Document: Petition of Armgard Prints for a grant of certain lands at Printsdorp and Tinnakunck

Copy[i]

Noble, honorable, lord general, director of New Netherland. The lord general is, without a doubt, well aware of how our former [several lines lost] Swede [ ] and also presently confirmed by this [ ] her royal majesty. However, now after almost three years [ ] and overrun with young undergrowth, in addition the house standing thereon has mostly been destroyed by the Indiaenen; therefore, I was moved to have the same repaired by three Finns and the land seeded. Whereas the lord commandant, contrary to my hopes, has forbidden me to continue with such, I am therefore compelled to inform the lord general of such with the humble prayer that he be pleased, out of favor and good will as well as the well sustained friendship with my lord father, to allow me to enjoy the same, as I thus firmly trust [ therein ]; I pray therefore again that my people at Prinsdorp be left to continue to cultivate the land unmolested and that for greater assurance to be granted from the lord general a free patent to the place as well as at Tinnakunck. I hope that such will be acknowledged out of great friendship for my lord father and be rewarded as gratitude as far as possible. Whereby may the lord general be commended to the protection of the Almighty’s grace. (dated:) Tinnakunck, the 3rd of August 1656 (below stood) the lord general’s servant (was signed:) Armgardt Prints.

[several lines lost] is pursuant to the [ ] grant

the lands [ ] her father at Prints [ ] to benefit from and to use. Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 28th of August 1656 (was signed) P. Stuyvesant.[ii]