New York - New Jersey
May 05, 1976 - 350 years ago New York was founded by Peter Minnewit: 350 years ago, on May 4th 1626, Peter Minnewit founded a town, which today is one of the biggest cities in the world: New York. Peter Minnewit, born about 1580 at Wesel near the Rhine, and who was a Calvinist clergy man, had been the governor of the colony New Natherlands (which was the area being colonized by the Dutch since 1614, covering New York and New Jersey) from 1625 until 1631. In 1626 he bought the island Manhattan from the Indians for 60 guilders. At the southern point of it he founded the fort New Amsterdam, which turned to become New York and which today is with 10 millions of inhabitants besides London and Tokyo and of the biggest cities of the world. Photo shows a painting showing Peter Minnewit debating about the selling of Manhattan with the Indians in 1626. Seen at his feet are trade goods (cloths, a copper kettle, axes, farming tools and a case with silver coins and pearls) worth 60 guilders, which he offered for the sale of the island
