Document: Order granting the petition of Adriaenge Walich, wife of Dirck Teunissen Noorman of Midwout

Copy.

To the honorable lord director general and councilors of New Netherland.

Your honors’ humble petitioner, Adriaengen Walichs, housewife of Dirck Teunis de Noorman, living in the village of Midwout on Long Island, makes known with all due reverence how it is that her, the petitioner’s, husband and daughter have become infamous just as if they have engaged in adultery and incest, which some persons have spread around passionately; and whereas my daughter, named Trijntgen Cornelis, continues to insist that for her entire life she has had no carnal intercourse with any man and is ready and willing [ ] regarding this with the [several lines lost] at once [ ] petitioner may be permitted [ ] your honors be pleased to order and immediately authorize the midwives of this city, together with some honest matrons whom your honors shall be pleased to appoint thereto, who shall examine my aforesaid daughter in this matter and shall make a trustworthy report from it according to the truth of their findings, such as is appropriate according to the law; also, that her, petitioner’s, daughter, as well as her husband, be cleared of such bad rumors by such examination and findings and the truth of the matter may show your honors that her daughter and husband are innocent of the deed, praying humbly that your honors be pleased to permit this her request etc.

(signed) Ariaentgen Walichs

After due deliberation it was decided that the request be permitted on the condition that beforehand the runaway Dirck Teunis Noorman and her, petitioner’s, daughter present themselves personally before the director general and councilors. Dated 20 March anno 1657.