Document: Ordinance of the magistrates of Breuckelen imposing an assessment to pay the rev. Mr. Polhemus

[ Whereas the village of Breuckelen is taxed by the director general and councilors, but finally with our general consent and agreement, with the sum and charge of ƒ300, provisionally for this year, as a supplement of the promised salary and yearly ] allowance of the venerable [d o . J.] Theodoris Polhemius; therefore we of the court of Breuckelen have to raise the said sum of ƒ300 in the easiest manner, assessed and taxed each person, inhabitants of both Breuckelen and its dependencies, as is hereunder more fully set forth and can be seen, all according to our conscience and opinion well off and settled; wherefore Sijmen Joosten, our court messenger, is hereby ordered and commanded, on sight and receipt hereof, to repair to the aforesaid persons mentioned below, and to notify each of them of their assessment and tax, and that each, for himself in particular, shall be bound within eight days from now to bring in and to deliver into the hands of Mr. A. Cornelissen in Breuckelen, the half of his assessment, either in sewant or farm produce, such as grain, wheat, peas, corn, etc., that then everything that was assessed too high will be balanced on everyone’s account at the current price; [the remaining half must be paid next May of the present year, anno 1657, in order to be able at that time to] satisfy [ and give contentment to the said ] Polhemius. Thus done and enacted at the session held at Breuckelen, with the previous approval of the director and supreme council in New Netherland, on Wednesday the 7th of February, anno 1657.[i]