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The Governor-General and Council of New Netherland, being informed that previous to the date hereof, divers sorts of Measures and Weights have been in use in this city, whereby the good inhabitants are liable to be seriously defrauded and wronged, therefore the Governor-General and Council have thought it necessary to interdict and forbid all merchants, traders, shopkeepers and all others who vend or sell anything by the ell, measure or weight, making use within this city of any other than the real Amsterdam measure and weight; and in order that such may be done, all merchants, shopkeepers and inhabitants of this city, are ordered and commanded to have their measures, ells and weights stamped within fourteen days from the date hereof by the sworn Sealer to be appointed for that purpose by the W. Court of this city, on pain and fine of twenty-five guilders Beaver currency for each [ unsealed ] weight or measure, which will be used after that date by any merchants, traders or inhabitants, and the officers whom these may concern are strictly ordered to be careful that this be particularly observed and duly executed. Done Fort Willem Hendrick, this 20th February, 1674.

By order of the Governor-General

and Council of New Netherland.

N. Bayard, Secretary.

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.