Pieter Corneliszoon Plockhoy
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Pieter Corneliszoon Plockhoy (also Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy van Zierikzee or Peter Cornelius van Zurick-zee, born c. 1625, possibly in Zierikzee, Netherlands, died c. 1664–1670, Lewes, Delaware) was a Dutch Mennonite and Collegiant utopist who founded a settlement, Zwaanendael Colony on the banks of Delaware Bay, near present-day Lewes, Delaware, in 1663 The settlement was destroyed within a year by England.
Almost nothing is known of Plockhoy's childhood and early life, but it is reasonable to assume he came from Zeeland and had a Mennonite background. In the early 1660s he lived at Amsterdam, where he became associated with the struggle of the liberal Mennonites, who were influenced by Collegiantism and were led by Galenus Abrahamsz, against the conservative Mennonites.
Before embarking for the New World, Plockhoy unsuccessfully petitioned Oliver Cromwell in the late 1650s for support in establishing various ideal settlements in England. He was possibly working in the circle of the intellectual Samuel Hartlib, who was certainly aware of his utopian plans. Plockhoy published political pamphlets addressing contemporary social problems in 1658 and collaborated with Franciscus van den Enden in plans for founding a new society in New Netherland. According to some contemporary sources, Plockhoy defended polygamy.
In 1663 Plockhoy and 41 settlers made their way to Delaware Bay and established their colony near the former Zwaanendael. He probably died soon after the settlement was conquered by the English. His wife and his blind son, Cornelis, continued to lives in Lewes, and in 1694 the blind son, Cornelis, and his wife moved to Germantown, Pennsylvania, where they presumably died.
[edit] References
- Bart Plantegna. (April 2001) "The Mystery of the Plockhoy Settlement in the Valley of Swans". Mennonite Historical Bulletin.
- Plockhoy's Social Plans in the Old and New World.
- Pieter Plockhoy Revisited
