" At a CouncU held in Fort William Hendrick, 15 th June, 1674.

Present : Goterxor-Gexeral A_n*thost Colte, Councillor Cop.xelius SxEEywYCK, Fiscal William Kxtff, and Secretary Xicolaes Batakd, as assumed Councillors."

John Archer requesting by petition, that Johannis Vervelen be ordered to hand over to him (the petitioner) the books concerning the towTi of Fordham. Ordered : --

" Sehout Vervelen is hereby directed to hand over to the Petitioner the books and protocols properly belonging to him."*

Upon the iSth of September, 1G69, John Archer mortgaged the Manor of Fordham to Cornelius Steenwyck, mercb.ant of New York, for the sum of 2,200 guilders; a second mortgage from John Archer to Steem\7ck occurrs on the 14th of November, 167 1, for, 7,000 guilders seawant or the the value payable in twelve years on November 14th, 16S3, with yearly interest. The mortgage was in fee, with proviso that on pa)Tnent of money mortgage was to be void, and Archer, his heirs and assigns to re-enter. It was expressed in the mortgage that Archer was to dehver the deeds unto Steenwyck, which the latter promised to return on payment of the money. <= The above mentioned sums were increased by the additional mortgage of 24,000 guilders in 1676, payable seven years thereafter as appears from the following document: --

This indenture, made the twenty-fourth day of November, in the 2d year of the reign of our sovereign lord, Charles the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, and Anno Domini 1670, between John Archer, owner and proprietor of the manor of Fordham, upon the main, near Spiting Devil, on the one .part, and Cornelius Steenwick, of