Research

Instructions from the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, to the Hon'ble J. Petersen Tolck, director on the island of Curaçao, and his council, together with the secret instructions by which they are to regulate themselves. [1640]

Five propositions to the "Heeren Landen" of the island of Curaçao. [1643]

RESOLUTION. On five propositions for the Council of Curaçao concerning Bonaire and Aruba. [1643]

RESOLUTION concerning repairs to a yacht, search for seals and inspection of the saltpans on Bonaire. [1643]

RESOLUTION against plundering gardens belonging to blacks and Indians. [1643]

Resolution. On the application of sundry persons whose term of service had expired, granting them lands on the following conditions. [1643];Freedoms and exemptions granted to the Company's servants who, after the expiration of their time, have expressed a desire to pursue agriculture. [1643] (5 pages);Acceptance by Francis Bruyn, Juriaen Lubertsen, and other free planters of Curaçao, of the above privileges. [1643]

Resolution. Respecting the disposition to be made of Company's yachts Neptune, Seven Star, Cat and Parrot ; Bonaire destroyed by the Spaniards ; supplies required from New Netherland. [1643];Further resolution. To discharge a number of sailors ; famine last year. [1643]

Further resolution. To discharge a number of sailors ; famine last year. [1643] (2 pages)

Resolution. To advise the directors in Holland of the low condition of Curaçao ; the fear that the famine will return; the want of supplies no succor to be expected from New Netherland. [1643]

Resolution. Promoting sundry persons to vacancies in the military forces; regulations of Indians, &c. [1643] (3 pages)

Resolution. To procure salt at Bonaire and turtle from the islands of Aves and Rocas. [1643]

Resolution regarding Bonaire ; Peter Fredericks appointed commander there; threatened famine; the island of St. Martin menaced. [1643]

Resolution. Detailing men to go to the island of Little Curaçao in search of turtle, as the garrison is on short rations. [1643]

Resolution. To dispatch a vessel to the island of Santa Cruz for a supply of beans. Permit to a Spanish bark with a commission from the earl of Warwick to take in salt in exchange for beans. [1643] (2 pages)

Resolution. Making sundry appointments in the naval service. Caspar Harmense comforter of the sick, chorister, &c, in place of Casparus Durerus, on the recommendation the rev. Johannes Cornelij, minister at the island. [1643] (2 pages)

Resolution. Relating to Spanish prisoners. [1643] (2 pages)

Resolution. To dispatch another vessel to Sta Cruz for provisions. [1643]

Resolution. Regulating the distribution of provisions. [1643]

Resolution. To send to Sta Cruz and Margaritta for a supply of provisions; supplies very low. [1643]

Resolution. Fixing rations of each person; supplies received. [1643]

Resolution. Appointing a day of fasting and prayer to obtain a blessing for an expedition which is to be led by the director (Stuyvesant) in person. [1643] (2 pages)

Resolution. Adopted off Hispaniola, on board the Blue Cock, to send in some yachts to take prisoners in order to learn somewhat of the enemy's designs. [1644]

Resolution. Adopted as above, to attack, and if possible, to reduce the island of St. Martin. [1644]

Resolution. On board the Blue Cock, to proceed to attack the island St. Martin to-morrow. [1644]

Resolution. Detailing the mode of attack on fort St. Martin. [1644]

Resolution. Raising the siege of fort St. Martin. [1644]

Resolution. To send a number of people recently arrived at Curaçao, to New Netherland. [1644]

Divers resolutions passed on the 20th, 21st, and 25th May. Paulus Leendersen (van der Grist) appointed to command the Neptune; cruisers sent towards Carthagena, and other Spanish possessions. [1644]

RESOLUTION concerning provisions from Brazil, the flyboat, shipment of Brazil soldiers to New Netherland, trading horses for provisions, information from a captured Spaniard, employment of a ship's captain, departure of Company servants, reprieve of captured blacks and mulattoes, posting of ordinances. [1644] (5 pages)

