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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
F
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 7334
GENEALOGY 974.602 G855ME
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/yehistorieofyeto00mead_0
ARNCLIFF, RESIDENCE OF CHARLES T. WILLS, BELLE HAVEN
YE HISTORIE
OF YE
TOWN OF GREENWICH
COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD AND STATE OF CONNECTICUT
WITH
GENEALOGICAL NOTES ON THE ADAMS, AVERY, BANKS, BETTS, BROWN, BRUNDAGE, BRUSH, BUDD, BUSH, CLOSE, DAVIS, DAYTON, DENTON, . FERRIS, FINCH, GREEN, HENDRIE, HOBBY, HOLLY, HOLMES, HORTON, HOWE, HUBBARD, HUSTED, INGERSOLL, KNAPP, LOCKWOOD, LYON, MARSHALL, MEAD, MERRITT, MILLS, PALMER, PECK, PURDY, REYNOLDS, RITCH, RUNDLE, SACKETT, SCOFIELD, SELLECK, SEYMOUR, SHERWOOD, SLATER, SMITH, STUDWELL, SUTHERLAND, SUTTON, TODD, WARING, WATER- BURY, WEBB, WEED, WHITE, WILCOX, WILSON, AND WORDEN FAMILIES
BY
SPENCER P. MEAD, LL.B. OF THE NEW YORK BAR
MEMBER OF THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, AND THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THE MEAD FAMILY, AND OF THE REYNOLDS FAMILY, IN AMERICA
Being a Revision, Amplification, and Continuation of the History of the Town of Greenwich, published in 1857, by Daniel M. Mead, Major 10th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
NEW YORK The knickerbocker Press
COPYRIGHT, IQII BY SPENCER P. MEAD
All rights reserved
1143027
PREFACE.
6 37.50
THE present volume may be considered to be principally due to the genealogical work heretofore collated by the author. In the research for which he collected a mass of data of such general interest that it could not consistently be embodied in any one family genealogy; consequently he became impressed with the idea that a revised history of the Town of Greenwich ought to be compiled, so as to pre- serve and present to the public for reference the valuable information which he had in his possession, and which in a few years would probably be obliterated; therefore this volume is submitted to the public for its consideration.
In the collection of data, the author has in every instance selected the most reliable authorities and the best authenti- cated records, and has endeavored to set forth a true state- ment of the facts; but as there exists among the public various traditions with reference to historical matters, and as those traditions are in many instances at variance with the facts, it is to be hoped that the public will not be too severe in its criticisms on learning that many of those traditions are mere fairy tales.
The author is especially indebted to the Hon. Frederick A. Hubbard, better known by the literary name of Ezekiel Lemondale, for the loan of his historical articles and valuable collection of data relating to the Town of Greenwich; also to the Hon. Robert Wellstood, Town Clerk of the Town of Greenwich; the Hon. William F. Waterbury, Town Clerk of the Town of Stamford; and the Hon. Charles D. Lockwood, Judge of Probate for the District of Stamford, for the many courtesies extended by them.
iii
iv
Preface
The author has also made reference to O'Callaghan's Documentary History of New York; Thompson's History of Long Island; Huntington's History of Stamford, Connecticut; Colonial Records of the New Haven Colony; Hoadley's Colonial Records of Connecticut; Hurd's History of Fairfield County, Connecticut; Beer's History of Fairfield County, Connecticut; Schenck's History of the Town of Fairfield, Connecticut; Scharf's History of Westchester County, New York; Bolton's History of Westchester County, New York; Baird's History of the Town of Rye, New York; Military and Naval Service of Connecticut Men, by Johnson; historical articles published in The Greenwich Graphic, Greenwich, Connecticut; Collec- tions of the Connecticut Historical Society; also many others, which the author trusts have been duly credited with the information obtained therefrom. If not, it is an oversight, which he hopes will be excused.
The author has also made extensive researches at the State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; the Library of the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut ; the Greenwich Library, Greenwich, Connecticut; the Astor and Lenox Libraries, New York City; the Library of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, New York City; the probate records of New York County, New York; the land and probate records of Westchester County, New York; the town and land records of Greenwich, Con- necticut; the town, land, and probate records of Stamford, Connecticut; and the town, land, and probate records of Fairfield, Connecticut.
