Document: Discharge of William Bowne and Edward Browse, guardians of John Ruckman

5 May

The lords councilors of New Netherland having seen and read the petition William Bouwne and Eduard Bronje, inhabitants of the village of Gravesende on Long Island, guardians of John Ruckman, son of John Ruckman, whereby they remonstrate and inform that their guardianship over the aforesaid John Ruckman, according to law, still has three years to run; however, whereas he has requested to be his own guardian and master of the goods left him, and they also completely trust the aforesaid John Ruckman, as he is a young man of good standing, name and reputation, and is and always has been capable and competent to use the goods that were left to him, as is fitting and for his own benefit. Therefore, the aforesaid guardians request authorization from the the lords councilors [ ] the aforesaid John Ruckman [ ] [ ] his own guardian and [ ] in the goods that [ ]

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guardians together with [ ] of the schout, secretary, [ ] aforesaid village on behalf of the [ ] the aforesaid guardians William Bouwne [ ] and hereby authorize [ ] in the goods that were left to him [ ] and declare the same to be of age [ ] and balance in the presence of two to three honest and impartial persons [ ] to the aforesaid John [ ]. Thus done and granted at Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra. Was signed: Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne.

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 6.