to Sarah.

to waste it on us learning to write," Sarina bemoaned and changed

"Begin with Genesis."

the subject. "Where are you from, Sara?"

Sarah, dumbstruck, didn't understand.

"We came from Rensselaerswijck. I was born in  Patria

"Rise to the lectern and read. To your ability. If you cannot, though. My parents are Norwegian."

then onto the next child," he impatiently commanded.

"What's Rensselaerswijck like?" Sarah asked.

She opened the book and found her place. She had been

"Lonely farmland, which is why school excites me. I only had instructed at home with the family bible by Catalyna. She had a few Native children to play with that lived near our bouwery,"

been taught reading in French, not Dutch, though she heard the Sara explained.

Dutch sermons every week in church. The page was swimming in

"We should go ice skating," Sarah suggested. "Maybe Friday her panic. She recited the words she knew by heart, even before evening at the Kollect Pond?"

she found them on the page.

"I don't have ice skates," Sara answered.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And

"Neither do we. Polish the bottom of your clogs with candle the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the wax," Sarah dismissed her excuse and gave her a mischievous grin.

face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of

"My mother will say no, of course, but maybe I can find some the waters. And God said, Let there be..."

excuse to get out of the house," Sarina said.

"Next child," Master Adam instructed. Sara took her place at the lectern.

"Let there be light: and there was light," Sara began.

By the time the last pupil, Jan Vigne, took his turn the schoolmaster ordered him to stop short, same as the others.

"You each know the bible well. Very good. Yet none of you read it. I watched your eyes staring blankly or darting wildly," he 22   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   23

The cool water around them felt so refreshing that Sarah almost didn't want to arrive at their destination. They were soon back in knee deep water, almost to the shore.

" Paggank," Weenji said pointing to the nut trees as they waded their final few steps through water. The older girls repeated the word after her. She picked up the basin with Judith still inside and set her down away from the waves at the shore. Judith stood up, hands clutching the basin rim. She looked like she wanted to CHAPTER 4

run back into the water but she could barely walk yet, nor escape 1636

her washbasin.

Sarah and her sisters threw themselves down on the grassy loam next to Judith in her basin. They closed their eyes and basked, while the sun dried them.

Judith babbled and began to fuss, frustrated by her confinement. Weenji picked her up and she squealed "Weee"

happily but then wiggled to be let down. She held Weenji's hand

"Weee!" Judith squealed as the gentle waves lapped against her and tottered inland. The girls got up and followed her.

washbasin boat. Sarah and her sisters convinced their nursemaid Using their aprons as baskets they began to gather the to let them cross Buttermilk Channel to Nut Island.

eponymous nuts of the island. There weren't many ready yet since Their nursemaid, Weenji, guided the washbasin through the it was only the beginning of fall and unseasonably warm. It made water while Sarah, Jannet, and Maria held hands. It was low tide for more of a challenge.

and the water was at most knee deep.

"Ahkokwèsink!"  Weenji announced with a smile. Sarah Weenji smiled and laughed at Judith's reaction, her tawny repeated the word. They followed to where she was pointing to cheeks gleaming with the reflections off the water. Her full name, the forest floor. There were tan-capped mushrooms with a puffed Weenjipahkihelexkwe, meant "touching leaves woman." They white underside scattered in a clearing. She began to pick the called her Weenji and Judith would now call her Weee.

freshest ones and put them in Sarah's outstretched apron. When Weenji was a few years older than Sarah. She was the daughter satisfied with their foraging, Weenji indicated they must return to of Wunita, the Canarsee man who taught Sarah to swim. Joris and the mainland.

Wunita had become friends and Weenji became the nursemaid She placed Judith in the basin and they all emptied their for the younger Rapalje girls. Joris and Wunita sometimes hunted hickory, acorns, and chestnuts around her as she giggled. Sarah or fished together. Wunita and his wife Cholena helped with the tied her apron around the mushrooms as she didn't want her harvest, as the Rapalje farm grew.

baby sister to crush them in the basin. They made their way In their next step, they were off the ridge of sandbar, and the back across, Judith throwing out nuts one at a time and Weenji water was now above Sarah and Maria's belly buttons. They held snatching them to put back in.

up Jannet between them, who was almost up to her shoulders.

They made their way back to the Waale-bocht, the Walloon's 24   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   25

Bay, where Joris and Catalyna had worked all day harvesting on three stivers or 15 white  sewant beads.

their farmland with Wunita.

_____________________

"Where were you off to? You were gone so long!" Catalyna exclaimed, relieved to see them. They had been gone for most of The Natives prized the sacred  sewant,   or as the English the afternoon. Sarah had pulled the rope handle of the wash basin called it wampum. They were used as adornment in patterned like a sled, while Weenji carried Judith. Coming back with the belts designed to illustrate tribal stories and they were considered basin laden with goods had taken a bit longer than the trip out, symbols of wealth and status. They also used them ceremonially when they rolled it liked a wheel some of the way.

to forge alliances.

"Paggank   and  ahkokwèsink,"  Sarah responded, showing her The dark purple beads, called black, were made from quahog mother the nuts and mushrooms they'd gathered.

clam and the blush white beads were made from whelk shells. The

"Nuts and chestnut boletes,  bien fait." Catalyna looked combination of white and purple represented the duality of the pleased and didn't inquire further.

world; light and dark, sun and moon, women and man, life and They had a rustic start of a house in the Waale-bocht. It was death. White is the symbol of vitality, peace and prosperity while timber framed with no roof yet but it did have a stone hearth and purple represents war, illness, death and mourning.

front stoop to sit on. They prepared dinner there, with Wunita, To the coin-deprived Dutch colony, goods were most often Weenji, and Cholena.

bartered. In lieu of currency, the most fungible assets were pelts Cholena brought bream they caught that day in a system to trade to Europe, via the Company, or  sewant to trade with the woven weirs and baskets that worked with the rise and fall of the Natives.  Sewant was not part of the trade for pelts but a goodwill tide in the creek. They roasted the fish and chestnut mushrooms necessity. In the colony, strung in single strands or even as single skewered on hickory sticks. They spoke little but shared a very loose beads, they had a conversion of six white beads, or three pleasant meal entertained by the little girls running around.

black, to one Dutch stiver. Black beads were worth around twice Sarah envied the life she imagined Weenji and her family had.

as much as the more plentiful white. The rates would fluctuate, She wanted to run around half naked, fishing and foraging. To but in the early days of the colony, the exchange was favorable.

sleep, perfumed by earthiness, on pillows of moss under the stars.

The Waale-bocht had times where the shells washed ashore After dinner, the Rapalje family had to return to their home in the crook of the bay. Joris, ever the enterprising craftsman, in New Amsterdam. They left in the shallop they'd borrowed gathered the largest, finest specimens with a mind to transform from their neighbor, Hans, to transfer their harvest. The flat them into beads. For three summers he'd gathered them in his bottomed, shallow drafted boat navigated shallow waters even root cellar, like a bank vault stacks bouillon for later minting.

when overburdened with their crops.

That winter he started his  sewant project. He brought in one A ferry service had recently started operating but the shallop of the baskets to their back room, so his tavern guests would be better served their harvest transportation to the lower part of none the wiser to his scheme. Sarah was intrigued and followed Manhattan. Cornelius Dircksen had ran the ferry from the him. He then fetched several large, errant stones from the fort Waale-bocht to Corlaer's Hook, directly across. At the sound of bastion from their backyard.

a horn hung on a convenient tree, the farmer Dircksen would She spied as he took a hulking channeled whelk shell out of hasten from his fields, and row passengers to and fro at the rate of the basket and placed it in a linen sack. He placed it atop on a 26   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   27

large stone and rather gingerly took a hammer to it, cracking it so much pressure. He hit through to the wax, pulled the bead off into bits. He poured the bits into a bowl. He took a nice thick the nail, held it up like a prize. They both pounded the table with piece and took the hammer directly to it. It shattered into too their fists, the tavern-keep's cue for "cheers!"

many small pieces.

They kept at their infuriating and sometimes rewarding craft

"God's blood," Joris cursed under his breath. Sarah snickered all winter. Their technique improved. Catalyna was amused by at his foul language and frustration, giving away she was watching their devotion to the task that frustrated them both. When Sarah him from behind the stairway.

wasn't in school, she'd most likely be found in the back room,

"Come here," He commanded. "And don't tell your  Maman."

cracking shells, sanding blanks, and boring holes with her father.

She sat next to him. He handed her the next shard to break.

"Sarah, you must make time for sewing, mending, embroidery, She chose to break it on the wooden table instead of the stone.

and learning  passementerie as well," Catalyna insisted.

It broke neatly into three bead sized pieces amid some dust and

"Why must I learn  passementerie?" Sarah whined.

small slivers. He placed a slab of sandstone on the table.

"Because it is a skill you can sell. It's how I survived as a girl

"All right, well done. Now you get to sand it into round," He after my parents died. Just as you must learn how to make rag told her. She'd earned her seat at the table.

rugs because it makes a worthless thing into a comfort."

As her little fingers sanded the hard edges of her bead shards, Sarah obliged her mother but any chance she got, she was he placed a flat plank of wood on the table. He began to make back at bead making. The bobbin lacework was so fiddly and a cavity with a bow drill crafted from bent wood strung with prescribed. The bead making had something more attractive to sinew. When she was done, he took one from her. He fitted the the physicality and intuitive nature of it. She could see a shell and impression in the wood with some beeswax to hold the bead in guess where the fault lines were. The stakes were high. The wrong place. With an improvised awl made from an iron nail he began pressure or misalignment and much effort spent could be lost.

to bore a hole through the bead blank with his bow drill.

That winter they made around 300 beads, worth a few It took him a long time to get it started. When he did, fine guilders. Not much, considering the effort. Sarah and Catalyna dust came off in faint vapors that made him cough. He dripped wove some of the beads into a belt, if the short piece could be some water on it to keep the dust down and continued. He was a called that. The motif had a tall man and small girl holding hands quarter of the way through when it split in half.

in purple, surrounded by white and two bands of purple and

"Zounds!" Joris cursed and Sarah restrained herself from white at the edges. They hung it above their tavern hearth. Joris another giggle. She had never heard her father swear so much.

said it would take all the riches in the world for him to sell it.

"Your turn."

He was also cognizant of the fact that counterfeit  sewant was She took her next bead blank and pressed it into the wax.

frowned upon. Although their craft improved, it was obvious it She tried to nick where she wanted the nail to bore. It took her wasn't Native-made  sewant.

a long time to start a comfortable dent for it to sit. Whereas her He gave Sarah a bracelet of alternating white and purple father gripped the awl with considerable pressure, she held it beads to keep for herself.

lightly. Joris dripped water over it as she went. She was a little over

"A person without money is like a wolf without teeth," Joris halfway through when her arm cramped and she needed a break.

quoted the Walloon proverb to her as he tied it on her wrist.

Joris took over. He had learned by watching her not to apply

"With this bracelet, you'll always have some teeth at the ready."

28   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   29

it three times before one motioned to the others to leave and forget their hostility that day."

"Where is this plantation you oversee?" Asked the older of the two young men who looked like brothers.

"Maryn Adriaensen's bouwery is north, on the west side, about a third of the way up the island." Hans explained.

"We'll be settling further north," the man said with a smile, clapping his little brother on the back. "Director Van Twiller CHAPTER 5

granted us 150 morgens to settle."

1637

"What did you say your name was?" Joris asked, very interested in the young man who had a Walloon accent.

"I'm Henri and this is Isaac," he said indicating the younger man. "And that's our sister Rachel and her husband Johannes.

Our uncle Gerard De Forest has partnered with  Patroon Killian Van Rensselaer. He arranged our voyage and the land grant."

"De Forest! Do you know Jessé?" Joris asked.

"By the time I saw them, it was too late. The Natives were

"He was our father!" Isaac cried out, eyes lit up to meet after me, with low whoops and high screeches at my heels,"

someone who knew him.

Hans recounted to his audience at the Rapalje's tavern. Sitting

"What happened to him? He's the reason my wife and I came on benches at their long dining table, captivated by Hans tale, here over a decade ago! I thought he would be sailing with us a group of new settlers ate a venison and root vegetable stew but I never saw or heard of him since we left Amsterdam," Joris Catalyna and Sarah made. Their company included a husband explained. Henri and Isaac didn't speak. They looked to Johannes.

and wife, two young men, three children, and a tiny baby.

"Johannes can better tell the story," Isaac deferred to the

"I climbed up a pine tree and tried to hide in the dense tall older man with dark eyes and a dignified countenance. His branches. The warriors were too short to grab the branch I used expression was somewhat hidden behind a large black mustache to swing myself up. They taunted me, threatening to loose their and short, pointed beard.

tomahawks. I was defenseless, except for the branches I put

"Jessé and I were sent to Guiana, in South America, on a between myself and them. I waited but they persisted. I was scouting mission. I was sent as the Company surgeon. They hedged desperate and sure I was in my final hour. I started singing  In their bets on where was better for settlement, so they sent ships Mijn Grootste Nood O’Heere.”

both places simultaneously," Johannes spoke up, looking somber.

Hans' strong and moving voice then sang the Dutch psalm,

"If you were acquainted with Jessé, you must be familiar with his In My Greatest Need O‘Lord, for his listeners. His voice was so charisma and leadership. He conveyed such charm that he even beautiful it brought tears to Sarah's eyes even though she'd heard made peace between rival Natives during our expenditure. He this story and his singing before.

took copious notes on dyer trees, minerals, everything of interest

"This silenced their threats, disarmed by the holy song. I sang for the Company. Unfortunately, eight months after we arrived, 30   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   31

Jessé was waylaid with sunstroke on a canoe expedition. His one first settled, and since, having friendly relations with Natives has fault was being too impatient to convalesce. He went back out.

helped us." Joris told the young men. "Or maybe sing them a His sunstroke and fever redoubled. I did all I could, but I was song, as Hans had success with."

unable to save him. He died in October of 1624."

Everyone laughed and Hans shrugged, grinning.

Joris and Catalyna looked at each other, shocked. Joris served _____________________

them more beer.

"To Jessé!" Joris raised his tankard. Everyone toasted the man Cat's Wheel bustled with a streaming flow of new settlers who, although never having stepped foot in New Netherland, had that year. A few weeks after the De Forests, an Englishman and led them all there.

his daughter arrived. They didn't speak Dutch very well as they After a few minutes of silence, Henri jumped in to finish the just arrived from the Massachusetts colony. An Englishman story of their emigration.

named George Baxter, another Massachusetts defector who lived

"Johannes returned to give us the news. He married our around the corner from the Rapalje family, accompanied them to sister, Rachel, and they left for Tobago for several years.  I became the Rapalje tavern.

a sailor and was sent to Sint Maarten. We decided the tropics Sarah was struck by the daughter, who was her age. The girl's weren't for us, so we returned to our father's plan for a Walloon lips were clenched as if she was forcing herself to silence. She had settlement in New Netherland," Henri explained.

a pale heart-shaped face and large, brown, intelligent eyes. She

"Our journey here was not without incident either. We were kept her gaze downcast and averted though, which made Sarah almost robbed by French pirates! We hid our goods and they left all the more fixated on catching her eye. When she did look up, us alone. Rachel gave birth to baby Maria near Madeira. After her eyes bulged—overwhelmed—and returned swiftly to her lap.

we reached the Canary Islands, we caught the trade winds at Sarah served them a stew similar to what they served the De Godwyn’s Point and were majestically escorted by a pod of about Forests. Venison and root vegetables, spiced with Dutch staples a dozen whales. We feel that's a sign our luck may finally have from the East: pepper, cloves, nutmeg, mace, and cinnamon. She changed," Isaac told them, his voice strained with hope.

gave the girl a small beer, the weakly alcoholic third brewing of Catalyna gave Rachel some raspberry leaf tea with fennel.

malted barley that children drank.

She made a pot for herself because she was pregnant again. She Sarah watched her take a bite of the stew. The girl's eyes shut recognized that poor Rachel, pale and weak from the journey, and her body shuddered. She took a sip of the beer and almost needed nourishing herbs. For heartache and courage, she added sprayed it out her nose. Sarah laughed. The girl finally looked honey infused with the sweet, purple flowers of borage.

at her and Sarah crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. The Joris found his optimism a bit naive, but the boy was likely girl's lips formed a small smile. She returned to her seriousness not much older than Joris was when he first arrived. Isaac had but she relaxed a little. She proceeded to shovel in the stew like a such a baby face, with pimpled, round cheeks. Joris knew the starved animal. Sarah asked if she wanted more and she nodded.

area they proposed to settle was a favored hunting ground for the Her father tried speaking with Joris.

Weckquaesgeek Natives that harassed Hans.

"My land north, build house. Need room for daughter.

"My advice would be to befriend the Natives near where you You need servant?" He asked, fumbling at the Dutch words but settle. Offer gifts in exchange for sharing their land. When we gesturing to his daughter, miming polishing and sweeping.

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Joris' brows furrowed trying to understand the man. Catalyna wooden clogs that protected her slippered feet. Phebe hopped and was out to the market but he didn't know how to convey to the dodged the worst of the mess so as not to ruin her boots.

man that he needed to ask her. Joris sent Maria to fetch George Phebe imbibed the melange of sights and smells. It nearly Baxter back to translate.

made her swoon like the spiced stew earlier. Bodies of diverse The man spoke to his daughter, commanding her. She looked origin swirled around her. There were Dutch of course, but also around and made an embarrassed face. She motioned to Sarah she French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Swiss, Lenape, Africans...

wanted to wash their dishes. Sarah got her dish-washing basket the differences went on and she didn’t have names for them all.

and happily took her by the arm to show her the waterfront.

In Boston there had been strictly one type of English Puritan—

"Sarah," She patted her hand on her chest to introduce herself conform—or be banished.

and raised her brows waiting for a response.

She was terrified they were going to be reprimanded for going

"Phebe," the girl said in return.

out unchaperoned. Then she realized many other women and Sarah then gave her a tour as they walked, giving her the girls were shopping without fathers, husbands, or brothers. Some Dutch words Sarah had come to learn.

were even selling goods on their own.

"Pearl Straat... Church... Cow manure... Windmill... River...

Men drank spirits and smoked on the street. Several women Water... Horsetails," Sarah told her. She cut the plants and got to dressed in scandalous, low necklines, calling out to men walking work saying, "Scour."

past as brazen evidence they sold their companionship. Among Phebe followed Sarah's instruction. When they were done, the men were sailors, trappers, rough men with scarred faces, and Sarah wiped her hands dry on her apron. The air was pleasant at also gentlemen wearing fine clothes and plumed hats.

the waterfront, too pleasant to go home directly. Sarah looked out The mixture of people held a high bar of tolerance for at the two ships anchored off shore. Catalyna had told her one commerce's sake. Phebe saw the friction of culture clash when came from the Caribbean and one from  Patria. The market would a fight broke out between a Dutchman and a Scandinavian, have an interesting array of goods today. Sarah took Phebe's arm each frothing with insults in their native language. Phebe could again and led her up Markveldt Straat, past the crumbling fort, to understand neither and the girls veered their path away from the see if her mother was still shopping.

street brawl.

_____________________

Sarah recognized someone and pulled Phebe over to a vegetable cart. The woman looked much like Sarah, sturdy and Phebe was relieved to depart from the Massachusetts colony vivacious, but twenty years older. Her mother, Phebe thought, but she was bewildered by New Amsterdam and this bold, lively and her heart ached. The woman's belly protruded. She was with girl leading her around. She was accustomed to not being noticed.

child. They arrived at her side as she argued with the seller of Yet this girl made a point to show her around and she didn't know bulbs that looked like onions. The seller brought out drawings of how to respond. It was so much to take in all at once in this new flowers, a cup-like bloom in solid red or white with red stripes.

environment.

Sarah's mother seemed outraged at the price for something she The two twelve year old girls wove their way through crowds couldn't eat. She saw Sarah, kissed her cheeks, and conveyed the of people buying and hawking goods. The muddy ground was situation. Sarah laughed and shrugged.  She turned her mother's littered with rotten produce and animal defecation. Sarah wore attention to Phebe.

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" Elle s'appelle Phebe," Sarah introduced her and explained further in French that Phebe didn't understand. Phebe curtsied with downcast eyes, as she'd been trained while serving the Coggeshall family in Boston. Catalyna stepped closer to her and lifted her chin to meet her gaze. Catalyna's anger at the seller of flower bulbs had been replaced with a soft look of curiosity.

"My name is Catalyna," Sarah's mother said in English with a French accent. "Carry, if you please." She handed her a basket filled with little satchels that Phebe could smell were the spices in CHAPTER 6

the stew. She handed a jug of molasses to Sarah then indicated for 1638

the girls to follow her.

They stopped and bought sewing pins, needles, scissors, darning thread, and buttons made of flat metal and round glass.

Catalyna balked and argued with the seller on the first price given, before agreeing and making payment with strings of shell beads that Phebe recognized as wampum. They then returned to the home on Pearl Straat.

"Got any roses today?" Evert Jansen jeered Sarah as he walked Phebe's father had already left.

behind her, Phebe, and Sarina as they ventured out to fetch water.

Sarah ignored him, too embarrassed to confront him. He kept following though.

Evert was a boy their age. He referred to an incident that happened last winter. One day at school, Sarah stood up and both the bench and back of her dove grey petticoats had a round bloodstain. By the end of the day, all of New Amsterdam knew Sarah was menstruating.

Besides that, she had a growth spurt before everyone else.

Her bosom and hips blossomed and she stood a head above her classmates, including the boys. Her cheeks burned every time someone commented on it and now they knew the most embarrassing confirmation that she was now a woman.

Catalyna made her a linen loincloth, like the Native men wore, but with a woolen duffel liner so she didn't have to fear bleeding through her skirts. Sarah did not return to school though. It was the winter of her twelfth year. Most girls ceased their schoolwork at age twelve anyway.

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Sarina was still petite and girlish and just as self-conscious to find her. Phebe had told her she had the nightmares before her about that. She turned around and stuck out her tongue in father John stole from their neighbors, after they arrived on the solidarity with her friend. Phebe was somewhere in between Winthrop Fleet. He was whipped and sentenced to three years Sarina and Sarah's development into womanhood. She'd learned indentured servitude. She was indentured to the same man, John Dutch well by now but the Puritan principle to avoid calling Coggeshall, sentenced for fourteen years.

attention to herself was still entrenched.

"What is it?" Sarah asked, urging her on, to clear her Finally, the boy stopped following them.

conscience of whatever was plaguing her.

"I'm not going to the  vly for water," Sarah stated defiantly.

"It's a long story..." Phebe began slowly, "the Coggeshalls

"Let's go further north to the stream. The water is clearer there."

raised me in the pure Reformed faith, as a servant to them and

"I can't be gone that long," Sarina sighed. "I'll go to the  vly.

the Lord. They wanted to save me from the influence of my sinful Have fun without me."

father, until I was of marrying age. I never  felt connection to God

"Oh Sarina," Sarah said, both annoyed and sympathetic.

until a new neighbor moved in named Anne Hutchinson. I was She kissed her cheeks before Sarina parted from them east down allowed to attend Anne’s bible studies with Goody Coggeshall.

Beaver Straat. "We'll bring you some strawberries, don't worry."

Anne had such warmth and intellect. She reviewed what the Sarah and Phebe proceeded up De Heere Straat before it Minister's sermons spoke on in such an inspiring way. She was so became the Weckquaesgeek trail. They raced through the swampy blessed—she even heard the word of God directly."

area with their empty pails jangling in their yokes until they came Suddenly Phebe sat up and burst into tears, with her head in upon an open meadow. They ran into the middle and picked her hands. Sarah sat up and put an arm around her.

enough wild strawberries until they had a clearing. Like deer

"Master Coggeshall told the court that I 'hath proved over-bedded down, They were camouflaged from the trail. They closed burdensome' and the court said 'dispose of said Phebe.' I didn't their eyes and basked in the sun.

realize what was happening... Anne was put on trial as a heretic.

It should have been a carefree moment but a look of distracted Master Coggeshall defended her. They both were banished after sadness shown on Phebe's face all morning.

my father and I left."

"Phebe, what is it?" Sarah asked, concerned that it was

"Why did they say she was a heretic?" Sarah asked, eyes wide.

something not even strawberries and sunshine could make her

"She believed in the Covenant of Grace, that in faith we will set aside.

receive salvation. Works are performed for the glory of the Lord

"I had the nightmares and they always foretend something not for salvation. She was a good person and had a pure heart."

bad. I received awful news from George Baxter this morning,"

"She was banished? Where will she go?"

Phebe said. Usually Sarah would tell her "foretend" was not a

"They made her walk six days to where her husband is, in the word but since the subject was serious, she let go the chance for new settlement of Rhode Island, while she was pregnant."

a lesson in Dutch.

Sarah shook her head, imagining wandering pregnant, alone, Since she arrived, Phebe sometimes had bad dreams about her in the wilderness.

mother and baby sister who'd died on the voyage. Phebe was four

"She delivered a horrific stillborn child and almost died."

years old and remembered only snippets of them, mostly in her

"But she lived?"

dreams. In the bad dream, they'd be tangled in seaweed, trying

"Yes," Phebe whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks.

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"Anne Hutchinson saved me from my servitude. I never got to floated, looking at the forest canopy above her. She was self-thank her. I should have been at her trial. I should have been there conscious of herself in town but she refused to feel that way when to defend her. Or was she a devil tempting me away?"

in nature.

Sarah didn't know what to say. She just hugged Phebe. The Phebe was in, up to her collarbone, nervously sifting the English and Dutch colonies shared the Reformed Protestant water through her fingers.

religion, to varying degrees of orthodoxy. They were already

"Do you want to learn to swim?" Sarah asked.

divided from the Papist Catholics, must there be more division?

"A little," Phebe replied.

"Puritans love the Lord with all their heart and love to hate

"Well, first thing, keep your finger flat and tight together, like their neighbors just as much," Phebe retorted sniffling.

a fin," Sarah showed her. "And go back and forth in the water like

"So your father is a true Puritan then?" Sarah asked coyly.

this." Sarah made a motion like she was slowly buttering bread Phebe laughed. Her father had trouble living within society back and forth.

his whole life. He settled on a desolate tract of land father north Phebe tried. She felt how she could move the water more than they were now and still hadn't made a house habitable purposefully like that.

enough for Phebe to join him. He certainly had lost any sense of

"Do that and flutter your feet off the ground, leaning back.

religion after his servitude though. He wanted to live a hermetic Eventually you want to point your hips to the sky, until you're flat life, free from societal expectations.

with the water. Take a deep breath to help yourself float."

"Come on," Sarah said standing up and holding her hand out Phebe kind of scuttled around, like a half-drowning water to Phebe. "Let's be cleansed of sin."

bug. She started to master the movement with her hands. Her feet They ran with their yokes further up the path. At a crooked came to the surface, splashing wildly a few times—which made tree, they left the path, cut through the forest, and came upon her panic—and her head dunked underwater. Sarah demonstrated a pebbled beach next the stream. Small cascades that became nearby, waiting to grab her when her head went under.

a torrent when flooded had increased the depth to create an

"I'm swimming," Phebe said, breathlessly afraid to exhale her inviting pool. Sarah stripped out of her apron, work dress, and buoyancy. She pointed her face to the treetops and tried to make chemise. She jumped in and floated on her back a moment before her movements more serene.

she popped up, suddenly conscious that Phebe still stood on the Sarah smiled and let the water fill her ears as she gazed up, bank of the stream.

watching the breeze play in the tree tops.

"Do you know how to swim, Phebe?"

She thought how easy her life had been compared to Phebe's.

"No," Phebe said, looking embarrassed. She had never seen The worst thing that ever happened was that their cat Perle went anyone naked before either.

missing and still hadn't come home. It was nothing in comparison

"Undress and come in over there- it's more gradual. You can to losing a mother or sibling.

walk in to where you can stand," Sarah instructed casually.

Phebe did as she was told and tried to cover her body until she was in the water.

"It's all right Phebe, the Lord has already seen you naked as you came into this world," Sarah chided her modesty as she 40   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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baby bear. Another was full of men dressed as women and bawdy jokes that the little ones didn't understand, but greatly amused the adults.

They avoided watching the cruel games involving animals.

Up the street, a greased goose, rabbit, or eel was suspended from a rope stretched across the street. Men on horseback rode full gallop and tried to tear the animal's head off. "Kitten in a cask" was another sport Sarah found too unsettling to watch. A cask was CHAPTER 7

hung and beaten until broken open. The cat inside was chased 1639

off, representing chasing off evil. The cat usually lived but Sarah couldn't endure its terrified yowls in the process.

The day turned to evening. Two year old Jean was on the verge of a tantru. He’d had too much sugar and noise. Sarah wanted to stay and watch the dancing so Phebe agreed to take the children home.

Not long after Phebe left, Jan Vigne came up to her.

Sarah had a terrible Shrove Tuesday. The raucous three day

“Sarah! Your cat, Perle, jumped out of the broken cask! She's festival of Shrovetide was full of festivities and merry making run off over there,” Jan Vigne explained and gestured wildly for until its culmination on Tuesday, after which Lent began. She her to follow him. Sarah stomach flipped with wild hope.

was thirteen and allowed to go to the events unaccompanied by He went down a little alley between the houses. She hesitated her parents for the first time. Catalyna stayed home to mind their to follow, but then was swiftly pushed from behind.

tavern. Joris had his own agenda. He didn’t usually gamble, but Perle wasn’t there. There was no cat at all. It was a group of Shrove Tuesday was an exception when he indulged in the dice young sailors she didn’t recognize.

game  Glückshaus.

“Thank you, boy,” one of the sailors said and flipped Jan a The colony’s population ballooned in the last few years, from coin and he ran off. “Now let the fun begin. Let's see, who will around 1,000 to 3,000 people. Since the Company's monopoly get first kiss?”

on the fur trade had been lifted by the States General of  Patria, The one that pushed her down the alley held her arm. The trade was opened, and enterprising, itinerant merchants with man that spoke held out his hand and they drew straws. The most private vessels rotated in and out of the colony. The streets were pock-marked young man she’d ever seen yelped with excitement packed with merrymakers, many dressed in costumes of animals, and came at Sarah.

jesters, satirical European royalty, or the opposite sex. Sarah had She leaned her face out, as if she waited for a kiss. At the last never seen the spectacle on such a large scale.

second, she leaned so far forward she could twist away and under Sarah and Phebe chaperoned Sarah’s younger siblings Maria, him. He fell into the arms of the man who had one second earlier Jannet, Judith, and little Jean. They got  oliebollen doughnuts and been holding Sarah’s arm.

waffles and watched the children’s shows. One had puppets and a Sarah tore off towards home, shaken, but a little proud and 42   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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gratified that she’d bested them. Her heart pounded with anger

"No, at his home. He didn't give a reason," Philippe told her.

at Jan Vigne for tricking her. She'd known him her whole life.

That evening, they paid van Tienhoven a visit at his bouwery Though their families were not exactly friendly, she felt betrayed.

on Corlaer's Hoeck. They were led in by a servant. His home was She pulled her shawl tighter and zigzagged through the littered expansive, with a splendid great room. Bookshelves lined one side streets homeward. She was almost there.

of the room. A Flemish pastoral landscape in a gilded frame hung Suddenly a corpulent, bumbling figure came around the on the wall opposite.

corner ahead of her. It was a very drunk Cornelis van Tienhoven,

"Welcome, Joris and Catalyna. Please sit," Van Tienhoven Secretary to the Director General, dressed as a Native, painted said as he entered the room. "Brandy?"

red, with deer hide hardly covering his nastiest bits.

"No, thank you," Joris and Catalyna said in unison.

“What’s this? A Shrovetide angel delivered right to me?” He

"As you see, I have a fine home with all comforts imaginable, sloppily lisped at her as she tried to brush past him. He grabbed I'm respected and relied on by our General Director, and yet I her, tore off her shawl, and spun her toward himself. He tried to find myself incomplete. A man of my age and stature is wont to kiss her but he was so drunk, his open mouth slobbered from her find himself desiring a wife."

cheek to her ear.

Catalyna shot Joris a look but he stared at van Tienhoven,

“Is that Sarah Jorise?” A voice boomed behind van Tienhoven.

puzzled. Van Tienhoven downed his brandy before continuing,

“I’ve been sent by your mother to fetch you.” Her neighbor Hans

"A wife like your Sarah."

plucked van Tienhoven off Sarah forcefully.

"She's still a child," Joris replied.

“Oh, van Tienhoven, my my, I believe you are lost. The

"She's of age," Van Tienhoven insisted.

strumpet street is that way,” Hans said derisively as he spun the Catalyna reflected. The age of consent to marry was twelve, man and shoved him toward another street. “Wouldn’t want this but hardly anyone was  actually married at that age back in kind of behavior getting back to Director General Kieft?”

Patria. Sarah did seem more mature than her age but she didn’t

“Humph... lost,” Van Tienhoven drunkenly garbled, as he understand the duties of a wife.

bumbled off in the direction Hans sent him.

Did Catalyna understand though, when she was barely

“Come Sarah. Let’s get you home,” Hans said gently. “Your eighteen and was swiftly courted by Joris? Full of high ideals of mother didn’t really send me. I happened to see you could use a adventure and youthful love, days before they boarded the ship hand with that muttonhead. I don’t have to tell her if you don’t that brought them here to the harsh realities of the wilderness.

want me to.”

She at least had a choice.

He walked her home and offered idle chatter that calmed her

"We'll speak with our daughter and consider your offer,"

and they pretended nothing happened.

Catalyna said and rose to leave.

_____________________

As they left, Director Kieft was coming in.

“Congratulations on Sarah's betrothal!" Kieft said.

" Madame,  Secretary van Tienhoven requests a visit from you

"She hasn't yet accepted," Catalyna replied.

and your husband," Philippe du Trieux, Sarina's father and the

"This colony needs more married men. They’re better Court Messenger, told Catalyna.

behaved. If Sarah won’t accept Cornelis van Tienhoven’s offer,

"At court? Why?"

you’d be advised to choose someone else or you won’t hear the 44   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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last of him,” he warned. Then added, “It’s not only Sarah. I’m advising this to all with daughters of age. Best to pick soon before Just past dusk on a chilly, late October night Sarah was out the most desirable bachelors are betrothed.”

in the side yard swinging their ax. She split wood and gathered

“Maybe the behavior of the men is  their responsibility, not kindling into a bundle cloth. A thin sliver of the moon dimly lit that of young women who should tame them. Or perhaps it’s the the yard around her. Pigeons flew out of the elderberry shrubs and responsibility of their leader and boss?”

startled her.

Joris pressed his hand to the small of her back to hurry his

“Hallo there, Sarah,” Hans Bergen called out in his affable wife along.

way, “Shouldn’t there be your English maid to do such work?”

“I do intend to enforce laws against public drunkenness

“Nee, all’s well. Phebe is visiting with her papa. I can chop and brawling. But still, nothing like a wife, as a carrot for good wood just fine,” Sarah replied, setting down her ax and stooping behavior, rather than the stick,” Kieft called after her.

to the wood pile. She volunteered to chop wood in order to vent

“My daughter will marry. In good time,” Catalyna shot back.

her frustration but she immediately regretted her tone with him.

_____________________

She didn’t mean to sound angry toward Hans.

“Please,” he said. “Let me...”

Catalyna and Joris spoke with Sarah on the matter.

She straightened to face him. He suddenly stood so close. She

"Van Tienhoven would be an advantageous match," Joris looked up at him. He was more than a head taller than her. She started, contemplatively. "He's a man of education and means."

inhaled his scent of sweet, grassy hay, sawdust, and the salty musk

"Though you would hardly know it by looking at him," Sarah of his work clothes.

said glowering. Sarah hadn't told them about his drunken advances He reached down for the bundle cloth in her hand. As he the past Shrovetide. She didn't want her parents worrying about leaned his face to her height, Sarah kissed him. He stood upright her going out alone, although she seldom did anymore.

and looked at her again. He assessed her with his deep blue eyes.

"I know," Catalyna said soothingly. "But sometimes one does Hans was a man, nearly ten years older than her, but still less of not marry for love or looks. You would be wealthy and affluent, an age gap than van Tienhoven. She had always dreamed of a kiss attending parties wearing fine dresses, reading the newest books, with Hans, although she imagined his mustache would feel softer.

with servants to attend to household duties." As Catalyna said it,

"I have to marry soon," Sarah whispered. "I didn't want a she realized she sounded like her half-sister. Marie had tried to man like van Tienhoven to be my first real kiss."

convince her to marry her husband's old, foppish silk merchant Hans suddenly scooped his arms around her, pulled her close, colleague for similar reasons.

and kissed her deeply. She melted into his embrace. She couldn’t

"But you married for love, didn't you?" Sarah interjected.

move. She didn’t want to move. He looked her in the eyes again.

Catalyna and Joris looked at each other. Neither could

“What if you married me, Sarah?”

help but gaze happily at the other, thinking of their impetuous Her heart raced. Could he be serious? Everyone adored Hans.

beginning. The years of hard toil that followed melted away.

He was a farmer, a carpenter, a shipwright, he kept his own tavern.

"We married for shared goals. Love came from that," Catalyna He wasn't wealthy and they barely spoke the same language but finally said.

he was very handsome, charming, and capable.

_____________________

"Are you asking?" She breathlessly uttered.

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" Ja,  will you marry me?"

Hans in such finery.

She grabbed his face to hers and kissed him again in reply.

Hans had given Sarah a large silver medallion as a marriage

“Ja, Hans,” she eventually whispered in his ear. This really gift. On one side was the bas-relief figure of a man and a woman, must be a dream, she thought.

being married by a Domine. Encircling was the inscription, in Hans took up the sling of firewood in one hand and Sarah’s Dutch: “See here, lady, whom I love and no one else, here is my hand in the other. They walked inside the Rapalje’s tavern to share faith, my heart and my desire next to God.” The reverse side the news.

depicted a man and a woman in a garden. Encircled with the _____________________

Dutch sentence, “Behold, the creator of flesh and blood, created two out of one.” It adorned her chatelaine, a belt with silver Friday, November 18, 1639 Sarah and Hans were wed at the chains that also held a pair of scissors, a knife in a leather sheath, Dutch Reformed Church by Domine Evardus Bogardus, step-a needle case, a silver bound pincushion and a scent-ball filled father to Sara Roelofs, since her father had died and her mother with lavender. The chatelaine held everything she’d need as wife Anneke Jans remarried. The church was a simple timber structure, and lady of her own house.

with no spire. Being of the Reformed faith, which spurned Sarah’s bridesmaids, Phebe, Sarina, Sara, her sisters Maria, unnecessary adornments, it's spartan setting was fitting.

Jannet, and Judith all sang Psalm 127 at the end of the ceremony.

Their humble venue juxtaposed with the handsomely dressed Tears streamed down Sarah’s face and Hans kissed them away.

couple and only made them look more radiant. Sarah wore dark Afterward, nearly the whole town joined the celebrations at blue silk petticoat and darker blue damask vlieger    cape with their home just down the street, notable exceptions being van matching sleeves. Her ochre stomacher created a long triangle Tienhoven and the Vigne family. The guests spilled between the down her front and displayed her bust in a low rounded neckline, Rapalje’s and Hans’ houses and partook in rich foods, spiced accented with a millstone ruff. A white  passement lace diadem wine, beer, and brandy.

cap, that she made herself, radiated into elaborate pinnacles and Joris made provisions years ago, in his negotiations in the lease framed her plaited blond hair into a halo. Sarah stood rigid with of his cows from the Company, that his daughter would receive unfamiliarity wearing such fine clothing. She felt self-conscious the first heifer calf of the herd. That  milch koe was waiting, leashed someone would accuse her of dressing above her station but to the front of Hans’ house, adorned with garlands of dried blue outwardly projected a stately, proper lady.

corn flowers strung on straw. Joris made a toast, standing next to Hans wore dark blue velvet breeches, matching voluminous the cow, as everyone was given a glass of  kandeel, a special drink sleeves, slashed to reveal his golden chemise underneath. He wore made with eggs, cream, sack wine, sugar and spices.

a dark amber deerskin jerkin and a starched white millstone ruff.

“My darling daughter, Sarah, and my new son, Hans... To

"Hans' sleeves would get him banished in the Massachusetts love is not to only gaze into each others’ eyes, it is to join your colony for such sumptuousness," Phebe whispered to Sarah, with gaze on the horizon of your shared future. May you be blessed a smile.

with children as sweet as you. May the fish jump into your canoe.

Her aunt Marie in Amsterdam, whom she'd never met, sent May your roof be tiled with tarts.  Que Dieu vous bénisse!  I wish the clothing. Sarah knew her uncle was a silk merchant but she you every blessing!”

imagined she had an ethereal benefactor, enchanting her and Everyone laughed and cheered at Joris’ jumble of French, 48   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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Dutch, and invented proverbs. The wedding guests pet and kissed

“Ah, an English maiden! Your Dutch is as good as your the cow for good luck.

dancing! How long have you been here?”

“Skål!”  Catalyna shouted in Norwegian, for her son-in-law,

“Two years.”

and raised her glass. “Cheers!” Phebe shouted.  “Proost!”  Domine

“Me too! I was four years a sailor and two here a planter.

Bogardus chimed in, his speech already a bit slurred, the party I recently paid off my ship passage and I’m working my own having hardly started.

land now, next to the plantation that Hans manages for Maryn

“Cheers to the couple!” Director General Kieft bellowed.

Adriaensen,” he told her eagerly. “My house is finally finished,

“My wedding gift: To the eldest child of New Netherland, I shall with help from Hans, just in time for winter.”

be godfather to your first child.” He gave a little bow and looked

“Oh? Will ye be having a housewarming party?”

pleased with himself.

“If you’ll pay a visit, I will.”

“À votre santé!”  Joris hollered. “Let the dancing begin!”

“All right,” she said, as she smiled at him in a coquettish He signaled to the musicians waiting with string instruments, manner she didn't know she was capable of.

flute, and jaw harp.

_____________________

Later that night, when everyone was sufficiently drunk, Kieft went around asking for pledges of donations toward a new Catalyna spoke to Sarah before her wedding night about church to be built inside the fort. Coercion of signatures, when wifely things, the carnal conversation that happens between people were deep in their cups, was a tactic that Kieft would often husband and wife and the making of babies. She advised even employ. More than one resident woke regretful of their pledge the though they were married, they could wait until Sarah was older next day when the fog of merriment had passed.

to consummate the marriage bed. Although, Calvinist doctrine A man Hans’ age held out his hand to Phebe. She took it stressed the importance of physical affection as the foundation and they twirled away. He was of average height with brown hair for a Godly union, with fornication in abundance to provide the that was voluminously curly, creating a cloud around his head to Godly mortar. It also stated that the woman should enjoy and be chin length. The curls bounced around his head as he danced. He satisfied as much as the man.

had the same long, up-swept mustache as most Netherlanders. A They didn’t jump to it right away. The first night they were rectangle of whiskers perched upon his round chin. His hazel eyes too drunk to even undress completely. The following night, Hans were slightly wide set, giving him a doe-eyed, placid countenance.

ceremoniously disrobed Sarah, kissing her body parts as they were He smiled at Phebe as they danced and his cheeks became red as unsheathed. Her forehead, her neck, her forearms. He stopped at crab apples.

her chemise under-gown. She reciprocated, removing his clothes, When the song was over, he sat her down on the bench along languidly kissing as she went, until he was in his night shirt. Then the wall and grabbed a tankard of ale, offering it to her. She took they went to the bed, to feel each others bodies with those thin a swig and he downed half of it.

layers of clothing between them.

“I’m Teunis Nyssen. From Utrecht,” he said. "Everyone calls Hans made Sarah burn with curiosity until she couldn’t me Nys."

stand waiting anymore. The third night, after standing there

“I’m Phebe Jans.” She gave her name the Dutch patronymic undressing, she slipped the night shirt over his head and slid out way. “From Suffolk.”

of her chemise and pressed her naked body against his. He was so 50   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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much taller than her that his  lul jabbed into her stomach. They Despite her mother's warning, she didn't expect to be with both self-consciously laughed and he picked her up and rolled child so soon. Surely becoming a mother would solidify her with her onto the bed.

adulthood, fill her quiet home with sounds of life, give her more It wasn't what Sarah expected. It was painful, although Hans significant a purpose than to merely polish the furniture.

was gentle. It brought to her mind a tree struck by lightening; a thunderous, surprising burst that left a smoldering split. She relished his attention though and soon found more pleasure in the act. It came to remind her of Hans' carpentry; the satisfaction of two staves joining, snugly slotted into position.

When Hans would leave for work, Sarah felt most odd, alone in the house. No husband, no parents, no children, no pets. She was unused to utter silence. She did tasks she normally would in her parents' home. She swept the floor, polished the furniture, mended clothes, and prepared meals. Quiet, like she was an invisible sprite. It was the silence that made her feel as if she was merely play acting as a  huisvrouw. She would examine her chatelaine to remind herself, she was indeed a housewife.

Sometimes she escaped the solitude and went back to her family home next door. Her raucous younger siblings made at ease again. Catalyna began to gossip with her as she did with the other  huisvrouwen  who stopped by, letting her into the inner workings of the colony that was kept out of children's earshot.

She learned who owed who what, who had a secret sweetheart, and who gambled or drank away their fortunes.

They whispered about such tittle-tattle when Sarah had to excuse herself outside. She retched in the snow.

"How long has that been happening?" Catalyna asked when she came inside.

"The past few weeks I have infrequent waves of nausea but it passes," Sarah replied.

"And you've stopped bleeding?" Her mother looked at her curiously. She had reached a diagnosis of her daughter's symptoms and waited for Sarah to make the connection.

Sarah's cheeks burned. She realized she didn't know the last time she menstruated. A dizzy elation dawned in her.

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when Phebe said he looked like a billy goat.

Jan recently married an Englishwoman named Maria Robertson Sloofs. She was also a widower. Phebe was glad for her father. He still had a cantankerous soul but Maria could handle it. She, in fact, reveled in bickering with or about the neighbors as much as her father. Phebe comforted herself she wasn’t leaving her father to be lonesome.

At their reception, her father approached Phebe in a solemn, CHAPTER 8

wistful mood.

