Document: Will of Pieter Bronck

[ In the year ] after [ the birth ] of our Lord and Savior Jesus [ Christ ] one thousand six hundred and forty-three, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary in New Netherland, appeared Pieter Bronck, [ of sound ] body, up and about and in full possession of his memory and understanding, who declared that he, reflecting on the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour thereof and wishing therefore to anticipate all such uncertainty of death by testamentary disposition, has of his own free will, true knowledge and deliberate intention, without inducement, persuasion or misleading on the part of any one, made and confirmed, as he hereby does make and confirm, this his testament and last will, in the manner and form hereinafter written:

First, after revoking all and whatsoever testaments and other dispositions which he before this date may in any wise have made or executed and then proceeding to the terms of his [ present ] testament, he, Piter Bronc, bequeathes and devises to Engeltje Mans all such goods and chattels as he shall leave behind after his death. As regards his father, mother, or other friends, they are far from here, and if there be anything, they can not come here. Willing and requesting that this after his decease may take effect before all courts and judges. Done the 4th of November 1643.

P. Bronc
Cornelio van [ der ] Hoykens