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Minute of a proclamation for a day of prayer

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The 27th of February a letter was read in court of the honorable director general and council of New Netherland dated the 7th of February of this year 1657, containing an order to proclaim a day of prayer on the 7th of March, according to their written proclamation,[1] which after the third ringing of the bell was read publicly in Fort Orange, a copy thereof being sent by Lowies Cobussen, court messenger, to the Heer Rencelaer.

[ 48 ] Extraordinary Session Held in Fort Orange

February 27,1657

President, Rutger Jacobsen
Anderyes Herbertsen
Jacob Janssen Schermerhoorn
Philip Pietersen
magistrates

The honorable officer, plaintiff, in criminal matters, against Dirck de Gojer, defendant.
2d default.
The defendant failing to appear for the second time, default is entered against him.
The honorable officer, plaintiff, against Comelis Teunissen and his wife, defendants.
The defendant demands a copy of the plaintiff’s complaint.
The court orders the plaintiff to give a copy of his complaint to the defendant to make answer thereto on the next court day.

Notes

See NYCM 8:458, for this proclamation. A day of prayer and thanksgiving was proclaimed February 6,1657. The reasons given for the proclamation were to give thanks for having peaceful times, a healthy population, and an unexpectedly good harvest despite the fact that since the Indian troubles there had been no plowing or planting.

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.