Document: Sentence of William Wickendam for officiating as a gospel minister at Flushing without authority

Whereas William Wickendam, born at Oxfordshire in England, old 42 years, now a prisoner, has had the audacity to call to and hold conventicles and gatherings and in contempt of [ published and repeatedly renewed placards of the director general and councilors of New Netherland has, as he himself confesses, usurped the office of minister of the Gospel in expounding and interpreting God’s Holy Word and administering and officiating ] also the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper without being called or appointed thereto by any ecclesiastical or secular authority, which is directly contrary to the general political and ecclesiastical rules of our fatherland and especially to the aforesaid placard of the director general and councilors, expressly forbidding all such public or private conventicles and gatherings, except the usual meetings, which are not only lawfully permitted, but also, based upon God’s Word, founded and ordered meetings of the reformed religion as they conform to the Synod of Dordrecht are observed here in this country, in the fatherland, and other reformed churches in Europe, for the service of God.[i]

Therefore the said William Wickendam, in pursuance of the tenor of the aforesaid placard, is condemned to a fine of 100 pounds Flemish and is further banished from this province of New Netherland, remaining in prison, until the aforesaid [fine with the costs and mises of law, incurred in his case, shall have been paid.

Thus decreed] and sentenced by the director general and councilors in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 8th of November anno 1656.

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.