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

[several lines lost] the honorable [ lord ]

Jochem Backer, prisoner, once again most humbly [ ] the matter between him and the lord [ fiscal ] in dispute has been continued in writing on demand [ by ] answer and response that your honors, God willing, be pleased either to terminate and expedite the case soon, or otherwise to let him go home with the promise, under bail set higher still than before, appearing here in person again upon your honors’ written order, taking in consideration that his present stay here during this principal trading season would cause his total ruin, for he has no servants nor anyone except his wife at home. Expecting that no person would be served by his destruction and he requests hereby your highly esteemed honors’ favorable and kind disposition. Thus doing etc. (below was written) Your honors’ humble subject (was signed) Jochem Backer.

Upon the above petition the honorable lord director general decided as follows: Upon the persistence of the petitioner [several lines lost] to appear [ ] the director general and councilors [ ] he is summoned.[i]

Done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 19th of May anno 1657 (was signed) P. Stuyvesant (below was written) By order of the honorable lord director general and councilors of New Netherland (and signed) C.V. Ruyven, secretary.