Document: Deposition of Catilyn Trico

Holding Institution
Document ID
NYSA_A1894-78_V035_182
Description

Deposition of Catilyn Trico, of Brooklyn, in relation to the first settlement at Albany, Hartford and the Delaware. The document describes early exploration, settlement, and relations with Indians.

Document Date
1688-10-17
Document Date (Date Type)
1688-10-17
Document Type
Document Type Unlinked
Deposition
Full Resolution Image

 

 

Translation
Translation

“Catelyn Trico aged about 83 years born in Paris doth Testify and Declare that in the year 1623 she came into this Country with a ship called the Unity whereof was Commander Arien Jorise belonging to the  West India Company being ye first Ship that  came here for ye said Company; as soon as they came to Mannatans now called New York they sent Two families & Six men to harford River & Two families & 8 men to Delaware River and 8 men they left at New York to take Possession and the Rest of the Passengers went with  the ship up as far as Albany which they then called fort Orangie. When as the  ship came as far as Sopus which is 1/2 way to Albanie; they lightned the Ship with some boats that  were left there by the Dutch that had been there the year before a tradeing with the Indians upont there oune accompts & gone back again to Holland & so brought the vessel up; there were about 18 families aboard who settled themselves att Albany & made a small fort; and as soon as they had built themselves some hutts of Bark: the Mahikanders or River Indians the  Maquase: Oneydes: Onnondages Cayougas, & Sinnekes, with the Mahawawa or Ottawawaes Indians came & made Covenants of friendship with the said Arien Jorise there Commander Bringing him great Presents of Bever or other Peltry & desyred that they might come & have a Constant free Trade with them which was concluded upon & the said nations came dayly with great multidus of Beaver & traded them with the Christians, there said Comman Arien Jorise staid with them all winter and sent his sonne home with the ship ; the said Deponent lived in Albany three years all which time the said Indians were all as quiet as Lambs & came & Traded with all ye freedom Imaginable, in the year 1626 the Deponent came from Albany & settled at New York where she lived afterwards for many years and then came to Long Island where she now lives.

“The said Catelyn Trico made oath of the said Deposition before me at her house on Long Island in the Wale Bought this 17th day of October 1688. “William Morris,

“Justice of the peace.”

Catelyn Trico aged about 83 years born in Paris doth testify and declare that in the year 1623 she came into the country with a ship called the Unity whereof was Commander Arien Jorise belonging to the West India Company being the first ship that came here for the said Company; as soon as they came to Manhattan now called New York they sent two families and six men to Hartford River and two families and eight men to Delaware River and eight men they left at New York to take possession and the rest of the passengers went with the ship as far as Albany which they then called Fort Or

When as the ship came as far as Sopus which is halfway to Albany; they lightened the ship with some boats that were left there by the Dutch that had been there the year before trading with the Indians upon their own accompts and gone back again to Holland and so brought the vessel up;

there were about eighteen families aboard who settled themselves at Albany and made a small fort; and as soon as they had built themselves some huts of bark.

The Mahikanders or River Indians, the Maquase,Oneydes, Onnondages, Cayugas, and Sinnekes, with the Mahawawa or Ottawawaes Indians came and made covenants of friendship with the said Adrien Jorise there Commander bringing him great presents of beaver or otter peltry and desired that they might come and have a constant free trade with them which was concluded upon and the said nations came daily with great multitudes of beaver and traded with the Christians,

There said Commander Arien Jorise stayed with them all winter and sent his son home with the ship;

the said deponent lived in Albany three years all which time the said Indians were all as quiet as lambs and came and traded with all the freedom imaginable, in the year 1626 the deponent came from Albany and settled at New York where she lived afterwards for many years and then came to Long Island where she now lives.

The said Catelyn Trico made oath of the

Said deposition before me at her house

On Long Island in the Wale Bought

This 17th day of October 1688

WILLIAM MORRIS

Justice of the peace

 

 

References

A documentary history of het (the) Nederdeutsche gemeente, Dutch congregation, of Oyster Bay, Queens County, Island of Nassau, now Long Island, published 1902

by Stoutenburgh, Henry Augustus, 1842-1919
Location
From Party 1
Document Location