Document: Antenuptial agreement of Marritje Symons, widow of Surgeon Pieter Vreucht, and Symon Joosten, providing for the widow's children by her first husband

On the 19th of July in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, one thousand six hundred and forty-seven, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland appointed by the General Chartered West India Company, residing in Fort Amsterdam, appeared Marritjen Symons from Amsterdam, widow of the late master Piter Vreucht, surgeon, assisted by Jacob Wolphersz and Piter Wolphersz, her chosen guardians in this matter, who declared that she intended to enter into the holy state of matrimony with Symon Joosten, young man from Merelbeecke, in Flanders, and therefore is inclined according to her means to settle on her two children named Susanna Vreucht and Willem Vreucht their patrimonial property, so that hereafter they may not set up any greater or lesser claim. She, the appearer, further declared that she proceeded herein according to her ability and conscience and that she is not able to allow the aforesaid children more than twenty-five guilders each. Wherefore she, Marritjen Symons, promises to pay to each of her aforesaid children, when he or she shall have arrived at the age of majority or is married, as their paternal inheritance the sum of twenty-five guilders, reckoned at twenty stivers the guilder, and that free of costs and charges. She, Marritjen Symons, and Symon Joosten, her present bridegroom, also promise, saving the sums above mentioned, to bring up the aforesaid children, to clothe them, to provide them with all necessaries and to support them according to their means and if possible and feasible to have them taught reading and writing and a good trade and furthermore [ to do by them ] as time and circumstances according to their station shall permit; promising fully to perform and execute this contract, if God spare them life, all under binding obligation according to law. In testimony whereof this is signed in the record by Marritjen Symons and her present bridegroom and chosen guardians, in the presence of Paulus Leendersz van die Grist and A. Keyser, witnesses hereto invited, the 19th of July anno 1647, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Marritjen Symons
Jacob van Couwenhoven
Pieter Wuoeluersen
Symon Joosten
Pouwelis Leendersz van die Grist
A. Keiser
[ Cornelis ] van Tienhoven