Document: Ordinance forbidding all persons going across the river or communicating with the Indians without a pass

18 October, Monday

Whereas many false reports and rumors are caused by traveling back and forth to the Indians, both among us as well as among the Indian nation, to prevent which the director general and councilors of New Netherland again most expressly order and admonish that no one, whatever his capacity may be with boat, canoe or any other vessel, however it may be called, shall cross over, or in any way communicate or speak with the Indians, upon arbitrary punishment; and the director general and councilors further admonish that they have permitted and ordered the Indians that in case anyone crosses over without showing the sign and token of the honorable general or goes to the Indians, that they are to detain and subject to ransom such boat, canoe or persons. Let everyone guard against loss.

Further, whereas the director general and councilors experience and witness the swarming and unseemly clamor of some of our nation whenever a boat is sent over by the director general and councilors to speak with the Indians about the release of the prisoners, and whenever the same return, which not only alarms the Indians but also creates an unfavorable suspicion, and as a result refuse to come over to speak with the director general and councilors. In order to prevent this the director general and councilors hereby order and command that no one, of whatever capacity he may be, attend the departure or return of the director general’s row sloop [roey chaloup] or whenever any Indians shall come over, or to go near there, on the penalty that whosoever is found on the shore or thereabout, shall be seized by the military and placed in jail, whether they be young or old, and parents are especially advised to inform their children of this and keep them from harm.

Thus done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra, (was signed:) P. Stuyvesant, La Montagne, Cor. van Tienhoven.

18 October 1655.

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.