USA > New York > New York City > The minutes of the Orphanmasters court of New Amsterdam, 1655 to 1663 > Part 10
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of the Burgomasters.
City's ship, a monthly salary of 50 fl. is allowed him.
Friday, April 13, 1663, present (as before).
Lodowyck Pos appears and is informed, that com- plaints are made over the Rattlewatch for sometimes not calling in three or four hours and not keeping order. Most of the watchmen also coming in, the same is told them and they are ordered to pay better attention to their duties.
Rollof Janzen of Meppelen*, enrolled in the Rattlewatch, has taken the oath of office.
The Captain of the Rattlewatch, Lodowyck Pos, is herewith authorized and directed by the Burgo- masters to make every eight or fourteen day a change of who of the watchmen is to go with whom and to order them, that they shall arrest such, as quarrel or are noisy on the Strand (Pearl Str.), bring them to the City Hall and keep them there until next day and then report to the Burgomasters through their Captain for punishment according to circumstances. The watchmen are further to regu- late themselves according to instructions.
Abraham Kermel wishes to know, where he may have the patent as he has paid for the lot, bought from the City.
Secretary Cornelis van Ruyven is herewith re- quested by the Burgomasters to issue out to
* Meppel, a prosperous, open city in the Province of Drenthe, already known in the 12th century.
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Abraham Kermel a patent for the lot, bought from the City, according to measurement by the sworn surveyor Jacques Corteljau.
Cornelis Barenzen van der Kuyl (of the cave) entering, produces an order of April 9, 1660, where- in consent is given, that he may demand and receive four stivers for counting 1000 bricks or tiles. He requests, that the fee be increased and that he may demand it from the skipper. The Burgomasters allow, that he may charge six stivers for the thousand of bricks or tiles, coming from the Fatherland or elsewhere to this City, the skipper or the importer paying the fees.
Friday, April 20, 1663, present (as before).
Adolf Pieterzen and Aldert Coninck are appointed overseers (buyrmeesters), who are to see that the High (Stone) Street be properly made higher and passable. The people living on High Street are directed, each to raise and improve the street before his house and lot.
The Burgomasters consider it necessary, to write a letter to Jacob Jansen Flodder, wherein he is to be informed, that he must line up the bank before his lot next to Daniel Litsco, as his neighbours there suffer great damage or else, if he fails to do it, it shall be done by the City and the expenses recovered from the lot.
The people living between the first bridge and the shore are directed, not to put earth beyond the
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posts set and to improve the street, so that people may drive and walk over it and to further this work Jacob Kip, Joannes Verveelen and Coenraat ten Eyck are appointed overseers.
Friday, May 18, 1663, present (as before).
Cornelis Barenzen van der Kuyl, Andries Andrie- zen and Cornelis Tamboer (the drummer) are asked, whether they will become City's servants and what pay they would want. They answer Yes and de- mand 3 fl. 10 st. per day, but make a contract with the Burgomasters for 3 fl. daily.
The Underschout Resolveert Waldron reports, that pursuant to order he has brought Jan Ariaansen to the jail, because a considerable sum of money and four beavers were found on him, although he lives on charity.
Certificate.
We, the Burgomasters and Rulers of the City of Amsterdam in New Netherland, herewith certify and declare, that before us appeared Mr. Paulus Leender- sen van der Grift, late Burgomaster and now Treas- urer here, who stated, that there is due him from Jacob Me Vrindt. living at or near the South River,* the sum of 188 fl. in beavers on a note, in the hands of Sieur Hendrick Kip junior, and that he has authorized said Kip by power of attorney to collect said sum ; this attorney having spoken to said Jacob Me Vrindt. he said, he did not intend to pay, unless * Delaware River.
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he could have better proof. Therefore said deponent has truly declared before us, that the debt and the note are honest. In testimony of the truth we have confirmed this by our seal. Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland.
Friday, May 25, 1663, at the City Hall present Messrs. Pieter Tonneman, Marten Cregier and Olof Stevenzen van Cortlant.
Before the Board appeared Otte Gerrits, the son of Gerrit Hendricksen of Harderwyck, who was urged to pay close attention to the excise and not to let the Treasurer run short of funds.
Aldert Coninck and Adolf Pietersen, overseers of the High (Stone) Street, are directed to do their duty in improving the street.
Lodowyck Pos, Captain of the Rattlewatch, is ordered to procure an honest man, who will take the place of Leendert Arends' son on the Rattlewatch.
