Hi Chris, The translation of this document could be very important for Swartwoudt-Swartwood researchers in trying to determine when Tomas Swartwoudt first came to America. If it says that Tomas is granting power of attorney to his wife to run his businesses in Amsterdam and that he is going to be leaving, it indicates that he left after May 7, 1652, and that his wife was staying behind in Amsterdam. As far as I know, no one has been able to determine when his wife came to America. I don't think anyone has been able to determine when their son Roeloff came to America either. As for the other 3 children -- whether they came to America or not -- I don't know what happened to them. I have researched only their son Roeloff. In the Feb 2002 issue of "The Blackwooders" newsletter it says that the whole family came to America in March 1652. (No source given for that statement.) Since the Power of Attorney you have found in Amsterdam has a date of May 7, 1652, it appears that none of them arrived here in March 1652. I have been away from Swartwood research for a few years so I am not up to date with knowing if anyone is actively researching the first Swartwout-Swartwood to come to America. But since Thomas (Tomas) was the first, it is important to get it right as to when he first arrived. As far as I know, all descendants come from his son Roeloff. Determining when Roeloff came -- whether with his father in 1652 or if he came later with his mother -- is also important. Based upon "The Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam (New York City) Church Members List (on line), page 506 says that Thomas Swartwoudt and Hendrickje Barents, his wife, were members. Per the explanation of this church member list, the time period covered was 1649-1659. It says the list appeared to be in chronological order so to use page 506 as an estimate as to when they were church members. My guess was it was 1653-1659. That's the closest I can come to determining when Tomas' wife arrived (i.e. at some time between 1653-1659). I hope you can get to this translation soon as it could shed a lot of light for all Swartwoudt-Swartwood descendants. Helen Graves