homeward bound cargoes, do not appear to us sufficient or practical, considering that private skippers should have herein as perfect liberty, as the traders in their trade, and both would by such restrictions be more deterred from, than animated to engage in the New Netherland trade. * * * * * We send herewith an instruction drawn up by us for the Schout of the City of New Amsterdam. You may examine it and give us your opinion by the first opportunity, letting the Fiscal** in the meantime take charge of the office. We have hesitated much to allow him to do so, on account of the serious and general complaints made here against him every day. We have therefore deemed it necessary to recommend to the said Fiscal, that he give, if possible, better satisfaction to the community there, or else we shall be compelled to take other measures. The preacher Polhemius, arrived there from Brasil, has informed us by letter of his willingness to remain in New Netherland and take charge of the congregation at Midwout. If you think, he is wanted there and the said Polhemius is found to lead an irreproachable life, we have no objections to his becoming minister there provisionally and until our further order at a salary already provided or to be provided for by the congregation, without becoming a burden to the Company. Although the condition of affairs is not favorable to still further diminish the revenues, received by the Company here, we have nevertheless, out of consideration of the bad times and to encourage and assist both traders and inhabitants there, resolved to reduce the duties on outward bound cargoes, except Indian goods, as duffels and blankets, from 16 to 10 per cent. so that we have received from one only 12 and from the other only 6 p. c. duties, the remaining 4 p. c. being sent to you as formerly, until the negotiated loan is paid. You will govern yourselves accordingly. In our last letter directed to Director Stuyvesant personally, and sent by the ships "Swarte Arent" and "Grote Christoffel" we fully expressed our settled determination and intention concerning the manner, in which you must deal with the Swedes on the South river. In consequence of it we hoped, that the expedition against them had already been made; but having since. learned by a letter from the said Director, dated at Barbadoes on the 22d of January of this year, that he had left New Netherland, we found ourselves disappointed in our hopes. It has properly astonished us and given very little satisfaction, especially because the Director's voyage was made without our knowledge and consont; but we have nevertheless decided not only to take up the project again, but also to carry it out with so much more assurance of success. We have now chartered for this purpose from the Burgomasters and Council of this city one of their four largest and best ships, called the "Waegh," armed with 36 pieces, which is now being made ready for sea and will sail from here with about 200 men in 12 or 14 days. As soon as it shall have arrived there you are directed and authorized to undertake immediately and as quick as possible, but with caution, this expedition and carry it out bravely, even though Director Stuyvesant should not have returned from his voyage. In that case you may open our said last letter to him personally, that you too may be informed of our opinions and wishes and govern yourselves accordingly; but we strictly command you to keep its contents a secret among you, as honor and your oath demand it, and not to divulge them until with God's help the expedition shall have successfully been made. As we have said above no delay or sluggishness must be permitted, for we understand, that great preparations are being made in Sweden, to assist their countrymen on the South river. *Passages referring to personal accounts of servants and soldiers of the Company. The enclosed letter directed to Director Stuyvesant privately is not to be read by any one except himself. We trust this injunction will be obeyed. We have chartered here a ship, "Liefde," of about 180 lasts, which sailed from the Texel for Curaçao on the 27th of March last, to take in the cargo of wood and salt now ready there and bring it here. Copies of our letter to Vice-Director Rodenbergh and the lists of necessaries sent out to the Island will be forwarded to you by the next ship for your own government. We have already mentioned, that by the first opportunity we expect to receive from you the original and authenticated documents and papers concerning the illegal proceedings of the Swedes on the South river. You will please to remember, that we include among them attested depositions regarding the shameful and hostile capture of the Company's fort on said river and everything relating to it, which was fully explained in our last letter, to which we refer. Herewith etc. Amsterdam, 26th of April 1655. To Director Stuyvesant and Council in New Netherland. The Directors of the W. I Co. Dept. of Amsterdam J. BONTEMANTEL. DEED OF A HOUSE AND PARCEL OF LAND IN THE VILLAGE OF BREUCKELEN. Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven appointed secretary in New Netherland in the service of the General Incorporated West India Company, residing in Fort Amsterdam, appeared the Honble Mr. Cornelis van Tienhoven of the one part, and Jan Cornelissen Damen from Buninck, of the other part. The above named Mr. Tienhoven acknowledges to have sold and Jan Cornelissen Damen to have bought a certain parcel of land belonging to the Vendor, with the house thereon standing, situate on Long Island in the village of Breuckelen, between Joris Dircksen and Black Hans, as large and small as appears by the ground brief thereof, with the right which the said Mr. Tienhoven has thereto, free and unincumbered, without any charge standing thereon, or arising therefrom saving the Lord's right. The buyer promises to pay for the purchase of said land and the house thereon standing the sum of thirteen hundred Carolus guilders @ 20 stivers each, in the following installments: May 1656, one third of the promised moneys; May 1657, one-third, and May 1658, the remaining third part, each third being fl. 433. 6. 8. It is further conditioned and stipulated that the said parcel of land with the house thereon standing shall remain as specially hypothecated and mortgaged to the aforesaid Mr. Tienhoven, or his assign, until the said 3 installments to the amount of 1300 guilders shall have been paid, when a deed shall be given by the aforesaid Mr. Tienhoven or his assign, to the purchaser or his attorney. For which the respective parties pledge all their property, present and future submitting the same to all courts, tribunals and judges. Thus done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland in the presence of Frederick Lubbertsen and Albert Cornelissen, witnesses hereunto invited, the 29th April A° 1655. PETITION OF THE CLERK OF THE COURTS OF BREUCKELEN, MIDWOUT AND AMESFOORT FOR AN ALLOWANCE FOR HIS TROUBLES AND ORDER ESTABLISHING A TARIFF OF FEES. To their Noble, Very Worshipful Honors, the Council of New Netherland. Respectfully shows David Provoost, by the Director-General and Council appointed temporarily as Secretary or Clerk of the Courts of Breukelen, Midwout and Amesfoort, that he now has performed his duties for more than a year to the best of his abilities without receiving any salary; he requests therefore that he may be paid at least some wages for his labors in the same manner, as your Honors have been pleased to allow to Secretary Kip for taking affidavits and entering sentences in the minutes. He remains, not doubting, Yours Honors' humble servant New Amsterdam in N. N. date as above. After having read the foregoing petition, the following order was made: We allow and give the petitioner permission to demand for every appointment made by the Schepens or order upon a petition a fee of 12 stivers and for entering the same in the minutes 6 stivers. For drawing up a petition, which he must cause to be signed by the petitioner 16 st., if the document is to be used in a civil suit, or 20 st., if it is to be used in suits for slander or criminal actions of the middle degree. For attesting a certificate 24 st. But petitions and remonstrances to be presented to the Director-General and Council by order of the Schepens and all others writings and instruments drawn up by their order, shall be made by him gratis, on the yearly salary promised to him by the Director and Council. Done at Amsterdam, N. N. date as above. NICASIUS DE SILLE. LA MONTAGNE. ORDER ON A PETITION OF GREGORY DEXTER, AN ENGLISHMAN, DESIRING TO SETTLE ON LONG ISLAND 13th of May 1655. The Council having read the petition of Gregory Dexter for a parcel of land in this Province of New Netherland for himself and some English servants, also the letters given him by Mylady Deborah Moody and John Browne. It is resolved to answer, that the matter must be deferred until the return of his Honor, the Director-General, who will arrive in a short time. DEED OF LOT No. 27, IN THE VILLAGE OF GRAVESEND, L. I. Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven appointed Secretary in New Netherland in the service of the General Priv. West India Company and before the undernamed witnesses appeared Elbert Eldertsen, attorney of Isaac Grevenraet of the one part, and Peter Ebel of the other part. The above-named Eldertsen acknowledges in his aforesaid quality to have sold and he, Peter Ebel, to have bought a certain parcel of land situate on Long Island in the village of Gravesend, called number twenty-seven, with all the outbuildings, house and whatever is earth and nail fast thereon or is sown therein, as large and as small as Isaac Grevenraet has acquired it, free and unincumbered without any charge standing thereon or arising therefrom save the Lord's right. Elbert Eldertsen has also sold and delivered to the purchaser, who acknowledges to have received, one cow and two heifer calves, with one harrow and a plow. For the purchase of said parcel of land together with the house and outbuildings and whatever is above-mentioned, the buyer promises to deliver his house and lot situate and being in Pearl street in the city of Amsterdam between the widow of Cors Pietersen and Jorse Rapailje, also free and unincumbered, without any charge standing thereon or arising therefrom save the Lord's right, and in addition thereto within one year, the sum of two hundred Carolus guilders @ 20 stivers each. For all which the respective parties pledge each his person and property, movable and immovable, present and future, submitting the same to all courts, tribunals and judges. Thus done without guile or deceit in the presence of Mr. Jan de Jongh and Jan Hendricksen, witnesses hereunto invited, in Amsterdam in New Netherland the 21st May A' 1655. DEED FOR 25 MORGENS OF LAND, SITUATE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE VILLAGE OF MIWOUT, L. I. Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven appointed Secretary in New Netherland in the service of the General Priv. West India Company, and before the undernamed witnesses appeared Mr. Jan de Jongh of the one part, and Jan Hendricksen van Gunst of the other part. The above named Jan de Jongh acknowledges to have sold, and Jan Hendricksen to have bought, a certain lot or parcel of land belonging to the vendor, containing twenty-five morgens situate on the westerly side of the village of Midwout on Long Island, adjoining on the south side Rutger Jansen, on the north side Aert Tonissen, on the east side the Highway, and on the west side the hills and the North river, together with the outbuildings now in progress and the building timber which at present lies cut on the aforesaid land, and still further so much meadow and pasture land with it as is allotted or shall yet be assigned to the aforesaid lot along with the other neighbors; all with such right and title as the vendor has acquired to the aforesaid lot of land by virtue of the purchase from Jan Rutgersen, according to the bill of sale dated 10th of March A° 1655, thereof executed before Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary and certain witnesses. The aforesaid parcel of land is sold together with the outbuilding and whatever is abovementioned and shall be delivered to the purchaser free and unincumbered except the Lord's right. The buyer promises to pay for the purchase of the aforesaid parcel of land, and what is above enumerated, to the vendor or his attorney, in good current money, the sum of eight hundred Carolus guilders @ 20 stivers the guilder, in the following installments, to wit: on the date hereof the sum of two hundred guilders, on the first of March, Ao 1656, three hundred guilders, and on the first of March, A° 1657, the remaining three hundred guilders. It is further conditioned and stipulated, that the said parcel of land and building shall remain, the purchaser does hereby consent that they be, specially hypothecated and mortgaged to the abovenamed Mr. Jacob de Jongh, or his assign, until the said installments, to the amount of eight hundred guilders, and shall have been paid when the groundbrief shall be delivered by the vendor to the purchaser. For all that is aforesaid the respective parties pledge their persons and properties movable and unmovable, present and future, submitting the same to all courts, tribunals and judges. Thus done without fraud or deceit in the presence of Elbert Eldertsen and Peter Ebel, witnesses invited hereunto, in Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 22d May, A° 1655. This is the PE mark of PIETER EBEL, made by himself. In my presence, JAN HENDRICKS. JAN JANSEN DE Jongh, 1655. CORNELIS VAN RUYVEN. LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS IN HOLLAND TO STUYVESANT: CHILDREN FROM THE ORPHAN ASYLUM: BOUNDARIES: DISTURBANCES ON LONG ISLAND. Received by the man-of-war "de Waegh" Aug. 13th. Honorable, Prudent, Pious, Dear, Faithful. May 26th, 1655. You will see by the enclosed duplicates, to which we refer, what we wrote to you in our last general and private letters of the 26th of April 1., sent by the ship " Bontekoe" three or four weeks |