The overseers of bread are asked, whether they have inspected the bread. Upon their answering No, they are asked why not? and say, because they have no scale. They are requested to do their duty.
Hillegond Joris, midwife, asked about the case of Abigail Verplanck, reports, that the wife of Cornelis Gerlofsen was with Abigail, when she was delivered, but she cannot tell, who the midwife was nor who the father of the child is, also that Jeremias Jansen and others had conversation with her.
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Friday, June 8 1663, at the City Hall present Messrs. Marten Cregier, Olof Stevenzen van Cort- lant and Paulus Leenderzen van der Grift.
Claas Janzen Verbraack and Hendrick Arenzen Spaanjaart are told they must purchase their Burgh- erright. Having asked for and received it, they give a bond, wherein they promise to pay on their return from the South.
Frerick Flipsen requests permission, by virtue of a mortgage and in consequence of a judgment, to sell under execution the brewing utensils of Jacob van Couwenhoven, whereupon he is told, to submit his request to the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens at their next session.
Tryntje van Campen* requests, that her husband may be appointed lock-tender. She is told, there was no salary attached to it, as the City receives no revenue from the lock.
Jan Hermzen Windorp is informed, that he is bound, again to purchase his Burgherright and cannot go to Fort Orange or elsewhere, before he has not paid the City taxes.
Van Rys is told, to buy his Burgherright and says, he has brought some goods, partly consigned to him, partly to Arent van Corlaar.
Order to the Firewardens.
As some persons have taken some of the fire-
* Kampen, Province of Over Yssel. is one of the oldest cities of the Netherlands, having had a charter before 1233 and being able to send colonists to North Beveland, Zeeland, in 1172.
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ladders of the City and did not bring them back to the place, whence they have taken them, therefore the Burgomasters hereby order and direct the Fire- wardens to search for said ladders, lock them up with the others at the prescribed place back of the City Hall and take good care of them. They are also authorized to hire them out, on condition that the renter pays for the use of them each time 6 stivers for the repair of said ladders. Done etc.
Whereas the Heere Graft" has by the Burgo- masters and Rulers of this City been put in good condition by making a good lock and repairing the old one, that it may retain the water to prevent the unbearable stench at low water and whereas said graft is very foul and muddy, therefore the Burgo- masters direct every resident along the same to dig out and carry away two feet in depth of the mud and the overseers of the graft are ordered to have it done. Done etc.
Friday, June 12, 1663, at the City Hall present Messrs. Marten Cregier, Olof Stevenzen van Cort- lant and the Officer Pieter Tonneman.
The wife of Hendrick Coutrie appearing, she is told, the Burgomasters had learned, that she sold in retail ; therefore she is bound to purchase the Burgherright. She answers, it was given to her husband by the Director General : asked, whether she had not given something for it to the General, * Broad Street.
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she says, her husband has painted the portrait of his Honour and drawn pictures of his sons.
Dirck Keiser is told, as he has been absent from here four consecutive months, he is bound, agreeably to the privileges of this City, read to him, again to purchase the Burgherright. He answers, that he has had the lease of the house until now, paying heavy rent for it. Taking this into consideration the Burgomasters allow him to pay 20 fl. and keep the Burgherright.
Jan Hendricksen van Baal is informed of the privi- leges of the City and says, he has a clerk at Fort Orange, who keeps there fire and light during his absence, which he offers, if required, to con- firm under oath or to give other information about it.
Pieter Sinkamp appearing is told, that, as he has given up his office, he is bound to pay for his Bur- gherright ; then he is allowed to have it for 30 fl. in wampum, with which he is satisfied, promising to pay it in fourteen days or thereabout.
Order to the Treasurer.
Whereas Jan Hermzen Windorp and Gerrit Reyersen have been summoned by the Burgo- masters to pay for their Burgherright and have not appeared, therefore Mr. Paulus Leendersen van der Grift, Treasurer of this City, is ordered, not to allow said persons to leave this place, unless they pay.
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Thursday, June 14, 1663, at the City Hall present Messrs. Martin Cregier and Olof Stevenzen van Cortlant.
