Document: Declaration of Jacob Roy and others as to disrespectful remarks made by Jan Snediger when they were about to fire a salute for Director Stuyvesant

Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Jacob Roy, gunner, aged about 42 years, Hendrick Westercamp, aged 37 years, and Baltasar Laurens, aged about 30 years, who at the request of the Hon. Fiscal van Dyck jointly attest, testify and declare, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if necessary, that it is true and truthful that on Monday last, being the tenth of June, toward evening, when the honorable general was crossing [ the river ] in returning from Long Island and they, the deponents, were getting ready the gun on the bastion of the fort, Jan Snediger’s wife, standing in her garden, asked if the gunner would fire, who answered, Yes. Jan Snediger, sticking his head out of the back door of his house, said: “Fire, and the devil take you!” [ All of ] which the deponents declare to be true and truthful, offering to confirm this [ declaration ] on oath. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 13th of June anno 1647.

Jacob Roy
Hinrich Westkamdpt
Baltzer Louretzsen
Cornelis van Tienhoven