Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Romans, Timothy Reid
URN	etd-11102005-124431
Title	The Boschlopers of New Netherland and the Iroquois, 1633-1664
Degree	Master of Fine Arts
Department	History, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Edward G. Gray Committee Chair Matt Childs Committee Member Robinson Herrera Committee Member
Keywords	Iroquois Colonial American Firearms Van Rensselaer Schuyler Fort Orange Boschlopers New Netherland Dutch
Date of Defense	2005-10-27
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study focuses on the Iroquois and the traders in New Netherland who perpetuated peaceful diplomatic exchange through the supply of contraband firearms and alcohol. These traders who traveled into the woods replaced the Dutch West India Company as the most common arbitrators between the Dutch and the Iroquois. Their actions not only kept the Dutch from losing the beaver trade to other colonial powers, but also ensured the existence of their communities through peace with the Iroquois. This study will reveal how the boschlopers mobilized their fellow colonists to smuggle large quantities of firearms and munitions to trade to the Iroquois. It will also reveal how a small number of these boschlopers rose to an elite status within their community through selling firearms and munitions to the Iroquois. This study will also illustrate how the trade alcohol allowed a broader base of colonists to become boschlopers, but this study will reveal how the elites used the legal system and fear of drunken Indians to defend their exclusive right to trade with the Iroquois. In addition, this study will also explore how the contraband trades led to the demise of zeewant as currency and as the medium of exchange between the Dutch and the Iroquois.
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