The Burgomasters resolve to send the follow- ing order to the Captain of the City Train- bands :
Whereas Lucas Andriezen and Rut Jacobsen, both skippers here arrived from Fort Orange, have brought the distressing news, that Indians, the natives of this country, have massacred, captured and carried away many Christians at the Esopus,* so that the Company has had to send most of the soldiers in garrison here to that place, while the situation requires, that good watch be kept and care be taken, therefore the Burgomasters request and direct the Captains and principal officers here to order, that henceforth every evening a non-com- missioned officer with a sufficient number of men with hand and side arms, shall go on guard for the night at the Landgate, that sentries are posted, rounds made and all done, that you will consider necessary, until further orders. You are authorized to fine those who do not report for duty, pursuant to the formerly prescribed orders and rules, and to levy the fines by execution, as the Council of War shall decide. Done at the session of the Burgo- masters of Amsterdam in New Netherland, June 14, 1663.
* For the Esopus War see Vols. II. and XIV. Documents relating to the Colonial History of N. Y.
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of the Burgomasters.
Friday, June 15, 1663, at the City Hall present Messrs. Marten Cregier, Olof Stevenzen van Cort- lant and Paulus Leenderzen van der Grift.
Barentje, the wife of Jan Ariaansen, is ordered to pay 5 fl., her arrears for the Rattlewatch.
Jacobus Vis is herewith ordered by the Burgo. masters to pay within twice 24 hours 23 fl. Rattle. watch dues on pain of execution.
Willem Doeckles is ordered, to pay his Rattle- watch dues next week.
Friday, June 22, 1663, present Messrs. Marten Cregier and Olof Stevenzen van Cortlant.
This day the Burgomasters, through Lodowyck Pos, the Marshall, issued to each Burgher Company fifty pounds of powder, altogether one hundred and fifty.
Tuesday, July 10, 1663, present (as before).
Cornelis Barenzen, Abraham Kermel, Albert Leenderzen and Frans Janzen of Amsterdam appear- ing, they are told, that the Trainbands have taken the place of the Rattlewatch, they are therefore asked, if it should happen, that some troubles should be caused here or in the surrounding villages, whether then they would be willing to go on an ex- pedition in the service of the City. They answer Yes, provided, that they would be rewarded if wounded, and they agreed upon 5 fl. for each time. They are further provided with hand and side arms
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and promise to turn out by day or night upon the command of the Burgomasters or the officers, com- manding in their name.
To the Right Honourable Director General and Council of New Netherland.
Noble, Right Honourable Gentlemen.
With due respect the Burgomasters submit, that De Aegidius Luyck has hitherto zealously instructed in the Latin tongue the youths of this and other places, in which they have made good progress to the satisfaction of their parents, but said Luyck has not yet heard, what your Honours have allowed him as recompensation for his labours, therefore he pre- sents to you to-day a petition to that effect, because upon your recommendation and our letter of last . year to the Lords Directors he was requested to take the place of the late Rector Curtius as master of the Latin school with such a salary, as the Lords Directors would please to allow him, of which he has not yet been informed, that any disposition has been made.
Perceiving the good instruction and discipline of the young people we therefore consider ourselves in duty bound, humbly to request your Honours, that you will please to give a favourable answer to his petition, allowing him such a salary, as in your wis- dom you shall deem adequate, so that petitioner's zeal may not abate to the detriment of your and our children and of the youths of this and other places
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but may increase in the length of time to the glory and renown of this City among our neighbours and elsewhere. Hoping you will consider this, our just request and please to give said Luyck a fair, regular salary, we shall consider ourselves much obliged and remain your Honours obedient subjects
The Burgomasters of the City.
Beneath stood : By their order Joannes Nevius, Secretary, Amsterdam in N. N., August 16, 1663. Marginal rescript thereon: The Director General and Council agree with the petitioners, that the con- tinuation and promotion of the Latin school, is necessary; and whereas it is customary in the Fatherland, that such persons are engaged by the City, where they are to teach, petitioners are hereby authorized to give to said Domine Luyck such a salary, as they shall consider right. The Director General and Council will, subject to the approval of the Lords Directors, provisionally pay one half. Done at Fort Amsterdam in N. N. August 16, 1663.
By order of the Director General and Council C. v. Ruyven, Secretary.
Friday, September 7, 1663, present (as before).
This day the Burgomasters delivered to the Direc- tor General and Council the nominations for Orphan- master vice Joannes Pietersen van Brugh, as fol- lows:
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Honourable, Valiant Gentlemen.
Whereas Mr. Joannes van Brugh, Orphanmaster of this City, has gone to the Fatherland and it is necessary to fill the vacancy, therefore the Burgo- masters, to whom your Honours have been pleased to refer the nomination, submit the following two names, viz :
Govert Loockermans Jeronimus Ebbinck
and request, that you will from them elect the one, whom you consider best. Done etc.
