Document: Letter from the director and council to the magistrates of Gravesend

Worthy and dear friends:I duly received your honors' letter of the 18th of this month,[1] sent by our fiscal, which has been communicated to the gentlemen of the high council. It has surprised us greatly that your honors have taken upon yourself the publication of marriage bans within your village, without our and the councillors' knowledge, for persons both of whom live beyond the jurisdiction of your honors' village. Concerning your honors' allegations that the person is a freeman of your village: he is also [ a freeman ] of the city of Amsterdam and here of this city; therefore, the marriage bans must be reported and published here as well as there according to the customs of our fatherland. We do not deny that matrimony is governed by divine and human laws; however, they who enter into this state must do it according to these divine and human laws with the consent or knowledge of their parents and guardians, and then give notice thereof to the magistrates appointed thereto by the higher authorities, at the place where they reside or where they have been living during the preceding years. Your final request that we should send your honors a copy of the order and the power of attorney which his father has given us concerning his son, we consider ourselves not obliged to do for a subordinate bench of justice, being our subjects. In addition, the father would be displeased and it would be unreasonable for us to communicate to others what an honest and prominent man has written to us in a detailed letter. So much in reply to your open letter. This further serves as cover for the enclosed order and resolution[2] made by us and the council which you are to obey at once, not because we wish to prevent the marriage, but so that they may be put in effect, proclaimed and affixed at the proper place, according to divine and human laws and ordinances, and without the infraction of anyone's rights. Relying thereon, after cordial greetings, we commend your honors to God's protection and shelter and remain; below was written: your honors' dear friend and governor; and was signed: Ptr. Stuyvesant; dated: 20 January 1654, New Amsterdam.

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 5.