59. Boys and Girls in New Netherlands[214]
BY CORNELIS VON TIENHOVEN (1650)
WE are of the opinion, that permission should be
obtained from the magistrates of some provinces and cities
in Holland to send over boys and girls from the almshouses
and orphan asylums. There ought to be three or four hundred
of these boys and girls often, twelve, or fifteen years of age.
And their own consent should be obtained also.
With that intention a large ship might be chartered suitable
to carry horses and pork from Curacco and afterward to
return here with a cargo of log-wood.[215]
It must be understood that the children are not to be bound to
their masters longer than six or seven
years.[216] If the girls should get married
during that time, they must have a chance to hire again as servants with
their masters or mistresses, if they will. Or they may remain wholly at
liberty, or settle in New Netherland for themselves, on condition that
they be allowed some land by the government, as much as the director of
the colony shall think proper that each should have for the support of
her family This land is to be free from all rents and taxes fol ten
years after they settle upon the land. But after that time the people
living in those parts shall pay one-tenth of what is made on their land,
for the support of the colony.
[[214]]
This extract tells about a plan to build up the
Dutch Colony at New Netherland, now the city of New York.
[[215]]
Large enough to carry a cargo besides the
children, and thus cover the expense of their free transportation.
Curacco, what we now call Dutch Guiana, in South America.
[[216]]
Bound means pledged by the written agreement of
their parents or guardians.