1640

“I didn’t think I’d see this day,” he said quietly, “I never told ye Phebe, some years before they’d let us go, I ran away. I went to the Natives and concocted a plan. We were going to snatch ye away. But then half the Natives there died of the pox. So I just came back to that bastard Coggeshall.”

If only he’d finished with “because I’d never leave you.” But she knew her father meant that morbid anecdote as a demonstration Phebe and Nys were married the following February. Their of love for her.

wedding was a smaller affair. Catalyna supplied fine fabric for her

“It all turned out fine though, didn’t it?” It was all she could gown, done in the same style as Sarah’s but in russet red. The think to say to uplift the conversation.

colors suited her so well, but she also beamed with happiness.

“Yes...” He stared off a moment and almost looked like he It was a complete transformation from the pallid, sullen Puritan might have tears welling up but stalwartly blinked them away.

child that had appeared in the colony just a few years ago.

“Yes, fine.”

Nys dressed more subdued, in brown mock velvet. He’d spent Sarah broke the wistful father daughter moment by throwing all his wedding attire budget on the biggest brimmed, castor a handful of dried flowers at them both, curtsying to Jan, and hat he could find. “It will be passed down by our children for pulling Phebe away to dance. They found Sarina and danced like generations,” he told Phebe. Never mind it cost a quarter of a the carefree children they still sometimes were.

years earnings. He did look fine with it. It somehow balanced that _____________________

huge mop of curls.

She decided not to wear Sarah’s  passement lace diadem At age 14, Sarina had finally grown some hips and paps.

cap. Instead she opted for garnet-colored silk ribbon woven Her father spoke abstractly of the importance of her marriage, through her plaited hair. She decided, if she was to break Puritan colored by her older half-sister Maria's experience. She had a child Sumptuary Laws unrebuked, she would do exactly as she pleased.

out of wedlock, jilted by her lover Pieter Van Couwenhoven.

Her father, Old Man Jan, as he was called now, did his best to Her father left out the to-whom he was thinking she should clean up. He wore a dark brown doublet. His grey hair and beard consider. Unfortunately his work as Court Messenger, or marshal, were short. Usually he had a much longer beard but trimmed it to Director Kieft distracted Philippe quite a bit so the issue 54   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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languished. Her mother protectively wanted her to wait so did took a request for a visit from Isaac de Forest, son of his old not push the subject either.

textile dyer colleague in Leiden, Jessé De Forest. Isaac's brother Not only did Philippe's work distract him, he also found Henri had died years ago, not long after arriving. Henri caught himself participating in court trials more often than he liked.

dysentery sailing under Company orders to the Virginia colony.

He’d been continuously offended and riled up by two His brother-in-law Johannes bought Henri's bouwery from his colonists. Anthony Jansen de Salee, “the Turk,” and his bawdy widow. He named it  Vrendendael, peaceful valley. Isaac struck out wife Griet Reyniers grated and incensed the law-loving Philippe.

on his own land south of  Vrendendael.

Anthony was the son of Dutch pirate and a Muslim Moorish Isaac came under the pretense of speaking with Philippe, woman. For his conniving, unchristian upbringing, he was a but seemingly without purpose. Philippe assumed he was lonely decent sort of man, unless matters dealt with his wife. Griet held on his bouwery. However, after he came to call several times, he no qualms over her beauty being her currency when she arrived revealed the aim of his visits. He asked for his blessing to propose in the colony. The only thing she flouted more than her bosom marriage to Sarina. Philippe, pleased with the match, encouraged was her mouth.

it by giving them time alone to talk.

Philippe was with a group of sailors when Griet walked by on Sarina and Isaac sat by the fire of the great room, sipping the strand and the sailors cat-called her. They whistled and called mulled hot cider Sarina had made for them. She’d met him several her a two-lump-of-butter whore. They may have recalled her from times over the years, when he’d visit town. Her family had given Amsterdam, being such then, not the married woman she was them pumpkins as a housewarming gift when his brother Henri’s now. She lifted her skirts in her familiar old ways, slapped her bare house was finished, years ago.

rump and shouted back,  “Blaes my daer achterin!”   This  indecent He looked so much more mature now. His acne had cleared, rebuff was brought up in court.

leaving some scars. A pensive furrow defined him when he spoke

"If I'm a whore than so is Anneke Jans, for she also lifted her with her father. Yet when he saw her, his features scrunched in an skirts to the sailors!" Griet said in some misguided attempt at a inverted way to their norm. The commas of his brows captioned defense or distraction.

delight and made her feel happy too.

Witnesses testified poor Anneke, the wife of the Domine

"Sarina, this is wonderful," he told her, sipping his drink.

Everardus Borgardus, was only holding her hem out of the mud,

"It's good of you to visit. You must be very busy with your not baring her rump to rough men. Philippe testified what he’d bouwery."

seen transpire and Griet and Anthony called him “a villain and

"It hasn't been easy but hardship often breeds dauntlessness.

a liar.” Slander suits piled up every time the couple opened their I often think of my father and brother; they drive my desire to mouths.

improve my property. They died too soon to see the dream of a Finally, the court banished Anthony and Griet. But Griet Walloon colony come to be..." He said staring into the fire.

pleaded she was pregnant, so Kieft gave them land way out in She studied him while he was unaware of her gaze. He was Gravesend, on the far southwestern tip of Long Island. Philippe fairly short but still taller than her petite frame. Solidly built with was satisfied. He wouldn't have to see them about town, at least.

lean muscle and rough hands, he was hardened of body and spirit Philippe had been thoroughly distracted for over a year with by field work and losses. His walnut-colored wavy hair hung the cases of Griet and Anthony. With that wrapped up, he finally almost covering his dark brown eyes. He suddenly turned to her, 56   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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his eyes intense and locked on hers.

Hans worked diligently to ready their new home, with wood

"I want to contribute to building this colony so that it flooring and a  bedstee box bed. Wood was plentiful in the colony endures, in memory of my family. I want to start my own family but the tools and skill of carpentry kept Hans in constant demand that I can grow and sustain."

for his craftsmanship.

His eyes were pleading with her that his ambitions might be The front door opened behind her. Hans was home. That possible. She put her delicate, bone white hand on his arm. She morning he told her he had work to do at the ship carpenters'

empathized for his losses. And his ambitions.

yard at Smit's Vly. He returned carrying a large object, wrapped

"Sarina, will you be my wife?" He asked her, taking her hand in red duffel fabric.

in his with formality.

“Min kvinne mitt alt,”  my woman my everything, he called She was 15 and feeling like a spinster since Sarah and Phebe her softly in Norwegian, “I finished making what you wanted.”

were wed off. His tragic romanticism captivated her. She decided She pulled off the cloth. It was the perfect bassinet. It was she could care for him as her husband and partner. Her father made of cedar, had two sturdy rocker feet, and a little canopy on would be happy with her choosing a Walloon. Also, she enjoyed one end, decoratively scalloped on the edges.

speaking French with him. It felt intimate and secretive in this

“Hans... it's perfect.” Her eyes welled up as she set it by their Dutch colony.

fireplace. Cedar was a favorite wood for furniture used next to the

" Oui, Isaac. I would be honored to be your wife," She finally fireplace, as the wood smelled heavenly as it was warmed.

replied and his pensive look lifted in a way that absolutely warmed

“The baby can come now,” Hans said smiling and Sarah her heart.

laughed. She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. He rubbed her _____________________

belly, then pulled open the drawstring of her chemise to massage her bosom.

By the following summer, the Rapalje and the Bergen families

"Will you lie down with me a moment to rest?" Sarah asked.

resided at their summer homes at the Waale-bocht, across the He readily agreed and they climbed into their  bedstee. Sarah was river on Long Island. Hans staked his claim to the land north of so content to lie next to him, feeling the baby moving. But Hans Joris'. The stream called Remegakonck was their shared property had a troubled look on his brow.

line. Hans finished building their home there earlier that year.

“What is it, my love?” She smoothed his brow with her By mid July, Sarah’s belly was enormous, the baby was due fingers. His face softened.

any day. Nesting like a Dutch woman, Sarah was polishing the

“Nothing,” he paused and sighed. “No matter to us, I hope.

new wide plank floors because, for some reason, being on her I saw Director Kieft with a group of soldiers. He said there was a hands and knees was the position she found most comfortable.

group of Raritan Lenape that stole hogs from Staten Island. He Plank floors were an incredible luxury in the new house. She was sends a company of 100-armed men led by van Tienhoven to grateful for the luxuriously wide pine planks. She knew she was punish them.”

born on a dirt floor of a bark dugout house. Catalyna would scoff Director Kieft had started with reasonable measures in regard at that reduction. Not on a dirt floor but on a braided rug made to the Natives. However, pressured by the costs of repairing and from worn out cloth. It was an advanced degree of comfort at the maintaining the fort and a garrison of soldiers, he enacted a time, a year after their arrival.

mandatory tribute of corn, furs, and  sewant from the Natives in a 58   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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nominal exchange for protection. A  sachem of the Raritan Lenape day. Then the night came and the contractions fully took over her had replied, "If we have ceded to you the country you are living body. Then she screamed, “HAAAAANS.”

in, we yet remain masters of what we have retained for ourselves,"

Catalyna had figured out birthing by herself. But one time and they saw no reason they should give tribute for nothing.

she had a midwife, Tryn Jonas, Anneke Jans' mother and Sara

“They might think van Tienhoven to be one of the missing Roelofs' grandmother. Tryn pushed on Catalyna’s hips to give hogs, that disgusting man. Poor Rachel Vigne, I don’t know why relief in the highest waves of pain. Catalyna would do it herself, she married him,” Sarah shuddered. The man was 31 years older but her son-in-law was much stronger and Sarah kept calling his than Rachel. And it might have been her, his bride, if Hans’ hadn’t name. So she sent for him. It was unusual to have men involved stepped in.

in the birthing but Catalyna decided to leave it up to him if he

“Those whom he stings he laughs at, and while he flatters would come.

he bites,” Hans quoted a saying about the man. “I’m sure Rachel Hans was at the Rapalje’s home not far away, pacing, listening had no say in the matter, all orchestrated by her new step-father.

to Joris tell hunting stories and smoking tobacco in a long clay Jan Damen wanted his step-children out of his house. He’s been pipe. When Maria came to fetch him, he was happy to have angling with his cronies in Kieft’s ear as well. If he had his way, something to do other than pace.

all the Natives would simply be exterminated,” Hans said, still When he showed up, Sarah was beside the bed, with her head looking troubled. “I know the former Director had his issues, but down, looking like she was in prayer. They had candles lit in the at least he was peaceable and fair with the Natives.”

two tin wall sconces and a pierced tin lantern scattered dots of Sarah knew Hans and former Director Wouter Van Twiller light over Sarah's head. He went to her and pulled her face up.

had come over on the same ship and had been friends, so she said Her eyes were closed.

naught of what she’d heard about that spoiled, money-grubbing,

“Min kvinne mitt alt.”  He wiped the wet wisps of hair off her incompetent drunk being no better in many ways.

forehead and her eyes opened.

“The former Director realized war wouldn’t be as profitable

“HAAAAAANS!” The contractions had started again.

as peace,” Sarah said at last. “Let’s hope we don’t have to see that Catalyna helped Sarah onto her hands and knees on the bed.

proven before it’s believed by the new Director.”

Catalyna showed him how to press on her hips. After what felt Sarah winced at a sharp spasm in her belly. She'd been having like forever to Hans, Sarah’s short breathing resumed to normal.

them for days, but it had been happening more frequently that

“Hans,” Sarah breathlessly said.

day.

“They’ll be here again soon, the waves are coming quick. Not

"What is it?" Hans asked, concerned.

much longer,” Catalyna said. She had Hans flip a sheet over a

"I think the baby is coming," she said after the spasm relaxed.

rafter. Catalyna helped her stand next to the bed. “Hang onto this _____________________

Sarah. Hans is behind to support you if you need it.”

“HANS!” Sarah cried out a minute later. She was in one of Catalyna was at her side with her sisters Maria, Jannet, and his shirts, her breasts and legs mostly exposed, half crouched, Judith. Sarah benefited from seeing Catalyna give birth five times.

clinging to the bed linen.

She understood how it looked but not what it felt like.

“Blood!” Hans cried out as he saw it stream down her leg.

She groaned, “mooing” like a  milch koe,  on and off, for over a

“Hans,” Sarah murmured at the bottom of that wave.

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"That's good, almost there," Catalyna said.

Willem Kieft being godfather to Aneken was partly a political She was enjoying assisting, instead of the doing the work decision, to make it harder for the old families of New Amsterdam of birthing for once. Sarah's sisters, Maria, Jannet, and Judith to oppose him. Becoming a father had shifted Hans perspective stood ready with hot water and clean cloths, softly offering on the Natives. He wanted nothing more than to protect his encouragement as well.

family. He now had the urge to agree with Kieft's use of force.

“Hans, do you want to catch the baby or hold Sarah?”

More broadly, the settlers had no wish to make war on the Catalyna asked him.

Natives and rebuked Kieft quickly for being the source of all their

“Hold Sarah,” he said quickly and decisively.

troubles. Even David Pietersen DeVries, Patroon of Staten Island She was pleased at his choice. One more wave of contractions whose hogs were stolen—who'd since lost four farmhands, and and their first baby was born into Catalyna’s hands. Her first had his house set on fire by the Raritan Natives retaliating—did grandchild. A baby girl with Hans’ deep blue eyes and wisps of not blame the Natives. Kieft was the one who incited violence and blond hair like corn silk.

needless escalation of war. Kieft instated a policy that he would _____________________

pay a bounty for every head of a Raritan Native brought to him.

_____________________

One week later, on July 22, 1640, Aneken Hansen Bergen was baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam.

"I heard it was Dutch sailors who stole the hogs," Catalyna Director General Willem Kieft was witness as godfather and told Sarah. Her mother was visiting and helping with baby Catalyna as godmother. Kieft graciously gifted Aneken a silver Aneken to give Sarah a break. "One of the sailors let it slip while spoon with her initials.

deep in his cups before he set off for the Caribbean."

"Aren't you now appreciative of my suggestion your daughter

"Hans said he heard they've made peace," Sarah said be wedded?" Kieft whispered to Catalyna. "A splendid daughter tentatively. "Surely that's an end to it?"

of New Amsterdam has been produced."

"Perhaps a tentative peace," Catalyna said. "But I don't think Catalyna had a demure look but admitted no appreciation.

Kieft understands tensions won't be resolved by him insisting on It was a joyous period when days and nights blurred. Sarah his corn tax and intimidation strategy."

took to motherhood, instinctively emulating Catalyna. Hans was Sarah felt fatally exhausted from Aneken's incessant needs exhilarated and profoundly changed. They both gazed dumbstruck enmeshed with anxiety over a possible war. So this is what at the tiny features they'd created together, enraptured by her adulthood is, she realized.

expressions stretching after a nap or soiling her clout.

The bitter revelation turned her yearning fire to ashes.

However, amid all these private feelings, there was a darkness of unease spreading in the colony. Kieft’s campaign of retribution did not have the desired effect. Several of the Raritan Lenape were killed. The Dutch brutally maimed their  sachem  and he also perished. Anger at this injustice led more of the neighboring tribes to withhold the corn tribute. Native attacks on settlers began in Staten Island and Pavonia.

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The hangman, another enslaved African, was securing two ropes around Manuel's neck to account for his size. Swiftly, he pushed Manuel off the ladder. The great weight of him fell and as soon as the ropes pulled taut they split. Manuel continued his descent to the hard frozen ground below, himself as stunned as everyone else.

"Mercy!" The crowd chanted. Sarah and her family joined in the cry. Director Kieft quited the crowd.

CHAPTER 9

"A failed execution is a remarkable act of God and proof of 1641 - 1642

this man's innocence," Kieft bellowed. "I hereby pardon all nine of the confessors on condition of good behavior."

Murder and execution were not common in the colony.

Drunken brawls, knife fights, and other public disturbances that often happened were resolved with a day in the stockades. The A raucous crowd gathered around on the shore to the south worst offenders would ride the wooden horse, a triangular beam, of their home on Pearl Straat. Sarah went out the front door of with their legs weighted down. Manuel was lucky he also avoided her home as Catalyna did, to see what was the matter. Carrying that punishment.

one year old Aneken under her shawl, Sarah, her mother, and _____________________

her siblings followed the crowd to the gibbet at the shoreline.

Manuel the Giant climbed the primitive executional structure.

Sarina and Isaac were wed in June 1641 at  Vrendendael, the Sarah recalled seeing the first enslaved Africans arrive when she bouwery of Johannes de la Montagne. Johannes, twenty years was little. Manuel was among them. He had been rented by the older than Isaac, assumed a fatherly role since Isaac had no other Company to Gerrit Teussen de Reus and had worked his bouwery family in New Netherland. Sarina’s parents, her six siblings, for over a decade.

Johannes, Rachel, and their six children attended.

They found Joris and Hans standing in the crowd.

Sarina’s father Philippe and Johannes looked like they

"Why are they hanging Manuel?" Catalyna asked Joris.

could be brothers. Both were fairly tall and swarthy with dark

"Someone murdered Jan Premero. Nine fellow enslaved men hair, high cheekbones and Van Dyke beards. Philippe had more confessed, including Manuel. The Company wouldn't hang all of a changeable mood—quick to laugh, fight, or pray—while nine so they drew straws," Joris explained.

Johannes was more even-tempered.

"The tall man drew the short straw," Hans said, grimacing.

In Leiden, Philippe had been a worsted worker and dresser Hans may have been the tallest white man in New Amsterdam of mock velvet, whereas Johannes had been at university studying but Manuel stood above him.

to be a surgeon, like his father. Both were Walloons and both Sarah wrestled her conscience over whether to stay and had known Jessé, Isaac’s father, in Leiden, although they had only witness or leave. It was an ugly event to spectate and yet she could become acquainted with each other in New Amsterdam. They not look away. She hid Aneken's face with her shawl.

both took civic roles in New Amsterdam, Johannes as Councilor 64   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   65

to Director Kieft and Philippe as Court Messenger, in charge of _____________________

carrying out summons.

Sarina's light blue taffeta petticoat shimmered in the sun. Her The prospect of pain and danger filled Sarah with a dull sense stomacher was light green with darker green stripes that fanned of dread, mixed with an undaunted resignation. She was due to like a lobster tail at the bottom.

give birth to her and Hans' second child. Her mother told her Isaac polished up handsomely. He wore voluminous, emerald that although all births were different, they tended to become jacquard breeches, a stunningly white shirt with billowing sleeves, easier and faster with subsequent children.

and a sleek, dark green damask jerkin.

At the end of July, Sarah gave birth to their second daughter, After the ceremony, they had a grand celebratory feast with Rebecca. It was both easier and harder than her first birth. The pheasant, pike, venison and veal meatballs, and Rhenish wine. It labor was shorter but the quicker delivery was more painful.

was not a raucous gathering, but refined. They dined outdoors, She was so young that, physically, she recovered quickly.

in the shade of an ancient oak. The cliffs to the west edge of the Her mind was overwhelmed though. She struggled to attend to property sparkled. When the sun dipped in the west, the rushes of the needs of a newborn and her willful two year old. It was as if marshland in the east glowed gold. The company, food, and wine a sullen scrim shrouded what should have been a happy scene.

brought a sense of nostalgia and kindred affinity to the families'

Thankfully, Catalyna and her little sisters helped with Aneken.

shared ancestral homeland.

A month after Rebecca was born, both Sarah and Catalyna

"Your father would be proud of this union," Johannes told were called to testify in court. Nanne Beeche, a woman who Isaac. "It is precisely the vision he had for a Walloon colony."

frequented Cat's Wheel, was the defendant in a paternity case.

After dinner concluded, Isaac took Sarina to his property.

Nanne had come for a drink one day and became ill with Isaac had two Englishmen build him a substantial home, and nausea. She begged Catalyna to send for the midwife, Tryn Jonas, Sarina had not seen it yet. It was spacious with latticed, glazed Sara Roelofs' grandmother. Catalyna did as she asked.

windows and an English chimney made of cobblestone. The Sarah felt sorry for Nanne. Although she certainly wasn't the kitchen and a long tobacco house were set behind it and all was most morally upstanding woman, she was always warm and kind enclosed in a piked blockade fence.

to Sarah. She may have struggled with lusty passions, adulterous

“May I?” Isaac held his arm around her waist as they stood at temptations and a tendency to drink too much but she was a the gate. She smiled and nodded and he swooped her off her feet good woman at heart.

and carried her through the threshold and into the house.

Nanne went to court several times over infidelities to her The last evening light poured through the west facing previous husband Thomas Beeche. One night, a few years ago, windows, giving the great room a buttery warmth. It felt even she was drinking at Claes Swits' taphouse and several witnesses more spacious because it was sparsely appointed. There was only testified that she got so drunk she wouldn't go home with her two oak chairs, placed facing the fireplace.

husband, but fumbled at the breeches of every other man there.

“It needs a woman’s touch. I wanted you to decide on Two more court cases had witnesses testify to seeing her in acts of furnishings,” Isaac explained. “Whatever you’d like, we’ll have carnal conversation with other men. Some say she drove Thomas made or imported.”

Beeche mad and he left her and escaped to the English colony in

“We’re home,” Sarina warmly announced and kissed him.

New Haven. Others said he drown himself in the river. Either 66   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   67

way, she'd quickly remarried a man named Thomas Smith, who only a boy then. To his lifelong shame, he ran and hid in the now doubted the paternity of their child and brought the suit to forest. He was the only one that lived.

court.

He saw Claes bent over the chest, neck bared. He was Catalyna and Sarah both testified Nanne said she was offering himself as retribution, the young man thought. Finally pregnant by Mr. Smith on the day in question. She said she'd retribution. And look, there was an ax by the fireplace. The pieces been fighting with her husband but Nanne said “Mr. Smith wants came together and he sprung into action. One fell swoop, the old me back for the sake of the child that I am carrying.”

man was dead.

It turned out the case was more about a large debt owed Ipawahun left, still in a fog of war he’d harbored fifteen years, by Nanne's late husband. Thomas Smith did not want to be with Claes’ scalp in his hands.

responsible for it. He accepted the child was his as long as Nanne _____________________

accepted the full weight of the debt owed and the case was settled later that year.

Johannes knocked on the Director's door. Kieft was in his _____________________

office, studying a report on the colony's tobacco production and profits. He was determined to appropriate funds to make At the location where Nanne's first indiscretion happened, necessary repairs in the colony but had to simultaneously appear Claes Swits, a 65 year old former wheelwright and failed farmer, profitable to the Company. His plan of taxing the Natives wasn't ran his taphouse. Originally from Switzerland, Claes’ popular working as he planned.

pub in Deutel Bay was frequented by all nationalities, including

"Director," Johannes began, "My apologies for the Natives. He knew many of the Weckquaesgeek Natives by name, interruption. There's been a murder. Claes Swits, the old tavern as his taproom was on a trail they often traveled. He was a well owner, was beheaded and scalped this morning."

liked, convivial man. His place was known to sometimes get Kieft's eyes widened. The veins in his forehead pumped rowdy, though only as much as anywhere else selling alcohol in prominently as wrath consumed him. The machinations behind the colony.

his eyes jumped ahead on how to use this sad event to justify his That August day was hot and there weren’t any other patrons aim to exterminate the Natives. It was the only way, he believed, at the taphouse yet. A young Weckquaesgeek Native, Ipawahun, to ensure the safety of the colony.

sought to do some trading with Claes. Ipawahun had worked for

"Send word to his  sachem to turn him over. We will execute the his son so Claes let him in and gave him a beer. It was so hot out, murderer or his entire village will suffer," Kieft ordered Johannes.

Ipawahun was dehydrated and had been running on an empty It was stiflingly hot and humid in his office that late summer stomach. The ale went right to his head and he felt woozy. He afternoon. Johannes wondered if that was partly why he reacted didn’t hear the old man’s chatter as he rummaged in a wooden the way he did, impassioned with heat madness. The heat made chest for goods to trade.

men do rash things, just like Ipawahun murdering an innocent Suddenly Ipawahun was transported back, fifteen years ago.

tavern owner.

His uncle, cousins, and he went to trade in Manhattan with the Johannes did as he was commanded. He went to the newly arrived Europeans. Half the white men ran off with the Weckquaesgeek to ask for the murderer to be turned over to pelts they brought and the other half attacked his people. He was face justice. Their  sachem explained that Ipawahun had “blood 68   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   69

revenge” for the Dutch killing his people. In their view, by exterminate them,” Abraham Pietersen Verplanck argued, going taking the tavern owner's life, the young man had restored his beyond Jacques Bentijn’s opinion. Jan Damen agreed.

honor. Justice had been served, as they saw it. They refused to Joris Rapalje, Jacob Stoffelsen, Gerrit Dircksen, and Hendrick turn him over. Johannes expressed sympathy for the young man's Jansen wanted to wait for a ship from  Patria to arrive before family members who were killed, but that the tavern keep was an deciding what to do, to delay provocation of war.

innocent man. They still refused to turn him over.

Frederick Lubbertsen did not believe they could successfully _____________________

execute a war. Jacob Waltingen agreed to go along with whatever the director and council thought was best. The majority advised The wheels of war further turned in Kieft's mind. Then we patience and negotiation but agreed there should be justice for must make a show of force and make ruin of his tribe, as an the murder.

example, he thought. He was reluctant to make that move while Some argued the Natives collectively outnumbered the public opinion still wasn't on his side. He had a scheme in mind colonists and reprisals could result in mass carnage. Others to make the colonists complicit in the decision for war.

commented that the Natives supplied the furs and pelts that were He called a meeting, wherein the residents would elect a economically vital to the colony. The majority of the council Council of Twelve men. The men selected constituted the first sought to dissuade Kieft from escalating to war. They began to representative assembly in New Netherland. Joris was nominated, advise him on other matters, using the new Council to carry the as one of the settlers living there the longest and for having interests of colonists to their corporate ruler.

amicable relationships with several tribes. He was wary of Kieft’s motives but sought to serve the colony.

Director Kieft posed to them, three very leading questions: 1. Whether it is not just to punish the barbarous murder of Claes Swits committed by a  wilden and, in case the  wilden refuse to surrender the murderer at our request, whether it is not justifiable to ruin the entire village to which he belongs?

2. In what manner the same ought be put into effect and at what time?

3. By whom it may be undertaken?

Their replies ranged from cautiously opposed to outright genocidal.

Jochem Kuyter offered, “It would be best to stay patient and

‘rock the  wilden to sleep,’ rather than incite them to escalating violence.” Jan Evertsen Bout agreed.

“I’d prefer to kill the  wilden murderer in order to terrorize them,” Jacques Bentijn said.

“Rather, I think we should begin a war against all the  wilden, 70   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   71

Catalyna made Phebe an herbal tea that eased the pain a little. They made a rich beef stew for dinner. Phebe was shaking with nerves but the food and tea made her relax.

"Rest. Your waves are still far apart. It will take some time and you will need strength for later," Catalyna told her.

Phebe was afraid to sleep. She was afraid of what the dream meant. Perhaps she was to join her mother—that the birth would mean her death.

CHAPTER 10

"Am I going to die?" Phebe asked, not realizing she said it 1641 - 1642

aloud in the dark.

"No," Sarah whispered, lying next to her in bed.

"Every woman asks that every time they give birth," Catalyna said drowsily from Nys' chair with Catalyntje sleeping on her chest. It wasn't an answer but it was a reassurance.

"Go, keep my husband company. Your good wife will be well The ground had been bare when they arrived but in the taken care of," Catalyna told Nys as she pushed him out the door morning, the snow was piled so high against the door that they into the harsh, cold day.

couldn't open it. Phebe tensed upon the realization there was no

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Nys asked.

way they could call the midwife if needed.

"No," resounded from Phebe, Sarah, and Catalyna. They Phebe's waves of birthing pains were starting to come faster knew he'd nervously talk too much and be a frustrating distraction by midday. She prayed and screamed oaths in English. She to Phebe in her birthing.

apologized to Catalyna and Sarah as soon as the pain passed.

The pain in Phebe's belly started the night before. It woke

"It's all right," Sarah said. She held Phebe's hand through the her from a dream of her mother. She was held and comforted in waves and squeezed hard when Phebe was in the thick of it.

her dream. She could smell the herbaceous scent of her mother's Catalyna placed a hungry Catalyntje to Phebe’s breast. It lemon balm soap but she couldn't find her face. She looked up, caused a sensation that pulsed through her body right to her shrouded in a curtain of her mother's chestnut brown hair. She womb. She suddenly felt pressure so intense she thought it would so dearly wanted to see her mother's face again. She swept the tear her apart. Catalyna moved her to a birthing stool she brought.

hair away with her hands but she couldn't find the edges. It It had a hole in the middle and a bucket underneath. As she sat became seaweed that tangled around her wrists and waist. She was down, waters and blood streamed out.

underwater. Her mouth gaped to scream but nothing came out.

Phebe closed her eyes tight. She saw shapes in the obscurity.

She awoke to searing pain. Her waist was not choked by seaweed The curve of her mother's jaw connected to the thin-lipped smile, but by birthing convulsions.

the square-tipped nose, and hazel eyes.

Sarah and Catalyna were a welcome distraction. Sarah The build up had been as long as the end was quick. Despite brought Rebecca and Catalyna brought her nine-month-old baby the long labor and the frightful winter storm, baby Jannet arrived Catalyntje, “little Catalyna,” her seventh child.

in great health. She had a ferocious cry and immediate penchant 72   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   73

for suckling. Once she had the birth grease and blood wiped clean brought herbs and the bones of fowl to make a nourishing broth and dry, it was apparent she had Nys’ head-full of curls.

to aid Phebe's recovery. Phebe allowed him a sip.

_____________________

_____________________

Nys had gone to the Rapalje home, as Catalyna suggested.

Hans was restless with Sarah gone, their baby with her, and Joris wasn’t able to attend meetings of the Council of Twelve so Aneken looked after by her aunts.

he spoke to Nys on matters. The children ran around them as they Despite the snow, he took a trip to see Maryn, his old friend, smoked their pipes and waxed philosophically.

with whom he had shared a tobacco plantation. He was let in by Nys was particularly Dutch in the way he weighed all options a new servant. Maryn must be doing quite well, Hans thought.

carefully and cautiously. He was also a pragmatist.

Maryn had recently purchased the property in Smit’s Vly, along

"Perhaps seizing the murderer of Claes would be justice, but the shores of the East River next to Maiden Lane.

ruin of his whole village would be bad for business and safety,"

“Hallo Maryn, you look well,” Hans said shaking his hand Nys offered. "If a Netherlander killed a Native, would it be fair for and embracing his forearm with the other. Maryn was fifteen them to ruin all of New Amsterdam in turn?"

years older than Hans but the fruits of his hard work were finally

"I've known good and bad Natives, same as there are good coming to bear. He looked a stately gentleman for having not so and bad Dutchmen alike. What I principally can’t stomach is long ago been an indentured farmer for Rensselaer. Before that he condemning a whole people indiscriminately," Joris explained.

sailed with the notorious pirate and freebooter Claes Campain.

It reminded Joris of the Duke of Alva leading the Inquisitions Part of the reason Hans was friends with the man was that he had that devastated his hometown of Valenciennes. The Council great stories after a few drinks.

of Blood, as it became known, was imposed to condemn all

“Ach, I’ve been better,” Maryn rebuffed with a smile, handing Protestants and even Catholics who were sympathetic. Thousands Hans some brandy.

from his region fled. Some converted. Those who didn't were

“Is it business or pleasure that’s giving you qualms?”

executed or burned. Joris could not condone guileless pretense

“Neither. It’s being dragged into the damned awful business for massacre. He had come to this country to escape war, not of what to do about old man Claes’ murder,” Maryn said, looking inflame a new one.

exasperated and suddenly older, downing his cup of brandy and After a few days, Nys cared not for the debate nor the snow pouring himself another.

piled high. He lashed on snowshoes and went home, two days

“Ja, ‘twas a sad and horrible end for such a kind-hearted after Jannet had been born.

fellow,” Hans affirmed.

Nys had to shovel away a snowdrift almost as tall as their

“It’s more a question of political alliances, and debts owed, front door that barred his entry to their home. When he did, now. Director Kieft had the Twelve Men elected but it’s clear he he was greeted by Phebe and their sweet, new baby Jannet. He just wants confirmation of his own ideas. And Jan Damen and his thanked the Lord all was well in his absence. He cooed, holding son-in-laws are frothing to concur.”

his daughter as Sarah and Catalyna prepared to depart.

“Do you concur?” Hans asked him, looking at his friend Better than all being well, the women also had soup cooking solemn and plainly.

on the hearth. Catalyna warned it was not for him though. She'd

“I concur I rather need to stay in said mens’ good graces,”

74   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   75

Maryn said defensively. “If the choice is me or the  wilden, then

“Indeed. That’s the perfect medicine for the day I’ve had,”

the pain will be on the  wilden.”

Jochem answered. “Add some spices, you’d have a good  glögg.”

Hans saw the predicament. Jan Damen was a rich privateer.

Jochem was a Dane and the most prestigious one in the colony.

No doubt Maryn owed him some debts, which Jan held over him.

“Bonjour mon mari! Monsieur Kuyter,” Sarah exclaimed, He’d spoken with Joris on it as well. Joris was under no debts bowing her head as they entered the parlor room. She was to Jan but he still didn’t want to make him an enemy. Hans felt embroidering a cushion cover, sitting on their new lounge.

sorry for his friend and did not envy his decision. He had gained

“Bonjour   Madame De Forest,” Jochem answered with her a stately position and bouwery, for which he wore a golden yoke courtesy title in French and tipped his hat. He had a limited in his ascension.

proficiency in French but humored her with the salutations in the Maryn got out his dice and backgammon board. The two Walloon’s native tongue.

played, placing bets against one another, and drank until Maryn Isaac brought over a two large bolts of fabric to Sarina, “For couldn't remember his woes and they both fell asleep at the table.

the drapes,” he noted and kissed her cheeks.

_____________________

“Exquisite, thank you,” Sarina remarked as her fingertips grazed the heavyweight damask in a lovely light blue color. “This Isaac was close to arriving home, his horse cart laden with will help a lot with the cold. I adore the glazing but they give off supplies from town. He had traveled up  De Heere Straat, to the quite a chill in the winter, even with the shutters.”

Weckquaesgeek trail that snaked north through island, past Claes Isaac tapped a cask of beer he brewed himself. He added beer Swit’s tavern. It was mid January 1642 and the snow covered paths to a pot with molasses and rum and set it over the fire. Once it had been desolate. He saw a figure alone in the distance on the boiled he whisked until it frothed. Sarina brought out a rustic path and caught up to him. It was his neighbor, Jochem Kuyter.

boule bread and butter.

“Goedendag, Jochem!” Isaac called.

“I put some clove, cinnamon, and cardamom in there for Jochem stopped and turned. “Hallo, Isaac,” Jochem said, you, Jochem,” Isaac explained. “Might not be a proper  glögg, but looking slightly relieved to see him.

it’ll warm you up.”

“Care to join me for a drink before you continue home?”

“Delicious,” Jochem said, closing his eyes as the aroma and Isaac asked.

steam wafted up his nose. He sipped it gingerly. “If a cow on the

“Ja, all right,” Jochem consented, swinging himself up beside loose was my only trouble ... this might make all well.”

Isaac onto the seat of the horse cart. “I lost a cow. I’ve been

“Oh, what of the other trouble then?” Isaac asked, guessing it searching for far too long as I was lost in thought. I’m damn near was the matter the Twelve Men had been meeting on for months frozen. Cow probably is by now too.”

now, Jochem being one of the twelve.

Passing through the gates of their stockade fence, Isaac noted,

“How do you quench the appetite of blood-thirsty Dutchmen

“Sarina has the fire of the great room going and fresh loaves of without jeopardizing everything we have built?” Jochem sighed bread should be ready,” he pointed to the smoke rising from the and leaned back. “Kieft answered our push for a permanent main and kitchen chimneys.

elected council with a proposition: he would accept our request if

“Would you like an ale flip?” Isaac asked as he unloaded some we, in turn, would support his proposal to obliterate the Natives.”

molasses and rum he’d just purchased in town.

“Hmmm,” Isaac murmured.

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“Dreadful proposition,” Sarina said, as she sipped her ersatz the winter sickness, she was fussy and clung to her mother. The glögg.

mucus would not stop flowing from her nose, so it was prudent

“Ja, what’s worse is there’s Jan Damen and Abraham Verplanck they stayed home. Pleased that she would be godmother to both pushing to agreement with Kieft,” Jochem explained, furrowing of her first grandchildren, Catalyna didn’t mind.

his brows. “It's not beyond imagination they will use coercion The ceremony ended and the party mingled and chatted and intimidation of the others to fall in line.”

about whether Michiel looked more like  moeder or  pater. Catalyna

“A bridge has been built, over which war will soon stalk glanced to the back of the hall and saw Adrienne Cuvelier praying.

through the land,” Isaac said, staring at the fire. “My brother-in-As Catalyna walked nearer, she heard the woman whispering law Johannes said that when Kieft first levied the corn tax tributes

“...Lord, smite them. Drag them to the deepest caverns of hell...”

from the Natives.”

Catalyna stopped short of ten paces away. She thought she

“Ja, the wheels for this were set in motion years ago,” Jochem shouldn’t eavesdrop on prayers, yet these seemed to be more like sighed, dismayed.

curses.

“As Kieft's Counselor, Johannes advised against violence but

“Ahhem,” Catalyna loudly cleared her throat. The woman it fell on deaf ears. He has one vote, Kieft has two.”

kept on unawares. “Adrienne!” Catalyna tried to shout in a

“Just as with the Natives, I believe confrontation begets convivial manner.

confrontation. David de Vries and I think we can stalemate and Adrienne looked up, her eyes large and frightened, feeling deflect with other matters until they tire of it, at least until the threatened or caught? She didn’t recognize Catalyna.

crops need to be planted and harvested. Maybe tensions will have

“It’s me, Catalyna, wife of Joris, mother of Sarah... We lived eased by then.”

in Fort Orange...” She talked slowly, trying to draw the woman

“Dreadful,” Sarina whispered again and shuddered. They from her thoughts back to reality.

were so isolated in their lovely but lonely homestead. They had

“Ah Catalyna,” finally she said, her lips drawing up in a one gun and a few farmhands. They had their stockade fence but sneering, forced smile. Catalyna waited for her to say more but it was hardly impervious to attacks.

she still just stared, the corners of her mouth drawn up.

“We will hope for better senses to prevail,” Isaac offered,

“How are you,  Madame? I was saddened to hear of your raising his cup and downing the libation, as if that would husband’s death,” Catalyna said. She almost gave congratulations extinguish the burning uneasiness in his gut.

for her daughters' marriages but she wasn't sure if it was After that conversation with Jochem Kuyter, Isaac contracted something to be celebrated. She'd heard her new husband, Jan a new home and they relocated nearer the fort. He too felt their Damen, expelled his step-children when he married Adrienne, vulnerability so far from the town.

necessitating their marriages.

_____________________

“We shall be delivered soon, from the evil of this land. I pray on it daily. You must tell your husband we must vanquish Catalyna and Hans went to the Dutch Reformed Church for the  wilden. It’s the only way.” Adrienne whispered urgently, the the baptism of Michiel, son of Michiel Pauluszen van der Voort whites of her eyes showing in rapturous testament.

and Maria Rapalje, on January 19, 1642. Catalyna stood in for

“You look like you’ve prayed a lot today, maybe it’s time to Sarah, who was home with Aneken. The little one being ill with go home,” Catalyna said gently. “Rest is necessary for prayers to 78   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   79

be effective.”

“Nonsense. Jan is having meetings. I shan’t interrupt them,”

She waved Catalyna away, but Catalyna wasn’t brushed off so easily.“Who is he meeting with?” Catalyna asked.

“No one of your concern. Pray with me or leave me be,”

Adrienne snapped back.

“You’ll be in my prayers tonight,” Catalyna curtly replied and returned to the baptismal party, still milling about the church.

“Adrienne Cuvelier has lost her wits,” Catalyna whispered to Hans.

80   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

What did we once glimpse with our eyes PART TWO

Staring at the hearth, it’s slow burning coal?

Visions of life- forever lost to us

1643 - 1653

SAFETY

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

Sonnets to Orpheus

Part 2 , Number 2

catch the particulars.  Proost on Shrove was like wishing on a star.

A childlike gambit for luck you said plenty of without garnering much hope or care on it coming to pass.

As Maryn said “Proost,” Van Tienhoven slid a document under him and helped him sign. The other parties present signed in due haste.

“I’m glad you’re views are aligned with ours,” Jan said to Maryn, warmly clasping him on the shoulder. Maryn smiled back CHAPTER 11

at him, closing one eye to see him more clearly.

1643

Van Tienhoven, as Secretary to Directior Kieft, had drawn up a petition requesting the Director to order an immediate attack upon the Natives.

Later Maryn said he did not remember signing such a thing, yet his loopy signature was first among the party. Whether he was too deep in his cups to remember or not, he had committed himself to their plan.

Shrovetide was, once again, when mischief transpired as a The petition read:

catalyst for the defining events of the year to come.

“The whole of the freemen respectfully represent that though Jan Damen and his wife Adrienne Cuvelier hosted a heretofore much innocent blood was spilled by the savages without Shrovetide dinner February 17, 1643 with Director Kieft, Jan’s having had any reason or cause therefore, yet your Honors made son-in-laws Cornelis van Tienhoven and Abraham Verplanck, as peace on condition that the chiefs should deliver the murderer well as Maryn Adriansen from the council of Twelve Men.

into our hands (either dead or alive), wherein they have failed Now it was the former council. Kieft, annoyed he wasn’t up to the present time, the reputation which our nation hath in getting what he wanted from them, dissembled the council a other countries has thus been diminished, even notwithstanding week ago and forbade them to meet without his permission.

innocent blood calleth aloud to God for revenge; we therefore

"I gather you men specifically to further discuss the matter of request your Honors to be pleased to authorize us to attack the the  wilden  and believe we can come to agree on a course of action.

savages as enemies, whilst God hath delivered them into our hands As we speak the  wilden gather, no doubt nefariously, at Pavonia for which purpose we offer our persons. This can be effected at and Corlaer's Hook. But first, let us eat, drink, and make merry,"

one place by the freemen and at the other by the soldiers, Your Jan told them as he raised a glass.

Honor’s Subjects,

In the Dutch Shrovetide tradition, they got very drunk.

Signed Maryn Adriaensen, Jan Damen, Abraham Verplanck, Maryn, perhaps, most of all. From Maryn’s recollection, after under the authority of Cornelis van Tienhoven.”

dinner they continued to drink and began a round of  proost.

_____________________

Cheers to this and that, to the Director General, to the crops, to the success of some great enterprise beginning. Maryn did not Phebe awoke in the middle of the night, on February 23, 84   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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1643, to the most horrific, yet faint, sounds of hell. Sarah would knows how long this will last. I’ll keep watch out here tonight.

have said it sounded like the shrill screams of coyote pups attacking I don't know what to expect from this.” He rose and she saw he the evening meal their mother brought home. Every hair on her had his sword and musket with him. He put his arms around her, body stood up and she felt gut punched, which she may well have kissed her forehead, and pushed her back inside.

been. She was pregnant, due very soon, with their third child.

_____________________

“Nysss,” Phebe hissed. He wasn’t in bed beside her.

She rolled, set her feet down on the floor, and heaved her The scene repeated itself at a home on the southernmost part massive belly out of bed. She wrapped herself in her heavy woolen of the island, just outside the fort on Winkel Straat. Sarina and housecoat and struggled to close it.

Isaac had not long since leased out their bouwery in the north and She quickly shuffled to light a candle. Jannet and baby Geertje moved to their new home next to Domine Bogardus.

were still sleeping on trundle beds at the foot of their parents'

After their discussion with Jochem Kuyter, Isaac sought out bedstee. The tightening fear in her chest relaxed, just a little. The his brother-in-law, Johannes. He needled him for information horrific screams continued though.

and implored for his advice. Johannes was uncomfortable and Phebe quietly slipped out of the bedroom to the great room.

avoided saying anything directly, but gave the impression that if She took an iron fire poker to use as a weapon. She smelled tobacco he wasn’t so indebted to the Company, he’d not have taken on smoke so she went to the door and cracked it open tentatively.

the role of Commander of New Amsterdam’s troops. But as he

“Nys!” She hissed again. He sat on their stoop, smoking a was contracted, he’d serve faithfully. His counsel of peace went pipe. She stepped outside and closed the door quickly, so as not unheeded and he had no power to do more. So war is a  fait to let the grotesque noises into the house.

accompli, presumably inescapable, thought Isaac.

“Are the children still asleep?” Nys asked, looking nervous.

He and Sarina awoke that night by the distant ghastly screams

“Yes, but what is that dreadful noise?” Phebe asked urgently, and gunfire, echoing off the water and hills surrounding them.

as if knowing would make it stop. The screams and gunfire Isaac already knew what it was. It was war.

seemingly came from multiple places surrounding their bouwery.

And worse, those sounds were being transmitted forth by the An eerie glow of a massive fire reflected onto the low clouds in actions of his family member. His own father had made peace the night sky.

between tribes in Guiana. If only he were here now. He would

“It’s an attack on those Weckquaesgeek and Tappan Natives make peace between the Lenape and the Mohawks and the taking refuge at the encampments at Corlaer’s Hook and Pavonia.

Dutch, not slaughter refugees.

I thought it might be the Mohawks further chasing after them,”

Then he felt foolish. His father wasn’t here. Isaac would not be He leaned close to her and grabbed her arm. “But a man sent by a hero lost in war, nor would he be complicit in it’s undertaking.

David De Vries ran up the street warning it was an attack sent by He would protect his family.

Kieft. It’s Dutchmen...” He trailed off, not wanting to say what _____________________

the Dutchmen were doing.

“That dog! Bloody murder. What do we do?” Phebe felt the Around the corner, the Rapalje and Bergen families heard gut punch again.

the horrific noises too. They barricaded their doors, terrified, not

“Go inside and comfort the children if they wake. Who knowing what was happening.

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The next day Joris had it explained by David de Vries who at the Weckquaesgeek while Rachel and their youngest children dined with Kieft in the fort the night before.

escaped with as many essentials as they could carry.

