Document: Contract of sale of a parcel of land on the East river on Manhattan island from Govert Loockermans and associates to George Clair

Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Govert Loockmans and Dirck Cornelisz, of Wensveen, having power of attorney from their co-partners residing in Holland, of the first part, and Hendric Pitersen, of Hasselt, of the second part, who before and in the presence of the undersigned witnesses acknowledge that in love and friendship they have entered into and concluded with each other the following contract on the terms and conditions hereinafter written, to wit: The aforesaid Govert Loockmans and Dirck Cornelissen lease to Hendric Pitersen, who also acknowledges that he has rented, their land situated on the Manhatans, near Bestevaer’s cripplebush, together with the dependencies thereof, for the term of ten consecutive years, commencing on the first of March anno 1647 and ending in March anno 1657, during which aforesaid ten consecutive years the lessee shall have the use of said land on paying therefor annually as rent to the lessors or their order the just one-fifth part of all the grain that shall be grown on the aforesaid land, and eight fowls. The lessors shall be holden before next spring to have the aforesaid land fenced off with a protective fence for cattle, which fence the lessee must keep in repair during the term of the lease at his expense and at the expiration of the lease deliver back in good condition, tight against cattle; which aforesaid contract the respective parties declare to have been made and concluded by them without fraud or deceit. In witness whereof this is signed by them in the presence of Jacob Kip and Adriaen van Tienhoven, as witnesses hereto invited, and they request that two copies hereof of the like tenor may be expedited in due form. Done the 18th of September anno 1646, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Govert Loockermans
Dirck Cornelisz