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Letter from Jacob Alrichs to director Stuyvesant

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

My Lord, I recently wrote to you on the 7th and 14th of this month[1] about what is being said here: that the English in Virginia are preparing to pay us a visit, in one manner or another, concerning the ownership, possession and administration of this area which, it is said, they claim.. What is to be expected only time will tell. Therefore, it should be considered whether it would be appropriate to send some commissioners there to open talks concerning this matter in order to find out what the truth is. Since I find it difficult to do anything in such matters, I will take no steps nor do anything without detailed orders, advice and approval from you. I had expected a note in reply to my previous letter concerning this, but until now I have heard nothing, although after the arrival of Michael Taden, a yacht arrived from your place with Philip Jansz aboard. Our strength and situation here is weak; also, since no ship has arrived, the will or heart is proportionally so. You shall probably [      ] more detailed information and exact knowledge concerning this because vessels daily arrive there from...

[  Remaining two lines of page defective.  ]

...or better still, if your business permits, we would be pleased to see you here in person in order to arrange everything that would most expeditiously and appropriately benefit the common good.

J. Alrichs

[ P.S. ] People coming from Virginia or from Bear or Godtfridt's Island[2] confirm the aforesaid, saying that they will come over at the first opportunity, that war has broken out between England and Holland, and that the young Cromwell has been poisoned and is dead.

[ Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord. The Honorable Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General over New Netherland, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba etc.

Residing in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

By the yacht Prins Maurits, may God protect.

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

After closing my letter dated today,[3] a certain person came from Beeren or Godtfridts Island bringing news that has been related for the most part in today's letter, and that the foremost men of the country have been meeting about it. Otherwise, nothing else could be found out because some residents had been notified to stay nearby and stand ready, after being informed of the intention to come to this place. Therefore, I respectfully request that you consider this matter and make a decision on it without delay, and have it executed as soon as possible by council or deed, whichever you deem to be most appropriate. Herewith salutations and commendations to God.

J. Alrichs

[ Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, Esteemed, Wise and very Prudent Lord. The Honorable Lord Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General over New Netherland etc. Residing in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland

By the yacht of Michiel Carreman.

Notes

See 18:56 for the letter dated 14 June 1659.

The name of this island refers to Gotfried Harmer who was an assistant to Hendrick Huygen, the commissary of New Sweden. Harmer deserted to Maryland in the early 1650s. The island is now called Spesutia Island, situated at the head of Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Susquehannah River; it was the site of Nathaniel Utie's settlement in the 17th century.

See 18:57 for this letter.

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.