History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691)
The aforesaid freemen shall be accepted according to the order of their application, so that whoever comes first shall be accommodated first, without any difference; and should it occur that more persons present themselves than can be conveyed in the ship or ships lying ready to sail, those remaining shall be preferred in the next succeeding vessel with this understanding, ;
however, that it shall be done forthwith and without any delay in case those remaining over be in such number that, with their passage money and board, a ship can be freighted and their maintenance provided on the voyage.
On the arrival of the aforesaid persons in New Netherland, they shall be allowed and granted the privilege of choosing and taking up, under quit rent or as a fief, such parcels of land as they shall in any way be able to cultivate for the production of all sorts of fruits and crops of those parts, on condition that they shall be bound to commence the same within the year, on pain of being again deprived of said lands.
Said persons shall enjoy Exemption from Tenths of all the aforesaid fruits and crops for the term of years, and thenceforth one additional year's Exemption for every legitimate child they shall convey thither or get there.
And should any among the aforesaid persons have an inclination to pasture animals, horses or cattle, and to support themselves in that way, they shall be shown clean and good pasture lands, as far as circumstances will in any wise admit.