Document: Deed from Paolo de Angola and Elaria the Creole, Negroes, to Symon Joosten of a lot of land on the east side of the Kolck on Manhattan Island

This day, the last of March 1651,[1] in the absence of the secretary before me, Jacob Kip, appointed by the honorable director general and council of New Netherland, appeared Paolo de Angola, Negro, and Elara d'Crioole, Negress, both of Captain Johan de Vries, deceased, of the first part, and Symon Joosten, of the second part, who declared that they had amicably agreed together in regard to Symon Joosten's claim against said Captain deceased, on account of six hundred guilders loaned to him, as follows. He, Paolo d'Angola, for himself and his two children, and Elara Crioole, [ for herself ] as also for the child of the said Vries, named Jan d'Vries, a minor, in satisfaction of the aforesaid claim shall transfer and convey a certain parcel of land situated on the east side of the Kolck of the Varsche Water,[2] belonging to them according to the patent thereof, as in consideration of the aforesaid claim they hereby do transfer and convey the said land with the appurtenances thereof to and for the behoof of Symon Joosten and his successors, in true, free, lawful and perpetual ownership; provided, however, that if the aforesaid six hundred guilders should in the name Captain de Vries have been paid in the father-land to Abraham Jansen, as attorney, he, Symon Joosten, shall be obliged to restore to the above named Paulo, Elaria, or the child of Jan d 'Vries an equally good and similar quantity of land as he now receives in satisfaction of the aforesaid claim. In the meanwhile he, S. Joosten, may again transfer the aforesaid land to Mr. Augustyn Heermans, with power to enter upon and cultivate the same as he shall think proper; they, the grantors aforesaid, promising to hold this their agreement and conveyance firm, binding and inviolable and to observe and fulfil the same under obligation as by law provided. In testimony whereof this is signed by the parties respectively and the witnesses, datum ut supra, New Amsterdam, New Netherland.

Paulo de Angolo
Elaria Crioole
Symon Joosten
Jacob Jansen Huys
Pieter Stoutenburch
Gerret Jensen
Jacob Kip