USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 39
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& Alb. Rec. C. C. 62.
b Sometimes called the Younger Van Dunke. Assize Rec. Alb. 47.
& Alb. Rec. viii. 79, 80 ; Hel. Doc. vi. 118; Book of Pat. i. 56; O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. 382.
d Valentine receipts for rent.
e Nipi, in the old Algonkin, signifies water; Niep, in the Montauk. Trans. Amer. Antiq Soc. ii.
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the bosom of the Chappequa hills.a To this nymph of the val- ley the Indians (as their custom was) offered sacrifice, the perpe -- tuity of her motion typyfying to them the eternity of God.
Indian Rock, Meghkeckassin, or Amackassin.
In the north- west corner of this town, west of the Saw Mill, (Neperah) is situated the rock Meghkeckassin, Amackassin, or the great stone, sometimes called Meghkeckassin, and Maca- kassin, a name probably derived from two Delaware words, " Mekhkakhsin," signifying copper, "akhsin," stone.b This word appears to denote not a common stone, but the colored copper stone bound under some spell of Indian necromancy. " To these stones they paid all outward signs of worship and de- votion, not as to God, but as they are hieroglyphicks of the per- manency and immutability of the Deity ; because these, both for figure and substance, are, of all sublunary bodies, the least sub- ject to decay or change."c This stone lies in an obscure nook on the eastern shore of the Hudson, at the foot of a steep bank whose sides are shaded with masses of wild cedar and laurel, the beautiful lake like appearance of the river giving additional interest and magical illusion to the scene. At ebb tide the huge
a These hills are situated in the town of Newcastle.
b Trans. Amer. Antiq. Suc. vol. ii. 336.
e Beverly's Hist. Virginia.
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HISTORY OF THE
boulder must have reminded them of a monstrous Neebanawbaig, (or water spirit) afloat on the waves. To the superstitious In- dian its peculiar position must have been a subject of deep inte- rest. The name of this stone is sometimes applied to a brook that flows in the vicinity. The term Sigghes, which also oc- curs in some of the deeds, doubtless belongs to the Indian rock, situated still higher up, west of the post road on the land of J. O. Dyckman. The two rocks or stones and rivulet here referred to, still form a portion of the northern boundary of Yonkers, run- ning east to Bronx's river. In this town are also two Indian burying grounds. The principal one lies two miles north of the village, on Blackwell's hill. Within the recollection of many persons still living, the graves were distinctly indicated by rude mounds of earth, but, alas! the plough has long since removed these memorials of the ancient dead, and perhaps the mouldering relics themselves.
That remnant of a martial brow, Those ribs that held the mighty heart, That strong arm-ah ! 'tis strengthless now .- Bryant.
and well might the poet add,
Spare them ! each mouldering fragment spare, Of God's own image-let them rest, Till not a trace shall speak of where The awful likeness was impressed !a
The second and last place of sepulture used by the Indians in this town, is now nearly covered by the barn and out buildings of Benjamin Fowler, Esq. The site was well chosen on rising ground at the entrance of the Sprain valley.
Besides the Tawasenthas, (or places of many dead,) numerous skeletons have been discovered in different parts of the town, showing it to have been once numerously populated by the In- dian tribes. One of these was recently disinterred in making some improvements on the Kingsbridge road nearly opposite the Van Cortlandt residence ; it proved to be on examination the full
" Harper's Indian Traits, introd. i. 19.
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sized skeleton of an Indian in a sitting posture holding the re- mains of a small child between its knees. Others have been discovered lying near the surface of the ground on Berrian's Neck ; the back part of the skull of one of these was found per- forated by a musket ball, which still remains in the cavity of the brain.a Of course this Indian perished by fire arms. It may not be inappropriate to mention that Hendrick Hudson had an engagement with the Indians, 1609, at the mouth of the Spuyten Dyvil creek.
The descendants of the last named chief, Tackarew, continued to reside in Yonkers for more than half a century after the sale to Van der Donck, A. D. 1646, as we find Claas de Wilt, Neme- rau, and a squaw, Karocapacomont, confirming the Hon. Jacobus van Cortlandt in possession of the old Younckers, A. D. 1701.b 1692, we find an Indian chief at Bedford called Wappowham.a
The last remnant of his tribe in this place was a noble Indian by the name of Shucktaman, who occasionally visited the village, but was oftener to be seen in his canoe cruising along the various fishing grounds of the Hudson.
