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Dutch colonial council minutes, 7 April 1639

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On Thursday, being the 7th of April anno 1639

Remmer Jansen from Jeverden,[1] aged 20 years, says that an Indian woman came to the guardhouse and that Hans Steen desired her to lie down on the bunk beside him, which took place; also that Hans Steen ordered the soldiers to put out the fire, which soldiers put out the fire, and that the aforesaid Indian woman left the guardhouse in the morning.

Declaration of Jochem Beeckman from Statyn,[2] aged about 24 years. Hans Steen, seeing an Indian woman, called to her to come to the guardhouse. When there, said Hans Steen asked her to lie down beside him on the bunk, which the woman did. He also forbade the soldiers to make a fire.

Declaration of Jan Andrlesen from Basenborch,[3] aged 23 years, soldier. Declares that another did guard duty for him and that he was not present.

Declaration of Gregoris blank ], aged 22 years, that he saw on the ship De Liefde that there was some powder left, but that Hans Steen stowed it away and that on shore he never saw the aforesaid powder again, which belonged to the Company.

All that is hereinbefore written having been duly considered and seeing that this is a matter of consequence which tends to demoralize the soldiers and might occasion disorder in the guardhouse , we have therefore condemned Hans Steen aforesaid to ride the wooden horse for three hours and to do guard duty as a private soldier for 14 days.

The fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Anthony Jansen from Salee, defendant. Plaintiff demands that the defendant prove that he, the plaintiff, drew his sword in his house; also that the honorable director and council be pleased to banish the defendant from the jurisdiction of New Netherland in as much as the good inhabitants daily experience much trouble from him and his wife, as appears by the depositions and also by the former resolution book kept during the administration of the late Mr. van Twiller, which testifies to their conduct here; all of which the plaintiff requests may be duly considered.

Notes

Jever, Oldenburg, Germany.
Stettin, Germany.
Probably intended for Batenborch, or Batenburg, province of Gelderland.

References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 4, Council Minutes, 1638-1649 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.