Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 23 May 1641

The defendants maintain and give for answer that two half-interests of the half-brother and sister constitute a whole interest and, therefore, that the property should be equally divided, half and half, between them and their full brother. Having seen the plaintiffs demand and the answer of the defendants, it is decided that according to law Jan van Vorst, being the full brother of the late Hendric van Vorst, shall first of all receive one-half of the estate and that the remaining half shall be equally divided and distributed between the plaintiffs as guardians of Jan van Vorst and the guardians of Ide and Anna van Vorst.

Jacob Stoffelsen, plaintiff, vs. Everardus Bogardus, Tymen Jansen, Davit Provoost and Jan Damen, defendants, as guardians of the children of the late Cornelis van Vorst. Plaintiff demands that the defendants before they proceed to divide the estate of the late Hendric van Vorst shall satisfy the debt which the said van Vorst owes to his father, according to the account book. The defendants acknowledge that what is written in the account book is in Cornelis van Vorst's own handwriting and that the same was confirmed by him at his death. Defendants are condemned to pay out of the estate of the late Hendric van Vorst what said van Vorst owes his father, according to the said account book of Cornelis van Vorst.

Hendrick Jansen, tailor, father and guardian of his daughter Elsjen Hendricx, plaintiff, vs. the guardians of the heirs of the late Hendric van Vorst, defendants. The plaintiff demands three cows which van Vorst promised his daughter by word of mouth in case he should die on the voyage to the fatherland. Plaintiffs' claim is denied as he cannot prove that Hendric van Vorst made the aforesaid promise to his daughter and he is granted fl. 24 for the keeping of two [ female ] goats and one buck.

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