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Extracts from the register of the resolutions made by the directors of the West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam.

Monday, the 3^rd of April 1656.

Upon the proposal that a ship with a commission from the director of Medenblick, operating under the chamber of West Friesland and the North Quarter, has departed from the coast of Africa for slaves, with the intention to sell the same on the island of Curacao or to trade for them on the mainland, it was resolved to oppose the aforesaid sale or trade, and to write to Vice Director Beck there that he is to seize the aforesaid ship and slaves there, and to preceed therewith as he deems proper according to justice.

Thursday, the 27^th ditto.

A petition was read of Gilletjen Dircx, housewife of Evert Dircksen van Asch, who departed for New Netherland about two years ago in the service of this chamber in the capacity of ensign, requesting that her husband be discharged from the Company's service, which, after discussion, was granted her.

Thursday, the 18^th of May.

Appeared at the session, Pieter Claessen Mes, surgeon at Naerden, father of Claes Pieterssen Mes, in the years [left blank] departed as a boy or servant for New Netherland with Aldert Antony, presently burgomaster of New Amsterdam on Manhattan, and has complained together with three other persons recently arrived from New Netherland and brought to the session, who confirmed the bad treatment, both by unnatural beatings and otherwise that the aforesaid Claes Pieterssen's son has suffered at the hands of the aforesaid Aldert Antony, requesting that the session be pleased to write Director Stuyvesant that the aforesaid Claes Pieterssen Mes may be discharged from the service of the aforesaid Aldert Antony; whereupon, after discussion, it was resolved and agreed that the aforesaid complaint be communicated by letter to Director Stuyvesant and instructed, if he finds the matter to be as was here presented, also written from there, and all circumstances seem to be true that he shall discharge the aforesaid Claes Pieterssen from the service and take care that similar bad behavior not be tolerated there anymore, as it tends to the detriment and hinderance of the population there.

Thursday, the 1^st of June 1656.

Once again the petition of last 20 April was submitted to the session by the mother of Jan Mast, requesting that her son, who is presently in the Company's service in New Netherland, be discharged from the service; it was resolved and agreed that the director general shall be advised of the aforesaid petition and instructed to dismiss the aforesaid Jan Mast at once, if it can be done without disservice to the Company.

[ REVERSE: ] These were received on 5 September 1656 by the ships Otter and Duyff.

References

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