Document: Power of attorney from Pieter Jurgens, surgeon, to Maurits Jansen to receive money due him by the West India Company

Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven secretary in New Netherland, [ appointed ] by the General Chartered [ West India ] Company, appeared [ Pieter ] Jurgens, at present surgeon [ ], who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses constituted Maurits Jansen, late commissary of provisions, [ his attorney ] and empowered him, as hereby does, in his name and behalf to collect and receive from the honorable directors of the aforesaid Company all such moneys as are due him, the principal, by said gentlemen, as appears by the account hereto annexed, which sums of money he, the principal, has earned in their honors’ service both on water and on land. On payment of the moneys mentioned in the aforesaid account by the honorable directors to the attorney, he, Maurits Jansen, may execute a receipt and discharge, which shall also be valid, he, the principal, holding further as valid whatever shall be done herein by the attorney, who shall also have power to dispose in all things as if he, the principal, were present, and as he could or should do were he present, acting furthermore as the case may require, provided that he, the attorney shall be bound to render to him, the principal, a true account of what is afore written. An authentic instrument hereof being requested, the original entry in the record is signed by the principal, by Gysbert op Dyck and Bastiaen Crol as witnesses hereto invited, and by me, the secretary. Done this 5th of July

anno 1642, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.[1]