Resolution. Making sundry naval appointments. [1644] (2 pages)

Resolution. To dispatch additional cruisers. [1644]

Resolution. Providing for the removal of a large quantity of salt in the pans at Bonaire. [1644]

Resolution. To send for salt to the north side of Hispaniola and supplies to the cruisers. [1644]

Resolution. Adjoining lieut. Jacob Scherf and ensign Jacob Mattysen from Riethoven, to the council, in the absence of the naval commanders. [1644]

Resolution. Providing for the government of the island of Curaçao, in consequence of director Stuyvesant being obliged to return home on account of a wound he received at St. Martin. [1644]

Resolution. Appointing Lucas Rodenborche provisional director of Curaçao and dependencies. [1644]

Resolution. Accepting the resignations of fiscal Quiryn van Seventer and secretary Aernout Verellen, and discharging a number of old soldiers and sailors, "as it is difficult to catch hares with unwilling dogs." [1644]

Resolution. Appointing Carl van Brugge storekeeper, John Piers from Bostoun, assistant-surgeon, Hendryck Eldersen acting secretary, &c. [1644]

Resolution (on board the Milkmaid). To put into the first harbor in Ireland, with director Stuyvesant, through stress of weather. [1644]

Grant to Joseph Nunes de Fonscca, alias David Nassi and Company (Jews), of a colonie on the island of Curaçao. [1652]

Freedoms and exemptions granted to the above parties; to have a tract two leagues along the coast for every 50 families, and 4 leagues long for every 100 families ; neither themselves nor their colonists nor laborers to work on the Christian Sabbath.

Copy of Documents 11 and 12.

Letter. Curaçao. Vice-director Rodenburch to the directors at Amsterdam ; affairs of the government; no more than 10 or 12 settlers on the Jew colonie ; specimens of minerals. [1654]

Letter. Amsterdam. Directors to vice-director Rodenburch, in answer to the above, with complaints against Jan de Yllan, a Jew, patroon in Curaçao; regular communication to be established between New Netherland and Curaçao.>

Letter. Amsterdam. Directors to vice-director Rodenburch, acknowledging receipt of his dispatches ; a large quantity of cotton at Curaçao ; horses not to be exported without express order of the directors.>

Invoice of goods sent to New Netherland.

Inventory of guns, ammunition and stores at Curaçao.

Curaçao. Instructions given by Peter Stuyvesant, director of New Netherland, to Matthis Beck, vice-director of Curaçao, &c.

Note of director Stuyvesant in favor of Michiel Vrymoet for 2,804 guilders, payable in horses.

Invoice of goods sent from Guinea to Curaçao, to be forwarded to New Netherland.

Certificate of Lucas Rodenburch of the number of goats and sheep delivered to the company by director Stuyvesant, according to the return of Jan Galiert, schoolmaster and late overseer of the goats.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant ; reduction of the Swedes at the Delaware ; difficulties with the Indians in New Netherland ; advance state of the crops on the island ; scarcity of food ; cotton crop short ; goats and sheep imported ; Laurence van Ruyven, commissary ; secretary Verellen discharged ; more negroes required, only 20 on the island ; want of rain.

Minute of council. Receipt of proposals from governor (Searle) of Barbadoes for free trade between that island and Curaçao ; order thereupon ; disposition of the cargo imported by Isaac de Fonseca, a Jew.

Further resolution. Relating to the cargo imported in Curaçao by the above Jew.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant ; state of the island ; great drought and failure of the crops ; cargo of the above Jew.

