In this year, 1660, the Fiscal, Jan Van Cleef and his friend, bought of Jacob Wolfertse Van Couwenhoven, for the use of the inhabitants of the town of Utrecht, a Horse Mill with the appurtenances which had been used for grinding in Amsterdam on the Manhattans. The mill stones and the mill work were brought and set up in the Village of Utrecht. The friend

of Jan Van Cleef, without the knowledge of the Fiscal, sold out his third part to said Jan Van Cleef, the Fiscal being security for both of them, and having paid out already more than 400 guilders ($160) on account of the mill. The Fiscal seeing that Jan Van Cleef did not prosper, and that the last day of payment was near at hand, threatened to prosecute and compel him to act justly. On this Jan Van Cleef sought a buyer to sell the mill to, at the same time the people desired the Fiscal to buy the mill, but he refused, neither would he sell his third part, having in view the benefit of the Town and the eonvenience of the inhabitants. In consequence of this Jan Van Cleef was under the necessity of selling his two thirds to Albert Albertse, and the mill remained in the town of Utrecht, the Fiscal remaining unwilling to sell his third part.

Proclamation on Slaughtering.

The Director General and Council of New Netherland:

To all who see this Edict or hear the same read Health. Be it known that daily complaints are made to us confirmed by proofs, of the taking from the plains, cows, hogs, and other cattle, belonging to the various nations of Indians, and slaughtering and selling of the same by Christians, or by men who go by the name of Christians; to prevent such acts this Edict is promulgated. The Director General and Council, to prevent the above mentioned evil practices, from this time forth hereby expressly interdict and forbid the slaughtering any cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, or goats, by any person or by the owners of the same, in the Towns, plains, villages, and Hamlets of this Province, unless the owner of such animals on the same day on which he intends to slaughter them informs either the magistrate of the town under whose jurisdiction he resides, or such person as may be authorized by the magistrate

to act in his place, of his intention and obtains a permit for slaughtering said animal, on the penalty of the confiscation of the slaughtered animal, and also of paying double its value. For every permit the owner shall pay to the magistrate or to the receiver appointed for that purpose for the benefit of the community, one stuyver (2 cts.) on every guilder the slaughtered animal is justly valued at. In all places the money obtained for such permits shall be reserved for times of need or difficulty, and then be used to pay those who may be employed by the villages, to levy soldiers, and to purchase such ammunition as the occasion may require. The penalty for killing animals without a permit shall be divided as follows: one third to the informer, one third to the officer, and one third to the Town.

Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands, this 18th January 1660.

The above is the ordinance of the Noble Lord Director General of New Netherland.

Witness

CORNELIUS VAN RUYVEN, Secretary.

On the 6th of Dec. 1660, I sent a petition to the Director General and Council, in which in consequence of my being confined to my house with a sore leg, I requested them to commit the supervision of the town of New Utrecht to the Heer Tonneman, Scout of New Amsterdam, and to authorize him, in my stead, to settle all controversies, misdeeds, and difficulties, also to stimulate the people to build dwelling houses, a block house and public pound, and to dig wells for the benefit of the community. My petition was sent to the General by my son Laurens de Sille, on which he sent me word that in 4 or 5 days he would personally go to New Utrecht for the purpose in the first place of putting every thing in good order. The Lord General in the mean time became sick and matters remained as they had been: I waited for his recovery and intend to wait and see what will follow.

I now close this Introduction or Commencement of the Records the Town, all the preceding having been written by myself and my son Laurens as gathered from various sources and memory. I now deliver this book over to Jacob Van Curlaer, Secretary of the town of Utrecht, and to his assistant Jan Tomasse, who I

desire for our benefit and that of our successors to continue the same in the manner in which it is begun.

Closed this 15th Decr A. D. 1660 in Amsterdam by me NICASIUS DE SILLE.

(In the back part of the book from which the above was translated is the following :)

Short abstracts of proclamations or edicts relating to misde

meanors.

Sabbath days not to be broken.

