Research

Series:

Scanned Document:

In the name of the Lord, Amen. On the date below written Michiel Jansz and Olof Stevensz, as legally appointed tutors and guardians of the child left by Dirck Cornelisz from Westveen,^[1] deceased, of the first part, and Govert Loockemans and Jacobus van Couwenhoven, as chosen guardians herein of Marritge Jans, widow of the aforesaid Dirck Cornelisz, deceased, of the second part, have fully agreed and contracted with each other respecting: the property and household effects left by Dirck Cornelisz, on the following conditions, to wit:

First, Marretie Jansz shall set aside for the surviving child the sum of two thousand guilders, good pay, free and unincumbered, but she, Marretie Jans, is to receive the interest thereof until the child come of age, in return for which she shall bring up the child in the station for which it is fit, and in case she can not supply the aforesaid sum at once, she is bound to give sufficient security for the principal.

Secondly, the child shall also be entitled to the just half of all such moneys as are due by the honorable West India Company, which moneys upon receipt, are to be invested by the guardians for the benefit of the child, and if any interest be derived therefrom, Marretie Jans shall enjoy the same also.

Thirdly, in case there be in the fatherland any other property, money or accounts, at present known or unknown, belonging to the above named Dirck Cornelisz, or now to his heirs, the same rule shall apply to them as to the moneys in the custody of the honorable Company, and all this, one thing as well as another, without any exception, shall be the portion of the paternal estate set aside for the child.

And all that may be found in the house or effects of Dirck Cornelisz, aside from what has already been mentioned, shall be for the behoof and remain the property of the surviving widow, Marretie Jans, and neither the orphan child, nor any one on his behalf, shall now or at any time hereafter have any right or claim to or authority over the same, but both sides shall at all times be bound by this contract. In witness whereof this is signed in the record by the respective parties on both sides and approved by the honorable director general and council of New Netherland, this 18^th of August 1649, on the island of Manhatans in New Netherland.

Notes

References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 3, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648-1660 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.