Genealogical Gleanings II

27 May 1634

Messrs. William Clobery, David Morehead and Johan de la Barre, merchants here in London, having fitted out a ship [the William] to trade on Hudson's river, as they call it, have been prevented to traffic there, and in that vicinity, by the Officers of the Dutch West India Company. Deeming themselves injured thereby, they pretend to demand reparation for their damages.

Appendix contains depositions dated 1 November 1633 by:

Andrew Hume of the precinte of Saincte Catherine, London, marriner, aged about 32 yeares.

William fforde of Lymehouse in the countye of Midd. marriner, aged about 36 yeares.

Richard Barnard of Hull, in the countye of Yorke, marriner, aged about 24 yeares.

Christopher Langham of Wappinge, in the countie of Middex, sayler, aged about 26 yeares.

William Deepinge of the Parishe of St. Mary Monthawe, Landon barber, Chirurgeon, aged about 27 yeares.

John Johnson of the parishe of Saint Botolphes Algate, London cittizen, and cordwayner of London, aged about 45 yeares.

Jacob Jacobson Elkins, of Amsterdam merchant, aged about 42 yeares.

29 November 1650

Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven's Answer to the Remonstrance from New Netherland.

Francis Douthay, Adriaen van der Donck's father-in-law and an English Minister, was granted a colonie at Mespacht, not for himself alone as Patroon, but for him and his associates whose agent he was, and who at the time were residing at Rhode Island and at Cahanock and other places.

Adriaen Van Der Donck has been about 8 years in New Netherland; he originally went thither as sheriff, in the employ of the co-proprietors in the Colionie of Renselaers wyck, but did not long hold that office; he resided in the Colonie, however, until the year 1646.

Arnoldus Van Hardenberch accompanied Hay Jansen, in 1644, to New Netherland, with a cargo for his brother, where he never suffered any let or damage, to our knowledge; but he knows how to charge the colonists for his wares.

Augustyn Heermans went out in the Maecht van Enchuysen, being, as he now is, clerk to Gabri, in the trading business.

Jacob Van Couwenhoven, when a lad, accompanied his father to the country, was taken by Wouter van Twiller into the Company's service as an assistant, and becoming afterwards a tobacco planter, the Company helped him, as is to be seen by the books, with necessaries; but they have been paid for.

Olof Stevensen, brother-in-law of Govert Loockermans, went out in the year 1637, in the ship the Haring, as a soldier in the Company's service; was promoted by Director Kieft and finally appointed Commissary of the store; he has profited by the Company's service and is endeavoring to give his benefactor the pay of the world; that is, evil for good. He has signed under protest, saying he was obliged to sign, which can be understood two ways; either that he felt obliged to subscribe to the truth, or that he was constrained thereunto. If he intends the latter, he must prove it.

Michiel Jansen went out in the capacity of farm-servant in the employ of the partners of the Colonie of Renselaers wyck, in New Netherland. He made his fortune in a few years in the Colonie, but not being able to agree with the authorities there, finally removed to the Island Manhatans in the year 1646. He was to have come hither, but accounts not being settled between him and the Colonie, as he has a claim which the partners do not admit, Jan Evertsen came over in his stead.

Thomas Hall came to the South river in 1635, in the service of an Englishman named Mr. Mr. Homs, who intended at the time to rob us of the South river of New Netherland, including fort Nassouw, and ran away from his master there: arriving at the Manhatans, he hired himself as farm-servant to Jacob van Curler. Becoming a freeman, he made a tobacco plantation on Wouter van Twiller's land; he has also been overseer. Twiller knows the man. Thomas Hall resides, at present, on a little bouwerie belonging to the Company.

Elbert Elbertzen, arriving in the country as a farm lad, was about 10 or eleven years in Wouter van Twiller's service, and has never had any land of his own. About three years ago he married the widow of Gerrit Wolphertsen (brother of the abovementioned Jacob van Couwenhoven), and is, therefore, up to the present time, in the Company's debt, from the payment of which he would apparently like to be relieved.

Govert Loockermans, brother-in-law of Jacob van Couwenhoven, went to New Netherlands in 1633, as cook's mate in the yacht St. Martyn; was taken by Wouter van Twiller into the Company's service; having realized some profit in it, he became a freeman, and finally took charge of the trade of Gillis Verbruggen and company, in New Netherland. This Loockmans ought to show his gratitude to the Company, under God, for his prosperity, and not plot to deprive it of the country.

Hendrick Kip is a tailor, and has never suffered any injury in New Netherland to our knowledge.

Jan Evertsen Bout, formerly in the Company's service, went over the last time in the year 1634, in the ship Eendracht, in the employment of Honble. Michiel Pauw; resided at Pavonia until the year 1643, and prospered somewhat; and as the Honble. Company purchased Mr. Pauw's property, the said Jan Evertsen got on right well in its service, it having acquired Mr. Pauw's interest. And as his house and barn, at Pavonia, were burnt in the war, which he seems to make a pretext for his complaint, 'tis proper to observe here, that the Honble. Company having paid fl.26,000 for Mr. Pauw's Colonie, made a free gift to the said Jan Evertsen, long after the house was burnt, of the land whereon his house stood and of the bouwerie, which produced good wheat. Michel Jansen purchased that farm and a poor, unfinished house, with some few cattle, for fl.8000.

Brodhead, John Romeyn, Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York procured in Holland, England and France, Edited by E.B. O'Callaghan (Albany: Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers, 1856). Vol. 1, pp. 72-79, 426 and 431-432.