The author has been treated with the greatest courtesy while engaged in his researches, with but one exception, and that was while making an abstract of the probate records at Fairfield, Connecticut. The custodian in charge refused to allow the author to make copies thereof on the ground that they were not public records, and he has been put to great expense and inconvenience in securing abstracts of the wills and intestacies at that place.
As regards the records in the Town of Greenwich, the
V
Preface
author has made a list of all the landowners to 1752; a list of all the town officers to 1910; an abstract of the births, marriages, and deaths to 1845; and of all the gravestones in existence in the Town of Greenwich; which he had hoped to have published for ready public reference and thereby save the old records from so much use. Therefore he made application to the proper authorities of the Town of Green- wich for an appropriation to cover the expense of publication, but they failed to see the necessity for it, and the matter has been dropped.
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT,
July 1, 19II.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Indian Occupancy .
PAGE
I
CHAPTER II
First Settlers-Boundary Line between Greenwich and Stamford-Sub- mission to the Jurisdiction of the Dutch 4
CHAPTER III
Indian Troubles-Legend of Laddin's Rock-Battle of Strickland Plains-Captain John Underhill-Jurisdiction of the Dutch . .
IO
CHAPTER IV
Greenwich under the Jurisdiction of the New Haven Colony-Green- wich a Part of Stamford-Early Deeds-John Mead-Greenwich under the Jurisdiction of the Colony of Connecticut-Incorpora- tion of Greenwich into a Town-Early Town Meetings-Patrick Compromise-Settlement at Horseneck (Borough of Greenwich) 23
CHAPTER V
Rev. Eliphalet Jones, First Settled Minister-William Grimes' Will -William Grimes' Land-The First Society-Dissension in the First Society-the Town Divided into Two Ecclesiastical Societies- Incorporation of the Second Society .
35
CHAPTER VI
Boundary Line-Lieutenant Jonathan Lockwood-List for 1688- Ye Old Tavern-Greenwich Patent-List for 1697-Rev. Joseph Morgan, Miller, at Cos Cob-Cos Cob Mill and Landing-Grants for Mills at Dumpling Pond and Horseneck-Wharf at Horseneck -Mianus Mill and Landing-Rev. John Jones-Probate Court at Stamford-Letter of Rev. Stephen Munson-Incorporation of the Stanwich Society
vii
46
Viii
Contents
PAGE
CHAPTER VII
King George's War, 1744-1748-French and Indian War, 1754-1764- Dr. Amos Mead-Timothy Reynolds-Town Supply of Powder- Town Building-First Society without a Settled Minister-Popula- tion in 1762-School Fund of 1762-Norwalk Proposed as a County Seat-Claim to Lands in Pennsylvania .
68
CHAPTER VIII
Commissioned Officers in the Militia during the Colonial Period , 92
CHAPTER IX
Organization of the Continental Army-Washington Continental Guard-Uniforms of the Continental Army 99
CHAPTER X
The Revolutionary War-Extracts from Minutes of Town Meetings- Soldiers in the Revolution-Incidents of the Revolution-Tories- Effect of the Revolution-Ratification of the Constitution-The New York and Boston Stage Line-Turnpike Roads-Toll Gate- Connecticut Turnpike Company II5
CHAPTER XI
War of 1812-Soldiers in the War of 1812-Incidents of the War of 1812-Major Ebenezer Mead-Colonel Jabez Fitch-State Con- stitution of 1818-Visit of General Lafayette-Town Building- Bridgeport proposed as a County Seat-War with Mexico-Pro- bate Court-Town Poor-House . ·
188
CHAPTER XII
The Civil War, 1861-1865-Extracts from Minutes of Town Meetings- Soldiers in the Civil War ·
201
CHAPTER XIII
From the Close of the Civil War to the Present Time-Town Bonds- Indebtedness of the Town-Centennial Celebration of General Putnam's Ride-Lock-up-Burning of Barns of Alexander Mead- Docks at Rocky Neck Point and on Byram Shore-Spanish-Ameri- can War-Unveiling of the Putnam Monument-Unveiling of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument-Town Meetings and Dedication of the Present Town Hall-Death of Robert M. Bruce-Bruce Memorial Park-Dedication of Putnam Cottage-Captain's Island -Militia-Investigation of Town Affairs-New Form of Govern- ment-Borough of Greenwich ·
259
Contents
ix
PAGE
CHAPTER XIV
Courts-Incidents and Modes of Life of the Early Settlers-A Jour- ney by Stage in 1826-Market Boats-Steamboats-Railroads -Trolley Roads-Business Centres-Industries-Newspapers- Lawyers- Physicians-Hospitals-Fire Companies- Libraries - Public Schools-Private Schools-Churches -Hotels- Societies and Clubs
· 306
CHAPTER XV
Alphabetic List of Landowners from the First Indian Deed, 1640, to 1752. 446
GENEALOGIES
PAGE
PAGE
Adams .
