Peach Tree War
September 15, 1655

On September 15, 1655, a young Indian girl entered the orchard of Henry Van Dyck living in the Dutch colony of New Netherland. She climbed a tree to pick a peach she had spied. Van Dyck took offense at her indulgence and took the extreme reaction of killing her with his rifle.

Peter Stuyvesant was the director-general of the colony on either side of the Hudson River. He and some 600 soldiers were away from his headquarters at Fort Amsterdam at the time of the murder. He had gone to secure the colony of New Sweden for the Dutch in August. Seizing what they believed to be an opportune time to retaliate, five hundred Indians attacked Hoboken, Pavonia and Staten Island for three days. It caused the death of 100 Dutch, the capture of 150, the wounding of Van Dyck, and the devastation of homes.

When Stuyvesant returned from his military engagement, he set to the task of negotiating with the Indians. The captives, who were being held at Paulus Hook, were returned for ransom, which included powder and lead.

The "Peach Tree War" was the last major Dutch-Indian hostility in New Netherland and led to the establishment of the fortified village of Bergen by Stuyvesant.

Reference:

Lovero, Joan Doherty. Hudson County: The Left Bank. Sun Valley, CA: American Historical Press, 1999.