Document: Petition of Govert Loockermans for a lot of ground in front of his house

To the director general and councilors of New Netherland.

Govert Loocqermans, merchant, burgher and inhabitant here, makes known with obedient reverence, that he, petitioner, pursuant to your honors’ orders, is presently busy with the construction of the sheathing in front of his house and lot within this city, which will amount to a considerable cost to him, and whereas before his door across the public highway [’s Heeren wege] there remains some open space, which at some time could be built upon by others to the petitioner’s great detriment; therefore, in order to prevent the same as much as possible, he humbly requests as compensation for the heavy expense he suffers in the construction of the sheathing that your honors be pleased to allow and grant him the aforesaid open space as far as the sheathing reaches and to bestow on him thereof letters of ownership in the usual form. Thus doing etc.

Your humble servant, was signed Govert Loockermans