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To the honorable lord director general and lords councilors of New Netherland.

The commissioned schepens of the village of Breuckelen and dependant places remonstrate with all due respect how they experience and see that the people of the village of Midwout in the petitioner’s jurisdiction come to request a subscription or collection for the maintenance of the minister in the aforesaid village of Midwout, and whereas the worthy domine Johannis Polhemius is only performing his clerical duties in the village of Midwout, therefore, the inhabitants of the village of Breuckelen and dependant places show themselves unwilling to sign anything promising support of a pastor unless they benefit therefrom. Therefore, they, petitioners, respectfully request that the aforesaid domine Johannis Polhemius may provisionally perform clerical duties in turn, first in Midwout and then in Breuckelen (to which he seems to be inclined); at which time they would be willing to contribute according to their means; otherwise, may they and inhabitants of Breuckelen and dependant places be excused from contributing to a pastor from whom they derive no service. Awaiting your honors’ favorable decision hereon, we shall be and remain, as we have been (below was written:) Your honors’ obedient servants (and was signed:) Joris Dircksz, Albert Cornelisse, X the mark of Joresey Rapailje.

The foregoing petition having been read at the session, after due deliberation, the following decision was made thereon:

The director general and councilors of New Netherland are satisfied that Do. Johannis Polhemius (weather and wind permitting) shall perform duties in turn at both places. Done at the session, ady ut supra.

References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 6, Council Minutes, 1655-1656 (Syracuse: 1995). A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.