Life in the New World for Philippe and Susanna

Philippe, Susanna (his second wife) and their children, almost certainly sailed to America aboard the ship The New Netherland. The family left for colony known as the New Netherlands on March 30, 1624 and arrived in May or June (1624).

You can read more about the early colony on this Library Of Congress page.

In 1638 Philippe was appointed to be a sheriff (known as the time as court messengers). In an early colony such as this one, his duties would be varied, in demand, and dangerous. According to official records, relations with the indians in the region were strained. For example, in 1643, Indians destroyed most of the bouweries on Manhattan Island, and two on Statten Island. They killed cattle, to reduce the amount of food, and the people who lived there. Then, in 1652, four people in Manhattan were murdered by indians. The next year, three more were murdered on Staten Island.

Philippe died during this period of unrest. Some records imply that he was almost certainly killed, along with his son and namesake, by Indians. Note: Alhough this son shared his name, he was from our ancestor's first marriage, to Jacqueline Noirett.

Philippe's family and friends had to endure continued violence until, on September 15, 1655, a pivitol confrontation occurred. An Indian was killed in New Amsterdam for stealing fruit from an orchard. In retaliation, a large war party of Indians responded, terrifying the occupants of New Amsterdam. A response was delayed, as nearly all the Dutch soldiers were engaged in a conflict with the Swedes. The Indians, sensing their opportunity, crossed the Hudson and burned the Dutch bouweries and plantations, killing or capturing anyone who had not fled. They then moved down Bergen Neck and over to Staten Island, which was also devastated. The following account describes the aftermath:

' . . . in three days' time about 50 Christians were killed and murdered, more than one hundred, mostly women and children, captured, of whom we afterward ransomed 60 to 70 at great expense, the rest being still in their hands, 28 bouweries and some plantations and about 12 to 15 thousand schepels of grain burned, 500 to 600 head of cattle either killed or taken by the barbarians;

. . . [they] have suffered through these barbarous Indians a damage of more than two hundred thousand gilders and more than 200 persons besides those who were killed or are still in captivity, have lost their possessions and have nothing left to procure food and clothing for themselves and their families must be a charge upon this city.'

I do not know the year of death for Susanna, but it was apparently sometime after 1654.