On September 6, 1609, only five days after the arrival of the first Dutch and English sailors, John Colman was reportedly killed by attacking Native Americans by an arrow to his neck.[1] Colman was an "accomplished sailor" and served as second mate on Henry Hudson's ship. The Half Moon sailed into New York Harbor and was anchored between Coney Island and Sandy Hook. Colman was part of a 5 man crew that was aboard a rowboat that was scouting the area. Allegedly, two Lenape canoes filled with Native Americans attacked and fired a volley of arrows, killing Colman and wounding two others.[2] The survivors of the attack returned to the Half Moon at 10 a.m. on September 7, 1609, with Colman's body. He was buried that day either at what is now Coney Island, Staten Island, Sandy Hook or Keansburg, New Jersey. The forgotten location was then named Colman's Point. A contemporary account of his death was written in the journal of Robert Juet, the first mate of the Half Moon.[3][4] The most likely point of Coleman's burial may have been Sandy Hook, or "Coleman's Point".[5]
"He was shot in the throat by an arrow: and as he had been a companion of Hudson's in his Polar adventures, having burind him on the beach, he named Sandy Hook "Coleman's Point," in honor of him"
-Excerpt from "The Catskill Mountains and the Region Around" 1867[5]
Legacyedit
The murder of John Colman was the basis for a poem by Thomas Frost, "The Death of Colman", where he writes:
Then prone he fell within the boat, A flinthead arrow through his throat And now full many a stealthy skiff Shot out into the bay; And swiftly, sadly, pulled we back To where the Half Moon lay; But he was dead our master wept He smiled, brave heart, as though he slept.
People of the Hudson Highlands area believed that Colman's spirit became the Dwerg, Heer of Dunderberg, a goblin who dressed in Dutch clothing, who raise storms to sink ships at World's End (the area just north of West Point where the Hudson is over 200 feet deep.) The Heer appears in writings by Washington Irving.[6]
Evan Pritichard, author of "[7]" speculates the attack on Colman occurred because he strayed too near a wampum making outpost, provoking a preemptive strike by wary Native peoples living near Manhattan.
^[1] Dunlap, William. "A history of New York, for schools, volume 2."Collins, Keese, & Co., New York, 1837 Pages12-13.Retrieved September 4, 2009
^[2] Goodwin, Maude Wilder, "Dutch and English on the Hudson: a chronicle of colonial New York." Yale University Press, 1921, page 6. Retrieved September 4, 2009
^ abRoberts, Sam (4 September 2009). "New York's Coldest Case: A Murder 400 Years Old". New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
john, colman, died, september, 1609, crew, member, half, moon, under, henry, hudson, killed, native, americans, arrow, neck, contents, biography, legacy, also, referencesbiography, editon, september, 1609, only, five, days, after, arrival, first, dutch, englis. John Colman died September 6 1609 was a crew member of the Half Moon under Henry Hudson who was killed by Native Americans by an arrow to his neck Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography editOn September 6 1609 only five days after the arrival of the first Dutch and English sailors John Colman was reportedly killed by attacking Native Americans by an arrow to his neck 1 Colman was an accomplished sailor and served as second mate on Henry Hudson s ship The Half Moon sailed into New York Harbor and was anchored between Coney Island and Sandy Hook Colman was part of a 5 man crew that was aboard a rowboat that was scouting the area Allegedly two Lenape canoes filled with Native Americans attacked and fired a volley of arrows killing Colman and wounding two others 2 The survivors of the attack returned to the Half Moon at 10 a m on September 7 1609 with Colman s body He was buried that day either at what is now Coney Island Staten Island Sandy Hook or Keansburg New Jersey The forgotten location was then named Colman s Point A contemporary account of his death was written in the journal of Robert Juet the first mate of the Half Moon 3 4 The most likely point of Coleman s burial may have been Sandy Hook or Coleman s Point 5 He was shot in the throat by an arrow and as he had been a companion of Hudson s in his Polar adventures having burind him on the beach he named Sandy Hook Coleman s Point in honor of him Excerpt from The Catskill Mountains and the Region Around 1867 5 Legacy editThe murder of John Colman was the basis for a poem by Thomas Frost The Death of Colman where he writes Then prone he fell within the boat A flinthead arrow through his throat And now full many a stealthy skiff Shot out into the bay And swiftly sadly pulled we back To where the Half Moon lay But he was dead our master wept He smiled brave heart as though he slept His death is commemorated by a mural at the Hudson County Courthouse in Jersey City The New York Times has called it the first recorded murder in what became metropolitan New York 3 People of the Hudson Highlands area believed that Colman s spirit became the Dwerg Heer of Dunderberg a goblin who dressed in Dutch clothing who raise storms to sink ships at World s End the area just north of West Point where the Hudson is over 200 feet deep The Heer appears in writings by Washington Irving 6 Evan Pritichard author of 7 speculates the attack on Colman occurred because he strayed too near a wampum making outpost provoking a preemptive strike by wary Native peoples living near Manhattan See also editPenelope StoutReferences edit 1 Dunlap William A history of New York for schools volume 2 Collins Keese amp Co New York 1837 Pages12 13 Retrieved September 4 2009 2 Goodwin Maude Wilder Dutch and English on the Hudson a chronicle of colonial New York Yale University Press 1921 page 6 Retrieved September 4 2009 a b Roberts Sam 4 September 2009 New York s Coldest Case A Murder 400 Years Old New York Times Retrieved 4 September 2009 http www halfmoonreplica org Juets journal pdf bare URL PDF a b Rockwell Charles 1867 The Catskill Mountains and the Region Around New York Taintor Brothers amp Co pp 2 Legends And Lore of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley by Jonathan Kruk Henry Hudson and the Algonquins of New York Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Colman amp oldid 1186761165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