Curacao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to the directors at Amsterdam ; efforts to open a trade with Caraccas ; slave trade ; prosperous state of the island when under the Spaniards ; state of the fisheries ; manufacture of salt ; crops in Curaçao impossible without rain ; price of negroes ; reported gold or silver mine ; cultivation of cotton ; a cotton mill.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to the directors at Amsterdam ; underhand trade with the Caraccas ; Francesco, a Spanish friar, visits Curaçao to trade ; price of negroes ; slave trade ; failure to discover the gold mine ; specimens of excavated earth sent to Holland.>

Permit to Simon Cornelissen Gilde, commander of the ship Ostrich, to proceed on his voyage to Amsterdam by way of New Netherland.

Resolution. Of the Amsterdam Chamber of the W. I. Company, approving and ordering the publication of certain regulations for the salt trade at Curaçao and Bonaire,

Order. Of the chamber at Amsterdam that no "stockvischhout" shall be sold in, or exported from, Curaçao for the space of 30 months,

Receipt. Of Laurence van Ruyven, storekeeper, for a quantity of provisions and wine from Jan Harmensen Prins, skipper.

Receipt. Of Jacob Davitsen, pilot, for certain moneys on account of his wages.

Receipt. Of Jan Harmensen Prins, skipper, for sundry stores.

Memorandum. Of sundry necessaries required for the island of Curaçao.

Copy of Document 34.

Bill of lading for 23½ lasts of salt shipped from Curaçao to New Netherland.

Memorandum. Of sundries sent to divers persons in New Netherland, viz.: Salt, preserved lemons, paroquets and parrots, some of which were for Johannis van Brugh, recently married to Miss Rodenborgh.

Invoice of jewelry and other articles sent to Joshua Mordekay En Riques.

Account of sundries due captain Augustyn Beaulieu.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesaut. Arrival of Augustyn Heermans, &c,

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant ; trade with New Netherland ; Muscavado sugar sent thither ; scarcity of negroes ; capt. Beaulieu ; Mr. Heermans leaves for New Netherland. (4 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant ; arrival of 331 slaves from Guinea ; some sold, others sent to New Netherland ; provisions required ; no means to repair ships ; war between Sweden and Denmark ; admiral de Ruyter ; rev. Adrian Beaumont, minister at Curaçao ; rev. Machiel Zyperus sails for New Netherland in the hope of receiving a call there. (4 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant ; encloses letters for the chamber at Amsterdam which he requests to be forwarded. (2 pages)

Journal. Ship St. John's voyage from El Mina to Rio Real for slaves, and thence to Curaçao ; 385 were shipped, but for want of provisions, 190 were sent to El Mina ; the ship was finally wrecked on the rifts of Rocco, near Bonaire, and the slaves abandoned ; 84 were afterwards captured by an English privateer or rover. (3 pages)

List of slaves who died on board the ship St. John between the 30th June and 29th October, 1659 ; in all 110 men, women and children. (2 pages)

Charter party of the ship Oak Tree to the Amsterdam Chamber of the W. I. Company, for a voyage to the coast of Africa and thence to Curaçao or New Netherland and back. (4 pages)

Receipt for provisions sent from New Netherland to Curaçao per the ship New Amstel.

Receipt of Augustyn Heerman for a cargo of salt shipped at Curaçao for New Netherland.

Bill of lading for the above, and invoices of Muscovado sugar, &c., sent to New Netherland in the ship New Amstel,

Bill of lading for the above, and invoices of Muscovado sugar, &c., sent to New Netherland in the ship New Amstel,

Bill of lading for the above, and invoices of Muscovado sugar, &c., sent to New Netherland in the ship New Amstel. (3 pages)

Receipt of Pedro Diez Troxxilla to vice-director Beck, for sixty-two slaves.

Memorandum of necessaries for the island of Curaçao.

Bill of lading for five negroes "all dry and well conditioned and marked as in the margin," sent to director Stuyvesant in New Netherland,

Bill of lading for fifty lasts of salt sent to New Netherland.

