DE VRIES, David Pieterssen, colonist, lived in 17th century. Several of the directors of the New Amsterdam chamber of the West India company took measures to secure for themselves a share of the privileges, which they offered to enterprising capitalists in the charter of 1629. A few days before the passing of the charter the agents of Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blcemmaert bought from the Indians the tract of country on the southwest side of South River bay, which purchase was ratified by the director general and council at Fort Amsterdam on 15 July. 1630. The possession of these desert tracts of land would be of no profit unless means were adopted to cultivate them, and, in order to accomplish this, a number of associations were formed, consisting of wealthy men. Each guild was under the authority of a patroon. In October 1630, an association was formed for planting a colony on the South river. Its members were Godyn, Blcemmaert, Van Rensselaer, De Vries, and others. On 12 December 1630, De Vries, sent out two vessels, with a number of emigrants and a large stock of cattle, under the command of Peter Heyes, to occupy the new possessions on the Delaware. The Dunkirk privateers captured the smaller of these vessels before it had left the Dutch waters; the other, " The Walrus," carrying eighteen guns, arrived safely in the Delaware, and a settlement was made on Lewis creek, a short distance from the mouth of the river. The little fort, flanked by palisades, was named Fort Oplandt, and the lands were called by the poetic name of "Swanendal." The chief purpose in acquiring these lands was to cultivate grain and tobacco and to engage in the whale fishery. Heyes, however, did nothing to establish the whale fishery, and returned to Holland on 31 September 1631, leaving Hosset in charge of the colony, which consisted of about thirty-two men. The result of this expedition was a disappointment to the stockholders, who had anticipated a large profit from the enterprise, and it was therefore decided that De Vries should command a second expedition, and become patroon of the colony. With a large vessel and a yacht he set sail, 24 May 1632. At the moment of starting he received news that the Indians had massacred the settlers of Swanendal and all their possessions destroyed. On 5 Dec. he reached the Delaware, and the cry of "Whale near the ship !" stimulated their hopes, soon to be dispelled, for the sight of the settlement of Swanendal presented a melancholy spectacle. The ground was decorated with the skulls and bones of the colonists, and the heads of horses and cattle were scattered over the plain. They succeeded in communicating with the Indians on the following day, and invited them to a "nice talk." The savages came with their chief, and by the free use of presents and pacific policy De Vries gained their confidence and concluded a treaty of peace. Encouraged by their friendly disposition, De Vries moved up the River to Fort Nassau in quest of provisions. Here he met savage Indians, who had massacred the English settlers from the Virginia colony. Desirous of seeing the country, De Vries sailed for Virginia, where he was heartily welcomed by the governor, who was much surprised to know that the Dutch had a colony on the Delaware. De Vries returned to Swanendal, and found that his party had only taken seven whales, which yielded but little oil. Concluding that this enterprise was not profitable, he gathered up his effects, and, taking his party, set sail for Holland on 14 April 1634, leaving no Europeans in the valley of the Delaware. He published "Voyages from Holland to America, from 1632 till 1644," which was translated from the Dutch by Henry C. Murphy (New York, 1853).