The Burgermasters decide, that the measurer of corn and lime shall measure all grain and lime. The Burgomasters also resolve, that the Schout, Burgo- masters and Schepens in office shall receive yearly the sum of 25 fl. instead of being exempted from the excise on wine, beer and meat.
Friday, September 14, 1663, present (as before).
Upon the request of Teunis Cray ordered : Peti- tioner is granted the measuring of apples, carrots ? (vuyen) and turnips, also the office of harbour- master and instructions shall be given him as soon as possible.
Friday, September 21, 1663, present (as before).
Before the Board appear Barent Jacobzen Cool, Tousein Bryeel, Crein Jacobzen and Isaack Abra- ham, public porters, who are directed to obey their instructions and as Joost Goderus and Frans Jansen
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have been discharged, other sober men are to be appointed in their places and Barent Jacobzen Cool is elected foreman vice Joost Goderus.
Answer to the petition of Nicolaas du Puis, re- questing to be appointed public porter : The request is granted. He has taken the oath of fidelity before the presiding Burgomaster to-day.
The Burgomasters resolve, to add to the instruc- tions of the porters the following sections :
No money, earned from the merchants, shall be collected here on Sunday, but on Saturday or the following Monday, on a fine of 3 fl. payable by the foreman.
Every week 8 stivers shall be put into the com- mon fund, to be retained by the foreman from the most ready cash.
Friday, December 28, 1663, present (as before).
Jacob Swart petitions for the appointment of public porter. This being granted by the Burgo- masters and the instructions having been read to him, he promises to regulate himself accordingly, whereupon the oath was administered to him. En- dorsed on his petition : The request is granted.
Copy.
We, the Burgomasters and Rulers of the City of N. Yorck on Manathans Island, herewith certify and declare, that before us appeared Sieur Walewyn van der Veen, now about to sail for the Fatherland, who at the request of Sieur Jacques Cousseau stated,
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that he has made no payment to said Cousseau on behalf of Sieur N. N. and he promises upon safe arrival in Patria to give to said N. N. all possible satisfaction. In witness whereof this has been signed at N. Yorck on Manathans Island on the 's December 1664 .*
NB. This certificate was issued in triplicate to Ist Corn. Schut, 2ª to Wouter Elser, 3ª to Isaack de Sterre.
Friday, January 4, 1664, present (as before).
Before the Board appeared Antony de Milt and Eghbert Meinderzen, Farmer of the slaughter excise, concerning a difference, they have about pay- ing the excise on a head of cattle, which Antony says, he has bought for beavers in the presence of Mattheus de Vos and Cristoffel Hooglant. Egh- bert says, he knows nothing of the witnesses. Having heard both parties, the Burgomasters decide, that on what has been bought for beavers the excise must be paid in beavers conform with the conditions.
This day the Burgomasters and Officer Pieter Tonneman settled, what the Officer must turn over to the City of the fines received by him.
Friday, February 8, 1664, at the City Hall present Messrs. Paulus Leenderzen van der Grift and Cornelis Steenwyck.
* Entered in the wrong place.
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This day was delivered to Mr. Oloff Stevensen van Cortlant his commission as Treasurer in the usual form and all books and papers concerning his office.
Tuesday, February 19, 1664, present (as before).
This day Abraham Lubberzen has been engaged as constapel (gunner) by the Burgomasters and they agreed upon a monthly salary of 40 fl. in wampum and one month been settled.
The Burgomasters also agreed with Jan Boeckhout, Gerrit Jansen from Arnhem and Jacob Keeren for making eighty eight gabions, to-wit thirty two 412 feet high and wide, thirty two 31/2 feet wide and 5 feet high, and twenty eight 6 feet high and 414 wide, for which they are to receive, as they demand, 35 stivers apiece and besides half a barrel of good beer, on condition that they themselves cut the wood. It is further stipulated that the gabions shall be strong and good, which they agree to do, the Burgomasters agreeing to pay for the carting.
Wednesday, February 20, 1664, at the City Hall present Messrs. Paulus Leenderzen van der Grift, Cornelis Steenwyck and Olof Stevenzen van Cort- . lant.
