RegisterofPSVol2

Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642 – 1647 ׀ 160
Declaration of Thomas Dammon regarding powder that
was smuggled on board the ship St. Pieter
[136d] Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland appointed by the
Chartered West India Company, appeared Tomas Damen, who in the presence of Isaac Allerton
attests, testifies and declares, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if necessary and
required, that he, the deponent, saw six kegs of powder brought in a sloop to the ship St. Piter,
which kegs, as it was raining, were placed in the forecastle. The skipper and pilot, coming on
board, stowed them away aft in the ship, quite low, covering the kegs with boards and putting
there on cases and a quantity of other goods. He, the deponent, arriving here before the
Manhatans on said ship, went aft below to get his things that were there and found that the cases
and goods were gone. Feeling for the kegs, he found them still in the same place. The deponent
also testifies that on the voyage he saw the cook, the supercargo and Cornelis de Boer go down
with a marking pot and the cook had carved the Company’s mark on a bellow, in order that they
might the better imitate it. The supercargo marked one case; the remainder were ankers of
brandy. All of which the deponent offers to confirm. Done the 13th of December 1644,
Manhatans in New Netherland.
Is[aac] Allerton, witness
This affidavit is confirmed under oath in court.
Contract of sale from Burger Jorissen to Cornelis Melyn
of a house and lot on Manhattan island
[Th]o[ma]s Dammon
[137] Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Burger Jorisz,
of the first part, and Mr. Cornelis Melyn, of the second part, who in the presence and before the
undersigned witnesses acknowledged and declared that they had voluntarily and deliberately
entered into and made together the following contract, in manner and on the terms hereinafter
written. Burgert Jorisz acknowledges that he has sold to Cornelis Melyn, who also acknowledges
that he has bought of Borger Jorisz, his house and lot situated on the island of Manhatans, on the
East river, between said Melyn and the great tavern, and that of such dimensions, be the same
more or less, as the above mentioned lot is described in the patent granted on the 28th of April
anno 1643, by the honorable director general and council of New Netherland to Borgert Jorisz;
New Netherland Research Center New Netherland Institute