Document: Ordinance for the impounding of goats and sheep found injuring the fortifications

The director-general and council of New Netherland, to all those who see or hear this read, greetings. Let it be known that the works of the fort have been now repaired and rebuilt 2 or 3 times at considerable expense and labor, and time after time trampled down and rutted up by the hogs, from which the recently repaired and constructed works are exposed apparently to the same great danger. The director-general and council, desiring to act against such damage, for the preservation of all the outer and inner works, order all good inhabitants of this city to secure their goats, sheep and especially their hogs so that they do no damage to the works, and, at the same time, warn all persons that those hogs, goats or sheep found, 24 hours after the publication hereof, on the walls or constructed works of the fort, either on the outer or inner works, shall be rounded up and impounded, with one pound Flemish forfeited for each hog, goat or sheep for the benefit of the person who catches it, or he shall be forfeited the hog, goat or sheep, if the owner fails to claim it within the period of 24 hours. Thus done at the session of the honorable director-general and high council held in New Amsterdam, 11 July 1654, New Netherland; below was written: by order of the honorable director-general and council; and was signed: Corn. van Ruyven, secretary.

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 5.