Document: Divorce granted to John Hicks from his wife, Hardwood Long

1 June

The petition of John Hickes, schout of Flissingen on Long Island, having been seen and read by the lords councilors of New Netherland, in which he remonstrates and informs that his wife. Hardwood Longh has mn away from him, and has been married to another for about nine years by which she has 5 to six children; therefore, he requests, because his wife has broken the vows of matrimony (without him giving her any reason to do so), that he might be eligible, and that it be permitted him to enter into the matrimonial state with some honest daughter or widow (according to civil and ecclesiastical statutes). Therefore, the aforesaid lords councilors, having viewed the petition of the aforesaid John Hickes, in addition to the testimony and depositions of various honest inhabitants of this province, attached to the aforesaid petition, find that John Hickes, according to divine and civil laws, cannot be denied his request. For this reason we have hereby granted him letters of divorce, and [ ] free and clear from the [ ]

[several lines lost]

[ ] just as she [ ] [ ] hereby, be allowed to enter into the state of holy matrimony with some [ ] or widow, according to civil and ecclesiastical statutes.

Thus done and enacted in our session. Ady ut supra, Amsterdam in New Netherland, and affixed with our seal in red wax. Was signed: Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne, Cor. van Tienhoven.