Document: Declaration of Adrian van Tienhoven, Alexander Boyer and David Davidsen

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This day, date underwritten, we the undersigned declare at the request of Andries Hudden, commissary at the South River, on behalf of the General Chartered West India Company, that we were in the Schuylkil at Fort Bevers[ reede ] on 4 November; and by order of the aforesaid commissary, pursuant to the commission granted to Symon Root and company by the honorable lord general Petrus Stuyvesant, helped to erect a house at the Mastemaecker's Hoeck. While at this work, we were confronted by Swens Schoete, lieutenant, on behalf of the Crown of Sweden. He had a commission from his governor, Jan Prints, to forbid and hinder us with open force from doing the same. However, he desisted on the friendly request of Adriaen van Tienhoven and Alexander Boyer, until we received further instructions, which came during the night from the aforesaid Hudden. At sunrise on the 5th instant, however, the aforesaid Swens Schoete warned us that he had full authority and commission from his governor, Jan Prints, to tear down the erected structure. Whereupon he and his men immediately drew their side arms and went towards it. At this display of open hostility we the undersigned followed him. On coming to the place where the house was under construction, the aforesaid lieutenant ordered his men to destroy it by force; disregarding the friendly request of the aforesaid that he should desist (because, even according to his own statement. Their High Mightinesses were in conference with Her Majesty of Sweden). He replied arrogantly that he had his governor's order and commission not to allow even a stake to be planted in the name of Their High Mightinesses, but whatever had been set up de facto to trample under foot. Whereupon they immediately tore it down, using their weapons as axes, and chopped it to pieces; in spite of the order which we presented from the aforesaid commissary by authority of the commission of the honorable lord governor Petrus Stuyvesant, and the accompanying protest[1] stating before God and the world that we and ours will be innocent of any injury or difficulty that should arise. The aforesaid Lieutenant Schoete replied that commissary Hudden was just a villain and a scoundrel, and had nothing to do with our government; but that he was simply following his governor's orders. At this shameful calumny the aforesaid Quartermaster Boyer said to Schoete "You must be a villain yourself to abuse a man behind his back so that he cannot answer for himself;" and although this was a just remark, the aforesaid Schoete, nevertheless, grabbed the aforesaid Boyer by the hair, but they were prevented from coming to further blows. We the undersigned have thus conscientiously done and executed all that stands above without prejudice or falsification as everyone is obliged to bear witness to the truth; and we are prepared, if requested and being thereto required, to confirm this under oath. Thus done at Fort Nassouw on the South River of New Netherland on 6 November 1648.

Adriaen van Tienhoven
Alexander Boyer
Davidt Davitsz
Symon Root
Johannes Markus
Harmen Jansz
van Tienhoven