Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 15 May 1642

On the 15th of May anno 1642[1]

Whereas we have reliable information that some Englishmen have presumed to enter our South river and to settle on the Schuylkill, obliquely opposite our Fort Nassau, without having any commission from any potentate, which is a matter of serious consequence which tends to bring their High Mightinesses into disrepute and to cause great damage to the West India Company, as thereby their trade which they have on the south river becomes unprofitable; Therefore-, we have resolved in council and deemed it to the best interest of the aforesaid Company to expel the aforesaid Englishmen from the said Schuylkill in the most convenient way possible.

Andries Eoulofsz, plaintiff, vs. Govert Lookmans, defendant. Plaintiff demands payment for digging a cellar. Defendant answers that he did not let the contract to the plaintiff but to someone else. Plaintiff's demand is denied and he is ordered to seek redress from the person who put him to work.

Catrina Bartram, plaintiff, vs. Tomas Jacobsz, defendant, for slander. Tomas Jacobsz declares in court that he knows nothing whatever to the discredit of the plaintiff and that he acknowledges the said Catrina to be an honorable and virtuous woman. The plaintiff likewise declares that she acknowledges Tomas Jacobsz to be an honorable young man.

Cornelio vander Hoykens, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Abraham Plane, defendant. Jan Damen becomes ball for the appearance of the defendant at the appointed time. Jan Damen Is ordered to cause the defendant for whom he becomes responsible to appear at the next session of the court.