USA > New York > New York County > Harlem > Revised History of Harlem (City of New York): Its Origin and Early Annals. : Prefaced by Home Scenes in the Fatherlands; Or Notices of Its Founders Before Emigration. Also, Sketches of Numerous Families, and the Recovered History of the Land-titles > Part 32
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We, Hon. Magistrates, with the vote and resolution of the Inhabitants of this Town, have granted forever and as hereditary, to Jan de La Montagne, a piece of land, with the meadows thereto annexed, named Montagne's Point, formerly possessed by his late father, lying within our Town's jurisdiction, bounded on the north side by a creek called Montagne's Kill; extending from the East River unto a little fresh water creek running between Montagne's Flat and aforesaid Point; on the south side bounded by a creek and a meadow and by hills, to the afore- said little fresh water creek where the King's Majesty his highway goes over; with the Meadows lying in the Bend of Hellgate, which Mon- tagne beforenamed has had in exchange for the Town Lot's meadows; with such rights and privileges as are granted us by patent and still re- main to grant; provided he submit to such laws and servitudes as with us are common and may be imposed, without that we or our Inhabitants, now or in future days, shall have any claim thereupon, but as his other patrimonial property may enter upon and use or sell, as he may resolve and shall choose, saving the lord's right. For further security, and that our deed shall have greater force and legal authority, we the Magistrates and constables the same subscribe, this 8th February, Anno 1672, in New Haerlem.
D. TOURNEUR RESALVERT WALDRON. JOHANNES VERMELJE. DAVID DES MAREST. PIETER ROELEFSEN, Constable .*
* The frequent use already made of this deed, has led us to give an amended translation of it from the oribinal Dutch text of Montagne; and we also annex a verbatim copy of said original.
Wy, E. Magistraten, met toestemminge en goetvinden van de inwoonderen deser
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
To all familiar with our modern Manhattan, with its fine avenues, its railways, and ample means of through transit, the following action of the Mayor's Court of February 13th, 1672, must at least prove amusing. It was in the Mayoralty of Mr. Delavall.
The Court do empower Mr. Cornelis van Ruyven and Mr. Isaac Bedlo, aldermen, to cause the former orders for making a good wagon path be- twixt this city and the Town of Haerlem to be put into strict execution.
The record proceeds to say that "it is still found unfinished," although recommended by the Governor, "at divers times," and enjoined by the Court upon the Overseers both of Harlem and the Suburbs. "For which reason many complaints have been lodged, yea, that people wishing lately to travel over that road on horseback have been in danger of losing their lives, by the negligent keeping of the said road." This had moved the Gov- ernor again not only to earnestly recommend but to require its immediate completion, "forthwith, without any delay." The two aldermen commissioned to take charge of it were instructed. as often as they saw fit, to summon "the Overseers, as well of Harlem as of the outside people dwelling hereabouts," to tell them "how very ill it has been taken that the previous orders regarding the aforesaid road have not been better observed," and "to devise means, not only to finish said road, but to keep it constantly. in good repair."
durpe, hebben vergunt, eeuwich en erffelyck, aen Jan de La Montogne, een stuck landt, met de valeyen daar anex, genaamt Montangis punt, certyt door syn vader sl. gepossedeert, gelegen binnen onse onser durps jurisdictie, bepaalt aen de noort syde het een yil genaamt Montam Kil, streckende van de oost revier tot aen een verse killekken streckende tussen Montangis Vlackte en voornm punt. Aen de zuyt zyde bepaalt met een kil en een valey en met bergen, tot aen de voornm verse killeken daar zyn Konm Majism zyn hooge wech overgaat, met de valeyen gelegen in de bocht vant Hellegat die Montagne voornm gereuylt heeft heest tegens durps lodts valeven; met soodanige gerechticheeden en privilegen als ons by patent is vergunt, en noch staat te vergunnen, mits hem onderwerpende sodanige wetten en servituten als ons int gemeen is cn sal opgeleyt worden, sonder dat wy ofte ons ingesetenen, nu oft ten eeuwigen dagen, daar iets op sullen te pretenderen hebben, maar gelyck syne andere patrimoniale goederen sal aenvaarden en gebrucken, of verkoopen, so als hy sal goetvinden en wille kueren, behoudens den herr zyn recht. Tot meerder verseekeringe en op onser gront- brief meerder kracht en echt sal resorteren hebben, wy magistraten en konstapel de selve onderteeckent, Ay 8 Feb'y Anno 1672, in Nieu Haarlem.
