Long Island and that a small meadow is adjoining this tract, but not included in the patent, which the petitioner's neighbors use for making hay, although they have meadows within their own boundaries: she therefore humbly requests, that she may have sole control and use of this small meadow for herself and her heirs and that her patent receive this addition, considering that she is the first Christian daughter born here and is burdened as above stated and for other reasons, which may induce your Honble Worships to benefit her and her heirs by exempting her from the payment of tithes and other taxes already imposed. Awaiting your Honble Worships' favorable decision etc etc. The mark of SARAH JORESEY. The following decision was given to this request: The petitioner shall have her share of meadow as well as others: the further request is denied for good reasons. Date as above (April 4th 1656). COUNCIL MINUTES. LANDS TO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN MIDDELBORGH AND ARNHEM, L. I.; CANNONS FOR GRAVESEND; MAGISTRATES OF FORT ORANGE; ANTHONY JANSEN. Present his Honor, the Director-General Peter Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne, Cor. van Tienhoven. Mr Robert Coo, sent by the village of Middelborgh, appeared before the Council and whereas the people of the newly planted village of Arnhem mow and use the meadows, granted to the said village of Middelborgh, as if they belonged to them, he requests, that the meadows may be divided between the villages of Middelburgh and of Arnhem. After due consideration it was resolved, to send two commissioners to inspect the land and to allot to each party the due share. Date as above (April 4th, 1656). Monday, April 10th 1656. Received and read the petition of the Magistrates and inhabitants of Gravesend, asking, that, as they have surrounded their village with pallisades, they might be provided with three or four small pieces of ordnance and ammunition, in order to protect their village and its inhabitants against an attacking enemy, when necessary. After a vote had been taken, it was resolved to grant their request and give them for the use of the village two of the pieces lying near the Packhouse on the Strand of the East river; also to direct the Commissary, to deliver to the petitioners 50 lbs. of powder and for each piece 12 balls of 4 lbs. each. Thus done at Fort Amsterdam in N. N. Received and read the letter from the Commissary and Magistrates of the village of Beverwyck, dated A vote having been taken, the following selection was made from the list of nominations for officers for next year to take the place of the outgoing and as ordinary Magistrates of Fort Orange and the village of Beverwyck were appointed and confirmed JACOB SCHERMERHORN As extraordinary PHILIP PIETERSEN [SCHUYLER]. GOOSEN GERRITSEN [VAN SCHAICK]. As to the other matters mentioned in said letter, it was resolved, to send up two commissioners, as soon as the ships "Waegh" and "Gelderse Bloom" shall have sailed. Done at Fort Amsterdam in N. N. Date as above (April 12th 1656). Concerning the petition of Anthony Jansen, received by the Council and relating to the old differences about the boundaries between the village of Gravesend and his land, the DirectorGeneral and Council decide and herewith order, that the petitioner shall give a copy of his petition to the Magistrates of Gravesend and the court messenger shall direct them, to leave the matter upon reading this order in statu quo prius and not to proceed with the fencing and dividing of the land until further order and decision of the Director-General and Council. Date as above. LETTER FROM JOHN TILTON, CLERK OF THE TOWN OF GRAVESEND, TO STUYVESANT. Honoured St Wee received Ap11 25th 1656 a coppie of the remonstrance and complainte of Antonie Johnson, (by the stibo*), not only what falselie and maliciouslie hee hath charged to Vs as if soe had Christians, as Mauhammetans, himselfe as a trublsome person, reuiving to your truble and ours in this turblsome tyme, Wherein the whole Countrie seames to hange as vppon Geomitrie, and all our lieus in jeaperdie; as by the greate supplies the Indians haue of Armes and Ammunition; to the furnishing of themselves: more as formerlie; as if were Nye some verye sad tragedie,) about his, not our former Controuersie of the bounds and Limmetts of his bow land: the which the Heere Fiscall, with others of the High ratet deputed ended by markeing it out vnto him; of the which Bow land as hee saith, if wee shall wronge him in the leaste, wee desire to suffer in the extremest but preiudice and that ould ill opinion or rather that wicked spirit that causes him to speak euill of the Ruler of the people and highest officers which is most sufferable; doth against vs att this tyme moste falselie; as is not notoriouslie knowne oure land being bounded on the Westwaerd parte with his land, wee without offence thought wee might sett our postes and railes by his postes, or houses by his houses, which formerlie seuerall of vs English hazzarded our liues for the preseruation thereof and others there lost their liues by the Indians, all which is now forgott; againe wee knowe noe interualle of land that is betwixst him and vs, but ours adjoyning to him, vppon or about the Wester most p'. of the Iland in the Largest extent as farre as Land is, soe equallizeing his in the lenth thereof by Graunt and pattent; further the land nexst to him is ours by purchase from the true proprietours and is extant vnder their hands, to wch Antonie pleades the ffiscalls markeing it out was contrarie to the minds of the rest with him; secondlie hee pleades his purchase, which being longe after our pattent‡ deserues noe Answere, allsoe declareing: though against his will that some amongst vs were honest men and payed him for keepeing their Calues one that of pte our land, as wee vsuallie doe to them that keepe our Cowes one other ptes thereof, but for one or both; therefore to saye, the Land is theres is foolish and rediculous; and for his possession for manye yeares, wee graunt: hee hath had before wee come, and since, the greatest vse & benefitt thereof: with the preuilidges of hunting, fishing, fowling etc: but yett Corruption of the Dutch word Stedebode, Steebode, court messenger.