This day the Board resolved, to submit to the Director General and Council the following request: To the Honourable Director General and Council of New Netherland
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Honourable, Valiant Gentlemen
Show with due respect your Honours' faithful sub- jects, the Burgomasters of this City, that they know by experience, all wars and troubles, caused to us by our neighbours of the English nation are based upon the desire, to plunder our City or obtain booty, know- ing those, who regularly receive commodities from the Fatherland and who have them and all New Nether- land would then be lost, for no other place could resist a considerable force. This capital, where your Honours good and faithful inhabitants, mostly Dutchmen, have at their own expense built so many fine houses, that it surpasses nearly every other place in these parts of North America ; where there is a garrison of three complete companies of militia, should therefore be properly fortified in the manner, to be explained hereafter, and be made so formidable to evilminded neighbours or the savages not only by her strength, which the City naturally has by favour- able location, that it might cause malevolent neigh- bours to fear it and reflect : it would then also con- siderably secure both rivers, East and North, making them safe for help to come, as a road to retreat or go to the assistance of so many villages, hundred of farms,with houses, grain, lands, cattle and nearly ten thousand souls, mostly Dutchmen and some French- men, who in the course of years and with God's blessing may grow into a great people in this so favourably situated Province, where thousands of acres of land are still uninhabited and untilled, which
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might even become a place of refuge, if, God pre- vent it, our Netherlands should be visited by cruel wars, civil or with outside nations, or it might be the granary for our Fatherland in case of failure of the Eastern crops or a prohibition of trade by the North- ern kings and princes.
We have made an estimate, that in these troublous and dangerous times about eight thousand schepels of winter grain are in the ground, besides the large quantity of summer grain, rye, pease, oats, barley, buckwheat and others to be sown yet, from which we may expect an abundance of cereals, which will in- crease, if your subjects can live in peace : we may even expect to become the staple of commerce for our Fatherland by the planting of tobacco, hemp, flax and other necessities, which as you know, grow well here, and we maintain, that next to God the only salvation of this country after the boundary question has been settled,* lies in the fortification of this place by a bastion at the East Rivergate, palli- sades closely set through the water to the round bul- wark before the City Hall, from there pallisades to the Kapsken,+ where a waterbattery should be built, to protect from there the East and North Rivers and specially the City and the port, then again pallisades to prevent a landing to about half way up the North River to a bastion, which is to protect the part as far
* See for this " Documents rel. to the Colonial History of the State of New York."
t Where Castle Garden now stands.
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as the North West bastion, to be built with a wing of closely set pallisades, running down to the river and well protected against the floating ice ; from there on the land a strong stone wall with two bastions as far as the East River gate, again with a wing into the river. Then we trust with God's help to be well prepared for our ill wishing neighbours and the now revolting English villages, who will then not dare to think, as they now do, 'that is our place, though governed by their High Mightinesses' and summon it with only two hundred men, horse and foot, like the villages on Long Island, some of which have been owned and inhabited by Dutchmen under the Company for 30 to 40 years. Knowing our City so well fortified, garrisoned by three militia companies and some soldiers, we could with two hundred men in ships ruin all their places as far as Cape Codt, be- cause all their villages are open and it is almost im- possible to fortify them : thereby not only this, our City, but also all villages and farms would be safe against them. But to build these fortifications it would require a large sum of money and we know, that your Honours can now not spare any money, as on account of the Indian war the funds are low ; it is also not possible to burden the inhabitants of this City with more taxes, than have already been im- posed, for, as you are well aware, they grow daily poorer. However in this pressing necessity we promise to spend the whole of the City's income on the fortifications and to raise among the merchants
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and richest Burghers and inhabitants as much on interest as we can obtain, or may be needed, if in a year from now you will allow us, for the better security of the creditors, to receive the innkeepers or tapsters' impost here until the money, raised on interest, shall have ben paid with the interest and not longer. Trusting, that your Honours will con- sent to this as for the best of the country, the more so, if you will remember the conditions, granted by government to the City of Amsterdam in Europe, to-wit that for building the fortifications at the South River they may receive one half of the customs' dues besides all other common taxes in the places there, as tapsters' and other excise, taking away from the Company and the faithful subjects of their High Mightinesses their privileges by the prohibition of trading with either neighbours or barbarians in the South and thereby greatly diminishing the Com- pany's and this City's income, we herewith request for from a year hence only the tapsters' excise and not longer, than until the money raised has been paid back with interest, of which we shall always give you a correct account, hoping so to instigate the well- inclined inhabitants, that we shall have plenty of money. We await your Honours favourable answer and remain Your humble servants
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