Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 2 December 1638

On Thursday, being the 2nd of December anno [ 16 ]38

Ulrich Lupoldt, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Gillis Pietersen, chief boatswain and butler on the yacht De Hoop, defendant.

Whereas the fiscal makes complaint against the defendant on account of the loss which the Company has suffered by reason of his desertion from the service of the said Company, as more fully appears by the bill of complaint of the plaintiff against the defendant, and whereas notwithstanding three personal citations the defendant has not appeared to make answer and default was taken against him; therefore, all this having been duly considered by us, the defendant's name is posted on the gate of Fort Amsterdam as that of a rascal and oath breaker, with confiscation of all his earned monthly wages which are due him by the chamber of Amsterdam of the honorable West India Company, to wit, one-third part for the benefit of the said Company, one-third part for the poor and one-third part for the fiscal, the defendant being further condemned to pay the costs of the trial.

Ulrich Lupoldt, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Nicolaes Coorn, sergeant, defendant, charged with theft and abetting the same; also with adultery.

The plaintiff demands Judgment and punishment of the crimes committed by the defendant as hereinafter described, inasmuch as the defendant, who by reason of his office was in duty bound to set a good moral example to his soldiers, has notwithstanding been guilty of bartering with the savages for private gain the axes which were given to him and the soldiers to cut wood and contrary to his oath has hidden the beavers in his bunk.

Likewise, the defendant has at divers times had Indian women and Negresses sleep entire nights with him in his bed, in the presence of all the soldiers.

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New York (Colony). Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809-78. Volume 4, page 27.