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Honoured Sr.

Wee received Apll. 25^th 1656 a coppie of the remonstrance and complainte, of Antonie Johnson, (by the stibo),^[1] not only what falselie and maliciouslie hee hath charged to vs as if soe had Christians, as Mauhammetans, himselfe as a trublsome person, reuiving to your truble and ours in this turblsome tyme, Wherein the whole Countrie seames to hange as vppon Geomitrie, and all our liens injeaperdie; as by the greate supplies the Indians haue of Armes and Ammunition; to the furnishing of themselves: more as formerlie; as if were Nye some verye sad tragedie,) about his, not our former Controuersie of the bounds and Limmetts of his bow land:^[2] the which the Heere Fiscall, with others of the High rate^[3] deputed ended by markeing it out vnto him; of the which Bow land as hee saith, if wee shall wronge him in the leaste, wee desire to suffer in the extremest but preiudice and that ould ill opinion or rather that wicked spirit that causes him to speak euill. of the Ruler of the people and highest officers which is most sufferable; doth against vs att this tyme moste falselie; as is not notoriouslie knowne oure land being bounded on the Westwaerd parte with his land, wee without offence thought wee might sett our pastes and railes by his pastes, or houses by his houses, which formerlie seuerall of vs English hazzarded our liues for the preseruation thereof and others there lost their liues by the Indians, all which is now forgott; againe wee knowe noe interualle of land that is betwixst him and vs, but ours adjoyning to him, vppon or about the Wester most pt. of the Iland in the Largest extent as farre as Land is, soe equallizeing his in the lenth thereof by Graunt and pattent; further the land nexst to him is ours by purchase from the true proprietours and is extant vnder their hands, to which Antonie pleades the ffiscalls markeing it out was contrarie to the minds of the rest with him; secondlie hee pleades his purchase, which being longe after our pattentt^[4] deserues Noe Answere, allsoe declareing: though against his will that some amongst vs were honest men and payed him for keepeing their Calues one that of pte. our land, as wee vsuallie doe to them that keepe our Cowes one other ptes. thereof, but for one or both; therefore to saye, the Land is theres is foolish and rediculous ; and for his possession for manye yeares, wee graunt: hee hath had before wee come, and since, the greatest vse & benefitt thereof: with the preuilidges of hunting, fishing, fowling etc: but yett by our pattent, these all come ritelie vnto vs, and non to him the which in case wee had bynn called before yor Honour the afforesaid. Order would haue beyan omitted; forknoweing. you haue euer professed to vs, our enjoyement of what is giuen vs: wee are not discouraged, but therefore minded Still to perfict our fenceing for the secureing more or less thereof as this year wee are able: which by Sr Hennery Modye and the Magistrates for themselues & in our behalfe; you shall further vnderstand, and hope to your Honours good sattisfaction and content the accommodations for our towne being Soo small will not sattisfie 6 or 7 Bouries^[5] scaersely; yett seuerall haue heare continued in hopes of further inlargement according to promise, but if in stead thereof should bee a deminition of that wee haue ; by some ill willers & wishers, to vs instigating against vs. yett are wee not such fooles or voide of reason but can see it; therefore are bould in the owneing our rites especiallie when others laye claime thervnto; haueing onely against vs oure delaye & neglecte hetherto which wee answer was not being necessitated, secondlie not knoweing the bounds of his Land; hee pretending all was his: where vppon formerlie as you maye remember wee haue said it would accomodate seuerall plantations that might bee settled; Anto. haueing sufficient, and better then as wholelie in his hands; but wee haue found it and the Sd Antonie a Lyer and haue reson according to the greate wrounge done thereby vnto vs soe longe tyme; and yett indeauors still to doe, to looke att him Without respect of giueing him ought thereof ; much more an equal share as a neighbour their with vs; Which very lately wee was willing and promised, though he refused it; never the less in or about any thing wee shall not bee contentious or raise dissencions but will in all things seeke after peace, which shows as if flyeing awaye & sayeing adue: in the meane tyme propound vnto your honours, the houses lands etc of seuerall ofvs, vppon reasonable tearmes, desireing onely for the Lands Improued, the moneys disbursed in purchase and the rest as it was giuen free, soe to returne againe and this wee saye, with sober mindes, not as enemies, but faithful friends, vnder you and vppon your refusall wee haue our libbertie to sell to whome wee please, onely wee desire your honour would bee pleased to take the promises in your wisdoms considderation. It is not our desires or intents to be any further troublesome aboute this Land of ours, therefore shall bee very glad you purchase of vs; and then Antonie that zibi^[6] lett him take all, and wee the inhabitants of Gravesend, does and shall while wee heare reside continue faithful to and vnder you and euer desireing your prosperitie soe rest.

Maye, the 14^th
1656, st: no:

[ ADDRESSED: ] To our honoured Governor Peter Stuyvesant Esquire Governor General of the N. Netherland att the Cittie New Amsterdam this present.

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References

A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.