Johan Zeelen

:

.

:

PAPERS RELATING TO LONG ISLAND.

The above named individuals having received their lots, came together so as speedily to advance "Whereof the first was Jacob Hellekeers house made clapboards small square of a standing in Gravesend which he tore having Swart, he tins because they could not begin altogether and alike and for down and removed to the town. On the place by sowing, planting and building on their lots.

the purpose of setting a good example to the common people and for their encouragement, the Lord Councillor and Fiscal (Attorney General) Nicasius De Sille, Peter

Buys and Rutgert Joosten on the

8 of November 1657 sent for the above named Jacob Swart, who was a master builder, for the purpose of having each a house built, and warranted completed in May 1658. This could not be accomth

plished, because the house of the Heer de Sille was designed to be 36 feet in length, but afterwards

on the 31 st of May 1658, he directed 6 feet to be added, making it 42 feet, and this was the first house in the town which was covered with red tiles. It was, including the garden, enclosed with high palisades set close together. After the above 3 houses, Johnckeer Jacob Corlaer also erected a house, and then Cornelis JJeeckman with his companion Willem Willemse erected one which shortly after was burnt.

Some of the above named 20 settlers abandoned their lots, and others came in their places by whom the cultivating and building were undertaken. In 1659 it was evident that the village did not prosper in its buildings and agriculture ; this