Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 24 November - 1 December 1639

On the 24th of November

Cornelis vander Hoykens, fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Jan Schepmoes, defendant, for theft of goods belonging to Fredrick Lubberssen. Plaintiff demands that the defendant be punished for stealing the goods of Fredrick Lubberssen which were entrusted to him and which he was in duty bound zealously to protect in case others should have wished to steal them.

Having seen the complaint of the fiscal and the confession of the defendant that he and Claes de Veringh had stolen bread, lard, oil, cheese and brandy, Schepmoes and de Veringh are condemned to pay for all that Fredrick can prove to have been taken by the defendants, and after due compensation to satisfy the fiscal.

Lourens Haen, plaintiff, vs. Nicolaes , the tobacco planter, defendant. Plaintiff demands payment for or restitution of the canoe loaned by him. Defendant having admitted that he borrowed68the canoe, he is condemned to pay the value of the canoe within eight days or else to restore the canoe.

Nicolaes , the tobacco planter, plaintiff, vs. Tomas Hal, defendant, who appears for G[ e ]orge Homs. The defendant, that is to say, the plaintiff, says that he delivered to G[ e ]orge Homs a small cask of wine for which he demands payment. The defendant says that G[ e ]orge Homs received no wine from the plaintiff. Case adjourned until the next court day.

On the 1st of December, being Thursday

The commissaries Elslandt, Wybrsndt Pietersen and Corl[ ae ]r are ordered to prepare their accounts within eight days and in default thereof they shall be proceeded against with all rigor according to the merits of the case.

Isaac Abrahamsz, plaintiff, vs. Gerrit the Moff,[1] defendant, default.

The same, plaintiff, vs. Aert Tonissen, defendant. Default.

G[ e ]orge Peper, plaintiff, vs. Gerrit the Moff, defendant. Default.