Fort Nassau (North River)

Fort Nassau (a.k.a. Fort van Nassouwen) was the first Dutch settlement in North America, located beside the "North River" (the modern Hudson) within present-day Albany, New York, in the United States. The factorij was a small fortification which served as a trading post and warehouse.

This article is about the fort in New York. For the one in New Jersey, see Fort Nassau (South River). For other settlements, see Fort Nassau (disambiguation).
Fort Nassau
Part of New Netherland
Albany, New York
TypeFort
Site history
Built1614
Built byHendrick Christiaensen
MaterialsWooden structure
surrounded by earthenworks
Demolished1618
EventsFirst Dutch fort
in North America
Garrison information
Past
commanders		Jacob Eelkens
Garrison10 or 12 men
OccupantsDutch traders and soldiers

History

Henry Hudson explored what would be known as the Hudson River for the Dutch in 1609, including Castle Island which was at the center of Native American fur trading routes from the interior.[1] Hendrick Christiaensen chose Castle Island to build Fort Nassau, in 1614 or 1615 as a dual warehouse and military defense structure and named the fort in honor of the stadtholder of the United Netherlands, who was of the House of Orange-Nassau. Nineteenth and early-twentieth century historians claimed that around 1540, French fur traders built a stone "castle" or fortified trading post on Castle Island in the location where Fort Nassau was later built.[2] However, modern scholars have found no evidence to support this claim.[3] Fort Nassau was the first Dutch settlement in North America.[4] Jacob Eelkens became commander on Christiaensen's death in 1616.[5]

In 1617 a freshet damaged the fort to such an extent that it was abandoned and rebuilt on more secure ground at the mouth of the Normans Kill (called the Tawasentha by the natives) with the Hudson River. This new fortification was built by Eelkens on a prominence called Tawass-gunshee by the natives. Once the new fort was completed, the Dutch completed their first treaty with natives of North America.[6] In 1618 a freshet destroyed the new fort, and it was abandoned for good.[5]

In 1624, the Dutch built Fort Orange nearby.

Geography

Fort Nassau was built on what is now called Westerlo Island and was formerly called Castle Island. The island was part of the town of Bethlehem until 1926 when it was annexed to the city of Albany.[7] It has been part of the Port of Albany-Rensselaer since 1932.[8]

Structure

Fort Nassau was a 36-foot (11 m) long by 26-foot (7.9 m) wide building enclosed by a 58-foot (18 m) square stockade surrounded by an 18-foot (5.5 m) wide moat. The fort was defended by two large cannon and eleven swivel guns. The fort was garrisoned by 10-12 men.[9]

See also

References
  1. "A Virtual Tour of New Netherland: Fort Nassau". New Netherland Institute.
  2. Albany Chronicles, J. B. Lyon Company, Albany, NY, 1906
  3. "Debunking The 'French Fort' On Albany's Castle Island", Stephen T. McErleane, 2014.
  4. Ramerini, Marco. "The Dutch Settlements in North America". Archived from the original on 2010-07-22.
  5. Reynolds, Cuyler (1906). Albany Chronicles: A History of the City Arranged Chronologically. J.B. Lyon Company.
  6. Brodhead, p. 81.
  7. "Cutting Ice: Big Business in Bethlehem". Town of Bethlehem. Archived from the original on 2010-10-06.
  8. "Castle Island". New York State Museum Colonial Albany Social History Project. 2001-12-11.
  9. Brodhead, John Romeyn (1853). History of the State of New York: First Period 1609-1664. Harper & Brothers. p. 55.
Preceded by
French fort
1540		 Forts of Albany, New York
Fort Nassau
1614-1618		 Succeeded by
Fort Orange
1623-1676

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