Translation
Order on a petition from Esopus for the government of that district
At a Meeting of the Commanders and Honorable Council of War, holden in Fort Willem Hendrik the 1st September, 1673.
Present— | Commander Jacob Benckes, |
Commander Cornelis Evertsen, Junior, | |
Captain Anthony Colve. |
The Delegates from the Esopus appearing, delivered in a certain Petition whereupon the following Order was made:
The above Petition of the Magistrates of Swaenenburgh, heretofore called Kingstowne, also the Petition of the Magistrates of the towns of Horley & Marbeltowne, situate in the Esopus, being read and considered at a Meeting of the Honorable Commanders and adjoined Council of War of the squadron of ships in the North river of New Netherland, etc.:
It is ordered as follows:
First. The Petitioners shall give in a list of the number of their inhabitants, and
what they will be able to contribute to the support of a Minister, which shall be
transmitted by us to our principals. Regarding the requested instruction it will be
prepared on the earliest opportunity by the Governor and sent to the
Petitioners.
Secondly. The Commonalty of the 3 respective towns shall conjointly
nominate by their deputies 3 persons for Schout and 3 persons for Secretary, from
whom we shall then elect one to be Schout and one to be Secretary over all those
towns; also, the Commonalty of Swaenenburgh shall nominate eight persons as
Commissioners of that town. Horley and Marbeltowne, which have up to this time been
under one Bench of Justice, shall still so continue until further order, and
therefore shall in like manner conjointly nominate and present to us 8 persons, from
whom we shall then make a selection. Item, they were in like
manner recommended to nominate and present to us a double number for the chief
officers of the militia.
3rdly The Governor will as soon as possible take the
subject of the Excise into consideration, to whom will in like manner be recommended
what the Petitioners consume in their families.
4th Point is granted to the
Petitioners, who are expressly recommended to pay attention that none be nominated
who are not of the Reformed Religion.
5th Nor shall any be nominated but such as
are at least friendly to the Dutch Nation.
6th article, regarding the improvement
of those towns by population, shall be submitted to our principals, who we do not
doubt will adopt the earliest measures for its execution.
7th The Governor will
be recommended to provide the Petitioners with the needful ammunition and military in
seasons of exigency.
8th Point, regarding prohibiting the sale of strong drink by
the small measure to the Indians, is approved, and the Schout is recommended to pay
strict attention thereto.
Furthermore, the present Magistrates are recommended to
publish and post up the inclosed Proclamation.