Document: Lease from Cornelis van Tienhoven to Cornelis Jacobsen Stille of a farm near the Smith's valley

This day, date underwritten, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses, Cornelis van Tienhoven of the first part and Cornelis Jacobsen Stille of the second part have amicably agreed on the terms and conditions hereinafter written. Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, leases to the above mentioned Cornelis Jacobsen, who also acknowledges having hired, his farm situated on the island of Manhattan at the Smits valey,[1] for the term of six consecutive years, provided that parties shall be at liberty to terminate the lease at the end of three years. Cornelis van Tienhoven delivers with the above mentioned farm the land properly set off with posts and rails, which land the lessee shall be bound to deliver back at the end of three or six years properly fenced for cattle; also two mares and one two-year-old stallion, the risk of death of which shall be incurred in common and the increase equally divided between the parties every three years, provided that as many horses as are now delivered shall first be set aside at the choice of the lessor and that then the increase shall be divided half and half. The secretary shall be bound to have a [ hay ] barrack of five posts erected on condition that the lessee shall bring the timber to the building. It is likewise stipulated that the lessee shall every year in summer clear a piece of land and let it lie fallow as a farmer should. Furthermore, the lessee shall inclose within his palisades the land which at present lies [ unfenced ] between the Smits valey and the height, and cultivate the same, and should any more land be added to farm it shall in like manner be fenced and tilled by him. For all of which the lessee shall pay annually a rent of two hundred and fifty Carolus guilders and ten schepels of good barley, or the true value thereof, the lease to commence when this harvest, anno l643, the grain shall be off the field, and to terminate three or six years from that date, the parties binding their persons and properties as provided by law. Done the 13th of May 1643, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland. The risk of the stallion shall be borne by Cornelis van Tienhoven until he be used by the lessee, or at the longest until the grain is in the barn.

Cornelis van Tienhoven
Cornelis Jacobsen Stille
Cornelis Clasen
Cornelis Cornelisen
Cornelis van Tienh.