Document: Lease from Burger Jorissen to Willem Barentsen, Robert Edens and James Smith of his land and livestock on Long Island

[ This day ], date underwritten, before me, [ Cornelis va ]n Tienhoven, secretary in New Netherland appointed by the Gen[ eral ] Chartered West India Company, appeared Willem Barentsen, Robbert Edens and Gems Smit, who acknowledge that they have agreed and contracted in the form and manner hereinafter written with Borger Jorissen, farrier [hoef smit], for the use of his land situated on Long Island, adjoining the land of Tymon Jansen. First the lessees shall have the use of as much of the aforesaid land as they shall be able to cultivate properly, for the term of three consecutive years, commencing on the day of All Saints anno 1642 next and terminating on All Saints’ day anno 1645, on the express condition that Borger Jorissen shall pay the lessees for whatever they shall fence, palisade or build, whether a needful house, or a barn for the stabling of cattle, according to the then valuation by good impartial men. The lessees also acknowledge the receipt from the aforesaid Borger Jorissen of eleven goats and one buck, on condition that the owner at the end of the aforesaid years shall first withdraw eleven goats and one buck, and what shall then by the blessing of God be bred from them shall be equally divided by the lessees and Borger Jorissen, provided that the parties shall jointly incur the risk of death. And in case there be no increase at that time and any of the goats now delivered [ happen to die ], the half of the goats that shall have died must be paid for [ by the lessees ] at the rate of [ ]. [ Furthermore, the ] above named Borger [ Jorissen ][ shall deliver to the lessees ] eight sows on hal[ ves, and ] on the same risk as the goats, [ provided ] that the increase shall each year be [ divided ] half and [ half ] by the parties. Thus done [ and agreed without ] fraud or deceit, in good faith, at the house of Borger Jorise [ aforesaid on the ] island of Manhattan, this 23rd of June [anno] 1642, and signed by parties.

Willem Barentsen
Robbert Edens
James Smith
Borger Joris
Cornelis van Tienh[ oven ]