Document: Sentence of Nicholas Albertsen

[several lines lost] neither [ ] has [ and exceeded himself so far ] (:after having served [ only ] for about three [ months:) ] as a scoundrel ran away with pack and sack [ from the said garrison and the ] Comp. to New England, intending never to come back on the said yacht or to the Company; thus at the same time leaving his betrothed, after he had his banns registered and proclaimed in the church according to custom, not only ridiculing the honorable consistory this way, but also his betrothed, and in addition, deliberately robbing his bride by taking with him a gun that did not belong to him. These are matters contrary to political, ecclesiastical, and military ordinances that ought not be tolerated or suffered in a place where law and justice are administered but, as a warning and example to others, deserve to be punished severely. Therefore, having heard the prisoner’s own confession and the fiscal’s claim, and having paid attention to whatever may be relevant in the matter, the honorable lord director general and the stern council of war, performing justice in the name of and on account of the honorable high and mighty lords States General of the United Netherlands and the lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, chamber Amsterdam, after calling God’s Holy name, the [several lines lost] to have a hole cut in each ear with a glowing awl in order to distinguish him from others if he should run away again. And in addition, to work with the Company’s Negroes for two years, denying the fiscal his further claim. Thus done and sentenced in Fort Amsterdam in N: Netherland the 15th of April anno 1658.

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.