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The 20th of September 1647

Whereas the ship named St. Beninjo, or Harcules, which sailed from Medenblick, has arrived at what the English call New Haven, situated in New England, of which vessel Cornelis Claesen Snoo is master and Mr. Willem Westerhuysen and Samuel van Goedenhuysen merchants, who have caused application to be made to the honorable director general and council here for permission to trade in this province, offering to pay here in New Netherland the duty on imported and exported goods and returns; therefore, the honorable director and council, having duly weighed and considered the impossibility of having said vessel by force brought here and fearing also that if any preparation were made to that end here, it would immediately become rumored about and said ship, which lies always prepared and ready to sail, would thus slip away from us, have for the best advantage of the honorable Company and the benefit of the inhabitants here resolved and unanimously concluded to grant freedom of trade to the above named merchants with their ship and goods, on condition of paying the honorable Company here the proper duties. Thus done in council on the date above written. Was signed: P. Stuyvesant, L. Dinckaghe, La Montangne, Brian Newton and A. Keyser. In the margin was written: Present, the honorable general, Mr. Dincklaghe, Mr. la Montangne, Lieutenant Nuton, Paulus Leendersz, commissary of naval stores, and Commissary Keyser.

In council at Fort Amsterdam it is resolved and concluded for the best advantage and interest of the Chartered West India Company to sell the ship Swol to Mr. Goudjer, who offers 9000 guilders for said ship with twenty iron guns, or 7000 guilders with ten iron guns and what is specified in the inventory and to let her go at that price if no more can be obtained, for in case said ship be not sold she will lie here to rot and decay to the great loss and damage of the Company. Done as above.

Was signed: P. Stuyvesantt, L. van Dincklagen, La Montangne, Brian Newton and A. Keyser. In the margin was written:

Present, the honorable general, Mr. Dincklagen, Mr. La Montangne, Lieutenant Newton, Paulus Leendersz and Commissary Keyser.

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.