That on the 14th day of October 1695 the petitioners had lycense to
purchase 1200 acres of vacant land at a place called Waghaghkamock,
which being understood by Col& Rutsen and others who were desirous of
the same lands which the petitioners had by (charge?) and pains
discovered found a petition to the Governor and Council afterwards,
to wit: The 9th of January 1695-6 for a lysence to purchase 400 acres
at great little Minissinks Under color of which lysense being upwards
of 20 in number, by large gifts to the Indians and other indirect
(works?) (debauches?) them to (bad?) faith to the petitioners, to
sell the same lands to them, of which complaint was made to the
Governor & Council, & an order thereupon granted that (it approving
the petitioners lysense) was prior to the date of that of Rutsen &
Compa. and the name of the place certain, and (still) it is of ill
consequence to have indirect dealings with the Indians.
That Rutsen and company do desist from any pretensions to purchase
the land mentioned in the lysense of the petitions upon penalty of
answering the same. Upon which order afterwards to wit the 28th day
of May 1696 Rutsen & company prays the Governor & council not to have
ill thoughts of them, and allege that the land that the petitioners
lay claim to by lysense is not called Waghgaghemeck which being ready
and considered in Council, an order issued upon petitioners that
Swartwout and company pursuant to their (wish?) should purchase 1200
acres at Waghgaghkemmack and afterwards the other company their 4000
acres. Notwithstanding all which though Rutsen & company ventured
still privly to (soist?) with the indians and obstruct the lawful
purchase until the middle of the year 1697, when the petitioners to
obtain their rights (forms?) of them verbally (consutod?) to make a
joint purchase with the other company which being done they thereupon
on the 14th of Oct. 1697 obtained his (mahos?) patent for the 1200
acres and betook themselves to the improvement thereof (and?)
(company?) to all right and the former orders without any patent or
first giving (way?) to the petitioners peacably to enjoy their 1200
acres. Many of the other company (purpose?) appointed by and under
them satt down upon the s^d land forcibly that it being far from the
other Christian settlement & mountain (whethr?) in the county of
Elster or Orange the forests could not be removed by the indians that
now Shely-irr-tin through months of Aug. and Sept. left and (devvey?)
other times. The indians chiefly Asawanta Pindamnius, Karhkolano
Sansa and Nashingloan with many others though pretended owners of the
land to the petitioners unknown being stirred up freely by the s'd
other company have fallen upon the s'd Barnardus Swartwout and his
brother another partner and have beaten bruised and badly kicked so
that of their lives they did really despair, and robbed plundered and
carried away their goods haply and have destroyed their cattel, have
(put fire?) often into their houses to burn them in which violent
practices those other company, their wives came to look on and render
the indians & (hindor?) from killing of them. But the men kept out of
the wy which is of very pernicious ( . . . ) and may end in an Indian
warr if life should be taken on any other part which your petitioners
would strenuously avoid, and therefore humbly pray that said indians
may be sent for and made to disclose who they are that put them upon
this violence (sound?) prudent (va^rd?) be taken to prevent future
mischief that such punishment may be enforced to their good.
That the quiet & peaceable possession of their estates to the end
that justice & right may take place according to your honorable great
wisdom and prudence. This y^e pet^rs as in duty shall pray &c.