489
Mead
612
Avery
49I
Merritt.
613
Banks
495
Mills
617
Betts
.
501
Palmer
618
Brown
503
Peck
629
Brundage
510
Purdy .
630
Budd
514
Ritch
638
Bush
515
Rundle
639
Close
517
Sackett.
642
Davis .
530
Scofield
643
Dayton
531
Selleck .
645
Denton .
533
Seymour
645
Ferris
536
Sherwood
647
Finch .
545
Slater
652
Green
550
Smith
654
Hendrie
554
Studwell
659
Hobby .
555
Sutherland
665
Holmes
566
Todd
669
Horton
568
Waring
670
Howe .
569
Waterbury
673
Hubbard
574
Webb
677
Husted
576
Weed .
679
Ingersoll
593
White .
682
Knapp .
595
Wilcox .
682
Lockwood
607
Wilson .
682
Lyon .
607
Worden
686
Marshall
607
INDEX TO PLACES AND SUBJECTS
. 689
INDEX TO PERSONS
. 699
.
.
Brush
5II
Reynolds
638
662
Holly .
561
Sutton
ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE
ARNCLIFF, RESIDENCE OF CHARLES T. WILLS, BELLE HAVEN. Frontispiece
GATE LODGE ON THE OLD POST ROAD AT THE ENTRANCE TO LADDIN'S ROCK FARM, NOW THE PROPERTY OF WILLIAM L. MARKS 15
A HORSE AND RIDER IN THE PLACE WHERE LADDIN AND HIS HORSE FELL
16
INDIAN VILLAGE OF PETUQUAPAEN 19
A VIEW OF PART OF THE OLD GRIMES TRACT AT SOUND BEACH, NOW KNOWN AS SHORELANDS 36
YE OLD TAVERN, BOROUGH OF GREENWICH. EBENEZER MEAD, LAND- LORD IN 1696 48
OLD TIDE MILL AT COS COB
56
OLD MAP OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH
86
RUINS OF FORT NONSENSE
120
THE HOUSE AT MIANUS IN WHICH CAPTAIN SYLVANUS MEAD WAS SHOT BY COWBOYS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR . · . 146
RESIDENCE OF OLIVER D. MEAD, FIELD POINT PARK. BUILT IN 1792 BY CAPTAIN ABRAHAM MEAD, AN OFFICER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR .
154
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE COLONEL THOMAS A. MEAD, BOROUGH OF GREENWICH. BUILT IN 1798 BY RICHARD MEAD, A REVOLUTION- ARY SOLDIER. VISITED BY GENERAL LAFAYETTE IN 1824 160
GENERAL PUTNAM'S RIDE
162
OLD KNAPP TAVERN, LATER KNOWN AS THE TRACY HOUSE. DEDICATED AS THE PUTNAM COTTAGE IN 1906 166
OLD CAVE AT BRUCE MEMORIAL PARK 170
JOHN ELBERT WHITE, PROPRIETOR OF "YE GREENWICH SHOP," JEW- ELRY AND ART GOODS, BOROUGH OF GREENWICH. A DESCENDANT OF CAPTAIN ISRAEL KNAPP .
173
x1
xii
Illustrations
FACING PAGE
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE GENERAL EBENEZER MEAD .
193
THE FIRST BRICK HOUSE IN GREENWICH, FORMERLY AT INDIAN FIELD.
