Document: Petition of Nicolas Gregorius Hillebrantsen to be allowed to defend himself from an accusation of sodomy

[several lines lost] Nicolaes [ Gregorius Hillebrantsen shows with due respect ] that he is being charged and accused by one [ Rut Jacobsen, dwelling ] at Fort Orange, that he supposedly was in his garden with a boy and that he supposedly did unnatural deeds with him, which the petitioner denies, and he hopes that God will guard him from such things.[i] Therefore, he protests and requests, although he has neither money nor goods to spend, but he offers his flesh and blood as security, so that justice may be done to him herein, in guilt or innocence, as the honorable lords will judge it best. Expecting hereon your honors’ favorable disposition, I will remain your honors’ obedient servant (lower stood), the honorable lords’ obliging servant, (was signed) Nicolaes Gregorius Hillebrantsen.

Having received and read the above request, after deliberation it is resolved as follows: The petitioner, thinking that he is wrongly accused, has to request reparation and satisfaction from the judges before whom he was first accused, and by whose sentence he finds himself injured, the appeal remaining open to him. Dated as above.

[several lines lost] the same [ ] sailors [ ]

Having taken the request in consideration [ it is resolved ]: The petitioners are allowed [ ] of a hundred beavers. Dated as above.

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 8.