Translation
Dutch colonial council minutes, 30 May - 6 June 1641
Thursday, being the 30th of May 1641
Fredrick Jansen, plaintiff, vs. Claes Sybrantsen Veringh, defendant. Plaintiff demands payment of wages earned by him. The defendant acknowledges the debt and the receipt of his canoe. The defendant is condemned to satisfy the plaintiff.
Cornelio vender Hoykens, plaintiff, vs. Uldrich Lupholt, defendant. Plaintiff demands that satisfaction and compensation be given to the Company. Defendant is granted 8 days to make answer, without fail.
Cornelio van[ der ] Hoykens, plaintiff, vs. Cornelis Bartensz, defendant. Default.
On Thursday, being the 6th of June[1]
Whereas a considerable number of
respectable Englishmen with their clergyman have applied for permission to settle
here and to reside among us and request that some terms might be offered to them, we
have therefore resolved to send to them the following terms:
1. They shall be
bound to take the oath of allegiance to the honorable Lords the States General and
the West India Company under whose protection they will reside.
2. They shall
enjoy free exercise of religion.
3. In regard to political government, if they
desire a magistrate, they shall have the privilege of nominating three or four
persons from the fittest among them, from which persons so nominated the governor of
New Netherland shall choose one, which magistrate shall be empowered in all civil
actions to render final judgment not exceeding 40 guilders; above this amount an
appeal may be made to the governor and council of New Nether land; and in criminal
cases he shall have jurisdiction except in cases involving corporal
punishment.
4. They shall not be at liberty to erect any strongholds without
permission.
5. The land shall be granted to them in fee, free of charge, and they
shall have the use thereof for ten years without paying any dues and at the
expiration of the said ten years be obliged to pay tithes.
6. They shall enjoy
free hunting and fishing and freedom of trade according to the charter of New
Netherland.
7. They shall be bound to make use of the weights and measures of
this country.
Notes
Revised from Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 27-28, and Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, 13:8.