Document: Petition of Martin Cregier for leave to build on his lot

At the session, present: the honorable lord director general Petrus Stuyvesant, the honorable lord Nicasius de Sille, the lord La Montagne, and the lord fiscal Cornelis van Tienhoven.

To the honorable and highly esteemed lord director general and high councilors of New Netherland.

Marten Cregier, burgher and inhabitant of this city, makes known with all due humility how he, petitioner, having a proper patent to his house and lot where he now lives; nevertheless, it is claimed by some persons that he would not be allowed freely to alienate or at his pleasure to do work on his house and lot, and whereas he, petitioner, for his heirs and progeny, and whomever should or might inherit his properties, would like to see that such claims and suspicions be prevented; therefore he humbly requests that your honors be pleased to allow by recommendation [ noted ] in margin of this that the aforesaid house and lot for all time, together with others may be built upon and alienated to the petitioner’s satisfaction.

Thus doing etc. your honors’ obedient servant (was signed:) Marten Cregier.