Slavery in New Netherland

Translation from Van Laer, Correspondence of Jeremias van Rensselaer, doc. 75, pgs. 364-365

As to the maid, of whom you wrote to me by the Gekruyste Hart, I would have sent over her account, but I have not yet been able to find brother Nicolaes' letter, so that I do not know what goods there have been, but I shall do my best to send it over by the next ship.

In answer to your favor of the 18th of April, this will serve to let you know that I as well as my wife thank you very much for accepting the sponsorship over our Kiliaen, who, God be praised, is strong and well and runs around everywhere. He grows lustily. May the good Lord let him grow up in virtue. Secondly, we thank you for the christening present sent to him and for the two large cakes sent to us; the others I have delivered according to your instructions [to the friends] who have accepted them with thanks.

The arrival of brother Ryckert and how he found things here you will have learned from his letters. We shall consult and act together as brothers ought to do. As to my coming over next year and settling all accounts beforehand, this can be done if it please God, but as to not coming home with empty hands, I see as yet not much chance of bringing home much, for one can not sell a hundred schepels of wheat for beavers and how the wheat is to be sent over next year [remains to be seen, so that] I do not know what will become of the trade between us.

I bought a Negro for the colony from the honorable General Petrus Stuyvesant, but the said Negro had to remain a few weeks more in the Company's service, so that I received him only a fortnight ago, together with the Negress whom the said general urged me to buy also, although he had given her to him later, after I had bought the Negro. She is a [good], sound wench. They cost, the Negro 400 guilders, and the Negress 350 guilders, in beavers, but I paid for them by means of accounts, so that now your 511 guilders are also paid. I shall let the scholtus employ the Negro when he needs him [ ] and shall try with the wife to start raising] whether a [ ] the [ ].