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Your letter of the 21st of last month has been duly received and I understand by it that since every matter concerning us has been sufficiently and manifoldly perceived by you in a most affectionate manner, I respectfully request and trust your concern may in no way be diminished, especially concerning the beaver payments since they are very scarce or unobtainable as I have written many times before; therefore, I implore you to please excuse this impossible situation. I also request that you please take care of the enclosed bill for the Fort Orange bricks. I distributed some among the inhabitants for the construction of chimneys, and used between 7 and 8000 for construction or brickwork in Fort Altena, all of which may it please you to consider for the best.

The ship, de Gulden Meulen, is awaited with great anticipation and is expected at any hour, especially in our present situation which has been very grievous because of a persistent burning fever and other sickness which oppress and incapacitate the greater part of the inhabitants. In addition to this, our barber-surgeon^[1] has died and another^[2] who [ is well-acquainted with his profession ] is also very sick.

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Concerning the widow of Christiaen B[ arents ] ^[3] : since she fervently desired to [      ] there, and requested it verbally in writing within three days after her husband [      ] buried, and that [      ] goods left behind also would be sold at once. All of which, upon her repeated appeals or [      ], have been agreed to and permitted; likewise, everything has been arranged to the best advantage of the heirs so that [      ] have benefited more than usual by some gifts or [      ], as you have seen [      ] the transmitted letter and inventory of the sale of [      ] goods, and you shall be able to perceive [      ] the aforesaid widow has been given no cause at all for complaints, except that I did advise or propose to her that it would be for her best if she were to remain in possession; she would be assisted in the [      ] of the mill with the income of which from the [      ] she would be able to pay off the expenses, and [      ] live honestly and comfortably with her children, especially since she had three to four good cows together with sheep and hogs which could have also helped her [      ] in maintaining a household; she and her children should on their [      ] and father's estate which was in a good [      ] here, whereby the widow with her children could have continued to live most advantageously, in good style and standing. But she would not listen at all to...

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...that one wanted to prejudice her desires and welfare, which I never considered., much less would do.

I pray that God may take you and us together with all associates into His care and protection. Remaining

Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord. The Honorable Petrus Stuyvesant, General over New Netherland, Curacao etc. Residing in Fort Amsterdam.

[      ] Captain Jacobsz [      ] protect.

In New Amstel,

5 September 1658.

[ Addressed: ]

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.