Document: Contract between Thomas Chamers and Nicolaes Boot to build a house and divide Boot's plantation

Before me, Cornelis [ van Tienhoven ],[ secretary ] in New Netherland [ appointed ] by the General [ Chartered West India ] Company, appeared Nicolaes Willem Boot and Tames Camers,[1] who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses declared that they had contracted in manner as follows, to wit: Tames Camers shall build a house 32 feet long and 18 feet wide, on condition that Nicolaes Boot shall assist him during the construction. Parties shall defray each one-half of the expense of all the materials necessary for the building and the labor of one shall be counted against that of the other and neither shall demand anything of the other therefor, provided that the land which the governor of New Netherland has granted to Nicolaes and on which the afore- said house is to be built, as well as the house aforesaid, shall belong to both parties, each party having a half share in the true and rightful ownership thereof; which land shall be divided by parties on the first of October anno 1642. If Nicolaes Boot happen to incur any expense on the tobacco plantation, either in felling trees, splitting or setting posts, or otherwise, said Tomes Camers must pay him one half, it being well understood that the crop which Nicolaes shall make next summer shall belong exclusively to him. In witness and token of the truth this is signed by parties. Done the l7th of February anno 1642, in Fort Amsterdam.

Niclaes Willems Boodt
Tames Camers
Cornelis van Tienhoven