Jean Paul Jaquett

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Jean Paul Jaquett

I. 1. Jean Paul Jaquett, the emigrant of the family and progenitor of all the Jaquetts referred to in this work, came of a Huguenot family which had been settled in various parts of France and Switzerland for many generadons. The exact locality and date of Jean Paul Jaquett's birth have not been ascertained, but tradition and history record him as of French-Swiss origin, probably Neufchatel, Switzerland, and that he was born the early part of the seventeenth century. True it is, however, that he left the place of his birth to escape the persecution under which the Huguenots were Buffering and went to Holland. There he became identified with the Dutch West India Company, in the service of which he spent many years in Brazil. After returning to Holland he sailed for America, and the subsequent references will best describe his career., from which it is inferred he was married prior to leaving Holland, and possibly one or more of his children may have also been born at the time.

The date of his death is unknown, as also the place of his burial, but it is quite likely he died the last part of the seventeenth century, as he is referred to as late as 1684, and it is supposed that he lived even later.

P. 113: Appointment of Jean Paul Jacquet as Vice-Director on the Delaware ; his instructions and oath of office 29 th of November, 1655. Petrus Stuyvesant, on behalf of their Noble High Mightinesses, the Lords States-General of the United Netherlands and the Noble Lords-Directors of the General Privileged West-India Company in the same, Director-General of New-Netherland, Curasao, Bonayro, Aruba, and the dependencies thereof, together with the honorable Members of the High Council to All, who shall see, read or hear read these presents, greeting : Whereas we needed, for the direction and advancement of the affairs of the Hon ble Company and our own on the Southriver of New-Netherland, a proper and qualified person, to command there in our absence and manage everything, Therefore, upon the good report and information given to us in regard to the person of Jean Paul Jacquet and trusting therefore to his piety, experience and fitness, we have engaged,commissioned and appointed the same, as we hereby engage, commisssion and appoint the aforesaid Jean Paul Jacquet to be our Vice-Director and Chief Magistrate on the Southriver of New-Netherland as well as for the forts, territories and other places situate upon said river, to keep good order for the security of Fort Casimir and other places, already established or to be estabished and to give orders and have them observed in all matters concerning trade, policy, justice and military, also in regard to the soldiers, the ships' crews, free persons, high and subaltern officers of whatever position and rank they might be, who are there already or whom we may deem advisable to send there in future; to assist in his position of Vice-Director in the management and command of the places and to keep everything in good order for the service and welfare of the General Privileged West-India Company, to administer law and justice to citizens as well as soldiers and to do further everything concerning his office and duties agreeable to the instruction now given and in future to be given, which a good and faithful Vice-Director is bound to 8 do by the oath, which he is to take at our hands. This having been done, we order and command therefore hereby all and everybody, either servants of the Hon ble Company or freemen living on the said river or who may afterwards come there, of what nation or position they may be, nobody excepted and especially also the present provisional Commander there, that in our absence they receive, acknowledge and respect, obey, the aforesaid Johan Paul Jacquet as our Vice-Director and Chief Magistrate and give all help, favor and assistance, as much as each may, whereas we thus have considered it advisable for the service of the said Company and the advancement of this province. Thus done and given at our Council meeting held in Fort Amsterdam in New-Netherland under date as above and confirmed with our seal impressed here in red wax." Provisional instructions for Jean Paul Jacquet, Vice- Director on the South river of New-Netherland and the Commissaries joined to him.

1. The abovementioned Jean Paul Jacquet is to have, in our absence, supreme command and authority over all officers, soldiers and freemen on the aforesaid river and the forts thereof, the first place and vote in all council meetings, which meetings shall be called only by order and direction of the Vice-Director ; in them he shall present all matters concerning the policy, justice, trade, privileges and royalties, the Company and its Noble Administration and conclude by a majority of votes and in case of a tie of votes he is to have a double vote.

2. The Council shall be formed, besides the Vice-Director, by Andries Hudde, Elmerhuysen Cleyn and the two Sergeants, if the affair is purely military or concerning the Company properly, but if the affair is purely a civil one between freemen and the Company's servants, then he shall take in place of the two sergeants two of the most suitable freemen, as the case may demand it. read more....

Jaquet Genealogy