BUILT BY EPHRAIM MEAD IN 1830 198
PUTNAM MONUMENT, BOROUGH OF GREENWICH
274
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT, BOROUGH OF GREENWICH 278
OLD AMERICUS CLUB HOUSE, LATER THE INDIAN HARBOR HOTEL. TORN DOWN IN 1895 · 335
RESIDENCE OF COMMODORE ELIAS C. BENEDICT AT INDIAN HARBOR, AND HIS STEAM YACHT "ONEIDA " WITH THE MENDELSSOHN GLEE CLUB SINGING ON THE BRIDGE 339
MILLS OF THE MIANUS MANUFACTURING COMPANY AT NORTH MIANUS . 342
PLANT OF THE PALMER BROTHERS AT COS COB .
.
346
MILLS OF THE AMERICAN FELT COMPANY AT GLENVILLE · 348
CAPTAIN HENRY S. LOCKWOOD 355
RESIDENCE OF CAPTAIN E. FRANK LOCKWOOD, COS COB . 356
ERWIN EDWARDS, EDITOR OF "THE GREENWICH GRAPHIC" · 357
FREDERICK W. LYON, EDITOR OF "THE GREENWICH NEWS" . 358
NORMAN TALCOTT, EDITOR OF "THE GREENWICH PRESS" · 359
Cos COB DISTRICT SCHOOLHOUSE. BUILT IN 1851
396
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
.
406
ARTHUR S. KIMBALL, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY . 517
OLD DAVIS TIDE MILL. CONFISCATED DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. TORN DOWN IN 1889 . 530
CLARENCE C. FERRIS, A.B., LL.B. . 544
RESIDENCE OF AUGUSTUS KNAPP, BOROUGH OF GREENWICH · 597
ROBERT B. MILLER, EDITOR OF THE "LYON MEMORIAL, NEW YORK FAMILIES"
· 607
SPENCER P. MEAD, LL.B., AUTHOR OF THE "HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THE MEAD FAMILY" 612
RESIDENCE OF MRS. JAMES K. O. SHERWOOD, AT RED SPRING POINT ON LONG ISLAND SOUND, NEAR GLEN COVE. 650
GEORGE A. SLATER, OF THE NEW YORK BAR è 652
YE HISTORIE OF YE
TOWN OF GREENWICH
Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich
CHAPTER I.
INDIAN OCCUPANCY.
THE Town of Greenwich lies in the southwest corner of the State of Connecticut, and is bounded westerly and northerly by Westchester County, New York; easterly by the Town of Stamford; and southerly by the waters of Long Island Sound. It is named after Greenwich, County Kent, England. The surface is hilly and rocky, and the soil is very fertile.
At the time the first settlement of Connecticut was made at Windsor, in 1633, by the English, there were four different Indian tribes occupying the southern portion of the present Town of Greenwich. The Miossehassaky, Petuquapaen, Asamuck, and Patomuck tribes. The Miosse- hassaky tribe occupied the territory now included in and ad- jacent to the Borough of Greenwich; the Petuquapaen tribe was located at Cos Cob; and the Asamuck and Pato- muck tribes were at Sound Beach. Amogerone and Owen- oke were sachems of the Asamuck tribe, and Rammatthone and Nawhorone were sachems of the Patomuck tribe.
The most powerful of these tribes was the Petuquapaen, of which Mayn Mayano was sachem, which numbered about
I
I
2
Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich
five hundred warriors. The plains at Cos Cob, called the Strickland Plains, are divided by a small brook bearing the same name, which empties into the Mianus River near the old mill at Cos Cob. On the west side of this brook, and close under a high bluff with tall oaks, a short distance north of the mill pond at Cos Cob and on the road to North Cos Cob, was situated the village of the Petuquapaen tribe, which consisted of three rows of closely collected Indian huts made of bark, extending for a distance of somewhat more than eighty yards. The road to North Cos Cob now runs through the site of this village. On the plain, east of the Indian village and between it and Strickland Brook, the wood and underbrush had been cleared away and the ground prepared for raising corn. On the banks of this brook the Indians drew up their canoes after a fishing excur- sion upon the Mianus River or the Long Island Sound. To the north, far away for miles, extended the Green Moun- tains, abounding in game, which the Indians hunted for a subsistence. To the southwest lay an extended swamp, a part of which still exists, which afforded a safe retreat to the inhabitants when attacked by their enemies. North- east from this Indian village, about a mile north of the present settlement of Steep Hollow (now called North Mianus), was an Indian fort, known to them as Betuck- quapock, to which they could retire when any danger approached from across the sound.
