[E.B. O'Callaghan (1849)] house, and then Cornelis JJeeckman with his companion Willem Willemse erected one which shortly after was burnt. Some of the above named 20 settlers abandoned their lots, and others came in their places by whom the cultivating and building were undertaken. In 1659 it was evident that the village did not prosper in its buildings and agriculture; this induced the well wishers of the same to employ Jacques Cortelliau, the surveyor, to carry to the Director 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 been begun 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 said lots. 2. That those who have sold their lots for considerable money, without having been subject to any cost except the simple fencing, may be ordered to restore the money received over and above the cost of same. 3. That every lot should be bound to have a man who shall keep the front of the lot in repair and