Those rowdy de Motts!

Googling "de Mott" today for kicks, I came upon a DeMott Family History page with some hilarious excerpts from the New York Historical Manuscripts Dutch Kingston Papers, dating from the late 1600s:

"The hon. Heer BEECQMAN, nomine ex officio says he and Michiel De MODT [alt. "DeMott"] fought outside the gate and demands the fine in accordance with the laws. Michiel DeMODT says that Eduward WITTEKAR challenged him upon the sword and came with a sword and Michiel MODT also took a sword and went against him, and while they were engaged the hilt of his sword became detached and three (persons) then came and separated them. Claes CLASEN says that WITTEKAR said to the wife of Van de COELEN that he would kick her in her own house whereupon Casper CUYPER said he would do the same to Eduward WITTEKAR, and in this manner the Pole took part in the quarrel and said what is the fighting here about? and that Michiel MODT said he was an old soldier and not afraid. There upon Eduward WITTEKAR fetched his sword and challenged, Michiel and the Pole went together before the door and began to fight. Then the button fell off the hilt, and they were immediately sparated which has been affirmed under oath by Claes CLASEN, Casper MEEUWESEN and Cornelis WOUTERSEN. Eduward WITTEKAR says he had called him a tail. Dirck KEYSER says that he was standing at Jan de BACKER'S door and saw Eduward WITTEKAR go with a sword; thereupon the aforesaid Dirck said, "Ick MOEDT stucken raepen" and went to Van der COELEN'S house and says not to know what had passed before that time. Then Eduward WITTEKAR challenged the Pole and they engaged in a duel with the sword. They were all questioned whether anyone heard that WITTEKAR was called a tail or anything else. Answer, No. the hon. court orders Eduard WITTEKAR to pay for his offence a fine of 60 glds. in behalf of the officer and Michiel MODT 24 gldrs."

And then later—"Shout GREVENRAEDT says that Michiel MODT has against his will driven his horses on Cornelis land and threatened to hit Cornelis WYNKOOP in the head with a scythe. Michiel MODT says that it is to be proved and that nobody complains about it."

Yeah, prove it! Ick Moedt stucken raepen, eh? Who says? That Dirck's just a troublemaker, that's what I say. And everyone wants to hit Wynkoop in the head.

It's like 17th Century People's Court—"Michiel MODT, Defendant. SCHOUT GREVENRAEDT, Plaintiff. Plaintiff demands of defendant the amount of 50 gldrs. because he drove his horses and wagon on the day of prayer. Defendant says not having known it was a day of prayer and that SCHOUT has even carted beer on the Sunday; also says that he has been obliged to pay for what he did not owe, that SCHOUT seeks to ruin the place, and no worse one than he could be found. The hon. court sentences Michiel MODT to pay a fine of 12 gldrs."

Hey, how come Schout didn't have to pay a fine? He carted beer on the sabbath, that heathen swine! Us Modts always get a bad rap…