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Colonial New York

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:7,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Colonial New York

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Auction Date:2018 Jun 13 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Incredible manuscript DS, signed “Richard Nicolls,” two pages, 12.75 x 16.25, March 12, 1666. After the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam in September 1664, Richard Nicolls became the first royal governor of New York and guaranteed the former Dutch colonists the possession of their property rights, laws of inheritance, and religious freedom. This document finds Nicolls re-granting land at Brooklyn Ferry to Dutch settler Egbert van Borsum, who had operated the ferry since 1654, thus allowing him to continue under British rule. In full: "Richard Nicolls Esquire Govemor Generall, under his Royall Highnesse, James Duke of York and Albany &c, of all his Territoryes in America, To all to whom these Presents shall come, sendeth Greeting: Whereas there is a certaine Plott of Ground, with a House or Tenement there upon, Scituate and being at the Ferry, within the Bounds of the Towne of Brucklyn, in the west Riding of Yorkeshire upon Long Island, now in the Tenure or occupation of Egbert van-Borsum, beginging at a certaine Oake Tree, neare the Limitts of the Land, heretofore belonging to Comelys de Potter, containing in breadth, Forty Foote, so to run downe to the waterside as much, Then to go along the Strand in breadth, Forty Foote, and from thence to strike up againe, to the Oake Tree aforesaid, as much For which said Plott of Ground, Egbert van Borsum, had heretofore a Patent or Groundbriefe, from the Dutch Governor Petrus Stuyvesant, bearing date the 18th day of August 1654. Now for a Confirmason, unto the said Egbert van Borsum, in his Possession and Enjoyment of ye p’emisses, Know yee, That by virtue of the Commission and Authority unto mee given by his Royall Highnesse, I have Ratified, Continued and Grannted, And by these pnts Do Ratify, Confimte and Grannt, unto Egbert van Borsum his heires and Assignes, the afore recited Plott of Ground, House and p’emisses, with their, and every of their Appurtenances; And I do likewise give and Grannt, unto the said Egbert van-Borsum, his Heires and Assignes, Twenty Foote of Ground more, adjoyning to the former, both above and below, along the Strand; To have and to hold, All the said Plott of Ground, House and p’emisses, unto the said Egbert van Borsum his Heires and Assignes, unto the proper use and behoofe of the said Egbert van Borsum, his heires and Assignes for ever; Rendring and Paying, such Dutyes and Acknowledgmts, as now are, or hereafter shall bee Constituted and Establisht, by the Lawes of this Governm’t, under ye obedience of his Royall Highnesse, his heires and Successors: Given under my hand and Scale, at Fort James, in New Yorke, the 12th day of March, in the 19th yeare of his Ma’ties Raigne, Annoq Domini 1666.” Signed at the conclusion by Nicolls, and countersigned by secretary Matthias Nicolls. Crisp white paper seal and deep red wax seal remain affixed to upper left of first page. In very good condition, with old repairs to paper loss along intersecting folds. In July 1654, Egbert van Borsum obtained a patent for two lots at the ferry in Brooklyn and leased from the city exclusive rights to the Brooklyn ferry, which he operated between New Amsterdam (New York) and Brooklyn, from June 1654 to his death in 1676. Government regulations required the ferryman to provide a lodge on both sides of the river, so van Borsum also bought land on the Brooklyn side and erected a tavern, with Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant granting him the property in August 1654.