Document: Contract of sale from Cornelis Groesens to Joseph and Resolved Waldron of a house and lot in New Amsterdam

Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven, appointed secretary In New Netherland for the General Chartered West India Company, and before the undersigned witnesses appeared Cornelis Groesens of the first part and Joseph and Geresolveert Waldron of the second part. The aforesaid Groesens acknowledges that he has sold and they, Joseph and Geresolveert Waldron, that they have bought of him a certain lot belonging to the vendor, with the house standing thereon, together with whatever is thereon earth and nail fast, situated and being on the island of Manhatans in the city of Amsterdam in New Netherland, on the east side of the common highway, south of Aert Tonissen's lot, being in width along the highway four rods and eight feet; in length on the south side seventeen rods; in width in the rear or on the east side five rods, and in length on the north side seventeen rods, amounting together to 84 [ square ] rods, 1 foot and 4 inches, and that free and unincumbered, without any charges thereon or issuing out of the same, saving the lord's right.

For the purchase of the aforesaid lot and the house standing thereon the buyer promises to pay the sum of six hundred and fifty guilders, payable in the following instalments, to wit: on the date hereof one hundred and fifty guilders down, and thereafter each year on the same day one hundred guilders, with the interest at 9 per cent until the complete payment, so that on the 3d of April 1656 he must pay one hundred guilders and forty-five guilders for the interest at 9 per cent of fl. 500; and on the 3d of April 1657 one hundred guilders and guilders for the interest at 9 per cent of fl. 400, and so on until the payment is completed. It is further agreed and stipulated that the vendor shall deliver to the purchaser a proper deed on the payment of the first instalment, whereupon the purchaser shall martgage at the city secretary's office the aforesaid house and lot until the vendor is fully paid. The parties respectively promise to observe and to cause to be observed all that hereinbefore written, binding to that effect all their property, present and future, read and personal, submitting the same to the control of all courts, judges and justices. Thus done in the presence of Claes van Elslant and Arent van Vlieringen, witnesses hereto invited. Actum Amsterdam in New Netherland, this day the 3d of April 1655.

Cornelis Groesens
Joseph Waldron
Resaluert Weldren
Claes van Elslant
Arent van Vlierengen
Cor: van Ruyven