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The above named individuals having received their lots, came together so as speedily to advancethe place by sowing, planting and building on their lots. Whereof the first was Jacob HellekeersSwart, he having a small square house made of clapboards standing in Gravesend which he toredown and removed to the town. On this because they could not begin altogether and alike and forthe purpose of setting a good example to the common people and for their encouragement, the LordCouncillor and Fiscal (Attorney General) Nicasius De Sille, Peter Buys and Rutgert Joosten on the8 th of November 1657 sent for the above named Jacob Swart, who was a master builder, for the pur-pose of having each a house built, and warranted completed in May 1658. This could not be accom-plished, because the house of the Heer de Sille was designed to be 36 feet in length, but afterwardson the 31 st of May 1658, he directed 6 feet to be added, making it 42 feet, and this was the firsthouse in the town which was covered with red tiles. It was, including the garden, enclosed withhigh palisades set clpse together. After the above 3 houses, Johnckeer Jacob Corlaer also erected ahouse, and then Cornelis Beeckman with his companion Willem Willemse erected one which shortlyafter was burnt.
Some of the above named 20 settlers abandoned their lots, and others came in their places by whomthe cultivating and building were undertaken.
In 1659 it was evident that the village did not prosper in its buildings and agriculture; thisinduced the wellwishers of the same to employ Jacques Cortelliau, the surveyor, to carry to theDirector General and his council, in the name of all of them, the following petition:
Petition.
To the Noble and Right Honorable Lord and Director General and Council of New Netherland :
1. The town of New Utrecht, with your consent, at the great cost and expense of some, having beenbegun and founded, we therefore humbly desire that those who as yet have only gone to the ex-pense of fencing their lots, may be warned also to build on the same, on pain of forfeiture of saidlots.
2. That those who have sold their lots for considerable money, without having been subject to anycost except the simple fencing, may be ordered to restore the money received over and above thecost of same.
3. That every lot should be bound to have a man who shall keep the front of the lot in repair andremove whatever falls, so that men should not be bound to look after absentees, which cannot bedone without incurring expense.
4. That Antony Jansen Van Sale may be warned to drive in the woods his horses, hogs, and cattle,the same as is practised by others, so as to prevent their spoiling and eating the pasture from themeadows, by which the whole Town is injured, and we ask for power to place them in the poundwhen found in said meadows.
5. That Antony Jansen, maintaining the meadows to be his which he had bought of the Indianswhich could not be done without the approbation of you noble and right Honorable Lords, and henot having this, may be ordered to allow us the peaceable use of said meadows commenced by uswith your consent, and peaceable possession of which was promised to the inhabitants of the town :the said Antony however, having dwelt many years in the place, to enjoy his lots and portion aswell as others, but at the same time to be liable to bear his share of the costs and expenses.
6. That the meadow we have commenced using when divided in 23 or 24 lots, is not half enough tokeep the cattle; we therefore petition you, noble and right Honorable Lords, for another piece tobe given us at Canarisy and immediately used.
7. That the inhabitants of the Town may have the benefit of the same exemptions and freedom thatother new towns have.
Waiting hereupon for a favorable answer from you, noble and right Honorable Lords, I remainyour humble servant Jacques Cortelliau; and this the community seek.