Research

Series:

Scanned Document:

Resolution drawn up this 19th of May 1643 at Fort Amsterdam on Curaçao.

It has been previously resolved for the service of the Company and the maintenance of the island of Buenairo, to station the yacht De Paroquiet there in order to protect the newly constructed gantry and the salt, which is still there, against enemies and foreigners, and after it was realized that the saltpans had more salt than before, we sent there all the Company’s Negroes, about forty in number, in order to have them bring out a good quantity of salt to dry, commensurate with the available materials. However, because 2 to 3 foreign Indians have been seen there, and not knowing their intentions or whether they were left there by the Spaniards for a reason, or fled there against their will, we find it necessary for the maximum security of the island, as long as the Negroes remain working there, to keep 3 to 4 horsemen there together with 8 to 10 soldiers, in order to provide a guard for the countryside both against a surprise attack and the escape of Negroes. In the event that the aforesaid Indians are waiting there for some vessel and in order to maintain better supervision over the other effects of the Company, we have decided to send there the cornet Pieter Fredrickx van Maegdeborch, as provisional commander, whose ability and diligence seems to us sufficient for this.

For the maintenance of the Negroes in the saltpans, as well as for the rationing out of our food supply, which is small, it was decided in the preceding resolution to send some soldiers up to the islands of Rocas and Aves^[i] in order to acquire a supply of turtles; and whereas the accompanying food supply continually dwindles, it is necessary to send more soldiers there, both to carry out better the aforesaid intentions as well as to make the meager food supply last longer by sending away the soldiers, whom we believe shall be able to maintain themselves there for awhile; and to add another sixteen soldiers to the preceding [      ], even though it is highly necessary to keep them here and to recall the others for the defense of this fort, because we have learned that 24 ships have been assembled at the island of St. Martin; and because there is nothing to haul from there, it is feared that they are planning one or another attack from there, in order to remain undetected, and to repeat the enterprise of last year against this fortress which was unsuccessful. In addition, because the fleet from Spain is passing through about this time, they might combine with one another. It is against such an arrival that the small garrison here should be kept together; however, it is true that “necessity knows no law,” and we protest that we have been forced to send them away out of fear of another famine. Thus done and concluded at the place, day and year stated above.

Notes

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665 (New Netherland Research Center and the New Netherland Institute: 2011).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.