Document: Contract of Walter Davel to fence the plantation of Tonis Cray

[ Before me, ][ Cornelis van Tienh ]oven, secretary [ in ] New Netherland appointed by the General [ Chartered West India Company, and in the pr ]esence of the undersigned witnesses, [ appeared Wauter Davel and Tonis Cray, who acknowledged that they had agreed ] and contracted in [ manner ] as follows, to wit: He, Wauter [ Davel ][ , agrees ] to fence the plantation of the above named [ Tonis Cray, of such shape and ] size as the same is situated on the island [ of Manhatten, in the ] following manner. The above named Wauter Davel shall [ cut the posts ] as heavy as a man can carry, seven feet [ long, the ] posts to be set twelve feet apart, and to have holes through them through which five rails, [ one above the ] other, shall be stuck in such [ a way ] that no hogs, cows or horses shall be able to come into the aforesaid plantation. All the timber having been cut and prepared, Tonis Cray shall haul it out of the woods at his own expense and deliver it where it shall be set up and used by Walter Davel; for which he, Tonis Cray, shall pay for every two English rods of fence one week’s board, lodging and washing, and if this does not pay for the labor he, Tonis Cray, shall pay three guilders for two English rods, with the proviso that if the said Walter be kept waiting for the hauling of the timber, Tonis shall pay him thirty stivers a day and board and employ him at such work as he pleases. For which parties bind their persons as provided by law. Done the first of December anno 1642 in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.

The timber must be ready in the woods within four months.

Walter Davel
Tonis Cray
Davit Andriessen
Cornelis van Tienh.