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At a Meeting of the Commanders and Honorable Council of War, holden on the 12th of September, 1673.

Present—	Commander Jacob Benckes,
	Commander Cornelis Evertsen, Junior,
	Captain Anthony Colve.

The Deputies from the South river entering and delivering their credentials, further declaring their submission to the sovereignty of their High Mightinesses the Lords States-General of the United Netherlands and his Serene Highness, the Prince of Orange, with request that they may be granted and allowed some privileges, handing in, to that effect, some articles which, being taken into consideration, it is ordered as follows:

First. The Petitioners are allowed, until further order from our Lords Principals, free trade and commerce with Christians and Indians, the same as given and granted to all other inhabitants.

2nd A person shall be appointed Commandant over the South river who shall be authorized to enlist 10 @; 12 men on our account, and, furthermore, to summon every sixth man from among the inhabitants of that river, and to order a fort to be built in the most suitable place, such as the Commandant shall judge necessary for the defence of said river.

3rd The Commandant shall appoint a person to collect all debts due the English government, report whereof being made to the Honorable Governor, further order shall be issued thereon.

4th The Petitioners are allowed Freedom of Conscience.

5th The Honorable' Governor shall, at the proper time, make due disposition of the valley adjoining the place.

6th The Swedes and Fins residing there on the South river shall enjoy the same privileges as will be granted to all other subjects of this government.

7th In compensation and consideration of the excessive expenses which the inhabitants of the South river shall have to incur in erecting the fort, they are hereby granted and allowed exemption from all rent charges and excise on Wine, Beer and distilled liquors which will be consumed on the South river until the month of May in the year 1676.

8th Those of the English nation shall enjoy the same privileges as will be granted to all the other inhabitants of this government, provided they take the oath of allegiance.

9th All inhabitants of the South river shall have and hold all their houses, lands and goods lawfully belonging to them.

And in case any persons now residing in Maryland have taken up any lands in the South river, and obtained legal deeds therefor, such persons shall be permitted within the time of three months from date hereof to apply to the Governor here and obtain confirmation of their patents, and in like manner they shall be obliged to settle down under this government, and take the oath of allegiance, on pain of forfeiting their lands aforesaid. Ady as above.

( Signed )	Jacob Benckes,
	Cornelis Everts, Junior.

And whereas it is highly necessary for the maintenance of good order, police, and so forth, that the inhabitants of the South river be provided with some courts of justice, we have therefore deemed it necessary to order and instruct the inhabitants of said river to nominate by plurality of votes, for each court, eight persons as magistrates, whose jurisdiction shall provisionally extend as follows:

One Court of Justice for New Amstel, to which provisionally shall resort the inhabitants dwelling on the east and west banks of Kristina kill unto Boomties Hook, with those of Apoquenamins kill inclusive.

One Court of Justice for the inhabitants of Upland, to which provisionally shall resort the inhabitants both on the East and West banks of Kristina kill and upwards unto the head of the river.

One Court of Justice for the inhabitants of the Whorekill, to which shall provisionally resort the inhabitants both on the East and West sides of Cape Hinloopen, unto Boomties Hook, aforesaid.

And all the aforesaid inhabitants are hereby required and directed to deliver the nomination to the Commandant or Schout Peter Alrigs, to be then transmitted to us by the first opportunity, when a selection shall be made therefrom and sent to each of them. Dated as above.

( Signed )	Jacob Benckes,
	Cornelis Everts, Junior.

References

Translation: O'Callaghan, E.B., trans./ed., Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York, vol. 2 (Albany: Weed, Parsons: 1858), pp. 569-730 (vol. 23, pp. 1-270 only).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.