Document: Notice posted by Johannis van Beecq throughout the city of New Amsterdam about his grievances

Copy of the notice posted by Johannis van Beecq at various places in this city.

Whereas Johannis van Beeck, citizen, bachelor and free merchant here, together with Maria Verlett, single woman, assisted by her father, have employed all possible means, both public and private, as well as verbal and written attempts in order to obtain for themselves a proper ecclesiastical proclamation and solemnization according to the forms, customs and laws of our fatherland; however, we were not successful therein because the honorable director-general, Petrus Stuyvesant, under pretense of [ ] it a special [ ] or power of guardianship and of [ ] has been pleased to obstruct and hinder [ ] his honor about one month after the departure of the ship [ ] before a mutual consent of marriage [ ] outside of Manhattan [ ] when the messenger [ ] to Gravesant on the 11th of January; in addition, their full period of time was expired, together with the resolution of my lords the mayors and schepens of this city of New Amsterdam, who decided that the marriage should be put into full effect immediately; also, his honor himself was pleased to write that he had nothing else against the marriage as long as it conformed to the laws and customs of our fatherland and the marriage announcements were posted here as well as in Gravesande. Whereas the above-named persons, in order no longer to be taunted and mocked by the whole world, have been forced, because of this and the objections of Domine Johannis Megapolensius in his capacity as high commissioner of matrimonial affairs, to take refuge there where they can be helped without prejudice; therefore, they hereby declare before God and all impartial gentlemen and magistrates that they are intentionally doing nothing to compromise or disobey the customs and statutes of the laws of our fatherland but are being forced thereto out of necessity because of the unreasonable denial of that which no one else has been denied previously in a similar situation.

In order that no one may later claim ignorance of anything, this has been posted in the usual place in the city of New Amsterdam so that everyone may be informed. Below was written: After comparison the above has been found to agree with the original word for word, in the presence of the fiscal, Cor: van Thienhoven, and Carel van Brugge, 27 February 1654; was signed: Carel van Brugge, Cor: van Thienhoven; under which I signed: Cornelis van Ruyven, secretary.