Petuquapaen and Miossehassaky territories were nearly equal in extent, together forming Sioascock. Over this territory and Poningoe, which was on the west side of the Byram River, Ponus was the ruling sachem, which were called Siwanoys. On the northwest of them were the Weeckquesqueecks, friends of the Siwanoys, both belonging to the great tribe of Mohegans, who were possessed of a great part of Quinnehtukqut (Connecticut), which, ac- cording to the Indian interpretation thereof, means "the long river."
Before the discovery and settlement of this part of the
3
Indian Occupancy
country by the Europeans, this was one of the most thickly inhabited sections of the whole region. Those living regu- larly at Petuquapaen were estimated at between three hundred and five hundred warriors. This number was increased afterwards to more than one thousand, when others were driven by the Dutch from their customary abodes near New Amsterdam. This village was afterwards, in 1644, annihilated by the combined forces of the Dutch and English, an account of which is given later.
CHAPTER II.
FIRST SETTLERS-BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN GREENWICH AND STAMFORD-SUBMISSION TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE DUTCH.
THE historical accounts connected with the discovery of America, the exploration of Long Island Sound and settle- ment at New Amsterdam by the Dutch, the settlements of the English at Plymouth and Boston, and the French in Canada, are so familiar to everybody that it will not be necessary to repeat them. Suffice it to say that the first English settlement in the Colony of Connecticut was made at Windsor in October, 1633, by a company of planters from Plymouth, which was followed by others from the Massa- chusetts Colony. The charter of the Colony of Connecticut, which included the New Haven Colony, was granted on the thirtieth day of May, 1662, by Charles II, and it was accepted by the New Haven Colony in 1665.
The territory now embraced in the State of Connecticut, as well as the eastern part of Long Island, was first explored by the Dutch from New Amsterdam, who laid claim to it before 1620; but no settlement was made within its boun- daries until the eighth day of June, 1633, when the first settlement was made at Dutch Point, Hartford, which was followed by settlements at Windsor, Wethersfield, Saybrook, and Hartford. Settlements were also made at about the same time by the English at Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford. Many disputes arose between the Dutch and English settlers, which at one time threatened a resort to
4
5
First Settlers
arms, but were amicably settled, and the Dutch and Eng- lish afterwards joined their forces in fighting the Indians.
The first settlement of the Town of Greenwich was made on the eighteenth day of July, 1640, when Captain Daniel Patrick and Robert Feaks, formerly of Watertown, Massa- chusetts, as agents for the New Haven Colony, landed at Greenwich Point, which the Indians called "Monakewego," and purchased from them lands lying between the Asamuck and the Patomuck rivers, as described by the following deed. (Town records) :
Wee Amogerone and Owenoke, Sachems of Asamuck, and Rammatthone, Nawhorone, Sachems of Patomuck, have sould unto Robert Feaks and Daniell Patricke all theire rights and interests in all ye severall lands betwene Asamuck River and Patomuck, which Patomuck is a littel river which divideth ye bounds betwene Capt. Turner's Perchase and this, except ye neck by ye indians called Mona- kewego, by us Elizabeth Neck, which neck is ye peticaler per- chace of Elizabeth Feaks, ye sd Robt Feaks his wife, to be hers and her heaires or assigns, forever, or else to be at ye disposal of ye aforementioned purchasers forever, to them and theire heaires, executors or assigns, and theye to enjoy all rivers, Islands, and ye severall naturall adjuncts of all ye forementioned places, neigther shall ye indians fish within a mille of aney english ware, nor invite nor permit aney other indians to sett down in ye forementioned lands; in considera- tion of which lands ye forementioned purchasers are to give unto ye above named sachems twentie five coates, whereof theye have reserved eleven in part payment; to witness all which, theye have hereunto sett theire hands this 18 July 1640.
Amogerone
www
Nawhorone
22
their marks
Amsetthehone
Keofferam
6
Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich
Witness:
Robert A. Heusted,
his
Andrew
Messenger,
mark
Rasobibitt
Saponas
Whonehorn
(their marks)
Akeroque
Pauonohas
중
Powiatoh
Keofferam hath sould all his right in ye above sd to Jeffere Ferris. Witness:
Richard Williams Angell Heusted.
