Document: Dutch colonial council minutes, 20-28 June 1647

Whereas many matters of moment, both legal and otherwise, occur here daily in New Netherland with those of the English nation within the jurisdiction of said province and also many English letters come from various places from the neighboring governors of New England, which mostly treat of and relate to matters of state; and whereas none of the Company’s officers here can readily read and write English and we have great need of a person somewhat conversant with law in order to serve us on all occasions and also to write necessary English letters; therefore, it is resolved and concluded to engage G[ e ]orge Bacxter as ensign, provided that he shall be employed in the matters aforesaid; for which service he is allowed 42 guilders a month for himself and his boy and 200 guilders a year for board. The 28th of June 1647.

The honorable general and council having considered the necessity of repairing the ship Swol, which is old and unseaworthy, for which purpose the necessary materials are not on hand nor procurable here at present, and whereas said ship would lie here at great expense to the honorable directors, It being impossible to send her to sea in her present condition and she must therefore as a wreck be hauled ashore; therefore, it is unanimously resolved in council to sell the aforesaid ship to the best advantage and profit of the aforesaid directors if a purchaser can be found at the highest and best price practicable and possible, the more so as the above named ship has heretofore been condemned at Curaçao. This 20th of June anno 1647, in New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

It is considered expedient and proper for the best advantage and profit of the honorable directors of the Chartered West India Company to send the ship Groote Gerrit, of which Jelmer Tomasen is commander, to Boston, In New England, laden with lumber, to sell the same there for the highest price possible and in return to take in as many provisions as can be procured there and to sail thence direct to Bonayre, all according to the special instructions relating thereto. And if God grant the ship a safe voyage, he is to deliver the cargo of provisions to the hands of the honorable Vice-Director Roodeborgh and after unloading again to take in logs and after having completed his lading to prosecute his voyage to New Netherland, until he arrive before Fort Amsterdam. Thus done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 20th of June 1647.