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To the highly esteemed Lord Director General and Councilors of New Netherland.

Your highly esteemed honors' petitioners, appointed recently overseers by the highly esteemed Lord Director General for the advancement of the enclosure and establishment of the newly begun villages and plantations in the Esopus in the margin next to the underlined segment was written: the undersigned freeholders, show with all due humility which advancement they as interested parties earnestly desire together with other things which they would gladly promote. Then, upon deliberation among themselves about the constant threats of the Indians, saying that they (the Indians) might suffer if building is done there, but that no fortification should be undertaken, which, if it should happen, would be a sign that we did not have good intentions; in addition, they, these Indians, say that the second large piece of land was not comprehended in the peace of 1660. Therefore, they do not want to suffer that we shall plow and sow on it, nor that our cattle and horses shall be allowed to come on it before they are paid for it. For this reason your honors' petitioners have been forced to turn to your highly esteemed honors and humbly petition and request that your honors be favorably pleased to lend a helping hand to these newly begun places and villages just as was done previously at Wiltwijck, New Haerlem, New Utrecht and other villages of less stability and consequence, with some soldiers and munitions of war, at least until the settlement can be brought into a proper defensive posture, and with. . .

[Remaining quarterfold lost.]

. . .be given satisfaction for the second large piece in dispute. Finally, your highly esteemed honors humble petitioners and faithful subject remaining unthreatened and unmolested by the Indians to be allowed with some security to continue peacefully and unhindered and without worry in their work, being (if one can give credence to rumors and warnings) otherwise too dangerous for your honors' humble petitioners and obedient subjects, if it is not too perilous to continue to proceed in the work.

Also, we request, as there is no suitable opportunity to plant garden fruits in the community, with the cultivated fields being too far away and inconvenient that the petitioners may each be granted a suitable lot for a garden in the flats along the kil; likewise that they be allowed free passage through the village of Wiltwijck to the shoreline and back to the new village without molestation and with any charges or tolls on their livestock, freight, beer and wine, and other effects. Because those of Wiltwijck have already dared to attempt to make an inspection in the aforesaid Nieuw Dorp [ New Village ].^[1]

Whereupon awaiting your highly esteemed honors' favorable response, we pray to God for your honors' longlasting health and praiseworthy administration, and remain

Your highly esteemed honors' humble petitioners and faithful subjects.

Notes

References

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