Claas Laurense, one of the first settlers in 1662, married Maritie, daughter of Teunis Cornelise Swart, and had nine children, the most of whom attained maturity and left families.
His village lot comprised the lots now occupied by Van Horne Hall and Myers' stores, having a front on State street of 105 feet.
In 1692, he bought the lot on the east corner of State and Church streets, — 170 feet on the former and 160 feet on the latter street. This lot was originally granted to Teunis Cornelise Swart, by patent of date Jan. 15, 1667; on his death, his wife Elizabeth married Jacob Meese Vrooman, of Albany, to whom the magistrates of Schenectady gave a deed of the same, of date Feb. 7, 1682/3. Vrooman dying, his widow again married Wouter Uythoff, with whom she united Jan. 4, 1692, in a conveyance of said lot to Claas Laurense Van Purmerend [alias Van der Volgen], — it "being a "corner lot over against the Blockhouse (te weten de kerk) (173-1), 200 feet long [on Church street] — 170 ft. long [on State street], having south and west "des heeren straet (173-2) State and Church streets, and to the east Jan Labatie," according to deed of Feb. 7, 1682/3; excepting a piece conveyed to Esaias Swart, by deed of July 30, 1681. This latter parcel was taken from the rear of the whole lot, 40 ft. front on Church street and is now number 31 and owned by Mr. Marten De Forest.
His farm on the bouwland was No. 10, which was conveyed to him 25th April, 1692, by Wouter Uythoff (third husband of Elizabeth Van der Linde), and said Elizabeth for 540 beavers, — "the bouwery, lot [in the Village], house, barn and rick of the late Teunis Cornelise Swart, — the bouwery being No. 10 over the third [Poenties] kil, to the east of Nos. 9 and 6, to the west of Nos. 9 and 8 from the hill to the river Southwest by west, 64 rods wide; comprising 24 morgens 576 rods as granted by patent 16 June 1664 and confirmed Jan. 15 1667."
The half of this bouwery north of the road, comprising 11 morgens, Van Purmerend alias Van der Volgen, sold to Claas Janse Van Boekhoven, Jan. 4, 1692/3; for 147 pounds, current money of the Province.
The next day, Jan. 5, the latter sold the easterly half of said 11 morgens to Dirk Arentse Bratt, for 73 1/2 pounds. (173-3)
Notes
(173-1) [To wit the church. — M'M.]
(173-2) [Des heeren straaten — the public streets. — M'M.]
(173-3) Deeds, IV, 34, 35. Deeds, IV, 38. [Editorial note — these two deed references appear as separate note in the original book, but the text only footnotes the sale to Bratt. This could be interpreted as saying the sales to Van Boekhoven and Bratt should be the third and fourth footnotes for page 173.]