Document: Declaration of Fop Jansen Outhout as to statement made by Gerrit de Groot

22 June 1662

Today, date underwritten, at the request of Mr. Willem Beeckman, director on behalf of the General Chartered West India Company on the South River of New Netherland, we, the undersigned. Fop Jansz Outhoudt, about 30 years old; Dominicus Sybrants, about 32 years old; Philip Jansz, about 25 years old; Gerrit Hendricksz de Boogh, about 24 years old; have attested, deposed and declared that at the house of Fop Jansz Outhoudt we heard Gerrit de Groot, court-messenger in the colony of New Amstel, state upon being asked by Fop Jansz in the presence of the aforesaid witness, "What did you testify?" I answer that he, the court-messenger, said nothing more than that the soldiers were not at the schout's house, nor did they commit any hostility toward the schout's house but that he heard a rattling, however, he did not know what it was nor who made it; also, that there was no person in the house with the schout, besides the schout's wife except for me and the schout's boy. All that we have stated, we declare to be true and truthful, and are prepared, if required thereto, to confirm it by oath. We have signed this with our usual hands in the presence of Hendrick Kip, junior, and Matthys van Limborgh, as witnesses, who were thereto requested. Done at New Amstel, 22 June 1662 on the South River of New Netherland. It was signed: Fop Jansz Outhoudt, Dominicus Sybrandts, Philip Jansz van Vollenhoove, the mark of X Gerrit Hendricksz de Boogh, made himself. In the margin was written: We present as witnesses. Below was written: Hendrick Kip, junior, Matthys van Limborgh. The foregoing copy agrees with the original.

A. Hudde, secretary.