Document: Lease from Harmen Douwesen and Pietertje Jans to David Ferera of a house on Pearl street, New Amsterdam

Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven, appointed secretary in New Netherland for the General Chartered West India Company, appeared the worthy Harmen Douwessen and Pietertje Jans, wife of Claes Jansen Ruyter, of the first part, and David Forera, of the second part, which Harmen Douwes and Pietertje Jans, for herself and in the name of her husband Claes Jansen Ruyter, declared that they had leased, and he, David Forera, acknowledged that he had hired from them a certain house belonging to the lessors, standing and situated on Paerel street, adjoining Bern Jansen and Jacob Eversen, for the term of one year, commencing on the 8th of March last For the rent of which said house the lessee shall deliver to the lessors six hundred guilders' worth of merchandise at the current market price, which they shall be at liberty to trade for their benefit, but on the expiration of six months they shall be bound to return to the lessee the sum of four hundred guilders in beavers or elk hides according as parties shall then agree, and the remaining two hundred guilders the lessors shall retain for the use of the aforesaid house for the term of one year. Furthermore, the parties have agreed and covenanted that in case the lessors fail to pay the said fl. 400 at the expiration of the appointed time of six months, the lessee shall have the right to recover the amount out of the aforesaid house and to that end they offer the said house and lot as security and especially mortgage the same until the effectual payment of the amount For the fulfilment whereof the parties respectively bind all their property, real and personal, present and future, without any exception, submitting the same to the control of all courts, judges and justices Thus done in Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 15th of April anno 1655.Dauid foa.

Harmen Dowesen
Peter I. Jans
Juryen Blanck
Cornelis van Ruyven