Research

Series:

Scanned Document:

[  First several lines are lost.  ]

. . . for the shooting of hogs by him [      ] upon Long Island as attested to by various [      ] and strong testimony evidently shows, admits as follows:

1. That he brought home two hindquarters and put the forequarters behind a tree along a small thicket.

2. Also, that he was the cause of the lie because the Indians were not to have pork. Because it was his intention to report the same to the officer (so he says), his wife hindered him from or advised him against reporting it to the officer, and his wife hid the pork in the corn without his knowledge.

3. He says that he is unaware that he told the officer when he came to investigate, "If I had pork in the smokehouse, I would have it locked."

The honorable director-general of New Netherland; present: Captain Onderhil, Jan Hicx as commissioners from Vlissingen where the crime was committed [      ] .

Whereas Mr. Davit Provoost, alderman, presently examined and interrogated Merck Menloff vigorously, as appears above, and although the evidence is strong enough to warrant severer punishment, however, he said upon the desire and wishes of the community of Vlissingen, we are hereby to show mercy before severity; therefore, having considered everything meticulously which might serve as evidence; also, in order to establish an example so that . . .

[  First several lines are lost.  ]

. . . director-general [      ] of their High Mightinesses, the lords [      ] directors and patroons of this province, as they hereby do order the aforesaid Merck Menloff to be banished forever [      ] with his wife (because it appears that she assisted him in the theft); and it is ordered that the aforesaid Merck Menloff transport himself out of the province with his entire family as soon as possible, without being found ever again [      ] there or in this jurisdiction [      ] on pain of punishment according to the discretion of the court, and furthermore [      ] . Thus done and adjudicated at the meeting in the presence of the aforesaid officials commissioned from Vlissinge and Mr. Davit Provoost, alderman. 28 March 1652, New Netherland. P. Stuyvesant
La Montagne
John Underhill
John Hickes
Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, sec.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 5, Council Minutes, 1652-1654 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1983).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.