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Before me, [ Cornelis ] van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Antony Jansen van Zalee, who in the presence of the witnesses hereinafter mentioned declared and acknowledged that he had leased his farm, situated beyond the Narrows, on Long Island,^[1] to Edman Adley, who also acknowledged that he had hired it, for the term of four consecutive years, commencing on the 2nd of last September and ending on the 2nd of September 1650. Furthermore, Antony Jansen shall be bound to have a house built, fit to live in, and the lessor^[2] shall cause the arable land to be enclosed once for all with posts and rails, which fence Edman remains bound to deliver back at the expiration of the four years as good as it will now be delivered, or at least tight, and the lessee promises to keep the said fence and house in repair at his own expense during the lease. The lessee shall annually pay as rent of the above mentioned farm, cattle and implements which Antony now delivers the sum of two hundred guilders the first year, and two hundred and fifty guilders every year for the succeeding three years, with five pounds butter annually. The other property which Antony Jansen now delivers, as per the subjoined inventory, Adley is bound to restore at the end of the lease, when the number of cattle that the lessor now delivers shall first of all be deducted, and then the increase shall be divided equally, between the lessor and lessee. It is also expressly stipulated that the risk of the cattle shall be shared in common, both by the lessor and the lessee, during the lease and if any of the cattle happen to die, the loss must first of all be made good from the increase...^[3]

[ Inventory ]

Inventory of the goods, implements and animals delivered by Antony Jansen, lessor, to Edman Adley, lessee, who acknowledges that he has received the same and promises to deliver them at the expiration of the lease in accordance with the preceding contract, to wit:

One stallion 12 years old; one stallion of 3 years
One mare of 4 years. Edman shall pasture one stallion colt and two bull calves during the four years, even though the colt grows up and the calves become oxen, because Antony receives so little butter; of which colt and calves the lessee runs no risk, unless the animals be lost though the lessee’s neglect.
Two cows in good condition
Two new plows and appurtenances; one wagon with appurtenances One harrow with iron teeth, two spades, two scythes
Three Flemish scythes and snaths, one hand saw, one iron sledgehammer One iron maul, one churn with fixtures, one axe
One cream pot, two pails, one hand mill
One winnowing basket, one pitchfork, three spading forks
One manure fork, three halters and a long rope, being a hay-wagon rope One grindstone, one carpenter’s adze, one ditto axe
One sickle, one boat hook, two augers, one long gun
Anthony promises to furnish as much seed as he shall be able.
In witness whereof this is signed by parties, the 6th of September 1646, in New Netherland.

References

Translation: Scott, K., & Stryker-Rodda, K. (Ed.). New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Vol. 2, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647 (A. Van Laer, Trans.). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: 1974.A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.