NEW New York
Bridgett Burns
New York was created in 1664 after The Duke of York sent a fleet to then New Netherlands, to claim the land for the English. There had been previous naval battles to claim ownership of this land, that the English had won. It was previously inhabited by the Dutch who had created forts and towns along the river banks for trade. The Duke of York was able to claim this land without a fight because the Dutch surrendered peacefully. I was a Dutch living in New Netherlands when the English came. My husband and I had moved to settle because of the benefit of vast amounts of tax free land for 10 years. We hunted for a living and sold the animal fur for profit. The winters were harsh and the Summers were mild. There was tension between the residents because the English would not allow us to keep in practice some of our governing practices. There was no representation of any sorts, and there were so many people with different religious and cultural beliefs, that it made things very difficult.