Translation
Power of attorney from Jan Stevensen, schoolmaster, to Lucas Smith to receive the balance of his wages from the West India Company
Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Jan Stevensz from Haerlem, schoolmaster here, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses appoints and empowers, as he does hereby, Luycas Smith, known to me, the secretary, to demand, ask and collect in his, the principal’s, name from the honorable directors of the Chartered West India Company in Amsterdam the sum of seven hundred and forty-seven guilders, two stivers, 12 pennies, due him, Jan Stevensz, by balance and remainder of his account according to the Book of Monthly Wages No. F, folio 34, earned in the service of their honors in New Netherland. On payment in full of said sum by the honorable directors above mentioned to Luycas Smith, or his order, he is empowered to execute a receipt therefor, which shall be valid, he, the principal, holding further as valid whatever shall be done and transacted by the attorney or his substitute, who is to do herein as he, the principal, were he present, could or might do. The original hereof in the record is signed by Jan Stevensz in the presence of Jacob Kip, witness hereto invited, the 20th of July anno 1647, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.