“Kieft told me his plan to attack the refugees. I told him ‘You The Montagnes were now residing in Fort Amsterdam, along will also murder our own nation, for none of the settlers in the with scores of other displaced families whose homes had been open country are aware of the danger this will cause afterward,’"

razed. The Natives were picking off the perimeter north and he explained, eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.

closing in on New Amsterdam. It wasn't just Weckquaesgeek.

"One couple that escaped and came to the fort," he Twelve Algonquin Lenape tribes banded together against the continued. "They came to us for help because they thought it was Dutch. The Wappinger further north joined in, attacking ships.

the Mohawks attacking. I took them off into the woods before In the following days, smoke filled the air from burning anyone else saw them," De Vries said, shaking his head.

farmhouses and the colonists who escaped flooded into New

“Kieft is so damned wrong that this could be justice for Amsterdam, terrified and desperate. They had blood in their eyes Claes Swits or that this could solve problems with the Natives. If for Kieft when they heard of the massacre that instigated the anything, this massacre could unite all the disparate tribes against Native's wrath.

us, and it might result in the destruction of the entire colony.”

In a scheme blatantly premeditated, Kieft now began his

"This morning the soldiers returned, boasting what they’d contingency plan to shift blame away from himself. He issued a done. What they recounted would move a heart of  stone. Infants verbose and gutless manifesto placing blame vaguely on "delegates were torn from their mother’s breasts and hacked to pieces, of the people" who had begged him to issue orders of attack on thrown into the fire and in the water. Some children were thrown the Natives.

into the river, and when the fathers and mothers endeavored to Rumors reached Maryn Adriaensen that the Director was save them, the soldiers would not let them come on land but attempting to unload the responsibility for the massacre mainly made both parents and children drown. Kieft congratulated them upon his shoulders. His rage knew no bounds, especially when he on their Roman valor! Some came to our people near Corlaers was drinking heavily, which was most of the time lately.

Hook with their hands and legs hacked off, some holding their About a month after the attacks on the Natives, Maryn’s wife, entrails. Worse than they were could never happen!”

Lysbet, entered the Wooden Horse Tavern crying, "My husband

“What horror, so cruelly inflicted on innocent people,” Joris is going to kill the Director. Go and catch him!"

said, eyes wide and unfocused.

An off-duty soldier at the tavern swiftly made his way to the

"This has gone much too far already. I'm writing letters to the fort, and into the Director's house. He found Maryn with a pistol States General enumerating Kieft's misdeeds and pleading for his cocked, advancing upon Kieft and screaming, “What devilish lies removal," De Vries said.

are you telling of me?” Johannes grappled for the pistol, which _____________________

misfired without causing injury. He drew Maryn's sword from its scabbard and flung it away.

Johannes de la Montagne was at his  Vrendendael home two A few days later, Maryn's servant appeared at the fort to days later when the first torch hit. In a matter of minutes there finish what his  baas started. He fired a pistol at Kieft without were more fires on his roof than they could possibly put out.

hitting his target and was then shot dead himself. His head was Johannes and his two eldest sons, Jean and Jessé, shot their rifles hung from the gibbet down by the dock as a warning to others 88   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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who entertained such ideas. Maryn was shipped to  Patria to face trial for his assassination attempt on Kieft.

Public opinion was largely on Maryn's side, not in small part because Domine Everardus Bogardus took to defending him from his pulpit during church service. Kieft retaliated by having his military drummers play loudly outside the church during the Domine's sermons.

"If Kieft will not behave himself I will give him such a shake from the pulpit as would make him tremble like a bowl of jelly,"

CHAPTER 12

Domine Bogardus cried out above the din.

1643

Sarah was appalled by Kieft's massacre of refugees and his childish tactics afterward to cast blame on others and silence his critics, like the Domine.

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Sarah asked her father.

"The Council was disbanded. I certainly have no influence over Kieft. I don't think anyone can dissuade him from his disastrous plans. He even ignores the advice of his closest The Long Island Canarsee had not yet joined the other Lenape counselor,  Monsieur De la Montagne. I will speak with our Native tribes in retaliation. The torching of outlander bouweries had not friends at the Waale-bocht. Perhaps a peace can be reached so our yet reached Breuckelen. Joris spoke with Wunita, his friend from bouweries across the river may be spared."

the Keschaechquereren clan. His name meant "the one who is able" and Joris hoped he would be able to help broker peace with the clans around his farmlands.

"Wunita,  nitap, friend. My family does not want war with any Natives. Tell your  sachem   Penhawitz. If your clan joins in alliance with those who seek vengeance on the Dutch, will you spare us?" Joris said and held out his hands, pleadingly, towards his peace offering: iron shears, an iron shovel, and bolts of duffel fabric. Wunita did not move to accept the gifts.

"The Dutch are your tribe. Why do you not stop them from warring against us?" Wunita asked, quizzically.

"I tried. Many people tried. Our  sachem is bad. He does not listen," Joris' eyes were squinted with desperation.

"I will not take your gifts because I do not know if my  sachem will listen either," Wunita said with sad eyes, "but I will tell him the man living at Rennagaconck has been a friend to our people.

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Tell your  sachem to spare the Keschaechquereren."

I'm siding with my friends," he said, determined, yet not wholly Joris' family still mainly resided at their Pearl Straat house clear of conscience.

but they spent more and more time during the planting and Hans didn't have any relationships with Natives like the harvest season at their homestead at the Waale-bocht. He loved Rapalje family had. He hadn't forgotten being chased up a tree.

his home and land there; the dark rich soil, the prairies, forest, He'd knew Wunita and his family but he had fear and mistrust, and cripplebush marsh that surrounded his bouwery. He wanted even for them.

to permanently move there. Despite his pleas, the Natives might They argued while distractedly watching two year old Aneken torch it, like they did to De Vries' bouwery in Staten Island during play with corn husk dolls they'd received from Weenji. Their nine the Pig War. Years of backbreaking, callus-making work, might be month old baby, Rebecca, suckled at Sarah's breast and fussed rendered futile.

when they raised their voices. Eventually Rebecca nodded off and _____________________

Sarah transferred her to the cradle Hans had built. Sarah went to Hans and sat on his lap, the bosom of her dress still open.

Sarah was furious with Hans. His one fault was some of the

"Promise me you won't go, if Kieft authorizes to attack. You company he kept and seeking their favor over doing what was can't leave me and the girls alone to face the retribution," Sarah moral. He had been cajoled into signing a petition to attack the pleaded in a firm tone while she kissed his neck. Her beauty and Long Island Mareckkawick Canarsee tribe. Nee, she thought, grace distracted from her forcefulness and he agreed.

not cajoled but cowered by the van Couwenhovens. The father _____________________

Wolphert and his eldest son Jacob instigated the petition.

Wolphert was co-owner of land in New Amersfoort with Hans'

"Hallo, I'm here to see Director Kieft. This is his goddaughter, former bouwery partner Andries Hudde. Plus, he was a cousin of Aneken," Sarah said to the soldiers as she stood at the iron lattice Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the rich and powerful Patroon controlling entry to the fort.

most of New Netherland north on the Hudson River, up to Fort They assessed her and her child. Aneken looked like a toddling Orange. Hans had arrived on the same ship as Jacob. Dirck de doll with her  passement trimmed coif.

Wolff was a significant merchant who had ambitions to set up

"On what business?" One soldier asked.

salt pans and a sugar refinery on Long Island. The other cosigner

"As I said," Sarah feigning the annoyance that an entitled was their Waale-bocht neighbor, Lambert Huybertson Mol. Hans lady would have. "This is his goddaughter."

worked for him as a carpenter at the shipyard in Smit's Vly. They

"All right. Follow me," The soldier finally conceded.

were all influential men, and under normal circumstances, Sarah He led them to the Director's house inside the fort. He could see why he'd be hitching his wagon to theirs.

instructed her to wait while he announced her. Sarah swallowed

"Your desire for powerful friends will lead to our ruin," Sarah hard and took a deep breath.

said coldly when he told her he'd signed the petition. "Don't you She was let into the great room of the Director's quarters.

understand you can't just frighten the Natives into submission Kieft sat at a table, papers strewn before him. He was pale and and you can't kill them all? My father is working on making peace greasy faced in the stale air that smelled of tobacco and rag paper.

with them. You'd have them turn against us."

The scene explained how he occupied his time holed up in the

"I'm trying to keep us safe. I know I'm taking a gamble... but fort. The room was a chaos of books, papers, maps, and casks of 92   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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wine and beer, tapped and ready to draft.

agreement for these simple things. In turn we receive the pelts

"Good day, Director. Aneken insisted we visit her godfather as that fill the Company coffers with guilders... Your pockets as well.

we passed the fort. I see you're busy. Our apologies in disturbing We will have peace and prosperity."

you..." Sarah said with saccharine deference, turning to leave.

"Trade does not make them respect us. We must show force."

"Not at all! Please, stay," Kieft said, surprising her with his He snorted, looking at her with pity for her simplistic, girlish warmth as he gestured for them to come in.

notions. Sarah changed tactic.

Sarah nudged Aneken. She smiled shyly and gave a little bow.

"Lord General, you are on an island surrounded by Natives.

"Hallo,  meisje," Kieft said to Aneken. "Do you want to see a They form tribes as different as Spain is to the Netherlands. The pretty picture?"

Long Island Natives are not so different to the Netherlands before She nodded and he motioned for her to come closer. Sarah the Dutch Revolt against Spain. The Natives call the land across followed, curious what papers he was looking over.

from New Amsterdam  Paumanok, 'the island that pays tribute.'

"These are journal pages from a man who went deep into the They are subjected to excessive taxation from the northeastern wilden country ten years ago. I'm determined to find a weakness, tribe, the Montauk. Unite with them against the Montauk, they a key to their subjugation, but I was distracted by these drawings will pay  you tribute and join with you in your war against the of spring flora."

Raritans and Weckquaesgeek."

He lifted Aneken to his lap to see. It was a simple drawing of

"Child, a subjugated tribe does not make a great ally. They odd looking flowers adorning an arching stem.

will respond only to force. And if they will not show respect, we

"He called them Dutchman's Breeches," Kieft said.

shall show no mercy. I will protect this colony. Your good husband

"Do you see,  Maman?" Aneken laughed and looked to Sarah.

agrees. He petitions to attack the Long Island  wilden."

"Yes, they do look like breeches hung upside down on a

"I am not a child. I am a wife with two daughters. I have lived clothesline." She replied. She tried to act amused but Kieft's here my entire life. My husband, nor you, understand that those mention of finding the Natives' weakness quickened her pulse

' wilden'  are our neighbors and business partners, not our enemy."

and made a perfect entrée for the true purpose of her visit.

Sarah's unchecked indignation escaped her. She witnessed the

"You can spend more time on your distraction for I can tell effect of it transform the man in front of her.

you the Native's weakness," Sarah declared.

"Insolence! Do not presume higher authority to decide such Kieft dropped his smile and looked at her with an arched things!" He shouted, his cheeks flushing with his rising anger. "I brow, waiting for her to continue.

am the Director General and no one has more power to cower the

"It's the same as the Netherlander's weakness..."

wilden or insolent colonists! I am my own master, for I have my

"Grog?" He interjected, scoffing, as he heartily sipped from commission not from the Company, but from the States General!"

his fine silver tankard. He wiped his mustache and pointed beard

"If the Natives band together our colony is outnumbered!"

with his hand.

Aneken, still on his lap, began to wail with the shouting.

"No. Trade." She replied in earnest. "Peaceful, secure trade Sarah gave a loud  Shhh directed to both her child and Kieft. She for the items that are paltry to us but are the things that they took Aneken in her arms before the man vaulted her off his lap as cannot make from the land. Knives, iron pots, steel traps, axes, he stood to face her.

adzes, hoes, rakes, blankets, coats. Give them a favorable trade

"Perhaps I shall send you to the stocks for your insolence..."

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"Director General, I do not mean to offend. I humbly offer asked her mother. They took their children indoors to avoid the my perspective," Sarah replied, holding his gaze, trying to charm gruesome sight.

him back with graceful steadiness. "In your wisdom, with God's As the soldiers paraded past the colonists, the majority of will, our colony will flourish."

which were shocked and sickened by the display, one of the heads

"You are your father's daughter," He mumbled and sat back fell off it's pike and landed at the feet of Adrienne Cuvelier. She down, turning attention again to his papers. "I shall think of your gleefully saw an opportunity and kicked it, sending coagulated family's safety and gratitude when the  wilden are vanquished."

gobs of blood flying.

Sarah led herself out.

Many were horrified of her savage actions but not surprised.

_____________________

They blamed the war partially on her husband Jan Damen and, like Catalyna, they had seen Adrienne raving in church Director Kieft, in typical fashion, gave permission to about slaughtering Natives and thought she'd gone mad. Many attack the Long Island tribes in a way he'd not be blamed for referred to her as " wilden Adrienne," conflating her with the very repercussions. On record, his refusal, but “in case they evince a characteristics she reviled.

hostile disposition, every man must do his best to defend himself.”

Kieft's warm congratulations of the soldiers did not surprise Kieft also met with Keschaechquereren  sachem Penawitz and the colonists either. It just brought a more clear understanding Matinecock   sachem Gauwaroe. They signed a peace treaty and of their Director's cowardly malice. He still had not left the fort Kieft bought the western lands of Long Island.

during the attacks, preferring to preside from the relative safety Meanwhile, a secret expedition was organized to attack the and comfort of its walls.

Mareckkawick, not carried out by the signers of the petition but _____________________

the wealthy cosignatories' men. Sarah needn't have asked Hans to promise. Hans being a signatory actually excluded him from In August the tobacco and grains were in the midst of harvest participation, which is what he'd hoped.

on Joris' bouwery. Wunita took the peace gift from Joris and The men plundered two wagon loads of corn from a had been working, per usual, on the farm. The attack on the Mareckkawick village, killing three of the Natives who attempted Mareckkawick village had been a month ago.

to stop them. In consequence, the Mareckkawick, Massapequa, In June, Kieft had granted Joris an official land grant to Matinecock, Merrick, Rockaway, and Secatogue bands made the 335 acres he'd cultivated at the Waale-bocht, in the newly common cause with the other Lenape. The tomahawk was raised patented town of Breuckelen. Joris was proud but also troubled.

on all Long Island Dutch settlements.

Having a patent meant paying a tithe to the Company of ten _____________________

percent. The Director had been raising taxes anyway he could to strengthen the fort and planned to pay mercenaries to fight his In mid-summer, Kieft ordered a deadlier attack on another war. He was handing out many patents in Breuckelen to garner Mareckkawick Canarsee village. Soldiers conducted a morbid funds and favorable public opinion as well.

parade upon returning to New Amsterdam. They had beheaded Joris transported everything of value he could in small the slain Natives and carried the heads on long pikes.

shipments to New Amsterdam in Hans' shallop. He cautiously

"How can they call the Natives the savage ones?" Sarah watched for some sign from Wunita if there would be an attack.

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Then one day, Wunita suddenly disappeared.

Joris dropped everything. He ran to the half-laden shallop. As he was halfway across the East River he saw his fields start to burn and thick smoke filled the sky.

CHAPTER 13

1643

On a brisk early September morning, a heavy fog wrapped around the southern tip of Manhattan. The sun through the opaque air cast an eerie, wan yellow of impending thunderstorm.

The distinct smell of petrichor filled the heavy air. Catalyna and Joris ate  sappan for breakfast with their five youngest children Judith, Jean, Jacob, Catalyntje, and recent addition, three month old Jeronimus.

No one in the settlement saw or heard the canoes furtively gliding through the water, landing on shore. The first alarm went up with the fire on a rooftop of a storehouse on the south side of Pearl Straat.

Joris and his family heard indistinct shouting, then screams.

Joris grabbed his rifle. As he turned toward the door he saw four year old Jacob had already opened the lower half of their Dutch door and froze, seeing a young Native standing squarely in front of their house, about twenty feet away.

The Native drew the gut strings of his bow and the arrow reached Jacob before Joris could. Jacob was shot through the chest. Direct to the heart, like Joris had learned hunting deer with 98   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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Natives. Precise and deadly.

fort. They built makeshift straw huts for shelter. Many didn't Catalyna gasped and ran to Jacob, scooping him off the floor have bedding or winter clothing.

and cradling him into her lap.

Kieft, realizing the desperation of the settlers, gathered a new Joris was a bear now, his feet hardly met the ground. The council. This time it was the Council of Eight Men. They had no Native drew his tomahawk. Joris was upon the young man in power to call meetings but were required to attend council every seconds, giving him a swift rifle butt to the face. He staggered back Saturday. Isaac's neighbor Jochem Kuyter and Hans' influential and fell down. Joris kicked his tomahawk away from his hand. He merchant friend Wolphert van Couwenhoven were among those pinned him down with his rifle across the Native's throat.

chosen. Jan Damen was only shortly on the council, until enough

“You shot my son!” Joris screamed over and over, while the colonists rebuked him for his Shrovetide petition instigating the riffle pressed down on the young man’s windpipe. Eventually, the war without the former council's approval. He was replaced by boy's eyes bulged. The blood sputtering from his nose slowed, Jan Evertsen Bout. Two Englishmen were also appointed as Kieft where the rifle butt hit. He turned purple and passed out. Just intended to ask the English for help and needed a representative.

then Hans came upon Joris. He snapped out of his rage and took Joris was not included this time. Kieft had a conversation his pressure off the rifle. He'd never killed a man, much less a with him to see if the death of his boy at the hands of the  wilden child, and he wasn't going to start now.

would have made him more compliant with Kieft's prerogative.

"Hans, tie this boys hands and imprison him in the fort,"

He bristled at the sight of Kieft and talk of his war strategy. It was Joris said and ran back to his house, hoping beyond hope that as if Kieft had seared him with a hot poker on the raw nerve of Jacob was still alive somehow.

his bereavement.

But he wasn't. Jacob had looked up at Catalyna, said

"No more bloodshed, Kieft," Joris growled. "That's my final

" Maman," and she witnessed the life in his eyes flicker out.

council."

Catalyna was in shock and clung to him. She shook him to wake _____________________

up. She tried to stop the bleeding.

Joris threw himself over them protectively, as he wished he'd Sarah couldn't believe Jacob was gone. She didn't know what been able to do earlier. He buried his face between his son and was worse; that he was gone or what was left behind. The Rapalje wife. The other children huddled with the baby under the table, family all had glazed eyes and twitching reflexes. But they were too shocked to move, not knowing if the assault was over.

hardly alone. Many in the fort had that look. Haunted eyes.

It was a small group that had attacked, mostly young Raritan Unblinking, deadened.

Lenape. They likely aimed to loot and cause mayhem rather than Sarah and her daughters had hidden in their  kast, an enormous slaughter colonists. A few were captured and the rest got away oak armoire that normally held their linens. Hans stuffed them in with some wheat, corn, flax, and beer. A dozen colonists were and ran out with his rifle. She was wracked with guilt she wasn't injured or had their storerooms pillaged and set ablaze, but Jacob there with her parents and siblings in Jacob's final moments.

was the only death that day.

She knew it was impossible but, as the eldest daughter, she felt _____________________

somehow responsible for not watching out for him.

Sarah was also very pregnant. Her emotions were heightened All residents of New Amsterdam now concentrated to the and she'd cried endlessly. A wracking, whole body sob that gave 100   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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her stitches in her side and made the baby kick like mad and supplementing with what little cows milk was available.

made her wretch. Eventually she stayed away from Catalyna. She She prayed the Lord would grant her mercy and then she couldn't look at her mother without redoubling her fit of sorrow.

asked forgiveness for not wanting another baby.

Sarah thought to seek out Kieft and ask, "Do you still think _____________________

my family will be grateful your  war?" but she hadn't the energy.

She consigned herself to the area in the fort cordoned off for Sarina visited, hugely pregnant as well. Sarah hadn't seen her pregnant women, children, and babies. They were tended by Tryn since before her and Isaac's wedding. She smiled and waved like a Jonas, employed by the Company as midwife. Tryn was intuitive little girl at her childhood friend.

and calming and some of the best company to be had while they Sarina looked nervous and uncomfortable but as she saw waited out war, winter, and childbirth.

Sarah her face lightened, like a great weight had been relieved.

Her granddaughter Sara had recently married Company The two pregnant women tried to embrace and kiss each others surgeon Hans Kierstede.

cheeks but their bellies forced them to go on tip toe to reach. They Tryn tittered, "Another Sara and Hans for a match. If you settled into a hug, their bellies touching side to side with their and Hans are any indication, it'll be a fruitful one."

torsos entwined. Suddenly they both wept. Tears of sorrow, joy,

"My best wishes for them both. I haven't spoken with Sara in loss, friendship, nostalgia.

a long time. How is she?" Sarah asked, enjoying the distracting, Sarina told Sarah about what a good man Isaac was, about light conversation, as if there wasn't a war.

their beautiful bouwery home that was now reduced to ashes. She

"She's offering to help in peace negotiations since she had had been pregnant and had been feeling the quickening when plenty of experience working as a Munsee Algonquin translator they relocated to town. Shortly after, she stopped feeling the baby at the market before the war. They pay little heed to the girl move and fell ill.

though," Tryn whistled reproachfully. "She and Dr. Kierstede

"I was very unwell, with a fever," Sarina said looking distantly.

are well suited though. She's been teaching him about medicinal

"Tryn came and gave me a remedy of bistort root, pennyroyal and herbs she learned from the Lenape."

marjoram taken in white wine, sweetened with syrup of mugwort

"She's a bright girl. No doubt a help to her husband—and and cinnamon water. She massaged my belly and it was the most negotiations—if they'd let her," Sarah said.

painful thing. I didn't think I could endure," She took a deep _____________________

breath. "Finally I birthed my tiny baby. He could have fit in my hand. I saw him before Tryn covered him in a shroud," Sarina Phebe often visited to have help with her toddler girls and said, her wide and captivating blue eyes locked onto Sarah's.

seven-month-old baby Teunis. Gathered in the fort with other Sarah could hardly breathe or blink.

mothers and Tryn was a blessed opportunity the war brought.

"The fever left but I had this heavy sickness on my mind. And Having three children under the age of three was absurdly arduous then the massacre... I heard the massacre in Pavonia echoing off without other women kin to help while trapped in her home.

the hills across the river. I couldn't stop hearing it. And I thought She suspected she was pregnant again. Although it was maybe God did not want my child to hear such things so He took still early, she recognized the signs. She had sudden nausea and him into the grace of heaven early."

poor baby Teunis seemed to not get enough milk. Tryn had her

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and hugged her.

She'd repeat this, over and over through each wave of birthing

"And  mon Dieu, your brother," Sarina said clutching Sarah, pain. Only, one time, she ran to the stream and little Jacob sat at as she realized she wasn't the only one living with heartache.

the water's edge. He looked pale and sad. His eyes were downcast.

"Jacob..." Sarah said it on an inhale, liked she'd had the Dead squirrels, birds, and rabbits encircled him. "The waters are wind knocked out of her. They held each other, wordlessly, tears foul, we cannot swim today, come away with me, away from the streaming quietly onto one another for a long time.

dead," she dreamt said to him.

Eventually Sarah straightened up. Looking to the corner of When at last her baby boy was born, she called him Jacob.

their area where the young children and babies were playing, her _____________________

daughters were being watched over by other pregnant mothers.

Sarah realized how resilient the children were. Would they even Sarina felt a shift as Sarah gave birth. The baby dropped into remember her crying or just that they got to have more playmates position and the discomfort that waxed and waned began. Nearly during this time? Sarah was among her girlhood friends and was a week later, discomfort transformed into pain. She confided to comforted in the irony of their joyous reunion abutting anguish.

Tryn it was becoming too much. She was afraid.

"Sarina, come meet my daughters. Soon enough, the babes Tryn took Sarina's hand, opened it palm side up, and placed in our wombs will be their age and causing mischief together,"

a carved bone comb, positioned so the teeth faced into the meat Sarah said, without too much cloying hope in her voice, that it of her palm when she closed her hand into a fist.

may be true.

"When the pressure is too much, squeeze the comb. It _____________________

will give you some relief." Tryn said and gently wiped Sarina's forehead with a wet cloth. The comb technique was at the very Sarah went first, as was the course of their companionship.

least a distraction, but it also worked on pressure points in the She went into labor the first week of November. Tryn checked hand connected to the stomach and low back.

in, but with experienced mothers she wasn't as involved. She let She held her ear against Sarina's belly and felt for some their own feelings guide them and offered support as needed.

indication of the baby's position. Sarina begin a wave of Catalyna came to Sarah's side. She was silent and withdrawn contractions. She gripped the comb, grimaced, and closed her but finding herself with purpose was respite from sorrow. Sarina eyes, sweating.

observed, grateful to see her friend go through it before her. Sara

"Your baby is nearly here," Tryn said encouragingly as the even showed up for a time, before she was taken by Tryn to help wave was letting up. She was a little worried the heartbeat was with more urgent midwifery needs. Phebe sat by and helped with weak but she needn't worry Sarina. "Do you want me to fetch Aneken and Rebecca.

anyone?"

As Sarah labored, she went inside her mind, tracing the paths

"Tell my mother and sisters to come. And tell Isaac," Sarina of unsettled land she'd loved when she was little.

said, unsure.

Run up the Wecquaesgeek trail, 'til there, the crooked tree, By the time her mother and sister Susannah came, Isaac was turn and run to the pebble beach on the stream, strip naked and already there, along with their baby boy, Jessé. He was the spitting float in the clear fresh water. The water tickling her, like Hans'

image of Sarina, with enchanting dark blue eyes, dark brown hair, kisses undressing her, but everywhere at once.

thin and small like she was as a child.

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grounds that the West India Company had guaranteed protection as an inducement to emigration. Director Kieft ignored the advice of the Eight Men and imposed a further tax on beaver pelts and beer. People were without homes, basic living necessities, and many without their livelihoods. Two decades of toil turned to ashes. What was there to tax?

In March 1644, Captain Underhill had tracked down a large number of Natives to the northeast of Manhattan. The Lenape CHAPTER 14

were gathered for a pow wow celebration to bestow blessings on 1644

the land and people in a village called  Nanichiestawack, meaning

"Place of Safety."

The Siwanoy and Tankiteke were attempting to integrate their bands with five others of the Wappinger confederacy, including the Raritan, Wecquaesgeek, and by some accounts members of the Ramapo.

Underhill led forces to attack at night under the full moon.

Stomachs growled with hunger and Native attacks continued In the initial phase Dutch reports suggest 180 Natives were killed through the winter. Sarah helped coordinate blanket and winter outside of the wigwams while one soldier was killed and twelve clothing donations and distribution at the church. At least the wounded. The village was sufficiently encircled by the attacking displaced colonists were kept warm.

force. The Natives could not escape. They holed up in the wigwams Isaac's sister, Rachel, died in December from pneumonia.

and fired arrows at the assaulting army. Underhill ordered the Piling onto their loss, was poor little Jessé. He failed to thrive in village set on fire with the inhabitants inside, including many such harsh conditions. He died the in February at three months women, children and tribal elders.

old. Sarina and Isaac, privately overwrought in grief, took a more Only eight Natives survived the battle, of whom three were active role with their nieces and nephews after the loss of their severely wounded. According to the survivors, more than 600

mother. Johannes was taciturn to the point of catatonia. He Natives from seven tribes had been killed in the massacre.

went through the motions of Councilor and Commander of The army left and arrived at New Amsterdam days later. Kieft the soldiers. He followed Kieft's orders and carried out attacks held a day of thanksgiving on their return, marked with fasting without feeling or compunction.

and prayer. Their empty stomaches turned sour when they heard Tensions were high on all fronts after such a desperate winter.

details from the soldiers.

Director Kieft had gotten the council of Eight Men to reluctantly

"What was most wonderful is, that among this vast collection agree to tax increases that would pay his mercenaries, chiefly a of men, women and children, not one was heard to cry or to sadistic Englishman named John Underhill, to fight his war.

scream," Underhill told Kieft.

Shortly after, soldiers arrived from the Netherlands and he Some Native communities tried to broker peace after the wanted to again increase taxes. The Eight Men resisted on the attack. But these treaties did not last as the Dutch failed to offer 106   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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proper reparations to Native communities who had suffered such on Fridays. Sarah couldn't stand him from the beginning. He destruction and death. A unified truce was not to be had. The war was a cousin of her sister Jannet's husband, Rem. They couldn't would muddle on with neither side taking decisive action.

have been more dissimilar. Whereas Rem was a swarthy, modest, _____________________

good-natured blacksmith, Paulus was thin-limbed and verbose, his elevated profession inflating his ego. Sarah kept quiet many On October 28, 1644, the Council met at Fort Amsterdam Fridays until she could no longer.

to sign the Remonstrance of the Eight Men, addressed to the

" Ja... Director Kieft is right," Paulus would orate on and on Company and the Dutch parliament, the first petition sent to as he shaved Hans, who was unable to speak whilst under the the home government by a popular body in New Netherland.

straight razor. "We should not look at what we've lost but how It described the plight of New Amsterdam, the massacres of the many  wilden we've rid ourselves of. In Curaçao..."

Natives, the fear and deprivation of the colonists, Kieft's disregard Suddenly, that was it. Sarah could be silent no more, in her of his Council, and concluded with a request for a system of own home.

representative government similar to that of the municipalities in

"What do you know about them? You don't even know the the Netherlands. It was met with silence, although it did start to tribal names. You've been here mere months, stop talking like you raise concern among some in the Dutch parliament.

know anything. You're not in Curaçao." She said getting close to Director Kieft posted sentries and soldiers that offered some his face and talking in an angry but hushed voice, so as not to safety for those who lived just outside the fort. Those who tilled disturb the children.

and planted for their collective survival were at utmost risk as they Without hesitation, he swiftly passed his straight razor to his were farther from protection. Many colonists evacuated on ships other hand, and slapped her, twice, about her face. Sarah reeled back to  Patria.

back stunned. She'd never been hit. Ever.

_____________________

Hans shouted in Norwegian and shot to his feet, towering over the barber surgeon.

A Company sailor surgeon from Bremen, Germany arrived

"Ach, sit down my friend or your shave will be lopsided all in July 1644 named Paulus Vanderbeeck. He quickly married a week," Paulus said, dismissive and annoyed.

recently war-widowed Dutch woman named Marritje Bayde in

"You may  not hit my wife," Hans said and sat back down for October. He had been to Curaçao and thought New Amsterdam his shave.

could be no worse. He was ready to settle down and thought he

"If she will not speak to me in such a manner, I will not,"

could bring some perspective to the war-addled colony.

Paulus said curtly and re-involved himself in the task of shaving.

His gullet tightened when he thought of them needing his _____________________

surgeon skills though. He was, what they called then, a barber surgeon. He could lance a boil, blood let for fever, or stuff gauze Enraged by the incident and Hans' lack of reprisal, Sarah in a wound. He was supremely naive, compounded with self-

went to her mother. Catalyna was likewise incensed, so Sarah felt aggrandizement and arrogance, finding his place in the colony.

vindicated. Maybe that little satisfaction would be all she could But he was an "important" man so Hans cavorted with expect. She thought that may be the end of it.

him. He'd come to Hans to shave him and coif his mustache But no. Next Friday, Paulus came again. Catalyna was there to 108   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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help Sarah with the children while she ground rabbit for sausages.

_____________________

Egbert van Borsum and Willem de Key, master carpenter and merchant respectively, stopped by to have a chat with Hans and On January 12, 1645 Catalyna had her day in court with stayed for a shave.

Paulus Vanderbeeck.

The men discussed business and waylaid shipments. Catalyna Paulus felt his gullet tighten when he saw Egbert van Borsum chimed in now and then, which was not unusual. Her opinions and Willem de Key there as witnesses.

were respectfully heard, especially among these younger men.

"Catalyna Trico, plaintiff, vs. Paulus Vanderbeeck, defendant, She'd lived there longer than anyone and was as well versed in for defamation. Plaintiff demands satisfaction for the injury numbers as in the social capital for transactions.

done to her character, which she proves by two witnesses," Van Paulus was obviously annoyed by her and kept trying to cut Tienhoven read.

her off and speak over her. Sarah had finished her task and left the

"Defendant is ordered to prove what he said or, if he can not house with six-month-old baby Jan swaddled to her chest. The do so, defendant shall acknowledge that he knows nothing of the tension in the room was making her feel ill. She went out to the plaintiff that reflects on her honor or virtue."

storehouse with the sausages and the children played in the snow.

Paulus cleared his throat and paused before saying, "I know Jan nuzzled her paps, signaling he needed to be fed. She nursed nothing of the plaintiff but what is honest and virtuous.”

him tucked under her shawl in the freezing storehouse.

"Defendant declares that he can not prove the slanderous After Sarah left, Catalyna had enough of Paulus interupting remarks made to her and that he has nothing to say against her her and said what was really on her mind.

that reflects on her honor or virtue. For the blow struck by the

"Paulus, why did you beat my daughter?" Catalyna confronted defendant he shall pay two and a half guilders and is warned not him in an even tone, standing close to him.

to do so again on pain of severer punishment. Dismissed." Van

"Ack, I did not. You're a liar." Paulus said.

Tienhoven said hurriedly and monotone.

"You're a villain and a liar, Paulus," Catalyna shot back.

Little did anyone else know, Catalyna suggested to several

"You're a liar, a whore, a  seawant thief..." Paulus escalated and of Hans' friends to visit that day for a shave. Egbert van Borsum swiftly struck her across the side of her head.

and Willem de Key were simply the ones who showed up as her

"Leave my house," Hans bellowed at the man, now that he'd witnesses. She intended to pick a fight. And win. Wins were hard hit not only his wife but his mother-in-law.

begot these days, and she needed one, personally. But neither

"But your shave..." Paulus said meagerly as he was pushed could she stand by as her eldest child was abused by a pompous out the door.

newcomer.

Hans didn't respect him with a reply. He apologized to his friends and made sure Catalyna was all right. She was shaken but unharmed.

They continued with their talk of business, though the men were disappointed it didn't come with a shave. It was not amusing to them to see a man strike a woman but it was rather comical to have serious conversation with a man only half-shaved.

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her little notice. Women were not required to have a chaperon, even in times of war.

The crisp, cold air cleansed her lungs and invigorated her.

The muddy ruts of  De Herre Straat  were frozen solid, filled in with packed snow that made walking easy. She wondered why she didn't do this more often. Then she remembered her little brother Jacob, shot on the stoop of her parents' house. The Raritan Lenape boy who'd slain Jacob was taken captive and CHAPTER 15

had been traded in turn for a Dutch captive. She didn't know 1644 - 1645

what punishment she would rather he had but going free seemed unjust. At least a Dutch woman or child was returned to their home, she comforted herself.

She suddenly thought of Weenji, Wunita, and Cholena.

She heard their  sachem Penawitz had been among the Native leaders advocating peace. She wondered how they fared in this war. Weenji had a husband and a baby too. Sarah still had a soft Sarah was still of a sore heart over the matter. She wasn't sure place in her heart for the Natives she had grown up with. She what the thorn was, that Hans hadn't turned the man out sooner imagined they felt as trapped in this unwanted war as she did. She or that it took her mother's involvement for her to indirectly wondered if she would ever see them again or if they could ever receive adjudication and recompense.

be friends again.

Sarah didn't want to be in her and Hans' house. Her children Sarah drew near Phebe and Nys' recently purchased home, were driving her mad and felt like the walls of their house were situated across from the Company gardens. The Dutch split door closing in on her.

and the shutters were closed. It looked like no one was home She thought she should go visit Sarina. She'd recently had a but smoke came from the chimney. Sarah went to the door and healthy baby girl, Susannah. But she knew she needed to selfishly knocked their secret knock.

vent her ire and visiting a newborn wasn't the place. So she got

"Sarah! Come in!" She heard Phebe squeal and then struggle her little sister Judith to watch her three older children. Judith with the heavy slab of wood that barred the door.

protested that it wasn't safe but Sarah instructed her: "If  Maman Phebe could barely walk with her youngest, Marrietje, asks I'm with Hans, if Hans asks I'm with  Maman. It's a fine, clinging to her leg. The baby was standing but not walking yet.

sunny day. If Natives were to attack I'd see them a mile away and Sarah rushed to her and squeezed baby Jan between them as they be able to duck into a home for cover."

embraced.

She set out for Phebe's with babe Jan swaddled to her chest

"I'm sorry it's taken me so long to visit you at your new under her heavy duffel cape.

home. I hope you've settled in well," Sarah said cheerfully, as she She swiftly skirted past the fort on  Markveldt   to   De Herre noticed the double clapboard shutters for the windows, closed Straat. She saw people at a distance- soldiers, sentries. They paid from inside, while the outer ones were already shut. Their new 112   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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home was certainly more fortified than their last. It was dim but ways to your concerns."

cozy inside with the fire burning and the wall sconces lit.

That snapped Phebe out of her abstract thinking and back

"We've been fine but, Good Lord, I'm going mad. We haven't into her own life. She sighed and wrung her hands. "I know,"

had an attack in weeks, but we stay shuttered up in here. Did ye she said looking at them playing around her. "I am blessed with hear about Anne Hutchinson and her family?" Phebe said, overtly my family, even when they are such rascals," She said with a faint disturbed.

smile as she caught four year old Jannet climbing a chair and

"No, what?" Sarah asked, mildly intrigued and mildly reaching for the crock of honeycomb. She scooped up her little annoyed at the delay of offloading her own problems. She noticed girl and the crockery right before she toppled it. She set Jannet's Phebe was speaking with her English accent again, something she rump on the bench at the table and got a wooden honey dipper had almost successfully concealed before the war.

to give her a little portion of the precious syrup.

"My former neighbor and all her family, murdered. Her house They both nursed their babies by the fire. The children is a pile of charred bones to the north of here." Phebe paused and were playing with whittled wooden animals and corn husk dolls drew breath to say what really bothered her. "Anne said she spoke around their feet. It was a serene moment that made Sarah sleepy directly with God, how could he smite her thus? She escaped the and content. She forgot the thorn in her heart that was the whole mistreatment of the Puritans and then to find such an end as...?"

reason for her visit. She held the moment as long as she could Phebe suddenly wept and clutched at Sarah. "Why did Kieft before Jan fussed too much.

grant her lands so far out? They didn't even believe in owning

"If I walk with him he's likely to fall asleep," Sarah said. "I any weapons to protect themselves." Phebe sobbed into Sarah's should return soon anyways."

shoulder. "I can never figure out His meaning, why does He allow Sarah kissed each child and Phebe from cheek to cheek before such things? Was she a heretic? How do ye know if ye have been she left. Her heart was lifted and she longed be with her children damned? Maybe I am..."

and Hans once again, taking her own advice.

"Oh Phebe, I'm saddened for the travails of Anne Hutchinson Remember the blessings.

but her end was due to the war of men, not God," Sarah looked at _____________________

her old friend. "The saintly are often horrendously mistreated and given ignominious deaths."

Phebe's father, Old Man Jan as he was now called, lived much Sarah thought of Saint Catherine, the patron saint of further north on the island. Not nearly so northernly as Anne the Walloon church in Leiden where her parents met. Saint Hutchinson had, but it felt further now because of the exposure Catherine's symbol was the namesake of her parent's tavern, Cat's to Native attacks. Yet Jan was stubborn and refused to ever take Wheel. The wheel with skinning knives was meant to torture the shelter in town. His land had yet been spared from any attack.

saint, but miraculously, it broke when she touched it. However, He had an interesting strategy in making his bouwery look hardly she was then beheaded. Sarah chose not to share this story but inhabited. The Natives thought his abode too much of a hovel instead redirected.

to bother with. Nor did he fence in his animals. His crops were

"Faith and Grace are His unconditional gifts. You're a good sown haphazardly, scattered throughout a few meadows. His wife and mother, blessed with these four children and, I swear, nearest neighbors were Africans that lived in their own communal that is enough worry. You needn't add deciphering the Lord's congregation of houses called the Land of the Blacks.

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In February 1644, Paulo D'Angola and ten other enslaved twice from the pain, the job unfinished, he made Maria do it. She men, including Manuel the Giant, petitioned Kieft for their was a stalwart woman and got the job done.

freedom. They'd been the first enslaved Africans that arrived in He lay in bed for days and drank all the liquor in the house.

the colony as "confiscated goods" plundered from a Portuguese When a fever set in, he called not for a surgeon, but a notary to vessel and had served the Company nearly twenty years. Kieft take down his last will and testament.

agreed to free the men along with their wives but specified that

"I leave half of my estate to my daughter Phebe's husband, all children would remain property of the Company. He granted Teunis Nyssen, and the other half to my wife Maria, as long as she them the land in the north of the colony where they also served as remains a widow, or until her death if she does not re-marry," he a defense line against attacks from Natives or the English.

said staring fever dazed but fixated on the completion of the will.

New Netherland never codified slavery into law, which Maria sent word to Phebe. When the little African boy meant that the colony never established clear parameters to showed up at her door simply saying "Old Jan is going to die."

human bondage. Nor did the courts limit the enslaved African's She thought her father must've been involved in a brawl with his participation in the judicial system, thus allowing them to own neighbors and they were threatening his life.

property, receive wages, use the courts, and legally marry.

When Nys came home, she told him he must go intervene.

Jan didn't begrudge them for their freedom, as he himself He took their bay mare and his rifle. When he arrived, Jan had had once been indentured, but he did rue their judicial rights.

already died.

He'd been taken to court several times because of conflicts with Nys had liked Jan. He spoke his mind and although his neighbors. His free roaming hogs often wandered onto their quarrelsome with others, he and Nys had always got along. He was land and destroyed their fields. It was decided Pedro Negretto loathe to share the news of his passing with Phebe. He knew the would look after them. He didn't realize he'd have to pay the boy peculiar phantom feeling of not saying goodbye to your parents.

until he was taken to court and ordered to pay him two  schepels  of He had word by letter from his sister last year that his father had maize for his trouble tending to them.

passed. His mother died right after he set sail with the Company.

Embittered, when the African's animals got loose and trod on

"Maria, come back to our house. It's not safe for you to dwell his land, he and Maria drove them into the cripplebush swamp out here alone," Nys said to the wane, tearful widow. She can be until they were up to their backs in the muck. He was again taken the one to tell Phebe, Nys thought.

to court and ordered to pay 25 guilders in damages to the  Schout-

_____________________

Fiscael, Cornelis Van der Hoykens, because they were actually the Company's animals. Officials were tired of this quarrelsome man When Maria showed up looking distraught with Nys, Phebe appearing in their court. He was forbidden to repeat the offense, braced herself for the worst.

on "pain of banishment."

"It's your father. He died. He wounded his ankle and died,"

In April 1645 Jan was wounded while clearing the edges of a Maria said, not mincing words through her sobs.

meadow. He'd accidentally rammed his adze into his ankle when Phebe took the news stoically. She was in shock but also he was trying to remove tree roots out of the ground. The wound expected much worse. She thought he'd been murdered by his was deep and painful. He heated an iron poker and tried to sear neighbors or the Natives. I'm an orphan, she thought, before she the open wound shut to stop the bleeding. When he passed out corrected herself. She was not a child anymore. She was a wife and 116   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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mother of four. She was 20 years old. Her thoughts went back to The Dutch wished to negotiate a firm and inviolable peace the conversation with Sarah. She must remember her blessings.

with the assembled Native leaders which included  sachems Oratany At least her father wasn't murdered. She still had her husband of the Hackinsack, Sesekemu of the Tappan, Tackapausha of the and children.

Matinecock, Willem of the Rachgawawanck, Mayauwetinnemin Maria stayed with them for a few months. It eased both her of the Nyack, and Weckquaesgeek  sachem Aepjen Eskuyas and Phebe's sadness. Even though Maria was an odd woman, she representing the Wappinger, Weckquaesgeek, Sinsink, and was quarrelsome in a way that reminded her of her father, so it Kichtawank, among others whose tribes were now much smaller.

was somberly endearing.

At this time, more than 1,000 Indians had been killed in the war Nys, however, did not find Maria's nature endearing and against the Dutch.

regretted inviting her to live with them. After about a month, he Both sides agreed to peace and to settle future disputes by set out to find a solution.

discussion rather than violence. Twenty Native leaders made their He found a 60 year old widower, an Englishman, named marks on the treaty.

Thomas Grydy. He promised Grydy 200 guilders if he'd marry _____________________

Maria. In August they were wed and relocated to Gravesend, on the southwestern end of Long Island. Englishwoman Lady The next day, Kieft ordered a day of thanksgiving. This time, Deborah Moody had founded her own Anabaptist community it seemed a more genuine celebration, of peace and not war. Being there after she was banished from Massachusetts for being a harvest time, food was served after the proclamation of peace.

"dangerous woman," like Anne Hutchinson.

Some of the Natives had stayed to break bread, others retreated, Grydy was also formerly convicted of theft and an wary it was a trap or some further plot by Kieft. Served were the argumentative man, like Jan. Maria liked him fine enough to agree commonplace Dutch favorites like  koolsla, waffles stuffed with to marry him. She didn't want to live in her and Old Jan's house brandy soaked fruits, spiced pumpkin pies, and many types of alone and she knew she wore out her welcome at the Nyssen's.

koekje. They had venison, goose, and turkey roasted over spits She liked the idea of the first woman-founded community in and tranches were sliced fresh. Seafood stews with fish, clams, New Netherland.

and root vegetables were served with cornbread. The Natives who Nys was smugly self-congratulatory of his negotiation work stuck around were treated to their favorite delicacy, beaver tail.

in connecting two non-conformists with a community founded Everyone eventually relaxed, ate their fill, and shared in communal on such principals. It was a boon not only to remove Maria from pipe smoking, which the Dutch and Natives were fond of equally.

his house, quite far away, but also he was now the sole beneficiary Joris saw Wunita.

of Jan's property.

" Kwey, nitap," Joris said, approaching the man solemnly, _____________________

among his tribesmen.

"Hallo, friend," Wunita said and grasped him, brotherly, on At the end of August 1645, the Dutch held a council with the the shoulder. "You live. I live."

Natives in front of their fort. Sara Roeloef Kierstede was among He didn't smile but there was warmth in his eyes. He broke the translators. Johannes de la Montagne attended as Commander away from his group to talk with Joris.

and Councilor, beside Kieft.

