Fort Casimir
Fort Casimir was a Dutch settlement in 17th century colonial province of New
Netherland. It was located on a no-longer existing barrier island at the end of Chestnut
Street in what is now New Castle, Delaware. The trading post was named for Ernst
Casimir of Nassau-Dietz, count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen
and Drenthe in the Netherlands.
Background
The Dutch called the Delaware River the Zuyd Rivier, or South River, and considered the
lands along it banks and those of its bay to be the southern flank of its province of New
Netherland. In 1638, the Delaware Valley began to be settled by Swedes, Finns, Dutch,
and Walloons and became the colony of New Sweden, though this was not officially
recognized by the Dutch Empire.
Sovereignty
The fort changed hands several times.
Shortly after his arrival to take up his position as up as Director-General of New
Netherland in 1648, Peter Stuyvesant, attempted to re-assert control of the region and its
lucrative trade. In his initial attempt at control, he effected the construction of Fort
Beversreede near the terminus of the Great Minquas Path, at the mouth of the Schuylkill.
The location of earlier-built Fort Nassau on the east bank (now New Jersey) of the river,
had proved disadvantageous since the richest fur-trapping area of the native
Susquehannock and Lenape populations was inland to the west. In 1651, Stuyvesant
had the fort dismantled and relocated to the western bank downstream from Fort
Christina, the first and one of the larger Swedish settlements. He named it Fort Casimir.
Fort Beversreede was abandoned and the Dutch presence was consolidated.
On Trinity Sunday in 1654, Johan Risingh, Commissary and Councilor to New Sweden
Governor Lt. Col. Johan Printz, officially assumed his duties and his attempts to expel
the Dutch from the Delaware Valley. Fort Casimir surrendered to the Swedes and was
renamed Fort Trinity (in Swedish, Fort Trefaldighet). On June 21, 1654, the native
peoples met with the Swedes to reaffirm their alliance.
Stuyvesant led a Dutch force which retook the fort on September 11, 1655, renaming it
New Amstel (in Dutch Nieuw Amstel). Fort Christina, located 6.5 mi (10.5 km) to the
north fell on September 15, 1655. Fort Nya Elfsborg, on the east bank, was abandoned
and set afire by departing Swedish forces. New Sweden came under the control of the
Dutch. John Paul Jacquet was immediately appointed Governor, making New Amstel a
regional capitol of the Dutch province, subordinate to New Amsterdam. It is generally
assumed the Peach Tree War attack at Pavonia was a retaliation, as the indigenous
population considered the treaty with the Swedes to include a defence alliance.
In 1664, Stuyvesant peacefully surrendered control of Fort Amsterdam, and thereby, all
of New Netherland to the British. Proceeding south the British peacefully took Fort
Altena. A symbolic resistance was offered at Fort Casimir, but the fort quickly
succumbed. In 1673-1674 it came under Dutch control again, but reverted to the English
after the sigining of the Treaty of Westminster.
Sources:
"Where Was Fort Casimir? Historical And Archaeological Evidence From The 1986 Heite Report".
New Castle, Delaware Community History and Archaeology Program. Retrieved September 17,
2010.
Delaware Federal Writers' Program (1938). Delaware, A Guide To The First State. New York:
Viking Press. p. 26. ISBN 9781603540087.
"Fort Nassau". Gloucester County, New Jersey History and Genealogy. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
The Great Trail Pennsylvania historical marker.
Cleary, William E. History of Fort Nassau, February 18, 2007. Accessed September 15, 2010.
"Site Of Fort Casimir". Delaware Public Archives. State of Delaware. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
"Siege of Christina Fort,1655". Maps, etc.. Florida Center for Instructional Technology. Retrieved
2010-09-14.
Shorto, Russell (2004). The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan
and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America. New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-7867-9.
Plantenga, Bart (2001-04). "The Mystery of the Plockhoy Settlement in the Valley of Swans".
Historical Committee & Archives of the Mennonite Church: Mennonite Historical Bulletin. Retrieved
2020-09-15.
