Document: Power of attorney from Cornelis Claessen Swits and wife to Willem Kieft to receive and sell property belonging to them in the province of Zealand

This day, date underwritten, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Cornelis Claessen Swits with his wife Ariaentje Cornelis Trommels from Renferskerke,[1] who in the presence of and before the undersigned witnesses appoint and empower, as they do hereby, the Honorable Willem Kieft, late director general of New Netherland, in their names and for them to demand, collect and recover from Stoffel Bartolomeusz Swartbeck, their guardian residing at Brouwershaven,[2] [ the following ]: First, on behalf of the above named Ariaentje Cornelis Trommels to demand the transfer and conveyance of three gemeten [3] of arable land situated in Zealand (within the land of said Stoffel Bartholomeusz), belonging to her, Adriaentje Cornelis, by the will of her aunt Marritje Leenders Buys, which three gemeten of arable land the said Mr. Kieft is authorized to take possession of, to cause to be sold, [ thereof ] to collect and receive the money, and to transfer and convey to the purchaser by virtue hereof, and further to do whatever else the case may require. The said Mr. Kieft may likewise demand, collect and receive all that is due the aforesaid Cornelis Claessen Swits from his guardian, the said Stoffel Bartolomeusz Swartbec, or whoever the said guardian has put in possession of the principal’s property, together with the accrued interest thereon; and in case the said principals’ guardian should refuse to deliver and pay to the attorney or his substitute the property of Cornelis Claesz Swits and Adriaentje Cornelis Trommels, his wife, he shall have power to institute legal proceedings, prosecute the case to the end, hear judgment pronounced, appeal therefrom, and do whatever they, the principals, could or might do were they present, even though the case required more specific and ample power than is herein set forth. Furthermore, he shall have power to execute a discharge in due form upon receipt, which shall avail the said guardian or those who are now in possession of the property as proof of proper payment, they, Cornelis Claesse Swits and his wife Adriaentje Cornelis aforesaid, promising to hold and cause to be held valid whatever shall be done and performed in the matter by the said Mr. Kieft or his substitute. Thus done and signed by the principals in the presence of Jan Vienje and Philip Dormier, as witnesses invited hereto, the 14th of August anno 1647, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Cornelys Clasen Wits
Ariaentje Cornels Tromnels
Flip Remier
J. Vinje
Cornelis van Tienhoven