May 13, 1686. Governor Dongan granted to the inhabitants of Brooklyn the
following confirmatory patent:
_L. S._ “Thomas Dongan, Lieutenant Governor, and Vice Admiral of
New-York, and its dependencies under his Majesty James the Second,
by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland,
King, Defender of the Faith, &c.--Supreme lord and proprietor of
the Colony and province of New-York and its dependencies in
America, &c. To all to whom this shall come sendeth greeting,
whereas the Honorable Richard Nicolls, Esq. formerly Governor of
this province, did by his certain writing or patent under his hand
and seal, bearing date the eighteenth day of October, Annoque
Domini, one thousand six hundred and sixty-seven, ratifie, confirm
and grant unto Jan Everts, Jan Damen, Albert Cornelissen, Paulus
Verbeeck, Michael Enyle, Thomas Lamberts, Tunis Gisberts Bogart,
and Joris Jacobsen, as patentees for and on behalf of themselves
and their associates, the freeholders and inhabitants of the town
of Breucklen, their heirs, successors, and assigns forever, a
certain tract of land, together with the several parcels of land
which then were or thereafter should be purchased or procured for
and on behalf of the said town, whether from the native Indian
proprietors, or others within the bounds and limitts therein sett
forth and expressed, that is to say, the said town is bounded
westward on the further side of the land of Mr. Paulus Verbeeck,
from whence stretching south-east they go over the hills, and so
eastward along by the said hills to a south-east point, which takes
in all the lotts behind the swamp, from which said lotts they run
north-west to the River, and extend to the farm on the other side
of the hills heretofore belonging to Hans Hansen, over against Keak
or Look-out, including within the said bounds and limitts all the
lots and plantations, lying and being at the Gauwanes, Bedford,
Wallabocht and the ferry, all which said parcells and tract of land
and premises within the bounds and limitts aforementioned
described, and all or any plantation or plantations thereupon, from
henceforth are to be, appertain and belong to the said town of
Breucklyn, Together with all harbor, havens, creeks, quarries,
woodland, meadow ground, reed land or valley of all sorts,
pastures, marshes, waters, rivers, lakes, fishing, hawking,
hunting, fowling, and all other profits, commodities, emoluments
and hereditaments to the said lands and premises within the bounds
and limitts set forth, belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and
with all to have freedom of commonage for range and feed of cattle
and horses, into the woods with the rest of their neighbours, as
also one third part of a certain neck of meadow ground or valley,
called Seller’s neck, lying and being within 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 was laid
out aforesaid, and divided by their mutual consent and order of the
Governor. To have and to hold unto them the said patentees and
their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns forever, as
by the said patent reference being thereunto had, doth, fully and
at large appear. And further, in and by the said patent, the said
Governor, Richard Nicolls, Esq. did erect the said tract of land
into a township by the name of Breucklen aforesaid, by that name
and style to be distinguished and known in all bargains, sales,
deeds, records and writings whatsoever; and whereas the present
inhabitants and freeholders of the town of Breucklen aforesaid,
have made their application to me for a confirmation of the
aforesaid tract of land and premises in their quiet and peaceable
possession and enjoyment of the aforesaid land and premises. Now
Know Ye, That I, the said Thomas Dongan, by virtue of the
commission and authority derived unto me, and power in me
residing, have granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these
presents do grant, ratifie and confirm, unto Teunis Gysberts,
Thomas Lamberts, Peter Jansen, Jacobus Vander Water, Jan Dame,
Joris Jacobs, Jeronimus Rapalle, Daniel Rapalle, Jan Jansen, Adrian
Bennet, and Michael Hanse, for and on the behalf of themselves and
the rest of the present freeholders and inhabitants of the said
town of Breucklen, their heirs and assigns forever, all and
singular the afore-recited tract and parcels of land set forth,
limited and bounded as aforesaid; together with all and singular,
the houses, messuages, tenements, fencings, buildings, gardens,
orchards, trees, woods, underwoods, pastures, feedings, common of
pasture, meadows, marshes, lakes, ponds, creeks, harbors, rivers,
rivulets, brooks, streams, highways and easements whatsoever,
belonging or in any wise appertaining to any of the afore-recited
tract or parcells of land and divisions, allotments, settlements
made and appropriated before the day and date hereof. To Have and
To Hold, all and singular, the said tract or parcels of land and
premises, with their, and every of their appurtenances unto the
said Tunis Gysberts, Thomas Lamberts, Peter Jansen, Jacobus Vander
Water, Joris Jacobs, Jeronimus Rappalle, Daniel Rappalle, Jan
Jansen, Adrian Bennet and Michael Hanse, for and on behalf of
themselves and the present freeholders and inhabitants of the town
of Breucklen, their and every of their heirs and assigns forever,
as tenants in common without any let, hindrance, molestation, right
of survivorship or otherwise, to be holden in free and common
socage according to the tenure of East Greenwich, in the county of
Kent, in his Majesty’s kingdom of England. Yielding, rendering and
paying therefor yearly, and every year, on the five and twentyeth
day of March, forever, in lieu of all services and demands
whatsoever, as a quit rent to his most sacred Majesty aforesaid,
his heirs and successors, at the city of New-York, twenty bushels
of good merchantable wheat. In testimony whereof, I have caused
these presents to be entered and recorded in the Secretary’s
office, and the seal of the Province to be hereunto affixed this
thirteenth day of May, Anno. Domini, one thousand six hundred and
eighty-six, and in the second year of his Majesty’s reign.