A young, recently unemployed lawyer walked into town. News traveled fast in the small colony. Adriaen must have been well aware of the troubles between the Governor and the colonists. In October 1643, Adriaen attended a clandestine meeting of the activists . They had learned to go underground after Governor Kieft started to arrest opponents at will. Adriaen was tickled with the prospect of taking on this interesting case.
The colony was subject to a glaring conflict of interest. While it was a part of the Netherlands and subject to Dutch law, it was also the property of a large commercial concern, the DWIC. This marriage of interests was concentrated in the office of Governor, who was also the company’s Director for North America. The conflict of interest extended all the way to the Republic. Many representatives in the States General, or their clients, also held financial interests in the company. Furthermore, the company had been brought to life by that same States General. The Republic’s government had no court of law in which to bring the case against either the company or the States General. In fact, the States General had appointed itself as the appropriate court of national and international law. The Republic was a confederation in which the States were responsible for their own legal affairs. Everything regarding their union was handled by the States General.
The meeting produced a sharply worded petition that outlined Governor Kieft’s dictatorial behavior and policy failings. The document was smuggled out of the colony and taken to the DWIC directors in Amsterdam. Unaware of the petition, Kieft now insisted that the Long Island settlers return to their land. With his usual directness, Francis Doughty told Kieft that if he thought it was safe he should camp out there himself . Equally hot-headed, the Governor rescinded the land grant at Mespacht and had the minister locked up for a day.
On another front, the Governor did understand that he needed a better relationship with the native tribes. When a conflict broke out between colonists and natives near Fort Orange, he knew just the person to help. A group of soldiers accompanied Governor Kieft, a councilmember from New Amsterdam, and advisor Adriaen van der Donck on their journey north to Fort Orange near Rensselaerswyck. Kieft did not know of Adriaen’s involvement with the angry colonists and the lawyer was not about to enlighten him. The mission was in the interest of all parties. After some difficulties due to Kieft’s unpreparedness, Adriaen managed the negotiations to a good conclusion. The Governor was grateful and so were the colonists.
In June 1645 Francis Doughty was suing a man for singing a slanderous song about his daughter Mary . It so happened that Adriaen was in court that day, too. Perhaps he was Francis’s lawyer. In the small community, it is hard to imagine this would have been the first meeting between Adriaen and Mary. A romance developed. In July that year Kieft’s gratitude towards Adriaen materialized in the form of a large land grant adjacent to Manhattan. With Francis as one of the signatories, a peace with the native tribes was concluded in August. Adriaen and Mary wasted no time. They married in October, started the development of their land, and moved there permanently in 1646 .
Today only the name Yonkers remains. It was derived from the Dutch title Jonkheer, meaning young lord, by which Adriaen was known. All was well except that in England, Cromwell had defeated King Charles and that all the British colonies were in turmoil. At the same time, the colonists of New Netherlands intensified their opposition to the DWIC and their director, Kieft. Behind the scenes, Adriaen had helped the opposition. The colonists understood that it had been van der Donck who had brought peace with the natives. Furthermore, they found that, with the lawyer a wealthy and important man, they were well positioned to carry the fight for a free land all the way to the Republic’s government, the States General.
As a result of their petitions, Kieft was recalled. Finally, in 1647, he awaited the ship that brought his replacement and that would take him back to Holland. The mood in town was festive.
(To be continued)
Excerpt from MANY HEADS AND MANY HANDS, James Madison's Search for a More Perfect Union.
Mau VanDuren
http://www.governance4us.com/...