1000
The Indians' planting of beans and maize begins (date highly conjectural).
1535
French explorer Jacques Cartier hears of curative waters to be found in the future Saratoga Springs area, while exploring the St. Lawrence River. He may also hear of a great falls (Niagara) to the west.
1540
Traditional date the French abandon a small fort at what is now Albany.
1569
Belgium
Gerhard Kremer (Mercator) produces a cylindrical-projection map. It portrays the mythical New England land of Norumbega. It also shows the New York State site of Ticonderoga.
1586
Netherlands
The approximate date diamond merchant, land speculator and Dutch West India Company founder-director Kiliaen van Rensselaer is born in Hasselt (some sources say Nijkerk) to soldier Hendrick van Rensselaer and homemaker Maria Pafraet Rensselaer.
1600
Population of Algonkin (Algonquin) tribes is about 6,000. ** The approximate total population of Long Island's Metoac tribes is 10,000. A total of 13 tribes live on the island. ** From now on most kettles traded with the St. Lawrence area Indians are made of brass, rather than copper.
1603
State
Samuel de Champlain, exploring the St. Lawrence River Valley, learns of the Ticonderoga area.
1604
France
King Henry of Navarre grants a favorite all North American lands north of the 40th parallel (New France).
1606
Apr 10
Charters for the London Company and the Virginia Company of Plymouth (Council for New England) are issued by James I, to Ferdinando Gorges and John Popham, to settle the American coast between Cape Fear and mid-Maine. This is the area Henry of Navarre, the French king, had claimed two years previously. The colonies of Virginia and New England are to remain 100 miles apart. The region in between can only be colonized if no other European nation lays claim to it.
1609
Apr 4
Henry Hudson departs from Amsterdam in his three-masted Dutch carrack the Half Moon .
June
Samuel de Champlain and two French companions, along with 60 Indian warriors from various tribes, enters the lake that will bear his name.
Jul 29
Champlain, accompanied by two other Frenchmen, including his teen-aged servant Etienne Brulé, and 60 Algonquins and Hurons, encounter a group of 200 Iroquois in canoes. Everyone agrees to a ritual battle the next day.
Jul 30
Champlain’s party defeats the Iroquois near the future Ticonderoga, beginning a long period of French/Iroquois enmity.
Sep 6
Hudson sends a small crew ashore on Long Island to explore. On their return to the ship they are attacked by two canoes full of natives. Crewman John Colman is killed, two others injured. The survivors can't find the Half Moon in the dark.
Sep 7
The missing men return at daylight.
Sep 13
Henry Hudson anchors his Half Moon off Nappeckamack (today's Yonkers area). They trade with natives for oysters, all the time keeping the Indians off the Half Moon, in their canoes.
Sep 14
Hudson sails past high mountains, anchors off the West Point area.
Sep 15
Hudson arrives in the Kingston area. He predicts the Rondout area, just upstream, will be a prime spot for a trading port. Two Indian hostages taken previously escape and make their way to land.
Sep 16
Hudson arrives in the Hudson area. Indians come aboard and trade Indian corn, pumpkins and tobacco.
Sep 17
Hudson arrives in the Castleton area, location of the Mahican Indian village of Schotak (Schodack). They run aground in the evening, puling themselves off by their anchor, run aground again, but are freed by high tide.
Sep 18
The ship's masters' mate goes ashore with an elderly Indian and is entertained at the man's home.
Sep 19
Hudson arrives in the Albany area. Indians trade grapes, pumpkins, as well as beaver and otter pelts.
Sep 20
The Half Moon attempts to sail further north but runs into shallow water.
Sep 21
A second attempt to sail north again runs into waters too shallow to let them pass. The ship's carpenter goes ashore to construct a new foreyard for their vessel. A party of Indians, including one female, is permitted aboard ship, as a test of their intentions. They are entertained and fed, all with no ensuing trouble.
Sep 22
It's decided it would be pointless to attempt to sail further north.
Sep 23
Hudson leaves the Albany area. They run aground but are freed when the tide rises.
Sep 24
The Half Moon runs aground on Upper Schodack Island in the Castleton area. Before the tide releases them a number of the crew go ashore, gather chestnuts.
Sep 26
They get together with a number of Indians. All goes well.
Sep 27
Further amicable meetings with local Indians. The crew fishes late in the day then their ship sails on into the night.
Sep 30
After further trade with the Indians the ship sails on to the south through the night.
Oct 1
After a failed attempt by the natives to steal from the Half Moon, Indians in Haverstraw Bay attack the vessel. The crew kills two.
Oct 2
Off Spuyten Duyvil Creek the vessel is attacked by local Indians in canoes. Two of the attackers are killed.
Oct 4
Hudson sails for England.
(c) 2011 David Minor / Eagles Byte
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