The European Impact on the Esopus Valley
By Deana F. Decker Hurley Town Historian
When Henry Hudson explored the river now named for him, he found forests filled with animals, waters full of fish, and a native people cultivating fertile river valleys. Impressed by the furs Hudson brought back to them, the Dutch East India Company encouraged a new fur trade.
The Munsee (people of the stoney country), members of the Algonquins – the English called them the Delaware Indians – inhabited the Esopus Valley. They called themselves the Lenni–Lenape meaning “original or unmixed men.” The Lenape are believed to be the original tribe of the Algonquin-speaking peoples. The Catskill, Mamekoting, Waranewonkong, and Wawarsink, were collectively known as the Esopus (Espachony) Indians. They did not migrate, but hunted, fished, and cultivated hundreds of acres of fertile flood plains, growing primarily corn and beans.
For a while, the only Dutch settlements were at Fort Orange (Albany) and New Amsterdam (Manhattan). There may have been a fort or trading post at the Esopus as early as 1614, but there is no known documentation. The Esopus Valley was not settled until Captain Thomas Chambers, an Englishman in Fort Orange, heard about the fertile Esopus lands and decided he wanted to purchase land there. On June 5, 1652, two members of the Munsee tribe, Kawachhikan and Sowappekat, arrived at Fort Orange and signed their marks on a deed selling 76 acres to Chambers. Each party thought he was getting a great deal. Chambers, obviously got the land. The Lenape, though, thought “sell” meant “lease” since they did not “own” the land, believing their Creator did and were using it just, they used it to provide themselves themselves with food and shelter. They were happy to receive the metal goods in trade for this “sale.” Up until then, their tools were made from bone, wood, or stone. Metal for arrows, spears and other tools would allow them to obtain food more easily. Soon after, more deeds for land were signed and more and more Europeans moved to the Esopus.
The Lenape, who had inhabited the land for thousands of years, cultivated hundreds of acres of land. After the winter harvest, they would burn away trees that had begun to grow in the fields. The Esopus Creek changed its path and kept the lowlands fertile with its yearly flooding. At this time, it is believed there were between 1,500 and 2,000 Munsee living in the Esopus Valley. However, the increased European population began to put a strain on the area’s resources. The fur trade increased the hunting of the local bear, beaver, wolf, and deer populations. The Munsee now shared the farmland with the Europeans. Conflicts between the Mohawks and Dutch to the Nnorth, and other tribes fighting to the South increased tensions between the peaceful Esopus Indians. Between 1654 and 167, small pox had swept through the Delaware tribes. As the tensions increased, so did the number of conflicts.
In 1659, Peter Stuyvessant, Director–General of New Netherlands, ordered the Esopus farmers to build a stockade and build their homes inside to protect them from the Indians. Upon its construction, the town of Wildwyck (Kingston) was formed.
Much has changed in the last 400 years; the Delaware Indians were eventually forced out of the area, immigrants from all nationalities have moved into the area, and many towns and villages have been created to form the present day Ulster County. Ironically, the original attraction to this area, the fertile flood plains, is still farmed today producing sweet corn that is shipped all over the East Coast.