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son by the Raritans. Our Keschaechquereren village burned.

bright, looking interestedly around at all the activities.

Sachem Penhawitz died. My wife and children escaped." Wunita

"I wonder if we might have a word about some business turned to face him. "Your house stands but fields and barns prospectives, now that war has ended?" Isaac asked. "Whenever burned. Mareckkawick clan burned it, not my clan. I stopped the you have a moment."

fire as it reached the house."

"Well, with war behind us, I presumably have some moments Joris was stunned. He hadn't been back in two years, since he now, if  Madame will excuse us?" Johannes replied.

saw the fields on fire, assuming all was lost. He finally felt a small Sarina made a small curtsy and bade them goodbye for now.

glimmer of hope for the first time in ages. Any joy was blunted by She spotted Sarah. She was with Catalyna and Phebe just outside the recount of their losses.

the fort with their collective brood, around a dozen children. The

"I grieve for the loss of your  sachem and village," Joris replied.

children were playing ninepins on a patch of bare, flat ground.

"Thank you for saving my house. I hope we will have a long time Most of them had a  koekje  in hand, even the bowler.

of peace now."

"Sarina!" Sarah and Phebe waved at her to come over. Phebe Wunita nodded.

had not yet met baby Susannah.

Sarina and Isaac attended with their seven-month-old,

"What a rare beauty- those lashes!" Phebe exclaimed.

Susannah, and had a chance to talk with Johannes. He had been a

"May I give your arms a rest?" Catalyna asked, holding out busy man in the war; they'd not seen much of him as of late. He was her arms and upon receiving her, expertly bounced and swayed still the polished and prudent man who had led the celebrations the baby, to Susannah's delight.

at their wedding. However, the taciturn blankness after Rachel's Sarah was grateful to see Sarina and her baby doing so well death gave way to a darkness behind his countenance, a mouth after poor Jessé, and their loss before that as well.

that now always slightly grimaced when at rest. His light had

"She's wonderfully interested in the other children, isn't she?"

dimmed in an atmosphere of cruel deeds, for which he could not Sarah exclaimed watching Susannah's eyes dart around at them.

be wholly relieved of responsibility.

"Isn't it glorious we can go outside and gather freely again?"

"My commendations in your part of the peace treaty

"Yes, it's all so foreign. But she's a  bébé, everything is new to yesterday," Isaac said, removing his hat and slightly bowing, her," Sarina laughed. She felt strange. It was intoxicating being rather formally.

gathered with other women and children and not having to fear.

"Yes, I was much relieved to have an amicable settlement The familiar impulse of anxiety crept up and she swallowed it to the war," Johannes said, the lines of his mouth furrowed to a down. But like heartburn, it still lingered.

grimace, rather than relief.

"And we're also relieved you were not harmed in battle,"

Sarina said, curious if some unseen injury made him grimace in such a way.

"Thank you for helping with my children during my absences.

I'm so happy to see Susannah is thriving. She's precious," Johannes said gazing at the baby, skirting Sarina's probing. He smiled and the grimace retreated. Susannah's big brown eyes were wide and 120   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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cloak revealing an equally pregnant belly under her expensive layers of European fabrics.

"My apologies for visiting unexpectedly... and with a request," Sara said with a hurried forcefulness that meant it was not a request but a necessity. She distractedly spun a large gold ring on her middle finger.

"I have to help my grandmother with a birth and I'm also obliged to my step-father to help a girl study her catechism. She's CHAPTER 16

a special girl to my step-father because she will be the first African 1646

to be converted in the colony. Her name is Susanna Negrin. You were educated on it as well as I and you're the only person I could ask at such short notice," Sara explained.

"Of course," Sarah said without thought. "When?"

"Oh, thank you! It was supposed to be in an hour at the church. I forgot you were pregnant too, but you needn't leave your house. I'll send word to have her come here," Sarah rushed The fire crackled peacefully in the early evening as Sarah to say, as Hans came in the door.

mended the stockings of her two little boys. She was trying to

"Hallo,   Mevrouw Kierstede," Hans took off his hat and finish the work before Hans was home and it was time to serve nodded to her, surprised by the visitor, as their children ran to the rabbit braising in the Dutch oven. She had to take time to do greet him.

it correctly though or else the well worn areas at the knees of the

"Hallo Hans," She said and turned to Sarah. "My apologies, stockings would just rip open again after a few days of wear. Her I must be off to help my grandmother."

children were busy shelling bean pods, ruining the knees of the Sarah explained to Hans she would be helping a girl with stockings they currently wore as errant beans skidded across the the catechism in an hour so they'd better have their evening meal room and they crawled after them.

quickly. Hans didn't argue with sitting down to eat.

There was a knock at the door. She was not expecting anyone _____________________

and the interruption made her stomach flip. It may also have been the babe in her belly moving around.

A little over an hour later there was a knock at the door. Sarah She opened the upper half of her split Dutch door and saw opened it to find a young girl with a cautious expression.

Sara Roelofs, immediately delighted and intrigued of the reason

" Mevrouw Kierstede told me to come here." She said a bit for such a rare visit. Sara was now a much more prominent citizen defensively like she expected to be interrogated on the fact.

since she married the surgeon Hans Kierstede and didn't often

"Yes, of course. Susanna, right? Come in," Sarah told her.

have time for social calls.

"I'm Sarah."

"Sara! What a surprise, please come in!" She exclaimed.

"Thank you," Susanna said looking nervously at the noise of She entered, kissed her old friends' cheeks, and removed her loud scampering above them.

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"That's just my children," Sarah explained. "They're getting by the priests; and further, that Christ is bodily under the form ready for bed but they tend to have a burst of energy right before of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshiped in them; so settling in."

that the Mass, at bottom, is nothing else than a denial of the one Susanna relaxed with a tight lipped smile. She was a few years sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry."

younger than Sarah. She had a pretty face with observant dark Sarah was astounded. She spoke with a clear, confident eyes, a broad button nose, full lips, and a starched coif cap that voice and without stammering to remember the wording. They covered her hair. Her head was held high, with stiff posture. She continued and Sarah wondered if Susanna really needed to study was dressed in a modest but clean, pressed kirtle dress in dark at all since she flawlessly performed the answers. They reached the green linen with a black knit shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

Lords Day 32 and Sarah sensed her throat was growing dry and She wore remarkably fine, black leather gloves.

becoming hoarse.

"So tell me, you're learning the catechism? How may I help?"

"Shall we take a break? I'll make us some tea," Sarah said as Sarah asked.

she took out a box that Catalyna had Hans make. It had dividers

"Yes, I intend to be baptized next year. I practice answering for different dried herbals, roots, and berries. Sarah chose some the questions with  Mevrouw Kierstede," She spoke fluently marshmallow root to soothe a dry throat and some spearmint in Dutch but with an accent Sarah seldom heard, a mixture of and lemon balm for memory. She tossed them into her kettle and Portuguese and African, she guessed.

hung it from a chain, rotating the iron arm of the large, swinging

"I commend you. The 129 questions of the Heidelberg potholder until the kettle was positioned above the flames. They Catechism is difficult to perform," Sarah stated.

sat in silence, watching the fire for a moment, before Sarah felt Susanna said nothing in reply. She stiffened slightly and the silence wasted the opportunity to learn more about Susanna.

stood resolutely with her chin held a little higher. She produced a

"You're doing very well. Do you know how to read or are slim volume that was her study guide. Sarah took it and indicated you memorizing it from Domine Bogardus' recitations?" Sarah they be seated on the bench by the fire. She opened it to the page questioned her before she remembered the girls' defensive tone bookmarked with a ribbon.

upon arrival and added, "If you don't mind me asking?"

"Shall we start with Lord's Day 30?" Sarah asked. Susanna

"My mother secured a labor contract for me five years nodded as she took of her gloves and clasped them in her lap.

ago. I am servant to the household of the glove maker, Albert

"Question 80: What difference is there between the Lord’s Cornelysen Wantenaer, under condition I would be taught to Supper and the Popish Mass?"

read," Susanna stated proudly. She looked at Sarah and thought

"The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have a full pardon of a moment before continuing to share. "My father and mother all sin by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself has obtained their freedom from Director Kieft two years ago. My once accomplished on the cross; and that we by the Holy Ghost siblings and I were not included in that. I intend to petition for are ingrafted into Christ, who, according to His human nature is my freedom, as a devoted, faithful congregant of the church."

now not on earth, but in heaven, at the right hand of God His Sarah didn't know what to say. Many people were indentured Father, and will there be worshiped by us— but the Mass teaches for several years to the Company, repaying their passage and land that the living and dead have not the pardon of sins through the grant, or beholden as tenant farmers to the Patroons. She'd never sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is also daily offered for them considered how the indenture of the Africans could be unending.

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She took the kettle off the fire and poured two cups. She got makes a wonderful blend with raspberry leaf that she and I both the honey crock out and swirled in a tiny portion of the precious swear by for strengthening the womb."

golden syrup into the steaming libations.

"Yes, of course I know your mother's tea. She hawks it to every

"Please come by again, if you want to practice, though I am woman in the colony." They both laughed. "But it is remarkably certain you could perform it perfectly today, if given the chance,"

tasty. Better than sage beer."

Sarah said, handing her the cup of tea. "I think you will also Sarah handed Michael off to Sarina as she prepared the tea.

persuade Kieft for your freedom."

The two comfortably sat in silence as they watched their children

"From your lips to God's ears," Susanna said with a tight play and the tea brewed. Sarina was transfixed on baby Michael mouthed smile.

in her arms. Her cheeks were more plump, with a glow that she _____________________

lacked during the war.

The tea served, Sarina looked to Sarah.

There was a knock at Sarah's door on a frosty December day.

"Might we talk gossip now?"

This time, the visitor was expected.

"Of course." Sarah said taking Michael, settling him back Another rare sight at Sarah's doorstep, Sarina stood with in the bassinet, and sitting down to inhale the sweet, astringent her almost one year old Susannah. Sarah brought her toward the vapors of her beverage.

warmth of their hearth, bedecking her with kisses.

"Did you hear about Master Adam?" Sarina asked, referring

"It's so good to see you. My apologies I haven't made a visit to their old schoolmaster.

sooner. Congratulations on your baby boy!" Sarina hurriedly

"No..."

explained while unwrapping the bundled Susannah who was

"He's a wicked man!" Sarina whispered. "He went to see eager to play with Sarah's children.

Harck Syboltsen but finding only his wife Weyntje home, he Sarah picked up her one month old baby, Michael, from the forced himself on her. He left marks on her body, fondling her bassinet to show off the new addition to their family.

breasts, and trying worse." She paused as Sarah gasped. "He's to

"Thank you. My mother was right. It does get easier. Michael be flogged next week. He was supposed to be banished as well slipped out in an afternoon," Sarah said, smiling at her baby as he but Kieft took mercy on his four motherless children. It being the barely opened his eyes and dozed again.

dead of winter, banishment was postponed."

"God willing that's true... I'm pregnant again!" Sarina said in

"How awful!" Sarah exclaimed, her outrage in a whisper as a whisper, as if proclaiming it to the world would curse her.

well. "The man who so self-righteously taught us bible verses!"

"Oh Sarina, that's wonderful news!"

"A swine," Sarina said, staring off into the fire, sipping her

"I'm at the quickening now. Midwife Tryn prescribed lots tea. "He was always so arrogant."

of liver, red meat, and beer infused with sage. And my mother

"As he taught us: 'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty gave me this coral talisman to help the baby stay caught in the spirit before a fall,'" Sarah said sardonically.

womb," Sarina explained brandishing the trinket from a chain held against her breast. It was a smooth, pinkish-red that forked like an antler.

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in the direction of their colony, in the wake of the war. They did not want their safety and futures again tied solely to one man and his whims.

To all appearances, Adriaen Van der Donck was working for Kieft as lawyer and translator, having come from serving Kiliaen van Rensselaer in the northern New Netherland fiefdom of the Patroon. Van der Donck was a Dutchman from Breda, with a face so plaintively honest, it made every man he spoke with utter his CHAPTER 17

innermost truth. He was awarded a huge tract of land north of 1646 - 1647

Manhattan, 24,000 acres for his assistance in peace negotiations with the Mohawks and Mahicans. It was so vast that the colonists referred to him as the  Jonkheer, the Nobleman.

But yet, he had also quietly embroiled himself in the political unrest in the past few years and worked with the malcontent colonists to craft a petition to the States General.

He was a proponent of the need for a Dutch-style representative Over the course of the war, the population of the colony had government in the colony. He helped channel exasperations into shrunk to a third of what it had been. After deaths and emigrations legal explanations for their reason in calling for Kieft's removal.

back to  Patria, about 1,000 remained, leaving only 250 to 300

The petition was chiefly brought forth by Cornelis Melyn and men able to carry arms.

Jochem Kuyter who both served on the Council of Eight.

Kieft himself accumulated a fortune of over 4,000 guilders Like Joris, both Melyn's parents died in the plague of 1606

during his term in office and became a reclusive alcoholic.

and he'd been apprenticed into the clothing trade, as a humble The Company board members in  Patria,  de Heeren XIX  or the tailor, but he held a considerable inheritance. In 1641 he sailed to Nineteen Gentlemen, had yet to understand New Netherland was New Netherland, having been awarded as Patroon, a great portion fundamentally different to their other far-flung trade outposts.

of Staten Island, only to then have it ruined and uninhabitable They saw the colony as a failing commercial venture which by Kieft's War for the past four years. Being a refugee in New needed dictatorial overlording in order to be profitable. They did Amsterdam for so long, so shortly after his arrival to the colony, not understand that the colonists who remained had doubled had made him justifiably irate.

down on their intention to make New Amsterdam their home Jochem Kuyter, Isaac's former neighbor at the north of the and wanted recognition for their perseverance in the endeavor.

island, had also had his bouwery razed to the ground by Natives Many colonists wanted the style of government offered and had retreated to his house on Pearl Straat. He had been to even the smallest villages in  Patria.  The Netherlands was enlisted as part of the brutal massacre on the Nanichiestawack a confederation of provinces. All of which had their own local village. The horrors he witnessed further galvanized his resolve government and were very independent. They did not intend to make sure such wars were stopped before they reached such New Netherland to be a sovereign nation, but they wanted a say depravity in the future.

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The remonstrances sent to the  Patria Parliament in the He appeared bullish and firm, thick-necked, with a rigidity Netherlands had finally taken some effect, despite Kieft claiming to his posture and movements. His face was freshly shaven clean.

victory and peace with the Natives. In July of 1646, a new Director His thin brown hair hung just above his shoulders and framed a General was appointed to the colony: Pieter Stuyvesant, or as he large forehead, like a taut white sail atop his visage. He had a long, preferred to be called,  Mijn Herre  General Petrus Stuyvesant.

sharp nose, ample lips, and a grim, stately countenance. And very Despite his airs of preferring to be called My Lord General notably, the peg leg.

and converting Pieter to Latin indicating an education (which he With pomp and formality, the transfer of power took place never finished), he was the first Director in a long time that wasn't beside the fort with one windmill and the harbor as backdrop.

appointed as a result of mere convenience or nepotism.

This windmill was placed so close to the fort by former Director Stuyvesant was a man of military fortitude, already having Van Twiller that the fort blocked the south wind, often rendering proved himself in Brazil and Curaçao. He'd been hit by cannon it a non-functional ornament to the city. It was now in such fire in an attack on Sint Maarten. His right leg had to be neglect of repair, it didn't run even when winds were favorable.

amputated below the knee. He continued to administrate and

"...I vow to look after you, like a father over his children,"

lead, while suffering with his horrific wound, until he was able to Stuyvesant's pontificated, revealing his thoughts regarding his return home to fully heal at his sister's in  Patria. While home, he new "subjects," as he'd come to refer to them.

married Judith Bayard, the sister of his brother-in-law, who had Kieft made a flowery farewell speech, which sounded like helped nurse him back to health.

pure fiction to those gathered who had experienced his tenure Once he'd healed, he appeared before the West India in power. He made the mistake of pausing for their colonists to Company offices and made such an impression that he was reciprocate thanks and farewells. That's when Kuyter started the appointed Director General of New Amsterdam. He now wore a heckling, reviling to the effect of what Kieft deserved instead of turned wooden peg leg, ornamented with silver bands. To those thanks, joined by Melyn and others.

deciding such matters, he certainly seamed to have more mettle Stuyvesant finally commanded the attention of the crowd, and experience than any previous Director. He seamed to be a which was then quieted instead of devolving further into chaos.

great man for the job but time would tell if he was the right man.

"A formal review will be conducted on these charges. Under _____________________

the new administration justice will be applied equally and swiftly,"

Stuyvesant declared, ending, for now, the discourse and ceremony.

In spring of 1647, Susanna Negrin successfully performed Each side appalled Stuyvesant. A leader who did not command the catechism and was baptized. Sarah looked on in admiration the respect of his subjects was pitiful and repugnant but a mob of her new fellow congregant. Susanna was shortly after awarded of colonists ready to riot could not be tolerated. Stuyvesant had a her freedom by Kieft, just before their new Director arrived in copy of the October 1644 remonstrance demanding Kieft's recall, New Amsterdam.

with Melyn and Kuyter's names on it. Ironically, the letter had The whole town gathered to greet Stuyvesant with high hopes it's intended effect, to oust Kieft, but brought with it a man who as he disembarked his ship. Sarah wore her Sunday best, as she regarded such a document as outright treason.

and her whole family stood in the crowd to catch a glimpse of In the back rooms of grog houses, Melyn and Kuyter met their new leader.

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new Director. One of the places where they convened was Isaac and after several heaves of waves was smashed to pieces off the De Forest's Red Lion Brewery, since Isaac was a trusted friend coast of Wales.

of Kuyter. He supplied them discretion and free flowing beer. It Anneke Jans wailed. Her husband, the Domine Everardus worried Isaac he'd be held as co-conspirator if anyone saw them, so Bogardus, was also aboard that ship. Catalyna comforted her old he was fastidious in keeping their entrance and exits clandestine.

friend, who had now lost two husbands.

He was excited by their ideas. They believed they could, not

"Have you heard the rumor?" Van der Donck asked Isaac.

only condemn the man who caused the ruin of so many, but also

"Kieft hasn't been found but Melyn and Kuyter survived and are win themselves representative governance.

now en route to the Hague."

_____________________

Isaac's face lifted with hope.

_____________________

Morning began on a day in mid-June 1647 with the rhythmic singing of hammers and nails, nearly a constant sound of the past In the early harvest season, Sarah and her five children year. Homes and businesses were being reconstructed and new accompanied Hans to their land at the Walle-bocht. He spent brick structures were being built. It was the day Stuyvesant set to the summer rebuilding their home there. The crops were thriving square Melyn and Kuyter across from Kieft and make his ruling.

again after everything had burned during the war.

Melyn and Kuyter presented their remonstrance. Stuyvesant

"Hans, the house looks perfect. Almost exactly the same,"

had not expected such a robust legal document from them. He Sarah exclaimed as she walked in the front door, treading on the adjourned the meeting to review it. Kieft crafted his response, wide, pine plank floors. She carried nine-month-old Michael and calling theirs libel and sedition.

Hans carried a cast iron Dutch oven. Her older children carried in The next day, Stuyvesant stated his view, including reciting the linens and cooking utensils. Hans set the oven in the hearth.

the Articles of War: "To utter words tending to mutiny and Their home looked complete.

rebellion demands capital punishment." He was talked down Sarah looked out the window and noticed some Natives by his council and agreed the two men would be allowed appeal pulling nets out of the creek in the distance. Sarah thought it before the highest governing body in  Patria and ordered them to might be Weenji and Cholena. They had a little boy with them.

depart by the first ship available.

Sarah went outside and waved. She hadn't seen her since the war.

The Princess Amelia, the ship Stuyvesant arrived on was now, Weenji walked toward their house alone. She wore a deerhide four months later, ready to return to Amsterdam. The passengers skirt adorned with porcupine quills and a hemp fiber fringe over included Melyn, Kuyter, and Kieft, all eager for their trials before her bosom.

the States General at the Hague.

"Hallo, Weenji!"Sarah cried out. Weenji did not wave or _____________________

smile. She walked up to Sarah solemnly.

"Your man comes and builds and plants but he does not greet It was a busy day at the market in the late fall of 1647 when us or make peace offerings. He is not a friend to us. I wear scars a ship arrived and word spread like wildfire. The Princess Amelia from the day my village was burned by your tribe. Over 100 of crossed the Atlantic, steered to what the captain thought was the my clansmen were killed," Weenji said sternly. She pointed to her English Channel but was instead the Bristol Channel. It hit rocks bare feet which had purple, gnarled skin across the tops. She was 132   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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missing two toes.

Sarah was speechless.

"I'm so sorry, Weenji. If I could have stopped your village burning, I would have... I tried," Sarah pleaded. "We have gifts for you. We want to be friends again."

Sarah ran into the house and took the linens. She placed them in Hans' arms, whispered "Give them to Weenji," and pushed him out the door.

"Hallo, Weenji. What do you need? We will get it for you,"

CHAPTER 18

Hans said, emerging from the house, looking guilty. She accepted 1648

the linens.

" Wunneet.  Duffel. And wheat," She paused a moment, looking at him coolly. "And guns."

"We cannot give guns but I will give sharp knives. We will bring them and the duffel for you on our next trip. I will have a schepel of wheat for you once it's harvested," He promised.

"Is that your son?" Sarah asked, looking toward Cholena and Hans and Sarah ran back to their home. Their four children the boy. She saw Weenji brow soften for a moment.

were occupied next door by their Rapalje relatives for the moment.

"Yes, Ahotasu."

They wrenched their outer layers of clothing off themselves,

"Will you share a meal with us? Ahotasu looks about the same no more languid undressing by one another. It was late winter age as my son Jan. This is Michael," Sarah said, bouncing Michael and there were a lot of layers to get through. This was the most in her arms until he smiled.

intimate moment they'd had in a long time.

"No, we must go back to our village now," Weenji said, her Things had been strained between them since they lost their stern tone returning.

son Jacob the previous winter to grippe. They'd all gotten it and

"Perhaps next time," Sarah replied. Weenji paused looking at luckily recovered, except poor Jacob. His little body purged more her a moment.

than it could give. Sarah had been tormented by the meaning of

"Yes, next time we will share gifts and a meal," Weenji nodded the loss of her baby born in the fort during wartime. Sarina had and turned sharply to leave, her long black braid following her lost Jessé much sooner. Maybe naming their boys after lost loved like a whip.

ones had cursed them into an endless echo of loss: Jessé gone, Sarah marveled how the porcupine quills on her skirt looked Jessé gone, Jacob gone, Jacob gone. It still haunted her.

so much like lace in the distance. She exhaled, relieved they parted They dressed themselves again shortly after. It was cold in the on friendly terms. A surge of empathetic pain courses through house, as the fire had gone out. Sarah wasn't quite done with their her, making her hair stand up, as she thought of Weenji's scars private moment though. She drew Hans close. They embraced and missing toes.

wordlessly for a long minute before Sarah broke the silence.

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it is that keeps you away for so long lately," Sarah said, her large, dangerous ventures.

gold-flecked hazel eyes locked on Hans for a substantive answer.

"No, the man has few scruples in business but he's fair with He'd been evasive on the topic ever since his week-long trips the people on his side," Hans said confidently.

began last summer.

"All right," she paused a moment. "Thank you for telling She saw him struggling with the words. Whether to tell her me," she said as she leaned back into his arms. "If anyone asks, I or how much to tell her? Was it another woman? Was it illegal shall promptly forget I ever heard such things."

business? Was it espionage on the English or Swedish colonies?

"  Jeg elsker deg," he said smiling and kissed her forehead.

"It's nothing nefarious,  min kvinne mitt alt, I swear. I'm

" Je t'aime," she answered.

doing work for one of the major merchants," he said, his eyes There were always obvious, vast chasms between them like were direct and sincere but he was still holding something back.

how they said "I love you" differently or how they processed the

"Can't you tell me who or what work?"

grief of Jacob: Sarah, having a lying in period of sobs and prayer

"I was selling coats to the Natives in Southampton," he said for meaning and Hans, jumping into new business prospects.

finally, hoping it end it at that.

Ultimately, Sarah reconciled these differences because they

"So you're working for Govert Loockermans then? The man had a love and physical alchemy that somehow always prevailed who was just accused of being a smuggler, among other unsavory words and connected them.

deeds?" Sarah grilled him but she knew she was right by the look _____________________

on his face.

"The Natives get a gun-powder bonus for every additional To Sarah's consternation, Hans was taken to court over the coat purchased. We're not selling it to them," Hans gulped, charge of having aided in smuggling later that year in May. Hans

"...although what got Loockermans in trouble was that he did was right though. Govert Loockermans pulled some strings and promise to sell them guns and lead shot if they cut off trade with several long-time colonists swore on Hans' good character, among the English completely. But we didn't sell them any guns  this other back-door inducements, to provide a lenient judgment for trip."

him. He was genuinely well liked and that certainly helped.

"Hans," Sarah said chidingly. " This trip?"

"We hereby pardon Hans Hansen Bergen, 14 years a

"He's a prominent man. He's on Stuyvesant's council.

respectable resident in New Amsterdam, on a charge of having Nothing is going to happen," Hans tried to reassure her.

aided in smuggling, on the condition that he beg pardon of God Loockermans had previously been accused of killing the and the court,” Van Tienhoven read out.

Minquas'  sachem on an expedition to the South River. He claimed They didn't even make him swear he'd discontinue such he only "roughed him up." Stuyvesant ordered men to investigate smuggling, Sarah thought incredulously.

and keep it quiet if it was found to be true. There was precedent After they left the court, Hans, half-astonished and also half-for Loockermans getting away with being a loose canon because smugly, recited the deceased Kiliaen van Rensselaer's business of his prominence in trade.

philosophy to Sarah.

"What about you though? Would he throw you under the

"One cannot accomplish as much by well-doing as by having bow if it came to loggerheads?" Sarah asked. She wanted to friends in the game," he said and smirked at her like a rogue.

thrash his head for not speaking to her about this  before he started _____________________

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Govert's sister, Anneke Lockermans Van Cortlandt, paved the first street in New Amsterdam that year. She was tired of the dust or mud in front of her large, well-appointed home she shared with her husband, the prosperous military officer, turned taphouse owner, Captain Oloff Van Cortlandt.

The filth bespattered her tulips and roses she insisted in planting along the front of their house as well as the ornamental shrubs. She was tired of wearing clogs or patten overshoes to keep CHAPTER 19

her dress hem from getting dirty. She thought clogs made her 1649 - 1652

look like a fishwife. The pattens were more elegant than clogs but she still couldn't stroll gracefully in them. She felt like an iron-shod horse on stilts.

She wondered  Mijn Herre  General did not pave the streets just to ease his movement with the peg leg not getting mired in muck. But he was too proud to make accommodations for himself and too focused on other things that needed repair in the In January, a most remarkable sight appeared at the pier colony, like the fort walls.

of the City Tavern. Cornelis Melyn and Jochem Kuyter had She petitioned for officials to improve the filthy condition returned. They were well received among most colonists present of the road but her complaints led to nothing. Realizing that she as a sign that their grievances with Kieft and political ambitions would have to solve the problem on her own, she supervised her were righteously received by the States General in  Patria.

servants to pave the road with cobblestones.

They adjourned to private quarters to reveal more to their It was actually only the portion in front of her house, sprawling close allies: those on the Council of Nine, which included Isaac though it was, that she paved. She'd hoped it would inspire the De Forest, and former council member Joris Rapalje.

officials, or at least her neighbors, to continue the work and finish

"Utter vindication!" Cheered Melyn, producing government the street. But, alas, it would be several more years before Breuers documents with heavy wax seals. "They concur that the chosen Straat became Stone Straat.

representatives' will to dissuade such calamities from occurring Instead the ordinance: “The constant rooting of hogs has had been hampered by Kieft."

made the streets unfit for driving over in wagons and carts.

"Hampered as well by Stuyvesant, for the possibility of Therefore, every owner of hogs shall put a ring through their disasters reoccurring. And our sentences revoked!" Kuyter cut in.

noses.” This order went, for the most part, ignored. Ordinances

"What's more... Willem II, Prince of Orange himself, wrote were being issued daily, keeping up with the fast pace of life in Stuyvesant a letter telling him to leave us to enjoy our lands free New Amsterdam, but not holding its interest.

and unmolested and furthermore admonished him to take this order peaceably and without objection!" Melyn said so proudly tears came to his eyes and his hand quaked holding up the letter.

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Isaac was elated. He was his father's son. Idealism and the content of the people; but on the contrary, what good ambition for their colony ran in his blood.

comes from the community has been mixed up with the Joris, having served with Kuyter on the Council of Twelve, bad business of the Company."

was overjoyed to have him back in town and with such great Nys Nyssen, age 34, resident 11 years:

news. The exhilaration was infectious and the feeling they were

"I spent a significant amount to fortify my home, on the cusp of something so unprecedented and remarkable made leaving my wife and four children shuttered inside for his mind swim with heady optimism for their colony.

four years. Ever while, they didn't know if I'd return from _____________________

my fields. Protection was a guarantee of immigration and it shouldn't be at double our own expense."

Stuyvesant was incredulous upon being notified. As repugnant Hans Bergen, age 35, resident 12 years:

as the States Generals' requests were to him, he first took issue

"My bouwery in Long Island was laid waste. At with the call to send delegates to the Hague.

the beginning of the war I thought a show of force was

"Should we not, first, be sure that what is proposed by the needed, but Director Kieft did not lead his soldiers. He delegates is actually the will of the people?" Stuyvesant remarked, allowed ineffective skirmishes that only begot worse mostly as a stalling tactic.

losses for the colonists."

The Council, rallied by the States General's support of Melyn Isaac De Forest, age 33, resident 12 years: "My and Kuyter, dutifully set out to interview each resident whether pregnant wife and I fled our newly built home and well there was need for reform. Stuyvesant immediately wanted to established bouwery. It was burnt down by Natives in eat his words when he saw this being carried out. What he had retaliation after the massacre at Pavonia. Those in the flippantly suggested looked a lot like conspiracy of sedition to outlands were not even notified of that first attack which him when actually carried out.

started the war. My wife lost our child she was carrying Van der Donck went door to door, meticulously compiling in the fear and grief of evacuation. Then we lost another the accounts, which included:

baby during the war, due to deprivations. I'm currently Joris Rapalje, age 45, resident 25 years: on the Council of Nine and our recommendations are

"I was on the Council of Twelve. I advised against consistently ignored. Great discontent has sprung up on brutality against the Natives and the consensus voted all sides against the expense and waste. Money given by to that as well. Our advice was ignored. We are in the taxation has been privately appropriated. Pride has ruled highest degree beholden to the Indians, who not only when justice dictated otherwise, as if it were disgraceful have given up to us this good and fruitful country, and to follow advice, and as if everything should come from for a trifle yielded us the ownership, but also enrich us one head."

with their good and reciprocal trade. My four year old Collectively, those interviewed agreed this must not happen son was murdered on our doorstep during an attack.

again. There must be safeguards against the reckless, misguided My bouwery on Long Island burned. Things have gone ambitions of one man.

on so badly and negligently that nothing has ever been Catalyna and Sarah listened in on both Joris' and Hans'

designed, understood, or done that gave appearance for depositions. Catalyna had chimed in during Joris' account, 140   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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emphasizing that Jacob died in her arms, so near the ineffective In a moment, they went from astonishment to eruption.

protection of the fort and soldiers. Sarah added she had directly Stuyvesant saw things were taking an embarrassing and possibly appealed to Kieft with alternatives to war. Hans looked at her, dangerous turn toward his authority being flouted. He briefly shocked. She hadn't told him she tried to undermine his petition considered commanding his soldiers to quell the crowd but saw to attack the Long Island Natives.

bloodshed as an inevitability in that use of force. Stuyvesant Sarah liked van der Donck. She'd never known a man to so realized he was backed into a corner. He called the room to order intently listen without then expounding his own prerogative. He and allowed the mutinous and insulting reading of the document took notes and expressed his sympathy for their losses.

to proceed. When it was finished, he stood stiffly.

They were saddened to hear, shortly after, that van der Donck's

"I will obey their commands and send a delegate in my deposition notes were seized by Stuyvesant and he was arrested on place to receive their legal pronouncement," Stuyvesant dryly the charge of  laesae maiestatis, an offence of defamation against concluded and promptly left the church.

the dignity of a ruling head of state. High treason.

_____________________

_____________________

Stuyvesant was at a low point. The humiliation at the church Two days later, on March 8th, Stuyvesant gathered the entire was worsened by further scandal. A case of muskets had arrived, population of New Amsterdam to the church on "an important ordered by Stuyvesant. He intended to sell them to the Natives as matter." He intended to read from the confiscated writings and an act of goodwill. Firearms were at a shortage and the colonists condemn van der Donck in the eyes of the populous.

were barred from selling them to Natives. His hypocrisy was the Sarah sat with Catalyna and the children in their Sunday best talk of the town. This, along with defiance of his Vice-Director, near the front of the church, nervously wondering what would made Stuyvesant reluctantly capitulate to those who called for take place. The men stood in the back whispering speculations.

van der Donck's release.

Stuyvesant entered and a heavy silence fell over the room. Just

"Prove and establish, or revoke, what you have injuriously as he was about to speak, Melyn rushed the pulpit, seizing the written," Stuyvesant ordered van der Donck. "You are freed from moment and lectern away from Stuyvesant. He'd been given the confinement but you are barred from the Council of Nine."

task by the States General of serving Stuyvesant with a mandamus Maybe he had thought the jail time enough to dissuade the ordering him to appear before the court in  Patria.

young lawyer's political activism. It had the opposite effect, only

"I have here a statement from the States General, to be read galvanizing his resolve and giving him writ to devout himself aloud," Melyn declared.

wholly to the task of an appeal to the States General.

Stuyvesant knew what the document was and he was not He spent two arduous months compiling information, giving about to have the populous hear the scolding language directed at context, organizing evidence, all the while expounding his passion him by the higher office.

for the colony, and what possibilities he believed it held for the

"Give it here- that is not the purpose of this gathering. It future prosperity and glory of the homeland. He asked the States does not need to be read aloud," He said, wrenching it away General to take charge of the colony, in light of the tyrannical from Melyn. The document was torn in the struggle. The crowd rule of the West India Company and to provide it with a suitable gasped. This was doubled desecration, of state and church.

municipal government. In the end, he had an 83 page document 142   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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called The Remonstrance of New Netherland.

their government with his mercenaries. It considerably distracted Stuyvesant decided he couldn't stop van der Donck in the States General from discussions of their overseas colony," He going but he sent his own delegate to deal with the mandamus explained, chiding Hans for his ignorance.

and counter van der Donck's case. Cornelis van Tienhoven, Sarah bristled at his condescending tone with her husband.

the detested, sharp-witted, Company man who'd served every Of course they heard about the Prince of Orange but they didn't Director since Van Twiller, would be Stuyvesant's representative.

understand how the political intrigue affected them. In fact, she Jacob Van Couwenhoven and Jan Evertsen Bout from the Council had heard the news in a puppet show and didn't even know if it of Nine would also accompany van der Donck.

was a farce or fact.

_____________________

"Then in April, after six months of appearing at the Hague to rally our cause, finally a ruling on our case,"Jacob continued.

It was hard for the colonies to keep up with the chaotic news

"The States General renounced the Company's administration in out of Europe at this time, as they were always at least on a three neglecting and opposing our good plans for the increase of the month lag. It was hard to predict how any of it would affect the country. They instructed Stuyvesant to return home and report.

colony or if the latest news was even still accurate. All they knew Jan and I brought home a copy of the papers and a shipment of was that astounding things were happening in Europe.

guns for the defense of the colony," Jacob concluded triumphantly.

The following July of 1650, Jacob Van Couwenhoven and He did not tell them of Stuyvesant's refusal to publish the Jan Evertsen Bout returned. Sarah heard what transpired directly provisional order or to return home as requested.

from Jacob Van Couwenhoven as Hans insisted hosting him for _____________________

dinner several days after he arrived.

"All of  Patria was abuzz with endless celebration for the The New Amsterdam colonists held their breath at every ship Treaty of Westphalia when we arrived," Jacob said, relishing that arrived. What news would it bring? When would van der a circuitous explanation of their visit on his attentive listeners.

Donck return?

He saw they didn't catch the importance of the treaty. "Spain

"If Europe's ongoing struggles are any indication of civilized formally recognized the independence of the Dutch Republic."

society, I'd rather not have it," Catalyna said wryly, but she and

"Does that affect us?" Hans asked.

Joris were proud of the colony being recognized. They'd had some

"It means that the influence of the Company has been hand in that, she thought, as she reminisced of their arrival on diminished. Their ships are no longer to be used as arms of the island and their dogged persistence in laying down roots for war against the Spanish," Jacob explained, eyes shining. "The their family.

States General were ready to reconsider New Netherland and Jacob Van Couwenhoven delivered a secret letter to Johannes the Company's role. We were received with interest and van der de la Montagne from van der Donck. The two men had always Donck shined in his exaltation of New Netherland's potential."

had a mutual respect for one another. Van der Donck wrote

"What took so long, if you were so well received?" Hans to assure Johannes that he'd have a position after Stuyvesant's asked, confused.

departure. He shared the news with Isaac.

"Have you heard nothing of Willem II and his opposition

"Sounds like the man is pretty sure he'll be appointed Director to the treaty? The Prince of Orange threatened to pose a coup on to replace Stuyvesant," Johannes remarked warily.

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"We can only hope that comes to pass. He is our champion,"

England after an unexpected and brutal sea battle. It was then Isaac said, eyes fervent with the possibility.

rumored van der Donck was being held in the Hague. They

"The idealistic dark horse is a captivating diversion, but would not recall Stuyvesant when the support of the Company remember, it seldom wins the race," Johannes warned.

was needed in the war.

_____________________

_____________________

Sarah again saw the news of Europe told in puppet show The name "New Amsterdam" was officially declared in form at the market.

February 1653 and the bell out front of the City Tavern rang in the The tale of Charles I of England being beheaded the previous newly formed government. Stuyvesant ignored the requirement year was retold. He was portrayed with long dark hair, a mustache, for elections and himself appointed two burgomasters, five pointed beard, clothes that sparkled with baubles, and a long, schepens and a schout, roughly analogous to two mayors, five city upturned nose. A Puritan named Cromwell was to become Lord councilmen, and an attorney general.

Protector. He had a humble appearance, potato faced and dressed That summer, van der Donck was finally permitted by the in brown, with silver pauldrons on his shoulders. It was a triumph Company to return home to his family in New Amsterdam on over tyranny and an end to the English Civil War.

the condition he retire from public life. Not only that, but he The second show told of further actions of the Prince of was denied the right to practice law because there was no one of Orange. Willem II held government officials captive in a castle

"sufficient ability and the necessary qualifications" to equal him.

and attempted to take Amsterdam with a force of 10,000 men. He Defeated politically, he refocused on his vast estate and behind-failed because of bad weather and, shortly after, died of smallpox.

the-scenes consultation on efforts to continue his work.

She thought it a fantastic tale and doubted the veracity.

The   Yonkheer faded away, a forgotten American advocate She heard van Tienhoven had returned but not van der Donck.

whose ideas were unfortunately ahead of their time.

Van Tienhoven was quickly the subject of a sex scandal. The vile creature who fancied himself a "lady's man," had convinced a basket-maker's daughter he was single and intended to marry her.

He abandoned his role countering van der Donck's arguments, fled, and arrived in New Amsterdam with his young paramour.

Sarah was appalled and sorry for his wife, Rachel. She could not understand the reasoning, but Rachel convinced her husband to eschew the young girl and return to their family. Sarah thought she should have asked for a divorce.

_____________________

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"I'm taking a job from Lookermans. I'll be gone a few days, maybe a week." A few nights away with a sizable payout sounded ideal to him.

"Must you?" Sarah pleaded with him. She half understood but the fear in her was too great not to give him a hard time. He reminded her of the time she spent making  sewant. She could see his fault lines and was applying pressure gingerly.

" Ja Sarah, I must." He wasn't seeking her opinion or to form CHAPTER 20

an argument. He shut down either option with his tone of voice.

1653

"Please, be careful," She said as she held back tears. "Don't get called to court again. They won't be so lenient a second time."

_____________________

Hans left in the middle of October. The weather was fine.

Frost had coated the ground when he left in the morning but by midday the sun shined strong and bright. He sailed south on a It was Sarah's favorite time of year. In autumn the trees yacht he co-owned. It was a single-masted ship of 15 meters in became enormous bouquets of gold, amber, crimson, and length with a flat plate keel and a leeboard. The crew numbered vermilion. Abundance reigned. She loved the gathering of the six. He didn't know them, but as they were Loockermans' men, harvest, sweating in the cooling air and processing the crops, then he knew they were competent.

organizing them in their storehouse. She wasn't able to do any of They were to sail down to the South River, to the Minquas that this year though.

territory, to trade winter coats for pelts and  sewant. The trip down She had given birth in September to twins. Catalyna and went easy. They found the tributary and camped that night.

Jacob. Catalyna was born feeble. Sarah tried to give her everything In the morning, they followed the smaller river inland. They she could to nourish her but she passed quietly, not long after her anchored by a fork in the river, well before reaching the Swedish baptism. She and Hans were in a flux of emotion, and again, and Dutch forts, to avoid inquiry. Two canoes were dropped into dealing with loss quite differently. Sarah poured herself into the water. Hans was instructed to board a canoe with a fellow hyper-vigilance over her children and overbearing management sailor, a man named Jan. Another set of men boarded the other of the household. Hans retreated into work. He may have lost a canoe. They'd divided coats among them, as well as gunpowder.

child but he still had seven to provide for.

They each had a flintlock pistol aboard.

"Don't build the fire like that," Sarah told Hans. "It heats the They paddled up the tributary until it forked again, splitting kettle faster if you stack it in a pyramid, horizontally. The ash will up. The weather was still agreeable and the trip was pleasant and fall inward, instead of spewing across the floor."

quiet. Neither man spoke much. Eventually they gained sight of Hans let the wood clatter against the back of the fireplace. He a village. Smoke was rising from a longhouse. They moored their walked to the other side of the room.

vessel on a sandy but steep shore. Climbing the little incline, the 148   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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village was in full view, but there were no people about. They Her mind spun. She fainted. Thank God she wasn't holding called out.

the baby. She came to with a slap.

Still no one came.

"How? How could that be true? Are you sure? What happened They walked to the one large longhouse with smoke rising.

to him? Where is he?" She asked frantically.

They called out again. Nothing.

"We lost him in an attack," was all the man could say.

They opened the barked hatch and the smell of death _____________________

permeated their nostrils. There were lifeless bodies, still in their beds. From the sores on their faces, with one glance, they knew

"Is Loockermans sure that it was not retribution for him it was smallpox.

killing the Minquas  sachem not so long ago?" Catalyna brought They drew back and retreated to their canoe.

up a fair point but speculating motive changed nothing.

"Maybe the other village wasn't affected? If we don't meet Hans was gone.

the others on the way, maybe we can trade our coats there?" Hans Sarah went to Govert Loockermans for more information as speculated. His canoe partner was drawn and silent.

soon as she could.

They shoved off. A minute later came an arrow. It hit Jan in

"Hans was a great man. I am sorry for your loss and I share the shoulder and he cried out. Hans startled and paddled faster.

in it. I have little information as I wasn't there, but the sailors Jan swung out his loaded pistol and shot in the general direction said the other village they went to warned smallpox was raging in of the arrow. Another whoosh. Hans couldn't see as Jan was the area. Perhaps it was a misplaced vengeance from an afflicted behind him but it hit the man squarely in his back.

wilden?" Loockermans offered, shrugging and shaking his head.

Hans sang “In mijn grootse nood O’Heere” since it had worked His body shaking and squirming looked like he was trying to for him against Natives once before. As he fervently paddled, an shake any blame off himself.

arrow was loosed and found its mark in his throat. His singing

"What do you know of sharing in his loss? We have seven garbled with blood entering his lungs and he struggled to keep children. We just lost a baby. Hans was everything to us. Our on paddling.

devastation can't be conveyed."

Hans and Jan succumbed to their wounds and the canoe Sarah broke down. She didn't care. She wanted him to knocked into a tree encroaching the stream. The force knocked witness the ugliness of her pain.

Hans' lifeless body to a watery internment.

" Mevrouw, I know it is no consolation, and I usually don't The canoe was later found by the other sailors, along with offer this, but I will pay you twice what Hans would have Jan and the coats. The other men searched for Hans but surmised profited," Loockermans offered.

by the arrows there were hostile Natives in the area. They quickly

"I would gratefully accept it," Sarah said choking back tears, retreated back to their yacht.

but emboldened, "and I would thank you to buy out his share of _____________________

the damned yacht."

"Consider it done," Loockermans conceded quickly to end One of Loockermans' men showed up at Sarah's door.

their meeting.

"I'm sorry to inform you that your husband died on our trip.

She could at least take care of her children for a little while There was an attack."

then. She left, still crying.

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_____________________

There was no funeral. There was no grave. Sarah was grateful for her family and friends that came to see her that dark winter.

Sarina paid a visit. She was also grieving. Her father and eldest brother had been killed that September. Sarah had missed the funeral because of the twins' birth and baby Catalyna's death.

"It's supposed that Natives attacked them but no one could figure out a motive or who exactly was responsible. There's also speculation it could have been someone who had come into conflict with his Court Messenger duties," Sarina said.

"My heart breaks for the loss and the unanswered questions, for your father, brother, and my husband." Sarah said as they embraced. "Not knowing is the cruelest grief."

Weenji came to visit. She had her son with her. Sarah's son Jan and Ahotasu didn't need any encouragement to go off and play together. Sarah cried in Weenji's arms, out of her grief of Hans but also her relief in seeing her former nursemaid and old friend.

Weenji said little but she sang her a song. It was a melancholy tune but it was soothing to Sarah.

Sarah stayed at their home at the Waale-bocht that winter.

Her parents had moved there also. The only thing that survived from their early years was the rocking bassinet. It was so difficult.

Sarah loved it and wanted to use it but every time she laid Jacob to rest she had to retreat and sob, remembering when Hans brought it home.

