Document: Sentence of Henry Townsen for harboring Quakers

Henry Townsen, who was summoned on the 8th of this month of January for reasons stated in the resolution of the aforesaid date, appeared in the meeting today. The fiscal Nicasius de Sille as keeper of justice, orally demanded that the aforesaid Henry Townsen, on account of reasons stated before, should be condemned to a fine of one hundred pounds Flemish, because the said Townsen before, and now again, violated and transgressed the edicts of the director general and councilors of New Netherland by lodging and accommodating [ the sect ] called the Quaackers, which he admitted completely. The said Henry Towsen, for the stated reasons should be condemned to a fine of 100 pounds Flemish.244 [ This ] [as an example for other transgressors and contumacious offenders of good order and the placards of the director general and councilors in New Netherland.[i]

Having heard the demand of the fiscal and the confession of the said Henry Townsend, the director general and councilors of New Netherland, administering the law in the name of their high: might: the lords States General of the United Netherlands and the lords directors of the Priv. W. I. Company condemn said Henry Townsend to a fine of f 300, to be applied as directed by law; he to remain in prison, until the fine has been paid, with the costs and mises of law as an example to others.

Done in council, the 15th of January 1658.

P. Stuyvesant]

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.