Document: Nomination of burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam for the ensuing year

HIGHLY ESTEEMED [ ]

In as much as your highly esteemed honors have been pleased to favor this city or the burgomasters and schepens thereof with the nomination of the successors to our offices, we cannot do otherwise than gratefully acknowledge such a favor and benefit with regard to public affairs, and pursuant to the resolution of your honors dated 18 January 1656, nominate for the present time a double number, viz these following burgers and inhabitants of this city:

For burgomasters:

Martin CregierPieter van Couwenhoven

For schepens:

Poulus Leendertsz vander GriftWilhelm BeeckmanJacobus BackerPieter Cornelisse vander VeenIsaacq de ForeestHendrik KipGovert LockermansAdriaan Blommert

We request that your honors be pleased to elect from the same the most competent, intelligent, and best qualified to succeed in place of the outgoing burgomaster and schepens, so that the commonalty be maintained and the general business of the land be transacted. Done this 31 January 1656 in the city hall at the session of burgomasters and schepens of this city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, in the presence of the honorable Cornelis van Tienhoven, commissioned at your honors’ session.

(Below was written:) By order of the burgomasters and schepens of this city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, was signed: Jacob Kip, secretary.

(Addressed:) To the honorable and valiant lords, the honorable lords director general and high councilors of New Netherland in Fort Amsterdam.[1]