How simple life was then. Before the war. Before they buried two of their children.

How endless their future together seemed.

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Seek transformation. O be eager for that flame PART THREE

In which something escapes you, proud of change In overcoming the earthbound, that designing spirit 1654 - 1663

Loves the zest of a figure at its turning point BONDS

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

Sonnets to Orpheus

Part 2 , Number 12

"These are exquisite. Do you make or import them?" The woman said, skipping smalltalk.

"I make them. They are Valenciennes  passementerie, taught to me by my mother," Sarah replied. "Are you in need of cuffs or perhaps a collar?"

She did not suggest a coif because the woman wore a mens castor hat. She had feminine grace but the hat suited an undercurrent of masculinity.

CHAPTER 21

"No. I'm a factor for several merchants. I trade commodities 1654

such as pins for pelts," She said. "As I establish a household I will need laced linens though. What's your name?"

"Sarah Jorise Rapalje. And yours?"

"Margaret Hardenbroeck."

"Are you married or betrothed?"

"Neither," She laughed. "I may sooner or later though. I'll keep you in mind when I have need."

The market pulsated with activity, snow softly falling, blown She turned abruptly to leave. Sarah admired her confidence in meandering directions like the shoppers.

and envied her apparent enjoyment of being unattached.

Sarah stood with her  passementerie sample book in one hand, _____________________

finished goods in the other.

"Lace cuffs, collars, and coifs! Pillowcases, table linens!" Sarah Phebe visited Sarah frequently that spring. Knowing she exclaimed to the mostly deaf ears around her.

needed distractions and company, she often brought her children, The skill taught to young Catalyna in the orphan workhouse which now numbered nine. The older ones watched the younger of Leiden had now become a means for Sarah's survival. She used while Sarah and Phebe could make bread and cheese or take care to hate the lacemaking lessons as a child. She couldn't focus and sit of laundry, mend clothes, make tallow candles, soap, and other still to find the rhythm of the weaving bobbins. But now, keeping household necessities.

her hands busy with methodical work soothed her mind as well. It Mostly Phebe listened as Sarah thought aloud how best to took her whole concentration to get into a smooth rhythm so the make her way in the world without Hans. Her parents urged lace would be neat and even. She could count threads instead of her to remarry. Her bouwery and household would be tough to thoughts of despair. It was something she could do by candlelight, manage on her own. They had crops, cows, hogs, and chickens late at night, when she couldn't sleep.

to tend. Sarah bartered milk, butter, and cheese for things like A young woman met her eyes from across the street and made shoes for the children, fabric, and thread. With the loss of Hans'

her way to meet Sarah. She was not unlike many other Dutch additional income from carpentry and the myriad of odd jobs he women. She held herself with a dignity, poise, and determination.

fulfilled, their subsistence on the farm alone would be difficult Sarah braced herself for a forceful bargaining.

and meager. Her  passementerie sales would only go so far and she 156   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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could only do so much in a day. She taught Aneken and Rebecca Phebe's husband by his nickname, Nys. He was a good man but Aneken spurned it like she had as a girl.

to break the awkwardness of the meeting, reliably gregarious,

"Nys has been pushing me to introduce you to a new friend talkative, and quick to laugh.

of his," Phebe finally broached the subject one day. "He's young,

"The pleasure is mine, Sarah Jorise Rapalje. Thank you for energetic, and a capable farmer. And handsome too! I like him having us to visit," Teunis said, much more soft-spoken than Nys.

Sarah. You should meet him at least."

"Your home is charming and the food smells delightful."

Sarah gave her a wary look, scrunching her brow.

Taking off his hat, he held it to his chest and bowed slightly

"Next week, have your mother watch the children at your with a boyishly shy smile. Sarah noticed how he and Nys had the parents' house. I'll bring Nys and his friend. Just a friendly visit,"

same accent, slightly different than other Netherlanders. She'd Phebe pleaded with her.

always thought the funny way Nys said his vowels was merely a

"Does he know I have seven children? Will that scare him off personal quirk.

when he finds out?" Sarah asked.

"Welcome, please, have a seat," Sarah said, gesturing to the

"He knows. I suggest it because it might be less distracting if long kitchen table and benches, "How was the ferry over today?"

you meet him without the children first," Phebe said. "It doesn't

"A bit chilly but not too bad. I brought some brandy to warm scare men off. On the contrary, it attracts them because they us up. May I?" Nys offered.

know it'll be a fruitful union."

"Certainly," Sarah said, getting out her green, Roemer glass

"All right, I'll meet him," Sarah finally acquiesced, "But goblets that were reserved for special occasions. She could use a please, no more talk of fruitful unions. Just a friendly visit."

drink, she thought.

_____________________

She regarded Teunis while Nys filled the air with idle chatter about the weather. She had to admit Phebe was right, he was The following week, true to her plan, Phebe came to visit handsome. Teunis was not tall like Hans but he was younger by Sarah with her husband and his friend. Sarah was nauseous with ten years. He was Sarah and Phebe's age. The high point of his nerves. Even as she told herself she wasn't interested in attracting cheekbones were the healthy color of someone who spent their a new husband, her pride wouldn't allow her to be a bad hostess.

time outdoors. When he took off his castor hat he revealed thick, She fastidiously cleaned her home. She wore a modest, dove-blue wavy, light brown hair to the length of his ears. He had beautiful, kirtle she usually reserved for church, a plain white coif over her dark brown eyes and a tidy, tapered mustache. He carefully undid plaited hair, pinned up with bodkin hair pins. She prepared a the brass buttons of his dark brown duffel cassock. It had been seafood stew with fish, clams, oysters, eels, and mussels in her buttoned like a cape for the cold, but he opened it to the elbow Dutch oven over the fire, with rye bread, cheese, and freshly to free his arms.

churned butter.

"Teunis was in the service of the Company the past two years.

"Sarah, it's good to see you. You look well," Nys jovially He arrived not too long ago, having come from the Caribbean."

greeted her as they came in, "This is Teunis Gysbertse Bogaert.

Nys said. That may explain his tanned cheeks, thought Sarah.

He's from a village near mine in Utrecht and practically my

" Ja, fortunately trading goods and not in battles with the younger brother if you count the similarities," Nys laughed.

Spanish or English. My brother-in-law, Aert, and I intend to They even had the same given name, except everyone called settle in New Netherland. My cousins came ahead of us and have 158   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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settled up north in Beverwijck and Catskill."

"The small ones are sweeter but the large ones are delicacies in

"Oh, is that where you intend to settle?" Sarah asked sipping stews, like this," Sarah said.

her brandy.

"Quite good fried too," Phebe added, as she sipped on the

"Not necessarily. I've become rather enchanted by New pipe and blew out a plume of smoke.

Amsterdam. I think the northern territory might be too desolate

"What's your favorite crop?" Teunis asked Sarah. Nys looked for me. Nys understands," He shot Nys a sideways glance as at him confused why he'd ask a lady that. Phebe laughed.

Nys nodded. "It's nice to see a city nearby the bucolic life. The

"Red amaranth. It's not a staple crop but the flowers are stepped-gambrel brick buildings, the little canal, and the number beautiful and I love the grain," Sarah said without pause.

of languages spoken in town make it feel a lot like Amsterdam.

"Never heard of it. How about favorite fish?"

And there's still such a bounty of land for farming!" Teunis spoke

"One time I saw men bring in a sturgeon from upriver. It was animately and admiring. Sarah laughed at him admiring the mythic in size! But to eat, I like smoked trout."

"canal" they called the Ditch.

"How about favorite nut?"

"Sarah was born at Fort Orange but her parents had one of

"Chestnut."

the first houses on Manhattan. People call her the eldest child

"Favorite mushroom?"

of New Netherland because she was the first born here," Phebe

"Chestnut."

boasted of her friend.

"You just said that..."

"Really? That's remarkable. You must have seen so much Sarah laughed, "It's the name of a nut and a mushroom. You change in the city," Teunis wondered.

find them around oak, not chestnut trees though. There were Sarah was embarrassed. It was no great deed to be born. She some dried ones in the stew."

realized Teunis must imagine a wilderness come to be a city in a Teunis stared at her, grinning. She held his gaze and he nice orderly progression, without knowing the horrors like Kieft's bashfully looked away. Sarah wondered if he was charmed by her War that set them back and shattered the beauty of their early life or just drunk.

here. She was a bit jealous of that ignorance. He had a clean slate She poured them all more brandy, hoping to get him to open to appreciate the place.

up about himself more, but he beat her to the next inquiry.

"How about some food?" Sarah changed the subject, setting

"Tell me about your children," He asked.

out her fine majolica plates, adorned with blue pheasants and Sarah stiffened. She suddenly felt guilty she had been having flowers, and wooden bowls.

such a pleasant time.

They ate heartily and had some more brandy. The atmosphere

"There's seven. Four boys and three girls. The youngest, Jacob, was more convivial now they were all full and a little drunk. Sarah is six months old and the eldest, Aneken, is thirteen." She replied.

cleared their plates and got out long, clay pipes for each of the

"Such a marvelous woman must have equally marvelous men and a box of tobacco leaf. She and Phebe shared a pipe.

children," Teunis said looking at Sarah in a way that made her

"That was delicious. I couldn't believe the size of oysters for blush, despite herself. "I'd like to meet them."

sale in town, some as big as a mans head!" Teunis exclaimed. He Phebe and Nys looked very pleased as they departed with took off his cassock, revealing a natural linen shirt and worn, dark Teunis to return home. Sarah bid them adieu from her stoop and leather jerkin, more humble-looking attire than his coat.

went back into her empty house. The silence was unnerving. She 160   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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considered taking up her  passementerie to clear her head but she this world."

realized she was too befuddled to concentrate.

"Are you good with a bow and arrow?"

There was a knock at the door.

"No, I'm a good aim with a riffle though."

She opened it to see Teunis had come back, alone. They

"Have you ever killed a man?"

looked at each other, each hesitating to speak first.

"No."

“Come in, please.” She told him.

"Did you fight pirates?" Her son, Jan, chimed in.

“I… I think I forgot my gloves,” He said in a low voice.

"No. They steered clear of our ship. They were out-gunned."

She looked around but didn't see them.

"Children, let the man be. He's a guest in our home and

“Here they are.” He scooped them up from under the table we're not the Inquisition," Sarah scolded.

and nearly lost his balance. She stepped close to catch him. They

"It's all right," Teunis laughed. "It's only fair after all the were both tipsy. He grasped her for a brief moment before he questions I peppered you with during our first meeting."

drew back, embarrassed. She had the urge to kiss him, run her _____________________

fingers through his hair, and draw him closer to her. Instead, she also stepped back.

Sarah went to her parents' home at the Waale-bocht the day

"That brandy was good, huh?" He laughed and broke the after that meeting. Teunis told her he already met with Catalyna awkward moment.

and Joris. A feeling akin to panic rose in her when he said that. It

“Will you visit again next week?” She asked. “You can meet meant his interest was sincere. She was curious but felt nervous my children.”

about their regard of him.

“Yes, with pleasure,” He answered, smiling with an eased Catalyna met her and the children at the stoop, kissed her expression. "Excuse me, I must catch up to Phebe and Nys to cheeks, and proceeded to help the little ones out of their muddy catch the ferry back. Thank you, again."

clogs. They went inside where Joris was sitting at the table, having He paused, as if he considered kissing her cheeks goodbye.

peppermint tea. She sat down beside him and put her head on Instead he tipped his hat and bowed before he closed the door his shoulder.

after himself.

" Bonjour, ma petite chou," Joris said, kissing her on the _____________________

forehead. "You have a suitor! Teunis Gysbertse Bogaert came to ask for our blessing to wed you. I'm sure you guessed as much.

Teunis and her little ones played catch with a stitched deerhide What are your thoughts on him?"

ball and every time the little ones threw to him, he'd feign being

"What are  your thoughts on him?" She parroted back.

knocked over by the force, making them squeal with giggles. He

" Très beau," Catalyna said with a sly, sidelong glance, her face had a jester-like humor that easily charmed them.

not revealing much more as she joined them at the table.

The older children looked to Sarah as to how they should

"He's familiar with hard work. His hands are callused and regard him. Sarah was polite and reserved so they were too. Only he's the son of a planter. He's suited for taking on the bouwery,"

Aneken interrogated him.

Joris said with raised eyebrows, mouth scrunched to one side. "He

"Can you birth a calf?" She asked.

spoke with much interest in crops and farming practices here."

"Yes, I grew up on a farm. I've seen many calves come into

"Is that why he would marry me?" Sarah asked suspiciously.

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"Does he want my land?"

set aside the money for her children. She had half a mind to use

"I got the impression he was smitten with you, not land. I was it to survive as a widow.

starting with the practicalities but he mostly spoke of how well he _____________________

regarded you," Joris said, seemingly offended for the young man.

"Beautiful and bright were the words he used."

Several days later Sarah opened the front door to go tend the

"And he was quite ingratiating to us, having raised you,"

animals and saw a pair of wooden clogs carved with her initials Catalyna said, smug in that approval.

and patterns of flowers on her doorstep. How odd, she thought.

"You could remain a widow,  ma petite," Joris said gently, "Or Later in the day, Teunis came to visit. Sarah was in the pigsty you could be joined in all the woes and joys of life with a new with the children. They were looking after the new brood of husband to share the load."

piglets, coming up with names and trying to remember them by

"Think of your children, especially your boys," Catalyna the pink freckles on their black skin.

leaned in to whisper to Sarah. "You are lucky. A hardworking When Sarah opened the gate to greet Teunis with hat in man that's not bad to look at. And clearly smitten with you and hand, his smile turned to disappointment when he looked down your children."

at her feet.

"We gave him our blessing, but the decision is yours, of

"Hallo, Teunis. What's the matter?" Sarah asked him confused course," Joris said looking at her with eyes that understood it was and slightly alarmed.

not a decision taken lightly.

"You aren't wearing the clogs?" He asked her dejectedly.

"Many people here have lost spouses and remarried right She looked down at her feet. She wore her muck clogs that away. No one would shame you for it," Catalyna said. "You are she always wore. She finally put it together.

still so young."

" You left those for me?" She asked.

"That still doesn't make it easy. Besides, he hasn't asked  me

"I made them for you ... as my marriage proposal," He spoke yet," Sarah said and left it at that.

in a whisper, cheeks turning red, and turned to leave.

She'd also reluctantly come to comprehend that although The dam she'd built up around her heart burst just then with she  could remain a widow, life would be much harder without a a wave of affection for him. It was such a sweet gesture and she partner. She thought of shamefully of how she'd wanted to kiss didn't understand how but she had botched it completely. He him, reminding herself of women with ill repute like Nanne Beech thought she refused him, and that made her realize that wasn't and Griet Rayniers. The Domines would say it's better to marry what she wanted at all.

than to burn with passion. She thought of Margaret Hardenbroeck

"Teunis, wait!" She ran after him. He hung his head and and her independence, yet she hadn't the connections to be a looked at the ground. She took his hand. His long fingers were tradeswoman beyond selling her lace.

rough with callouses, as Joris said. Her words tumbled out. "I She sometimes still expected Hans to walk through the door, don't understand. What did you say? I thought they were too half-heartedly believing he might be alive in Minquas territory, lovely to wear. I didn't know you made them."

trying to get back to her. Would she be an adulteress then?

She stared at his hand and ran her fingertips along the hard She decided to sell their house on Pearl Straat. There was ridges. She felt a rush like she had with Hans that night she first nothing for her there, only ghosts of her girlhood and Hans. She kissed him, on the precipice of a decision that exhilarated her.

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He took her chin with his forefinger and made her look up.

His rich brown eyes searched hers for an answer. It felt like her stomach dropped through her womb and lit a fire in her veins.

She ran her hands through his hair, pulled his face to hers and kissed him. He put his arms around her and breathed a weighty sigh as he kissed her back.

"I accept," She whispered, pulling back to look at him, "but I still don't understand what clogs have to do with it." He laughed.

"It's tradition. The boy leaves clogs for his beloved. Upon CHAPTER 22

return the next day, if she is wearing them, then she accepts," He 1654

explained, naively expecting that to be self-evident.

"It's very sweet, I just didn't know," She said, hesitated, and then continued, "I still think they're too beautiful to wear. I put them on a shelf to admire them."

"As long as you will be my wife, you don't have to wear the clogs," He said, his eyes beaming with his affection for her.

In August, Sarah and Teunis were wed at the Waale-bocht by the recently appointed Domine Polhemous. Their ceremony was small, consisting of Sarah's parents and Teunis' brother-in-law Aert Middagh.

Sarah wore a simple, pale woad-blue linen dress with voluminous sleeves, a lace falling collar, and her chatelaine at her waist. She had her  passement  lace diadem cap with her hair curled, pinned up with hair needle bodkins. She wore the clogs Teunis made for her.

"You look so beautiful, Sarah," Teunis told her with wonder in his eyes. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

He wore linen breeches the pale green of nettles, his linen shirt bleached white, with his dark brown leather jerkin, and lace falling collar Sarah had made for him.

Sarah's children, her siblings, Phebe, Nys and their children, and their Waale-bocht neighbors joined everyone afterward for an outdoor feast at the Rapalje's house. They had a variety of fish—striped bass, salmon, and rainbow trout—coated in corn flour and fried in lard,  koolsla, roasted oysters and clams, waffles 166   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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stuffed with brandy-soaked cherries, and apple cinnamon cake.

be a fair husband. She was a grown woman, 29 years old, and Sarah's children were graciously receptive to their new step-certainly didn't want to legally hold the same rights as that of a father. They still dearly missed their father, but the older ones mere child.

sensed life would once more be stable and secure. They were all Also, Catalyna's court victory over Paulus Vanderbeek had eager for sweets and celebration.

shown her the power of a woman appearing in court to provide

"When my father died, my mother had already passed, and her own testimony.

my step-mother remarried and forgot about me. I was orphaned _____________________

and abandoned," Teunis had explained to Sarah before their wedding. "I don't want my step-children to feel abandoned, as I When she and Teunis departed back home as man and wife, was. They don't have to take my surname but I promise to treat Sarah had a pit of dread in her stomach. Catalyna kept Sarah's them as my own."

children at her house for a few days after the wedding so the Teunis gifted Sarah a fine silver spoon as a wedding present.

newlyweds had a chance to make the mortar for a Godly union.

The cast-silver handle was embellished with acanthus leaves, She quickly countered her attraction to Teunis with thoughts symbolizing immortality, and ended in a seashell, symbolizing of Hans and her children. She reminded herself it was her duty love and fertility. The bowl of the spoon was so brightly polished to the stability of her family to remarry and it was her duty to Sarah could see herself in it, distorted by the concavity. On the her new husband to consummate the marriage. She denied it was backside "SJR," her initials, were engraved.

desire, outside of obligation, that so agitated her.

_____________________

She'd hoped Teunis would be shy. She tried the slow, ceremonious undressing of her and Hans' early repertoire but The Dutch colony of New Netherlands differed in significant Teunis was not so patient. Impassioned, he nearly tore her dress ways from the English colonies, especially in regard to women.

as he removed it and took her onto the bed in her chemise. He In New Netherlands, women had significant entitlements, legal tried to kiss her and she pushed him away reflexively.

rights, and privileges. An unmarried woman was treated under

"My apologies for being overly amorous. You are the most the law as a man would be treated. When she married, a woman beautiful woman I've ever seen. And now you're my wife," He could choose whether to marry and live according to  manus or said, both admiring and pleading with his eyes for her willingness.

according to  usus.

"I'm sorry... I'm... I don't know. Not ready," She stammered.

If she chose  manus, she agreed to live under the guardianship

"May I hold you?"

of her husband. He would be her legal representative in any case She nodded, relaxing her body next to his. He held her with before the court. Her husband had to appear for or with her in one arm, stroking her hair back, again and again. After some any suit in which she was charged as defendant, and she could minutes she turned her face to his and their lips met. He pulled make no contract without her husband’s authority.

back to look at her. She settled her head on his chest, listening to Usus was standard for that time. Being a maritime colony, his breathing and heart thumping until she fell asleep.

women needed to handle business in lieu of their husbands with _____________________

they were away.

She entered the partnership in good faith that Teunis would Sarah woke in the early dawn hours, startled at first that there 168   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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was a man in her bed. She quickly remembered. The friendly Africans to the Protestant faith had shifted. They had no patience visit, the clogs, the wedding. Teunis. She studied his sleeping for people who sought baptism as a way out of slavery.

face. The straight slope of his nose, the slightly parted lips, the The bouwery they lived on had been inherited from Susanna's chin cleft under his facial hair. Why did a sleeping person seem freedman father. It was north of that wall, outside it's protection, so endearing? The innocence of dreaming, the vulnerability of like many of the freed and Company-owned Africans.

unconsciousness? It strangely stirred a willingness in her.

"Do you think it's likely their fears of an English invasion She kissed him softly. He roused, smiled at her, and pulled will come to pass? And we'll have to fend for ourselves before they her closer. It was like being sucked into a whirlpool. Part of her reach the wall?" Susanna asked.

wanted to break away but she also wanted to succumb to the pull.

"No one knows. But I did hear the man who supplied the Before she knew it, he made her abandon self-consciousness wood for the wall—the Englishman Thomas Baxter—defected to and submit to the pleasure of it. She hadn't before realized how become a pirate for the Rhode Island colony."

much she missed the carnal affection of a man.

Susanna whistled at that irony.

She realized later, she'd meant to close her eyes and think of After washing the layers of sweat and grime off his face in a Hans, but she never did. Teunis' need for her was too demanding, wooden basin of water Thomas asked, "Did you meet with Wolfer and present. When finished, she felt adulterous and even more Webber today?"

conflicted that she enjoyed it with such abandon.

"Yes, Jochem will be apprenticed to the wine merchant for

"You're the most beautiful woman," he repeated, sweet and three years. I made sure he'll receive food, clothes, and be taught tender, as the fog of passion lifted.

to read," She said satisfied her little brother would at least have Although she was relieved they had a physical attraction, she some opportunities, like she had. Though she was sorrowful that simultaneously felt the weight of guilt. Hans hadn't even been freedom was not among them.

gone a full year. She couldn't allow herself to admit any hope _____________________

for contentment. Not so soon. She foiled the pleasure her new husband brought her with a self-flagellating shame that she was That October, Director Stuyvesant granted Teunis 100

tempted to so easily move on with her life.

acres of land in Breuckelen, which he shared with Aert Nysen _____________________

Middagh, brother of his sister's husband. Aert had immigrated with Teunis, then they shipped out on different Company vessels

"How was the work today?" Susanna asked Thomas as he sat to trade outposts in the West Indies.

at their table after a long day.

Aert was a little younger than Teunis. He was about the same Susanna Negrin sat with her husband, a Moorish African height and build, with less facial hair and a heavy brow that made named Thomas, as he ate his dinner. He was home late from a him look contemplative. The two made plans with zeal. Where long day building the palisade wall.

should be cleared and what should be planted? There were heavily

"All the way across the island, nine feet high. Done. Now wooded areas. They concluded they'd build a saw mill at the there's just the defensive bastions to finish," Thomas said.

river's edge. The growing population in Breuckelen would need Thomas was enslaved by the Company. Neither her husband building materials. The cleared land could eventually be amended or their children were free. The attitude toward converting to grow additional crops.

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That fall they harvested Hans' former plantation at the Waale-When she returned from the fields one day, there was a bocht. Despite neglect during the planting season, the rich soil pitcher filled with amaranth stems. Their fuchsia, torch-like would perhaps yield enough to get them through winter. They flowers created a grand centerpiece on their mantle. Aneken told couldn't afford farmhands so Sarah and Aneken joined Teunis her Teunis had brought them home.

and Aert in harvesting the grains. Her twelve year old daughter,

"I saw Joris had it planted so I got some from him. We'll Rebecca, watched over baby Jacob and the younger children.

plant the seeds next year. You shall have some of your favorite Teunis and Aert grew up on farms so the rhythm was familiar crop on our land." Teunis told her later.

to them. Teunis wielded the scythe and Aert the cradle, gathering

"Do you want to know the real reason it's my favorite?" Sarah it after it was cut. Sarah and Aneken following behind, tying the asked him. He nodded. "The Spanish Conquistadors banned it wheat, rye, barley, and buckwheat into bundles using the straw in South America because the Natives used it in their religious itself and stood the shocks upright to dry in the field. Her sons, practices. Dutch sailors bought some secretly from the Natives Jan and Michael, ten and eight years old respectively, watched and brought it here. That's why my father has some. He has an Teunis and Aert's rhythm with scythe and cradle, took after them affinity for anything the Spanish would try to extinguish, like our sometimes in the field as well. The boys were tall and strong, like Walloon ancestors."

Hans, and although young, were capable. Teunis stopped to give Teunis just looked at her bewildered a moment before he them pointers and direction sometimes but mostly just garnished smirked, drew her close, and whispered, "Three Sisters and now praise to keep them going.

anti-Spanish flowers? You never cease to enlighten me, Sarah. I The tobacco was not bountiful that year but Sarah hung to never knew crops to have so many stories."

dry what they did harvest. It wouldn't fill a hogshead barrel but _____________________

she could trade it locally in smaller amounts.

She and the children harvested the corn, beans, and pumpkins The harvesting done and the dried goods stowed in their they grew together, the way the Natives taught them, in mounds storehouse and kitchen pantry, the newly formed family settled a few feet apart.

in for winter. Teunis had a basic education and he and Sarah

"The Natives call them the Three Sisters," She explained to intended to help the children with reading and arithmetic over Teunis and Aert. "The beans enrich the soil and they entwine up the winter, mostly reading from the family bible. They sang the the cornstalk. The squash's large leaves shade the soil and keep it psalms, finding their new harmony as a family.

from drying out."

As December drew near, Teunis animatedly told the children When the grain was dry, Teunis and Aert took turns about Sinterklaas, which the older ones knew about from other threshing, separating the edible part. When the threshing was Dutch children.

completed, Sarah raked away the straw to be used as bedding.

"Soon he will ride over our house on his white horse, his red She winnowed the grain from the chaff and any pests. She sifted cape and white beard flapping in the wind, wearing a tall red hat,"

it in a shallow woven basket, the wind blowing off the chaff. The Teunis said as the children gathered around him. "If you leave a younger children helped with those tasks, as well as harvesting the clog by the fireplace, with some food for his horse, he might leave apples, carrots, parsnips, onion, leeks, garlic, and cabbages from you some treats, if you've been good boys and girls."

the kitchen garden.

"Sinterklaas will tell Père Noël if you've been good and what 172   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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to bring you on Christmas Eve," Sarah winked at Teunis, adding specifically for the elf. The children took it out to the barn.

in her own family's tradition.

Sarah and Teunis woke up extra early and quietly slipped

"What about Fjøsnissen?" Five year old Joris asked. Teunis out to the barn so as not to wake the children. As their treat was confused and looked to Sarah.

for leaving the porridge and beer, Fjøsnissen did the children's

"He's the Norwegian elf who lives in the barn," Sarah morning chores and let them sleep in.

whispered to Teunis, explaining the tradition that had been important to Hans. She turned back to answer Joris, "We'll still leave him some porridge and beer so he'll bless next year's harvest and watch over the animals... and maybe he will have a treat for you too."

The children were delighted, they'd get treats from three different nationalities of what later combined into one American Christmas visitor, Santa Claus.

_____________________

On St. Nicholas Eve, the children left hay and parsnips in their clogs by the fire. Sinterklaas came and left them each a little orange and small cloth bag with chocolate coins and  kruidnoten gingersnap cookies. Teunis made sure to acquire the appropriate little treats for them from the market. There were many people selling such things because Sinterklaas was so popular with the children, even the non-Dutch were forced into participating by their envious, expectant children.

On Christmas Eve, they went to mass at the Dutch Reformed Church in Flatbush. When they returned, a red duffel sack was left by the fireplace. "Père Noël came!" They each took a turn pulling out a gift. There was two sets of adjustable ice skates, several spinning tops, new corn husk dolls, and hobby horse with a broomstick body and felted wool head.

When they were over the initial excitement of playing with new toys, dinner from their Dutch oven was ready: turkey braised with carrots, onion, cabbage, and pumpkin in a gravy, served with crusty wheat baguettes, butter, and smoked cheese.

"Don't forget about Fjøsnissen!" Sarah said and set out a mini wooden bowl and cup set on a tray that Hans had made 174   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   175

forward. Breuers Straat was the center of another controversy which garnered far more discussion and debate.

That year the first Sephardi Jewish people arrived, fleeing Recife in Brazil, which Portugal had just recaptured from the Dutch. One of their number won the auction for a house on Breuers Straat. The Director refused to transfer the deed.

Stuyvesant, blatantly anti-semitic and prejudicial, attempted to have them outright expelled. The Jewish refugees and Stuyvesant CHAPTER 23

each appealed to officials in  Patria to rule on the matter.

1655 - 1658

Company officials sharply reprimanded Director Stuyvesant for this injustice, reminding him of the substantial capital the Jewish community had invested in the Company.

In Isaac's view, New Amsterdam was founded as a city where trade and commerce superseded faith. Personally, he preferred French Walloon camaraderie but it didn't mean he would refuse to do business across religious, nationality, or other creed, if it was Isaac and Sarina had moved to a larger home on Breuers Straat advantageous. If their new Jewish neighbors agreed to pave the several years ago, after Kieft's War. They now had six children street, he would certainly welcome them.

and wanted more space. Next door to them was brewer Captain For similar pragmatic reasoning he had bought an enslaved Olaff van Cortlandt and across the street the tavern of Salomon African, named Angel d'Angola, from the Company that year; he La Chair. Isaac had entered the brewers trade upon his moving needed a reliable laborer.

to the street designated as such. He still farmed and exported _____________________

tobacco as well. After serving on the Council of Nine, he served as Inspector of Tobacco. He had become quite civic-minded Nys had developed some bad habits in the city. He regarding his city, inspired by van der Donck. He was determined frequented   Het Houten Paard, the Wooden Horse Tavern, too to take on positions that would help better the city. Sarina and much for Phebe's comfort. Tonight was his fourth late night in a Isaac couldn't understand why Sarah sold her Pearl Straat house row. Phebe had enough.

when the city was finally improving.

Teunis was smoking a pipe, trading exaggerated stories with Along with his neighbor, Anneke Loockermans, Isaac fellow former Company sailors. Out of the dimly lit, smoke filled petitioned to have the rest of their street paved after she did air he suddenly saw Phebe appear, their eight children in tow.

her portion. Discouraged by the municipality's lack of funds

"It's time to go home," She told him. "It's well past curfew."

for it, Isaac finally banded together the inhabitants to fund the She shot a mean look to Philip Geraerdy, the owner of the project themselves. It took some time to get them all to agree, but Wooden Horse, who did not abide by Stuyvesant's curfew.

finally the harried last few consented. He submitted the revised His drinking buddies jeered him but Nys dared not cross petition for approval to begin, but it still lacked attention to move Phebe's wrath in front of everyone. He stood, took leave of his 176   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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acquaintances, and endured an icy silent walk home.

The unsettling dark sky and the din of birds distracted as 64

The next morning, Phebe had breakfast prepared when Nys canoes carried hundreds of Native warriors to enclose upon New arose with a throbbing headache.

Amsterdam from the north and south.

"I apologize if I embarrassed you but you leave me and the Quickly, they broke down doors, battered colonists who children alone too often. I'm at my wits end. I have no family or resisted, and took prisoners back to their canoes. They ransacked friends here," Phebe said as he ate his bacon and bread with peach homes, confiscated what they wanted, and torched houses.

preserves. "I want to move to Breuckelen."

Isaac, Sarina, and their children were having breakfast when

"Wife, it was awful embarrassing—but not undeserved," He gunshots were heard in the distance. He sprung to his feet, ran to said, chewing his bread in thought.  "I'm compelled to agree with the door and closed the heavy iron bars across the top and bottom you. Teunis suggested the same, last I saw him, pointing out the halves. He drew all the curtains on their glazed windows. Sarina opportunities on Long Island. Perhaps I've grown bored here and the children were frozen at the table, now in almost darkness, and fill my time with base pursuits for lack of a good challenge...

save the fire in the hearth.

Perhaps a fresh start..."

He motioned to them wordlessly, "Shh, it's all right. Eat, but Phebe saw the glint reappear of the energetic schemer she stay quiet." He grabbed his rifle, loaded it, and sat down with married. Nys loved land acquisition and there was plenty to be them. Sarina lit candles. He finished his breakfast of buttered had in Long Island.

biscuits with apple preserves and bacon with his rifle across his Nys sold his tobacco plantation and Old Jan's land which lap. His wife and children just watched him and listened. Some were both now north of the wall but still fetched a good price.

of the children began to eat again. Baby Isaac, only five months They relocated to the Gowanus area of Breuckelen. They were old, fussed and cried. Sarina quickly held him to suckle and he about a 30 minute walk south of Sarah and Teunis' house.

fell asleep.

He also sold their home on de Herre Straat. With the funds Isaac sat, seemingly relaxed, rifle at the ready, facing toward he purchased a sizable bouwery further inland, in Midwout.

the door.

Teunis encouraged him to build a gristmill in Breuckelen.

They heard someone try the door. Isaac calmly motioned for Nys admired the business sense of his countryman. It invigorated them to get down and he raised his rifle. Whoever it was moved him to focus his efforts on building wealth instead of squandering on quickly seeing the door was locked. They waited, gathered on it in a tavern.

the floor near the fireplace. The fire from the morning had warm It was Sarah who suggested that Teunis encourage Nys to charcoals but the fire was out. Isaac grabbed blankets, a lantern, move to Long Island. As Nys and Phebe plotted to set her up with and the family bible for them.

Teunis, she plotted to bring their friends to live closer.

They waited until midday like that. Then they heard Johannes'

_____________________

secret knock at the door.

"Open your door. The attack is over," Johannes called.

On September 15, 1655, the clouds were overcast with birds Isaac did as he was told.

migrating south, creating a cacophony of wing beats and flight

"Come with me. We were attacked by Natives. I need your calls. One could not locate them by eye, except for a darkening help," Johannes pleaded as Isaac opened the door.

portions of steel grey cloud cover becoming charcoal.

"Sarina, bar the door after me," Isaac said, leaving his loaded 178   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   179

rifle with her. She had never used it before and prayed she would Johannes suspected Stuyvesant's absence was correlated.

not need to.

On that very day, he had been south, driving the Swedes out Johannes and Isaac proceeded to the fort.

of Fort Christina. The Swedes were trade partners with many

"Multiple tribes attacked us this morning. Stuyvesant is on Susquehannock tribes. Perhaps they were hoping to distract expenditure with 300 soldiers against New Sweden. The  sachems Stuyvesant into abandoning his attack on New Sweden. The are at the fort to begin negotiation. I need to go. I need you to go southern and northern tribes may have banded together out of around and make a list of any killed, injured, or captured. Please, their shared grievances against the Dutch.

Isaac," Johannes said. "They captured a great deal of women and Sadly, van der Donck's farm was one of those attacked and children. We need to make an account so we can negotiate."

he had been killed. The  Jonkheer met a tragic and untimely death They went into the fort and he grabbed a quill and rag paper with little recognition.

for Isaac.

_____________________

He started with those sheltered within the fort. There were a dozen families who'd been driven from their homes. Many family Isaac had the list of over 100 captives, mostly women and members were missing and presumed taken captive. He took children. He took it upon himself to help negotiate their ransom.

down their names.

He traveled to the different Native villages to locate them, with He traversed the town, assuring those who had sheltered, like Johannes' help, and sought terms for release.

him, that the attack was over. He took account of injuries, stolen In October, the Hackensack agreed to release their captives goods, or any captured.

in exchange for quantities of gunpowder and lead shot. It was a He went back to the fort a few hours later. Meanwhile, a dangerous exchange to solve a conflict by giving the warring party citizen militia had formed, which escorted him on his way back.

more ammunition. Stuyvesant finally agreed, it being the only Isaac learned they reached an agreement that the Natives would terms the Natives would agree to.

withdraw at sunset.

Isaac was named Orphanmaster and acted as administrator, Isaac stood with Johannes and other city officials at the river's arbitrator, holder of trust funds, and given power of attorney in edge along with soldiers and the citizen militia as the Natives the exchanges of the captives. He loaned money to those who readied to depart.

could not afford the payment for release.

Cornelis van Tienhoven, standing among them, urged the Other tribes followed suit over the next few months. A year guard to open fire. Isaac went flat to the ground. In the ensuing later, only three children had not been returned to their families.

volley, three Natives and three colonists were killed.

In recognition of his service, in 1656 Isaac was appointed Later they learned one group of Natives attacked Dutch Schepen and Inspector of Weights and Measures.

settlements in Pavonia while a second group raided Staten Island.

_____________________

Hendrick van Dyck was shot. It was rumored the war had started because of him. A Native woman was eating from his peach Long Island Natives had not taken part in The Peach Tree orchard and he shot and killed her not long before the attack. The War. After the attack on New Amsterdam, a delegation of Long whole brief occupation of the city soon got the moniker "The Island Natives was sent to offer the Dutch “absolute friendship”

Peach Tree War."

and reaffirm peace. Breuckelen and Waale-bocht residents were 180   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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spared the terror and found out much later what had transpired to find land elsewhere."

in New Amsterdam the day of the attack.

_____________________

Sarah was grateful that choosing to live in Breuckelen had spared her the experience. She thought back to the last attack Sarah gave birth that December to a baby girl, Aertje. The when she hid in their  kast  with her two little girls and Jacob in birth was as fast and as easy as Sarah yet had. Sarah enjoyed Teunis'

her belly. Now she was heavily pregnant with her and Teunis' first reactions to his first child, bewildered and delighted at the same child and all the children would not fit in their  kast.

time. Aertje was the bond that firmly affixed Teunis, inseparably, Not long after the attacks, Sarah noticed men in the meadow to the new family. He already doted on his step-children but he at the edge of their land. They were mowing the tall salt grass fully embraced his status as a father now, with his new baby girl.

that formed a wedge between where their property ended and She watched his confidence grow.

her sister Jannet and her husband Rem Vanderbeeck's bouwery Sarah appreciated how he kept the children on task to complete started.

their chores. He delegated in a way that they completed even the

"Teunis!" She called for him in the barn where he and Aert chores they disliked doing. It had been a point of contention with were going over plans for the construction of their saw mill.

Hans because Sarah always had to be the disciplinarian.

"There are men at the edge of the property in the meadow. No Instead of rote shifting of chores, he assigned who excelled one owns that tract of land. Please, go see what they're up to."

in the task to oversee their siblings. Aneken, who secretly prided

"Maybe new neighbors?" Teunis said and got up, put on his herself on a well-mucked stable, was in charge of that duty.

hat, motioning for Aert to follow him.

Granted new authority, her siblings began to listen more intently They arrived back at the house about twenty minutes later.

to her instructions. Jan, who cared more than anyone about

"It was Rem and his cousin, a man called Paulus Vanderbeeck.

understanding the tides, oversaw the fish traps. Rebecca excelled He said he's quitting the city for his land in Gowanus and looking at domestic arts and taught the girls mending and  passementerie.

for land he could mow for feed. He was surveying the property Their household and bouwery ran smoothly. Sarah slowly over there, next to Rem's." Teunis said nonchalantly, not knowing relinquished her tendency to domineer the household.

the stomach ache it gave Sarah to hear such news.

_____________________

"Not   that man! He struck me and my mother!" She sat down as she felt sick at the thought of Paulus being her neighbor, Only two months after giving birth, in late February, Sarah prowling the edge of their property.

was required to appear in court. She'd missed the first appearance

"What in Heavens name? I'd put a turd through his teeth if because the weather was so bad they'd stopped running the ferry he ever tried that again. That vile dog!" Teunis shouted, without that day. The litigious Paulus Schrick was seeking repayment of a thinking. When angered, which wasn't often, he had a tendency debt Hans owed him for 84 guilders and 5 stivers.

to let his sailor's mouth talk before he thought.

"I knew nothing of the debt, as he has not spoken to me for He quickly realized he should calm his wife instead of just a long time, since before my husband died. It was not accounted cursing so he said, "Don't worry too much,  mijn schatje.  He didn't for in the settlement of Hans' estate." She requested a delay of seem much impressed with the lot. He's also looking at a larger payment until next harvest, which was agreed to by the court and plot closer to Gowanus. I'll talk to Rem. He could encourage him Paulus Schrick.

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She realized they didn't know of her marriage to Teunis. The court saw her as a poor widow. A plan was set in motion in her mind and she decided she would take action to prevent Paulus from becoming her neighbor.

_____________________

The next time she appeared in court was on April 4, 1656.

"Sarah Jorise, firstborn Christian daughter of New Netherland, widow of Hans Hansen Bergen, petitions Director and Council CHAPTER 24

for 20 morgens of meadows adjoining her land," Secretary 1655 - 1658

Cornelis van Ruyven read. Sarah stood proudly, emboldened by the fact Cornelis van Tienhoven was not present in the court as schout that day.

"My neighbors mow the meadows in question and disturb me in their use of them. They have meadows adjoining their own lands." She stated and looking plaintive continued, "I am burdened with seven children. Crop yields have been poor. I am One Saturday in late November, Teunis, Aert, and Sarah also requesting exemption from taxes."

took the sloop with their tithe crops and the excess to sell at the

"20 morgens shall be added to your land, in honor of market in New Amsterdam. Sarah sold several pairs of lace cuffs being the firstborn Christian daughter of New Netherland. A and garnered two commissions for collars.  It was a good day.

tax exemption is denied, however. The tax remission of the past The men stayed behind to discuss plans for their saw mill with several years has concluded,"  Schepen Hendrick Kip ruled.

prospective builders and merchants. Sarah had to return via the Sarah bowed her head to them and said her thanks. She had ferry to relieve Catalyna, who was looking after her children.

won the most important bit and was contented.

As she walked in the house, Phebe and her children were a Later that night, they had waffles with early season strawberries pleasant sight, but not a surprise. Sarah and Catalyna's homes and cream to celebrate.

always had an open door for her since she'd moved to Breuckelen,

"You're as bold as you are cunning and beautiful," Teunis fortuitously right before the Peach Tree War.

lifted his pewter tankard of ale to toast her.

"Sarah!" She met them at the door and kissed their cheeks. "I

"Sometimes, all you have to do is ask nicely," Sarah smiled at came by for a visit with the children and Catalyna invited me to him, making her point as a lesson to the children.

stay until you returned."

"Children, ask nicely for your favorite fruit and maybe next

"She was welcome company. The children love to see their year we'll make that meadow a grand orchard. Bogaert means Nyssen playmates, too," Catalyna said, "They're much better

'of the orchard' so it's only fitting," Teunis told them, smirking behaved when they're having fun." Catalyna had brought her two at Sarah, while the children hollered every fruit on earth at him.

youngest as well. Sarah's littlest siblings, Daniel and Elizabeth, were five and seven years old. Catalyna swore that Daniel, the 184   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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eleventh child, would be her last.

"The Company's policy is for religious freedom of conscience,

"The children asked to see the new kittens. I told them to although in private, not public," Catalyna noted.

wait and ask you," Phebe explained.

"All I know is that he personally cannot stand the Quakers...

"Yes, you can go see the kittens. They're holed up with their But all right, now the juicy bit... Can I have another tea first?"

mother in the storehouse. Be gentle with them and mindful of

"Ha! Goes down well, huh? Yes, go on, get to the scandal!"

their mother," Sarah instructed as the children ran out the door.

Catalyna said and took her wooden mug to refill.

"That barn cat has the sharpest claws!" Catalyna warned.

"It looks like Cornelis van Tienhoven is dead! His hat and

"I'm glad you're here. I had a very productive and pleasant cane were found floating in the river and he's no where to be visit to the city and I want nothing more than to sit and gossip found," Sarah said and then sat forward, "But since he's been for a spell," Sarah said, having taken off her clogs and duffel cape, under scrutiny for defrauding the Company, the disappearance she collapsed into a chair. Catalyna brought her an herbal tea, seems dubious. His younger brother, Adrian, also vanished. Seems chamomile with honey and a bit of brandy.

rather convenient timing to disappear."

"Oh, anything good?" Catalyna asked.

"What a rogue 'til the end!" Phebe exclaimed.

"I'll save the juicier gossip for last. But first," Sarah took a sip

"Truly. And what's worse, Rachel is pregnant. I can't believe of tea,"I saw Sarina. She's well, the children are well, but Isaac is after he came back from  Patria with his mistress and was the swamped with work. She says he practically lives at the  Stadthuys laughing stock of town, he still found his way back to the marital with his  Schepen duties. When he's not there he's tending to his bed," Sarah said involuntarily shuddering.

brewery, tobacco, and exports. She's very proud of him, only

"If you can't find love in a marriage, being a young widow worried he's wearing himself out. She said Isaac is arranging a of a wealthy man is the next best thing," Catalyna nonchalantly contract for a servant girl from  Patria.  I don't know how that will stated as she made them more brandy-spiked chamomile teas.

help with his workload though."

"Too bad Hans didn't leave me in the latter condition," Sarah

"Maybe he wants a companion for Sarina while he's gone so retorted quickly, without thinking.

much of the time," Catalyna wondered. "I am glad to hear she

"What do you mean?" Catalyna asked, setting down their and the children are well."

refreshed drinks, looking concerned. "Are things not getting on

"Then... there's the discontent about Stuyvesant's latest well with Teunis?"

ordinance. He's banning all religious congregations in the

"Oh no, I didn't mean that. On the contrary actually. It's colony that are not of the Reformed Church. His wife, Judith, just..." Her eyes welled up and she couldn't find the words.

is so kind and fully embraces people's differences, especially the

"What is it, Sarah?" Phebe encouraged her.

dispossessed. He'd do well to listen to her more often."

"Two years have passed and I still feel like I'm an adulteress

"That's because she's a Huguenot," Catalyna interjected, when I should be a widow... I don't want to diminish Hans in

"And he's the son of a Friesland minister who never experienced my heart... I do love Teunis... but I can't say it aloud to him, the Inquisition under the Spaniards."

because... if I say I love him... I'm terrified he'll be taken from

"There's whispers that a group is writing a remonstrance.

me," She wiped her eyes and stiffened, "Who am I to complain There's Netherlanders in Vlissingen advocating for their English though? Poor me, blessed with two good husbands and Rachel Quaker neighbors to have an exemption," Sarah further explained.

hasn't had even one?"

