Document: RESOLUTION concerning missions for ships present at Curacao

Resolution drawn up 13 March 1643 on the island of Curacao.

In the preceding gathering and council meeting it was frequently proposed, deliberated and considered what use should be made, for the Companys maximum service, of the four Company yachts: Neptunus, 7 Staer, Catt and Paroquiet, now here all together. After hearing everyones advice and considering to what use they might be-put, we decided, for reasons important to this country and of service to the Company, to send one yacht directly to the fatherland and to relieve the veteran soldiers whose time has expired, and who therefore petition us daily for relief, for fear of being involved once again in a similar or worse famine, which could happen if food is not supplied from the fatherland. Also, it was necessary to inform the honorable lords-directors of the Spanish attempt on this place and how they destroyed everything on Bonnairo, as well as what was left of the old materials for producing salt, without which the aforesaid island is useless and of no service, although some ships went there to load salt. And on the other hand, seeing that the aforesaid was decided upon and put into practice and especially because it is necessary to send a ship to New Netherland for flour and pottage, one would be able to do the Company little or no service with the two other yachts because of lack of food and crew, which [ ] the reason nothing could be done last year, to our regret (whereby the news of the enemys attempt on these islands came). After deliberating all sides for the Companys maximum benefit and profit, we decided, according to our best knowledge, to provide the aforesaid yachts with available stores, to man it with the old soldiers and to send it leeward towards Cartagenua and Havana, provided that Fort Amsterdam remains garrisoned with 80 soldiers, 25 sailors and suitable trainbands according to [ ]; it is hoped that the Almighty might grant a good prize, in view of the fact that last year and now there have been few pirates in the sea there, making the enemy more secure and desirous of more shipping; and from there, whether it be one or another which is captured, to send a yacht directly to the fatherland with the veteran soldiers, unless intelligence from the enemy or instructions from the fatherland demand otherwise for the service of the Company and the well-being of this place; and to dispatch another one to New Netherland for a supply of food; and to send off the remaining two after expiration of the crossing time, according to the circumstances of supplies, time and place. Thus unanimously decided and signed with our own hands in acknowledgement of the truth. Done at the place, day and year as above.

P. Stuyvesant
Jacob Lopper
Brian Newton
L. Rodenborch
Claes Martensz
Jan Klaessen Smal
Jacob Tijssen Pal
Jan Claessen van Meppel

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections], Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement]