About the author
Edward A. St. Germain created AmericanRevolution.org in 1996. He was an avid historian with a keen interest in the Revolutionary War and American culture and society in the 18th century. On this website, he created and collated a huge collection of articles, images, and other media pertaining to the American Revolution. Edward was also a Vietnam veteran, and his investigative skills led to a career as a private detective in later life.
1. New York was originally called New Netherland
New York was first colonized by the Dutch in 1624. They called the settlement New Nederland, and New York City was called New Amsterdam.
Many place names in New York have Dutch origins, such as Harlem (Haarlem) and Brooklyn (Breukelen).
2. New York (New Netherland) was originally established as a fur trading outpost
The Dutch aimed to use the colony as a means to export valuable beaver, otter, and other animal hides to Europe from the New World.
However, they soon began to run into problems with overhunting, leading to massive declines in animal populations. This forced hunters, who were mostly Native Americans, to venture further inland in search of beaver and otter populations.
3. After being established by the Dutch, New Netherland was handed over to the British in 1664
In August 1664, a British Navy expedition under the command of Colonel Richard Nicholls arrived in New York Harbor. Completely outgunned, the Dutch surrendered the colony without a fight.
New Netherland was then renamed New York after the Duke of York, who was the proprietor in charge of the British overseas colony.
4. New York City was one of the most important trading hubs on the colonial East Coast
New York Harbor and the colony’s waterways provided the perfect means to transport goods into and out of the local area, as well as surrounding colonies.
As a result, during the colonial era, New York’s ports were a thriving hub of naval trade, which also led to the growth of supporting industries such as shipbuilding, warehousing, and even maritime insurance.
5. By the mid-1700s, approximately 20% of the New York City population were slaves, and 42% of households had at least one slave
New York had a significant slave population, especially compared to other Middle and New England colonies.
African American forced laborers worked on farms in New York, especially on large estates around the Hudson River Valley, as well as in the docks around New York Harbor.
Many slaves also worked as servants in the houses of those who could afford them.
6. From 1711 to 1762, a slave market was run on the corners of Wall and Pearl Streets in New York City
Enslaved Africans and Native Americans were bought and sold at the market, with sales tax collected from merchants.
The market was eventually shut down in 1762 because it was perceived to be harming the value of local real estate.
7. The New York colonial economy relied heavily on agriculture, and was known as one of the “breadbasket colonies” in the New World
Using the fertile soil available in the Hudson River Valley and on Long Island, New York farmers successfully grew large quantities of staple crops such as rye, wheat, and corn.
Livestock such as sheep, cows, and pigs were also reared in the colony, and flour from New York attracted a premium compared to products originating from other areas.
8. The first rum distillery in the Thirteen Colonies was opened on Staten Island in 1664
Rum would go on to become a key export for the Thirteen Colonies, though a significant proportion was consumed domestically as well.
This industry supported a circular trade with other British and Dutch colonies in the Caribbean, which would export sugar and molasses, used for making rum, to the Thirteen Colonies.
9. The population of New York was estimated at 5,754 in 1670, 36,919 in 1720, and 210,541 in 1780
The population grew steadily over time, especially after the end of the French and Indian War.
10. New Yorkers ate so many oysters that the shells were used to make mortar and pave roads in the 1700s
The shellfish were even regularly eaten at breakfast, as they were an abundant, inexpensive source of food at the time.
Their shells would be ground up and used to make lime, an essential ingredient in mortar, and tons of crushed oyster shells were also used to pave roads and sidewalks.