Informations taken by vice-director Beck respecting the seizure of the company's negroes wrecked on board the ship St. John, on the island Rocus, and the capture of the company's sloop which was sent out to save them. (14 pages)

Proclamation of vice-director Beck for the arrest and capture of the pirate which seized the above property.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck and Gysbert de Rosa to Signor Don Juan de Salamanca, thanking him for attentions shewn at Porto Rico to the captain and crew of a Dutch ship who had been plundered by a Spanish privateer, &c. (2 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to the directors at Amsterdam ; horses exported to the West India islands ; wreck of the ship St. John with negroes ; many perished for want of food ; horses bitten to death by rattlesnakes on the island of Aruba ; protection required from sea rovers ; arrival of negroes from Cape Verd. (3 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant, inclosing him the above to be forwarded, and urging that measures may be adopted to arrest the sea rovers. (2 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to the directors at Amsterdam ; advantages of the slave trade ; Spaniards supplied with negroes by the Dutch ; French and English privateers visit the island. (9 pages)

Bill of lading for salt shipped to New Netherland.

Bill of provisions purchased at Curaçao from the little ship Blossom, Capt. John Allen, from New England.

Bill of lading for 224 pieces of eight sent to director Stuyvesant by vice-director Beck. (2 pages)

Bill of lading for 20 healthy men-slaves or negroes, shipped from Curaçao to New Netherland in the ship Eyckenboom.

Invoice of horses, sheep, goats, sugar, cheese, &c., sent from Curaçao to New Netherland. (2 pages)

Receipt for lumber and provisions sent in the galiot New Amstel from New Netherland to Curaçao.

List containing the names of the skipper and crew of the ship Eyckenboom.

Names of the passengers who sailed from Curaçao in the ships Eyckenboom and New Amstel ; among them, Jan Duynkercker and five other Indians.

Aruba. Letter. Commander Hendrick Martens to director Stuyvesant, advising him that he had shipped a lot of horses, among which is one as a present to him from vice-director Beck.

Aruba. Letter. Commander Hendrick Martens to director Stuyvesant, advising him that he has shipped, in another vessel, an additional lot of horses for New Netherland, with six sheep and six Kapados goats. (2 pages)

Bills of lading for the above cattle.

Bills of lading for the above cattle. (2 pages)

Bill of lading for ten sound male slaves or negroes, shipped in the New Netherland Indian from Curaçao to New Netherland.

Account, debit and credit, with Dirck Jansen, skipper of the last named vessel ; among the credits are two items, one for the passage of ten New Netherland (Esopus) Indians and six Curaçao Indians. (2 pages)

List of papers sent to director Stuyvesant from Curaçao.

Bills of lading for sundry cases and forty slaves (15 men, 14 women, 6 boys and 5 girls), shipped for New Netherland from Curaçao.

Bills of lading for sundry cases and forty slaves (15 men, 14 women, 6 boys and 5 girls), shipped for New Netherland from Curaçao.

Debit and credit account with capt. John Allen (of New England). (3 Pages)

Note of John Allen, commander of the ketch Rebecca, for $380, balance due for horses and negroes purchased at Curaçao.

Draft of vice-director Beck on director Stuyvesant for 200 carolus guilders in favor of Dirck Jansen.

Invoice of sundry cases of cloth shipped from Curaçao to New Netherland with bill of lading.

Copy of Document 72.

Note of Dirck Jansen for $150, being the price of a negro wench purchased by him at Curaçao.

Copy of Document 73.

Account. Sales of horses shipped in the Gilded Fox from Curaçao. (2 pages)

Invoice of sugar shipped in the Fox from Curaçao to New Netherland.

Memorandum of necessaries required at Curaçao from New Netherland.

