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Sundry actions for recovery of debts

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Ordinary Session, October 17, 1656

Present:

La Montagne, commissary[1]
Rutger Jacobsen
Anderies Herbertsen
magistrates[2]

Frederick Hendericksz, skipper, plaintiff, against Henderick Jochimsen, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment by the defendant of 37 whole beavers, due him on a promissory note.
The defendant admits the debt.
The parties being heard by the court, the defendant is ordered to pay the plaintiff the number of 37 whole beavers, at once.

Jan Jansen van Ekel,[3] plaintiff, against Abraham Pietersen. The defendant having failed to appear the second time, default is entered against him.

Gossen Gerritsen, plaintiff, having power of attorney from the widow of Reyer Stoffelsen, against Gillis Pietersen.
The plaintiff, in his capacity, demands payment of the sum of 200 guilders, according to a promissory note, which he exhibits in court.
The defendant admits the debt.
The parties being heard, the court orders the defendant to pay the aforesaid sum of 200 guilders within the space of two months.

Lowies Cobus,[4] having power of attorney from Jan Peeck, plaintiff, against Claes Ripsen, defendant.
He demands payment of 50 guilders made over to the defendant, arising from a certain fine.
The defendant says that he satisfied the former officer Dijckman for the aforesaid sum.
The wife of the aforesaid Dijckman, in the absence of her husband, acknowledges that the aforesaid sum was paid to her husband. The defendant is discharged by the court from the plaintiff’s demand.

Gossen Gerritsen, attorney for the widow of Reyer Stoffelsen, plaintiff, against Christoffel Davids, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment of 60 guilders in corn.
The defendant admits the debt and promises to pay, on condition that the note which he executed in favor of Reyer Stoffelsen be returned to him; also a silver beaker which he gave to Reyer Stoffelsen, deceased, to have it repaired in Holland.
The parties having been heard, the defendant is ordered by the court to pay the said sum of 60 guilders in com within the space of six weeks, provided that the note, if there is one, be at the same time returned to him. As to the silver beaker, he is to corroborate his claim by testimony.

Gossen Gerritsen, plaintiff, against Lambert van Valckenborch, defendant.
The defendant failing to appear, first default is entered against him.

Gossen Gerritsen, plaintiff, against Claes Teunissen, defendant.
The defendant failing to appear, first default is entered against him.

Isbrant Eldersen,[5] plaintiff, against Leendert Philipsen, defendant. The plaintiff demands the return of a pair of black cloth sleeves given to the defendant to be mended.
The defendant admits that he received the same sleeves from the plaintiff, but claims that they were stolen from his house.
The parties having been heard, the defendant is ordered to restore the sleeves in question, or pay 8 guilders cash for them.

Jan Gouw, plaintiff, against Harmen Jacobsen, defendant.
The defendant failing to appear, first default is entered against him.

Tomas Poulussen,[6] plaintiff, against Tjerck Claesen.[7]
The plaintiff demands payment of 6 beavers.
The defendant admits the debt, but claims that 16 guilders is due him by the plaintiff for wages.
The plaintiff maintains that he does not owe as much.
The parties having been heard, the defendant is ordered to pay 4 beavers to the plaintiff within the space of six weeks, and meanwhile to settle the dispute in regard to the wages and after the liquidation to pay to the plaintiff the balance, if there be any, of the value of 2 beavers.
NB The time of payment expires on the first of December.[8]

Notes

Dr. Johannes La Montagne received his commission as vice director and commissary of Fort Orange on September 28,1656. He had served on the council in Manhattan continually since 1638.
The list of magistrates only appears in NYCM.
Ekelen in NYCM
Cobussen in NYCM
Eldertsen in NYCM
Poulus in NYCM
Claessen in NYCM
The nota bene is a marginal notation lacking in NYCM.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., New Netherland Documents Series: Vol. 16, part 2, Fort Orange Court Minutes, 1652-1660 (Syracuse: Syracuse University Press: 1990).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.