have long promised to pay interest, but notwithstanding all (1649) that is done in the matter, neither principal nor interest can be obtained from them.

There is, occasionally, a flying report of an hospital and of asylums for orphans and for old men, etc., but as yet not a sign of an attempt, order or regulation has been made about them. From all these, then, it is sufficiently apparent, that scarcely any proper care or diligence has been used by the Company or its officers for any ecclesiastical property; and, as far as can be ascertained, nothing in the least has been done from the beginning up to the present time, but on the contrary, every care and pains have been taken to attach minions closely, or to make new ones, as we shall hereafter show in its own time, and now proceed and see what has been the public resources of the government up to the time of our departure, so that it may be manifest what pains and diligence the Directors have used and exercised in this particular." (From the remonstrance of the people of New Netherland to the States General, July 28, 1649. 'Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York." Vol. 1, page 300. O'Callaghan.)

No asylums for children or the aged in New Nether- 1650. land.

"The Directors have never had any administration of, nor concerned themselves with ecclesiastical property; 'tis also denied and cannot be proved, that any of the inhabitants of New Netherland have, either voluntarily or when requested, contributed or given anything for the building of an asylum for orphans, or for the aged. "Tis true that the church in the fort was built in Willem Kieft's time, and a subscription list was signed which amounted to fl. 1800. The accounts of most of the subscribers were debited accordingly, but they have not yet paid the money. Meanwhile the Company disbursed the funds, so that it was not the Commonalty (some few excepted) but the Company that paid the workmen. If the people require institutions as above stated, they must contribute towards them as is the custom in this country; and were their asylums for orphans and the aged there, revenues would be necessary, not only to keep the houses in repair, but to support the orphans and the aged people. ******* As regards the deacons' or Poor-fund, the deacons are accountable for that, and are the persons of whom inquiry should be made as to where the money is invested which they have, from time to time, placed at interest; and as the Director never had charge of it, such not being usual, the deacons, and not the Director, are responsible for it. "Tis, indeed, true that Director Kieft, being at a loss for money, had a box suspended in his house; of that box the deacons had one key, and all the small fines and penalties which were levied on court days, were

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deposited in it. He opened it with the knowledge of the deacons, and took on interest the money, which amounted to a handsome sum." (From the answer to the remonstrance of the people of New Netherland, made by the Secretary to the Director General and Council of New Netherland, November 29, 1650. "Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York." Vol. I, pp. 423 and 424.)

In order not to subject the poor to inconvenience, particular inhabitants requesting it may be privileged to lay in small beer free of excise with liberty to retail the same at a reasonable advance by small measure. ("Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland." p. 122. O'Callaghan.)

The Director-General grants site for almshouse at Beaverwyck (Albany.) ("Annals of Albany," Vol. VII, pp. 232, 233. Munsell.)

Burgomasters were ex officio the chief rulers of the city; the principal church wardens, guardians of the poor and of widows and orphans. They held in trust all city property and managed the same. ("History of New Netherland." Vol. 2, p. 211. O'Callaghan.) Schepens (city magistrates) provided for the burial of friendless strangers. ("History of New Netherland." Vol. 2, p. 212. O'Callaghan.)

Land granted to the poor.

"A quantity of land is given or granted to some person or persons. This article has reference principally to the fact that the Director conveyed last year, 1652, to Mr. Cornelius Van Werckhoven, a certain considerable tract of valuable and clear land situate within the jurisdiction of Gravesend, which land had been previously granted in the year 1647, by Director Willem Kieft, deceased, to divers persons, and divided by lot in 21 parts, whereof the Poor of this place had 2 parts and every other person 1 part. (Note in explanation of a point in the remonstrance presented to the Director of New Netherland by officers of the Colony, Dec. 12, 1653. "Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York." Vol. 1, page 555. O'Callaghan.)

Dependent children sent from the almshouse at Amsterdam to New Netherland.

"Honorable, Wise, Prudent, Right, Discreet Sir,-Being informed by the governors of the almshouse of the vast number of poor people wherewith they are burdened and charged, we have concluded to relieve them and so do the company a service, by sending some of them to New Netherland.

"We have, therefore, sent over in the ship belonging to the bearer hereof, 7 @ 28 boys and girls, requesting you, in a friendly manner, to extend to them your kind advice and assistance, and to advance them if possible; so that they, according to their fitness, may earn their board. If you consider that the population of that country could be advanced by sending over such persons, we shall, on being informed, lose no time to have some more forwarded. Meanwhile we shall be much obliged by the aid and assistance you will extend in this instance." (From the burgomasters of Amsterdam to the Director General of New Netherland, July 9, 1654. "Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York." Vol. I, p. 556. O'Callaghan.)

The Director General and Council resolve to hire a house in New Amsterdam, and lodge there the children sent over by the poormasters from Holland. ("Documents Relating to the History of the Early Colonial Settlements." Vol. XIV, p. 296. Fernow.)

More dependent children sent from the almshouse at Amsterdam, in Holland, to New Netherland.

