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Translation

Resolution to oblige the contractors to complete the palisades around the fort at New Amsterdam

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Scanned Document:

[At the session of the 21st of March 1653 the director-general reported that the late Nine Men[1] had been negligent in enclosing the fort with palisades or stakes], to which the community had voluntarily contributed a considerable sum, and whereas the aforesaid work has not yet been started, much less completed, it is resolved that the parties who manage the work and are entrusted with it shall be warned to expedite the work around the fort, pursuant to former instructions, so that it might not be ruined by hogs and so that the portion already put up might be preserved.

Notes

gemeentemannen, referred to as "alderman" in the present translation. When the city of New Amsterdam was chartered in February of 1653, the aldermen, who had previously represented the interests of the city, were replaced by two mayors and five schepens.

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.