^ "Site Of Fort Casimir". Delaware Public Archives. State of Delaware. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
Fort Casimir was a Dutch settlement in 17th century colonial province of New
Netherland. It was located on a no-longer existing barrier island at the end of Chestnut
Street in what is now New Castle, Delaware. The trading post was named for Ernst
Casimir of Nassau-Dietz, count of Nassau-Dietz and Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen
and Drenthe in the Netherlands.
Background
The Dutch called the Delaware River the Zuyd Rivier, or South River, and considered the
lands along it banks and those of its bay to be the southern flank of its province of New
Netherland. In 1638, the Delaware Valley began to be settled by Swedes, Finns, Dutch,
and Walloons and became the colony of New Sweden, though this was not officially
recognized by the Dutch Empire.
Sovereignty
The fort changed hands several times.
Shortly after his arrival to take up his position as up as Director-General of New
Netherland in 1648, Peter Stuyvesant, attempted to re-assert control of the region and its
lucrative trade. In his initial attempt at control, he effected the construction of Fort
Beversreede near the terminus of the Great Minquas Path, at the mouth of the Schuylkill.
The location of earlier-built Fort Nassau on the east bank (now New Jersey) of the river,
had proved disadvantageous since the richest fur-trapping area of the native
Susquehannock and Lenape populations was inland to the west. In 1651, Stuyvesant
had the fort dismantled and relocated to the western bank downstream from Fort
Christina, the first and one of the larger Swedish settlements. He named it Fort Casimir.
Fort Beversreede was abandoned and the Dutch presence was consolidated.
On Trinity Sunday in 1654, Johan Risingh, Commissary and Councilor to New Sweden
Governor Lt. Col. Johan Printz, officially assumed his duties and his attempts to expel
the Dutch from the Delaware Valley. Fort Casimir surrendered to the Swedes and was
renamed Fort Trinity (in Swedish, Fort Trefaldighet). On June 21, 1654, the native
peoples met with the Swedes to reaffirm their alliance.
Stuyvesant led a Dutch force which retook the fort on September 11, 1655, renaming it
New Amstel (in Dutch Nieuw Amstel). Fort Christina, located 6.5 mi (10.5 km) to the
north fell on September 15, 1655. Fort Nya Elfsborg, on the east bank, was abandoned
and set afire by departing Swedish forces. New Sweden came under the control of the
Dutch. John Paul Jacquet was immediately appointed Governor, making New Amstel a
regional capitol of the Dutch province, subordinate to New Amsterdam. It is generally
assumed the Peach Tree War attack at Pavonia was a retaliation, as the indigenous
population considered the treaty with the Swedes to include a defence alliance.
In 1664, Stuyvesant peacefully surrendered control of Fort Amsterdam, and thereby, all
of New Netherland to the British. Proceeding south the British peacefully took Fort
Altena. A symbolic resistance was offered at Fort Casimir, but the fort quickly
succumbed. In 1673-1674 it came under Dutch control again, but reverted to the English
after the sigining of the Treaty of Westminster.
Sources:
"Where Was Fort Casimir? Historical And Archaeological Evidence From The 1986 Heite Report".
New Castle, Delaware Community History and Archaeology Program. Retrieved September 17,
2010.
Delaware Federal Writers' Program (1938). Delaware, A Guide To The First State. New York:
Viking Press. p. 26. ISBN 9781603540087.
"Fort Nassau". Gloucester County, New Jersey History and Genealogy. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
The Great Trail Pennsylvania historical marker.
Cleary, William E. History of Fort Nassau, February 18, 2007. Accessed September 15, 2010.
"Site Of Fort Casimir". Delaware Public Archives. State of Delaware. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
"Siege of Christina Fort,1655". Maps, etc.. Florida Center for Instructional Technology. Retrieved
2010-09-14.
Shorto, Russell (2004). The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan
and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America. New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-7867-9.
Plantenga, Bart (2001-04). "The Mystery of the Plockhoy Settlement in the Valley of Swans".
Historical Committee & Archives of the Mennonite Church: Mennonite Historical Bulletin. Retrieved
2020-09-15.
^ "Site Of Fort Casimir". Delaware Public Archives. State of Delaware. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
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