Document: RESOLUTION against plundering gardens belonging to blacks and Indians

Resolution drawn up at Fort Amsterdam on Curacao, 26 February 1643.

Pursuant to the complaints of the Indians and Negroes that some of the Companys servants have robbed their abandoned gardens of fruit left behind [ ] near the Quarter, Piscadero[i] and Enchorro[ii] and destroyed the fruit trees, as well as now having trespassed on the Companys cultivated plantation and stolen some fruit; in order to prevent such irregularities, we have decided first to forbid such plundering through an ordinance carrying the death penalty, and if our intention is not thereby attained, to prevent movement into the country. In acknowledgment thereof, we have signed this with our own hands. Done at the place, year and day as above.

P. Stuyvesant
Jacob Lopper
Brian Newton
L. Rodenborch
Claes Maertensz
Jan Klaessen Smal
Jacob Tijssen Pal

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 York (Colony). Council. Curacao records, 1640-1665. Series A1883-78. Volume 17, document 2c, page 2 - 2d, side 2.