Document: Petition of Adriaen van der Donck concerning land granted him at Saeghkil in 1645

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the director and councilors in New Netherland [ ] were agreed upon in 1645 and [ ] the location of the Saeghkil with the lands thereabouts in order to establish saw and grain mills, farms, and the like, according to his capabilities and circumstances. It so happened [ ] spokesman on behalf of and for the Company that the petitioner, during the negotiations and.conclusion of peace between the Director Kieft on the one side and the Indians on the other side, had to remain away from his house at his own expense for more than nine weeks, in the best and busiest time of the year, and, without complaint, did as much and [ ] good service therein as anyone, so that finally the peace was properly concluded, for which the petitioner was advanced the sewant-as Director Kieft was short of funds at that time-which was given as a gift in order to secure the agreement, just as it continues, praise be to God. After being granted such land, the petitioner settled down there in the beginning of the year 1646 establishing there saw mills, a farm and a plantation, which he has been maintaining to the best of his ability. Also, regarding the land, because the Indians were reclaiming it, saying that it belonged to them, which was bought from the owners with the knowledge and in the presence of the director and councilors of New Netherland; but finding beforehand and remonstrating that close by the Saeghkil come marshland or [ ]

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related in the presence of the director and councilors, it was resolved because none [ ] in his purchase contained herein [ ] 30 to 40 morgens large with some suitable [ ] nearby bordering on the streams behind [ ] Island of Manhattan until Paprinnenin, called by us Speyt den Duyvel. Whereas the petitioner was always of a mind to go live there himself as soon as his situation on the Zaeghkil was put in order, and has now decided to go live at the same place as soon as the most principle people in the country there, with God's help, shall come, or to continue with preparations by having them build and cultivate, both with them, because they have an inclination for this place, as well as with [ ] and also mainly regarding an assurance for the aforesaid marshes, without which all of his and their hard-won and difficult work on the Zaegkil and thereabouts, because of lack of hay, would be in vain, useless, and futile. And whereas the petitioner understands, also from reports out of New Netherland [ ] many land-hungry people came over in the year 1652 and tried to take over the same place illegally; therefore, the petitioner turns with all due humility to this gathering, requesting that your honors be pleased to dispose of the petitioner's

above-related situation [ ] [2]