Description of the Founding or Beginning of for the information of us and our successors.

their Grants and Privileges likewise the

New

Utrecht,

Together with

names of their

and magistrates thereunto added and that from the year Sixteen hundred seven and fifty,

officers

also the

names of the first Patentees and

farmers, for the encouragement and

information of their

posterity.

A.D. 1657 The beginning and progress of New Utrecht. This land was originally granted to the Heer Cornelis Van Werckhoven, who was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands,

and who here personally undertook to plant a colonic

returned to his Fatherland, where he died. his agent one Jacques Cortelliau.

his

After some years he

On his return to the Netherlands he left in his place as

After the death of his late Lord, Cortelliau having no means in

hands to procure settlers to plant and found the colonie, was advised not to allow the beautiful

land to he unfruitful and without inhabitants, and as he was assured that such a course was in direct opposition to the orders and placards of the Noble and Eight Honorable Lords Directors of the West

India

Company at Amsterdam, our Patrons, as also of the Noble Lord Director General Petrus

Stuyvesant and the Counsellors Nicasius DeSille, and Johan Montagne Senor., he concluded to present to the Director General and Counsellors the following Petition

:

To the Noble and Right Honorable Lord Director General and Council of New Netherland Whereas no lands here can be laid out and settled except with your Honors' approbation and consent, therefore the petitioner addresses himself to your Honors for consent to found a Town on LongIsland on the Bay of the North River. was signed Ja. Cortelliau. the deceased Werckhoven. the heirs of Cornelis Van for Agent In the margin stood " let the petition be granted, provided that they deliver by the first opporDated fortress Amterdam in New tunity, a map thereof, to the Director General and Council.