Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 20 June - 4 July 1641

On Thursday, being the 20th of June 1641

Jeuriaen Hendricksen and Nanninck Hansen appeared in court and at the request of Jacob Stoffelsen declared that now about two years ago the deponents mowed grain for Jacob Stoffelsz at Ahasims and that to the best of their knowledge there were about 60 bushels of it, including waste and all. They offer to confirm this on oath.

Gillis de Voocht, plaintiff, vs. the wife of Teunes Tomassen, mason, defendant, about charges for sewing linen. It is ordered that the wives of Albert Cuyn and Adam Roelants shall estimate how much was earned by sewing.

On Thursday, being the 4th of July

[1]Whereas the Indians of the Raretangh are daily exhibiting more and more hostility, notwithstanding they have solicited of us peace, which we consented to, permitting him to depart unmolested on his promise to advise us within twelve days of the resolution of his chief, which has not been done; and whereas the aforesaid Indians, who experienced every friendship at our hands, have in the meantime on the plantation of Mr. de Vries and Davit Pietersen,[2] partners, situated on Staten Island, murdered four tobacco planters and set fire to the dwelling and tobacco house, whereby the planters and farmers and other remote settlers stand in great in great danger of life and property, which we under the circumstances, on account of the density of the forest and the small number of men, cannot prevent; we have therefore considered it most expedient and advisable to induce the Indians, our allies hereabout, to take up arms, in order thus to cut off stray parties who must pass through their territory, so that they cannot reach our farms and plantations without peril or at least without being discovered; and in order to encourage them the more we have promised them ten fathoms of seawan for each head, and if they succeed In capturing any of the Indians who have most barbarously murdered our people on Staten Island we have promised them 20 fathoms of seawan for each head.

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New York (Colony). Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809-78. Volume 4, page 97.