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"A Pedigree Partly Indian, Partly Batavian"

1658 - Jan Cornelisen comes to blows over being called "Indian Dog"*

The Schout Nicasius de Sille, pltf. v/s Jan Cornelisen and Rutgert Jansen, defts. The schout states, that about half a year ago Rutgert Jansen was beaten by Jan Cornelisen, so that the blood flowed, where-upon they were at law together, and the Court ordered, as Jan Cornelisen said, that Rutgert Jansen abused him as an Indian dog, from which the fight arose, that Jan Cornelisen should prove it, whereupon there was no result--demanding the fine thereon affixed, and that Jan Cornelisen shall be further condemned to pay Rutgert Jansen for smart and pain according to aforesaid Rutgert Jansen's petition exhibited in writing to the Court. Deft. Jan Cornelisen answers, he can prove that Rutgert Jansen had abusively called him an Indian dog. The Court orders him to produce his proof, which he does, and to this end: Joannes Withart appears, who declares, he heard and saw Rutgert Jansen and Jan Cornelisen having hard words together, and heard say, Indian and Indian dog and such like, whereupon blows followed. Jan Cornelissen says further, that he called Rutgert Jansen Spitter Baard, as the abovenamed Rutgert Jans was so named throughout the whole of Flatbush, and he, Rutgert Jansen, called him an Indian dog. The Court condemns the deft. Jan Cornelisen to pay the Officer as a fine the sum of 12 gl. for having struck Rutgert Jansen, and Rutgert Jansen to pay the Officer for his foul and abusive language the sum of six guilders; Rutgert Jansen's further demand is dismissed.

*The Records of New Amsterdam
From 1653 to 1674 Anno Domini
Edited by Berthold Fernow
Volume I.
Minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens
1653-1655
Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.
Baltimore, MD 1976

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