Document: Petition of magistrates of Midwout for power to make an assessment for the payment of the minister to farm the citizens' and butchers' excise

[To their noble honors, director general Petrus Stuyvesant and the councilors of New Netherland.[i]

Show with great humility and due respect the delegated schepenen of the jurisdiction of Midwout that pursuant to the resolution adopted by the] honorable director general [ Petrus Stuyvesant ] after communication with and with the assent of the courts of Breuckelen, Midwout and Amesfoort on the 29th of December 1656, last past, those of Midwout were to contribute to the yearly salary promised to the reverend preacher d o . J. Theodorus Polhemius, ƒ400, those of Breuckelen ƒ300, and those of the court of Amesfoort a like sum of ƒ300. After several meetings, they could find no other way than to impose upon each lot and parcel of land, of which there are about 40 in Midwout, a sum of ƒ10 yearly in proportion. This aforesaid assessment of ƒ10 yearly calculated for each and every lot would make up the sum of ƒ400, which we, the court of Midwout, have promised in the presence of the honorable director general to contribute to the yearly pay of the said dominee Polhemius. But as not every one of the inhabitants and subject has the same amount of property, one having less, the other more, we must and cannot tax all alike, [ but each in proportion to his property and real estate. If we receive your honors’ approbation to such a cotization and tax up to ƒ400 for the yearly pay of the ] said d o . Polhemius, we promise to proceed with this directly and continue in it, each according to his ability, and to make the proper assessment conscientiously, provided we are supported by your honors herein against unwilling parties, which we hope will not cause any opposition. We promise also, to take care and pay attention that at the expiration of each half year, the salary in proportion shall be paid to the aforesaid Polhemius, and we think that the said d o . Polhemius might be satisfied and content with this offer. Furthermore, we very respectfully request, as we have already done in our letter to the honorable director general personally, dated the 21st of December anno passado 1656, that we may proceed at the determined time, as your honors deem appropriate, with the letting of the burghers’ excise on liquids and the slaughtering of animals and use the revenues therefrom for the common good of this village of Midwout, in payment of the yearly salary promised to our court messenger and other necessary daily expenses. [ We promise to give an account and prove the balance in hand at any time when called upon to do so, upon which your honors may rely. Awaiting your honors’ favorable decision we are and remain, ] (below stood)

[ Your Honors’ humble and obedient ] servants the [schepenen of] the court of Midwout.

[ By order ] of the same (was signed) [ Pieter ] Tonneman, secretary for this.

The 13th of January anno 1657 at Middewout on Long Island in New Netherland.