Document: Indictment of Gerrit Trompetter

Cornelis van Thienhooven, fiscal, by virtue of his office, plaintiff against Gerrit [ Trompetter ], presently a prisoner for [ ] committed against Anna Tymens, a servant girl. The fiscal, submitting his charge in writing, declares and demonstrates at the session that he, the prisoner, is the father of the child to which Anna Tymens gave birth on 9 October; also, that the aforesaid prisoner went to Anna at Hillegont's house around 10 o'clock at night on the [ blank ] of this month, and attempted to sleep with her which she refused. The aforesaid Gerrit then tried to force his will upon her by threatening her with an unsheathed knife. Therefore, the plaintiff concludes that the prisoner should be whipped with rods at the customary place; also, that all his wages and credited monthly allowances be confiscated for the benefit of the deflowered daughter's child, and the treasury to have rights to the prisoner's estate for the committed crimes. The prisoner confesses at the session that he had carnal intercourse with the aforesaid Anna Thymens; however, the threats and the drawn knife are unknown to him. It is ordered that the prisoner be returned to prison until the next session. Thus done at the session of the honorable director-general and high council held in New Amsterdam, 13 October 1654; present: The honorable director-general and Messrs. Sille and La Montangne.

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809. Volume 5.