Document: Power of attorney from David Provoost to Gillis Jansen Verbrugge to collect money from the estate of his wife's uncle

On the 28th of March anno 1643, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared David Provoost, commissary of the West India Company in New Netherland, known to me, the secretary, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses declared that he had appointed and empowered, as he hereby does appoint and empower, Gillis Jansen Verbrugge especially in the name of the principal to demand, receive and collect such moneys as belong to him, the principal, as husband and guardian of Margarita Gillis, by the death of his wife’s father’s brother, named Hendrick Jochimsen, in his lifetime a resident of France; also, if necessity requires it, to proceed before all lords, courts and tribunals; to litigate as plaintiff or defendant; to observe all days and terms; to produce evidence, to challenge and rebut testimony and state his conclusions; to demand and hear interlocutory or final judgment; to approve the same and have it executed or to appeal there from and to prosecute the appeal to the end, and in general to do all that he, the principal, might or and ought to do were he present; also, if the case require it, to substitute one or more persons [ in his stead ]. The principal promises and binds himself according to law to maintain and hold as valid whatever shall be done by the attorney or his substitute, without fraud, and requests hereof an authentic instrument. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland in the presence of Gillis de Voocht and Adr[ i ]aen van Tienhoven, the 30th of March anno 1643 in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.

David Provvost
Adriaen van Tienhoven