Creating Digital History - Uncovering NYC

[Stuyvesant's certification that certain blacks had been granted land near his farm in the years 1659 and 1660,] Brackets indicate words/phrases within the document that can not be identified.

I decided to pull in such isolated groups and settlements. Also, in the years 16[59], I ordered and commanded the Negroes listed below to take down their isolated dwellings for their own improved security [ ] to establish and erect the same along the common highway near the honorable general's farm. Therefore, the following parcels of land were granted and given to the underwritten in free and true ownership, which land they have cleared and cultivated since this time, and they have owned and possessed unmolested our prior knowledge and orders. In acknowledgement of the truth I have signed this with my own hand. Done at the island of Manhattan on this 20/30 April 1665.

 P Stuyvesant

First, Christoffel Santome has been granted and given a small parcel of land marked no.1; in width along the wagon road, thirty-two rods; in length at the south side along the land of A[ ]Sopie, forty-six rods; at the back on the west side, thirty-nine rods; on the north side along the land of Manuel de Ros, 4 thirtyeight rods 

land marked no.3; in width along, seventeen rods; in length on the south land of Manuel de Ros, thirty-nine; at the back on the west side. seventeen rods; [] side along the land of Salamon Pieters thirty-[ ] rods. To Salomon Pieters was granted and given a small parcel of land marked no.4; in width [along the ] wagon road, twenty-two rods; on the south side [ ] the land of Luycas Pieters, sixty-three rods; on the west side, nineteen rods; on the north side [ ] the land of Otto Grim, forty-six rods. No.5 is the land of Otto Grim, whose patent was confirmed separately. To Francisco Cartagena was granted and given [a] small parcel of land marked no.6; in width [ ] the wagon road, eleven and a half rods; [ ] south side along the land of Otto Grim, forty-four rods; at the back on the west side [ ] rods; on the north side along the land [ ], forty rods. To Assento was granted a small parcel of land marked no.7; in width along the wagon road, [ ] rods; on the south side along the land of Fra[ ] Cartagena, forty rods; at the back on the west side, fifteen rods; on the north side along the land of Manuel Pieters, twenty-eight rods.

[ ] house and garden marked no.[14]; on the south along the cross road, thirteen and [ ]; on the west along Anthony de Blinde Neg[er] [ ] rods; at the back on the north along the land [of] Cousyn Gerrits, thirteen and half rods; [ ] along the garden of Pieter Tamboer, four[teen rods]. To Pieter Tamboer was granted and given [a] small parcel of land for house and garden marked no.15; on the south along the cross road thirteen [and] a half rods; on the west along the garden of Angola, fourteen rods; at the back along the land of Gerrits thirteen and a half rods; on the east [ ] the wagon path, fourteen rods. All of these parcels of land were given to the aforesaid Negroes in true and free ownership with such privileges as all tracts of land are bestowed on the inhabitants [of this] province.

In testimony thereof, this [ ] Done on the island of Manhattan, 20/30 April [1665].