Translation
Declaration of B. Jansen and H. Jansen that at the beginning of the war of 1643 they had gone to L.I. to take maize belonging to the Indians
At the request of the Honorable Fiscal Van Dyck, Barent Jansz from Ocholm,[1] aged about thirty-six years, and Hans Jansen from Noordtstrant attest, testify and declare that it is true that they, the deponents, in the year 1643, at the beginning of the war, asked Cornelis Melyn’s consent to take from Long Island some maize belonging to the Indians, whereupon Melyn said, “If you wish to do so, you may do so;” but he charged the deponents not to take away any maize if Indians were there. They, the deponents, sailing across with some soldiers, heard Indians, wherefore they did not bring back any maize and returned home; only, to the best of their knowledge, the soldiers had a little bag of maize in the canoe. The deponents offer to confirm this under oath if necessary. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 23rd of July 1647.
References
Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 2, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.
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