Document: Answer of Marcelis Jansen claiming indemnity for the losses he suffered by the non-enforcement of the excise ordinance at Fort Orange

[ ] general

and high councilors of New Netherland.

Makes known with humble reverence Marcelis Jansz, former impost master, regarding the tappers’ excise of wines and beers for the term of twelve months, beginning May 1, 1655, both within and outside the jurisdiction of the village of Beverwijck, for which impost he, supplicant, promised to pay once the sum of two thousand thirty guilders; and although the aforesaid impost was expressly farmed out to the supplicant by those of the court of Fort Orange according to the placard sent to their honors by your honors, and that the supplicant has suffered great injury through non-compliance of the same placard because the tappers living outside the aforesaid jurisdiction have not paid the excise, as they have still had a large consignment; as a result of which, and because he, supplicant, has already paid a part of the agreed upon impost money, it is not necessary to pay the rest, but claims that first it is reasonable (favorably taken) that he be compensated for the losses that he has suffered as a result of non-compliance of his lease by the outside tappers. For valuation and arbitration of neutral parties he as a result assured that your honors be pleased hereby to take care that the same shall be handled equitably, requesting that he thereby be reimbursed for the sum of fifteen hundred guilders.

Your honors obedient servant, Mercelijs Jansen.

The foregoing petition having been received and read, was, after deliberation, annotated as follows: To place this in the hands of arbitrators and copies thereof in the hands of the imprisoned innkeepers. Done at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 25th of July 1656.