“a young Negro girl belonging to the Honorable West India Company ” Visit here for a translation of this document.

Translation from Van Laer, Register of the Provincial Secretary, Volume II, 1642-1647, doc. 111b, pgs. 223-224

This day, date underwritten, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Nicolaes Coorn, residing in the colony of Renselaers Wyck, who acknowledged that he had accepted and this day received from the Hon. Willem [Kieft], director general of New Netherland, Maria, daughter of Big Pieter, being a young Negro girl belonging to the honorable West India Company, for the term of four consecutive years, during which said time the above mentioned Maria shall remain in the service of the aforesaid Nicolaes Coorn, on condition that he shall provide her with food and clothes. At the expiration of the aforesaid four years, Coorn shall be bound to restore the aforesaid girl, if she be living, to the honorable director above mentioned, or to his successor. In witness whereof this is signed by Nicolaes Coorn. Done the 25th of May A°. 1644, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.

N. Koren

Acknowledged before me,
Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary