The lord director general, having arrived at the Manhatans from the South River on Monday, [ the 15th inst, ] around noon, reports that his honor found many things at the South River in not such a condition as they should be, especially regarding the smuggling and frauds in the honorable Company’s recognition fees on goods sent there from Holland; as there were many goods unloaded from the last ships that were not marked with the honorable Company’s mark, without anything having been done about it. Also, that a case with 36 guns shipped by d o. Welius’s brother was unloaded from the ship the Waagh, which guns were distributed by lord Alrichs to the community there.[i]
2nd.. That the oath administered by lord Alrichs to the newly arrived people, with the exclusion of the honorable lords directors and the director general and councilors of New Netherland, appeared very strange to his honor. When the lord general talked to him about it lord Alrichs promised to change it, and accordingly requested that no mention would be made thereof to the honorable lords directors.
3. That one Vander As as well as one N. Ringh, finding themselves injured by sentences pronounced against them, intended to appeal; and when they asked the secretary there to lodge the appeal, the secretary refused to do so.
[ 4. That the Swedish nation had asked, after taking the oath, that it might be allowed and granted them not to be obliged to take sides if any troubles should arise between the crown of Sweden and our state at home ]; which was agreed to by the lord general.
Further, that his honor laid out some lots near Fort Altena, the single ones thirty feet, and the double ones at sixty feet wide and one hundred feet deep, provided that two dwellings be built upon the double lots. And if the first owners or acceptors of the lots fail to build upon them, these may, by order of the director general and councilors, be transferred to others who are more ready to build, provided that the first owner may demand one hundred guilders and no more for fencing and other expenses made on it.
Also, for officers of the Swedish nation on the South River were elected for captain, Swens Schoete
for lieutenant, Andries d’Albo for ensign, Jacob Swensoon
Thus reported by the lord director general Petrus Stuyvesant at the meeting in Fort Amsterdam on the 15th of May 1656.
