New York (State) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; New York (State) -- Social life and customs -- To 1775
Albany” a month later,--in July, 1681,--of a very satisfactory result
in the affairs of the young couple.
“Tho: Davidtse promisses to conduct himself well and honorably towards
his wife Anneke Schaets, to Love and never neglect her, but faithfully
and properly to maintain and support her with her children according
to his means, hereby making null and void all questions that have
occurred and transpired between them both, never to repeat them,
but are entirely reconciled: and for better assurance of his real
Intention and good Resolution to observe the same, he requests that
two good men be named to oversee his conduct at New York towards his
said wife, being entirely disposed and inclined to live honorably and
well with her as a Christian man ought, subjecting himself willingly
to the rule and censure of the said men. On the other hand his wife
Anneke Schaets, promisses also to conduct herself quietly and well and
to accompany him to New York with her children and property, not to
leave him any more, but to serve and help him and with him to share
the sweets and the sours as becomes a Christian spouse: Requesting all
differences which had ever existed between them both may be hereby
quashed and brought no more to light or cast up, as she on her side
is heartily disposed to. Their Worship of the Court Recommend parties
on both Sides to observe strictly their Reconciliation now made, and
the gentleman at New York will be informed that the matter is so far
arranged.”
We can certainly add the profound hope, after all this quarrelling
and making up, after all those good promises, that Anneke’s home was
no longer “unregulated and poorly kept,” as was told of her by the
Labadist travellers during their visit to Albany at that time. The
appointing of “two good men” as arbitrators or overseers of conduct was
very usual in such cases; thereby public adjustment in open court of
such quarrels was avoided.
Tender parents could not unduly shelter a daughter who had left her
husband’s bed and board. He could promptly apply to the court for an
order for her return to him, and an injunction to her parents against
harboring her. It has been plain to see in all such cases which I have
chanced upon in colonial records that the Court had a strong leaning
towards the husband’s side of the case; perhaps thinking, like Anneke
Schaets, that the wife should “share the sweets and the sours like a
Christian spouse.”
In 1697 Daniel Vanolinda petitioned that his wife be “ordyred to go
and live with him where he thinks convenient.” The wife’s father was
promptly notified by the Albany magistrates that he was “discharged to
shelter her in his house or elsewhere, upon Penalty as he will answer
at his Perill;” and she returned to her husband.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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