Slavery in New Netherland

Translation from Gehring, Council Minutes, Volume V, 1652-1654, doc. 17, pgs. 11-12

[Monday the 12th of February 1652 at Fort Amsterdam, present the director-general, La Montagne and Brian Newton.

The board of nine men came into the council chamber and requested of the presiding officer that the honorable council please forbid the shooting of hogs on the walls of the fort and for this reason that the fort be enclosed with clapboards or in some other convenient way.]

The director-general approves the request of the commonalty and promises to have the necessary forts cut and furnished by his own servants or Negroes, with the commonalty bearing the expenses of putting up the palisades enclosing [the fort].

About the New Netherland Institute

For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. More

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