Document: Deposition of Tys Gerbrantsen retracting a former declaration that the captain of the St. Pieter was forced to break bulk by the governor of the Bermudas

Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Tys Gerbrantsz, from the Streeck,[1] chief pilot of the ship De Eendracht, who in presence and before the undersigned witnesses, at the request of Fiscal vander Hoykens, attests, testifies and declares, in place and with promise of an oath if necessary and required, that he, at the request of Symon Jansz of Durickerdam, late master of the ship St. Piter, did, while drunk, make a declaration that the above mentioned skipper was forced by the governor of the Bermudas to break bulk and to offer his goods for sale; which declaration he, the deponent, hereby renounces and retracts, inasmuch as they made him sign it when he was drunk and he does not know what he has signed, holding the same to be null and void. On the contrary, every friendship was shown to the above mentioned skipper and there was no dispute, except about the hides which he bought from Jacksen. All of which he offers to confirm. Done the 24th of February 1645, in Fort Amsterdam.

This declaration has been confirmed by an oath taken before the honorable director and council of New Netherland.

Tys Garbranstse
Jan Huebertsen
Cornelis van Tienhoven