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Having heard the complaint of the fiscal against Jochom Pietersz and Cornelis Melyn, he is ordered to formulate his complaint against the parties more distinctly and to institute his action against each one separately with proofs as to what the parties have done severally and also jointly. Meanwhile he is authorized to confine the aforesaid Jochim Pietersz and Cornelis Melyn each in his own house until further orders. Thus decreed in council. Present: the honorable general, Mr. Dincklagen, the Captain Lieutenant, Commissary Paulus Leendersz, and Jan Claesz Bol. The 4th of July anno 1647.

All the farmers who have cultivated and occupied their lands for more than ten years are summoned before the council in Fort Amsterdam and informed that they are liable to pay the honorable West India Company the tenth of their crops; which aforesaid farmers answer and acknowledge that the time had expired and that they were truly obliged to pay the tenth; but inasmuch as they had suffered great damage on their lands and otherwise in consequence of the war which God had inflicted upon them, they prayed that they might be spared for that reason this year, being willing to pay their honors their just due next year.

All of which being taken into consideration by the director general and council and that the people had only recently returned to their lands, it is deemed highly necessary and advisable to release the farmers this year from the tithes which shall be collected next year, when it is hoped that they will amount to something more. Thus done in council. Present: the honorable General

P. Stuyvesant, the late director, Willem Kieft, Mr. Dincklagen, Lieutenant Nuton, Mr. La Montange, Paulus Leendersz, commissary of stores, Mr. Jacob Looper and Jan Claesz Bol. The 6th of July anno 1647, in Amsterdam of New Netherland.

Whereas four letters are brought to the council by skipper Willem Tomasz, addressed to Seger Tonisz, and whereas he is dead and goods have been sent to him, it is resolved that the letters shall be opened by Secretary Tienhoven on behalf of the honorable Company, the administrators of the estate of Seger Tonisz and Mr. Augustyn Herman, who shall jointly report to us if there be anything therein in which the honorable Company is interested.

Mr. Augustyn Heerman shall receive the private goods addressed to Seger Tonisz by the ship De Valckenier as per invoice and dispose of them for the benefit of the owners, on condition of receiving a commission of 10 percent. Thus done. Present: the honorable general, the late director, Mr. Kieft, Mr. Dincklagen, Mr. La Montangne, Captain Lieutenant Nuton, Commander Loper, the commissary of naval stores and Mr. Jan Claesz Bol. The 11th of July anno 1647.

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.