Document: Judgment in the case of the heirs of Johanna Wheeler vs. the heirs of Henry Feaks

The heirs of Johanna Whiller, plaintiffs, against the heirs of Henrij Feacx, defendants. The plaintiffs say that about 4 years ago their mother, Johanna Whiller, being a widow with 2 children, married one Henrij Feacx, widower with 3 children, which Henrij Feecx and Johanna Whiller, in this, their second marriage without any children at [several lines lost] therefore as [ ] of Johanna Whiller [ ] maternal goods, which they say, how by virtue of a certain writing passed by Henrij Feecx before his death it was kept from them by the defendants. The defendants show a certain writing, or, as they call it, a testament or last will of Henrij Feecx, signed Henrij Feecx, and as witnesses, John Moone and John Barker, dated Middelborch in N: Netherland, 24 September 1657, by virtue of which they claim to be entitled to the possessions left behind. The aforesaid document having been examined, it is found that Henrij Feecx bequeathed much more to his children than what half of his possessions are worth, without making therein any mention of the children left behind with Johanna Whiller, notwithstanding the fact that most possessions, as is said, came from their mother’s side. And whereas the said Feecx was not allowed to bequeath more than half the value of his possessions, the director general and councilors of New Netherland judge and order that all possessions left behind by Henrij [ Feacx ] [several lines lost] done [ ] to pay and to [ ] late Feecx and Johan[ na Whiller ] left behind, and then [ ] to [ divide ] the goods in two half portions or parts; the one half for the heirs of Henrij Feecx, and the other half for Johanna Whiller’s heirs. Dated as above.