Research

Series:

Scanned Document:

On the 23d of August 1640

Whereas Davit Provoost, commissary of provisions, has, against the orders of the honorable director, alienated the Company's property, left the warehouses and cellars of the Company open during the night and without express consent extended too much credit to every one and furthermore in the end has come short in his accounts, the aforesaid Davit Provoost is hereby dismissed from his office of commissary and Maurits Jansen, thus far assistant, is appointed commissary of provision in the place of Provoost, on condition that he furnish security.

Tymon Jansen, plaintiff, vs. Lourens Haen, for slander. Plaintiff desires and demands proof of the slanderous remarks which Davit Provoost is said by the defendant to have made. The defendant persists in his testimony. Davit Provoost declares in court that he knows nothing of the wife of Tymon Jansen but what is honorable and virtuous and that he has seen nothing in her house but what is proper, being ready at all times to confirm the same under oath.

Having seen the evidence and the insufficiency of the testimony produced by Lourens Haen to prove the case, the said Provoost is acquitted and the said Haen condemned to pay a fine of fl. 10 for having, as he says, had knowledge of such scandalous words so long and kept still about them and not reported the same to the magistrates according to his oath; one half [ of the amount to be ] for the church and the other half for the fiscal, on condition that he furnish the offended party a certificate hereof.

Whereas Peter Draper, by virtue of a letter from Governor Calvert of Maryland, has come here to find some runaway servants, among whom is alleged to be one Eduwart Griffins, who has appeared before us and admits that he ran away from Maryland but says that he had no master in Maryland and that Captain Claber in Virginia was his master, which he proves by Hendrick Penninghton, residing at Hackemac, who thereupon has taken the proper oath, saying that the said Griffins was not a servant, but a prisoner in Maryland; that he does not know whether Griffins, being a prisoner there, has voluntarily bound himself to any one as a servant, but that it is well known to him, Hendric Pennington, that he, [ said Griffins ], was Captain Claver's servant in Virginia; Therefore, we have ordered that the said Peter Draper shall agree with the aforesaid Griffins about his freedom and that the said Draper shall furnish satisfactory security that said Griffins shall not be molested by said Captain Claber or any one else who might show his indenture and not suffer any damage. This day, the 27th of August, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

On the 20th of August anno 1640

Jan Jacobsen from Vrelant, plaintiff, vs. Davit Davitsen and Hans Noorman, defendants, for the delivery of fence posts. The defendants having admitted that they bought 800 posts from the plaintiff and [ declared ] that they have not received the same, the plaintiff is obliged to prove that they have had the said 800 posts in the woods.

Baltasar Lourens and Tomas Broen, plaintiffs, vs. Davit Provoost, defendant. Default.

On the 6th of September

Jan Jacobsen from Vrelant, plaintiff, vs. Barent Dircksen from Norden, defendant. Default.

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.