Image: Verkoopakte Manhattan

Description: A Letter by Pieter Schaghen, board member of the Dutch West India Company, to the States General of the Netherlands. As a council member of the Amsterdam-based West India Company, Schaghen personally represented the federal legislative body of the Dutch Republic, which was seated in The Hague. Schaghen informs his superiors that a ship from New Netherland has arrived in Amsterdam the day before, the 4th of November 1626. This document is part of the collection of the Dutch National Archives in The Hague. Translation [3]: Received (in The Hague): 7th of November 1626. High and mighty lords, The ship 'The coat of arms of Amsterdam' has arrived here (in Amsterdam) yesterday and has sailed out of New Netherland on the 23rd of September through the Mauritius River. (Hereby) reporting that our people are in good spirit and are living there peacefully. The women have given birth to children there as well. (They) have bought the Island of Manhattes from the wild man, for the amount of 60 guilders. (The island) measures 11.000 morgen. (They) have sowed all grains in the middle of May and harvested (them) in the middle of August. The samples of summer grain, being wheat, rye, barley, oat, buckwheat, canary grass, beans and flax, are from this (harvest). The cargo of the aforesaid ship is: 7246 beaver skins 178½ otter skins 675 otter skins (apparently packaged separately from the first shipment of otter skins) 48 mink skins 36 cat skins 33 minks (without further specifications) 34 rat skins Many oak beams and heartwood. Herewith, high and mighty lords, be commended to the mercy of the Almighty. (Written) in Amsterdam, the 5th of November 1626. Your high and mightinesses' obedient (servant), Pieter Schaghen (signature) Description on the back: High and mighty lords, my lords (of) the States General in The Hague. Next to this diagonally: Without hinderance.
Title: A letter concerning the Dutch acquisition of Manhattan
Credit: http://www.gahetna.nl/collectie/archief/inventaris/gahetnascan/eadid/1.01.02/inventarisnr/5751B
Author: Pieter Schaghen [1]
Permission: http://www.gahetna.nl/over-ons/open-data/archiefinventarissen-en-scans-archieven#scansarchieven
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No