Indian slavery in colonial times within the present limits of the United StatesLauber, Almon Wheeler
History
Indian slavery in colonial times within the present limits of the United States
Lauber, Almon Wheeler
Indians of North America; Indians, Treatment of -- United States; Slavery -- United States; Thesis (Ph. D.)
The records of New Netherland contain accounts of manumission in that
colony of slaves called Spaniards and bearing Spanish names. Whether
these individuals were Spanish Indians, or negroes from the Spanish
Islands, is not specified in the records. One such person received
his freedom in 1645, by payment of 300 carolus guilders. O’Callaghan,
_Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of
State, Albany, New York_, pt. i, p. 45. Another received his freedom in
1646, in return for his long and faithful services. O’Callaghan, _op.
cit._, pt. i, p. 105. Two others, slaves in the Company’s service, were
freed in 1664. O’Callaghan, _op. cit._, pt. i, p. 264. Still others,
belonging presumably to individual owners, received freedom in this
same year. O’Callaghan, _op. cit._, pt. i, p. 269.
Two incidents of enslavement of Indians in New Netherland are
noteworthy, even if the individuals concerned were subsequently
sent out of the colony. The first instance occurred in 1644, in
connection with the Indian troubles of that time. At the close of the
difficulties, some of the Indian prisoners were sent by Governor Kieft
to the Bermudas “as a present to the English governor.” Still others
were given to the “oldest and most experienced soldiers,” who, at that
time, were allowed to go to Holland. Brodhead, _History of the State of
New York_, revised edition, i, p. 396; _New York Colonial Documents_,
i, p. 215; Van Rensselaer, _op. cit._, i, p. 235. The second instance
was connected with the Esopus Indians. On May 25, 1660, a resolution
was taken in the council to transport to Curaçao all but two or three
of the lately acquired Esopus Indians, “to be employed there, or at
Buenaire, with the negroes in the Company’s service.” Brodhead, _op.
cit._, revised edition, i, p. 676; O’Callaghan, _Calendar of Historical
Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State in Albany_, pt.
i, p. 295. On June 29th, Stuyvesant issued an order, and arranged for
their passage. O’Callaghan, _op. cit_., pt. i, p. 214. O’Callaghan,
_History of New Netherland_, etc., ii, p. 420, gives the number
transported as eleven. Schoonmaker, _The History of Kingston_, p. 16,
states it as twenty. Those retained in the colony on this occasion were
not enslaved, but were to be punished “as might be thought proper or as
necessity might demand.” Schoonmaker, _op. cit._, p. 16. The relations
with the Iroquois had prevented any serious Indian wars in the colony,
and because of this relation Stuyvesant’s act was considered highly
impolitic. His course, which was perhaps patterned after the action
of the English following the Pequot War, he sought to justify in his
declaration that “their enlargement would have a tendency to create
disaffection toward our nation. Our barbarian neighbors would glory,
as if they had inspired us with terror.” Schoonmaker, _op. cit._, p.
16. In 1661 these Indians were recalled from slavery. O’Callaghan,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account