temper of the governor himself. When she saw the conditions of things and what she had to face she determined to spend the winter of 1651–1652 in New Netherland regardless of the rigorous climate. Her brother-in-law’s enemies instituted one law suit after another against her, but she was able to win every one.[1] By the spring of 1652 conditions had become greatly changed. Just exactly what occurred that winter in the house on Pearl Street, likely we shall never know all the details. But it seems that Herrman and Anna Hack met their creditors and changed them from bitter enemies into fast friends. Perhaps Stuyvesant, harsh and rough, tempestuous and vindictive, as he undoubtedly was, finally succumbed to the graces of the Virginia lady, proving then as it does so often now that one can accomplish more by gentle rather than by rough ways. At any rate the Stuyvesants, Herrmans and Hacks remained staunch friends and allies.[2] In May 1652 Stuyvesant stipulated that Herrman’s creditors abide by the valuation to be fixed by Pieter Wolphertsen, Van Couwenhoven, Schepen and Frederick Flipsen on his property in New Amsterdam.[3]
- ↑ Dutch Mss. p. 129. The above episode tells much of the ability and business sagacity of Anna Hack who appears to have taken much more interest in the tobacco trade than her husband Dr. Hack, who according to Wise was actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Virginia.
- ↑ In October 1656 Anna, sister of Peter Stuyvesant and widow of Samuel Bayard, married Nicholas Verlett, brother of Anna Hack. (Court Minutes of New Amsterdam, ed. by E. B. O’Callighan, N. Y. 1897, Vol. I. p. 326 footnote.) Throughout this history the above genealogy of the relationship between Herrman and Anna Hack is accepted as the accurate version. However, the above episode points strongly in the direction that Anna Hack may have been either a full sister or a half-sister of Herrman. But inasmuch as the financial affairs of the Hacks were closely interlocked with those of Herrman it was certainly not unnatural for a sister-in-law of Herrman to rush to New Amsterdam to try to help him from the hands of his vindictive creditors.
- ↑ Dutch Mss. p. 129.
