Document: Contract of Jeuriaen Hendricksen to build a farmhouse for Jan Damen

Jeuriaen Hendr. agrees to build for Jan Damen a house, 60 feet long and on each side a passageway throughout, the frame twenty-four feet wide; in front 11 feet high and in the rear 12 feet high, the rear part being one foot above the ground and the front part two feet above the ground. The front room 24 feet square, with a cellar under it. To lay and tongue and groove the attic floor and to wainscot the front room all around; two bedsteads one in the front room and one in the chamber, and a winding stair, so that one can go from the cellar to the attic; the front gable perpendicular and the rear gable truncated.[1] In the front room a window casing with transom and mullion and also a mantelpiece. Jeuriaen Hendricksz must provide the roof with split rafters andnail on the laths, and on each beam [ put ] a loft bent.[2]

Jan Damen is bound to furnish Jeuriaen Hendricksz and his men with food and drink until the work is completed. When the work is finished Jan Damen must pay Jeuriaen Hendricx the sum of four hundred and twenty-five guilders, once. Furthermore, Jeuriaen Hendricxsz is bound to construct everything in proper manner and to commence in eight weeks. This day, the 2d of October 1648, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.

Jeuriaen Hendricksz
Jan Jansz Damen
Dirck Volcksz
Albert Jansz