—B. F. Raad Council.-B. F. * See for the Charter of Gravesend, dated Decmbr. 9, 1645. Laws of New Netherland, p. 53 et seq.-B. F. by our pattent, these all come ritelie vnto vs, and non to him the which in case wee had bynn called before yo' Honour the afforesaid Order would haue beynn omitted; for knoweing you haue euer professed to vs, our enjoyement of what is giuen vs: wee are not discouraged, but therefore minded still to p'fict our fenceing for the secureing more or less thereof as this year wee are able: which by S Hennery Modye and the Magistrates for ymselues & in o' behalfe; you shall further vnderstand, and hope to your Honours good sattisfaction and content the accommodations for our towne being soo small will not sattisfie 6 or 7 Bouries scaersely; yett seuerall haue heare continued in hopes of further inlargement according to promise, but if in stead thereof should bee a deminition of that wee haue; by some ill willers & wishers to vs instigating aga vs. yett are wee not such fooles or voide of reason but can see it; therefore are bould in ye owneing our rites especiallie when others laye claime thervnto; haueing onely against vs oure delaye & neglecte hetherto; wch wee answer was not being necessitated, secondlie not knoweing the bounds of his Land; hee pretending all was his: where vppon formerlie as you maye remember wee haue said it would accomodate seuerall plantations that might bee settled; Antō: haucing sufficient, and better then as wholelie in his hands; but wee haue found it and the sd Antonie a Lyer and haue reson according to the greate wrounge done thereby vnto vs soe longe tymne; and yett indeauors still to doc, to looke att him without respect of giueing him ought thereof; much more an equal share as a neighbour their with vs; wch very lately wee was willing and promised, though he refused it; never the less in or about any thing wee shall not bee contentious or raise dissencions but will in all things seeke after peace, wch shows as if flyeing awaye & sayeing adue: in the meane.tyme propound vnto your honours, the houses lands etc of seuerall of vs, vppon reasonable tearmes, desireing onely for ye Lands Improued, the moneys disbursed in purchase and the rest as it was giuen free, soe to returne againe and this wee saye, wth sober mindes, not as enemies, but faithful friends, vnder you and vppon yo' refusall wee haue of libbertie to sell to whome wee please, onely wee desire yo honour would bee pleased to take the p'mises in yo' was dome consideration. It is not our desires or intents to be any further troublesome aboute this Land of ours, therefore shall bee very glad you purchase of vs; and then Antonie that zibi lett him take all, and wee the inhabitants of Gravesend, does and shall while wee heare reside continue faithful to and vnder you and euer desireing your prosperitie soe rest. Maye, the 14th 1656, st: no: p' mе JOHN TILLTON, Clerk, in the name and behalfe of the whole towne as their mindes. To o honoured Governor Peter Stuyvesant Esquire Gouern Gen" of the N. Netherlands att the Cittie of N. Amsterdam this p'sent. PATENT FOR A LOT IN BROOKLYN, L. I. Petrus Stuyvesant, on behalf of their High: Might: the Lords States General of the United Netherlands and the Lords-Directors of the Priv. W. I. Company Director-General of New Netherland, Curaçao, Bonagro, Aruba and the dependencies thereof, with the Council testify and declare, that to-day, date underwritten, we have given and granted to Jochem Gerritsen Cock a lot for a house and garden, situate upon Long Island in the village of Breuckelen, measuring in width on the Highway twenty-five rods, the churchyard being on the West and the woods on the East, in length twenty-four rods in a direction South West by West, containing one morgen: with the express condition and stipulation, etc. Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland the 27th of May 1656. ORDINANCE OF THE MAGISTRATES OF MIDWOUT AND AMESFOORT, FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR VILLAGES, PASSED MAY 26th 1656, RATIFIED BY THE Director and COUNCIL OF NEW NETHERLAND JUNE 3rd, 1656. (See Laws of New Netherland p. 229.) LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORS TO STUYVESANT: TRADE BETWEEN VIRGINIA AND NEW NETHERLAND PROHIBITED; JEWS; LUTHERANS; PUBLIC RECORD. The 14th of June 1656 Honorable, Vigorous, Pious, Dear, Faithful, Our last letter to you, dated the 13th of March last past, was sent by the "Bontekoe;" we have since received by the ship "Nieuw Amsterdam," Pieter Dircksen Waterhont, skipper, your letter of the 21st of the same month, to which we shall briefly reply, as several points have been answered by ours of the 13th of March, that we are well satisfied with the expedition, which agreeably to our former orders