Research

Series:

Scanned Document:

Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and most Prudent Lord:

My last letter to you was dated the 13th of this month by skipper Lourens Cornelisz with whom I sent the desired provisions I hope that they arrived safely and have been received by you

in good condition.

This letter is going with Michiel Taden's yacht, in which are some peltries; just as those previously sent with the ship, de Bever, and the yacht, d'Eendt, which sailed from here to Manhattan according to the registration made by those who are acquainted with them. If they are useful to you on behalf of the Company, they can be examined from the accompanying copies. I had previously requested of you twelve skipples of summer barley and six skipples of oats. I also expected a small barrel of flour. If you are well provided with sewant, I would like 300 or 400 guilders worth, along with 100 good planks; and if there is more room, the remaining space could be filled with a barrel of lime or some such. The aforesaid sewant is to be for payment of Captain Marten Kriger and other [      ] expenses....

[  Remaining one-third of page torn away.  ]

...I have also looked into the settlements and nations located around here and into their chiefs. I find twelve in number, by names N.N. etc.^[1] I should give them a gift or present in remembrance of my arrival here. Please advise me on this and tell me whether you think that it should be given to them collectively or to each one individually and what sort of things it is proper to give collectively or individually.

Around the time of Captain Marten Kriger's departure, a soldier named Jan Andriesz van Riga ran away to the English in the north, and now on the 14th of this month the same happened again with two soldiers from here named Gerret Specht and Thomas Bintgen. They had already committed some offenses on the island where the ship was stranded, and then again committed some crimes here. If the last two come there or are discovered please arrest them; otherwise, if opportunity permits, inform the English governor and recommend that these persons, who each absconded with a flintlock, be arrested if they are discovered there, and that they be returned at the first opportunity either to Manhattan or here, which shall oblige me even more.

If you could see fit to give [      ] bearer of this, [ Gerrit ] van Sweeringen, since [      ] there is no commissary here to take care of the Company's rights on [ the arrival of goods ] and merchandise, it would be of service....

[  Remaining one-fourth of page torn away.  ]

...and if you have planks in abundance, then somewhat more could be sent than heretofore mentioned. The assistance which you may be pleased to perform in this matter shall obligate me more and more to merit it at every opportunity by deeds or at least by gratitude and whatever else may be required thereto.

In closing, after dutiful respects from me and my wife, I pray that God may keep you, the Noble, Honorable, Esteemed and very Prudent Lord, together with madame, your beloved, in continual health and prosperity. I remain

Notes

References

Translation: Gehring, C. trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vols. 18-19, Delaware Papers: Dutch Period, 1648-1664 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1981).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.