Document: Power of attorney from Adriaen Keyser to Dirck van Schelluyne to manage his affairs during his absence

On this day, date underwritten, before me, Cornelis van Ruyven, appointed secretary in New Netherland for the General Chartered West India Company, residing on the island of Manhatans in Fort New Amsterdam, appeared the worthy Adriaen Keyser who, intending to proceed from here to Patria, declared that he had appointed and empowered, as he hereby does appoint and empower, the worthy Dirck van Schelluyne, notary public in this city of New Amsterdam, to administer and manage to the best advantage all the goods which he, the principal, has here at present or which may be sent to him here during his absence, as well movables as immovables, actions and credits, no property excepted; to sell or lease the same as the good judgment of him, the attorney, will direct; also to receive all moneys which at present are due, or which hereafter shall be due to the principal from divers persons and to give receipt therefor; to proceed at law against unwilling debtors, to put in execution the judgment obtained and to prosecute the same to the end; to appeal from or seek modification of all judgments, whether definitive or interlocutory, to which he may have reason to object and to prosecute the said appeals and for the prosecution only to substitute one or more attorneys in his place. All that will be done and performed in the matter aforesaid and what appertains thereto by his aforesaid attorney or his substitutes ad lites, he, the principal, promises to hold and to cause to be held of the same force and virtue as if the same were done and performed by him, the principal, in person, all under binding obligation as by law provided, on condition that the attorney, under like obligation, remain bound, when required by the principal, to render a proper account, proof and balance of his transactions and administration; all without fraud or deceit. Of which he requests that an authentic instrument in the usual form be made and delivered. Thus done in Fort New Amsterdam, in the presence of Jan Jansen uyten Westerhout[1] and Jan Engelbrechten, as witnesses hereto invited, this day the 10th of September A°. 1654, in New Netherland.

A. Keyser
Jan Enghebrechse van Onnen
Jan Jansen
Cornelis van Ruyven