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"Ohh  ma petite," Catalyna said, putting her arms around her.

looked into her eyes, smiled, and grabbed her rear, pulling her

"It's natural. Everything you're feeling is natural."

body into his, and he kissed her. "I've loved you since we first met,

"You can embrace both blessings, Hans and Teunis. It's not and since then, I love you even more."

one or the other," Phebe said grabbing her friend's hand. "You Teunis lifted her up and set her on a barrel. He lifted her don't have to choose. And Rachel Vigne might be blessed in other skirts while she opened his breeches.

ways, as Catalyna said."

After, he held her a moment longer with her legs still wrapped

"If you love him, don't hide those feelings. Nothing is around him and he chuckled.

guaranteed in this world. You know better than anyone, our loved

"What?" Sarah asked.

ones can be taken from us at any minute. Rejecting love doesn't

"I don't want to sell this barrel now," he grinned at her. "It's shelter you from loss," Catalyna advised.

quite a romantic spot."

Sarah felt better, simply saying it aloud, but Phebe and her

"There's plenty more," Sarah smirked at him.

mother's words also helped. She loved Teunis. She needn't push Some months later, they had their second daughter, the feelings away anymore. They'd been married two years and Catalyntje, little Catalyna. She was an absolute beauty, strong had a child together but it was only in that conversation she felt spirited like her namesake, with Sarah's color-shifting, pale eyes she finally had permission to love him.

and Teunis' thick brown hair.

_____________________

_____________________

Later that night, after dinner was done and the children put Isaac stepped out of the  Stadthuis and went down to the to bed, Sarah put on her cloak and went out to their storehouse.

river's edge. He sat on a wooden breakwall and drew on his pipe Teunis was separating out the goods he contracted to sell and and looked across the water at Breuckelen. It was an unseasonably would need to deliver, rolling certain hogshead barrels to the warm day in March of 1658. He saw the farmers across the front of the room.

water had driven their herds of cattle out to the brown, muddy

"Hallo Sarah, everything all right?" Teunis asked her. It was pastures. The ferry was coming across and there was a multitude cold but he was in his linen shirt and duffel breeches with his of sloops and yachts moored along the shore and farther out in sleeves rolled up to the elbow. His tousled, wavy hair was half in the water. The sky was overcast. All colors in the landscape being his eyes as he looked up from rolling a barrel and he brushed it muted aided in his quiet moment of solitude. Having a pipe in back on his forehead. His bare forearms of taut muscle, built up this spot, between court appearances and meetings, was one of and tanned from the work of the harvest, rested akimbo.

the few personal pleasures he was able to carve out for himself.

She wrapped her arms around him, with her head on his He watched the gulls picking at the riverbed, where the low tide chest. She breathed in his salty musk.

revealed snails and other little bites for the scavengers.

"Teunis, it's hard for me to say but I just want you to know..."

He couldn't help but ruminate and pick at the past year.

She looked up into his dark, velvety, umber-colored eyes. "I'm in Breuers Straat had finally become the first cobbled street in New love with you."

Amsterdam. That was an accomplishment long in the works.

" Mijn schatje, " he whispered in her ear,  "I'm happy to hear But then there was the pain about the servant he sent for you say it... I could feel it though, even without the words." He from Amsterdam.  Janneken Cornelis turned out to be a frightful 188   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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woman. Isaac couldn't understand what she was expecting but she the case though. They showed up looking like wretches and was disappointed to the point of wanting to leave as soon as she irreverently snickered through the account of charges.

arrived. His home was an ornament to the city. She should have

"Condemned to sit in close confinement for two days on been pleased it wasn't a lesser hovel. Instead she berated Sarina on nothing but bread and small beer," was the judgment.

every point of the household and him on every point of the city.

Afterward, Isaac approached the  schout, or district attorney.

Sarina was brought to tears several times and Isaac felt awful he'd He'd promised Sarina he would dissuade punishment.

paid passage for such a woman to spitefully abuse them in their

"The truth of it is, they didn't steal the beer. It was the African own home. Eventually Janneken took off. He knew not where, servants of Van Brugh. They gave the beer to the boys," Isaac another house or back to  Patria. They were allowed by the court explained. It was an excuse his son had put forth initially. He to auction off her possessions she left behind to recuperate a little didn't know if it was true. He'd leave it up to the  schout  to  decide.

of what he spent on her passage.

"Hmm, as likely true as not," the  schout said after a moment.

He was granted the Small Burgher rights, recognized as a

"I'll dismiss the case, but impress upon Jan, I shall not be so citizen to practice a craft and trade. Isaac was slighted that he lenient if there's any more trouble from him. He'd do well to wasn't among the Great Burghers, like Johannes. Only Great avoid that lot," he concluded, indicating to Jan's friends.

Burghers held positions like  Schepen and Orphanmaster, two positions he held, and yet somehow was not qualified to do so.

He petitioned Stuyvesant on the discrepancy. It had taken some time but, just a month ago, the list of Great Burghers expanded and he was pleased to be included.

Then the court case he was about to appear for came to mind.

His son Jan got in trouble. Jan was fourteen years old and was cavorting with a bad crowd. Maybe Isaac was too busy the previous year to see this sooner, he admitted to himself. Jan and two of his friends “ran fuddled and tipsy along the street” after stealing beer out of Van Brugh’s cellar. He was of two minds on the course to take dealing with Jan. His first thought was to have the boy admit his wrong and face the repercussions. Sarina had implored him to pull strings to dissuade punishment. Four of their children had died young. Both he and Sarina were overindulgent to the ones who survived, though he was more aware of it than she.

"He's only a boy and it certainly wasn't his idea alone," Sarina had said.

Isaac finished his pipe. The bell struck three o'clock. It was time to find Jan and hope for the best.

Jan behaved well enough in court. His friends did not help 190   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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moved out and the vacancy was quickly filled.

_____________________

In September, tensions escalated after an incident with the Natives north on the mainland in Esopus. There had been a conflict around a campfire between drunk New Netherlanders and Natives. At least one of the Natives was killed. The Esopus Natives then laid siege to the Dutch stockaded settlement there, CHAPTER 25

destroying crops, killing livestock, and burning buildings that 1659 - 1661

were outside of the stockade. Stuyvesant led troops to aid the colonists and the Esopus Natives retreated.

There were attempts at peace talks to end hostilities over the winter. Both sides were mistrustful of the other and any hope for a resolution stalled out.

Although Esopus was over 100 miles north of Breuckelen, the conflict eventually came to affect them.

Sarah was 33 years old, and pregnant with her tenth child, In February of 1660, Stuyvesant decreed that all outlanders when the first of her children was married.

residing far from one another must unite in removing from their Rebecca and Aert, her second oldest daughter and Teunis'

isolated dwellings and take residence in the nearest fortified town.

brother-in-law, had been sneaking off for trysts with increasing The next month, Teunis, Aert, Joris, Jean Clerq, and Jacob frequency. Sarah noticed, even though they tried to be stealthy.

Kip proposed to plant a village and defensive blockhouse between Rebecca was 17 and Aert was 25 years old when they sat down the lands of Jacob Kip and Teunis. Kip had been Secretary of with Sarah and Teunis and declared their intention to wed.

New Amsterdam. His influence with Stuyvesant was such that Sarah was pleased. Aert was a good man, hardworking and permission was granted and the settlers were directed to move kind hearted. He was already part of their family.

thither. They began construction that summer just as Teunis and They were married in late summer of 1659. Sarah gave Aert's saw mill became operational.

Rebecca the silver marriage medallion that Hans had given her Sarah was upset and confused if they really must move.

on their wedding day.

"Why must we start over again because of a drunken brawl

"I won't wear it but I will treasure it," Rebecca said. "I don't hundreds of miles away? I don't want to leave this home," Sarah want Aneken to feel bad. Perhaps as the eldest daughter, it should argued. She was distraught over losing the home Hans had built, be hers?"

yet again.

"Aneken cares less for such baubles. Or husbands," Sarah told

"Don't worry,  mijn schatje," Teunis told her. "Right now, the her. "Perhaps your marriage will inspire her to think on the latter."

conflict is far away. But if war does come closer, we'll be grateful Sarah and Teunis had their third daughter Neeltje shortly to have somewhere safer to live. This is an opportunity to grow after. She was named after Teunis' grandmother. One grown child our holdings. The lumber mill will be in great demand. We could 192   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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build a bigger home, too. "

some settlers arrived with—tales of rough storms, pirates, and Teunis' prominence was on the rise. In April he was appointed never-ending days on meager rations of stale or spoiled food.

Schepen of Amersvoort and Midwout.

Maybe she was afraid that once she saw a European city it would

"I'm a big fish in a small pond," Teunis told Sarah, humbly taint the majesty she felt that this place had? Would she feel their referring to the relatively small number of inhabitants of those rustic existence was somehow diminished? Maybe she didn't want Amersvoort and Midwout.

to go because she was content where she was.

"In a large forest," Sarah retorted. The cases brought before

"I don't want to leave you or the children for that long, him as  Schepen were mostly disagreements over land boundaries especially if we truly need to relocate, as Stuyvesant ordered,"

in undeveloped wilderness where the roads were still mostly Teunis replied furrowing his brow. "Maybe Aert could go as my Native paths that one could easily lose.

agent? Would that cause trouble with Rebecca?"

_____________________

"She might want to go with him. Ask them and they can decide," Sarah told him.

During that spring of 1660, Teunis received a letter from his Aert and Rebecca excitedly accepted the proposition and younger brother Abraham in the Netherlands.

prepared to leave that fall, after the harvest.

"He inquires if I would sell him the portion of land I _____________________

inherited from our father," Teunis told Sarah. "I suppose I won't be needing it."

One day in July, Phebe stopped over to see Sarah.

They were sitting on their stoop after their midday meal.

"Hallo, Sarah," Phebe said kissing Sarah's cheeks. "How are Sarah was breastfeeding Neeltje and enjoying the sweet, earthy the lace pieces coming along?"

smell of springtime. The afternoon sun was thawing the dormant Phebe's eldest daughters, Jannetje and Marritje were both soil and early shoots of greenery were beginning to pop through, soon to be married. Sarah had made lace cuffs and collars for drawn to the sun.

them to wear with their wedding attire.

"I'll need to go to conduct the sale though. Have you ever

"The lacework has been a welcome distraction. They're wanted to visit  Patria?" He asked, smiling at her with a gleam in finished but I still have to starch them," Sarah said placing them his dark eyes. She enjoyed that look from him but she didn't play before Phebe to inspect.

into it.

"Oh, they're perfect! The girls will be so happy!" Phebe said

"I've never thought about it. It's not  Patria to me. My running her fingers over the delicate craftsmanship. "Has work homeland is here." She looked at him, slightly puzzled how she begun on the construction of the blockhouse at the lookout truly felt. Intrigued? Jealous? Nervous he would leave and not point?" Phebe asked, knowing Sarah was reluctant to move.

return? "Do you miss it?" She asked.

"They've halted work. The site is entirely unsuitable for

"Not really. I miss my siblings sometimes," he said looking habitation," Sarah said. "Besides, war has been averted. Did you off in the distance. He looked back at her and kissed Neeltje's hear they made peace?"

forehead. "There's much more for me here though."

"I heard but I always wait for that to be followed by another

"I don't think Neeltje would do well on a sea voyage, nor incident to reignite conflict. Peace was made by besieging and Aertje or Catalyntje," Sarah said. Sarah thought of the stories starving the Natives. I wouldn't be surprised if there's remaining 194   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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ill will. I am glad Esopus is so far away," Phebe sighed and shook the land there, it is impossible to find good and sufficient water her head.

to make a well. Jan De Kalper's well is a good example of this.

"You know Sara Roelofs Kierstede? The one I went to school It adjoins his  house in the valley, and the people must descend with?" Phebe nodded and Sarah continued, "She was interpretor into it by means of ladders, and then scoop the water in a bowl, for the conferences with the Long Island Natives and she facilitated which  nevertheless does not suffice to supply two families who the agreement of  sachem Sauwenaare, of the Weckquaesgeek, are dwelling there at present. The streams in the neighborhood are and   sachem   Metsewackos, of the Kichtawangh, to not join the mostly dried up in summer. During the winter season, the roads fighting at Esopus. Wisely on their part, it was on conditions that are very bad and hard, pointed by the frost or with deep snow, Europeans stopped selling alcohol to them."

and well nigh impassable. When people wish to water their cattle,

"What a remarkable skill she has! I wonder if she was afraid.

they were obliged to fetch water in barrels from Teunis Bogaert’s She has several children, doesn't she?" Phebe asked.

well which is most fatiguing and  injurious for farmers.

"Yes, I think six now," Sarah replied. "She's familiar with the

"This drudgery I see daily performed by my neighbors with Natives. I doubt she was afraid."

weeping eyes," Teunis testified. "We request to build a block-

"I meant a fear of what the Dutch would do to botch the house on Joris Rapalje's land. By nature, it's more defensible and meeting," Phebe said wryly. "Do you still see Weenji?"

the water there is, by far, the richest fountain in the country. The

"It's been a long time. She brought gifts of fish and cornhusk point is more conveniently located to bouweries."

dolls after Catalyntje was born. Her Keschaechquereren clan has

"There's plenty of water in Teunis' well for them though," Kip moved east and joined the Poosepatuck," Sarah said somberly.

stated. "And isn't there risk of separation if the Runnegackonck

"The English are increasingly settling the eastern part of Long creek floods?"

Island. I hope her clan can remain there," Phebe said, adding,

"We expect to build a bridge over the creek. Each willing to

"We aren't the only ones forced to relocate time and again."

settle there will have granted to them convenient lots for house _____________________

and garden and hold the title for such. So that, under God's blessing, it may increase to a village," Joris responded.

Despite a peace treaty with the Esopus, in February of 1661, Stuyvesant considered a moment and then conferred with his the residents of the Waale-bocht and vicinity were notified they council. Kip had been Secretary but Joris was a longtime resident must comply with Director's orders to remove to the village and respected member of the city.

proposed the previous year between Kip and Bogaert's land. That

"Since Kip does not reside on his land at the Waale-bocht, land chosen, the  Keike, or lookout upon the  high point of land, and the people who do live there are unified in their desire to had challenges and they wanted to petition for a new location, on establish the village on Rapalje's land, permission is granted,"

Joris' land. They met with Stuyvesant and his council in March.

Stuyvesant announced.

Jacob Kip represented the position of keeping the village on his Joris was pleased and gave a proud look to Teunis for helping land, although he didn't reside there.

him present the petition. Teunis was pleased as well. This should

“The place is wholly unfit for the purpose, partly because the help a great deal in mollifying Sarah to relocate, since it would woodland thereat being stony, is not suitable for arable land," Joris mean living closer to her family.

testified. "Moreover, in consequence of the uncommon height of Shortly after that ruling Teunis, Aert, Joris, and Sarah's sons 196   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   197

Jan and Michael petitioned for wooded acreage next to Joris'

leather upholstery. He promised he would buy glazed windows land, as the timber would be conveniently used in building their next. For now they had oiled linen screens. Sarah's attitude new village. Stuyvesant approved the land patent.

completely changed. She adored their new home.

_____________________

_____________________

Carel de Beauvois, a French Huguenot born in Leiden, was Aert and Rebecca returned in May of 1661, with the money appointed by Stuyvesant for a sundry of duties necessary to the from the sale, letters and gifts from Teunis' family, and Rebecca township of Breuckelen: court messenger, grave digger, choir very pregnant. They returned to find the settlements concentrated singer, liturgy reader, and schoolmaster. He arrived with a new to the Waale-bocht.

bell for their church, for which he would add bell-ringer to his list

"I'm so relieved you've safely returned," Sarah gushed as she of duties. Kindly, the coffers of New Amsterdam would subsidize kissed her daughter, noticing her pregnant belly right away. "Tell his salary. The man was around the same age as Teunis and Sarah.

me everything."

He brought with him his wife, Sophia, and three children that

"Seeing this land from the sea was incredible!" Rebecca were the same ages as their children Maria, Jacob, and Aertje.

declared. "And Amsterdam was astounding! So large and crowded, Everyone was excited there would be a schoolmaster, you wouldn't believe it."

especially the children. They'd get to go to school with their

"Did you find Heykoop much changed?" Teunis asked Aert friends, Phebe's children. As much as Sarah begrudged having to of their hometown he hadn't seen in nearly ten years.

uproot their household, she came to see the benefits of a village

"Ha, not much. The fields and cows are the same, but the properly forming, now composed of twelve families. They were people have aged," he laughed. "Your sister was so glad and also closer to the village, market, and church in Breukelen since honored that you named your daughter after your grandmother moving to the nascent Waale-bocht village. Phebe and Nys had and her. Their son Gysbert is sixteen years old! I hardly recognized moved to Breuckelen village, where Nys had been  Schepen for him but he still has the mischievous laugh. My father is not in several years now.

good health but I was glad to see him."

They left the structure of Hans' house standing but Sarah had

"And my brother Abraham?" Teunis asked, captivated.

convinced Teunis to pull up and reuse the cherished floorboards

"His wife, Maeike Thomasdr, is a lovely sight—much prettier in their new home.

than when we were kids. They just had a baby girl, named Aeltje.

Their new home was larger and, as they added finishing She looks a lot like Neeltje. She's got the Bogaert brown eyes.

touches, even more handsome. They burned shell deposits to Abraham was saddened you couldn't make the trip. I told him create limewash for the daub walls. The crisp white seemed to all about the life you have here and he understands. I'm sure in emanate light.

his letter he had me deliver he explains more, but he was much Sarah installed Delft tiles on the back wall of their open jamb relieved to see his estate expanded as he's growing his family."

hearth. Teunis had bought them for her, imported from  Patria.

Aert recounted. Teunis looked wistful as he stared at the letter in She delighted in the little bucolic scenes and animals in the cobalt his hands, thumbing the rag paper where it had creased.

and ultramarine blues. Teunis also lavished their new home with

"Your cousin Jan was there. He was most interested in details an imported grandfather clock and two mahogany chairs with and opportunities in the colony. I daresay we may have another 198   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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cousin join us here," Aert said excitedly as Teunis perked up at way of anticipating those things."

that bit of news.

"I think I just got over that phase myself," Sarah said. "I

"I saw  Grand-Père Joris as we came in to dock. He's harbor actually love the latter part of being pregnant, once you feel the master now?" Rebecca said to Sarah.

baby moving."

"He was just granted the position last week. He was sick of

"Mine is moving! Actually I need to excuse myself to the watching the mayhem of vessels in the harbor." Sarah said, "He privy," Rebecca said, looking uncomfortable. "I don't relish must have been very excited to see your ship come in."

having to wee so often, especially on the ship."

"So, what else did I miss while away?" Rebecca asked.

_____________________

"Well, Aneken is now married! This past January, Jean Clerq finally wooed her," Sarah exclaimed.

Rebecca gave birth in early August. Sarah and Catalyna were Ah, that's wonderful ... they make an odd couple though, there with her. Sarah had the surreal experience of seeing her own right?" Rebecca looked a bit puzzled. Aneken took after Hans daughter give birth while being enormously pregnant herself.

quite a bit. She was very tall, blond, and vigorous. Jean was born Catalyna won out on who would catch the baby.

in Brazil and had suffered an illness as a child that left him with

"It's my first great-grandchild. It should be me," Catalyna a slight build and a limp. He made up for it with his wit and stated. "Besides, I have the most experience."

humor, which Aneken lacked, in Rebecca's mind.

Sarah acquiesced because her belly was large enough by then

"Perhaps they balance each other out," Sarah said in a hopeful to be unwieldy. She held her daughter's hand as they welcomed yet wondering tone. They both thought on that a moment, her first grandson, Theunis, into the world. He was named after wishing well for Aneken but not quite foreseeing if it would work Aert's father, as the variation of the name Antonis was exceedingly out or not.

popular with Netherlanders from Utrecht.

"Also," Sarah smirked, "I'm pregnant. Not as pregnant as you Teunis lit up with delight when he heard the name. His though, clearly."

grandfather had been very dear to him. It warmed Sarah's heart She squealed and hugged her mother. "My baby will have a that it was also his name. It was the sign of a well-blended family.

natural best friend their same age."

"Somehow it never worked out with your  Grand-Mère and I to be pregnant at the same time. Mostly we alternated years,"

Sarah laughed.

"We stayed a little longer in  Patria because I was so sick, then I realized it was the illness I saw you had at the beginning of each pregnancy," Rebecca said.

"In my case, that's the hardest part. Poor thing, you didn't even have your  Grand-Mère's tea to help with it," Sarah said referring to Catalyna's signature raspberry leaf, mint, ginger, and lemon balm blend.

"Oh, she sent me with some," Rebecca laughed. "She has her 200   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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her new husband, Jean. He claimed it was the winter sickness that got to him every year. His cough was wet and sounded very bad to Aneken for the past month, and only got worse.

Catalyna made him teas, poultices for his chest, and herbal steam pots to put at his bedside. They would allay the symptoms but they only helped for brief periods. One day in late November, Aneken awoke to find him stiff and cold beside her. She tried to awaken him. He was already gone.

CHAPTER 26

Aneken moved back home. She was sullen and quiet but 1661 - 1662

she devoted herself to helping with new baby sister Aeltje. Sarah grieved for her daughter and her loss. She knew it couldn't be easy seeing her younger sister happily married with her first child while Aneken took care of her younger siblings.

_____________________

Sarah crept out the front door and gently closed it as her Sarah gave birth in November to her and Teunis' fourth eyes adjusted to the dark. The chill of the night made her inhale daughter Aeltje. Sarah worried Teunis was disappointed they sharply. She found Teunis sitting, wrapped in a duffel blanket, didn't have a son yet. He was naturally paternal with his step-sons and he opened it to envelope her as she sat down next to him.

though and if he did feel any chagrin, he didn't show it.

Almost every night they'd sit on their stoop, after the children Jan, the eldest son, had been drawn to the sea-faring went to bed, and talk about their day. They talked over issues trade, like his father and step-father. Teunis helped arrange an of their crops or animals, village gossip, or funny things their apprenticeship for him on smaller ships traversing up and down children said or did that day. Sometimes he sought her opinions New Netherland. Jan looked like a grown man from the time he on matters brought before him as  Schepen, though they were was about 16 years old. He was tall and broad shouldered, with usually minor disputes.

light hair and amber-green eyes. He came back from his early

"Sarah, I need your thoughts on a land matter. Rem wants journeys with a determined resolve to become a captain. He never to buy a portion of the land you were granted by the court, not told Sarah about what transpired on those trips, mostly because for his cousin, but for grazing his animals," Teunis explained, he didn't want her to worry, but they'd transformed him in his watching intently what her reaction would be. Sarah reflected on confidence and authority on the water.

the proposal. Her expression was hard to read in the dim light of He was appointed Captain of the ship Saint Jan Baptist at the waning moon.

the age of only 18 years old. He'd depart for Amsterdam and

"I don't see why not," Sarah finally said. "Rem's a good man.

return with settlers and goods the following summer. Teunis was There's plenty we could use the money for, whereas the meadows immensely proud of the young man.

are not even within eyesight of our new home. We could put the Unfortunately, at the same time, Aneken was worried about money toward new shoes for the children, their school fee, or any 202   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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farm tools you may need fixing or replacing."

knew a fellow Netherlander "from near Heykoop," which

"Thank you," He kissed her. "I thought it would be harder for qualified them immediately in his eyes. She couldn't disagree on you to part with it, on principle."

the point, though. Teunis had proved to be an industrious farmer

"The principle of it has already served its purpose. Any news and businessman, respected civic leader, devout church member, of Barent Jansen?" Sarah asked, continuing into village gossip.

amorous husband, and attentive father. Phebe's husband, Nys,

"He died this morning. The story I heard was Barent was deep held all those attributes, as well as Rebecca's husband, Aert—all in his cups and was shouting unintelligibly at the village taphouse.

men from near Heykoop.

He bumped into Albert Cornelysen Wantanaer, knocking over

"Is he related to Dirck Cornelissen Hoogland? My sister his beer. Barent then attacked Albert for being in his way. Albert Lysbeth's husband?" Sarah asked.

said he knifed him in his side out of self defense."

"Not that I know of, although perhaps, they're from the

"My goodness! Barent should have known a glove maker same place," he smirked, knowing she'd mock him if he said near would keep a sharp knife! Will Albert be tried for murder then?"

his hometown one more time, "The Dirk I speak of resides in

"Most certainly. He's out on bond though."

Flatbush currently, not near the ferry. I suggest him because he's

"Susanna said Albert was a kind and mild man to work similar in respects to Jean."

for. The court should find he was provoked to such an action,

"How?" Sarah asked surprised.

contrary to his character. But still," Sarah shook her head, "a man

"He's not tall, though he is quick witted and talkative."

was murdered. The first murder in Breuckelen."

"Ah," Sarah said agreeing those were Jean's attributes Aneken

"They'll likely try him in the New Amsterdam court so it will seemed to favor. "I suppose you could invite him to dinner be a while before his judgment is upon him. I'm just glad I'm sometime. But don't broach the subject yet with either of them. It not the  Schepen in such a case. Makes me grateful for the petty would be nice if they could feel it was a coincidental love match."

cases I deal with," Teunis mirthlessly laughed. He continued, "To

"Like us?" Teunis asked, jabbing her playfully with his elbow.

change the subject to something less grim... I've been thinking...

"Well, yes," Sarah said slowly. "Although I knew Phebe and it has only been a short while since Jean's death, and Aneken Nys were setting me up. And I really didn't want a new husband is rightfully still grieving, but it pains me to see her that way. I

... but then you showed up and I found it very hard to say no."

thought maybe we could have a potential suitor over for dinner, if

"How romantic," he said teasing her.

only to give her a distraction?"

"If I'm honest, I wanted you when I met you. They were right Sarah thought a moment about her reticence to entertain in thinking I would," She said, grabbed his face and kissed him.

suitors after Hans died.

"Lots of people remarry quickly but, to me, it seems desperate if

"I don't know. It's still so recent," Sarah said, but curious, she it's too quick and can show poorly on a woman's reputation. I asked, "Who do you have in mind?"

wasn't desperate and Aneken isn't either."

"Dirk Jansen Hoogland," He offered. "He's a young man

"Once I met you, I was. Absolutely desperate to have you."

from..."

He pulled her onto his lap, wrapping the woolen blanket

"Near Heykoop?" Sarah finished his sentence. Teunis gave tighter around their bodies like a cocoon. She kissed him and then her a sheepish grin as confirmation.

heard Aeltje cry out. They both stiffened and waited a moment.

In the matter of marriages she'd come to find Teunis always Sarah had just nursed her before she came outside. Aneken was 204   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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right there to console her and rock her crib. It was nice Aneken gave him elderberry wine and a plaster of mint on his chest to was there to help, for now. The cries ceased.

help clear his lungs. His one year old son Frederick also fell ill.

Sarah released the breath she was holding. She felt guilty Jean succumbed to the illness. He was only 25 years old.

relying on her grown daughter for help. Although perhaps Aneken Little Frederick also passed away, shortly after his father.

would remarry soon though and she should take advantage of the It was a heartbreaking start to the year. By springtime and help while she had it. She kissed Teunis again, a moment longer, planting season, illness had vanished, leaving a hollow bitterness before going back inside.

in every family who had lost a loved one. Everyone mourned.

_____________________

Then they planted their crops. Bereavement intersected with the continuous drive for survival.

Bringing home potential suitors for Aneken was put on hold Catalyna had lost two children. Sarah had lost three. Sarah as illness tore through the community, not only at the Waale-entered a period of immobilizing depression and Catalyna, rage.

bocht but all the towns around them. Scarlet fever hit the Bogaert _____________________

household. All their children fell ill, except three month old Aeltje, with the telltale bright red rashes, sore throats, and high In May, Catalyna was visiting their tavern Cat's Wheel in fevers. Luckily Sarah, Teunis, and the older children had already New Amsterdam, now run by Michael Van de Voort and her survived it when they were younger and their symptoms were daughter Maria. They held several properties on Pearl Straat that brief and minor.

ran as inns and taverns. They'd been granted the right to sell wine, By the end of a fortnight, most of their children had thankfully as long as lodging was also available. Catalyna visited monthly to recovered, except Neeltje. Her fever had burned so hot that her review his bookkeeping and the state of the place.

little body struggled to recover. Sarah bathed her forehead with She was in foul mood that day and was made more foul by cool water that had been steeped with yarrow and did not leave the lamentations of one of the guests sitting in the great room.

her side. Neeltje was unconscious for days. Sarah continued to Annetje, wife of the Dane Jan Gillesen Kock, was crying and bathe her with yarrow water and prayed at her bedside. Her fever explaining the woes that brought her to the inn.

slowly went down but she did not awaken.

"Our landlord, Isaack Grevenraat, is taking us to court for not

"Is she recovered?" Sarah asked Teunis.

paying our rent. My husband, Jan, refuses to pay since Grevenraat Teunis had a pained expression. It took him a long time to didn't fulfill conditions made when we rented it," Annetje speak the words.

explained to Michael, wiping tears with a kerchief. Annetje was

" Mijn schatje, she isn't breathing. She's gone."

Sarah's age, with what Catalyna could tell was a pretty face, if it

"No."

wasn't wrought with grief and worry.

She had slipped away so slowly, Sarah couldn't believe it. She

"What were the conditions?" Catalyna asked inserting herself shook her and felt the unnatural stiffness. She wept and cradled into the conversation.

her daughter's body.

"He said we'd have two fireplaces and window glazing put The household of Sarah's brother, Jean, was also hit hard with in. We're to pay 225 guilders for rent, which is exorbitant, if scarlet fever. He'd had it when he was younger but his symptoms without the said improvements," Annetje gulped a breath before persisted and he developed a wet cough like Jean Clerq. Catalyna continuing, "I was chilled to the bone all winter, in darkness, and 206   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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now he's turned us out, unless we pay."

"It's an injustice and he's a dog!" Catalyna screeched at no

"Here, have some wine,  gratis," Catalyna said, pouring herself one in particular, threw her hands up, and stomped off.

a glass as well. "Maybe the court will side in your favor?"

_____________________

"Doubtful, as Grevenraat is a  Schepen," Annetje looked downcast but then looked to Catalyna. "Thank you for the By the end of summer, Catalyna had mellowed and Sarah had kindness in lending an ear and for the wine."

cried herself dry. The crops were looking good, progress was being Later Catalyna waited outside the  Stadthuys  for Grevenraat made on their village, and Teunis and Aert were doing ample to exit when the court session ended. She stood in front of the business with their saw mill. They'd supplied many clapboards imposing brick edifice, three stories in height, crowned by the for construction of the new towns of Boswyck and Midwout, as crow-step gables. She didn't know what Grevenraat looked like so well as their Waale-bocht village.

she grabbed Isaac de Forest when she saw him.

Teunis even sold a huge order for 300 clapboards to a ship

"Where's Grevenraat?" Catalyna asked him hurriedly.

captain for export. When he took their shallop to deliver them

"Hallo to you too, Catalyna. He's there..." Isaac said pointing though, Captain Pieter Emilius said his ship was already full of across the facade of the great brick building. "Is everything all cargo and wanted to back out of the transaction. Teunis took the right?" He looked back to Catalyna and she was already making man to court in August. He was pleased and relieved the court off across to the far end of the vestibule, toward Grevenraat.

sided in his favor.

"You villainous dog!" Catalyna growled at him. "How dare After his session he was approached by the Court Messenger.

you turn out Jan Gillesen Kock and his wife! You should be

"You're the Rapalje's son-in-law, right?" Teunis nodded.

ashamed, young man!"

"Save me a trip and tell Catalyna she's due in court October 28th He looked in shock for a moment at the venomous words.

for slander against Isaack Grevenraat." He handed him the slip of He was a youthful, dapperly dressed man who was certainly not paper that said as much.

used to such treatment. "Who are you, madwoman? Of what Teunis was not looking forward to the task but he didn't concern is it to you?" He finally retorted indignantly.

blame the messenger. Catalyna would surely have less anger for

"Catalyna Trico Rapalje and it's my inn where your tenants Teunis than if the messenger showed up at her house.

find themselves in the interim of your mistreatment," She stated _____________________

proudly, though unwisely.

"Thanks for your name. I'll be sure to file a suit of slander In September, Sarah was busy with  passementerie. Margaret against you," He said in a chipper tone.

Hardenbroeck was set to marry Frederick Philipse and had

"Reduce their rent and install the improvements and maybe commissioned a huge order of lace-edged linens. She needed to my insults would not be justified!" She countered.

make wedding attire for her daughter Aneken as well.

"Good day,  Mevrouw. See you in court," He tipped his large, In early October, Aneken married Dirck Jansen Hoogland.

elegant hat to her and strode away. She spat on the ground after He'd visited often during the summer, in the guise of seeking him. She turned to see the crowd that had gathered around, Teunis. Sarah saw, before long, that his visits cheered Aneken.

watching the incident. Isaac had already slipped off. He didn't He was a garrulous man and made her smile. She watched with want to be involved.

secret delight when they started to sneak off for private walks in 208   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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the fields or along the shore of the river.

"Another victory for a man from near Heykoop," Sarah laughed and whispered to Teunis after Aneken and Dirck announced their intentions to wed.

"Admit, there's something to it," Teunis pinched at her ribs, making her giggle and blush.

"Well, you'd better hope they keep immigrating because we have a lot of daughters," She teased back.

"I was waiting to tell you," Teunis got slightly more serious, CHAPTER 27

"I've had news my cousin Jan is preparing to make the move next 1663

year. He's married with children, though." He smirked at her.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Sarah exclaimed, "We're going to have to rechristen the Waale-bocht as New Heykoop before long, aren't we?"

"God willing," Teunis said in jest, with a hint of wistfulness.

_____________________

After the late winter of the previous year, everyone braced for Catalyna went to her court appearance at the end of October.

another round of epidemic disease to stalk the countryside. But by Grevenraat had witnesses to testify to her slander and abuse of February it seemed it would just be the usual mild winter sickness him. They were lucky she was in a placid mood since seeing her of a runny or stuffed nose. "If you survive February, you'll make granddaughter married the week before. She admitted what she it another year," was a common adage.

said. Grevenraat had since installed the fireplaces and glazing for Joris, as deacon and elder of the Long Island Dutch Reformed Jan and Annetje Kock's house, so she personally felt vindicated in Church, attended the election of church officers in Midwout.

her confrontation of the man. However, she could not prove she They sat in their pews as candidates rose to the lectern to speak had a basis for the words she used against him. She agreed to pay their thoughts on how they might serve. Suddenly, Joris keeled him restitution and promised not to repeat the offense.

sideways and hit the floor. Two men were sent on horseback, one to fetch Catalyna and one to the nearest physician, Paulus Vanderbeeck, who resided in Gowanus.

Nys was there and went to the floor beside Joris. The two men had served many of the same civic positions in the past few years.

They alternated years as magistrates of Breuckelen and elders of the church. Everyone saw Joris as an aspirational father figure, Nys included. He hadn't been there for his parents' passing, regretfully,  but now he realized the horrible honor it would have been. He felt his own heart strained as he watched Joris clutch at 210   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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his, struggling to breathe.

and honored, always. You are the great love of my life. Without

"Joris, hold on. Hold on. Catalyna will be here soon," Nys you, nothing would have been possible. Say hello to Jacob and told him.

Jean and tell them I love them."

Joris tried to speak but the left side of his face was slack and _____________________

saliva drooled out that side of his mouth. Nys wiped it. Joris was nearly sixty but always had the vigor of a much younger man.

In late February, the  aanspreeker made rounds. Carel de Previously the only giveaway of his age was the salt and pepper Beauvois had yet one more role in the community. Dressed all in around the pale, sandy hair of his temples and mustache. Now, black, from his dark knee-breeches and long cloak to a hat adorned with an ashen pallor, he looked much older. Led by the Domine, with black crepe streamers, he went house to house, notifying and they started to pray.

inviting families to the funeral of Joris Jansen Rapalje.

"Lord Jesus, holy and compassionate: forgive Joris his sins. By Sarah's knees had buckled when Catalyna delivered the news.

dying you unlocked the gates of life for those who believe in you: They were still wobbly at the funeral. A pillar of her life, of the do not let our brother be parted from you, but by your glorious whole community, had crumbled.

power give him light, joy, and peace in heaven where you live Her siblings and their children were already so great in and reign forever and ever. Amen," They recited it several times number, no one else could enter for the funerary mass inside the before, miraculously, Catalyna appeared.

church. Domine Drisius exalted Joris' work in the church and She took Nys' position next to Joris. She whispered to him in community. Catalyna, Sarah, and each of her nine siblings read a French. Nys could barely hear her but also he couldn't understand passage from the bible. Then they proceeded to the Waale-bocht French. Tears flowed from her eyes but her voice was steady and to bury him, amassed in the throngs of what seemed like the reassuring. Joris tried to speak again but was unable. He clutched entire population of Breuckelen and the surrounding villages.

her hand with his right hand and brought it to his cheek. He There were so many pallbearers, it looked as if his coffin floated closed his eyes tightly, relaxed, and they did not reopen.

above a river of mourners.

Nys and the others gathered at the church retreated outdoors

"It's a bitter irony that the death of your father brings such to give her a moment alone with him. Paulus Vanderbeeck arrived, communion, never before seen among the scattered populous thankfully unbeknownst to Catalyna, and was sent away.

here," Phebe told Sarah later. "If only he were here to see it."

Catalyna let out a long, mournful exhalation and threw

"He sees it," Sarah whispered, choking back sobs, as she herself over her husband. In that moment she was transported clutched the  sewant bracelet he'd given her as a girl. She spun back to the church in Leiden, Jessé de Forest's speech recruiting the beads as she thought of his fingers triumphantly holding each settlers for a Walloon refuge in an unknown land, the furtive bead up, one by one, as they were successfully completed. White glance she had with young Joris, their recognition in each other's and black, alternating good and bad on her wrist. How ironic the shared dreams. The spark that illuminated her whole life, only to black beads meaning war, death, and sorrow were more highly be snuffed out in a church in that very distant land.

valued. If only he'd given her a bracelet of all white. If only a She had spoken to him before he passed on, "We succeeded, lifetime could contain only good.

Joris. Despite every peril, we prevailed. Go not with fear, but _____________________

content. You live on in our children and you will be remembered 212   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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Teunis dutifully took on Joris' positions as deacon of the foul Saturday, the tenth day of March. Hail assaulted those foolish church and magistrate of Breuckelen. He was humbled by the enough, like Sarah, to take the ferry to Manhattan that day. Yet tasks. How could anyone replace Joris? He had known the man a she was determined. She had taken weeks off from market days decade and had loved him perhaps more than his own father. He there because of her father's death. She owed people the lace hoped to channel what he thought Joris would say in matters, at they'd ordered from her and she finally felt stifled by her lying least that first year.

in period.

Once Sarah was recovered from the initial shock of grief he She exchanged the pieces that were promised to their owners consulted her if Joris would've agreed with his court decisions.

and sold two additional sets, despite the market being not nearly Eventually he just asked what Sarah herself thought. Being as well attended as usual. Her mood was assuaged by the sales but, brought up by Joris and having lived her whole life in the colony, as she walked, she still spitefully kicked the sleet accumulated on he thought she was most fit to make judgments. If only she was a the cobblestones. She heard someone call her name. She looked man, she would have done so. Yet, as a woman, she knew much around and found Susanna Negrin waving to her across the more of the social context of disputes. He held her all the more Bowling Green. She hadn't seen Susanna in a long time.

dearly for all this. How he loved to watch her deliberate. She was The two met and kissed each others' cheeks.

tactful but he was aware that her grace and beauty concealed a

"I'm sorry about your father. There's no words I can say to commanding nature.

bury that grief, but I walk with you in it." Susanna took her arm

" Mijn Schatje, I would hear your thoughts on a matter in condolence as they continued to walk through the market.

brought before the court today." Teunis said, as they sat on their

"My son, Paulus, was sold to Jan Evertse Bout in Gowanus. I hear stoop at the end of the day. "Jan Cornelius Zeeuw was charged he's a rough master."

with beating Dirck Volkertsen's daughter Rachel, but Jan claimed

"Take comfort that you can that it's your son, not your the charge was slander of Dirck's wife, Christina Vigne."

daughter. He's worse with the girls." Sarah grimaced.

"I know Christina. Her parents emigrated with mine. The Susanna veered Sarah off course of the market, down Princes Vignes were not exactly friends of our family but Christina was Graft. "I think we both deserve some distraction. Come with me.

not to blame. She's not the quarrelsome type. Christina's been ill There's an auction of the land that used to be the sheep's pasture lately. I doubt she would claim such a thing if it were not true."

by the canal."

Sarah said, trying not to think of when Paulus beat her and her They arrived at the place, although there were few people mother stepped in to take him to court. "Rachel is a young, gathered to bid in the foul weather. Domine Megapolensis was unwed woman. I would take that into account as to their dispute.

conducting the sales. They watched as the parcels were sold and Perhaps she refused an advance from his son?"

the small pool of people further dwindled.

"Pieter Jans DeWitt, Barent Joosten, and I were tasked to Suddenly, Susanna raised her hand to bid. She was awarded arbitrate and bring them to agreement. I'll take your insight into a small plot.

consideration. Thank you," He said and kissed her hand.

Next parcel, adjacent to Susanna's, came up for auction.

_____________________

Sarah compulsively made an offer and won. She'd just spent her entire days earnings but she got a rush of adrenaline from the Sarah set forth to sell her  passement lace collars and cuffs on a bidding process that was priceless.

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SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   215

She and Susanna giggled at owning a piece of land in the and Lysbeth were being held. He opened negotiations with all the heart of New Amsterdam, an increasingly rarefied land right.

proper formalities.

It turned out to be just the diversion she needed that day. Life

"I'm here foremost for the ones called Rachel and Lysbeth,"

wasn't merely struggling or waiting for the next tragedy.

he explained to the Esopus. "Her father is an important man and _____________________

her release will increase goodwill from Stuyvesant."

Eventually they agreed to the payment of nearly 200 guilders On June 7, 1663 the Esopus Natives inflicted retaliation worth of  sewant. Isaac told them he would take her home and of perceived wrongs against the Dutch colony. The Dutch make sure Stuyvesant knew of their good faith transaction, but had expanded their fortified village at Esopus, newly renamed that he would return with more  sewant for the other captives.

Wiltwyck, past the agreed boundary. In addition, they built an

"If their condition is worse by the time I return, I will need entirely new settlement called Nieuwe Dorp, which was well to reduce the bounty for them," He warned them so as to ensure outside the area the Natives ceded to the Dutch. They wanted their fair treatment.

payment for the land that Nieuwe Dorp was built on and “wanted He returned with Rachel and Lysbeth to New Amsterdam their captured friends back, to see whether the heart of the Dutch nearly a month after the attack had occurred. Rachel gave a was good.” Some of those captured had already been shipped to deposition of information on the village where she was held.

the West Indies as slaves to work sugar plantations.

A peace-negotiating delegation was sent to the Natives at the Instead of entreating further with Stuyvesant, they infiltrated fortification Rachel described.

Wiltwyck under the guise of coming to trade. After they _____________________

interspersed in the village, the war cry was raised and the attack began. They set fire to the stockade walls and entered homes By July, Teunis expected his cousin Jan would be arriving any with guns and tomahawks. Nine Dutch colonists were killed, day. Incredibly, the ship he'd be on, the  Bonte-Koe,   or spotted mostly women and children. Ten women and children were taken cow, was captained by his step-son, Jan Hansen.

captive, and twelve dwellings were burned. The Natives, earlier One hot, dry afternoon in mid-July, Dirck Cornelissen that day, had also attacked Nieuwe Dorp where they'd taken 34

Hooglandt rode up on his horse as Sarah and her daughter Maria women and children captive.

were doing wash and hanging laundry in the yard. He was son of Isaac heard about the attack from Johannes, who was Cornelis the ferrymaster and husband of her sister Elizabeth.

terrified for the safety of his daughter Rachel, who lived in

"Sarah, will you tell Teunis we see a ship coming in? It's likely Wiltwyck. Johannes had to await orders from Stuyvesant. Isaac, the  Bonte-Koe by the look of her," Dirck called to her, not even as Orphanmaster, did not wait before he sailed north on a mission dismounting. "He asked me to notify him when I saw a passenger to negotiate release of those taken captive.

ship coming in. I'd go find him but I need to get back to the ferry.

When he arrived, he heard his niece had been taken, along It'll be leaving in thirty minutes and I need to load cargo."

with her four year old daughter Lysbeth. He interrogated a female

"Thank you Dirck! He'll be on that ferry!" Sarah hollered as sachem held by the Dutch and had a few leads as to where the he turned his mare and rode away.

captives were taken.

"Jacob!" Sarah called to her ten year old son, the eldest boy It took him nearly three weeks but he found where Rachel home at the time. He came running from their garden. "Take the 216   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   217

new horse and go find your  Pater. I think he'll be at the saw mill."

Their new horse was a cross between an English Thoroughbred and a Native horse, what would later be called the American Quarter Horse. It was quite a bit faster than their other horse Teunis had taken that morning. Jacob's eyes lit up. He loved riding the horses, especially if the aim was to go fast. Their new horse was called Cornflower. She was sweet tempered and a buttery caramel color with white striped nose. Teunis said she took every opportunity to open her gait to full gallop.

CHAPTER 28

"Take care with her, Jacob," She said sternly, as she carried the 1663

saddle over to the pasture where Cornflower grazed. She secured the saddle for him. "Go quickly but not carelessly. Tell him his cousin's ship is approaching and the ferry leaves soon, if he wants to go meet him."

Not ten minutes later Teunis arrived on Cornflower at the house, stripping his sweat-drenched shirt off to change into a fresh one. Some minutes later Jacob followed on the plow horse, They arrived hours later, the disembarking of the ship being Thundercloud, the horse Teunis took to the mill that morning.

a slow process for 77 passengers and crew. Captain Jan arranged

"I'll have a meal ready for them. They can stay here tonight for them to have their trunks delivered by sloop the next day, as and settle their things into their new home tomorrow," Sarah unloading the cargo would take even longer.

said. "Tell Captain Jan to come too, of course." She'd taken to Sarah met them as they rode up in the wagon looking calling her son by his title to avoid the confusion of Teunis' cousin exhausted and relieved. Jan was a little older than Teunis and having the same given name.