D. TOURNEUR. RESALVERT VERMELJE. JOHANNES DESMAREST. PIETER ROELEFSEN, Constaple.
CHAPTER XVIII.
1672-1673.
THE DORP, OR VILLAGE, INCIDENTS AND INSIGHTS.
T HE Town Court was busied April 23, 1672, with an investi- gation sought by David Demarest as to an assault made upon him the day before by Glaude Delamater. The townsfolk being at work, "making tight the fences of the Calf Pasture," Demarest fell into conversation with Ralph Doxey, Mr. Dela- vall's man; after which, going to Delamater, he charged him as the cause of Heer Delavall being at variance with the town; add- ing, that before he, Delamater, became intimate with him, Delavall let his cows go with the herdsman. Delamater retorted that "he lied like a buffoon and a bugger," and seizing Demarest by the coat kicked him. Instinctively the latter caught up a stone and threw it, hitting Delamater on the breast! Here further violence was stayed. As Demarest was a magistrate, the board had to refer the case to the Mayor's Court, and with that view took the evidence of Jean le Roy, Adolph Meyer, Glilis Boudewynsen, and Lubbert Gerritsen. Joost Van Oblinus became bail for Demarest's appearance.
Jean De La Montagne's last official act as secretary was to record this affair of the Calf Pasture, and beneath the entry his successor, Vander Vin, writes: "Here ends the register and protocol of the deceased J. De La Montagne, kept at the village of N. Harlem." And years after, when growing infirmities fore- shadowed his own departure. he added in a tremulous hand, "since the said Jan De La Montagne died in the year 1672." Stuyvesant, the old friend of his father and family, had but just preceded him to the grave. He made his will May 13, 1672, of which we have only the date, but which must have given his consort the full control of the estate. Two years later the widow closed the sale of the farm to Bogert, by a warranty deed, dated March 30th, 1674, acknowledging the receipt of the 3,000 gl., and conveying for herself and heirs; having power to
282
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
do so, as is evident, either under the will, or by the recognized rules of law, since she acted with the knowledge and official sanction of the public secretary, and one of the magistrates. Later still-that is, on November 14, 1679-she conveyed for 300 gl to Mrs. Bogert, "authorized by her husband," to take the deed, the parcel called the Hop Garden at the rear of the farm, or "lying behind the land of John Louwe, over against the hill." Montagne left no other real estate here; that owned subsequently by his son, Abraham Montagne (the only son that remained at Harlem), being derived through his mother, who bought a village residence, which fell to Abraham at her death in 1689. True the latter afterward indulged the idea that he was entitled to a share of the common land, in virtue of his father's freehold, but the town held that such right had passed to Bogert.
The church at Harlem lost in Montagne a good and useful servant. It applied soon after for an elder to represent it in the Consistory at New York, under whose charge it had been up to this time. This was acceded to, and by an agreement made Wednesday, June 19, 1672, the Harlem church were to nomi- nate to the Consistory a double number of suitable persons as elders and deacons (the first institution of the former office here), out of which that body would choose one to serve with them. Then after each annual election made in this indirect mode- an exception to that usual in the Dutch churches-the pastor at New York was to preach at Harlem, and install the new offi- cres. The deacon was to serve two years, so that there should always be two in office; but in regard to the eldership the usage of the church was not followed, as but one elder appears, for many years later. The communicants would still partake of the Lord's Supper at the Fort, and all seeking membership were to be received there as before. It was also agreed to pay "three hundred guilders to the preachers of New York," namely, Do. Drisius and his newly inducted colleague, Do. Nieuwenhuysen, "for services at this village."
In this manner the church obtained its representative elder and deacon, the latter being Joost Van Oblinus, with whom Daniel Tourneur, acting deacon, was to serve the first year. The elder's name is not given. For the installation services, "the preacher" received f. 24, and f. 6 were paid Teunis Cray for "fare," bringing and returning the dominie, we presume. On July 26th Resolved Waldron paid over to Deacon Oblinus, as treasurer, the balance of sewant in the deacon's chest, f. 2:15.
