Document: Resolution to give private notice to Jan Dircksen and his wife to quit the country in the first sailing ship

Saturday, anno 1656, the 1st of July. Present at the session in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland the right honorable director general Petrus Stuyvesant, the honorable councilors Nicasius de Sille and J. La Montagne and the lords burgomasters of this city of Amsterdam, Allard Anthony and Stevensz Cortlant.

Whereas the deplorable experience shows and has shown for a long time past, that many wilden go drunk through the streets without it being possible so far to discover with certainty where they get the drink contrary to the strict orders; and further that the wilden are told and fooled with many stories by evil-minded people, among others, that the director general and councilors had sent for five hundred men, that they could not get any soldiers, that nobody would come here, and many similar stories, things of which the informants spreading them cannot be found out; and whereas many and almost general complaints and suspicions point to a certain Jan Dircksz and his wife, where the wilden have had unusual relations and have done so for some time, the director general and councilors have decided, with the advice of the burgomasters, that it would be better, as the majority suffer damage done by one, and for their security and to stop the talk of the people for the common good, that the aforesaid Jan Dircksz and his wife should be privately informed and directed to leave by the first ships. Thus done at the session in the year and on the day as above. (signed) P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, J. La Montagne.[i]

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.