Invoice of goods shipped in the Sparrow from Curaçao to New Netherland. (2 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to the directors at Amsterdam ; slave trade between Curaçao and Carthagena ; ship Gideon arrives from Guinea with over 300 slaves for New Netherland ; capture of Cayenne by the French ; a Dutch ship captured by the English carried into Barbadoes ; garrison of Cayenne brought to Curaçao. (4 pages)

Bill of lading of 300 merchantable slaves (160 men, 140 women) to be delivered at the Manhattans.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to director Stuyvesant ; a newly discovered mine ; specimens sent to Holland ; a beautiful parrot from the Spanish coast sent to Mrs. Stuyvesant. (2 pages)

Memorandum of the principal occurrences on the coast of Guinea, after the arrival of the English there. (2 pages)

Minute of the terms granted by admirals De Ruyter, Meppel and Van Nes, to certain captains of merchantmen chartered by the Royal African Company and captured at Goree, on the coast of Africa.

Copy of Document 89. (2 pages)

Copy of Document 88.

Charter of the English ship Africa by admiral De Ruyter, at Goree, to transport certain goods to El Mina to be delivered there to general Valckenburgh.

Copy of Document 92.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to (Stuyvesant) ; a great West India and East India company organized in France ; all Dutch and English ships to be excluded from trade with the French Caribbean Islands ; designs of the English on Guinea and New Netherland. (5 pages)

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to Stuyvesant, in answer to his of the 29th July ; designs of the English ; offers of negotiation by the States-General rejected by the English ; preparations for war ; battle between the combined fleets of Austria and France against the Turks ; defeat of the latter ; capture of Cape De Verd ; arrival of 3 or 4 ships from New England at Curaçao ; news from Guadaloupe that Stuyvesant had sunk an English frigate at the Manhattans, and that many on board had perished ; cultivation of the sugar cane ; Balthasar Stuyvesant promised a good tract of land ; William Beck ; negro children whom Mrs. Stuyvesant had had baptized, sent to Curaçao and then sold through mistake to Spaniards from Carthagena ; Peter van Ruyven, brother of Cornelis van Ruyven, clerk at Curaçao. (13 pages)

Memorandum of necessaries required from New Netherland for Curaçao.

List of papers and letters sent by vice-director Beck to Stuyvesant. (2 pages)

Receipt of Laurens van Ruyven, storekeeper, for sundries received from Holland.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to Stuyvesant ; arrival of his son Balthazar with letters of 12/22 October ; regrets the reduction of New Netherland ; war declared between Holland and England,

Proclamation of vice-director Beck, setting forth that one Laurens Prins, a native of Amsterdam, commanding an English frigate commissioned by the governor of Jamaica, had made a descent on and laid waste the island of Bonaire on the 11th instant, and authorizing the capture of said Prins and his ship.

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to Stuyvesant, informing him of the arrival of soldiers there from New Netherland, &c,

Curaçao. Letter. Vice-director Beck to Stuyvesant ; no letters from Holland since September ; 150 slaves arrived from Guinea ; admiral de Ruyter's operations on that coast ; no proclamation of war in England or Holland ; English fleet under Prince Rupert gone to sea ; attack on Bonaire ; price of slaves ; slave trade at Jamaica ; reported deaths of the king of Spain and of the duke of York ; peace between the Emperor and the Turk ; appearance for the second time of a fiery comet, visible also in Europe ; Balthazar Stuyvesant's plantation ; presents.

Account with Balthazar Stuyvesant for his passage to Curaçao, and for provisions sold by him there.

Inventory of papers transmitted to general Stuyvesant from Curaçao,

Curaçao. Letter. Wilhelmus Valckingburgh to Gerrit van Tricht, merchant at the Manhattans, with postscript dated 10th July, 1665, announcing that war had been declared between Holland and England,

Invoice of goods laden at Curaçao.

Curaçao. Letter. Balthazar Stuyvesant to Nicolas Bayard at the Manhattans ; operations of admiral de Ruyter at Barbadoes and other West India islands ; news from Europe ; a portion of the girls at Manhattan reported to be entirely English,

Curaçao. Letter. Wilhelmus Valckenburgh to Petrus Stuyvesant ; news of passing events.