Onrust
Encyclopedia
The Onrust was a Dutch ship that was built by Adriaen Block
and the crew of the Tyger
, which had been destroyed by fire. The ship, a yacht
, was the first decked vessel to be built entirely in America. The construction took one winter (January to April, 1614) on Manhattan Island. Help from the Lenape
is surmised, given the short construction time, but is not documented. The ship was 42-feet long and capable of carrying 16-tons.
In 1614, Block sailed through the whirlpools on the East River
, and into Long Island Sound. Here he discovered Block Island
.
Block was also the first European to venture up the Connecticut River
. He managed to get as far as the Enfield
rapids, about 60 miles up the river.
Besides finding several inland water routes, creating trading networks and mapping native villages, the two first accurate maps of the east coast were drawn based on the voyages of the Onrust. As a result, It was the first research vessel
in America.
Later in the year Block sighted another Dutch vessel, and sailed back to the Netherlands
on 1 October 1614. The Onrust was last reported in 1616 as bound to explore the "New River", now known as Delaware River
.
From 2006 to 2009 New Netherland Routes, Inc., a non-profit organization
, built a replica of the Onrust at the Schenectady County Historical Society
's Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, NY. Construction used authentic 17th century Dutch ship building techniques rediscovered by the organization's master shipwright. Material is mostly white oak
. Decking is pine. The replica is held together by more than 4,000 hand made pegs of black locust
. Metal fittings, as well as cannon, use authentic brass.
Adriaen Block
Adriaen Block was a Dutch private trader and navigator who is best known for exploring the coastal and river valley areas between present-day New Jersey and Massachusetts during four voyages from 1611 to 1614, following the 1609 expedition by Henry Hudson...
and the crew of the Tyger
Tyger (ship)
The Tyger was the ship used by Dutch captain Adriaen Block during his 1613 voyage to explore the East Coast of North America and the present day Hudson River...
, which had been destroyed by fire. The ship, a yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
, was the first decked vessel to be built entirely in America. The construction took one winter (January to April, 1614) on Manhattan Island. Help from the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
is surmised, given the short construction time, but is not documented. The ship was 42-feet long and capable of carrying 16-tons.
In 1614, Block sailed through the whirlpools on the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
, and into Long Island Sound. Here he discovered Block Island
Block Island
Block Island is part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately south of the coast of Rhode Island, east of Montauk Point on Long Island, and is separated from the Rhode Island mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block...
.
Block was also the first European to venture up the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. He managed to get as far as the Enfield
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
rapids, about 60 miles up the river.
Besides finding several inland water routes, creating trading networks and mapping native villages, the two first accurate maps of the east coast were drawn based on the voyages of the Onrust. As a result, It was the first research vessel
Research vessel
A research vessel is a ship designed and equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel, others require a dedicated vessel...
in America.
Later in the year Block sighted another Dutch vessel, and sailed back to the Netherlands
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...
on 1 October 1614. The Onrust was last reported in 1616 as bound to explore the "New River", now known as Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
.
From 2006 to 2009 New Netherland Routes, Inc., a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, built a replica of the Onrust at the Schenectady County Historical Society
Schenectady County Historical Society
The Schenectady County Historical Society, located in Schenectady, New York, was established on July 14, 1905, under the Membership Corporation Laws of the State of New York. The Society is an independent not-for-profit corporation, not a unit of government...
's Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, NY. Construction used authentic 17th century Dutch ship building techniques rediscovered by the organization's master shipwright. Material is mostly white oak
White oak
Quercus alba, the white oak, is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America. It is a long-lived oak of the Fagaceae family, native to eastern North America and found from southern Quebec west to eastern Minnesota and south to northern Florida and eastern Texas. Specimens have been...
. Decking is pine. The replica is held together by more than 4,000 hand made pegs of black locust
Black locust
Robinia pseudoacacia, commonly known as the Black Locust, is a tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, but has been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America, Europe, Southern Africa and Asia and is...
. Metal fittings, as well as cannon, use authentic brass.
External links
- Old Salt Blog Launching of the Onrust, May 27 2009 video