283
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
The new cash-book is thus prefaced: "Daniel Tourneur, Johan- nes Verveelen, and John de La Montagne, in their accounts, are remaining indebted to the deaconry, f. 21:19." So it seems that on revising Montagne's accounts, this sum expended in 1665 for the dinner to Stuyvesant, and charged to the deacon's fund, was disallowed. The collections from this time average about two florins, or eighty cents, per Sabbath, as shown by the record kept by Vander Vin, under whose lead, as voorleser, the Sunday services were continued with much regularity. Also, as appears, they religiously observed the Voorbereyding,-that is, the Pre- paration for the Lord's Supper,-on the Friday before its quar- terly celebration, in March, June, etc .; as also Kersdag, or Christmas; Palm Sunday; Paasche, Passover or Easter; Hemel- vaarts-dag, Ascension Day, and Pinxter, or Whitsuntide. Aller- heyligen, or All Saints' Day, November Ist, was excluded from the church days, but was often named as the date when a con- tract or term of service should begin or end.
With the farmers, Allerheyligen usually closed the grazing season. Then they began to prepare for winter. The cattle were taken from pasture, and the stock running in the commons hunted up and housed. The young swine often ran out all winter, but were liable to be missing when sought for. Indeed certain persons about Spuyten Duyvel did not scruple to em- bezzle them. It was an old trick with Tippett, who, with others, had been at it again the last winter. Arraigned and convicted at the Assizes, October 3, 1672, "Jan Hendricks, called Captain" (otherwise Boch), for his "ingenuous confession," was excused; but fines and stripes were imposed on Thomas Hunt, Jr., and George Tippett, and fines only on John Heddy and William Smith.
An event which cast a gloom over the community at Har- lem was the death of Capt. Richard Morris and his wife, leaving a tender babe to the care and sympathy of strangers. Full of hope they came hither from Barbadoes, where they had been married (she as Sarah Pool) on August 17, 1669. Captain Matthias Nicolls thus condoles with the brother, Colonel Lewis Morris, of Barbadoes, in a letter written him from New York, October 29, 1672: "I cannot but reflect upon the transitory condition of poor mortals, when I frequently call to mind in how little time God hath been pleased to break a family, in taking away the heads thereof; first a virtuous young woman in the prime of life, and then a man full of strength and vigor, inured to hardships; while there is remaining only one poor blossom,
284
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
of whom yet there may be great hope, with your kind friendship, for it is a lovely healthy child, and was well at Harlem, where it is at nurse, and I went to see it yesterday. I was also at the plantation on the other side," etc. The "poor blossom," an infant of a year old, afterward became the distinguished judge, Lewis Morris, proprietor of the manor of Morrisania, and ances- tor of the Morris family.
An effort was now made to put a stop to the controversies "about some meadow in difference, beneath the Town of Ford- ham," being lots Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, held by the people of Harlem. Though nothing appears to have come of it, the following order upon the subject is interesting :
Whereas the Meadow Ground or Valley by the Creek beneath the town of Fordham at Spuyten Duyvel is claimed by some of the inhabit- ants of New Harlem, but is at so great distance from them and lying unfenced, and so near the Town of Fordham that those of Harlem can receive little or no benefit thereby, as the inhabitants of Fordham cannot avoid being daily trespassers there, if the propriety there shall still continue to Harlem; To prevent all further cavils and contests upon that subject, as also for an encouragement to that ney Plantation, as well as in compensation to those of Harlem for their interest which they shall quit at Spuyten Duyvel; I do hereby promise and engage that some convenient piece of meadow being found out at or near Bronx Land, in my disposal, I shall grant and confirm the same unto the persons concerned : provided the said grant do not greatly prejudice the rest of Bronx Land when it shall be settled; and I do refer this matter to Daniel Tourneur and David des Marest, with John Archer, to make inquiry hereunto, and make report thereof unto me with all convenient expedition. Given, etc., this oth day of November, 1672.
FRANCIS LOVELACE.
