Document: Petition of the burgomasters for the appointment of orphan masters in New Amsterdam

To the honorable, highly esteemed lords, the lord director general and high councilors of New Netherland.

We, the undersigned in our capacity as burgomasters of the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, humbly submit,

Whereas we find by daily experience and requests made to us that there are presently here within this city widows and orphans over whom we deem it necessary that proper supervision should be maintained, so that such persons and their means and effects may be suitably ordered and employed; therefore, we, pursuant to our instructions, request of your honors that their honors, according to the custom of our fatherland, be pleased to commission such persons who might fill the same office as orphanmasters, in which case we shall draw up a double number for your honors, from which your honors are to appoint and confirm a single number, expecting your honors favorable disposition on this, we remain your honors subjects, the burgomasters of the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland. (Was signed:) Allard Antony, Oloff Stevensen; (in the margin was written:) Today this 18 October at Amsterdam in New Netherland (below was written:) we nominate Pieter Wolpertsen, Hendr. Hendricksen Kip, Pieter Cornelisse van der Veen, Jacob Steendam.