Research

Translation

Minute of the appearance of the principal citizens before the burgomasters and schepens of New Amsterdam

Series:
Scanned Document:

Copy of the enclosure in the foregoing petition:
Tuesday, 11 November 1653.
Present at the meeting in City Hall of New Amsterdam.
Their honors Arent van Hattem and Martin Cregier, mayors; Paulus Leendertsen van die Grift, Pieter Wolfertsen van Couwenhoven and Willem Beeckman, schepens.
Some of the most influential citizens and inhabitants of this city, having been lawfully summoned, the following appeared: Johannis van Beecq, Pieter Cock, Jan J. Schepmoes, Jan J. Kuyper, Peter Caspersen van Naerden, Claes Bordingh, Francois Fyn, Jan J. de Jongh, Jacob Steendam, Conrad ten Eyck, Hans Kierstede, Isaac de Forest, Dirck Schelluyne, Hendrick Kip, Lambert Huybertsen Mol, Peter Cornelissen van der Veer, Abram La Noy, Jan Lawrensen Appel, Govert Loockermans, Johannis Petersen Verbruggen, Daniel Litschoe, Jacob van Couwenhoven and Oloff Stevenson, to whom the aforesaid honorable mayors and schepens propose that, whereas they have asked the community to provide means for paying the public expenses and keeping in repair the works, and were answered, if the honorable director-general will allow the excise to be paid to the treasury of the city and for the city's benefit, they would willingly contribute; therefore, the mayors and schepens declare that they have obtained the consent of the honorable director-general to have henceforth the excise on wine and beer paid into the office of the mayors and schepens for the benefit of this city, but, for the present, no ready money is on hand and yet is much needed during these dangerous times; and wherefore some general taxes should be considered, the aforesaid magistrates ask the community whether they will submit to such ordinances and taxes as the magistrates may consider proper and necessary for the administration of this city. They all answered "yes" and promised to obey the honorable magistrates in everything, as good inhabitants are obliged to do, confirming it with their signatures. Done as above at New Amsterdam in New Netherland; was signed:

Hendrick Hendricksen Kip
Jan J. Schepmoes
Govert Loockermans
Lambert Huybertsen Mol
Francois Fyn
Jan Lawrensen Appel
Jacob van Couwenhoven
Isaac de Foreest
Jacob Steendam
Jan J. de Jongh
Conrad ten Eyck
Peter Cock
D. van Schelluyne
Johannis de Peyster
Peter Cornelissen van Veer
Abraham La Noy
Johannis van Beecq
Jacob Kipp

Notes

See The Records of New Amsterdam, 1653-1674, edited by Berthold Fernow, 7 vols., 1897 (reprinted Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1976), 1:126 for the city's copy of this petition.

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 theĀ New Netherland Institute website.