Document: Appointment of councillors La Montagne and Werckhoven to attend a convention of delegates from the nearest colonies

Whereas several complaints have been made to us concerning the pillaging and robberies of a certain Thomas Bacxter, a fugitive from this jurisdiction, and his companions, committed on Jochum Pietersz Cuyter, Willem Harck, among others, especially the secret and stealthy theft of 10 or 12 horses from the village of Amesfoort, and whereas we are incensed by these and other piracies and robberies committed by the aforesaid Bacxter and his accomplices and complained of by the injured inhabitants; therefore, we have resolved to send letters to and summon from each of the nearest subordinate colonies two deputies who are to meet at the City Hall in this city and to whom we think it advisable to add two respected members of our high council, namely, the honorable Mr. Johan la Montagne and Mr. Cornelis van Werckhoven who are authorized to present on our behalf the proposal and further to deliberate with the other deputies for the reputation and greater security of the country and its good inhabitants upon some effective remedies and means to prevent and stop these robberies, of which deliberations they will give us a report with all due speed. Done at New Amsterdam, 24 November 1653. Was signed

P. Stuyvesant. 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.