Document: Petition of the guardians and trustees of Jacob van Couwenhoven's motherless children, praying that the fiscal may be ordered to assist them in the performance of their duty

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

With reverence make known Hend. Jansen van der Vin and Isaacq Grevenraat appointed as the curators and guardians by your highly esteemed honors over the minor children left behind by the deceased Hester Jansen, procreated by her former husband Jacob van Couwenhoven, also to promote justice for the same children according to your honors’ decree of authorization, how it is that they, petitioners, have employed every possibility to [ ] with the aforesaid Jacob van Couwenhoven honestly [several lines lost] to have a list from his ledgers in order somewhat to be able to make an arrangement of his debts and counter-debts, so that one might see whether the children could be assured of that which he has assigned them; having on top of that also summoned him in writing for the same purpose, as appears by the same summons annexed hereto, but everything is in vain; and whereas they, petitioners, see no prospect in the aforesaid matter that they still can reach voluntarily an honest arrangement and inventory of the estate, they are therefore obliged to turn to your honors, requesting that the same be pleased to authorize and order the lord fiscus to assist the petitioners, if need be, in the execution of their charge and to maintain promotion of the aforesaid children’s legal rights. Thus doing, etc. (below stood) Your highly esteemed honors’ subjects (and signed) Hend. J. vander Vin, Isaacq Grevenraet.