Document: Contract of sale from Jan Haes to de Pottere of a parcel of land on the west hook of Rechkewick on the East river

On this day, the fourth of January anno 1652, before me, Andries Johan Christman, clerk appointed by the honorable director general and council of New Netherland, appeared Jan Haas, of the first part, and Mr. Cornelis de Pottere, of the second part, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses declared that they had agreed and contracted with each other about the purchase of a certain piece of land on the conditions hereinafter written.

Jan Haes sells to Mr. Cornelis de Pottere, who hereby also acknowledges that he has bought a certain parcel of land situated on the west hook of Rechkewick on the East river, stretching from the land of Fredrick Lubbertsen east southeast and southeast by east to the valley eighty rods, and further as large or small as appears by the patent granted under date of April 2, 1647, by the Hon. Director Willem Kieft to and for the behoof of Jan de Haes, with all that the seller has thereon and that belongs to him, for the sum of once nine hundred guilders, cash, in good merchantable seawan. The seller hereby cedes his right to and claim of ownershir of the aforesaid land for the behoof of Mr. Cornelis de Pottere or those who may acquire his right from now on and forever and promises to free the same from all trouble and claim which any one in the world may make thereto, the parties promising to hold this their agreement, sale and conveyance firm and binding and to fulfil and carry out the same under submission [ of their persons and properties ] to all courts and judges. In testimony whereof this is signed by the parties. Actum ut supra.

Jan Haes
Cornelis de Potter
H. van Dyck
Claes van Elslant
Andrles Jois Christman
P. Stuyvesant