Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 30 May - 6 June 1641

Holding Institution

Document ID

NYSA_A1809-78_V04_p093

Description

Court proceedings. Frederick Jansen vs. Claes Sybrantsen Veringh, action of debt; judgment for plaintiff. [1641];Minute permitting a considerable number of Englishmen to settle with their clergyman, in New Netherland, on the following conditions: 1. They shall take the oath of allegiance; 2. They shall enjoy free exercise of their religion; 3. They shall nominate three persons, one of whom shall be appointed magistrate by the governor of New Netherland, with power to decide civil cases under 40 guilders ($16), without appeal, and criminal cases not deserving of capital punishment; 4. They shall not erect forts unless by permission; 5. Their lands shall be free of taxes for ten years, after which they shall pay the tenths; 6. They shall enjoy free trade, and free hunting and fishing; but, 7. Must use Dutch weights and measures. [1641]

Document Date

1641-05-30 to 1641-06-06

Document Date (Date Type)

1641-05-30

Document Type

Minutes

Court

Document Type Unlinked

Minutes

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Translation

Thursday, being the 30th of May 1641

Fredrick Jansen, plaintiff, vs. Claes Sybrantsen Veringh, defendant. Plaintiff demands payment of wages earned by him. The defendant acknowledges the debt and the receipt of his canoe. The defendant is condemned to satisfy the plaintiff.

Cornelio vender Hoykens, plaintiff, vs. Uldrich Lupholt, defendant. Plaintiff demands that satisfaction and compensation be given to the Company. Defendant is granted 8 days to make answer, without fail.

Cornelio van[ der ] Hoykens, plaintiff, vs. Cornelis Bartensz, defendant. Default.

On Thursday, being the 6th of June[1]

Whereas a considerable number of respectable Englishmen with their clergyman have applied for permission to settle here and to reside among us and request that some terms might be offered to them, we have therefore resolved to send to them the following terms:1. They shall be bound to take the oath of allegiance to the honorable Lords the States General and the West India Company under whose protection they will reside.2. They shall enjoy free exercise of religion.3. In regard to political government, if they desire a magistrate, they shall have the privilege of nominating three or four persons from the fittest among them, from which persons so nominated the governor of New Netherland shall choose one, which magistrate shall be empowered in all civil actions to render final judgment not exceeding 40 guilders; above this amount an appeal may be made to the governor and council of New Nether land; and in criminal cases he shall have jurisdiction except in cases involving corporal punishment.4. They shall not be at liberty to erect any strongholds without permission.5. The land shall be granted to them in fee, free of charge, and they shall have the use thereof for ten years without paying any dues and at the expiration of the said ten years be obliged to pay tithes.6. They shall enjoy free hunting and fishing and freedom of trade according to the charter of New Netherland.7. They shall be bound to make use of the weights and measures of this country.

Translation Superscripts

[1]: Revised from Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 27-28, and Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 13:8.

References

From the collections of the New York State Archives, Albany, New York. https://www.archives.nysed.gov/

Translation link see: http://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=tei/A1809/NYSA_A1809-78_V04_p093.xml

Published bound volume is also available: Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.

Copyright to the published bound volume is held by the Holland Society of New York.
A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.