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[several lines lost] [  having ] received the request and [ taken it into consideration ], it is resolved as follows: [several lines lost] In the meantime [      ] comment on this as well as on other [      ] and resolve that in our fatherland [ it is ] customary that if any public or general works are undertaken in cities and villages to whose necessity or adornment these serve, the means for those are requested and tended to by the burghers and inhabitants whose benefit these works serve, without cutting down on the income of the generality for that purpose; as the burgomasters and schepenen have, against the advice and admonitions of both the lords directors and the director general and councilors, from time to time tried and still have in mind, by requesting one or another of the Company’s privileges, or some other charges, tending more to the burden of others than themselves, or this city’s burghers and inhabitants, consenting hereto would tarnish the reputation of the director general and councilors. Concerning the point itself, that many repairs of the city works are needed, etc.

Although the director general and councilors understand very well that some public works need to be built and others [ need ] to be repaired, and that this requires funds, the director general and councilors, with sadness and concern, have to say that the city’s revenue already granted [  not ] [several lines lost] burgomasters and schepenen are [ allowed ],

First, a tax assessment of all burghers and inhabitants, Scottish traders, and agents255 after the registration amounting

to about ƒ6000–

And this for paying off the debts made in the last encounters with the wilden; whether it will be used for this purpose is entrusted to the discretion of the burgomasters and schepenen themselves.^[i]

23 February 1654. Second, they were granted a civil burgher excise on the consumption of wines and beers, last year farmed out for the sum of ƒ4200–

This year for 3700–

18 January. Third, a civil excise on the butchered [ animals ], last year farmed out

for ƒ 720–

This year for ƒ1457–

Fourth, they were granted a tappers’ certificate in the manner of a spinhuijs certificate^[ii] for one pound Flemish per quarter year from each tapper;

with 30 to 36 tappers at 24 guilders each per year

this amounts to ƒ 720–

[In the margin was written:] [ This ] may also be claimed from the bakers as appears in the edict [of 6?] October 1656

18 January 1656. Fifth, the inspection of all measures, cannen, tonnen, and weights.

To wit, on the 25 February 1656. Sixth, the director general and councilors granted and assigned to the burgomasters the vacant lots within these city walls.

[several lines lost] Eighth, the director general and councilors granted, in the form of a loan and [      ] and schepenen, for the completion of the wall^[iii] ƒ1000.

No proper account of either the one or the other was seen.

15 December. Recently the burgomasters were granted a beaver for each house within this city, once, and one guilder for each chimney, annually.

15 January 1658. After this date a necessary excise on the vacant lots, namely, the 15th penny; this last item is a revenue that, according to the land patents and letters of conveyance, in fact should be due to the lords patroons or, on their behalf, to the director general and councilors. However, considering the shortage of the city’s treasury, and hoping for a good administration, this was granted to the burgomasters. Although some are small, they will yield a reasonable sum when added together.

[In the margin:] Note: added to this should be hooft or lastgelt, granted on date [blank].^[iv]

But in order that the city may be relieved of the old and new debts once and for all, the director general and councilors consent, but only upon approval and ratification of the lords directors, and no further.

[In the margin:] Accepted on date [      ] January 1660 about [      ] 4000

[several lines lost] [      ] that burgomasters [      ] both for the city’s needs [      ] might be judged necessary to consider and to request grants [ not ] concerning the commonalty, but the community of this city. Thus done at the meeting in Fort Amsterdam in N: Netherland the 25th of January 1658.

P. Stuyvesant Nicasius de Sille Pieter Tonnemans

Notes

References

Translation: Gehring, C., & Venema, J. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 8, Council Minutes, 1656-1658 Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press: 2018.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.