Lambert Van Valkenburg:
His Life in the New World as Revealed in Court Documents and Other Primary Source Records From 1644-1664
researched and compiled by Lorine McGinnis Schulze

9 Jan. 1657: Actions. Lambert van Valkenborch agst. Hendrick Claessen and Gerrit Willemsen, for assault; put over. [Fort Orange Records, Vol. XVI p. 33] [Source: Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany NY edited by EB O'Callaghan]

"Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck 1657-1660", translated and edited by A.J.F. Van Laer, Vol.2, Albany, 1923: p 9:

"Ordinary Session held in Fort Orange, January 9 Anno 1657

"President, J. La Montagne

Rutger Jacobsen Jacob Schermerhoorn

Andries Herbertsen Philip Pietersen

"Lambert van Valckenborch, plaintiff, against Henderick Claessen and Gerrit Willemsen, defendants. The plaintiff complains that the defendants beat him and his wife in his own house. The defendants deny it and claim that the plaintiff chased them with a naked rapier out of his house and pursued them to the center of the fort. The court orders the parties respectively to prove their assertions."

"Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck 1657-1660", translated and edited by A.J.F. Van Laer, Vol.2, Albany, 1923:

Page 40 - 41:

"Extraordinary Session held in Fort Orange, June 7 Anno 1657

"Present, the magistrates of this court and the members of the court martial of the burgher guard.

"President, Jacob Schermerhorn Hendrick Jochimsen, lieutenant

Captain Abraham Staets

Philip Pietersen

Adriaen Gerritsen

"Lambert v: Valckenborch, sergeant

"Pieter Jacobsen Borsboom complains that last Sunday evening, being the 5th of June, sitting in front of the guardhouse of the burgher guard, where he was lodging by permission of the magistrates, Marten, the mason, came to him before the guard was set and asked him what had become of the candles? Whereupon he answered that he did not know; to which Marten replied: "You have taken them." The plaintiff answered: "You lie." Marten immediately drew his sword and cut the plaintiff's head as he made a move to get up.

Marten, the mason, being examined and asked why he wounded Pieter Van Borsboom, answers that he told him he lied and called him a rascal.

Lambert van Valkenborch, sergeant of the burgher guard, who was present, says that on coming to the guard house he ordered a candle to be lit. Marten, the mason, stepping outside the guardhouse asked Pieter Jacobsen Borsboom where the candles were? To which question Pieter Jacobsen Borsboom answered: "I do not know." Marten replied: "You stole them." The aforesaid Pieter Jacobsen Borsboom then said: "You lie like a rascal and a knave." The aforesaid Marten then drew his sword and cut the said Pieter Jacobsen Borboom's head as he rose from his seat.

The court refers the matter to a committee of four, to wit, two from the court and two from the court martial, to render a decision in the case, namely, Jacob Schermerhoorn and Philip Pietersen Schuyler from the court and Captain Abraham Staets and Hendrick Jochimsen, lieutenant, from the burghers."

4 Sept. 1657: Actions. Mr. Van Hamel, secretary of Renselaweswyck agst. Lambert van Valckenburgh, for loss sustained in the sale of a field of wheat on the farm of Jan Labite which he had purchased at auction, and which had to be resold for non-payment of purchase money; judgement for plaintiff with costs and damages. [Fort Orange Records Vol. XVI p. 110-112] [Source: Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany NY edited by EB O'Callaghan]

~ 1658 ~

In court documents dated 1653 and 1658 at Fort Orange, NY, we are shown that Lambert owned land near Fort Orange:

By 1658 we find Lambert living near Fort Orange, as indicated in a deed from Willem Hofmeyer to Jochem Wesselsen the baker, of a lot and garden at Beverwyck, dated 7 Oct. 1658:

"...together with a lot behind Fort Orange for a garden, bounded on the east side by Pieter Jacobsen [Borsboom], on the north side by Lambert van Valckenborch, on the south and west sides by a road.." [1658 deed from Jochem Wesselsen, the baker to Adriaen Jansen van Ilpendam, not executed]

Power of attorney from Lambert van Valckenborch to Govert Loockermans

[330] Appeared before me, Johannes La Montagne in the service of the General Chartered West India Company commissary at Fort Orange and the village of Beverwyck, in presence of the hereinafter named witnesses, Lambert van Valckenborgh, who declares that he hereby constitutes and appoints the Honorable Govert Loockermans his attorney in the principal's name and on his behalf to demand and receive of Jan Dircksen alias de Schreder, a certain three and a half beavers due to him, the principal, from the aforesaid Jan Dircksz for house rent, promising to hold good whatever the attorney shall do in this matter, for which he binds his person and estate, real and personal, submitting the same to all courts and judges. Done in Fort Orange, the 28th of July A. 1658. in presence of Fredrick Harmsen and J. Provoost, witnesses. This is the X mark of LAMBERT VAN VALCKENBORCH, made by himself

This is the S E mark of Fredrick Harmsen Johannes Provoost, witness, Acknowledged before me, LA MONTAGNE, Commissary at Fort Orange. [Source: Early Records of the City and County of Albany and Colony of Rensselaerswyck, vol. 4 (Mortgages 1658-1660; Wills 1681-1765) translated by Jonathan Pearson, revised and edited by A.J.F. Van Laer]

"Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck 1657-1660", translated and edited by A.J.F. Van Laer, Vol.2, Albany, 1923: Page 209-210:

"Extraordinary Session held in Fort Orange, August 8 Anno 1659

"Instructions issued by the honorable commissary and magistrates of Fort Orange and the village of Beverwyck for the rattle watch, appointed at the request of the burghers to relieve them of night-watch duty; to the rattle watch of which place Lambert van Valckenborgh and Pieter Winnen were appointed the 6th of July of this year 1659, on condition that they together are to receive for the term of one year one thousand and one hundred guilders in seawan and one hundred guilders in beavers.

"First, the said rattle watch shall be held to appear at the burghers' guard house after the ringing of the nine o'clock bell and together at ten o'clock shall begin making their rounds, giving notice of their presence in all the streets of the village of Beverwyck by sounding their rattle and calling [out the hour], and this every hour of the night, until 4 o'clock in the morning.

"Secondly, they shall pay especial attention to fire and upon the first sign of smoke, extraordinary light or otherwise warn the people by knocking at their houses. And if they see any liklihood of fire, they shall give warning by rattling and calling, and run to the church, of which they are to have a key, and ring the bell.

"Thirdly, in case they find any thieves breaking into any houses or gardens, they shall to the best of their ability try to prevent it, arrest the thieves and bring them into the fort. And in case they are not strong enough to do so, they are to call the burghers of the vicinity to their aid, who are in duty bound to lend the helping hand, as this is tending to the common welfare.

"Fourthly, in case of opposition, they are hereby authorized to offer resistance, the honorable commissary and magistrates declaring that they release them from all liability for any accident which may happen or result from such resistance if offered in the rightful performance of their official duties.

"Which instructions the aforesaid rattle watch shall swear to observe. Actum in Fort Orange, the 3d of September Anno 1659."