Jan Van Cleef in Other Records

Documents Relating to the Colonial History

of the State of New York

The 6th of November 1663

This report was made by said Jan Van Cleef in the presence of the Director-General,

the Fiscal and the two Burgomasters of this City, at Fort Amsterdam.

Today appeared at Fort Amsterdam Jan Van Cleef, who reported, that he

was sent by the inhabitants of New Utrecht on Long Island to inform the

Director-General and Council, that about 300 Englishmen have gathered at Jamanica,

also called Rustdorp, who intend to come to the other villages, Dutch as well as

English, to summon them. He says also, that the son of Mr. Stillwell went there

yesterday in the forenoon, to make peace, as they say, between these Englishmen

and his father about the arrest of James Christy.

 

 

And Even in Church Records...

NEW YORK HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS: DUTCH

Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York

First Book of Records 1660 - 1752 Translated & Edited by: A.P.G. Jos. Van der Linde

The Holland Society of New York

 

September 21, 1661

Jan Thomaszen, summoned by the consistory of Breuckelen together with his

son on account of a certain unfortunate incident whereby he had drawn his knife and

wounded Jan Van Cleeft in the village of New Utrecht, acknowledged that he, namely

the afore-mentioned Jan Thomassen (while enjoying half a barrel of beer on the occasion

of the departure of Sir Johannes Verveelen, burgher and brewer of Amsterdam in New

Netherland), had gottenen into an argument with a certain Claertie de Mof; that they

had even come to blows; and that his shirt had been torn by the aforesaid [Claertie].

Thereupon, however, the aforesaid Kleef had come and had pulled the aforementioned

Jan Thomassen's hair, who [then] drew his knife and made four cuts in the afore-

mentioned Cleeft's jerkin - indeed, wounding him eventually.

His son, Thomas Janssen, declared that because of filial affection he could not

bear the fact that his father, Jan Thomassen, was grabbed by the hair and badly

maltreated by the aforesaid Jan van Cleeft, so the afore-mentioned Thomas came to

the help of his father and pulled Jan van Cleeft off by the shoulders. Thereupon,

Van Cleeft grabbed the aforesaid Thomas, too, by the hair and Hendrick Matthijssen

grabbed him by his feet; and [they] threw him on the floor. Thomas Janssen hereby

contends, however, that he struck neither of the two again but merely grabbed

Jan van Cleeft by the hair in order to be let go.

After discussing the matter among ourselves, it is [our] judgement , (as Jan

Thomaszen strictly speaking is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in

Breuckelen but so far has partaken of the Lord's supper there at his own request,

while belonging to the congreation of Midwout and living in the village of New Utrecht)

that because of his conduct, [he] will have to stay away from the Lord's Table in the

village of Breuckelen since his case is currently in the hands of the Hon. Lord

Director-General and Councillors and since [he] has reconciled himself neither with

the afore-mentioned Cleeft, who is seriously injured, nor with this congregation, which

would be offended by it. His son, however, who was confirmed as a member in this

place and showed more penitence and regret, would be admitted and at the same time

warned to be on guard and careful in the future in order not to cause any offense to

our congregation with such or other incidents. Both were notified and informed of this.

 

September 27 {year not given}

Jan Thomassen, living in Utrecht in New Netherland, requested to be re-admitted

and to partake of the Lord's Supper beside our members, which had been denied him

because of a certain knifing incident. [He] said he had settled with Jan van Cleeft to that

end. Whereupon we resolved, and do resolve, while the aforementioned Jan Thomassen

was standing outside, that it would be best to let his opportunity pass and to keep a

special watch on him, and then, at the time of repentance and regret, to re-admit him to

our congregation; which was told him when he came in.

 

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