They immediately located on a portion of the property and proceeded to form a settlement. They were both noted personages in the early history of New England, and had been the pioneers in the settlement of many places and were ready to push out into the wilderness at any time when the steady habits of the Puritans threw too many restraints upon their conduct. Elizabeth Fones Feaks, the wife of Robert Feaks, was the widow of Henry Winthrop, son of Governor Winthrop. Captain Patrick and Mr. Feaks both died within a few years after their settlement in the town, and Mrs. Feaks afterwards married William Hallett.
With these men there were also some Dutch and Eng- lish settlers, namely:
Boundary Line between Greenwich and Stamford 7
Everardus Bogardus, John Bowers, Jeffre Ferris, Angell Husted, Robert Husted, Andrew Messenger, Robert Wil- liams, John Winkelman.
They commenced the construction of their houses, the clearing of their land, and attended to such other duties as were incumbent on the lives of the early pioneers; having little to do with the neighboring settlements until forced into controversies, which required settlement. The first of which was a contention between Greenwich and Stamford, as to the dividing line between the two settlements.
The Town of Stamford was settled in the spring of 1641, by a company of planters from Wethersfield, Connecticut, and in October of the same year a dispute arose between the two settlements as to the dividing line. Accordingly, on the second day of November, a meeting was held by the committees representing the two settlements, at which the following agreement defining the boundary line was executed:
Wee, the underwritten, mutually agreed that the di- viding line betwene both our Plantations of Greenwich and Wetherfield Men's Plantation shall begin at Patommog Brook, where the path at present cuts, and run on in a straight line to ye west end of a line drawne from ye sides of Wetherfield Men's Plantation River, which runs by theire towne plot, to bee drawne on a due west point towards Greenwich bounds, a neat mile, and from ye west end of ye sd line to run due north up into ye contrie, about twenty miles. These lines to run on ye meridian compass. Nether will aney of us or shall aney for us object against this agreement upon ye account of ye Indians; although we shall at aney time hereafter conclude a mistake in respect of what each one bought, yett this to stand unalterable, with- out a mutual consent on both sides. To Testifie which, wee each for our townes have sett to our hands this 2nd Nov. 1641.
Daniell Patrick, Robt. Fekes,
Andrew Warde, Robert Coe, Richard Gildersleve.
The first two of these men were the representatives of
8
Ye Historie of Ye Town of Greenwich
the settlement at Greenwich, and the remainder repre- sented the Stamford settlement. With the removal of this vexatious question the inhabitants of Greenwich expected to live in peace, but it was of short duration.
The Dutch at New Amsterdam laid claim to the terri- tory of Connecticut as far east as the Connecticut River, and during the latter part of the year 1641, determined to bring that part of Connecticut under its jurisdiction. The governor of New Netherlands, Director Kieft, as he was
called, met with but little success. The inhabitants of Greenwich, however, became convinced that they were on Dutch territory, gave in their adherence to the authorities at Fort Amsterdam, to whom they swore allegiance on the ninth day of April, 1642, on condition that they should be protected from the Indians, and enjoy, as a manor, the same privileges as patrons. The following is a translation of the agreement entered into when Greenwich submitted to the jurisdiction of the Dutch, as found in O'Callaghan's Documentary History of New York.
Whereas we, Captain Daniel Patrick and Elizabeth Feake, duly authorized by her husband Robert Feake, now sick, have resided two years about five or six miles (Dutch) east of the Netherlands, subjects of the Lords States Gen- eral, who have protested against us, declaring that the said land lay within their limits, and that they should not suffer
. any person to usurp it against their lawful rights; and whereas, we have equally persisted in our course, during these two years, having been well assured that his Majesty King of England had pretended some right to this soil; and whereas, we understand nothing thereof, and cannot longer presume to remain thus, on account both of the strifes of the English, the danger consequent thereon, and these treacherous and villainous Indians, of whom we have seen sorrowful examples enough.
We therefore, betake ourselves under the protection of the Noble Lords States General, His Highness the Prince of Orange, and the West India Company, or their Governor- General of New Netherlands, promising, for the future to be faithful to them, as all honest subjects are bound to be.
9
Submission to the Jurisdiction of the Dutch
Whereunto we bind ourselves by solemn oath and sig- nature, provided we be protected against our enemies as much as possible, and enjoy henceforth the same privileges that all Patroons of New Netherlands have obtained agree- ably to the freedoms.
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