Document: Letter from the magistrates to the director

Honorable, highly esteemed director general and lords councilors in New Netherland

The right honorable lords,

The schepens of Midwout having the authority and representing the general inhabitants of the same village, humbly submit how in this extremely dangerous period of time [ ] if each inhabitant should remain at his own home, why should the petitioners be satisfied with the advice of the inhabitants to curtail their community for the security of life and property rather than what shall be found appropriate according to your honors’ advice. If such pleases your honors, we request that the aforesaid village be surveyed by your honors’ order as soon as possible so that each inhabitant may know how to regulate himself. Awaiting your honors’ recommendation on this, we remain (below was written:) Your honors’ subjects (was signed:) Adriaen Hegeman, Thomas Swartwout. (Dated:) Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 16th of October 1656.[1]

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 Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809. Volume 6.