In the year 1638, William Kieft, Director General and Counsellor for
their high mightinesses the States General, and his highness the Prince
of Orange, granted to Abraham Rycken, a tract of land in the present
town of Brooklyn.
September 11, 1642, William Kieft Director General, &c. patented to Jan
Manje, a piece or parcel of land containing 20 morgan, or 40 acres, in
the town of Brooklyn. A copy of which patent is hereto annexed as a
specimen of those ancient instruments:
“By William Kieft, Director General and Counsellor, about the high
and mighty Lords, the States General of the United Low Country, and
his highness of Orange, and the Lords Commanders of the priviledged
West India Company, residing in the New-Netherland, do ratify and
declare by these presents, that we upon the date hereinafter
written, did give and grant to Jan Manje, a piece of land, greatly
twenty morgan stretching about south-east one hundred and ninety
rods inward the woods towards to Sassians maise land--long is the
limits of the said maise land fifty rod, and then again to the
water side, two hundred and twenty rod, about north north-west,
well so northerly and along the strand or water side, seventy rod.
Which abovesaid land is lying upon Long-Island, between Andries
Hudde and Claes Janse Ruyter.--With express conditions, &c. Dated
at Fort Amsterdam, in the New-Netherland, the 11th day of
September, 1642.