Document: Petition of Augustyn Heerman and others that they may be paid their share of a certain prize captured in 1650 by the privateer La Garce

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

The undersigned interested parties of the captured prize goods from La Garce, with all due humble reverence make known that the same goods had been already sold at public auction in the year 1650, and the proceeds therefrom were paid out as compensation and shares respectively to the petitioners for having ventured and risked, the one and other, their lives and fortunes in the capture, for which reason they therefore would have satisfaction therein; therefore, they humbly request that your esteemed honors be pleased to order that they may receive the payment thereof; being content, if need be, to pledge sufficient security, in case afterwards claims and demands for payment should arise because the aforesaid goods are declared not to be valid prizes. Awaiting your esteemed honors’ favorable response, we remain your honors’ subjects (was signed:) Jacob Stevensz, Willem Pietersz de Groot, the mark of Willem Woutersz, Janten Claes, the widow of Tobias, the mark of Aert Willemsz, Hendrick Hendricksz, Mattheus Capito on behalf of Anthoni Bermuda, the mark of Jacob Stoffelsz, Jacob Kip, as well as having the proxy of Gerrit Hendricks, Jan Peecq, Mary Gerardij, Augustinus Heerman[ s ].