Slavery in New Netherland

Translation from Van Laer, Correspondence of Jeremias van Rensselaer, doc. 67, pgs. 353-354

As to our appearance here at the Manhatans, at the Gemene Lantdagh, and what was transacted there, you will learn about that from the enclosed documents. In the first place we had a great dispute with the delegates from the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, as to the right to preside, which we claimed as being the oldest colonists, but under protest we sat without special order. We therefore recommend to you to discuss this further with the honorable Company, as also the boundary question, since we have again suffered great inroads, as you will see from the deed of purchase of Volckert Jansz and Jan Thomasz for the land on the east side and the large Mahikan island, for which they already have a patent and which they have already leased to several people, although I had protested against it and served notice on them not to proceed with it. But they cared as much about it as if my Negro had said it, so that I had to submit to it for the time being and had to listen to many derogatory remarks from them as to what belonged to our colony, or where our boundary line was. We acted therefore as you can see from the enclosed copies. Furthermore, we wrote at length about the boundaries of the colony, showing that it extends from Beeren Island to one half-mile beyond the farm of Jan Barentsz Wemp, and about some other matters concerning the honorable Company and the colony. Further, I referred to the papers sent herewith.