1610- Power of Attorney

Page 2

Page 3 is possibly accounts?

Hi Anne,

The brothers Symon, Franchoys, and Hans Mes, all sons of Jasper Mes and all goldsmiths living at the Marktveld (currently: Markt at Delft) are selling a house and the surrounding lot (erve) to Pieter, son of Thonis. Pieter is a seller of knives and is also living at the Markrveld in Delft, in a house called 'De Halve Maen' ['The Half Moon'; this still exists, a description is to be found in Dutch on https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Kaerskorf/De_Maen]. It is a pretty standard act, with some minor conditions the buyer is required to accept (he has to accept, maintain and is prohibited to hinder a neigbours' water gutter on his property; he is also required to make sure a window of an adjacent home can still be used). The property is sold for an amount of 1950 Carolus guilder in total, of which the buyer will pay 800 guilders in cash at once. The remainder (1150 guilders; please note that the word twelfftalf nowadays would seem to indicate 1250 guilders, but in fact back then was the common way to indicate 1150) will be a loan for which the buyer will need to pay interest; he is however allowed to make additional payments to the sellers to decrease the debt, provided this will be in payments of at least 200 guilders per payment and announced at least 3 months in advance.

Dear Rene

With grateful thanks as always.

Great to have it confirmed the Symon, Franchoys and Hans Mes were brothers and sons of Jasper Mes.

The buyer of the property Pieter, son of Thonis- was he also a Mes?

Thank you also for the link to 'De Halve Maen' - nice to know it still exists. It's interesting to see the conditions applied. I've seen before disputes or agreements over the rights to have water gutters across property. Important in Delft at that time I imagine.

warmest wishes

Anne

Sorry meant to ask about the signatures at the end of the document.

The first line is ?, then Symon Mes

2nd line: Francois Mes

3rd line: Hans Mes

Also someone using a 'mark' rather than a signature?

Hi Anne,

Pieter Thonisz is not mentioned as a member of the Mes family, but could easily be mistaken for one: in Dutch, a knife is called 'mes'; Pieter Thonisz is mentioned in this deed as a mescramer = peddler selling knifes.

The signatures:

bij mij Symon Mes
Franssos Mes
Hans Mes

Dit merck heeft
gestelt Pieter
Thonisz mescramer

mij jegenwoordich
S Rijsbouck notaris
1610 12 28

--- Translated: ---

by me Symon Mes
Franssos Mes
Hans Mes

This mark has been
set by Pieter
Thonisz peddler of knifes

me being present
S Rijsbouck notary
1610 12 28

Many thanks for confirmation of the signatures, that's really helpful.

Yes I agree about the possible translation issue. When I search the Delft archives in English (which is a wonderful facility) the Mes family are called 'Knife'.

best wishes

Anne