Waking the Tree

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    • 1658. Abusing a Liqueur Tax Collector. Aaron Forman

    Aaron Forman is my 9th great-grandfather. His father was 1 of 18 men, mostly English, who received a charter to settle Vlissingen [Flushing] on Long Island in 1645 from Willem Kieft, Director of the Dutch West India company. Flushing’s early records were destroyed in a late 18th century fire so we know nothing about his time there, except that he didn’t stay long. He moved with his parents to Hempstead and appears in the record there from 1657-1671. He was a Townsman for Hempstead. By 1671, he was living in Jamaica, ‘in the North Riding of New Yorkshire upon Long Island’. He then followed his parents to Oyster Bay by 1677 but, at the end of his life, followed his 3 sons to Monmouth County, NJ.

    This tracks a case recorded in the Council Meeting Minutes 19 DEC 1658, where a 25 yr old Aaron and some other Hempstead men balked at paying a liquor tax and heaped abuse on the tax collector.

    James Brintzinghoffer (1912-2000) > Theodore C. Brintzinghoffer (1876-1952) > Catherine Forman (1853-1913) > William Spencer Forman (1825-1881) > Robert Forman (1801-1848) > William Forman (1767-1829) > Lewis Forman (1730-1805) > Aaron Forman (1699-1741) > Samuel Forman (1662-1740) > Aaron Forman (1633-1698)

    New Netherlands Council Minutes. 19 DEC 1658.  Appointment of a court messenger to go and warn several men in Hempstead, including Aaron Forman, who are accused of not paying tax on beer and wine and threatening the ‘farmer of excise; aka, the tax man. 

    Summons to several persons at Hemstead to answer a complaint of the Farmer of the Excise. Petrus Stuyvesant by authoritie of the High and Mighty Staats Generall of the United belgick provinces and the Hounorable Lords bewinthebberen off the Westindia Comp Governor General of the New Netherlands Curacao Bonairo Aruba and the Councell of Staet heere established doe order by these presence Nicolaes van Eslant junior our messenger of Justice Whereas John La Montaigne Junior Customer off the Excyse off taphouse keepers & out sellers by small measuers off all sorts of Wynes and beares hath by Way of Complaint given unto us information not only the Refusall of paiment of the forsaid Custome or Excyse by our order imposed uppon beare Wynes & Licquors but alsoo the abuses threatenings both by Words & Speeches offered unto him our aforsaid Customer by some of heemsteede therefore order our forsaid messenger Nicolaes van Eslant Junior that he shall forwarne and call before us the magestrates off the saide towne and together by name Thomas Foster Lymon Seren Arian Forman John HicJees John Smith John Herman Aeltie the wyff off Pieter Comelissen James Paine Thomas Yrland William Yeats Jeremy Wood that they without faile make their appearance before us one thursday being the second of Jannnary next ensueiug for to heere and answeare if they can such demaunds and forfeyts as our Fiscall shall demaunde and object against them Given under our hand and Common Seale this 19th off Decemb 1658 Amsterdam in New Netherlands.

    New Netherlands Council Minutes. 23 DEC 1658. Letter by Pieter Stuyvesant suggests the men get their act together before more charges are piled on.

    Loving friends. What us and our Councell have forced to doe this message and Warrant unto the magestrates and other persons therein specified you fully may understand out the tenure of the mandement these feu lynes only shall serve to advys you if you will and kan take the good counsel of a friende and Governour that you and the Rest of your neighbours compose the differences with the Customer or his agent Ritehard Bridnel otherwise I feare that it will bread more disturbance to your one Charge and Damage Soo after my Love I shall Rest The 23d of Decemb Your well willinge friende A 1658 and Governour P Stuyvesant

    New Netherlands Council Minutes. Outcome fo the prior question added to the Council Minutes.

    Council Minute Settlement of the Excise question. The Court messenger having read the foregoing summons to the persons mentioned therein in presence of the farmer of the Excise they paid the farmer so that the matter is settled.