Document: Confirmation and approval of the survey and plot map of New Amsterdam

Friday, 25 February

The street survey of this city, heretofore submitted to the session of the director general and councilors, accompanied with a model or plan, according to which the streets have been, set off and laid out with stakes, having been, this day, again taken into consideration, the director general and councilors resolved and decided by a plurality of votes, to the confirm the aforesaid survey for the present and future time, without making any alteration therein. Therefore, the execution thereof is referred to the burgomasters of this city, and they are authorized hereby, first and foremost to give public notice to all persons who may be damaged or injured by the said survey, that they shall, within a certain peremptory time to be fixed by them, the earlier the better, furnish the burgomasters a statement showing how much in their estimation, they are damaged thereby, and to agree for the benefit of the city, on the lowest compensation, and in case they cannot arrange with parties, to refer the matter to two or three respectable persons conversant with the subject and not interested in the survey; which being done, the burgomasters shall estimate, and reasonably appraise the aforesaid lots according to the determined quota, and them distribute to those ready to build thereon, but so that those interested have the preference to build on their own lots themselves, according to the survey, if their circumstances permit, and remain in the mean time possessors and owners of their gardens and lots falling outside the line of the streets, until payment shall have been made therefor according to the valuation and, for want of vacant lots, necessity shall require the disposal of them to others, It shall remain to the burgomasters to determine what streets and lots are first to be built upon, only that according to ancient usage the patents required therefor are applied for and obtained from the director general and councilors. Thus reiterated and enacted at our session held at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra, (was signed:) P. Stuyvesant, Nicasius de Sille, La Montagne, Cornelis van Tienhoven.

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 6.