Document: Appointment of Jacques Corteljou to be surveyor-general

Whereas at various times complaints have come to us, director general and councilors of New Netherland, concerning the granting and laying out of lands where one contains more and the other less than is recorded in the patent, mostly because the previous surveyor did not have good knowledge of it, from which already, now and then, many squabbles and disputes have arisen, and still more are expected to happen in the future if it is not taken care of timely; and whereas the person of Jacques Corteljouw presently offers to serve as surveyor for the honorable Company and inhabitants; therefore, we [several lines lost] our farms, [ garden ] to be allowed to measure [ ] everything to the best of his knowledge [ ] to take the oath to us and to keep a good register and record of the [ ] measured out and re-measured property, is appropriate, and everything for the salary specified below.

[In the margin:] A separate document has been granted for the following, namely:

Rights: This translation is provided for education and research purposes, courtesy of the  New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, Mutual Cultural Heritage Project. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement Source: New York State Archives. New Netherland. Council. Dutch colonial council minutes, 1638-1665. Series A1809. Volume 8.