Document: Petition of George Woolsey, residing in the house of Isaac Allerton, for leave to keep tavern for one year

[ ] the lord director general Petrus Stuyvesant and the lord Nicasius de Sille, councilor and fiscal in New Netherland, and Captain Brian Nuton.

To the highly esteemed lords, the lord director general and the lords of New Netherland.

George Wolsy, an old inhabitant here, shows with all humility how he, the petitioner, being a resident in the house of Mr. Isaack Allerton, has requested of the esteemed lords burgomasters and schepenen of this city, whereas he has many requests by foreigners to lodge, that their honors be pleased to grant him permission to be able to hawk wine and beer by the small measure both to foreigners and inhabitants; whereupon their honors were pleased to decide that for [ certain ] reasons the petitioner’s request be denied for now, and whereas he, petitioner, knows of no reason why he is refused more than another to sustain himself as the occasion permits, he is turning to your honors, requesting that your honors be pleased to grant his petition to him, petitioner, at least for one year. Awaiting your favorable decision hereupon and remaining (written below) your honors’ obedient servant. Done this 24 October 1656, signed Joris Wolsy, Amsterdam in New Netherland.