Document: Petition of Michiel Jansen for a lot in the city

To the highly esteemed lord director general Petrus Stuyvesant and the honorable lords councilors of New Netherland.

Michiel Jansen, farmer, an old inhabitant here, shows in all humility and with appropriate reverence that during this last unexpected sad encounter with Indians, natives of these lands, he was bereft not only of all that he had accumulated here during 17 years through God’s blessing but also of everything that he, petitioner, had brought to this land and had been sent to him. All of which has been very cruelly burned or plundered by the aforesaid Indians so that he, petitioner, is presently left with no means in the world from which to live with his wife and six children. However, he desires by one means or another to earn a living together with the other inhabitants of this place, for which he first, besides God’s blessing, needs your honors favor. Therefore, the petitioner turns respectfully to your honors, requesting out of consideration of the aforesaid that your honors will favor him with a small lot within this city next to Abraham Clock, 30 to 36 feet wide, whereas the same would be most useful to the petitioner for whatever he intends to undertake for the support of his family. In so doing etc., he shall remain as ever your honors’ obedient servant.

Machiel Jansen