On the first of July, in the year after the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, one thousand six hundred and forty-four, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary residing in New Netherland on the part of the General Chartered West India Company, appeared Piter Linden, a native of Belle[1] in Flanders, widower of Elsje Barents, deceased, of the first part, and Marta Chombaer, of Nieukerck[2] in Flanders, widow of Jan Manje, deceased, of the second part, who declared that they intended to enter into the holy state of matrimony, praying Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, to bless them temporarily and hereafter eternally for the salvation of their souls, Amen. Therefore they, the bridegroom and bride, declare that jointly, of their own free will and consent, without any persuasion, they have made and concluded this, their marriage contract, in manner and on the conditions hereinafter written, to wit: Whenever God Almighty shall take one of them out of this sorrowful world, the survivor shall remain in full possession of all the temporal property, means and authority which they shall then be found to have, whether movable or immovable, present or future by inheritance from relatives, or the property to which they still have a claim in Flanders, above or below the ground.
They, the bridegroom and bride, therefore request that this, their marriage contract, shall after the death of either of them have [ full force ] and effect before all courts, [ tribunals ] and judges, without any exception. [ In witness ] of the truth this is signed in the record by the said bridegroom and bride and the witnesses hereto invited. Done as above, in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.
Pieter Lynde
Marta Chombaer
Jan Manje
