William Minter

There appeared before the undersigned aldermen William d'Jepsin, Englishman, as seller, and William Mintas, likewise an Englishman, as buyer. And they acknowledged, mutually and reciprocally, to have sold and bought a house and grounds standing and situated within this city on the south side of the Groenhazengracht, bounded on the one side by Jacob Fredericxszoon, timber merchant, and on the other side by Willem Robintszoon, leather-dresser, likewise an Englishman, running from the street of the aforesaid canal at the front to the rear as far as the back of the Doelen (the archery grounds), all just as the aforesaid house presently stands built and made, and as it is used and inhabited.

This is subject, first, to a ground rent of six guilders of forty groot each, in free money, per year, redeemable at the rate of the twentieth penny, payable to the deacons and captains of the civic guard of this city, with right of pre-emption and registration as often as the aforesaid house and grounds shall come to be alienated, according to the deed of issue thereof. This rent, chargeable to the buyer, shall begin to run on May Day of this year sixteen hundred and thirteen, together with the taking possession of the aforesaid house and grounds.

And further, with a sum of eight hundred and fifty guilders in the same coin, owed once, from the previous buyer of the aforesaid house and grounds, payable to Jacob Corneliszoon de Haes as having the right and transfer from Cornelis Gijsbertszoon, carpenter, likewise in free money, in instalments of one hundred guilders a year, the first term of which, chargeable to the buyer, shall fall due on May Day of the year sixteen hundred and fourteen.

And further subject to the conditions, stipulations and warranty contained in the old deed of warranty thereof, which the seller promised to transfer and hand over to the buyer, together with all rights thereto. And he promised, besides, to free and warrant the aforesaid house and grounds, under the aforesaid charges, conditions and stipulations, against any further encumbrance or claim with which it might have been burdened by him, under the general obligation of all his goods.

For which aforesaid house and grounds the buyer, over and above the aforesaid charges, acknowledged himself indebted to the seller in a sum of three hundred guilders of forty groot each, which he promised to pay entirely in free money — likewise of the excise of the fortieth penny, together with the fee for the writing and sealing of the deed of transfer — on May Day aforesaid of this year sixteen hundred and thirteen, together with the taking possession of the aforesaid house and grounds, in ready money, the aforesaid house and grounds remaining specially bound as security therefor; and the parties released one another from providing further warranty or surety. Done the… [the original document breaks off here; the date is not given].

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Willem Minthen, Englishman, is admitted [as a citizen] on the testimony and under the surety of Rogier Wiltzon and Abram Graij, on the day as aforesaid.

[In the margin: received 3 pounds 4 shillings.]

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden. This entry is a brief citizen-registration register line rather than a full notarial act.

We, Andries Jasperszoon van Vesanevelt and Mr Garbrandt Warmondt, aldermen of Leiden, declare that before us appeared Willem d'Jepsin, Englishman, who acknowledged, for himself and his heirs, to have sold, and accordingly hereby conveyed to Willem Munter, likewise an Englishman, a house and grounds, standing and situated within this city, on the south side of the Groenehazengracht, bordered on the one side by the property of Jacop Fredericxszoon, timber merchant, and on the other side by the property of Willem Robints, leather-dresser, likewise an Englishman; extending in front from the street of the aforesaid canal to the rear, to the grounds of the rearmost Doelen.

All just as the aforesaid house presently stands built and made, and is used and inhabited, subject to the encumbrance, first, of a ground-rent of six guilders of 40 groot each, free money, per year, redeemable at the twentieth penny, owed to the deans and captains of the civic guard of this city, with right of pre-emption and re-registration as often as the aforesaid house and grounds shall come to be alienated, pursuant to the deed of grant thereof, which rent, chargeable to the buyer, has already begun to run from May Day of the year 1613 last past. And further of a sum of eight hundred and fifty guilders of the aforesaid currency, in a lump sum, owed to Jacob Corneliszoon de Haes, as having the right and assignment from Cornelis Ghijsbertszoon, carpenter, arising from a previous sale of the aforesaid house and grounds, and to be paid to him, likewise in free money, in instalments of one hundred guilders per year, except the last year of fifty guilders, the first falling due on May Day of the year 1614.

And further subject to the conditions, terms and warranty contained in the old title deed, to which this present deed is transfixed and pierced through, which the appearing party hereby delivered to the buyer with all the right and claim pertaining thereto. The appearing party further promised, subject to and under the aforesaid encumbrances and conditions, to warrant and defend the aforesaid house and grounds against any further claims or charges that might have been imposed upon it by him during the time of his ownership, binding thereto generally all his goods, movable and immovable, present and future, none excepted.

Furthermore, the appearing party acknowledged that, on account of the aforesaid sale and conveyance, he had been fully and completely satisfied, paid and contented, the last penny with the first, provided that he remains duly indemnified from the aforementioned encumbrances, and in addition paid a sum of three hundred guilders of the aforesaid currency in ready cash.

In witness whereof this is confirmed with our seals, on the tenth of September of the year sixteen hundred and fourteen. And it was signed, J. Swanenburch, and sealed with two seals of green wax.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Registered the 14th of July 1618. The first [reading] the 21st of July 1618, the second the 28th of July 1618, the third the 4th of August 1618. Married before Henrick Egbertsz van der Hall and Frans Pietersz van de Werff, aldermen, this 18th of August 1618: Rogier Symonsz, mason, bachelor from Salisbury in England, living in Amsterdam, accompanied by Daniel Ferfelt his future brother-in-law and Jan Kerver his acquaintance, with Sara Minther of Norwich in England, widow of Willem Minther, living in Leiden, accompanied by Tomas Willet her father and Aels Willet her mother.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden. This entry is a brief marriage-banns register line rather than a full notarial act.

Today, the tenth of May, anno sixteen hundred and twenty-two, there appeared before me, Adriaen Paets, notary public, admitted by the Court of Holland upon the nomination of the city of Leiden, together with the witnesses named hereafter, Sr. Thomas Breuwer of the one part, and Rogier Estman together with Sara Willeth — formerly the widow of Willem Minter, who was her first husband — assisted by her aforesaid present husband, of the other part.

And the appearers acknowledged and declared that they had agreed, come to terms and settled with one another, through the mediation and in the presence of Jan Kebel and Willem Jepsen, both of the English nation within this city of Leiden, in the manner and form following, namely:

That the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer shall be bound, and promises hereby, to pay out and satisfy to the aforesaid Rogier Estman and Sara Willeth yearly the sum of one hundred and twenty guilders, for the benefit and maintenance of the child which the aforesaid Willem Minter begot by the aforesaid Sara Willeth, and in payment and satisfaction of the interest on the sum of nineteen hundred guilders at forty groats the piece, which the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer, for certain reasons moving him thereto, has promised — as he does promise hereby — to acknowledge as his own debt, which he hereby makes and undertakes for himself and his heirs and successors, and to pay, satisfy and discharge when the child shall have reached the age of twenty-one years, and not before.

And the aforesaid Rogier Estman and Sara Willeth shall be bound to apply the aforesaid yearly interest and income from the aforesaid principal sum of nineteen hundred guilders to the maintenance and upbringing of the same child, and to do for the said child in all things what good parents are bound and ought to do, both in sickness and in health.

And should they in any way treat the child ill, and not raise, govern and guide it properly in the fear of the Lord, as is reasonable and fitting, then the aforesaid Sr. Breuwer, Jan Kebel and Willem Jepsen shall be entitled to take the said child from them and place it out wherever they think fit, and during that time to enjoy and retain the aforesaid one hundred and twenty guilders yearly for that purpose; so that the same Rogier Estman and Sara Willeth shall in that case be deprived of the said annuity, and this agreement shall be wholly void and of no effect, and the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer discharged therefrom, just as they shall likewise be deprived of the aforesaid annuity and shall in no way be entitled to draw or enjoy it, should Rogier and Sara his wife molest or trouble the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer, or anyone else whom they might know or suspect to have knowledge of the aforesaid moneys, directly or indirectly, during the life of the aforesaid child, in order to find out where or with whom the aforesaid 1900 guilders are held, or should they, through anyone else, cause the said Sr. Breuwer or others the least trouble, by word or deed, whatsoever it might be, concerning the aforesaid moneys or full knowledge thereof.

Furthermore, the said Rogier Estman and his aforesaid wife shall in no way molest or trouble the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer by word or deed, for the payment of the aforesaid sum of nineteen hundred guilders, before the said child shall have reached the aforesaid age of 21 years. And should the child happen to die before that time, it shall be free to the same Rogier Estman and Sara Willeth to pursue such action and claim as they shall understand and maintain to be due to them concerning the aforesaid sum of 1900 guilders, their action and claim remaining thereby entirely intact, and they may accordingly then institute the same wherever and however they see fit.

But should the aforesaid child live to reach the age of 21 years, Sr. Thomas Breuwer shall then have to pay and discharge the said sum of 1900 guilders, and shall thereby be freed and released from the payment of the aforesaid one hundred and twenty guilders yearly; and the first year's interest on the aforesaid one hundred and twenty guilders shall fall due and become payable on the tenth of May, anno sixteen hundred and twenty-three, and so forth yearly until the aforesaid time, which the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer promises to pay yearly, free of charge and without any deduction, within Leiden, at the house where he presently lives, called 'the Green House', standing opposite the bell-tower of St. Peter's Church.

It is furthermore stipulated that, should the aforesaid Jan Kebel or Willem Jepsen happen to die or depart from here, they may, with the knowledge and foreknowledge of the said Sr. Thomas Breuwer, together with Rogier Estman and his wife, appoint and commission another in their place, to have oversight of the aforesaid child and the performance hereof.

The aforesaid contracting parties bind, each for his own part, to the maintenance, performance and assurance of what is stated above and every point thereof, their respective persons and goods, movable and immovable, actions and credits, none excepted, and submit to the compulsion of all the sovereign's rights and courts; and the aforesaid Sr. Thomas Breuwer shall also be bound, and promises hereby, at the request of the aforesaid Jan Kebel and Willem Jepsen, to further secure the aforesaid sum of 1900 guilders to their full satisfaction.

And the appearers requested that one or more deeds in proper form be drawn up and delivered to them by me, the notary, in this matter. Thus done and enacted, all in good faith and without deceit or guile, and passed and executed by the appearers on the day, month and year aforesaid, within Leiden, at the house of Sr. Thomas Breuwer, in the presence of the aforesaid Jan Kebel and Willem Jepsen, residents of this city, as trustworthy witnesses called upon for this purpose together with me, the notary.

[Signed:] Roger Eastman. Thomas Brewer. This is Sara Willeth's mark. John Kebble. William Jepson. A. Paedts, notary public. 1622.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.