Petrus Stuyvesant
Director General of Niev Nederland
of Curacao and the Dutch West Indies
This bust was given to the people of New York
in trust of
Saint Mark’s-in-the-Bowerie
in 1915 by
Wilhelmina Queen of the Netherlands
---------------
From the Commissie Boek of the States General
The States General of the United Netherlands to all those to whom these presents shall come or who shall hear them read, health. Be it known whereas we have deemed it advisable for the advancement of the affairs of the General Incorporated West India Company not only to maintain the trade and population on the coast of New Netherland and the places situate thereabout,
also the islands Curacao, Buenaire, Aruba, and their dependencies, which have hitherto been encouraged thither from this country, but also to make new treaties and alliances with foreign princes and to inflict as much injury as possible on the enemy in his forts and strongholds as well by sea as by land for which purpose it becomes necessary to appoint a person director we therefore, confiding in the probity and experience of
Petrus Stuyvesant formerly entrusted with our affairs in, and the government of, the aforesaid island of Curacao and the places thereon defending, we being well pleased
with his services there, have commissioned and appointed, by these presents do commission and appoint the said Petrus Stuyvesant director in the aforesaid countries
of New Netherland, and the places thereunto adjoining, together with the afore-mentioned islands of Curacao, Buenaire, Aruba, and their dependencies, to administer with the council as well now as hereafter appointed with him the said office of director both on water and on land and in said quality to attend carefully to the advancement,
promotion, and preservation of friendship alliances, trade and commerce; to direct all matters appertaining to traffic and war, and to maintain, in all things there, good order
for the service of the United Netherlands and the General West India Company to establish regularity for the safeguard of the places and forts wherein, to administer law and justice as well, civil and criminal, and moreover to perform all that concerns his office and duties in accordance with the charter and the general and particular instructions herewith given, and to be hereafter given him, as a good and
faithful director is bound and obliged by his oath in our hands to do which done we therefore order and command all other officers, common soldiers, together with the
inhabitants and natives residing in the aforesaid places as subjects and all whom it may concern, to acknowledge and obey the said Petrus Stuyvesant as our director
in the countries and places of New Netherland and in the islands of Curacao, Buenaire, Aruba and their dependencies, and to afford all help, countenance and assistance in the performance of these things as we have found the same to be for the advantage of the Company done in our assembly at the Hague, on the XXVIII July 1646.
Marker is at the intersection of E 10th Street and 2nd Avenue, on the left when traveling east on E 10th Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