A nomination for town officers having been made November 2d, and the position of secretary, vacant since the death of Montagne, given to Vander Vin, he was confirmed December 3d in that office for which he was peculiarly fitted, as a scholar and good penman. On December 6th, Pierre Cresson and Meyndert Journee were chosen fence-masters. Another quarrel between Daniel Tourneur and Resolved Waldron, now retiring magis- trates, was brought to a friendly issue December 12th. As in a similar rupture between them six years before, it ran so high that Tourneur struck Waldron. The latter made complaint to the Mayor's Court, on the day Vander Vin and the new magis- trates were sworn in. The defendant being absent, the case was referred to the new board, with a request to use their best en- deavors to reconcile the belligerents. In this they succeeded : the parites, binding themselves to drop all their differences of whatever kind as "from henceforth dead and of naught," agreed "to live hereafter in all charity, friendship, and peace," while the
*
285
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
first one to raise a question should forfeit 50 gl. for the poor. The 16th of the same December the deacons, Tourneur and Oblinus, with consent of magistrates and community, let out at pubic auction "the loft over the church or school-house." Mrs. Maria Vermilye (Montagne's widow), as highest bidder, took it for a year at 20 gl., to be paid the deacons. On giving up the farm to Bogert, she removed to the village and soon bought a house and lot, undoubtedly that adjoining the river, and before owned by her brother, Johannes Vermilye.
The road to Harlem was at length finished, or made usable; and a monthly mail between New York and Boston was officially announced, to set out for the first on January 1, 1673. Now the novelty of the mounted postman reining up at the tavern, with his dangling "portmantles," crammed with "letters and small portable goods," but tarrying only so long as necessary to deliver his mail and refresh himself and horse, added another to the sights and incidents which filled up the unwritten columns of village news.
Vander Vin being installed in his duties as secretary, Re- solve Waldron, on January 16, 1673, "with the advice of the constable and magistrates," delivered to him the valuable title papers of the town; and on March 6th he obtained from Sieur Jacob Kip, brother-in-law of Montagne, the old protocol and other records kept by the latter. The papers handed over by Waldron were as follows :
No. I. Patent of the town N. Haerlem, in the English.
2. Patent of the said town, in Dutch.
"
3. Two confirmations of the same, in English.
4. Patent in Dutch.
5. Ordinance of the Mayor's Court.
6. Extract from the Mayor's Court.
7. Procuratic ad lites.
8. Groundbrief of Spuyten Duyvel.
The mention of "patents in Dutch," in the above list, is likely to mislead. In questions affecting their landed rights and jurisdiction, the ordinance of 1658, under which Harlem was settled, is so often appealed to as to make it quite apparent that the inhabitants during the Dutch rule knew no other official grant or enactment upon which these rights and privileges were made to depend. The profound silence of the records as to any other general grant or patent to Harlem from Governor Stuy- vesant, and the omission to recite it, as was usual, in the English confirmatory patents, must be taken as proof that none was ever issued. And the references in the above list are plainly not to
286
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
such, but only to the translations of the two English patents, into Dutch, which were made for the use of the inhabitants who did not read English. Thus a bill of Nicholas Bayard for services, in "the differences of the town with Fordham and Tourneur," contains a charge "for the translation of a groundbrief" (from Dutch into English, probably No. 8 in the foregoing list, being the Jansen and Aertsen Patent which Harlem now owned), and then comes the item, "For the translation of the town's patent, f. 20."
The new and old magistrates in joint meeting, January 16, 1673, enacted :
It is, with the common consent, resolved and established, that from now forward the house lots (erven) which the several residents of this village possess, shall pay the charges, such as are already imposed, or may still be imposed, for the reduction of the debts and expenditures of this town; unless some alteration therein shall happen, owing to the various hindrances to it that are liable to come: being owned as follows :
Resolved Waldron 2 erven.
Daniel Tourneur
2
Glaude le Maistre.
2
Joost van Oblinus
3
Cornelis Jansen
2
Pierre Cresson
I
Lubbert Gerritsen
I
Adolph Meyer
I
Robert Hollis
I
Jan le Roy
I
Mr. Delavall
4
Johannes Verveelen.
I
Meyndert Journee
I
«
David Demarest.
I
Widow Montagne.
I
Jan Nagel.
Together
.2412 erven.
