By order of the Lord the Director General, and Counsellor of
New-Netherland.
CORNELIUS VANTIENHOVEN, Sec’ry.
January 29, 1652, Pieter Linde, having married the widow of Jan Manje,
transported or sold the above tract of land to Barent Janse. August 23,
1674, before Nicasius de Sille, admitted Secretary of the Dutch towns
appeared Jan Barentse,[1] and Auke Janse, with Simon Hausen as Guardian
of the other children of Barent Janse, deceased, “procured by his wife
Styntie Pieterse deceased, all living within the town of Midwout
Fflackbush,” and declared that they transported the above tract of land
to Dirck Janse Woertman.
September 12, 1645, William Kieft, Director General, &c. patented to
Andries Hudden, “a piece of land lying upon Long-Island against over the
fort, lying to the south-west to Jan Manje,” containing 37 morgan.
December 10, 1651, “Pieter Cornelissen by virtue of a procuratie of
Andries Hudden,” for the consideration of 400 guilders, transported to
Lodewyck Jongh the above tract. July 19, 1676, Lodewyck Jongh
transported to Jeronimus de Rapalje, eight morgan of the above tract.
February 12, 1679, Harmatie Jansen relict of Lodewyck Jongh, transported
to Dirck Janse Woertman, 12 morgan of the above tract. May 3, 1685,
“Dirck Janse Woertman, transported to the heirs of Jooris Dirckse, a
small stroke off land lying at the east side off the highway being all
the claime they can pretende by virtue off the abovesaid Pattent.”
September 30, 1645, William Kieft, Director General, &c. patented to
Claes Janse, from Naerder, a piece of land, containing 20 morgan, lying
south-east, a little easterly, just over against the Fort, upon
Long-Island. March 11, 1660, the above tract of land was transported by
Claes Janse Ruyter, to Machiell Tadens, who transported the same to
Machiell Hainielle.
The three patents to Manje, Hudde, and Janse, from Naerder, were located
near the Ferry in this town, and all subsequently were purchased by
Derick Woortman, alias Dirck Janse Woertman, and were by him sold to
Joras Remsen, on the 10th day of October, 1706, for the sum of £612 10s.
current money of New-York.
There is great reason to believe that there was a General Patent of this
town under the Dutch Government, which patent is now lost. What
strengthens this idea is, that the first by Governor Nicolls under the
English is confirmatory of some former grant.
August 10th, 1695. The Patentees and freeholders of this town sold unto
Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the neck of land called Red Hook, containing by
estimation 50 acres; which they state in their deed “was formerly given
and granted to the town of Broocklyn, in the year 1657, by Governor
Stuyvesant, the Dutch Governor then at that time, and since confirmed by
the English Governors, Governor Nicolls, and Governor Dongan.” Which is
very strong proof of there having been a general Dutch Patent for this
town.
October 18, 1667. Richard Nicolls, the first English Governor of
New-York, granted to the inhabitants of Brooklyn, the following full and
ample patent, confirming them in their rights and privileges.
_L. S._ “Richard Nicolls, Esq. Governor General under his Royal
Highness James Duke of Yorke and Albany, &c. of all his Terretorys
in America, To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth
Greeting.--Whereas there is a certain town within this government,
situate, lying and being in the West Riding of Yorkshire upon
Long-Island, commonly called and known by the name of Breuckelen,
which said town, is in the tenure or occupation of several
freeholders and inhabitants who having heretofore been seated there
by authority, have been at very considerable charge, in manuring
and planting a considerable part of the lands belonging thereunto
and settled a competent number of families thereupon. Now for a
confirmation unto the said freeholders and inhabitants in their
possessions and enjoyment of the premises, Know ye, That by virtue
of the commission and authority unto me given by his Royal
Highness, I have given, ratified, confirmed and granted, and by
these presents, do give, ratify, confirm and grant, unto Jan
Everts, Jan Damen, Albert Cornelissen, Paulus Veerbeeck, Michael
Eneyl, Thomas Lamberts, Tuenis Guysbert Bogart and Joris Jacobson,
as patentees, for and on the behalf of themselves and their
associates, the freeholders and inhabitants of the said town their
heirs successors and assigns, all that tract together with the
several parcels of land which already have or hereafter shall be
purchased or procured for and on behalf of the said town, whether
from the native Indian proprietors, or others, within the bounds
and limits hereafter set forth and exprest, viz. that is to say,
the town is bounded westward on the farther side of the land of Mr.
Paulus Veerbeeck, from whence stretching south-east, they go over
the hills, and so eastward along the said hills to a south-east
point which takes in all the lotts behind the swamp, from which
said lotts the run north-west to the River[2] and extend to the
farm, on the t’other side of the hill heretofore belonging to Hans
Hansen over against the Kicke or Looke-out, including within the
said bounds and limitts all the lotts and plantations, lying and
being at the Gowanis, Bedford, Wallaboucht and the ferry.--All
which said parcels and tracks of land and premises within the
bounds and limitts aforementioned, described, and all or any
plantation or plantations thereupon, from henceforth are to bee
appertaine and belong to the said town of Breucklen, Together with
all havens, harbours, creeks, quarryes, woodland, meadow-ground,
reed-land or valley of all sorts, pastures, marshes, runs, rivers,
lakes, hunting, fishing, hawking, and fowling, and all other
profitts, commodities, emoluments, and hereditaments, to the said
lands and premises within the bounds and limits all forth
belonging, or in any wise appertaining,--and withall to have
freedome of commonage for range and feed of cattle and horse into
the woods as well without as within these bounds and limitts with
the rest of their neighbours[3]--as also one-third part of a
certain neck of meadow ground or valley called Sellers neck, lying
and being within the limits of the town of Jamaica, purchased by
the said town of Jamaica from the Indians, and sold by them unto
the inhabitants of Breucklen aforesaid, as it has been lately laid
out and divided by their mutual consent and my order, whereunto and
from which they are likewise to have free egress and regress, as
their occasions may require.[4] To have and to hold all and
singular the said tract and parcell of land, meadow ground or
valley, commonage, hereditaments and premises, with their, and
every of their appurtenances, and of every part and parcell thereof
to the said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors
and assigns, to the proper use and behoof of the said patentees and
their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns forever.
Moreover, I do hereby give, ratify, confirm and grant unto the said
Patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and
assigns, all the rights and privileges belonging to a town within
this government, and that the place of their present habitation
shall continue and retain the name of Breuckelen, by which name and
stile it shall be distinguished and known in all bargains and sales
made by them the said Patentees and their associates, their heirs,
successors and assigns, rendering and paying such duties and
acknowledgments as now are, or hereafter shall be constituted and
established by the laws of this government under the obedience of
his Royal highness, his heirs and successors. Given under my hand
and seal at Fort James, in New-York, on the Island of Manhattat,
this 18th day of October, in the nineteenth year of the reign of
our Sovereign Lord, Charles the second, by the grace of God, of
England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith,
&c. Annoque Domini, 1667.