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Letter from J. de la Grange to director Stuyvesant

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Noble, Honorable and Venerable Lord, Greetings[1]:

Your letter dated 17 of this month has been received. I thank you for the good instructions regarding maintenance of friendship with the people here - they will be observed. I accommodate them in everything whenever I can or may; which is reciprocated by them, so that we live with one another as peaceful neighbors. I have given out some land here to three farmers from New Amstel. They are coming here tomorrow, and I expect still more so that in time we will be able to defend ourselves when the Indians show any hostility. Mr. Iniosa is very jealous about the departure of the farmers from New Amstel to this place, but ] I pay little attention to it. Concerning the schout's debt: he told me that he had written you but I understand from your letter that it was done by Mr. Iniossa. I shall speak to the schout about this again and see to it that payment is received. Concerning the mediation of a friendship between Mr. Iniossa and Mr. Beeckman: I have taken some steps but it is impossible to accomplish because of the great hatred on the part of Mr. Iniossa, but I shall take up the matter once again and see what I can achieve therein. With regard to Mr. Beeckman, I find him to be an honest and civil man, just as you and other friends have said of him; therefore, we developed quite a close relationship, which has caused this great jealousy in Mr. Iniossa. But, because of the close friendship between Mr. Beeckman and me I take little note of this jealousy. Thus Mr. Beeckman cannot be blamed for the discord because he acquits himself in everything as an honest man is accustomed to do.

Concerning my passage with Jan de Caper and his requested fare of 200 guilders: I asked Mr. Iniossa whether he would please pay it, which he refused to do, saying that I had not been brought into the colony but ] into the territory of the Company ]; however, he would write to his superiors and if ] they agreed, then he would pay it. Therefore I request that you please pay Jan de Caeper according to the agreement with you, because if I pay it, I will never be compensated. I hope that you consent to my request, upon which I am depending, and if I can be of any service, you need only command and you shall find me always ready. In closing, I send greetings to you and your wife, and commend you to the protection of the Almighty, remaining,

My Lord,
Your devoted servant and friend,
J. de la Grange.

Done on 30 July 1662,
[      ] in New Netherland.

P.S.: ] [      ] enclosed I send to lines for use in your fish pond.

Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, Wise and Venerable Lord. My Lord Petrus Stuyvesandt, Director-General of New Netherland. Residing in Amsterdam in New Netherland.

With a little case.

Noble, Wise, Venerable and highly Esteemed Lord, Greetings:

I refer you to the enclosure. Since I am at New Amstel, I asked Mr. van Sweeringe about the payment. He replied that I should write to you; therefore, I demanded a note from Director Iniossa, according to your request, which I enclose with this. Otherwise I believe you would have trouble collecting the payment.

Concerning the establishment of a friendship between Mr. Iniossa and Mr. Beeckman: I have made another attempt but it is impossible because the hatred is so great; however, Mr. Beeckman is very inclined for maintaining a friendship so that he is not to blame. Herewith I commend you to the protection of the Almighty and send greetings from my wife to yours, remaining,

Your devoted servant and friend,
J. de la Grange

Done 3 August 1662
at New Amstel.

Addressed: ] Noble, Honorable, Wise, Venerable, highly Esteemed Lord. My Lord Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherland at Amsterdam in New Netherland.

I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the schout, van Sweerringe, is due from the City five times as much as the 120 guilders [      ] which the lord general demands from him according to a bond; and I shall debit the aforesaid van Sweer[      ] for it against his account with the City-

Alexander d'Hinoyossa

Done in New Amstel,
3 August 1662.

Notes

On 29 May 1662 Joost de la Grange purchased Tinicum Island in the Delaware River from Armgart Prints, daughter of the former Swedish governor, Johan Prints (see NYHM, 21:51). Stuyvesant apparently asked de la Grange as a councillor of New Amstel to mediate the dispute between d'Hinojossa and Beeckman.

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.