Document: Petition of Hendrick van Dyck, late fiscal, for his third of the confiscated property of Jacob Reyntie

Copy.To the noble, highly esteemed director-general and council of New Netherland.

Henricus van Dyck presents, with all due humility, how he, the petitioner, arrived here in 1647 on behalf of their High Mightinesses, the lords States-General of the United Netherlands and the honorable lords-directors of the Chartered West India Company, honored with the office of fiscal of New Netherland. On the 22nd of May of the same year, the petitioner assumed the duties of the aforesaid as is well-known. While performing his duties it so happened that he, the petitioner, in his aforesaid capacity, arrested the person of Jacob Rynties on 28 May 1648 for selling gunpowder, lead and guns to the Indians. The aforesaid Jacob Rynties was charged and properly prosecuted; an inventory of his goods was made in the presence of the commissary. The judgment obtained against him declared that the aforesaid goods be confiscated, of which confiscation the petitioner in his capacity was due a just third part, amounting to one thousand seven hundred and fifty guilders, thirteen stivers, 5⅓; in addition a just third of the bag of money found among Jacob Reynties’ goods and also taken by the honorable, esteemed director. Whereas the petitioner has still not had the pleasure of his just third part of the aforesaid confiscated goods, which, with all due respect, should have been given to him; therefore, he, the petitioner, turns to your honors, requesting that he be satisfied here with his just third part as soon as possible.Thus doing . . . and signed: Hendrick van Dyck.

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.