Document: Declarations of Tobias Esaiassen and other soldiers respecting a goat found on the shore

Tobias Esaiasz, native of Utrecht, 22 years of age, a soldier in Captain Jan de Vries’ company, being in garrison at Egbert Woutersz’, declares that about thirteen days ago cadet Robbert Calo came along the strand and said to the soldiers at Egbert’s that a goat was lying dead on the shore, whereupon he, Tobias Esaiasz, Tourbay and Tomas Tomasz went thither and fetched the goat, which was not yet dead, and ate all but a small portion of the meat. When they reached the goat, they found her badly bitten in the back of the body, so that she could not walk. He also says that he has no knowledge whatever of any other goats. This then is the declaration made by Tobias Esaiasz at the request of the fiscal. Done the 28th of March 1645, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Tomas Tomasz, native of Delft, twenty years of age, a soldier in Captain Jan de Vries’ company, and Barent Jorisz, a soldier, being in garrison at Egbert Woutersz’, declare at the request of the fiscal that about 10 or 13 days ago, the cadet came from the fort along the strand and there found a goat bitten almost to death, of which he informed him, Tomas Tomasz, Tourbay and Tobias Esaiasz. They immediately went thither and fetched the goat and ate the meat, except a small portion. They also say that they know of no other goats. Done the 28th of March 1645, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.

Tobias Esaiasz
Tomas Tomasz
Barent Jorson
Cornelis van Tienhoven