The Huyck Bain Crandell Collection, Document BH097

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1770-10-08 Memo of Funds Sent to Pieter Vosburgh With His Son Barent

This is a currency memorandum, distinguishing between gold coin (£45:12:0) and paper money (£7:8:0) — a total of £52:17:0 sent to Pieter Vosburgh, apparently by some unknown debtor to the estate of Andries Huyck. Pieter Vosburgh and Elizabeth Huyck co-administered Elizabeth's brother-in-law's estate.

Image: BH097.jpg

Transcription

Goud — — — — — — — £45:12:0 papier — — — — — — — — 7:8:0 ———————————————— £52:17:0 (subtotal line) Gesonde Aen Pieter Vosburgh met Syn Soon Barent Octobr 8 1770

Translation

Gold — — — — — — — £45:12:0 Paper — — — — — — — — 7:8:0 ———————————————— £52:17:0 Sent to Pieter Vosburgh with his Son Barent October 8, 1770

— Transcribed and translated by Claude.ai on 2026-05-04 - jhc

Commentary

I have assumed it was Elizabeth Huyck who sent these funds to Pieter Vosburgh in connection with their administration of her brother-in-law Andries Huyck's estate. This memo does not appear to be in Elizabeth's hand, though, which casts doubt upon that hypothesis: she may have received it as evidence of a payment to the estate by some unknown debtor. There is an undated note, BH058, tallying gold and paper money that matches this gold sum: that note does appear to be in Elizabeth's hand. jhc

Notes:

Gold and paper — this is a currency memorandum, distinguishing between gold coin (£45:12:0) and paper money (£7:8:0) — a total of £52:17:0 sent to Pieter Vosburgh.
A very large sum — £52:17:0 is the largest single cash transaction we’ve seen in the entire archive. In context this almost certainly represents a payment related to Andries’s estate — possibly the £60 legacy to Burger son of Dirck that Andries’s will required, or a major estate settlement payment, with the slight difference from £60 representing deductions for expenses or partial payment.

The distinction between gold and paper is significant — by 1770 paper currency in colonial New York was somewhat depreciated relative to gold coin, and careful record keepers noted the difference. Elizabeth was clearly sophisticated enough to track this distinction.

“Met Syn Soon Barent” — “with his son Barent” — Pieter Vosburgh’s son acting as the carrier. The son carried the money physically to Vosburgh, who as co-executor would have needed these funds to discharge the estate’s obligations.

October 8, 1770 — six months after Andries’s death, the estate payments now being made despite the legal complications documented in the unsigned indemnification bond.

This memorandum suggests the estate payments went ahead regardless of the unsigned bond — Elizabeth simply sent the money to Peter Vosburgh and trusted the family relationships to sort out any future complications. A pragmatic Dutch solution to a complex legal problem.

— Notes by Claude.ai 4.6 2026-05-04 - jhc

Metadata

Document: BH097

Date: 1770-10-08

Language: Dutch

Type: Memorandum

Subject: Estate Administration, Currency

Principals: Pieter Vosburgh, Elizabeth Huyck

Other Persons Mentioned: Barent Vosburgh

Places Mentioned: None

— page revised 2026-05-24 - jhc

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