"The written conditions, sent over, have told us of the rules made and the care taken there of the children from the almshouses, which have our approval; we hope, that the Burgomasters and Almshouse authorities have also been pleased; they are again sending by this ship, a party of boys and girls as per inclosed list. We recommend them as before to your care and although among them some may be found of tenderer age than you required, we think it does not matter, for it can be amended and corrected by one or two years longer service, which is of little importance to the boys." (From a letter from the Directors of the Dutch West India Company to the Director General of New Netherland, May 26, 1655-" Documents Relating to the History of the Early Colonial Settlements." Vol. XIV, p. 322.)

Noble, Honorable, Wise, Prudent, Very Discreet Sir.— Whereas with the consent of their Honors, the Directors of the W. I. Company, we have resolved to send over some boys and girls, specified in the enclosed memorandum, in the Company's ships, thereby taking a burden from the almshouse of this city and helping to increase the population of New Netherland; we desire hereby to request and recommend to your Honor to receive these children and youths kindly and to take care, that they may be employed according to their abilities for the best advantage of the Company and a proper advancement of themselves." (Letter from the burgomasters of Amsterdam to the Director General of New Netherland, May 27, 1655" Documents Relating to the History of the Early Colonial Settlements." Vol. XIV, p. 325. Fernow.)

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Goats found south of the "fresh water" to be seized and sold for the benefit of the poor. ("Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland." p. 201. O'Callaghan.) One-third of penalty for firing guns or planting May poles on New Years and May days to go to support of ("Laws and Ordinances of New Nether

the poor.

land." p. 205. O'Callaghan.)

Council Minute on the Application of the Overseers of the Poor in regard to their land on Long Island. Thursday, the 3rd of June 1655:

"The reverend De Johannes Megapolensis, Minister here, and Johannis de Peyster, Deacon and Schepen of this city, appeared before the Council and stated in behalf of the Board of Overseers of the Poor in this city, that said Board had some time ago bought for the behalf and best of the poor a certain bouwery situate on the other side of Hellgate and that the Honorable Director-General Petrus Stuyvesant had given to the Board a piece of land near the said bouwery, which annex they intended in time to turn into a new plantation or bouwery, when God's blessing had increased their stock of cattle. They find now, however, that this piece of land or a part of it had afterwards been given to one Abraham Rycken, but as the said Abr. Rycken is a poor man who has no more than what he can earn with his hands, they are neither able nor willing to disturb him; yet they have cause to remonstrate, because the said Abr. Rycken closed up and fenced in a public road, which had been in use as such for many years, to the great prejudice and disadvantage of the said bouwery of the poor. They request therefore most respectfully that the said Abr. Rycken be directed and ordered to remove the posts and rails or pallisades erected by him and to make the road and then leave it as it has been formerly and long before he came there.

They give also to understand, that the small island obliquely opposite the said Poor Farm, commonly called Huelicken or Borger Joris' Island,* would be very suitable, useful and profitable to their Board for the pasturing of their pigs and cattle and requested therefore, that if it had not been given to others, it might be granted and given to the Board for the benefit of the poor.

The Honorable Council reply, that a committee shall be appointed to proceed and inspect the road closed up by Abraham Rycken; as to the island, it has been granted away a long time ago.

*Hewlett's Island, called "Huelicken" because acquired by marriage huwelyck.

Done at New Amsterdam in N. N. Date as above." ("Documents Relating to the History of the Early Colonial Settlements." Vol. XIV, p. 326. Fernow.)

One-third of certain penalties to be applied to support of the poor. ("Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland." p. 263. O'Callaghan.)

Children from almshouse in Holland arrived and being in demand, were all bound and others requested to be sent over. In New Netherland, men of large families when they die "do not leave a stiver behind. The public must provide the coffin, pay all the debts and feed or maintain those who survive." ("Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York." Vol. II, p. 52. O'Callaghan.)

Secretaries, notaries and clerks to serve the poor gratis. ("Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland." p. 331. O'Callaghan.)

Work furnished at public expense for the purpose of giving employment to the distressed. ("History of New Netherland." Vol. 2, p. 375. O'Callaghan.)

First law enacted in New Netherland providing for the support of the poor:

ORDINANCE

Of the Director General and Council of New Netherland making provision for the Poor. Passed 22 October, 1661. Whereas the Deacons of this City have informed us of the many applications and great trouble which they daily experi ence from persons residing in the outlying Villages, with whose characters and wants they are utterly unacquainted, so that their Treasury is thereby greatly diminished, and they would, by that means, be unable to assist the Poor and Needy of this City, requesting that seasonable provision be made therein; We, therefore, in order to prevent the future recurrence thereof, have resolved and decided, to the end that the Lazy and the Vagabond may as much as possible be rebuked, and the really Poor the more assisted, and cared for, that from this time forward, no assistance shall be given by the Deacons of this City, to any persons residing outside the jurisdiction of this City, unless they bring with them from the Deacons or Overseers of the Poor, at the place of their Residence, a certificate of their character and poverty in manner as follows:

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