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Letter from Jacob Alrichs to director Stuyvesant

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

My last letter to you on the 7th of this month[1] went with Michiel Taden's ship. I hope that it arrived safely and has been received by you. In it I reported that Messrs. Beekman and Hinojossa had gone to the Hoerkill in order to negotiate for the land. This was done according to the bill of sale drawn up for the purchase which is being transmitted to you by Mr. Beekman, and to which I refer.[2]

According to the desire of my superiors, I now request a conveyance of it in due form (as well as the other lands of this colony). I also request a duplicate of the aforesaid conveyance, sealed and signed as in the original, on parchment or francyn,[3] if possible, in order to send the same to the lords-masters in the fatherland. Because of the press of business I omitted or forgot to inform you in my previous letter of the return of the galliot. It endured so much bad weather, storms and peril in the voyage out that the lower timbers were damaged, broken or weakened. In the meantime I had about f800 in freight by Michiel Carreman charged to my account, besides other things which I still have to carry as well [ on my account ].

Concerning the rumors: they continue unabated to the detriment of this place; also, that some preparation are being made in Virginia to pay us a visit. If reason and justice be permitted to prevail...

[  Remaining five lines of page defective.  ]

...but if they intend to use [      ] and plunder, then I find this place presently too weak, with little heart because of two years of sickness, a bad summer, a harsh winter, a scarcity of provisions without any assistance or ship being sent here; more so since I have been ordered by my lords-superiors to outfit yet another place in addition to this one; to fortify and garrison it, which cannot begin or be accomplished without great expense. For this purpose a small amount of merchandise similar to that sent over on de Meulen cannot reach very far; especially since all provisions are more scarce and have to be purchased at much higher prices then previously. Therefore, I am now required, because of the scarcity of foodstuffs, to buy corn for six guilders a skipple which is very debilitating. In the meantime, I have to be patient until the Lord shall be pleased to grant us some relief or deliverance. After dutiful regards, I commend you to God's merciful protection.

I still have something to settle with Barent Jochims, skipper on de Meulen, about which I have written to Secretary van Ruyven. If he cannot resolve matters with him, please assist him within reason, and I shall be most obliged.

J. Alrichs

Notes

This letter has not survived.

See 18:55.

This is an old Dutch term for parchment imported from France.

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.