In 1631, The Patroonship of the Colony of Zawaanendael was awarded to an association of West Indies investors that included Killaen van Rennsalaer, Mathij van Keulen, Sam Godyn and others. Settlers were sent immediately to construct and occupy a fort located on the south shore of the Delaware River at Hoerkill(Whore Creek), near the present day town of Lewes, Deleware. By 1632, the enclosure seemed secure and several buildings constructed.
The Coat of Arms was hung outside to mark their lands. The Indians had no idea what that piece of tin meant, and one of them thought it would make a good smoking apparatus. The Dutch Commander showed his obvious displeasure, and, to appease him, the chiefs had the guilty Indian executed. It was noted in the record that the Commander thought the punishment excessive and that he lamented the unnecessary death. The dead Indians comrades, however, were unsatisfied, and came seeking revenge. When Capt DeVries arrived in early 1633, he found all 34 Dutch, along with their livestock, slaughtered and scattered about the ramparts. Despite this, no action was taken against the Indians and records indicated that the Dutch continued to trade with the Indians. It had been noted that some of the Dutch at Zawaanendael may, in fact, have been killed with guns they gave the Indians in trade.
In 1634, Sam Godyn died and the colony was seemingly put on hold. There is little information about the status of the Colony. There are accounts of trappers and small groups using the land periodically to trade with the Indians, but it doesn't appear that a permanant settlement was attempted again. A note in van Rennsalaer's Journal in 1640 stated that the project was officially abandoned.
An attempt was made to refortify Zawaanendael in 1658 against the increasing British threat. Britain took control of the land in 1664, then New Netherlands was ceded to the British in 1674, after a 10 year struggle.
