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To the highly esteemed lords director general and high councilors of New Netherland.

Yesterday evening I, the undersigned, was handed an open memorandum from the wife of Adriaen Post, attorney of the [      ] Jon[ khee ]r. Hendrick van der Capelle tho [ Rijssel ] [      ] Staten Island, stating to the effect that the [      ] Post was very sick, his mind feeble, and deprived of any security there; for which reason I find myself obligated, in view of his honor’s various letters, to help promote to the best of my ability his welfare regarding his property and his rights as lord and patroon on Staten Island; therefore, I find it necessary to turn to your honors, requesting respectfully continuation of the security force as before, and a helping hand if it should be required later; also, that a capable person be provisionally appointed by your honors next to Post until further orders, because of his aforesaid infirmity, in order to take care of the administration on Staten Island for the benefit of his honor, and to allow the same to employ free men who are inhabitants here in the country who should decide to go live there, on such conditions, orders, and regulations as your honors shall find to be in the best interest of his honor, so that his honor’s rights and interests there are not completely lost. (Below was written:) Your honors’ obedient servant (and was signed:) D. v. Schelluyne, dated Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 27th of April 1656. (Below was written:) Agrees with the original dated and signed as above, (and signed:) C. v. Ruyven, secretary.

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.