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Letter from William Beeckman to director Stuyvesant

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Noble, Honorable, highly Esteemed, Wise and Prudent Lords:

The enclosed was handed to me by the honorable President van Sweringen on 30 July. Skipper Peter Luckassen arrived in New Amstel on the 28th where he disembarked 60 farm laborers and unmarried women for the City, together with a cargo of ammunition of war, farmers' tools and some merchandise. I have received no manifest from Mr. Lyfferingh or anyone else on behalf of the Company; only this enclosed list which I received from the supercargo.

The aforesaid skipper disembarked 41 people at the Hoerekil, together with their baggage and farmers' tools.[1]

I have learned from Mr. van Sweringen and Mr. Willem Rasenborgh, who arrived on the ship, St. Jacop, that Mr. d'Hinojosse has permission to go to the fatherland on this ship.

My Lords, I request that you advise me whether I shall have to supply this garrison here for another year. I would like to know as soon as possible so that I can regulate myself accordingly, because Mr. van Sweringen will have to care for over 100 people.

I refer for further details of our present needs to my previous letter.

Herewith I commend you to God's protection, remaining, after wishes for a long life and prosperous administration.

Notes

This was the Mennonite colony under the direction of Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy.

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.