Document: Letter from William Beeckman to director Stuyvesant

Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lords:

My Lords, on the 5th of this month, I received the enclosed letter[1] which I answered immediately, replying that there were presently no Swedes or Indians to send over; also, that none of our soldiers understand the Indian language and would therefore be unfit to send overland to Manhattan. However, I am sure that their Honors at New Amstel have a better chance to hire an Indian to accompany a certain Brandtjen, a soldier in their garrison; and this Brantjen (when formerly in the Company's service) has at various times gone overland to Manhattan.

I have heard with no certainty that a Sinnecus Indian murdered this man but it is most likely that it was done by a River Indian because some Indians think that since an Indian was injured on the 2nd of this month near New Amstel by some Dutchmen that some of his friends did this out of revenge. Near where this Joris Floris was murdered a certain Hoye Yke was walking with his boy to guard a field of buckwheat with bad fencing against the breaking in of animals; but he was not bothered. This Florissen was a partner of van Sweringhen in some trading and farming ventures, and at the request of the latter swore out a deposition on behalf of his partner concerning the murder case which most of the colonists consider to be false; therefore, it is possible that the Lord God has meted out a just punishment.

While at New Amstel yesterday, I learned that Francojs Cregier intended to send an Indian to Manhattan today and I did not want to be remise in communicating the above to you.

My Lords, we expect a sloop any day now with the minister whom I requested for reasons stated in my previous enclosure.[2] Yesterday my wife gave birth to another son so that I now have two unbaptized sons. I also await the requested merchandise for the purchase of foodstuffs for the garrison, since we have very little in storage.

I have expended Mr. Decker's sewant and more for the purchase of bread grain because we had none left in storage? therefore,

I request that 2 or 300 guilders worth be sent for daily necessities because I have had six or seven sick soldiers for three weeks now who are still sick, and because I also incur various expenses during the slaughtering season. Also, I request 20 or 30 skipples of salt and about 20 ells of clothing material and woolen cloth[3] because some of the men and myself need it against the cold winter. With regard to further necessities I refer, for brevity, to my previous letter. Wherewith I commend you to God's protection and remain,