Document: Contract of sale from Pieter Wolphersen van Couwenhoven to Arnoldus van Hardenbergh of his house and lot on Manhattan Island

Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Piter Wolphersen, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses acknowledges that he has sold to Mr. Arnoldus van Hardenbergh his house and lot standing and situated on the Graft on the island of Manhatans, with all that is fast by earth and nail, except the furniture, for the sum of once sixteen hundred guilders, to be paid by Hardenbergh to Piter Wolphersen [ as follows ]: six hundred guilders cash in current sewant; and the remaining thousand guilders Mr. Hardenbergh aforesaid promises to pay to Piter Wolphersen in such goods as he, Hardenbergh, now has or is now expecting from Holland and as may suit the aforesaid Piter Wolphersen, and that at the market price. And in case Mr. Hardenbergh has no goods now, or should not receive any from Holland after this date that are serviceable to Piter Wolphersen, Hardenbergh may pay the vendor in current sewant. It is stipulated that Pieter Wolphersen shall tongue and groove the garret [ floor boards ] at his own expense; in the fore part of the house (voorhuys) erect the partition right through, with two small doors in it, and in the back room [ build ] a bedstead. Which house and lot the aforesaid Piter Wolphersen transfers and conveys in full, true and free ownership (according the ground brief granted to Pieter Wolphersen by the honorable director and council of New Netherland, dated the 2nd of April 1645) to the above mentioned Mr. Arnoldus van Hardenbergh, who also acknowledges that he has this day received and accepted the aforesaid house and lot at his charge and risk. And it is further agreed that Piter Wolphersen may remain in the aforesaid house until next May; and if it happen, which God Almighty forbid, that during the time Pieter Wolphersen remains in said house with his family and boarders there should occur any accident of fire through the carelessness of any of his household, boarders or himself personally, Piter Wolphersen remains bound to repair the damage, be it great or small, to the house. For all of which the parties bind their persons and properties, movable and immovable, present and future, submitting the same to the control of all courts and judges. In witness whereof this is signed by the parties and the witnesses hereto invited, the 24th of November 1646, in New Amsterdam in New Netherland.

Piter Woeluersen
Arnoldus van Hardenberch
Jacob Kip
J. Rodenb[ urg ]
Cornelis van Tienhoven