Translation
Deposition of Richard Aesten and others as to pumpkins stolen on the land of Anthony Jansen from Salee by the crews of the Sevenster and the privateer La Garce : a
Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared the undersigned witnesses, who at the request of Antony Jansen from Zale attest, testify and declare, in place and with promise of a solemn oath, that it is true and truthful that yesterday, about noon, the crews of the Sevenster and of the privateer[1] went together on the land of Antony Jansen from Zalee, situated in the bay and there, as an Englishman who is a sailor on one of the said ships said, took fully 200 pumpkins. The deponents asked what they were doing there and they answered: “We are in search of the hogs on Coney Island;[2] if we find the hogs, we shall take them all away with us.” Thereupon the deponents replied: “Those that run there are Lady Moody’s hogs.” “Then we shall not go there,” said the sailors. Done the 13th of October 1643.