Sarah could see the family resemblance in his dark brown eyes

"Of course. We'll have a grand reunion and a full table and high cheekbones. That was about all that was visible, as the tonight!" Teunis said breathlessly grinning and kissed her. He bottom half of his face sported a full, dark brown beard. His wife hitched Cornflower to their wagon and rode off. Sarah calculated Cornelia was Sarah and Teunis' age, with apple cheeks and warm he'd just barely get to the ferry in time, but Dirck would likely disposition. Her weary eyes and elation at arriving to their home wait a few more minutes for him.

told Sarah volumes about their trip. They had two children, seven Sarah welcomed the frenzied distraction and was glad for the year old Peter and four year old Lysbeth. Jacob peeled off with excitement Teunis had to welcome his cousin. She was eager to Peter to show him around and the little girls gravitated to Lysbeth see her son returned but dolefully disinclined to notify Jan that to show her their cornhusk dolls.

his grandfather had passed while he was away.

"Welcome to New Netherland!" Sarah cried at their arrival.

"Please let me know if there's anything you need at the moment. I can't fathom what a long journey you've had. Rest and enjoy any comforts our home can provide."

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"Solid ground is provision enough for now," Jan said, cool, hard face with rouged cheeks and drawn on lashes.

eyes crinkling with mirth, "And to see my little cousin so well

"Girls," Sarah said sharply, "Lysbeth is our guest and your established makes my heart fit to burst with happiness!" He threw cousin. We don't take our cousin's toys. We share with our his arm over Teunis, who beamed with pride.

family." She snatched the dolly away and watched as their eyes

"Is Captain Jan joining us?" Sarah asked, with more worry in welled up with tears. "See, it's not nice to have your toy taken."

her voice than she intended.

She gave the dolly back to Lysbeth.

"Certainly, but he said he'd be late. He's personally overseeing Sarah felt guilty her children didn't have a porcelain faced the unloading and dispersement of cargo as his Supercargo is doll and annoyed that it had been introduced when cornhusk unwell." Teunis told her. "Let's start with a drink? We've got beer, dolls were just fine before their knowledge of such a thing.

brandy, rum..."

"I have an idea. Do you want to give your dollies some

"As guests, we brought something as a gift," Jan said. He rouged cheeks?" Sarah asked. Their mood shifted from crying to went to the trunk they brought and pulled out a  vierdekijn quarter interested. "Wait here, I'll get some rouge."

cask. "A taste of  Patria!" The beer from the homeland was usually Sarah grabbed some berries and macerated them in a little much stronger, but Sarah saw the delight in Teunis' face must be wooden bowl. "Here," She said and dipped a pinky finger, associated with this brew specific to his region.

touching it to the cheek of one doll. The girls, now animated

" Proost to that, cousin!" Teunis replied as he helped Sarah set in a task, did the same to squeals of joy. Lysbeth abandoned her out the green Roemer glasses.

porcelain doll to join in rouging the cheeks of cornhusk dolls of

"Are you very hungry? I have some bread, butter, cheese, and which, thankfully, were many.

berries to nibble while we wait a bit for Captain Jan," Sarah said Cornelia stood by watching as Sarah handled the situation.

bringing to the table wood slabs with the  hors d'oeuvres.

She gave Sarah a knowing and approving grin as they returned to

"Oh bless you," Cornelia said, her quickness to snatch berries the table. Their husbands were in discussion.

at odds with the lightness of her tone. "Weeks of salted and dried

"They said Nieuwe Haarlem is ripe for settlement. That's foods has me craving anything fresh."

where they're going," Jan was saying.

"Ah, I can imagine..." Sarah said moving to her basket of

"Who's that?" Sarah said sitting down and joining their garden produce onto the table. She cut a cucumber. "Have a conversation. Jan and Cornelia were a little taken aback at her cucumber slice with some goat cheese and dill on top. I think it's so casually joining the men's discussion but Teunis didn't miss a the most delightful treat on a hot summer day."

beat in replying to her.

Cornelia tried it and closed her eyes. "This is the best thing

"Some passengers on board with them," He explained.

I've tasted in weeks, maybe ever," she finally proclaimed softly,

"There's a war with the Esopus Natives right now. Last time eyes still closed in reverie.

there were settlements in that area was the previous great war with Suddenly the sound of the girls fighting broke up the moment.

the Natives. My friend's bouwery and new house there were burnt Sarah went to the stoop where they were playing. Lysbeth had down. I'd be cautious and advise making an offering to the local brought a dolly with a porcelain face and plush stuffed body. Her Weckquaesgeek for protection," She explained solemnly.

littlest daughters, Aeltje and Catalyntje, were jealously trying to Jan and Cornelia sat sobered at that bit of context.

grab it and fighting amongst themselves who could touch the

"My wife was born here. She's a wealth of knowledge," Teunis 220   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   221

said looking endearingly at Sarah and at the same time lightening

"I won't be involved in the fighting. I'll be with the translator the mood.

Christoffel Davits and will only go near to ensure release of the

"I don't mean to scare you. The Natives aren't different from captives," Isaac told Sarina. "I promised them when Rachel was Netherlanders. Some are good friends and some aren't. Some are released that I would be back for them."

kind and others always seek to make trouble. Making friends with On September 5th they reached the fort where it was said the your neighbors is always preferable," Sarah explained.

captives were being held. The Natives became aware of the attack They heard Captain Jan ride up.

and a battle ensued. Isaac avoided the stream where the Natives fled

"Please, sit. I'll greet him," Sarah said and went out the front and shot at the Dutch once across. In the end 15 Esopus warriors door and saw his little sisters running up to him. The light was were dead including  sachem Papequanaehen, four females, and fading into sunset and he looked dashing on his horse, still in three children. The Dutch forces suffered three casualties and six uniform. He looked so much older upon every return trip.

wounded. However, they recovered 23 of the Dutch women and

"Jan!" She exclaimed and hugged him as he was barely off his children captives and took 13 Esopus captives. Isaac took charge horse. "Well done on another successful voyage."

of the transport of the freed New Netherlanders. They were dirty

" Bonjour Maman," He said and while still embracing and terrified but they remembered Isaac and followed him. All continued, "I'm sorry about  Grand-Père. I heard in town. I'm but five Dutch captives held by the Esopus had been freed.

sorry I wasn't here."

Not until May 15, 1664 were the last captives freed, when the Sarah held him at arms length to look him in the eye, "He official peace treaty ending the Second Esopus War was signed at was a good man and he died serving his church. His funeral Fort Amsterdam.

procession was the largest seen on Long Island. And he was very The Esopus never engaged in a war with the Dutch colonists proud of you, Captain Jan."

again. Instead, they were forced to sell more and more of their

"How is  Grand-Mère?" He asked.

land to Wiltwyck and Nieuwe Dorp.

"She would be glad to see you. I invited her tonight but she _____________________

declined," Sarah said, the sadness in her voice giving away how Catalyna was doing. "Go see her tomorrow, but now, come inside In August 1663, Nys was at the corn mill he had built on his and let's eat."

property in Breuckelen. One of the shafts had broken and he and _____________________

the three young men he employed, including his son Teunis, were attempting to swap it out. The four of them grappled with lifting By late July, peace talks sputtered out with the Esopus Natives one of the millstones to thread onto the new shaft.

and they refused to give up more captives until an agreement was Nys was sweating profusely. It was a hot, humid day even reached. On July 26, Captain Cregier took more than 200 men, before the afternoon sun. As he lifted with the younger men, his including forty-one Native warriors, Johannes, and Isaac to the face turned purple and veins on his forehead engorged and pulsed.

fortification where Rachel had been held. They reached it the next He grunted when they finally released the heavy stone and set it day and found it abandoned. They didn't have another lead on aside. He slicked back his drenched curls off his forehead.  All where the captives were being held until September.

four men went to sit on barrels in the shade to have a small beer.

"Please don't go," Sarina pleaded with Isaac.

"Well done," Nys said, still not quite catching his breath. He 222   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   223

was nigh on 50 and the other men 30 years his younger so he shushed him, like when he was a baby. She went into the default wasn't self-conscious of his labored breathing. "Now just to get it position of caretaker. She again moved through the world like a on the new shaft..."

marionette, like when she faced the great tragedies of losing her He sat and sipped his beer. He rubbed his left arm that felt mother and her father.

much more strained by the task than the other. Suddenly his Sarah showed up the next day. She said nothing but hugged whole left side was in pain. He sipped his beer and said nothing, her like Phebe had held her son. Phebe felt small and loved and continuing to massage his arm and stretching his left side. He she allowed herself to wail.

began to feel better.

After some time, she looked Sarah in the eyes and asked

"All right boys, back to it," He said clapping his hand together

"What do I do now?"

after he finished his drink.

"Mourn Nys. Have the funeral. Then ask again," Sarah said.

They placed the new shaft in position. Next was to drop the _____________________

stone in place upon it. They angled themselves around the stone to lift it, while keeping it horizontal. They squatted down and A week after the funeral and burial, Phebe, eyes bloodshot, engaged on cue to lift. A lightning bolt of pain went through his demanded of Sarah, "What do I do now?"

chest. He let go of the stone and the boys, not expecting that,

"Gain full access to his holdings. Settle his accounts. Mourn almost let the stone fall directly onto Nys who had crumpled to Nys," She said plainly, and grimly added, "And wait for suitors."

the ground. His son heaved it forward from his angle though. It Phebe found that she was, much like Sarah had been after landed hard, beside Nys.

Hans' death, more rich in land and potential than material wealth.

" Pater!" Young Teunis exclaimed. "Are you all right?"

The suitors did come. A man named Jan Cornelisz Buys Nys' mind flashed to Joris on the ground, looking up at him stood out. He was an adopted son of Jan Damen, his uncle, the pale and withered. He saw his son, reacting as he had. He felt wealthy instigator of Kieft's War. Jan Buys was also a widow. He disembodied, observing and experiencing at the same time. He was a secure financial move and several years younger than Phebe.

found he couldn't speak. He watched his son pray at his side. He He didn't have Nys' swagger and charm but he had endearing reached to touch him. He watched himself reach to touch him.

qualities along with stability. Having talked Sarah through her He felt him and yet he didn't.

qualms of widowhood, she had none of her own.

_____________________

Incredibly, Sarah's little brother Jeronimus had asked Nys and Phebe's blessing to marry their daughter Annetje before Nys Young Teunis delivered the news to his mother. Phebe could had passed. So it happened, a month after Nys' death, a double see his eyes told the gravity of her sons message before the words wedding for Phebe and her daughter.

did. He'd been crying and this eyes were puffy and bloodshot.

What could have felt like a solemn affair for Phebe became

" Pater died at the corn mill today," He said and clung to her joyous with the young couple celebrating a marriage with her.

sobbing. "He just... gave out."

"It's so odd how life unfolds," Phebe had said to Sarah on her Phebe was taken aback, in shock. She said nothing but wedding day. "Who knew all my visits to the Waale-bocht were comforted her son, as it was the only thing she  could do. She making my daughter fall in love with your brother?"

wanted to ask questions but she couldn't find the words. She

"I suppose there's always a silver lining to be had," Sarah 224   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   225

said, "And we shall be all the more grateful for it. We're officially family now!"

"Maybe we can pair a few more off to solidify our family connection?" Phebe jested, looking towards their little children playing together.

"They're a bit young, but consider it a standing betrothal,"

Sarah laughed and hugged Phebe.

226   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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The artist, while sketching, loves nothing so much as the curve of the body as it turns away.

What locks itself in sameness has congealed.

PART FOUR

Is it safer to be gray and numb?

What turns hard becomes rigid

1664 - 1685

and is easily shattered.

Pour yourself like a fountain.

RESPECT

Flow into the knowledge that what you are seeking finishes often at the start, and with ending begins.

Every happiness is the child of a separation it did not think it could survive. And Daphne, becoming a laurel,

dares you to become the wind.

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

Sonnets to Orpheus

Part 2 , Number 12

by a drummer boy he almost trampled, and followed by a retinue of around 100 men on horse and foot. Flanking him were two standard bearers hoisting the English Red Ensign with the cross of Saint George. The lead horseman's heavy jowls were framed by a long, curled, dark brown periwig. His mouth was an indignant snarl and his brow was raised with haughty affect. He began shouting in English.

"What is he saying?" Sarah whispered to Phebe. Sarah had CHAPTER 29

learned a little English from Phebe but she wasn't comprehending 1664

what the man said exactly.

"He said he's John Scott, President of Long Island and that the soil we stand on belongs to the King of England. He bids us to salute." Phebe said looking perplexed.

Secretary Van Ruyven stepped forward and said, "You may submit your declaration to our Lord Director General Petrus Stuyvesant. Our allegiance is to the United Provinces of the Sarah and Teunis' favorite day of the week was Thursday, Netherlands."

market day, in Breuckelen. On the way they discussed things they

"Let Stuyvesant come here and I will run him through might want for a good price. They separated to peruse and would with a sword!" Scott barked. Phebe translated for Sarah but she rejoin later to see what the other had bartered or procured. It was understood by his pantomime with his sword.

a chilly March day, with snow still on the ground, half thawed

"What documents have you of your credentials and order?"

in some patches. Sarah made use of a gray rabbit fur muff that Secretary Van Ruyven asked.

Teunis had bought for her at a previous market.

"I shall return with them next month," Scott said dismissively.

After parting with Teunis to make their separate rounds, Scott then turned to Cornelis, the ten year old son of Sarah found Phebe in the crowd and the two continued together, Burgomaster Kryger, and commanded him to doff his cap and linked arm in arm.

salute the royal standard. Cornelis either didn't understand or

"I have news," Phebe said with a sly grin. "There will be a new refused his demand. He just stood there. John Scott dismounted addition to our family this year."

and slapped him across the face. At that the disaffected, if slightly

"Phebe! That's wonderful," Sarah gushed, hugging her bemused, crowd turned on the invading Englishmen and an friend's arm even tighter.

outcry of injustice began. One man in the crowd shouted, "Try

"I think it's for sure now. The past few years I had several that with a man, not a child, you coward!" He was seized upon

'false starts' with Teunis. I didn't want to curse myself by saying it by Scott's mob. He grabbed a bed warmer pan from a nearby stall aloud until I was certain," Phebe said solemnly.

to keep them at arms length until he found an opening and ran.

The church bell rang, not notifying time for service, but as a John Scott signaled to his drummer boy. The Englishmen warning. A man rode through the crowd on horseback, proceeded marched on and continued their campaign to other villages, 230   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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menacing those who refused to salute their English flag.

Stuyvesant conveyed supreme authority and control in his Sarah and Phebe weaved through the bewildered throngs voice and bearing. His eyes revealed true worry though.

of people until they found Teunis. He was holding an informal They told of the John Scott raids as the secretary compiled meeting at the far end of the market street with other government their accounts to paper. Teunis was satisfied that at least their officials of Breuckelen. When he saw her, he excused himself, grievances were given voice to higher authority.

tipping his hat to the  Schepens  and  Burgomasters. Joining up with Unfortunately, both governing bodies were disinclined Sarah and Phebe, he directed them toward where their horse was to send assistance of soldiers or weaponry. They did, however, hitched near their wagon.

command Stuyvesant defend the territory.

"Let's get you home. I don't know who that man thinks he is, There was rumor of a military fleet sent from England to but he ruined a good market day. Phebe, we can take you home take New Netherland. It landed in Boston. Word was sent to on the way," Teunis said, trying to make light of the incident but Stuyvesant to reassure him it would stay there.

his eyes were brooding.

_____________________

"We're going to draft a petition to Stuyvesant. It shouldn't be so easy for a windbag like that to stroll into our village and It wasn't only the threats of the English that preyed upon threaten us. We can raise a militia but we need more protection,"

them that year. In April, the melting snow of the hillsides drained Teunis told them once they were on their way in the wagon.

into the river, as it did every year, but the higher elevations in

"I can only assume there will be more windbags to follow,"

the surrounding river valley had significantly more snow this Phebe said with distaste and a bit of worry.

winter. It was then compounded by heavy rains for weeks. The Sarah was unsure of how afraid she should be. Scott made river and tributaries rose much higher than was usual. The freshet incredulous claims for which he bore no proof. She was reassured threatened their planting as most their fields were saturated or by Teunis' plan of action to address concerns to Stuyvesant. Since completely under water.

he'd taken the  Schepen position vacated by Joris, he'd grown Kip's quip years ago about the settlers at the Waale-bocht into the role as naturally as he had in becoming a father. For a becoming separated when the creek rose had come to pass. They mere son of a planter, civic duty seemed to be more befitting his had a bridge over the creek but the settlements became islands that inclinations.

made it difficult to navigate without getting stuck in the mud.

_____________________

Teunis, being a pragmatic Netherlander, built a series of dikes to allow for passable high ground connecting the settlements.

Upon receiving the petition from Teunis and his colleagues,

"God created the world but the Dutch created Holland,"

Stuyvesant called a meeting of Long Island delegates. Teunis and Teunis quoted the saying that touted his peoples' ability to two other men went as representatives. Teunis could not help reclaim land from watery marshes of rivers and the North Sea via but study the man's wooden leg, being in such proximity. As dikes and polders.

Stuyvesant began to speak, he turned his full attention to his eyes.

They pivoted to sewing fields in the far reaches of their land

"I call this meeting to relate your concerns and give proper that were on higher ground. They made the best of a bad situation presentation to the Company and the States General. God willing, but it was still a cheerless, exhausting month.

they'll better equip us to fend off illegal invasion by the English,"

Finally by the end of June the land dried out and seemed 232   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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almost back to normal. On a pleasant, sunny Tuesday mid-Patria. But we're safe, it's all right," He said, especially to Aeltje month, Sarah decided to take her three youngest daughters to who was still tearful and clinging to his leg.

look for wild strawberries and any other tasty things to forage.

"I thought it was cannon blasts hitting the island," Sarah They were having a wonderful day, reveling in the sun. They whispered to him, hands on her cheeks.

found a patch of blueberries which were not quite ripe but some

"No, cannonballs would have to be hitting right next to you downed trees which had been saturated by the flooding now to feel like that," Teunis tried to reassure her, looking into her flushed with frills of blue-gray oyster mushrooms. They filled two eyes, placing his hands over hers.

baskets. Eventually they found a meadow of strawberries and laid Teunis succeeded in distraction, asking the girls to show him down to eat their fill in the sun, like she and Phebe did when they what they had foraged. They went back to eating strawberries and were young.

calmed down.

Sarah missed Phebe. Her new husband, Jan, had moved

"By the wrath of God, what is His displeasure with us to their household to Midwout so Sarah saw her less frequently. She bring flooding and earthquake?" Sarah  whispered to Teunis.

missed Sarina too. She had seen her so seldom in the last few

"He also gives strawberries and mushrooms and we do not years. Her life was quite different than Sarah's, especially since implore him for their meaning," Teunis tried to comfort her Isaac became a Great Burgher. Like Sara Roelofs, they were in but he too was disturbed by the meaning of such foreboding a higher class now, but Sarah wondered if her old friends and cataclysms. "He reminds us we must adapt, take nothing for their children ever got the chance to lay in strawberry fields. She granted, and build our resiliency."

decided it was a life she was content with.

Tremors persisted for several weeks after, making them She was daydreaming and letting her mind wander, looking uneasy, but none so violent as the first.

at great puffs of clouds in the sky. The girls were assigning what shapes they looked like. A ship, a hat, a bear. Suddenly the earth beneath her shuddered and the girls screamed. Sarah sat up and looked around. Birds took flight from the trees surrounding the meadow. The girls huddled around her, clutching each other for dear life. When the most violent of movements had subsided after several minutes, they stood up tentatively. They gathered their baskets and ran home.

They entered the house and saw that whatever could topple, had. Brooms, tin lanterns, and the butter churn had toppled and one of the green Roemer goblets lay on the floor, cracked.

Teunis rushed in the door not long after them. They all embraced at the center of their great room.

"Everyone all right?" He asked as he checked them over.

"Yes  Pater, but what happened?" Aertje asked.

"It was an earthquake. I've only felt one once before, in 234   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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"Anchor your ship," They shouted in Dutch from their rowboat. He did as requested as he didn't have much of a choice.

They pulled him onto the rowboat and left a soldier aboard his yacht who wasted no time in searching it.

Once aboard their frigate, the one who spoke Dutch took him to their captain, a man named Richard Nicolls. He had a face strikingly similar to Stuyvesant. Although not as bullish, they had the same nose that ended pointedly downward from it's slope and CHAPTER 30

similarly poised, discerning eyes.

1664

The translator told him New Amsterdam would shortly be overtaken by the English. King Charles II had promised his brother James, the Duke of York, claim to it and all of the North American colonies.

Isaac was questioned as to his identity, rank, title, occupation, and the number of soldiers at Fort Amsterdam. They asked probing questions about Stuyvesant, the government, and trade.

Isaac was enjoying the salt spray aboard his yacht on a hot Isaac spoke freely for the most part. Assessing the size of their August day, headed for Gravesend to deliver some hogsheads of force and imminent attack, he didn't want to make enemies. He tobacco to a merchant. He closed his eyes and tilted his face to told them he had a wife with an infant waiting for him at home.

the sun, basking in the rays and the peaceful solitude this errand Sarina had given birth in December to their son David.

provided him. He could have had the merchant pick them up but Captain Nicolls listened intently to the translator, not the day was too perfect to deny himself such a task. He opened his interjecting until the interrogation was through. He looked at eyes, steering past Nutten Island, Red Hook and Gowanus Bay.

Isaac, considering what to do with him. Some of the officers He sailed through the Narrows toward  Conyne Eylandt into suggested ransoming him.

Gravesend Bay. He docked and found his merchant's Supercargo,

"Return him to his ship, with this," He produced a letter the man responsible for overseeing the ship's cargo and its sale.

to Stuyvesant urging him to acquiesce. "Tell Stuyvesant we have The Supercargo had his men transfer the barrels. He made such the cannon power to level the city if he prefers not to surrender, quick work of the business end of the errand, he thought he might as well as 800 soldiers at the ready. Tell your fellow men, if you take more time for leisure on the return trip.

submit to the authority of King Charles II you will be granted Back in his yacht, he steered out into the Narrows. As  Conyne amnesty, and freedom to retain your land and business."

Eylandt  pulled back, revealing the open water he was surprised by Isaac was turned loose to his yacht. The entire return journey four frigates. He gasped when he saw the warships flew English he pondered the consequence of what he told Nicolls and what flags and one was gaining on him quickly.

he would tell Stuyvesant.

In a matter of minutes they were beside him, dropping a Stuyvesant had been a better leader and had taken more rowboat of soldiers to meet his vessel.

interest in improving the city than any previous Director. He had 236   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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cleaned up the streets, literally and morally. He issued ordinances There was a knock at the De Forest home. Their servant, against dumping refuse in the street and ditches, organized the Susanna Negrin's daughter, Maria, answered the door. Sarah had first volunteer fire brigade, made people remove their unsightly suggested her to Sarina, rather than have her sold to a rougher pigpens to the back lots of their houses and prune their trees and master. Maria was a marked contrast to the abusive Dutch woman gardens that faced streetwise, outlawed public drunkenness, issued Isaac had contracted years ago. She was astute, kind, and faithful.

curfews on taproom hours and restricted drinking on Sundays.

Sarina interpreted this into a view that Africans were meant to He was, however, an inflexible authoritarian at his core. He would serve, as Dutch women were accustomed too much freedom to not want to give up his position and his city without a battle.

make good servants. African servants were seen among her elite If Isaac and his fellow burghers, great and small, had any friends as a social class marker, an asset that showcased their qualms, it was with the Company. They had not supplied them elevated status.

the military resources to have any hope in facing such a threat Maria found Sarina in their orchard with the children and from the English. He thought of Van der Donck, Melyn, and their nursemaid. She informed Sarina that Lydia de Meyer and Kuyter. All of them dead and whispering to him from beyond the Hillegond van Ruyven were there to speak with her. They were grave that they should finally rid themselves of their mercantile social acquaintances, as their husbands were prominent merchants, overlord. But at the expense of becoming English? Then he and they'd attended many dinners hosted by one another. Isaac remembered the threat of cannons and soldiers and realized it was had just returned the day before with news of the English frigates not a choice. They would do what they must to survive.

and she was afraid their visit was related to that matter.

_____________________

"Hallo ladies, please have a seat. What brings me the pleasure of your visit today?" Sarina gestured to the plush upholstered Isaac delivered Nicolls' letter to an already agitated Stuyvesant.

chairs and chaise in their great room.

He'd just received a message from a Nieuw Utrecht official of the

"Forgive us that this isn't merely a social call. We heard Isaac English frigates.

was captured by the English. He's spoken to our husbands," Lydia

"He said they have the canon force to level the city and began, with little artifice. "Stuyvesant would meet them with 800 soldiers as well. He claims that those who take the oath of maladroit canon fire. These dirty dogs want to fight, since they’ve allegiance to the English crown will be granted amnesty," Isaac got nothing to lose. We have our property here, which we will said solemnly. Stuyvesant read the letter of formal summons to lose if we fight. Our husbands can't do a thing without appearing submit the city and province to England.

treasonous to Stuyvesant."

"I will be carried out dead before I submit!" Stuyvesant

"That's why Lydia and I are going to entreat the English to bellowed and dismissed Isaac.

kindly negotiate, rather than force Stuyvesant to use the little bit Isaac left with a plan to organize a meeting of Great of gunpowder we have," Hillegond continued.

Burghers and prominent citizens. They would surely be united in

"Will you join us?" Lydia asked.

disagreeing with Stuyvesant's plan to sacrifice everything rather Sarina was shocked by the proposal but intrigued and envious than capitulate.

by her friends' daring. She wrung her hands, squeezing them until _____________________

the fingernails digging in caused pain.

"I'm sorry, I cannot," She finally responded. "The English 238   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   239

spoke of ransoming Isaac. We're lucky he returned unharmed. I the folly in meeting the English with force. They did not have can't leave my children." Sarina spouted excuses. She almost said sufficient men at arms nor gunpowder. Together they agreed aloud  my mother won't let me, the convenient excuse of her youth.

to send response to Nicolls to delay by asking that the whole The two women looked at each other, silently decided it business should be referred to His Majesty of England and the wasn't worth pressing Sarina.

States General of the Netherlands.

"Well then, wish us luck," Hillegond said.

Impatient for resolve, the frigates came up under full sail on _____________________

September 4th, drew closer but still out of canon range, with their own guns trained on the city. Across the East River, the troops In the Waale-bocht village, everyone was in the midst of stationed at the Breuckelen ferry were also poised for attack. If various stages of harvest on that sunny, late August day when riders any aggression was shown, they would take the city by assault, from the south came bearing the news. Willem Brendenbent, one and promised pillage and bloodshed.

of the fellow men appointed as Long Island delegates to meet The panicked citizens of the city filed into the fort, petitioning with Stuyvesant regarding the protection of Long Island, rode to Stuyvesant against resistance.

Teunis in the fields. Sarah ran to hear the urgent news.

"I will be carried out dead!" Stuyvesant once again declared

"English warships are stationed at the Narrows. They marched and tore up the terms of surrender.

over from Gravesend and have seized the ferry in Breuckelen.

Destruction was too near now. Isaac and 93 prominent men, They were joined by more Englishmen from the eastern end of most of whom lived on the tip of New Amsterdam, signed a Long Island. Word is that Stuyvesant was served formal summons remonstrance of Stuyvesant's unwillingness to surrender.

to submit the city and province or they'll blast the island flat,"

_____________________

Willem explained, face drawn with worry. "I come to advise sheltering in place for now. We'll give Stuyvesant a chance to

"Zounds! I want to defend our capital," Teunis cursed, resolve this peaceably."

frustrated by inaction.

"Have the English harmed anyone in Breuckelen?" Sarah Sarah and Teunis sat with their children in their house with asked, concerned.

the door barred for the last few days, fearing an impending attack.

"Not so far as I've heard. No need to worry about your sister Catalyna and Daniel, Sarah's youngest brother, joined them.

and the Hooglant family. The English stationed themselves at the Daniel was 15 years old but was a good shot with a firelock, so he inn by the ferry to prevent us sending aid to the city. They aren't and Teunis took turns standing guard.

threatening violence unless they're faced with resistance from

" Mijn Schatje, we will defend our bouwery. We will survive, Stuyvesant," Willem explained to Sarah's relief.

even if New Amsterdam falls," Sarah tried to soothe him while _____________________

terrified at the prospect of the city being bombarded. "Perhaps there is something we could do..."

The English had held off for days giving time for negotiation,

"My clever wife, please have a plan," Teunis begged.

thanks in part to Lydia de Meyer and Hillegond van Ruyven.

"I'll go to Lysbeth and Dirck, a sister visiting under the They recognized there were citizens they could work with.

pretense of giving her some cheese. I'm sure they're supplying the The Burgomasters met with Stuyvesant, entreating him to see British soldiers with food and beer. What if we have Lysbeth bring 240   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   241

them a generous feast and we taint their beer?"

elated. The Dutch were so kind and welcoming, they thought.

"Poison them?" Teunis was aghast and intrigued at his wife's They all drank themselves to a fitful slumber that night.

ruthlessness.

The next day, September 5th, the ferry came across mid-

"No. Something to lull them. Confuse them. Make them morning to find all the soldiers in Breuckelen still sleeping. They ineffective soldiers," Sarah said looking to Catalyna.

roused them shouting Stuyvesant yielded and negotiations of

"I could come up with a decoction to make them purge their surrender had begun.

stomachs, have them running for the privy, make them sleepy, Concealed under Stuyvesant's stalwart exterior was a tender or hallucinate," Catalyna offered, eyes blank as her mind went protectiveness for the colony that ultimately prevailed his pride.

through the herbal combinations in her mind.

Stuyvesant's lead negotiator, his lawyer Johannes de Decker,

"I'd err on lulling. A confused man can be a violent man and included many legal rights and freedoms for residents of the a man shitting himself can still shoot a gun," Teunis offered. "I province. Retention of property, freedom of conscience in could raise the militia. We could surround the inn so they can't religious matters, that residents shall not have soldiers quartered to join an attack on New Amsterdam. Maybe they would surrender their homes without payment, retention of their own inheritance to us."

customs, and civic appointments retaining their position. The

"All right, we'll lull them. Tell your militia men to be on English accepted this improvised bill of rights the next day as long guard for sound of cannon fire," Sarah said.

as an oath of allegiance to the English crown was made.

"In that case, we hold them until they surrender," Teunis Nicolls' prerogative was not unlike a corporate takeover.

said. "We can't fight all the soldiers aboard the ships though."

Keep the successful parts in motion, just transferring the benefit

"No, but we could bargain with the men in the fort," Sarah of profits. Adjustments and integrations could take place later.

said. "We won't have them pillage Breuckelen."

On the 8th, the transfer of power took place. The Dutch flag Sarah went to Lysbeth with a wheel of cheese, a bucket of was lowered from the fort and Stuyvesant exited with his head fresh milk, and a firkin of brandy that hid Catalyna's potent held high. Nicolls, now Governor, strode into the fort and raised decoction of valerian root, chamomile, poppy, hops, and vervain.

the English flag. The city was officially rechristened New York There were English soldiers everywhere in the village of and the province, Yorkshire, after the King's brother, James the Breuckelen. She had to get past a guard at Lysbeth's door. She Duke of York.

smiled and showed her provisions "meant for the soldiers" and _____________________

gained entrance.

" Maman made a special decoction to fortify the soldiers'

Lysbeth sent a messenger to the Waale-bocht to share beer," Sarah told her in French.

the news. Everyone breathed a small sigh of relief, mixed with Elizabeth understood.

disappointment. Teunis felt it was safe enough for him to leave Teunis sent Maria and Aertje to alert his militia. The innocent his family to go to Breuckelen. He wanted more information on 15 and 11 year old girls moved without raising alarm to the what had transpired.

Englishmen that infiltrated the settlements. They went to one He returned some hours later.

household of each village and trusted word would spread.

"I despise it but it's a far better outcome than I feared. They're That evening the English soldiers enjoyed their beer and felt calling the city New York now but all other customs and rights 242   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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remain as they were," Teunis explained. "If we don't take the oath of allegiance, they'll allow us passage to  Patria. I'm inclined to the latter rather than bow to the King of England."

"You will still be Dutch though, and our children will still be Dutch," Sarah said. She knew he was fiercely proud of that.

"And you?" He asked Sarah, looking at her like he maybe didn't fully know her.

She suddenly thought of him leaving clogs as a marriage proposal, something a Dutch woman would've understood. She'd CHAPTER 31

failed that test. She thought of how the schoolmaster criticized 1665 - 1666

her French lisp. She and her mother still spoke mostly in French.

She thought of how she'd never been anywhere near Heykoop, nor Valenciennes, nor London.

"To the Natives, all Europeans are  Swanneken, the salt people who arrived in cloud houses," she said, dismissing the differentiation.

That did not satisfy him so she continued.

Life had gone back to such normalcy since the English

"I'm a French Walloon, a Dutch New Netherlander, and soon takeover that, especially in the Waale-bocht, one could scarcely to be an English New Yorker I suppose," She continued slowly, notice a difference. The administrative tasks, taking oaths of building the layers, as the city itself had been built. "This place is allegiance, and confirmation of land patents, had not quite yet my home. Whatever this place is, that's what I am."

rolled out to Long Island.

On a beautiful June day Phebe paid a visit to Sarah. The skies were clear blue. It was hot in the full sun but the breeze was cool and pleasant. They pulled up in their wagon as Sarah stepped out of the shade of a peach tree and hollered and waved from the orchard so they saw her. She flipped the brim of her starched coif forward to shade her eyes from the sun. She was mowing stubborn patches of bramble around the trees with a scythe.

Phebe had her ten month old baby Jacob and her eight year old step-daughter, Caryntje, with her. They met her out at the orchard. Sarah was enormously pregnant.

"Phebe!" Sarah exclaimed and kissed her cheeks. "Miss Caryntje," She said and gave a curtsy to the shy young lady.

Caryntje bashfully smiled and curtsied back. Jacob stirred in Phebe's arms. He rubbed his eyes and chubby little cheeks and 244   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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looked around.

"Yes, that's true. Jacob was my ninth and easiest yet. Most

"Let's go sit over there. I have a blanket laid out under the big difficult was not knowing what in Heavens was going on with the apple tree," Sarah said as her girls rushed over, eager to see who English." Phebe had given birth in the days between the English was here. When they saw Caryntje, they excitedly grabbed her frigates arriving and the transfer of power.

hand and took her off on a tour. They'd met her at church but she Jacob found a green apple that had fallen and he rolled the hadn't been to their house yet. Caryntje was pleased to have some orb between his chubby hands. He tried to bite it and it's bitter other little girls to romp with but she gave Phebe a look to check taste made him shudder and shake his head.

if it was all right. Phebe nodded to her encouragingly.

"I can't imagine how you must have felt, a new babe and the

"My goodness, Sarah. Look at you! I can't believe you're threat of hostile takeover," Sarah said, shaking her head. "But if mowing out here. Are you sure if you sit down you'll be able we'd known how little would change, perhaps we would have to get back up?" Phebe asked skeptically. "Didn't you say you become English sooner?"

thought the baby would be born in August? You already look fit

"It's a much different English colony than the one I grew up to birth, poor thing."

in. There, they were so forceful in implementing their Puritan

" Bof, I'm fine," Sarah said dismissively. Turning to Phebe, she ideals and hostile in their condemnations. I'm utterly shocked clutched her forearm a moment looking her in the eyes, in a low by Governor Nicolls. I didn't know there were Englishmen that voice said, " Maman thinks it's twins."

could be tolerant," Phebe said in wonder, even though she herself They sat down on the duffel blanket in the shade. The big was also an exception to that expectation.

apple tree had an expansive view of their house, garden, the horse

"Stuyvesant left for  Patria, likely to be reprimanded before pasture, stream, the other houses, and kitchen gardens in the the Company board. I wonder if they preferred us destroyed, Waale-bocht village.

given their lack of support to defend ourselves." Sarah pondered,

"Twins?" Phebe looked at Sarah with wide eyes, feigning

" Maman has befriended his wife Judith. They enjoy speaking surprise. She set Jacob down and he quickly got on all fours French together. I think since  Maman has seen so many regime to crawl around and explore. Childbirth was a dangerous task changes here, she has great empathy and perspective for the enough for women but twins even more so.

woman."

"I think so. It feels the same as when I had Jacob and Catalyna

"I suppose Stuyvesant intends to return since he did not take before. It feels like they're sharing a bed with a blanket that's too his wife with him?" Phebe asked.

small. A movement on one side always gets a delayed response

"Yes, from what Judith says, he genuinely has a love for the from the other side," Sarah said as she sat cross legged, holding city," Sarah said, understandingly, but then suddenly distracted.

her belly for support as she placed it like an egg in the nest of her

"Are you hungry? I'm famished. Let's find the girls and make legs. It was a pose that accentuated her belly, the folds of fabric something for luncheon. Help me up, please."

from her loose, light green linen kirtle wrapped around and under _____________________

her belly.

"I trust you to know. What number are you on?" Phebe asked.

As Sarah's belly grew, her nonchalance at the thought of

"If it's twins, it will be 16 children—counting Jacob, Catalyna, twins became less cavalier and more worry crept into her mind. It and Neeltje" She said, "It's gotten much easier, for the most part."

was a dangerous business, for her and the babies. She thought of 246   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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little Catalyna, Jacob's twin, and how desperately she tried to get brow and wiped her forehead with a cold wet linen. Sarah stayed the girl to take her milk and willed her to live.

on all fours for a long time on the braided rug before she reached Teunis forced her to rest, which was kind of him, but she also for her mother's help to get up. Catalyna helped take off her wet resented being told what to do when she was already irritable.

dress and Sarah waved away putting on anything else. Her mother She unconsciously put on a show of industriousness when he was had placed extra linens down in their bed, which is where Sarah around, not wanting him to see any lack in vigor as she thought ended up going, She made one knee up onto the bed and stopped, that would cause him to worry. The rest of the summer they went having another wave. Her daughters looked on, quietly.

back and forth that way, bickering over how much she should Sarah felt quite good in that one legged standing position, be resting. Catalyna kept her supplied with her herbal tinctures, her head, belly, and other leg resting on the bed. The next wave which she promised would make her womb strong.

came quickly and was more intense.

Sarah went on, unrelenting to bedrest until birthing pains

"A head," Catalyna told her, waiting to catch by her side.

started in mid August. She had been grinding amaranth into flour

"Should we call for Teunis?"

with their household quern stone mill and felt some pains that

"Nooo," Sarah forced out. She didn't want him there if progressed it a way unlike the usual pains of rotating the heavy anything went wrong.

quern stone.

The first baby came toward the end of the next wave. A

"Maria, please continue for me," Sarah asked her fourteen healthy baby girl. Catalyna passed her to Maria. Maria, Aertje, year old daughter, gesturing to the quern. "Aertje, can you please and Catalyna gingerly wiped their new sister's face with a warm boil some water," She asked her nine year old. The girls shot each cloth while Aeltje looked on, absorbing but not understanding other a knowing look.

what was going on.

Sarah went down on her knees on the braided rag rug in the It was a brief moment of relief and then a shift in pressure.

center of their great room. On all fours, she swayed her hips side Sarah seemed in more pain now. She shifted her body to find a to side and stretched her back to relieve the wave of pressure.

better position. She ended up holding the corner of the bed frame Three year old Aeltje thought her mother was being playful and in a squat for the next several waves that came quickly. The fifth got down on all fours too, pretending to be an animal. Aeltje wave gave the second twin. Another healthy baby girl.

mooed and snorted making Sarah laugh, until she mooed too They didn't have to call for Teunis. Shortly after Sarah with the next wave of pressure.

birthed the placenta and was helped into bed with her two babies

" Maman, you peed," Aeltje said after Sarah's waters leaked to nurse, Teunis arrived unaware, looking for his luncheon.

through her skirts.

Finding his wife and two new babies in bed, Teunis whispered

"Catalyntje, go fetch  Grand-Mère," Sarah instructed her

"Praise be," and Catalyna led the girls out of the room to make seven year old.

some food. Jacob had also come home and was looking on as they _____________________

came out of their parents curtained room.

"Sarah... Sarah..." Teunis said, eyes welling with tears, as he Catalyna was there in no time. Sarah's favorite thing about kissed each of his new babies and her. "How did you do such her mother was that she hardly spoke when attending a birth.

incredible work, all before midday?" He laughed through his tears.

She observed and reacted accordingly. She saw Sarah's sweating He didn't know what to do with himself. He stroked Sarah's hair 248   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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back and watched the babies, both latched to a different breast.

of Dutch prowess. He explained the meaning of baptism as Sarah held them like two stacks of firewood under her arms. After passing over from the darkness to the light, just as the Israelites a minute, she shifted and indicated to him.

had in Exodus. He spoke on, venerating Sarah as a model Dutch

"She was born first. Have a look at her and tell me if she looks wife and mother.

like a Neeltje," Sarah said. According to tradition, one would be

"Sarah, firstborn of our beloved New Netherland, gave named after their sister that had passed. Sarah repositioned the birth at nearly forty years of age to healthy twins while already second baby and looked at her more fully.

having produced eleven living children... she is an aspiration of Teunis gently rocked the first twin for a long time. She the fertility and growth of the church," Domine Megapolensis groggily cracked one eye open to look at him and promptly closed boomed. Sarah's cheeks burned hearing herself as part of the it again. She was the slightly larger twin, born with slightly more sermon and bowed her head.

wispy hair, the color of flax.

He then called Sarah, Teunis, their babies, and their sponsors

"This is Annetje," he finally said.

to the alter. Her brother Jeronimus and brother-in-law Pieter Van

"This is Neeltje," Sarah said definitively, looking at the baby Nest stood with Judith Bayard and Tryntje Roelofs as sponsors.

already asleep in her arms, still suckling in her sleep even though The girls were sprinkled with water, signifying the blood of the teat was now absent.

Jesus. The congregation then made two rows down the aisle and Sarah then sank down from sitting upright. She rolled raised their hands together to make a tunnel, through which the sleeping Neeltje from her chest to the bed, moving her own body baptismal party went under. The Domine then dismissed them to lay on her side. She motioned for Teunis to do the same. He with a command to serve the Lord in the outside world.

slipped Annetje next to Neeltje and laid down on his side, next Judith Bayard held a reception afterwards at the Stuyvesant to Annetje. Teunis and Sarah formed a wall between their babies Bouwery home, a large brick building where she now resided.

and the outer world. Sarah fell asleep immediately and Teunis Stuyvesant's governors house on the southern tip of Manhattan could not bring himself to sleep or leave, but watched over them was transferred to the English and renamed Whitehall. Their all with awe.

great lawn and orchard was filled with residents of the city. Judith _____________________

pulled Sarah aside.

"I was surprised the Domine revealed your age during the The following Sunday, they traveled to the chapel on sermon. I gave birth to my sons at what they said was an advanced Stuyvesant's bouwery just north of the wall for the baptism age," Judith had whispered and laughed, "after my own mother of their girls. Stuyvesant was still in  Patria but his wife Judith thought I'd be a lifelong spinster. I would have added to the hosted. Judith and Tryntje Roelofs, Sara's sister, were sponsors for sermon that beyond producing many children, you've raised the girls baptism. Annetje and Neeltje's baptism was a cause for them well."

great celebration.

Sarah smiled at her kind words. She was aware the baptism During his sermon, Domine Johannes Megapolensis took the was being used as a bit of a foil for Dutch patriotism and an excuse chance to expound on the proliferation of the Dutch church's to gather and celebrate after their former Director's capitulation.

values, despite the English takeover. There was a second Anglo-Since her husband left for the Netherlands, Judith had taken every Dutch War in Europe and his sermon was a thinly veiled exaltation opportunity to strengthen the morale of the community. Sarah 250   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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felt honored nonetheless. She was still sore from birth, wearing a beaming at Sarah. "I'm a very lucky man."

woolen loincloth to catch blood, and exhausted by the needs of

"With three girls already, I bet you were hoping for a son?"

two newborns, but seeing people invigorated her.

Sarina asked, curious.

When Sarah saw Sarina among the well-wishers, her face lit

"I'll take what the Lord deigns to give," He said, smiling up. Sarina came to sit on the bench next to her, where she cradled genially. "And He was quite generous this time."

Annetje, and wrapped her arms around them.

"Quite," Sarah emphasized.

"Oh my dear Sarina," Sarah whispered, "I've missed you."

"It's so good to see you, Sarah. Congratulations on your twins!" Sarina exclaimed and pulled back to look at little Annetje who was asleep. Teunis was holding Neeltje who was barely awake. Sarina peeked at Neeltje and smiled. "I can't tell with the one sleeping but I think this girl has your eyes, Sarah."

Sarina had her two year old David and eight year old Hendrick with her. Isaac joined them and gravitated to Teunis.

"Hallo boys, aren't you handsome and well behaved," Sarah said to David and Hendrick. "How is the rest of the family, Sarina?"

"We've been well. Susannah just got married to Pieter de Riemer," Sarina spoke with pride of her eldest daughter's marriage.

"Congratulations!" Sarah said.

"Our son Jan is a bit of a handful but he's improving. He decided he wants to be a physician." Susannah continued, nodding toward the edge of the crowd on the lawn, "And it looks like he's taken a liking to Susannah Varlet."

Sarah saw Jan flirting with Susannah, Judith Bayard's niece.

The girl laughed at what Jan whispered to her, cheeks flushed.

"She's a nice Huguenot girl," Sarah said.

"Yes, much better than some other company he's kept in the past," Sarina said. "Is Phebe here?"

"No, unfortunately. She hasn't been feeling well." Sarah was actually quite worried about her as she'd lost a lot of weight.

Sarina sensed she didn't want to discuss it further.

"Teunis, congratulations to you as well!" Sarina said when he had a break in his conversations with Isaac.

"Thank you, though I can hardly take credit," He said 252   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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"Can I see her?" Sarah pleaded.

"Yes, I hope it will do her well to see you. She often says your name in her sleep. Thank you for coming," He said graciously.

