Document: Indictment of John Cray (Gray)

My Lords:Jean Gray, a resident of the village of Middelburgh or of its jurisdiction on Long Island, arrested in March 1653 for stealing and marking two calves belonging to Thomas Grydi, was condemned by your honors, after proper investigation and verification of the aforesaid crime on the 24th of March of the same year, as exhibited by the sentence appended hereto,[158] not to leave his land or boundaries within the three months following the pronouncement of the aforesaid sentence, to which was added the order that he must dispose of his property within this time, and after its expiration to leave the district of Middelburgh and, in addition, to pay a fine of 300 guilders and all the expenses of the proceedings. However, the aforesaid Gry has paid no attention whatsoever to this sentence of your honors. Against the order expressed therein, he has remained on his land (going to the village of Middelborgh and elsewhere) until the third of this month of August when the aforesaid Jan Gry was sent here to Fort Amsterdam by the magistrates of Middelborgh and delivered into the hands of the fiscal as a prisoner.

The aforesaid magistrates of Middelburgh and others have bitterly complained of the insolence and misconduct of the aforesaid Gry, now a prisoner, as the depositions submitted by them at Middelburgh to the honorable director-general show. Jan Gry, having been examined and heard in regard to these declarations before your honors' board on the 10th, 13th and 15th of this month,[159] confessed without torture and bonds according to the statement signed by him on the 15th as follows:First, he admitted verbally that he has paid no attention to the sentence passed against him by your honors nor has he paid the fine imposed upon him.Second, that he opposed the order issued by the magistrates of Middelborgh and resisted the marshal's attempt at seizure, according to his own deposition which was repeated in Gry's presence on the 13th of this month.Third, Jan Gry has sheltered and concealed two bandits or pirates who have robbed and attempted to plunder the inhabitants of this province both on land and sea.Fourth, he admitted that together with his son Luke he threatened the inhabitants of Middelburgh, saying that they would cause such an uproar there as has never been seen before. This is evident by the declaration repeated in Jan Gry's presence.Fifth, he admitted that he uttered a threat, saying it would cost lives if anyone came to seize or attach his property for village taxes.