1st. All persons are forbid selling Beer, Wine, or strong drink during divine service on the Sabbath, neither shall they allow it to be drank in their houses, as per edict of the last of May, 1647, the 26th Sept. 1656, and 12th July 1657.

Servants after 9 o'clock.

2a. All persons are forbid selling it to servants after 9 o'clock. Ultimo May 1647.

To the Indians.

3d. All persons are forbid selling strong drink to the Indians, according to the edict of the 26th Sept. 1656, and 12th July 1656.

Fences not to be injured.

4th. All persons are forbid entering into the gardens, farms, or orchards of others; they are forbid injuring the fruits growing in the same, also to break off the clapboards or other fencing with which the premises are enclosed. They are all directed to keep their fences in good order so that others receive no injury in consequence of their neglect, according to the edict of July 1st, 1647

Fighting and striking.

5th. All fighting is forbid, drawing of knives, striking with the fist and wounding. Offenders to be punished as ordained in the

edict of 15th Dec.

Inn keepers.

All tavern keepers to be held liable for willingly permitting fighting or wounding in their houses, and when such breaches of

the peace take place, they shall inform the officer of the same, on penalty of having their trade stopped, and making the amends customary in Amsterdam, according to the edict of the 15th Decr. 1657.

Barbers.

The same law to operate in case fighting &c. should happen in the houses of Barbers according to the order of Amsterdam.

Servants.

Item. No person to create difficulties between Master and Servants, nor induce Servants to come and live with him, neither shall he take in his service or harbour them in his house more than 24 hours without acquainting the Officer or Fiscal of the same, for servants shall be obliged to fulfil their contracts and to follow the order of the 6th of Oct. 1648, and the custom of Holland.

Highways.

Item. No person may encumber or obstruct the highways by falling trees in them, or stones, but they shall be kept passable according to the edict of the 23d May 1650.

Waggon racing.

No person shall race with carts and wagons, in the streets within the villages, but the driver while passing through villages must walk by the side of his horses or vehicle, according to the edict of the 12th of July 1657.

Dead animals.

Item. No person shall have his dead beast on the highways or streets but must bury the same, on the penalty of 3 guilders for the first offence, 6 guilders for the second, and imprisonment for the 3d offence if he remain obstinate.

Privies.

No person shall place privies on the highways or streets so as to allow the hogs to root up the filth in the same, on the penalty of 6 guilders for the first offence, 6 guilders for the second, and imprisonment for the third offence.

Weights and Measures.

Yard stick, measures and weights must be sealed and made alike, according to the custom of Amsterdam in Holland, on the penalty of 10 guilders for the first offence, 20 guilders for the second, and 40 guilders for the third offence, and also in addition to have their trade stopped.

Wages or hire of Indians.

Those who hire Indians for money, must pay them promptly and fulfil the engagement; for failure they shall be condemned to pay the hire and be punished according to the edict of the 28th of September 1648.

Concubinage.

All persons to be kept to the three publications of the bans before marriage and to wait one month thereafter so as to give opportunity for the making of legal objections if any exist; if after the expiration of that time either party refuse to marry without giving lawful reasons, they shall be liable to a penalty of 10 guilders for the first week and 20 guilders for every succeeding week until lawful reasons for refusal are given.

Further no man or woman may live together as husband and wife without being married, on the penalty of 100 guilders, or of as much more or less as the quality or ability of the offenders will warrant; if continuing to offend to be liable every month to pay the same penalty to the officer, according to the edict of the 15th of Jany 1658.

Conventicles.

No person may surreptitiously hold a meeting for public worship, or sing, read, or preach in the same, on the penalty of 100 pounds Flemish; and the hearers to be each liable to a penalty of 25 pounds Flemish, without regard to the religion or sect they may be of, be of, as per the edict of the 1st of Feby. 1657.

Brewers not to be retailers of liquors.

These two occupations may not be followed by the same individual, neither shall they sell by the can, on the penalty of all the beer which may be found in their houses, and in addition of having their trade stopped for 6 months, according to the edict of the 12th of Jany 1648.