Document: Order requiring each farmer in Amesfoort and the Bay to keep one man properly armed for duty and board two soldiers

16 October 1655.

Whereas this day appeared before us with Capt. Lieutenant Brian Newton, Elbert Elbertsz, Marten Jansen, and Albert Albertsen, all inhabitants in the village of Amesfoort, reporting that some of them, also inhabitants have departed and others present there, who are unwilling to work with them, and to help bear the mutual burden of the village in maintaining security, which after consideration by the director general and councilors, they concluded and resolved that even those absentees, who have houses located in the aforesaid Bay, as well as those present shall help bear the mutual burden and contribute to the protection of the village, and the maintenance of the militia sent there for security, such as guard duty and patrolling etc. In addition, the director general and councilors order that the absentees shall maintain for each farm at least one able-bodied man properly provided with small arms and side arms, and that until further orders, each farm shall provide two soldiers with sufficient food for their daily maintenance; and in case of refusal the aforesaid Capt. Lieutenant Brian Nuton, Elbert Elbertsen and Marten Jansen are ordered and authorized to hire one man for each farm and to board the soldiers with someone at the burden and expense of those who refuse, the director general and councilors being responsible, at the expense of those who refuse, for the just and equitable expenditures, subject to the judgment of two impartial men. Thus done at Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland. Ady ut supra (was signed:) P. Stuyvesant, La Montagne, C. van Tienhoven.