Document: Letter from gov. Colve to the schout and magistrates of Harlem and Fordham

To the Schout, Magistrates and inhabitants of the Towns of New Haerlem and Fordham.

Good Friends:On last Tuesday week I had some conference in the town of Midwout with the Magistrates and chief officers of all the Dutch towns situate on Long Island, concerning the present condition of the country, and had wished indeed that time and the season of the year had permitted me to visit you the same as the rest; but time not allowing this, I have therefore deemed it necessary hereby to incite you to your duty, and with many of the other good inhabitants to fulfill your oath and honor, whereof I entertain not the least doubt, being herein partly assured by the Schouts of your respective towns. Therefore nothing remains but to recommend you to keep a wakeful eye on all designs which may be concocted against this Province or yourselves in particular, and always to be ready to transport your families and movables hither on certain information of the enemy's approach, or on special command from me; and that such may be executed in good order, Schout Kesolved Waldron is hereby appointed chief officer of the militia of the towns of Haerlem and Fordham, with order to communicate these presents to the inhabitants of said towns, who for the preservation of better order in each town are hereby required to choose a Sergeant, and not to fail to give me communication of all that occurs. Whereupon relying, I remain