Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 7 April 1639

Holding Institution
Document ID
NYSA_A1809-78_V04_p037
Description

Court proceedings. Fiscal vs. corporal Hans Steen, for fornication; guilty; sentence, three hours' ride on the Wooden horse, and to be reduced for 14 days to the ranks. Fiscal vs. Anthony Jansen from Salee, on a charge that he and his wife are public disturbers, and requesting that they be banished from the country. Jan Cornelissen and Wybrant Pietersen vs. The same, slander. Gerreken Hessels vs. The same, to recover a kid due for labor; judgment for plaintiff. [1639]

Document Date
1639-04-07
Document Date (Date Type)
1639-04-07
Document Type
Document Type Unlinked
Minutes
Full Resolution Image

Translation
Translation

Furthermore, all persons are hereby notified that no one shall undertake to sail with boats or other vessels to Fort Orange, the South river or Fort De Hoop without a permit from the honorable director and, coming thence, bringing with him clearances from the commissaries residing at the aforesaid places on the part of the Company; and in case it be found that any one has been at the places above named without order as aforesaid, such vessel and the goods laden therein shall be confiscated for the benefit of the Company and the person shall in addition be fined such sum as according to the merits of the case shall be deemed proper.

And all our dear and faithful commissaries who are in authority at the places where these presents are sent are ordered and commanded to post the same in the usual place. In order that every one may know the contents thereof and guard himself against loss.

Thus done and published in Fort Amsterdam, this 31st of March Anno. 1639.

On Thursday, being the 7th of April anno 1639

Ulrich Lupoldt, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Hans Steen, corporal, defendant. Plaintiff demands that the defendant be punished as a whoremonger ought to be punished, as at the guardhouse he has committed fornication according to the testimony of the following persons who, being on duty at the guardhouse, saw and heard as follows:

Balthasar Lourens from Hadderslee,[1] aged 23 years, soldier, declares that Hans Steen about three weeks ago lay with an Indian woman at the guardhouse.

Hans Fredrickx from Swynsont,[2] aged 20 years, soldier, declares in court that about three weeks ago Hans Steen, being with him on duty at the guardhouse, lay on the bunk with an Indian woman, the two being almost far enough apart for a man to have lain between them. Secondly, that on the voyage hither he hid a small brandy keg for Hans Steen in his chest, without knowing what was in it.

Hans Noorman from Dronten,[3] aged 20 years, soldier, declares that about two months ago he lay with Hans Steen in the guardhouse when an Indian woman came and laid her down on the other side of the said Steen, covering the said Hans Steen with her blanket. He has also seen here on shore a small keg, which according to his estimate contained two or three pounds of powder.

Translation Superscripts
[1]: Hadersleben, a seaport in Schleswig.
[2]: Swinesund, an inlet of the Skager Rack, between Norway and Sweden.
[3]: Trondhjem, seaport town of Norway.
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_p037.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.

Related Ancestors (Unlinked)
Hans Steen
Anthony Jansen
Jan Cornelissen
Wybrant Pietersen
Gerreken Hessels
A1809 Additional Party
Document Location