The Peach Tree War / A Brief History/Herstory about Peaches & Other Things

🎨Peaches in a Wanli Kraak Porselein Bowl on a Ledge, by Louise Moillon (1610–1696). She lived in a neighborhood of Paris that had a large population of Protestant refugees from the Dutch Republic. Some of the artists from that group of refugees influenced Louise greatly in her style of painting.

Have you ever heard of the Peach Tree War?

It was a war between various Native American tribes and Dutch settlers, along the North River (now Hudson River, both Hudson County, NJ, Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island) in 1655.

Between 1638 to 1655, the Swedish had settled along the river of what is now considered the Delaware Valley. The region was “regarded” as New Sweden. However, it was taken over by the Dutch in 1655.

The territory’s trading allies, the Susquehannock, waged war, in alliance with the Lenape, against the Dutch settlers in response to their claim to the region. A few hundred warriors led an attack, between what is now Hoboken up through Staten Island, wrecking havoc for three days that September upon the Dutch’s establishments (i.e. damaged farmlands, homes, and held people for ransom).

The Dutch were confused as to why war was waged. They initally thought the tribe attacked because a Dutch settler—Henry Van Dyck—shot and killed a young Wappinger woman named Tachiniki, for stealing a peach from “his” orchard. Hence, the name the “Peach Tree War” was given. Yet, there was more to the story, in addition to her murder.

The Peach Tree War was the last major war between the Dutch and Native Americans. It ended with the exchange of the hostages held for ransom, in exchange for power and lead issued to the Natives.