you have caused to be led so discreetly and without difficulty or bloodshed against the English on Long Island, who encroached there upon the Company's territory. We approve of what has been done there and recommend you to act henceforth in the same way in regard to encroachments or usurpations by the English; but be as cautious as possible, that no acts of open hostility occur, which must be avoided and harmony maintained. As to your fears concerning the trade with Virginia, that it will not be of long duration, because of the high price of all kinds of merchandises, the low price of tobacco, and because you are informed, that England has forbidden the trading from Virginia to New Netherland,—we are not so much alarmed as you show yourselves to be in your last letter, partly because the price of tobacco may shortly improve, which will re-establish the trade and make a better market for merchandise, partly because they in Virginia receive from their own nation in England no such goods as they need: besides they have to buy from their own people at higher prices, than from us a natural consequence-because Virginia tobacco sells in England on an average at a lower price, than here: it is therefore often brought from there directed to our provinces and this, we think, should induce the Virginians to continue their commercial relations with you under all circumstances. But as no reliance can be placed upon all such and similar relations and because trade to all foreign places is brisker one year than the other, the cultivation of tobacco (which also succeeds well in New-Netherland if properly cured and preserved) should be so much more promoted and fostered; that would give a firmer footing to and vastly encourage commerce. We shall therefore think of all possible measures and endeavor to have the import duties on tobacco removed. Jews. We have seen and heard with displeasure, that against our orders of the 15th of February 1655, issued at the request of the Jewish or Portuguese nation, you have forbidden them to trade to Fort Orange and the South river, also the purchase of real estate, which is granted to them About the without difficulty here in this country, and we wish it had not been done and that you had obeyed our orders, which you must always execute punctually and with more respect: Jews or Portuguese people however shall not be employed in any public service, (to which they are neither admitted in this city), nor allowed to have open retail shops, but they may quietly and peacefully carry on their business as before said and exercise in all quietness their religion within their houses, for which end they must without doubt endeavor to build their houses close together in a convenient place on one or the other side of New Amsterdam,-at their own choiceas they have done here. We would also have been better pleased, if you had not published the placat against the Lutherans, a copy of which you sent us, and committed them to prison, for it has always been our About the intention, to treat them quietly and leniently. Hereafter you will therefore not publish Lutherans. such or similar placats without our knowledge, but you must pass it over quietly and let them have free religious exercises in their houses. We are here still negotiating with their Noble Worships, the Lords-Burgomasters of this City, in regard to the establishment of some colonies there, which we think will soon be concluded and when the people for them sail, which will greatly increase the population there, we shall give you our decisions as to peace or war with the savages there. Meanwhile you may cautiously treat with them, but you must by no means consent to a new purchase of Staten Island or any other territory surprised and ruined by them in their revolt. We hear, that they insist upon it, but it would be a precedent for them to commit some other massacre, when at one time or the other in want of goods or for other reasons: you must therefore on all occasions try to renew and confirm the treaty of peace made with the savages hostile to them, which we have pleased to learn, you have done with the savages of Long Island. We understand as well as you do, that on account of the unexpected affair with the Indians and the consequent bad condition of many people in the open country, it is difficult to collect there the general tax on land and cattle, the more so, as the inhabitants of the colony of Rensselaerswyck and of the village of Beverwyck, who have not at all suffered from the late Indian outbreak, can neither by our letters nor by your persuasive reasoning be induced to pay it. We have therefore decided to direct you to act leniently, but nevertheless to demand payment from the said Colony and village, without however proceeding severely, until you have our further orders. We consent to the provisional appointment of Jean Paul Jacquet as Vice-Director of the South river and hope and trust, that you have acted herein with so much caution as to have ascertained, that his abilities are equal to his duties. The foregoing is in answer to your letter: we'll add divers complaints and requests, presented to us by parties there as well as living here, of which the most important says, that there is no rule or order in the issuing of papers concerning commerce. We have therefore resolved to make a table of fees and to order and direct you to take care, that henceforth not more is demanded or paid there, than for a bill of lading or clearance for 1 to 6 casks of tobacco 12 stiv. 18 |