Translation
Power of attorney from Abraham Staets to Lucas Smith to receive money from the West India Company
Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Abraham Staets, an inhabitant of the colony of Renselaerswyck, who appoints and empowers, as he does hereby, Luycas Smith[1] to ask, demand and collect in his, the principal’s, name from the honorable directors of the General Chartered West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam, the sum of two hundred and thirty guilders due him, the principal, by their honors, as appears by the annexed account; on payment of which money by their honors to Luycas Smith, he shall have power to grant a receipt therefor, the principal further holding as valid whatever shall be done and transacted in the matter by the attorney. The original hereof is signed in the record by Abraham Staets in the presence of the witnesses hereto invited. Done the 2nd of July anno 1647, in New Amsterdam, New Netherland.