Lot: D19 (Taxlots)

Two of New Amsterdam's humble citizens, Pieter, from Naarden, a carman, and Claes Tijssen, a cooper, bought home plots here in October, 1653, from Willem Beeckman, who had succeeded to Douman's grant. — Liber HH: 60, 61 (Albany). They were small lots, less than twenty feet wide on the Gracht, by 46 feet deep, with a four foot alley-way between. Van Naarden built a substantial home on the corner of the Marckvelt Steegh, as the Plan shows: his widow, Aschee Jans, was confirmed there by Governor Nicolls in 1668 {Patents, II: 170, Albany), and still lived there in 1686, according to Selyns's List. Claes Tijssen also built on his lot on the south, but when David Wessels bought the property, in March, 1658 {Liber Deeds, A: 125), to add to a plot he already owned in the rear {ibid., A: 44), he demolished the cooper's little house, and built a wall along the Gracht.

['] When Nicholas Cruger bought the lot, in 1790, the name still clung to the spot; "formerly known by the name of Merrits Great house (before the same was destroyed by fire)," runs the description. — Liber Deeds, XLVI: 316.

[^] Burger Jorissen had a deed from Jan Cornelissen fnot of record). When Ten Eyck bought the property, he took the precaution to secure a grant of it from Stuyvesant. The original of this grant, signed by Stuyvesant, and dated January 4, 165 1, is in the author's collection. Reproduced in Chronology.