Manuscript DS, signed "Johannes de Peyster" and “N: Bayard, Secretary," one page, 11.5 x 14.5, December 12, 1670. A rare deed transferring the Wall Street property which would become Hanover Street from Johannes de Peyster to Christoffel Amy. In full: “Know all men by these presents that I Johannes de Peister of New York, merchant, for and in consideration of certaine summe of monney before the ensigning & delivery hereof to me in hand paid, wherewith I confirm my self to be fully satisfyed & paid, have given, granted, bargained, sold, assigned, and sett over, and by these presents, do fully clearly and absolutely give grant bargain sell assign & sett over unto Christoffer Amie his heirs & assignees, certaine lott of ground scituated lying & being within this City, on the southside of the Street called the Cingol, having to the east and the south the lotts of Govert Loocquermans, to the west the house & lott of Adrian Dirckson, and to the north the street before named, containing in length & breadth according to a pattent of confirmation from the right honnble Governr Richard Nicolls bearing date the 27th day of November ao 1667; on the northside eight and twentie foot, on the southside nine and twentie foot, on the westside thirteen rod, three foot and three inches—and on the eastside twelve rod and foure foot; which said lott of ground was transported and made over unto me the said Johannes de Peister, by a deed of sale from Frederick Gybersen vanden Berg bearing date the 21st of Aprill ao 1669. By virtue of which said deed of sale, I the said Johannes de Peister do hereby assign & sett over unto the said Christoffer Amie his heyrs & assignees, the afore recited lott of ground and promises; to have and to hold the said lot of ground and promises unto the said Christoffer Amie his heirs & assignees unto the sole & proper use of the sd Christoffer Amie his heirs & assignees for ever, & I the sd Johannes de Peister my executrs and administrs do further covenant to and with the said Christoffer Amie his heirs & assigns that I the sd Johannes de Peister my executs & adminstrs shall freely & clearly discharge the said lott of ground & promises from all recombrances, and against all persons whatsoever clayming any rights to the same, by, from, or under me. In wittnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand.” Signed at the conclusion by Johannes de Peyster and Nicholas Bayard. Intersecting folds (partial separations professionally repaired on the reverse) and uniform toning, otherwise fine condition.
This Wall Street property was deeded in 1644 to Jan Jansen Damen, who owned a considerable amount of land in New Amsterdam, including property on both sides of Broadway. The land changed hands three times before being owned by Frederick Gybersen van den Bourgh in 1663, who is mentioned in this document as the party who sold the land to Peyster, a highly successful merchant. According to contemporary records, Peyster was the sixth richest man in New Amsterdam in 1674 as well as a prominent political figure in the colony, with positions including overseer of streets, referee for the mayor's court, alderman, burgomaster, and tax commissioner. The other signer of this document, Nicholas Bayard, is also quite significant in the history of New York as the brother-in-law of Peter Stuyvesant and 16th mayor of New York City. Eventually the property was acquired by the Merchant's Exchange Company in 1826 and became the site of Hanover Street. This is an exceptional early colonial document for one of the most important properties in American history, which has become synonymous with international commerce and the ideals of capitalism—a truly remarkable piece.
