Document: Ordinance forbidding magistrates to publish bans of matrimony of persons residing out of their districts

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AMEN. IN THE YEAR AFTER THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR AND REDEEMER, JESUS CHRIST, 1654, 19 January.

The director-general and council, of New Netherland, to all who see or hear this read, greetings. Let it be known that we have been informed by a report of our fiscal and others as well as by an open letter dated 18 January 1654 from Gravesande that the magistrates there have presumed and undertaken publicly to post notices of marriage in regard to persons both of whom are and for a long time have been living in and about this city of New Amsterdam, far beyond the jurisdiction of the aforesaid village; and whereas such is in direct contradiction to both the civil and ecclesiastical laws of the United Netherlands, which not only the aforesaid magistrates of Gravesande but also all other colonies within this province are bound by contract and oath to obey; therefore, the aforesaid director-general and council order and instruct the aforesaid magistrates of Gravesande and all others within this province to annul such publication of marriage bans, and on sight thereof to withdraw the same, and in all cases to proceed with and confirm no such marriages, either publicly or privately, before and until such persons, according to Dutch custom, have entered and received their bans and proclamations of marriage where they live and have lived the last year. Thus done in the council in New Netherland, dated 19 January 1654, New Amsterdam; and was signed P. Stuyvesandt, Nicasius de Sille, La Montangne, C. van Werckhoven.