This indenture, made the twenty-ninth day of December, in the year one thousand, seven hundred and forty-four, between James de Lancey, Esq. , Chief Justice of the Province of New York, of the one part, and Stephen du Lancey, son of the said James de Lancey, of the other part, witnesseth, that the said James, for, and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he, the said James, beareth to his said second son Stephen, doth for him and his heirs, covenant and grant to and with the said Stephen and his heirs, that the said James and his heirs shall and will, from henceforth, stand and be seized of, and in all that tract or parcel of land in the manor of Cortlandt, in the comity of Westchester, distinguished and known by the name of north lot, number nine, and north lot, number ten, whereof the said James is now seized of an estate in fee simple, to the use of the said James for and during the term of his natural life, and after his decease to and for the use of his said son Stephen, for and during the term of his natural life ; and, after his decease, to the use and behoof of the heir3 male of his body, lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue, to the use and behoof of the right heirs of him, the said James, for ever --

Provided always, and it is hereby covenanted and agreed by and between the said parties to these presents, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said James at any time or times during his natural life by his last will in writing, by him signed and published in the presence of two or more credible witnesses, or by any other writing or writings by him signed and sealed in the presence of two or nnre credible witnesses, to revoke or alter all or any the use or uses of all or any part of the said land and premises, any thing in these presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding.