John Rhoades
Encyclopedia
John Rhoades was a fur trader from New England
, who was part of Jurriaen Aernoutsz
's short-lived conquest of Acadia in 1674.
A resident of Massachusetts
, Rhoades met with Aernoutsz shortly after the latter's arrival in New York City
, and used his familiarity with the region to convince Aernoutsz to attack Acadia. He took the Dutch
oath of allegiance, and served as the navigator and pilot on Aernoutsz's expedition.
On August 10, 1674, Aernoutsz, Rhoades and the crew of the Flying Horse captured Fort Pentagouet in two hours. They then sailed up the Bay of Fundy
, pillaging several French posts along the coast and ending at Fort Jemseg
, which they also captured. Aernoutsz claimed Acadia as the Dutch territory of New Holland, burying bottles at both Pentagouet and Jemseg to assert his claim, and remained in Acadia for about a month. He then left Rhoades in charge of New Holland while he returned to Curaçao
in search of settlers.
However, Rhoades began seizing New England vessels coming to trade with the Wabanaki Confederacy
. As a result, the government of Massachusetts apprehended the party and tried them as pirates, during which time the French regained control of the territory without any military opposition. Rhoades was condemned to death, but he was eventually released on condition that he leave Massachusetts. He was later granted a trading license by the Dutch West India Company
during Cornelius Van Steenwyk
's brief attempt to regain control of Acadia in 1676, but was again arrested for trespassing on the territory of James, Duke of York
. He was taken back to New York City, but was released after a brief imprisonment.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, who was part of Jurriaen Aernoutsz
Jurriaen Aernoutsz
Jurriaen Aernoutsz was a Dutch colonial navy captain, who briefly captured a section of the French colony of Acadia in 1674 AD, establishing the brief Dutch Occupation of Acadia....
's short-lived conquest of Acadia in 1674.
A resident of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Rhoades met with Aernoutsz shortly after the latter's arrival in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and used his familiarity with the region to convince Aernoutsz to attack Acadia. He took the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
oath of allegiance, and served as the navigator and pilot on Aernoutsz's expedition.
On August 10, 1674, Aernoutsz, Rhoades and the crew of the Flying Horse captured Fort Pentagouet in two hours. They then sailed up the Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
, pillaging several French posts along the coast and ending at Fort Jemseg
Jemseg, New Brunswick
Jemseg is a Canadian rural community in Queens County, New Brunswick. It is located on the east bank of the Jemseg River along its short run from Grand Lake to the Saint John River...
, which they also captured. Aernoutsz claimed Acadia as the Dutch territory of New Holland, burying bottles at both Pentagouet and Jemseg to assert his claim, and remained in Acadia for about a month. He then left Rhoades in charge of New Holland while he returned to Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in search of settlers.
However, Rhoades began seizing New England vessels coming to trade with the Wabanaki Confederacy
Wabanaki Confederacy
The Wabanaki Confederacy, as it is known in English, is a historical confederation of five North American Algonquian language speaking Indian tribes....
. As a result, the government of Massachusetts apprehended the party and tried them as pirates, during which time the French regained control of the territory without any military opposition. Rhoades was condemned to death, but he was eventually released on condition that he leave Massachusetts. He was later granted a trading license by the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
during Cornelius Van Steenwyk
Cornelius Van Steenwyk
Cornelius Steenwyck served two terms as Mayor of New York City, the first from 1668 to 1672 Cornelius Steenwyck (born Cornelis Jacobsz Steenwijck; March 16, 1626 – November 21, 1684) served two terms as Mayor of New York City, the first from 1668 to 1672 Cornelius Steenwyck (born Cornelis...
's brief attempt to regain control of Acadia in 1676, but was again arrested for trespassing on the territory of James, Duke of York
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. He was taken back to New York City, but was released after a brief imprisonment.