Signature?

Hi Anne, could you also post the first page of this doc?

Here's page 1 Rene.

It's a POA from 1686 :

Cecilia Houwaerts -constituent, Samuel van Eenhoorn-registered, Cornelis Inkel -attorney,Pieter Hanse-debtor.

I think the attachment is missing ;)

That's what happens when you're not paying attention :-(

Should be attached now...

That helps: I read the signature as 

Secilia Houjwers weduj Eenhooren

That's great, thanks Rene.

Samuel van Eenhorn was her deceased husband so for me I'm going to say this is her signature (the only one I've found for her).

Just out of interest and if it's not too much trouble what does the actual document mean?

very best wishes

Anne

No problem. It is a deed where Cecilia authorises Cornelis Jukes, a merchant living in Amsterdam to act on her behalf regarding collection of the payment owed by a Pieter Hanse of 126 guilders and 4 stuivers. Pieter owes this to her because of a shipment of porcelain delivered to him by Cecilia.

Oh that's really interesting, thank you Rene.

That's proof that she was managing the Greek A pottery factory in Delft after her husband died. So this document and its contents is a valuable find for my research.

very best wishes.

Anne

As it is such an important deed, the transcription and the translation (the latter may be a little bit crooked).

Op huyden den 8e octob(er) 1686 compareer-
den voor mij, Johan de Bries, not(ari)s pub(lyck),
bij den Hove van Hollant geadmitteert,
binnen de stad Delft residerende, ter
presentie van de onderges(chreven)e getuygen
juffr(ouw) Cecilia Houwaerts, wed(u)e van
de heer cap(itey)n Samuel van Eenhoorn,
plateelbacker binnen dese stad, de
welcke bij desen v(er)cleared te constitue-
ren en(de) maghtigh te maecken s(eigneu)r Corne-
lis Jukes, coopman tot Amsterdam,
special(ijck) omme uytte name en(de) van
wegen haer comp(a)r(an)te te innen
en(de) ontfangen van Pieter Hanse de somme
van hondert ses en(de) twintigh g(u)l(den) 4 st(uyver)s, haer
comp(a)r(an)te volgens register over geleverde
porsseleynen vanden selven competerende,
quitantie van sijnen ontfangh te passe-
ren, bij mancquement van betalinge
middelen van justitie daer toe te
gebruycken, tot dien eynde procureur
ad lites te substitueren, sententie
te obtineren, deselve te executeren
en(de) voorts desen aengaende alles te doen
en(de) te v(er)richten, wes sij comp(a)r(an)te, selfs
present sijnde soude kunnen off v(er)mogen
te doen alwaert dat hier toe
nader off speciaelder last v(er)eyst
wiert dan v(oor)s(chreve)n state, soo beloofde
eghter sij comp(a)r(an)te van waerde 
te sullen houden en(de) doen houden alle
tgene bij den v(oor)n(oemde) geconstitueerde
uyt craghte dese gedaen sal werden
---
onder v(er)bant als naer reghten, consen-
terende hier van acte in forma;
aldus v(er)leden binnen Delft ter pre-
sentie van Martinus Diffius en(de)
Dirck Flatius als getuygen.

[getekend:
secilia houjwers weduj eenhooren
D Flatius / 1686
M Diffius / 1686
Johan de Bries Nots.]

----

Today, the 8th of October 1686 appeared
before me, Johan de Bries, public notary,
admitted by the Hof van Holland,
esiding within he city of Delft, in the
presence of the witnesses mentioned underneath,
miss Cecilia Houwaerts, widow of 
mister Samuel van Eenhoorn, captain, 
pottery baker within this city, who
herewith declared to authorise
and to legally empower the esteemed mister Corne-
lis Jukes, merchant in Amsterdam,
in particular to act in her name and on
her behalf to collect
and to receive from Pieter Hanse the sum
of 126 guilders and 4 stuiver, which was owed to her
according to the register because of the delivery
of pieces of porcelain by herself,
to formally issue a proof of receiving this sum, 
and, in case of default, 
to use any measn of justice, 
to act as porsecutor, to acquire legal sentencing,
to execute the aforementioned sentence,
and furthermore to do and perform everything, 
as were it that she herself would be present,
and in case this would require 
further or more specific authorization, 
she promised to respect and maintain 
all arrangements based on this deed,
---
setting collateral as laegally required, and consenting that
a proper deed should be composed of this;
as was formally done and passed within the city of Delft in the presence
of Martinus Diffius and
Dirck Flatius as witnesses.

[signed:
secilia houjwers weduj eenhooren
D Flatius / 1686
M Diffius / 1686
Johan de Bries Nots.]

Dear Rene

What a lovely surprise to receive the transcription and translation of the deed.

I can't thank you enough :-) and really appreciate your time and expertise in helping me with my research.

Warmest best wishes

Anne

p.s. it would be so interesting to know if Cecilia did recover the debt she was owed....

This seems to be a regular occurrence within the pottery industry of Delft in the 17th century. Sometime an individual, as in this case, Cecilia took action alone, occasionally 2 potters would join together to recover the debts owed to them, and at other times a whole group joined together who were all owed money by one supplier.