Document: Power of attorney from Hendrick [ ] to Steven [ ] to collect his wife's inheritance

[ Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven ], secretary [ in New Netherland ] appointed by [ the General Chartered ] West In[ dia Company ], appeared He[ndrick blank], to me, the secretary, well [ known, who in ] the presence of the undersigned witnesses has [ appointed ] and empowered, as he does hereby, Steven [blank],[1] residing within the city of Amsterdam, to demand and receive in the principal’s name (in case it should please God to take his wife’s father, named Adam Hendricksen, out of this sorrowful world into His eternal kingdom) all such property as after the death of his wife’s father aforesaid shall by rightful inheritance belong to the principal in his capacity as husband of the daughter of the aforesaid Adam. And in that case the aforesaid Steven shall have power to put himself in the place of the principal, to have an inventory made of all the real and personal estate, debts and credits, and in all things to act as he, the principal, if present, could or might do and, if the case requires it, the aforesaid Steven [ ] [2] may proceed at law against those who require such action, prosecute the case to the end either as plaintiff or defendant and substitute one or more persons in his stead with the same and equal power; he, the principal, holding as valid whatever shall be done herein by the above named attorney. In witness whereof the original hereof is signed in the record by the above named principal and by Maurits Janse and Adriaen van Tienhoven as witnesses hereto requested, besides me, the secretary, the 12th of September anno 1642, in fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Maurits Janse