This list is believed to embrace (see Map, page 292), the erven proper, marked a to x (v excepted) ; the small house lots granted Jean Demarest and Pelszer not appearing as yet among the erven.
By the death of Montagne the town accounts were left in some disorder. These needed careful revision, as there were various town- debts which must be paid. It was concluded, in this connection, to write to Pieter Roelofsen, at Mespat Kills,- and which was accordingly done,-asking him to be present on the 20th, or, at farthest, the 21st instant, to give an account of ihs receipts and disbursements while serving here as constable. The business of January 16th ended with making up the rate list for 300 gl., to paid the ministers, as had been agreed upon. Mey-
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287
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
nard Journee being sick, January 25th, made his will, naming his wife Elizabeth Du Mont; alludes to "children." Appoints Sieur Demarest and Oblinus overseers of his estate.
After a second summons Pieter Roelofsen attended on Feb- ruary 4th, and gave a statement of his accounts while constable in 1671 and 1672, and by which it appeared that he had col- lected from sundry persons named the sum of 76 fl. 10 st. in wheat, sewant, and firewood, and paid the same to Mr. John Sharp toward the liquidation of his claim of 92 fl., the balance being more than cancelled by a load of wood, 20 fl., delivered to Sharp by Resolved Waldron .* The subject being resumed the following day, the 5th, it was resolved, with the advice of Mr. Delavall, to revise all the town accounts from the year 1664, and all creditors and debtors were notified to make up and hand in their statements on the 6th of March, to be examined by the old and present magistrates. The next day, at the request of the voorleser (Vander Vin), the constable was directed to collect his salary as per list of "free-will contributors."
Upon the investigation which took place, March 6th, it "was found that the accounts of J. de La Montagne and J. Verveelen, upon their books concerning the town, were balanced on the 15th of February, 1671, and that there is due Verveelen from the town 87 gl. 10 st., and that Montagne is charged with 208 gl. for his particular, or as having been collector; so that the town have no further interest in their transactions but to let them rest, and from now forward to make up new accounts of the town's debts, and to find the means to discharge and pay the same." Then the debts follow :
A°. 1673, the 6th March. List of the Creditors of the town of N. Haerlem, as a part were given in the 5th January, 1671, and now are found, to wit:
John Sharp according to account. f. 92 : 0
Abraham La Noy or Fredr. Gysbertsen. 68 : 0
Daniel Tourneur.
73 : 16
Johannes Vermilje .
24 : 0
Resolved Waldron.
41 : 4
Joost van Oblinus
6 : 15
Meyndert Journee.
3 :
0
Peter Cresson.
4 : O
Cornelis Jansen.
2 : 10
Glaude le Maistre.
6 : 10
David des Marest. 2 : 0
Jean le Roy 4 : 10
Capt. Nicolls for the patent. 332 : 0
Johannes Verveelen . 87 : 10
* John Sharp was a "Public Notary," at New York; his appointment dating De- cember 1, 1665. This charge was probably for legal services.
!
25x
HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Para Richard for the land at Sporten Dayne. 1 0 : O
6
F: the greater when the confirming of eder and
For fase to Themas Crey.
Total
Aw, die Warmer Wesse's. ,5 :
and Cornelis Jansen. 36 : 0
The above exhibits the original amounts in full. upon which partial payments had been made by some of the inhabitants who were to have credit for the same in the town rate now to be levied. Sharp's bill had been paid. as before seen, and a con- siderable sum on the patent .* Jaques Cresson, formerly con- stable, reported the receipt of 66 fl. 10 st. in wheat and sewant. from the following persons ( upon the assessment ordered May 1, 1670), and to have paid it on the patent. viz .:
Johannes Verveelen f9 : 0
Joost van Oblinus. 12 : 0
Jaques Cresson . 7 : 15
Resolved Waldron 13 : 14
David Demarest
6 : 0
Peter Cresson
7 : 15
Jean le Roy
7 : 15
Isaac Vermeille
2 : 11
A'. 1673. the 6th March : List of the Lands and Erven of the Town N. Harriem, to contribute to and discharge the aforesaid debts, whereof 1-3 must come from the Erven, and 2-3 parts from the Lands; and amount for each erf to 16 gl. 6 st. and for each morgen of land to 3 gl. 14 st.
