Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 6 May 1638

Holding Institution

Document ID

NYSA_A1809-78_V04_p005

Description

Court proceedings. Anthony Jansen from Salee vs. H. Jansen; parties recommended to live peaceably as neighbors, and whichever does not, to pay 25 guilders and costs. Fiscal vs. Cornelissen; defendant to pay 25 guilders for the dog he killed, also a fine of 25 guilders and costs. Claes, gunner of ship Herring, vs. Barent Dircksen, for damages for non-performance of a contract to sell a house; judgment for plaintiff, damages three jacobuses ($18). (cont'd) [1638];Protest. Director and council against Peter Minuit for intrusion at the South river (Delaware.) [1638]

Document Date

1638-05-06

Document Date (Date Type)

1638-05-06

Document Type

Minutes

Court

Document Type Unlinked

Minutes

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Translation

[ Claes ], gunner on the ship [Harinck. plaintiff, vs. Bare]nt Dircksen, baker, defendant, about the purchase of [ a house ] and some cattle. The plaintiff demands [ restitution? ] inasmuch as the defendant refuses to give the present which he promised him. Therefore, the defendant is condemned to pay the7plaintiff 3 Jacobuses[1] in cash and consequently the purchase is void.

[2]I, Willem Kieft, director general of New Netherland, residing on the island of the Manhates and in Port Amsterdam, within the jurisdiction of their High Mightinesses the lords States General of the United Netherlands and the chartered West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam, make known to your honor, Pitter Minuit, who style yourself commander in the services of her Royal Majesty of Sweden, that the entire South river of New Netherland has been for many years in our possession and secured above and below by forts and sealed with our blood, which took place during your honor's administration of New Netherland and is well known to your honor. Now, whereas your honor intrudes between our forts and begins to build a fort there to our disadvantage and prejudice, which shall never be suffered by us and we are also well assured that her Royal Majesty of Sweden has not given you any orders to build fortifications on our rivers or along our coasts; Therefore, in case your honor proceeds with the building of fortifications, the cultivation of the soil and the trade in furs, or attempts to do anything to our injury, we hereby protest against all costs, damages and loss, as well as all accidents, shedding of blood and trouble which may arise therefrom in the future, intending to maintain our rights in such way as we deem best. Done ......

Ordinance against immoderate drinking and harboring seamen on shore at night.[3]

Translation Superscripts

[1]: English gold coin worth 25 shillings.
[2]: Revised from Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 12:19.
[3]: Translation revised from Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, pp. 12-13.

References

From the collections of the New York State Archives, Albany, New York. https://www.archives.nysed.gov/

Translation link see: http://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=tei/A1809/NYSA_A1809-78_V04_p005.xml

Published bound volume is also available: Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.

Copyright to the published bound volume is held by the Holland Society of New York.
A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.