Document: Confirmation and qualification of the town officers of Gravesend

It having been demonstrated to the honorable lord director general and councilors of New Netherland at their session that the inhabitants of Gravesande, pursuant to their patent, have nominated for this coming year by a plurality of votes Willem Bount, Willem Wilkens, and Edu- ward Brous as magistrates, and Jan Mourits as schout, the same have been confirmed by the honorable lord director general and councilors as magistrates, on the condition that the votes of the inhabitants be sent to the director general and councilors as soon as possible (for certain reasons). Whereupon the same have taken the oath [ promising ] to administer [ good law and justice to the best of their knowledge between man and man ] and to be loyal to the government [ established ] here in New Netherland by their high mightinesses the lords states general of the United Netherlands and the lords directors, lords and patroons of this province.

Ady ut supra. (Was signed:) P. Stuyvesant, N. de Sille, La Montagne, and Cor. van Tienhoven. 19 July 1655.[1]