Document: Contract of Jan Teunissen, schout of Breuckelen, to erect a house for Gerrit Douman, sergeant

Gerrit Douman, sergeant, and Jan Tonissen, schout of Breuckelen, have this day agreed and contracted in manner as follows, to wit: Jan Tonissen promises to cut at Breuckelen[1], or wherever he can best do so, the following timber and to properly hew and deliver the same out of the woods near the ferryman on the strand, [ namely ], the timber for a house 40 feet long, [ consisting of ] seven bents, three posts to each bent; the beams twenty-two feet long, extending four feet through; four casement window frames; three door frames; one little window in the garret; all the rafters and those needed for binding-rafters to be split; the beams to be squared, ten by seven inches. All of which timber being brought to the strand on the other side, Doeman shall be bound to have the same hauled and carried to the place of building at his own expense. When the above mentioned timber shall have been brought there, Jan Teunesen shall erect the frame and the roof, but Douman shall furnish the nails. For all of which Gerrit Douman promises to pay on account of the Company to Jan Teunesen for labor when the job is completed the sum of one hundred and sixty-five guilders. Jan Teunesen promises to deliver on the strand all the timber in the month of April next and to raise it as soon as Douman shall have hauled and brought it to the work. In testimony whereof is signed by parties the 22nd of November 1646, in New Amsterdam, New Netherland.

Jan Tuenissen
Gerrit Doman
Cornelis van Tienh.