Document: Petition of Jochem (Wesselse) Backer for leave to return to Fort Orange

Copy.

To the highly esteemed lords director general and high councilors of New Netherland.

Highly esteemed lords.

Whereas the primary trade at Fort Orange has arrived, which is considered of highest importance for the confined Jochem Wesselsz Backer, as the majority of his outstanding debts are out there among the people and by lack of collection of them at this time, he would be sufficiently deprived thereof to the total ruin and devastation of him, his wife, and children, because and whereas the case taken up against him by the lord fiscal, could keep him from doing that. In order to prevent his ruin as much as is possible, he humbly requests that your honors be pleased to allow him to depart at the first opportunity for Fort Orange in order to be able to save himself under promise and security to appear here again at your esteemed honors’ written order. Awaiting your honors’ favorable decision, I shall remain your honors’ subject (was signed) Jochem Backer.

After due deliberation it was decided: [several lines lost] whereof he was firmly [ un ]decided before [ ] and councilors, his departure and residence at Fort Orange are by no means allowed before better investigation about one thing and the other and proper justice is done. Meanwhile the fiscal is ordered to place a copy of his demand in the hands of the petitioner. Dated as above.