Thomas Delavall. erven; 48 morgen ; 242 gl. 16 st.
Nos. 3. 12, 19, 20. 21, 22 Jochem Pieters.
Nos. 12. 13, 16. 22 Van Keulen's Hook
Glande le Maistre . 2 erven ; 15 morgen : 88 gl. 2 st.
Corneli- Jansen
Nos. 11. 15 J. P. No. 21 V. K. H.
.2 erven; 18 morgen ; 99 gl. 4 st.
Nos. 2. 18 J. P. Nos. 6. 15 V. K. H.
Jean le Roy
I erf : 9 morgen; 49 gl. 12 st.
No. HI J. P. No. I V. K. H.
Daniel Tourneur.
.2 erven ; 21 morgen : 110 gl. 6 st.
Nos. 1, 17 J. P. Nos. 17, 18, 19 V. K. H.
Lubbert Gerritsen
.I erf ; 12 morgen ; 60 gl. 14 st.
Nos. 4, 9 J. P.
. C'apt. Nichols transferred his bill for writing the patent to Reynier Willemsen, baker, to whom the town oficers, April 5. 1676, gave a note in these terms:
"We Constable and Magistrates of the town of New Haarlem, acknowledge to be truly and honestly indebted, in the name of the common inhabitants of this town, to and for the beloof of Reynier Willemsen. in the sum of 332 guilders, upon the Patent, on account of Capt. Matthias Nicholls, deducting what may be found to have been paid thereon; which aforesaid sum of 332 guilders we promise to pay in the first ensuing January. 1677, without default, under bond pursuant to the laws.
The amount yet due on the above February 19, 1677, was 253 guilders, on which sims were paid from time to time till 1683, when Constable Vermilye made the final payment of 13 guilders.
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HISTORY OF HARLEM.
Johannes Verveelen 2 erven; 15 morgen; 88 gl. 2 st.
No. 10 J. P. Nos. 7, 8, 1/24, 1/29 V. K. H.
David des Marest.
.I erf; 8 morgen; 45 gl. 18 st.
Joost van Oblinus
· 3 erven; 12 morgen ; 93 gl. 6 st.
Pierre Cresson.
.I erf; 9 morgen; 49 gl. 12 st.
No. 5 J. P. No. 20 V. K. H.
Resolved Waldron
. 2 erven; 15 morgen; 88 gl. 2 st.
No. 8 J. P. Nos. 2, 3, 1/34, 1/29 V. K. H.
Jan Nagel.
1/2 erf ; 6 morgen ; 30 gl. 7 st.
No. 16 J. P.
Isaac Vermeille
I morgen; 3 gl. 14 st.
1-3 of No. 5 V. K. H.
Meynard Journee
I erf; 9 morgen; 49 gl. 12 st.
No. 6 J. P. No. 14 V. K. H.
Jean La Montagne.
. 18 morgen ; 66 gl. 12 st.
The Point .*
Johannes Vermelje.
.I erf; 16 gl. 6 st.
Robert Hollis .I erf; 16 gl. 6 st.
Total. .247/2 erven; 216 morgen; 1198 gl. 11 st.
The following important document throws light upon the history of Montagne's Flat :
Upon this day, 8th March, 1673, appeared before me, Hendrick J. Vandervin, Secretary, admitted by the Hon. Mayor's Court at New York, residing at the village N. Haerlem; the undersigned inhabitants of N. Haerlem, as also owners and possessors of the land called Montagne's Flat, lying under this Town's jurisdiction; who together promised to inclose the aforesaid piece of land in a common fence, and to use, until the building, planting, or dwelling on, or as every of them shall think proper to do with his part; and if it happen that they in common or either separately should be troubled by any one, who would bring the ownership and possession in question, and would offer them jointly or either singly, any molestation concerning it, on account of the owner- ship of the aforesaid land; therefore the undersigned covenant, jointly or each separately, to defend them there-against, and to maintain one another in their rights (which they have in the same;) protesting. against such as to all costs, damages, or losses which, by any interference, they jointly, or either in particular, may be put to. In witness of the sincerity of these above standing conditions, this has been written, and subscribed with our own hands. Thus done and passed at N. Haerlem, on the date as above.
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