Sarah walked into the bedroom. Phebe lay on the bed, under many layers of woolen blankets and furs, covered up to her chin.

Her face was beyond pale and gaunt. Her eyes were barely visible as closed in the hollow, shadowed caverns of her eye sockets. Sarah laid down next to her in the bed, embracing her. After a moment, CHAPTER 32

she stirred, opening her eyes to Sarah.

1665 - 1666

Phebe opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out but a rattle of breath.

"My dear Phebe, I'm here," Sarah said. She rose and dipped a cloth in the basin of water next to the bed. She dripped some water into Phebe's mouth.

Phebe then closed her eyes again for a long moment. She then opened them and said, "Sarah."

That fall, Phebe continued to decline. Her husband had

"I'm here," Sarah replied and laid down next to her again.

called a surgeon who tried bloodletting with no success. Her pulse After several minutes, Phebe made an effort to turn towards her.

was weak, she had a hard time eating or keeping anything down.

"Sarah..." She still struggled to speak but there was more At the beginning of December, Sarah convinced Teunis that clarity and determination. "Look after my children."

she had to go see Phebe. She'd had a terrible feeling time was of

"Of course, Phebe. Don't worry about that," Sarah said, the essence. Her nineteen year old son, Michael, agreed to take wanting badly to sob at the thought but steeling herself.

her in the wagon. She took Maria and the twins too.

"Let's think of pleasant times now. We had many," Sarah said It was not a pleasant day for travel. The road was rough trying to alleviate her friend's worry. "I wish we could be laying between Breuckelen and Midwout. The mud of November had in a field of strawberries on a clear, summer day like we used to frozen into a mess of hard ruts that were like bumping over as girls... Or we could go swimming in the creek, floating like endless tree roots, sending their wagon jerking and reeling. Sarah nothing mattered in the world..."

thought she might have to stop to purge her stomach, both from Phebe's eyes were squeezed closed, lines radiating from the worry and the jostling, but thankfully she held herself together.

corners of her eyelids, but the corners of her mouth were upturned One good thing was the twins slept fitfully through the whole in a small smile.

ride, held by Sarah and Maria.

"You looked so beautiful on your wedding day to Nys. You They arrived and her husband Jan welcomed them in. He radiated like a glowing ember... Motherhood only kept that ember looked tired, his eyes puffy and forlorn.

burning, reignited by each of your children... I don't know what

"How is she?" Sarah whispered.

I would have done without you after Hans died... Thank you for

"No better, sadly," Jan said.

insisting I meet Teunis. Being with you always rejuvenated me, 254   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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especially when I was at my wit's end  many times. I can't thank Teunis urged them to stay. He could use more boys on the you enough for that. "

farm and he'd had such brotherhood with their father that he felt She turned to Sarah, shaking as though sobbing, but there paternally obliged to them.

were no tears.

One night at dinner, they announced they'd like to stay, if it

"I love you," Phebe labored to say.

was all right with their step-father.

"I love you, too. Shhh, shhh," Sarah held her through the Having the additional mouths to feed was a small price to pay piles of blankets. "Don't worry, Phebe. You must be among the for the solace they gave Sarah in fulfilling her promise to her dear bless-ed, otherwise why would the Lord have made you such a friend. She couldn't mourn like she usually did, by lying in bed, blessing to your husbands, your children, and me?"

crying. In comforting and mothering Phebe and Nys' children, They lay there together in silence a long while. When she she couldn't allow herself to sink into the dark mire of grief.

realized Phebe was asleep she got up quietly. She knew the twins The liveliness of the household gave little room to be were probably hungry and they should start their journey back contemplative and gloomy. Her eight children and Phebe's four home. Her heart was heavy to leave her friend. What more could had grown up together and were used to the dynamic. It felt she do or say? It was cruel. She knew her friend would leave her exciting for the children, like a sleep-away night that never ended.

soon. She tried to focus on the blessing it was to have known her They had expanded their house with another room at the at all. An English girl and a French Walloon in a Dutch colony, beginning of last summer. Teunis had done so at the behest of an improbable but happiest of odd couples.

their elder children wanting more space and after Catalyna _____________________

told him Sarah would be having twins. He couldn't believe the fortuitous timing in that proactive building project now. Even About a week later the  aanspreeker  came to Sarah's door in his expanded, the house felt full to brimming.

black attire and crepe ribbons blowing in the snowy wind. She let him in to carry the news, even though she already knew.

Phebe had died._____________________

"You may stay here as long as you like," Sarah told the five youngest of Phebe and Nys' children when they came to stay with her after her burial. She took them in to give Jan time to grieve and form his own plans. He kept their two year old Jacob and his daughter Caryntje with him.

Elsje was 17 and had found a position as a nursemaid for a merchant family in the city. She would be leaving soon. Femmetje was 15 and had taken quite a shine to Sarah's son Michael, so she wanted to stay. That left Denys, Jan, and Cornelis who were 12, 11, and 8 respectively.

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morels. Sarah excitedly stuffed her basket, along with some young nettles the deer hadn't gotten. Teunis helped her in gathering the fiddleheads with his small utility knife. They still didn't speak as he motioned for them to continue onward.

She was  reminded of when she went hunting with Joris as a child. She forgot how much she enjoyed getting away from their settled village, cultivated fields, and gardens and into the natural world that was here before they were.

CHAPTER 33

They ascended the hillside, zig zagging back and forth up a 1667 - 1668

deer path that also served to sluice runoff when the snow melted.

It was dry now and easy to hike up. It was a steady incline though and Sarah's cheeks flushed.

Teunis looked back at her, checking if she was all right. She wordlessly answered him by dodging past him and racing him to the next serpentine cutback. She panted and caught her breath, smiling, as he caught up. He looked amused but resumed leading Sarah followed Teunis as he wound his way through the forest the way without stopping.

at the inland back of their property. She had brought a basket, Finally they came to a big rocky outcrop. He led her to the hoping they'd find some morels but all she seemed to spot were edge, facing the river, their land, and the trail they'd come up. It pine cones disguised as the ephemeral spring mushrooms.

was a sight Sarah had never seen. The Waale-bocht was visible, He had told her to follow him on a walk but not what the the Maspath Kill waterway running down beside them to the East destination was. They spoke little and walked softly enough that River, and Manhattan behind it. Sarah realized she'd seen this they came upon a doe and fawn in a clearing. They watched as rocky crest from afar but she'd never been atop it.

the deer lazily nibbled the forest floor, the fawn doddering along

"See this?" Teunis stood behind her, tracing an invisible after its mother's lead. Teunis had his gun but it wasn't the season, line with his finger around parts of the Waale-bocht, Bedford, especially for a doe with such young offspring. Fall was best for Bushwick, and Brooklyn. "That's officially ours, signed by deer hunting. The Natives would set fires to burn parts of the Governor Nicolls. You're married to one of seven Brooklyn forest in the fall to clear the underbrush and make hunting easier.

Patroons."

It enriched the soil for the next seasons as well. Their tactic was Sarah processed the information. The land had been Hans'

less common now as land was sold for farms and burnings were and hers. They'd had a patent for twenty years, that was nothing seen as a hazard and aggression to the settlements.

new. But now under English rule, it officially remained hers, The deer caught their scent and bounded off, their white and Teunis was given an honorific title of patroon. But was it tails raised like flags, merrily waving  adieu. Sarah and Teunis hers? The English didn't allow women to own property. So it was went to the clearing to see what they were eating. They found Teunis'? English inheritance went chiefly to the eldest son. She beheaded nettles but also untouched fiddlehead ferns and several and Teunis had all daughters, would the land inheritance go to 258   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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the eldest of Hans' sons?

him warily.

She looked out on the landscape and breathed deep. She New Netherland had officially been conceded by the United decided now wasn't the time to squabble over English law. This Provinces in the Treaty of Breda. In exchange, the Dutch kept was a remarkable view that Teunis had been so thoughtful to Suriname in South America, Fort Cormantin in Ghana, and Run show her.

in Indonesia. They'd traded their hold in North America for sugar She looked back at Teunis. He was immensely proud, gazing plantations, a way station for enslaved Africans, and an island full out. He had taken his hat off and his wavy brown hair was ruffled of nutmeg.

by the breeze. She smoothed it back for him and kissed him. She

"I understand why you worry," Teunis told her, "but the turned again to the expanse, with his arms wrapping around her.

English have been true to their word so far on letting the Dutch It did feel powerful to view their vast acreage from above.

keep our lands, laws, religion, and trade."

He pulled her closer and spun her around to lustfully kiss her.

"From what Phebe told me of their inflexible control in their Moments for intimacy were scarce with such a full household. He other colonies, I just can't believe they'll always continue such guided her to a seat-height boulder, sat down, and pulled her onto benevolence toward Dutch ways," Sarah said resolutely. "Also, his lap as they kissed. He undid his breeches and she pulled up her there's the land I bought in New Amsterdam, on Princes Graft, skirts. She kissed his neck as she looked out at the overwhelming after my father died. It's in my name."

vista. She never had so many pleasures combined.

"I'll see to it you retain the patent. Perhaps having that done They descended the trail with naughty grins few husbands will assuage your fears," Teunis offered. He said it kindly but it and wives can have after so many years and already having so irritated Sarah she couldn't deal with it herself.

many children. But they returned with the spoils of morels, _____________________

fiddleheads and foraged greens so no one suspected their cheer was for more than that.

Sarah's son Michael had come to her when she was alone out _____________________

in the kitchen garden, picking caterpillars off their cabbage.

" Maman," Michael said with his hat in his hands, looking Some time later, Sarah realized she was pregnant again. She bashful. Sarah looked up at her tall son. Was he blushing or was reveled in the thought of that moment she and Teunis experienced it sun on his cheeks from working in the fields? "I want to marry together would give them another child.

Femmetje and start our family and bouwery. I love her."

The concerns at the back of her mind about inheritance and Sarah was touched by the way he plainly spoke it. The name English law finally had an opportunity to be aired.

Femmetje was the Dutch version of Phebe and she was, in many

"I did take Hans' land as my own patent, as I take you as my ways, a Dutch version of her mother. She had the same almond own wife. I will also give freely of the land, come the time any of shaped face and perceptive brown eyes but she'd inherited Nys'

the children want their own plot. I don't know how long they will voluminous curls, as many of the Nyssen children had. Sarah allow Dutch wills to abide, but you should inherit all that is ours, was gladdened Michael wanted to stay in Breuckelen. His older if I were to pass before you. After we both pass, it should be split brother, Captain Jan, was still committed to sailing and not ready among all our children equally."

to settle down.

"I trust you, Teunis. I just don't trust the English," Sarah told

"Does Femmetje share your feelings?" Sarah asked.

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"Yes," He said quickly. "At least, I think so," He stammered her sons, and the Nyssen boys had hunted down the previous day.

after a moment. "I wanted your permission to ask her, since she She suddenly felt lightheaded. Sarah was practiced at butchering doesn't have her parents and you knew them best."

animals and had never been squeamish at the task. She sat down

"Yes, you should ask her. I'll speak to your  Pater. I'm sure he and then felt as if she needed to purge so she ran outside in the will be happy to give you some land and help you build a house,"

snow with little more than her chemise and apron on.

Sarah said smiling, excited by the idea.

Maria ran after her. Sarah was on all fours, purging into the

"I have my 20 morgens of land in Bedford that Stuyvesant snow. Maria wiped her mother's forehead and mouth with a allotted to  Pater, Aert, Jan and myself. I plan to make our home washrag. Sarah's hands, bloodied from butchering, left two red there and expand as we are able," Michael said firmly. He'd clearly prints in the snow. Maria helped wipe her hands clean and got thought this through quite a bit.

her mother back indoors. Sarah went to their bed to lie down. She

"Nys and Phebe would approve," She told him and then asked Maria to fetch Catalyna.

whispered, "I think Femmetje will too."

By the time Catalyna arrived, Sarah had been bleeding and _____________________

having birthing waves. She was surrounded by her daughters that, although young, knew the procedure. They'd placed extra Femmetje joyfully accepted Michael's proposal. Following linens and a fresh basin of boiled water by the bed. Catalyna was the harvest they were wed. Teunis had helped him build his a bit alarmed at the blood. It was unusual for Sarah to have blood house in Bedford, near Aert and Rebecca. It had been a very good so soon and the purging wasn't normal either. Sarah laying on harvest year and it boded well for the young couple.

her back in bed was also not like her. Catalyna pressed Sarah's Sarah's belly grew quite large by the time harvest was done.

stomach, feeling for the baby, and listened with her ear pressed to It was not as large as with the twins so she felt more at ease with Sarah's belly. She intuited the baby must be mispositioned.

it. She didn't try to prove her vigor so much but she stayed busy She let Sarah go through two more waves before she checked with tasks of preserving, pickling, and storing the harvest. She was between her legs. Catalyna felt a foot and her stomach dropped.

savoring the later stage of pregnancy, feeling the baby moving, She didn't say anything though.

wondering if it might be the final baby she'd carry. She thought Sarah was in a great deal of pain. Catalyna gave her the red something was a bit different this time. Her belly shape was lower, trillium tea she'd brought and had Maria make.

but that may have been a result of the twins stretching her womb.

It took many more waves that felt like an eternity. Once the She was also craving cheese and pickled vegetables, when with all hips came free, Catalyna commanded Sarah to make her final her girls she craved jam,  koekjes,  and sweets.

push, as she never had before. Finally, the shoulders and head _____________________

followed. Catalyna caught the baby. A boy.

He didn't cry.

On Saint Nicholas Day the children all received treats from Catalyna wiped his face and rubbed his spine. She sucked Sinterklaas. They now used stockings hung on the mantle since bloody mucus from his nose with her mouth, panicked and the number of clogs was too much of an obstacle to using the willing to do anything to make the baby live. Upon that action fireplace. Sarah was preparing a feast for dinner that evening.

the baby heaved a great breath and thrilling cry. The girls who She was skinning and eviscerating six pheasants that Teunis, stood silent with abated breath also let loose a loud cheer, rousing 262   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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Sarah from her collapsed, exhausted state. She semi-raised herself and saw Catalyna's face, exultant, smeared with blood, gazing fixated on the wailing baby.

"Sarah, you have a son," Catalyna said and placed the baby onto Sarah's bosom. "And a very large one at that!"

"Gysbert," Sarah whispered. They'd planned to follow Dutch naming conventions and call him by his grandfather's name.

"Gysbert, you are already proving to be a naughty boy, coming into the world rump first," Catalyna chided with a smile.

CHAPTER 34

_____________________

1671 - 1674

Teunis, having been a father seven times over now, still wondered at it every time. And now he had a son of his own flesh and blood. He didn't think he could revere Sarah more and yet this demanded it. And Catalyna. Without Catalyna both Gysbert and Sarah might have died.

They settled in for the winter, everyone's spirits were raised

"Sarah!" Teunis called after her as she ran toward the river.

by yet another baby birthed by the inimitable Sarah. She was the She was so infuriated that she didn't know what she was doing center of the world for the twelve of them living with her. She or where she was going. She reached the East River and saw that allowed herself to bask in their love and attention. She enjoyed her son Jacob had left their canoe half aground at the water's the full house she had. She realized, they would all be grown one edge after he went fishing that morning. Without thinking, she day and the house would be quiet.

scooped her skirts into the hull, heaved it deeper into the water, This was the best part of life, when exhausted and pushed to and jumped into it in one fluid motion. She was twenty feet from her limits, she was surrounded in love.

shore before she looked back and saw Teunis at the shoreline, holding the paddle.

She looked around the canoe, checking she didn't have anything with which to propel herself. The only other thing in the canoe was a fish net. She waved back to placate him.

No bother, she said to herself and took a deep breath.

This still fulfilled her purpose of escaping the conversation with Teunis. The canoe drifted out farther, still with momentum from her pushing off.

The sun was high, the breeze refreshing. Far ahead of her was Manhattan. Autumn had just started to turn the leaves a myriad of rich, warm tones. She watched the reflection of them dancing 264   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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in the water, becoming hypnotized by the distorting undulations.

"I know. It's not your fault. I am sorry I made you swim after She realized she would need to swim back. She decided that me," Sarah said quickly. "I needed a little time. I'm angry they would be delightful.

would bring up this debt 18 years later. And what in the Heavens She undressed to her linen chemise. She pulled a ribbon from was it for?"

her petticoat and tied it to the woven bow seat and tied the other

"778 guilders is quite a sum. I thought Hans was a fairly end into a slip knot, flipping it into the water. She tied her woolen successful man in his carpentry and crops," Teunis said, then shawl around her middle. She thought it might help her float looked directly in her eyes. "I don't know what things were like until sodden.

back then though," he said willing her to tell him.

She grabbed the slipknot, deeply inhaled, and slipped over.

In the 17 years they'd been married, Sarah hardly ever said The water was shocking cold, as she expected. She put the Hans' name aloud or anything from before Teunis' time in the slipknot around her wrist and thrust her body to the plane of colony, other than things about her children.

surface water. It was warmer and pleasant.

"Looking back, I guess he was secretive about business. He She floated and kicked her feet in small motions while she didn't discuss things, as we do," She sighed. "Times were difficult looked at the sky. She looked up to make sure she was going in after Kieft's War when we had to rebuild everything and had to the right direction. Teunis was taking off his boots. She kicked buy grain from Rensselaerswyck and rebuild our house. I could persistently, wanting to savor the swim but stop Teunis from make a hundred guesses and none might be true as to why he owed getting in the water.

the Company so much. It just seems dubious they ask for it now, She thought, "This exactly reflects the problem that drove me seven years after their control over the colony was relinquished.

to such folly. I don't want to be saved... or I want time to wallow He's dead I never saw a body. How can they collect on a dead in it before I can save myself... or I need to be saved."

man that the family never got to bury?"

She came to shallow shore. Teunis waded in, grabbing her

"Debts and death are the only reliable things in life, I up in his strong arms, as she relented her cold-numbed body suppose," Teunis said, "and it's never a good time for either."

and spirit to his warmth. Their children watched from afar until

"Can we pay in crops or  sewant?" Sarah asked.

Teunis yelled, "Children, secure the canoe!" As he slipped the

"They said guilders or beaver skins, but it's not the season loop off her wrist.

for obtaining pelts in a hurry. Not in that number," Teunis said

"All right, Teunis. Let's get ourselves dry, pour ourselves a thoughtfully.

drink, and we can speak on it," Sarah said in begrudging consent

"They'll accept  sewant. They must if they want to be paid,"

as he carried her in the house.

Sarah said, unconsciously spinning the beads on her  sewant Once they were in dry clothes, she sat down beside him at the bracelet. "I have a box of  sewant from the sale of our house on table and took up the wood mug of hot cider and rum.

Pearl Straat. Back then I think it was worth around 800 guilders."

"You're not supposed to blame the messenger," Teunis said, It pained her to empty the coffer of her children's inheritance, chiding her. "Why are you so beautiful, wet, and angry with me?"

but better that than they inherit debt.

He stroked her hair back and his compliment crushed her.

"It's all right, Sarah. We've been doing well the last few years.

She had wanted a moment alone. Now she was drawn to him like I've reinvested everything into our farm but there's certainly a moth to a candle.

things we could sell. Plus, the crops this season will make up for 266   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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it," Teunis said putting his arm around her.

opinions of the English. There were criticisms of his Majesty's

"I'm still angry about it though," Sarah said but leaned into decision to side with the French.

Teunis' embrace.

"France grows too strong," were the murmurs. "Parliament

"I'm not going to have to swim for you again, am I?" He will not continue to fund the King's endeavors."

asked her playfully.

_____________________

"No, next time I'll check there's an oar," She said, defiant, but grinning at him.

The sun was setting on what had been a blazing hot day _____________________

in early August 1673. Sarah and Teunis sat on their stoop after dinner, watching the sun's reflection of fiery brilliance on On October 13th, the court accepted payment of double the billowing blankets of clouds as it tucked in for the night.

guilder debt in  sewant. Commissioner Isaac Bedloe accepted the Michael came riding up on his horse in the hazy twilight.

sewant since the debt was not Teunis' own. Sarah had suggested

"Hallo Michael!" Teunis called out. "You just missed dinner."

maybe she should present herself to pay, as it had been her Sarah knew Michael went to New York that day. She'd hoped husband's debt, but Teunis reminded her that he must represent he brought news of Aert and Rebecca.

her in court. Also, as magistrate, he would likely gain respect in

"I'm not here for dinner but to share news." Michael said as appearing compliant.

he dismounted and joined them on the porch. The children that Sarah was assuaged that she didn't have to pay with her had been playing nine pins in the yard gathered around also.

stowed  sewant. Teunis insisted, as he'd taken Hans' wife and land,

"The Dutch fleet of 21 ships that were sighted off Staten he'd also take his debt.

Island a few days ago have come to retake New York for the _____________________

Dutch! Captain Anthony Colve sent a proclamation to assure us we will be unharmed if we agreed to submit again to the States The next summer there was news out of Europe that the General of the Netherlands," Michael said breathless, grinning French had attacked the Dutch Republic and King Charles II with the news.

of England was allying himself with King Louis XIV of France,

"What was Governor Lovelace's reply to that?" Teunis asked.

breaking the Treaty of Breda. The Dutch were referring to it as the

"He's out of the city, north in Albany," Michael replied. "The Rampjaar,  or Year of Disaster, because of how quickly the French Dutch have a force of 600 soldiers and Fort James has only 100, had overwhelmed them. All but the province of Holland had in any case. Captain John Manning is in charge of the fort and is been taken, including Teunis' hometown of Heykoop.

stalling, hoping more English troops will arrive."

This was particularly concerning because Aert and Rebecca Sarah laughed at the reversal of Nicolls' coup nearly a decade had returned to  Patria once again, before the war had begun.

ago. Teunis looked weary but with a small glint of glee in his eyes.

They'd gone to settle his father's estate and had taken their five

"They won't face resistance from me," Teunis said, leaning children. Sarah knew they'd planned an extended stay with Aert's back and stuffing his clay pipe.

brothers, but she anxiously awaited any ship which might bring

"I'm going back to town in the morning. I want to be there news on the war or a letter from her daughter.

to see the English surrender," Michael said, eyes wide with When Sarah went to the market in New York, she heard the anticipation and excitement.

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_____________________

The following March, a convention was held under Governor Colve as to the best interests of the colony. Teunis had attended as The next morning the fleet had drawn closer to Manhattan.

a delegate of Brooklyn.

A brief volley of cannon fire could be heard all the way on their

"Colve is as good a leader as Michael says," Teunis had told farm in Long Island. They went about the day as usual, waiting Sarah. "He's very diplomatic and open to the will of the people.

for any news.

It's the type of Dutch leadership we always seemed to lack before.

That evening Michael returned to share what transpired.

He has more of a mind to listen to the residents."

"The Dutch fleet drew close to the fort and fired. The fort's But then, of course, the winds shifted in Europe and shook guns fired back but neither did any damage because they were up everything again. Not even two months later, New Orange out of range," Michael began. "Then they sent a landing force heard news of the Peace of Westminster, a treaty in which New north of the city and they marched down Broadway to the fort.

Orange would be exchanged to the English again for Suriname.

All the citizens were cheering as they marched. I and many others

" Bof," Sarah said mildly annoyed. "What difference has it joined in marching with them. As we arrived at the fort, they made Dutch or English? The cows don't produce more milk, nor drew the white flag to signal their surrender. The English troops are the harvests any better, or the winter any shorter under one then marched out of the gate, flags flying and drums beating, and or the other."

laid down their arms in front of the fort."

Teunis looked disappointed, as he'd seen promise under

"Remarkable!" Teunis commented.

Colve's leadership, but he recognized Sarah's argument. He and

"Captain Colve is an inspiring leader. He treated Manning Sarah were both nearly 50 years old. Stability was more attractive honorably," Michael declared. "He's an Orangist, so he renamed than anything.

the city New Orange."

_____________________

Michael referred to those in  Patria who supported Willem III, Prince of Orange. He was the nephew of King Charles II.

Isaac had a cough for quite some time, which Sarina brushed Orangists wanted Willem III to become their  Stadtholder   and off, even though it sometimes made him miss court appearances.

leader. Many Protestants heralded Willem as a champion of their His decline was slow, almost imperceptible to those closest to faith, as he'd fought in wars against the Catholic French.

him. In August 1674, he had fallen asleep in his lounge chair

"Captain Colve put out a call for citizens to join his militia. I in the garden. When Sarina went to wake him for the midday volunteered," Michael said proudly.

meal, he would not rouse. She called for their servants to fetch the

"Well done," Teunis said. "He should be happy to have such physician. He claimed there was nothing he could do.

a capable son of New Netherland join him."

The  aanspreeker made rounds to invite families to the funeral, Sarah was less enthusiastic at Michael's zeal for service. The which would be a grand one. Church bells rang,  doodkoecken English would likely try to counter the recapture of their city at sweet cakes with caraway seeds were laid out, and stuffed tobacco some point. She thought of Femmetje at home with their baby pipes were sprinkled throughout their large home for guests.

Rachel. She stayed silent on it for the moment though.

Sarah attended with Teunis. She wept for Isaac. He was a _____________________

good man. She embraced Sarina and could say little.

"I will not remarry," Sarina whispered to Sarah, her face 270   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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resolute in abject grief.

Sarah knew what she meant and felt hurt by it. Sarina was wealthy enough not to need to remarry. Sarah wanted to tell her, there's need but there's also love wrought of circumstance.

She'd been ashamed of her need to remarry but it brought her such love and companionship. She now understood she would have withered as a widow. Sarah knew their circumstances were different though, and did not reply.

CHAPTER 35

1675 - 1685

"I have a surprise," Teunis told Sarah, mischievous and giddy as a child. "I can't hide it from you. Come with me."

Sarah's eyes lit up, and with a restrained smile usually reserved for her children, she followed him out to their storehouse. When he got to the door he bade her to wait a minute before coming in. She waited, dutiful but impatient, until she heard him rap on the wall.

She entered to see Teunis seated with a beautiful violoncello.

As she entered he drew the bow across the strings and a deep sonorous timbre struck Sarah to her core. He played a short melody, soft and deeply moving. Although not done perfectly, Sarah was astounded. She had tears in her eyes. He placed it in a little cloth-padded cradle box made of wood that allowed it to stand upright next to him.

"That was beautiful! What in the Heavens, Teunis? You play the cello?" She exclaimed walking over to examine the finely made imported instrument.

"Not very well. My father played and I learned a little as a child. I told Aert I wanted one, when he left for  Patria again. He's 272   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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staying longer so he sent it ahead. I want to play for the wedding to tell you though, since I'll need to sneak off a few times a week celebrations this summer."

to the city to practice."

They'd been planning a joint wedding for two of their

"Thank you for telling me. I'll cover for you, don't worry,"

daughters. Maria was marrying a man named Jacob Rutsen.

She looked him in the eyes and winked.

He was born in Albany but his father, Rutgers, was "from near _____________________

Heykoop." Their daughter Catalyntje was betrothed to Phebe and Nys' son, Jan. Again, not from Heykoop, but his father was. Sarah That July, the two couples were married at the Dutch was so overcome with happiness, not only with the weddings of Reformed Church in Flatbush in a small ceremony with Sarah, her children, but this new dimension of her husband.

Teunis, and Jacob Rutsens' parents. Afterward, they returned to

"Teunis, I can't believe you never told me you were a the Waale-bocht, where celebrations would be held.

musician! All this time, I thought I married a planter." They were It was an enormous affair. Sarah had coordinated with their both almost 50 years old and had been married to each other neighbors and the Waale-bocht had been turned into a village-nearly half their lives. She teased him but she still had tears in her wide party. Everyone brought their tables outside, lined up, eyes as she looked over the sensuous form of the instrument. He to create a grand banquet. The feast ranged from sea to forest, was silent and she glanced at him. He had tears in his eyes too.

providing anything one would want to eat. Pig, venison, goose,

"It's not the most practical thing when you need to survive and fish were spit roasted. Sarah set up a  koolsa contest among the off the land," He shut his eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of huisvrouwen. Whichever housewife had the least  koolsa left at the his nose. She went to him and put her arms around him. After a end of the night, reigned queen, but also had to share her recipe.

moment, eyes still closed, he continued, "My father would play Casks of beer, wine, rum, and brandy were tapped and flowing.

sometimes with my mother singing an accompaniment. They're As the sun was setting and everyone had eaten, torches were some of my happiest childhood memories. I suppose that's why lit, and the musicians appeared.  Kandeel was brought out for a it's difficult to pick it up again."

special toast from the father of the brides, much like Joris had at

"I wish I met your parents. Such an extraordinary man must Sarah's wedding.

have had extraordinary parents," She said, flipping what he'd said

"To my daughters, whom I love with my whole heart, and when he asked to meet her children two decades ago. He buried to my new son-in-laws, whom I welcome with my whole heart, his face into her neck. She could feel his wet cheeks and choked let us toast to your future. May your roof be tiled with tarts. May breathing and decided to lighten the mood. "Legend is, my father you multiply like the rabbits of Coney Island. May your love be was a drummer for the Company for one day, but he was asked burnished with age to shine bright. May you never think you're not to return."

too old to learn new songs.  Proost!"  Teunis quickly downed his Teunis laughed. "I thought Joris was good at everything!"

kandeel and joined the band at his waiting cello. "Let's dance!"

"So he liked us all to believe," Sarah quipped. "But how are Sarah watched with delight when her daughters' jaws dropped you going to practice without the girls learning your secret talent seeing their father at the cello joining in on a jaunty dance song.

before the wedding?"

Sarah took them by the hand to shake them out of their shock

"I found some other musicians for the wedding. They agreed and pull them out of their stupor to dance.

I can leave my instrument in the space where we'll rehearse. I had Catalyna won the title of queen of  koolsa. Her secret was 274   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

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adding a small amount of finely diced dill and fennel.

wedding dresses and turned her into a princess for a day.

_____________________

They took the ferry and then waited in the hot sun for the passengers to disembark. Catalyna knew Cornelia immediately Captain Jan married Jannetje, Phebe's daughter the following when she saw her.

year, in 1676. The next year, Jacob married Elsje Lubertszn and

"Cornelia,  ma chérie, you are a walking vision of your Grand-Aertje married Theodorus Polhemus, son of Flatbush's elderly mère," Catalyna said kissing her cheeks. Catalyna was made dizzy Domine who passed away the year before. In 1678, Joris married by the likeness. She looked so strikingly similar to Marie, with her Sarah Strycker, daughter of a prominent merchant family.

heart-shaped face, full cheeks, large blue eyes, and dark golden Thus, their children were wed year by year, for several hair. She was fashionably dressed, though obviously travel-worn consecutive years. The first being such a success, neighbors from the journey.

gleefully contributed to the party until it became a standing Her husband, Arnoldus, was quite a character. He dressed like tradition to have an annual village party, marriages or not.

a lavish dandy, an excess of lace and trim on his collar and cuffs Years became a blur of the ordinary, cyclical work on the and an enormous yellow plumage atop his fine castor hat. His farm, punctuated by celebrations. Sarah found herself the social brown hair was worn long and curled, as the French and English director of Brooklyn, as she found such joy in finding excuses royals had made  de rigueur for the upper classes. His demeanor to gather people together. She helped organize her fellow surprised Sarah though. He was warm and spoke animatedly, if Brooklynite's weddings as well. She and Teunis were sponsors a little overly enthusiastic, with his pleasure in meeting Catalyna to their grandchildren's baptisms. Their family and community and Sarah. They showed the fashionable pair around town and grew and prospered, keeping their Dutch traditions.

helped them settle in at Cat's Wheel.

_____________________

The thing that surprised them most about Arnoldus came to light later, after they'd been settled in New York for a time. He In the spring of 1678, Catalyna asked Sarah to accompany was quite zealous about two Labadists who'd come as envoys to her to the docks of New Amsterdam.

purchase land for a commune dedicated to their religious sect.

"We must go greet my grand-niece, Cornelia. Her ship's

"The Labadists exalt the arts, learning, craftsmanship, and arrived this morning," Catalyna told her.

medicine. We knew them in Amsterdam as the most cultured

"I have a cousin in New Amsterdam?" Sarah asked, surprised.

commune of Protestants," Arnoldus explained. Sarah had

"Yes, she's Marie's grand-daughter. She's come with her heard from Cornelia they also believed worldly vanities were husband, Arnoldus de la Grange," Catalyna explained.

to be eschewed and personal wealth shared in the community Catalyna's half sister, Marie, had died several years earlier.

brotherhood. Sarah wondered if he was so eager to eschew and Catalyna had lamented the last time she saw her was at her and share his wealth of  fine clothes.

Joris' wedding, four days before they set sail for New Netherland.

One fine summer day, Arnoldus brought the Labadists, Jasper The only other mentions Sarah could remember of Marie and her Danckaerts and Peter Schlüter to meet Catalyna at the Waale-husband Philippe were the shipments of fine fabrics they used bocht. They were two mild mannered men, modest and pious in to receive. She'd thought fondly of her aunt. She was a magical, appearance. She sensed their chaffing at Arnoldus' frivolity and benevolent woman who provided her with fine fabrics for her hyperbole, though he seemed not to notice.

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"We are but humble servants for our church, surveying the Then we came to live here, where you find me now. May I show environs and people we meet," Danckaerts explained. "We were you my garden?"

told you are the 'Mother of New York' having been among the That evening Danckaerts wrote of Catalyna in his journal: first settlers. We wondered if we might hear your story."

"She is worldly-minded, living with her whole heart, as well Catalyna felt pride swell inside her that made her 74 year old as body, among her progeny, which is now 145 and will soon bones sit up a little taller. She agreed and told a very abridged reach 150. Nevertheless, she lives alone by herself, a little apart version of her life. The Labadists sat enchanted, as well as Sarah from the others, having her little garden and other conveniences, and Arnoldus, who had heard much of the story already.

with which she helps herself."

"My husband and I were Walloon refugees living in Leiden It was the first of several depositions recorded from the when Jessé De Forest spoke at our church. He called for matriarch, preserving her recollections of the early days of the adventurous souls to found a Walloon colony in the New World.

colony, as she was the eldest surviving  émigrée to tell it.

Both our families had been persecuted by the Spanish and we'd _____________________

been orphaned by pestilence when we were mere babies. We knew hardship and weren't afraid. We were married just days before In early January of 1685 a curious omen appeared. Teunis our ship left Amsterdam. Captain Adrian Tienpont married four noticed it on a bright, wintry afternoon. In the southwestern sky, more couples at sea. Around eighteen families settled in what's a little above the sun, was an emanation of light smaller than now Albany. We made dugout bark huts to live in and built the the sun but greater than a star. It was truly odd to behold in the stockade of Fort Orange. Many tribes of Indians came and made daytime. That evening the sky clouded over and it was lost.

covenants of friendship," Catalyna spoke clearly and animated The following evening at twilight it could be seen again in the but her eyes were glazed as if seeing those early days.

west. Sarah and Teunis sat wrapped in a blanket on their stoop, Sarah interrupted to serve coffee—a new beverage made from gazing at it. At night it had a great streamer following it as it exotic, roasted beans—to Catalyna and their guests. She wanted stretched across the sky, looking frozen in imperceptible motion.

to give her mother an excuse to rest a moment. Sarah saw how Some called it the Dreadful Comet, certainly threatening recalling these memories both enlivened and drained her.

God's vengeance and judgments. Sarah thought it was beautiful.

"The Mahicans, Mohawks, and other tribes of the She thought there couldn't be anything dreadful about a light Haudenosaunee Confederation brought great gifts of beaver appearing in the darkest months of the year. It seemed hopeful to and other peltry and desired that they might come and have a her. She thought of how some Natives believed the spirits of the constant free trade with us. We exchanged gifts and their nations'

dead travel across the sky to the west, with the setting sun.

representatives came daily with great multitudes of beaver pelts.

"What happens to it after it dips beyond the horizon?" She We lived there almost three years and the Natives were quiet as asked Teunis.

lambs and came and traded with all the freedom imaginable. I He considered a moment.

learned a great deal of plant medicines from the Mahican matron

"Its radiance persists, even if we no longer see it."

called Nkik and they taught us to plant maize, beans, and squash.

In 1626, Director Minuit directed us to congregate to New York.

We lived on the south side of the fort for about twenty years.

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SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   279

Some of her progeny would stay in New York City for generations. Some would continue to be frontiersmen and women. Moving west, first to New Jersey, then western New York state, the Midwest, the Pacific, some would settle in Canada.

They took their customs and traditions with them.

AFTERWARD

Sarah died September 16, 1685 with scant detail in records.

She had lived 60 years toiling through the hard labor of frontier woman: working in the fields and kitchen, birthing and raising her children. She had 17 children over 28 years, including two sets of twins, 14 of her children lived to adulthood. This is the strongest evidence of her fortitude and success for the time. Many lost more children and died younger than her from such a life.

Catalyna outlived her eldest daughter by four years. She gave several testimonies in her golden years which crucially served in lieu of existing records of the first settlers.

Catalyna and Joris had 12 children—11 of which lived to adulthood—and Rapalje descendants are estimated to number around one million Americans today. Catalyna's descendants include railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, and CNN celebrity newsman Anderson Cooper. Sarah's descendants include most famously the actor Humphrey Bogaert, NBC news anchor and journalist Tom Brokaw, Olympic figure skater Irving Brokaw, politicians, artists, and many salt-of-the-earth farmers.

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SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   281

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

GLOSSARY

I owe a great deal of gratitude to the New Netherlands Institute and Abécédaire- French- alphabet tablet used for teaching Charles Gehring for spearheading the translation of twelve thousand Bedstee- Dutch- a cupboard-like box bed pages of Dutch-language administrative records. The court records Boratweeker- Dutch- wool worker

that informed the framework of this book came from their on-going, Bouwery- Dutch- large farm

immense contribution of translation. Books by historical authors Russell Burgomaster- Dutch- mayor, chief magistrate, or executive of a city or town Domine- Dutch from Latin- priest, reverend, or minister of the Dutch Shorto and Jaap Jacobs are at the top of my list of indispensable histories Reformed Church

of the period.

Jonkheer- Dutch- young lord

Ma petite puce- French- my little flea; term of endearment My thanks to the people who personally broadened and enriched my Meisje- Dutch- little girl

research: historical podcaster Chance Kelly, historical fiction author Mevrouw- Dutch- Madam

Bill Greer, historian Bertrand Van Ruymbeke, genealogist and historian Mijn schatje- Dutch- my treasure

Sandra Robinson, the staff of the Wyckoff House Museum, and historical Mit kvin mit alt- Norwegian- my woman my everything fiction author Lana Waite Holden.

Morgan- Dutch- unit of land measurement that is equal to about two acres (0.8 hectares)

Nitap- Algonquin- Friend

Acknowledgment is due to the many Native tribes who inhabited (and Passement- French- Passementerie worked in linen thread is the origin of whose living descendants are still connected to) their ancestral lands that bobbin lace and passement is an early French word for lace the Dutch colonized, broadly the Algonquin and Haudenosaunee. The Patria- Latin- the Fatherland (United Provinces of the Netherlands) myth of Manhattan being sold for $26 worth of goods is inaccurate Patroon- Dutch- a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land and not accepted by contemporary descendants. It was an exploitive, Pays-Bas- French- the low countries (northern France, Belgium, Netherlands, European interpretation of a deal to peacefully share the land and trade, and Lichtenstein)

with gifts of goodwill, not payment.

Sachem- Native American- chief

Sappan- Native American- corn porridge If you'd like to learn more, please see a list of references used and related Schepen- Dutch- a municipal court official, analogous to an English alderman or town councilor

works at the end of this book.

Schout- Dutch- a local official appointed to carry out administrative, law enforcement and prosecutorial tasks, similar to a modern district attorney Sewant- Dutch- beads made of shell that served importance to Natives (English- wampum)

Travois- French- improvised triangular sled Waale-bocht- Dutch- Walloon's bay; curve in the river Wilden- Dutch- wild people or savages Vly- Dutch- valley where water collects; swamp Ziekentrooster- Dutch- comforter of the sick 282   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

SALT PEOPLE OF THE CLOUD HOUSES   283

Sons, 1902.

REFERENCES

Jacobs, Jaap.  The Colony of New Netherland: A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth-Century America.  New York: Cornell University Press, 2009.

Panetta, Roger.  Dutch New York; The Roots of Hudson Valley Culture.  Hudson River Museum and Fordham University Press: 2009.

Bergen, Teunis Garret.  The Bergen family, or, the descendants of Hans Hansen Bergen, one of the early settlers of New York and Brooklyn.  Albany, NY: J.

Riker, James.  Revised History of Harlem (city of New York); Its origin and early Munsell, 1876.

annals.  New York: New Harlem Publishing Company, 1904.

Bogart, John Albert.  The Bogart Family; Tunis Gybert Bogaert And His Romney, Susanah Shaw.  New Netherland Connections; Intimate Networks Descendants.  Scranton, PA: The Haddon Craftsmen, Inc., 1959.

and Atlantic Ties in Seventeenth-Century America.  Omohundro Institute and University of North Carolina Press, 2014.

Fabend, Firth Haring.  New Netherland in a Nutshell; A Concise History of the Dutch Colony in North America.  Albany: New Netherland Institute, 2012.

Shepherd, William R.  The Story of New Amsterdam 1613-1675.  New York, 1917.

Fernow, Berthold, 1837-1908, ed; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880.  The records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674 Anno Domini.  New Shorto, Russel.  The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch York: Pub. under the authority of the city by the Knickerbocker Press, 1897.

Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America.  New York: Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc., 2004.

Fernow, Berthold, 1837-1908, ed; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880.  Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, Jan. 8, 1664 to Stiles, Henry Reed.  A History of the City of Brooklyn; The Old Town and Village May 1, 1666, Inclusive.  New York: Pub. under the authority of the city by the of Brooklyn, The Town of Bushwick, and The Village and City of Williamsburgh, Knickerbocker Press, 1897.

Volume I.  Brooklyn, NY: Published by Subscription, 1867.

Finegan, Thomas E.  Colonial Schools and Colleges in New York.  Cornell Stiles, Henry Reed.  A History of the Town of Bushwick, Kings County, N.Y. and University Press, 1917.

of the town, village, and city of Williamsburgh, Kings County, N.Y, Volume II.

Brooklyn, NY, 1884.

Foster, Thomas A.  Women in Early America.  New York and London: New York University Press, 2015.

Tunis, Edwin.  Colonial Craftsmen; And the Beginnings of American Industry.

Baltimore and London: The John Hopkins University Press, 1965.

Green, Lucy Garrison.  The De Forests and the Walloon Founding of New Amsterdam.  Gilliss Press, 1924.

Vanderbilt, Gertrude Lefferts.  The Social History Of Flatbush: And Manners And Customs Of The Dutch Settlers In Kings County.  New York: D. Appleton and Griffis, William Elliot.  The Story of New Netherland.  Boston and New York: Company, 1899.

Houghton Mifflin Company, The Riverside Press Cambridge, 1909.

Van der Donck, Adriaen.  A Description of New Netherland.  Lincoln and Hastings, Hugh.  Ecclesiastical Records; State of New York, Volume II.  Albany: London: University of Nebraska Press, 2008.

James B. Lyon, State Printer,  1901.

Van der Linde, A. P. G. Jos. (ed., trans.)  New York Historical Manuscripts: Innes, John H.  New Amsterdam and Its People; Studies, Social and Topographical, Dutch. Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York. First Book of of the Town Under Dutch and Early English Rule.  New York: Charles Scribner's Records, 1660-1752.  Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1983.

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Based on the real life of an inaugural American woman Van Ruymbeke, Bertrand and Randy J. Sparks. (ed.)  Memory and Identity: The determined to not only survive, but thrive, in the days when Huguenots in France and the Atlantic Diaspora.  South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 2008.

Manhattan was wilderness.

Van Ruymbeke, Bertrand. "The Walloon and Huguenot Elements in New She forms a chosen family of Dutch, Norwegian, English, Netherland and Seventeenth-Century New York: Identity, History, and Native American, and African backgrounds, exemplifying the Memory." In: Goodfriend, Joyce D. (ed.),  Revisiting New Netherland: earliest days of New York as a melting pot of cultures.

Perspectives on Early Dutch America, 41-56. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2005.

Watson, John F.  Annals And Occurrences of New York City and State, In the While most are familiar with the tale of the English Pilgrims arrival Olden Time; Being a Collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes, and Incidents Concerning in America, they weren't the only founders. Welcome to the fascinating the City, Country, and Inhabitants From the Days of the Founders.  Philadelphia, yet overlooked Dutch colony of New Netherland, settled in 1624.

PA: Henry F. Anners, Chestnut Street, 1846.

The Dutch fur trade, centered around the Manhattan port outpost Zabriskie, George Olin. "The Founding Families of New Netherland, No.

of New Amsterdam, promised wondrous riches extracted from the awe-4-- The Rapalje-Rapelje Family." In:  de Halve Maen 46 (January 1972), 7-8, inspiring Hudson River Valley. It was a place of beauty and abundance, 16, 47 (April 1972), 11-13; 47 (July 1972), 11-14.

where women received more education and economic freedom than anywhere else in the world at that time.

Sarah Rapalje is the firstborn daughter of the budding colony and her lifetime encapsulates the evocative, tumultuous beginning of New Amsterdam and early New York. Sarah's unbridled spirit and resilience are tested by upheavals of war, while navigating love and destruction amid shifting allegiances. Will she endure the dangers of predators, deprivation, disease, and war to grow her family and provide a more secure future?

It's a coming-of-age story for a frontier woman, but also for the city that would become New York.

Fawn Brokaw Doyle brings to life the earliest conceptions of the American dream and Manhattan as a cultural melting pot in an absorbing period fiction with the colorful characters of the era. Based on archival records of Sarah Rapalje, a faithful portrayal is rendered of a woman who lived four centuries ago, revitalized for a modern reader.

If you liked Russel Shorto's Island at the Center of the World, Edward Rutherfurd's New York, The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman, Tracy Chevalier's Girl With a Pearl Earring, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, or Willa Cather's My Ántonia then the rich historical context mixed with the timeless woes and joys of a Dutch colonial woman's life will envelope you in a fascinating blind-spot of American history.

286   FAWN BROKAW DOYLE

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35