Document: Appointment of magistrates for the town of Heemsteede

To the honorable, dear and good friends, the inhabitants of the village of Midwout.[1]

[Today, dated as below, the nomination for magistrates of the village of Heemstede on Long Island in this province of New Netherland, dated 8 December 1653, was submitted to the honorable director-general and council. According to the privileges granted to the aforesaid village, a double number had been nominated from which the general and council were to make their selection. After mature deliberation and for the sake of unity and peace among the inhabitants of the aforesaid village, they, for the present, selected and appointed as magistrates of the village of Hemstede: Mr. Stickland, Mr. Wasborn and Mr. Gilderslieff, who are to administer law and justice in the aforesaid village to the best of their knowledge and information in accordance with their privileges and the laws of New Netherland. Hereupon the above said magistrates took the oath before the honorable director-general and council.The newly elected and qualified magistrates are here by authorized to call to their assistance, in cases of absence or important actions coming up before them, two or three capable persons out of the community or the former magistrates residing in the aforesaid village.Thus done at the meeting of the director-general and high council held at Fort Amsterdam, 11 December 1653.By order of the director-general and high council,Cornelis van Ruyven, secretary.] [2]

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.