We have shown that the next grantee in Younckers, under the Indians, was the renowned Dutch De Heer Adriaen van der Donck.d " This illustrious personage was a free citizen of Breda. in Dutch Brabant, part owner of the famous turf sloop in which a party of Dutch troops were clandestinely introduced, in 1590, into the castle commanding that city, then in the hands of the Spanish, by which stratagem that stronghold fell into the hands of their high mightinesses the States General."e " Van der Donck en- joys the distinction of having been the first lawyer in the colony of New Netherlands. He received his education at the University of Leyden in Holland, where he attained the degree of Juris utriusque Doctor ; he subsequently obtained permission to prac- tice as an advocate in the Supreme Court of Holland. In the autumn of 1642 he embarked on board a vessel belonging to the
a In possession of H. S. Gates, M. D., of Yonkers village.
b See Van Cortlandt's confirmation.
e See Bedford.
d Donck is a village in South Holland, three and a half leagues from Gorcum.
· O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. 327.
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Patroon Killian van Rensselaer, for the New Netherlands, On his arrival he was created sheriff of Rensselaerwyck."a
After remaining here for two or three years, and finding him- self disappointed in his efforts to plant a colony in that neighbor- hood, "he obtained, in consideration of the assistance he afforded in negotiating the treaty between the Director General and the Mohawks, and in return for the advances he then made to enable the government to purchase presents for the Indians, the tract of land called Nepperhaem. This valuable property was situated on the cast side of Hudson's river, about sixteen miles above New Amsterdam. It was bounded on the north by a stream which the Indians called Maccakassin and ran south to Neper- haem ; thence to the Shorakapkock kill, and to Papirinimen creek, called by the Dutch 'Spuyten duyvel,' whence it stretched eastward to the river Bronx. The title of this colonie was 'Colen Donck,' Donck's colony, and the proprietor thereof was invested with all the rights and privileges contained in the charter of 1629."b If Van der Donck obtained these lands in marriage with his wife Mary, as her brother affirmed, he certainly had the sanction of the Lords Directors of the Dutch West India Com- pany, as Earls of the province of New Holland, as well as a charter afterwards, and a deed of confirmation from the ancient lords of the soil. The Indian grantors were Tackarew, Claes, and seven others. This fact is proved by the testimony taken before his Excellency, Richard Nicolls, the first English Gover- nor of New York, A. D. 1664, when it was distinctly declared, " That the Indian proprietor's name, who was chief of them, was Tackarew, living at the Navisans, (the highlands of the Nevi- sink, N. J.) who acknowledged ye purchase as before described, and that he had recived satisfaction for it. Claes ye Indian having interest in a part, acknowledged to have sold and re- ceived satisfaction of Van der Donck. All the rest of ye Indians, being seven or eight, acknowledged to have received full satis- factione likewise.
The Jonge Heer being now a member of the privileged order
& N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll. ii. sec. i. 27.
c Alb. Rec. Courts of Assize, i.
b O'Callaghan's Hist, N. N. 382.
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of Patroons,a enjoyed all the feudal appendages attached thereto, such as power to erect a church or churches ; to administer juris- diction, to decide civil suits, to impose fines, to pronounce the first sentence, finally to exercise all rights belonging to the jurisdic- tion of Colen Donek together with the right of hunting, fowling, fishing and trading according to immunities granted in the same. Soon after the settlement of our Patroon at Colen Donick, there arose a controversy between the government of the Colony of New Netherlands and several of the colonists ; among the most forward of the latter was Adriaen van der Donck, who with others united in a strong remonstrance to the States General of Holland, complaining of the power exercised by the Dutch West India Co. especially during the administrations of Kieft and Stuy- vesant. This remonstrance was afterwards printed at the Hague A. D. 1650, and formed a small vol. (quarto) of fifty pages enti- tled " Vertooghb van Nieuw Nederlandt, weghens de Ghelegen- hetyd, Vruchtbaerheydt, en soberen Staet desselfs. In s' Graven Hage 1650, (An Exposition of the New Netherlands, in respect to the situation, fertility, and wretched condition of the country. At the Hague, 1650.) This attempt to shake the authority of the Dutch West India Company, proved abortive, and only served to re-act unfavorably upon the disaffected ; 19 March, 1650, oc- curs a contract between the Dutch West India Co., Van der Donck and others, for the transportation of 200 persons to New Nether- lands. November 29, 1650, Cornelis Van Tienhoven secretary of the New Netherlands, delivered to the States General a short statement or answer upon certain points contained in the memo- rial of Van der Donek and others to their High Mightinesses.d
Van der Donck, also appears to have been one of the commis- sioners who repaired to Holland for a redress of grievances for May, 13, 1652, occurs the memorial of Adriaen van der Donck to
a A title derived from the Latin Patronus like the French Seignior.
b Vertoogh sometimes means remonstrance.
e Holland Doc. xvi. 191.
d Holl. Doc. No. Ivii. 360.
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the committee of the States General, stating his intended return to the New Netherlands. a
Again, May 30, 1652, a second memorial from Adriaen van der Donck to the same body, " respecting various matters con- nected with his visit to Holland on behalf of Gemeente at New Netherlands.b
During the Patroon's stay in Holland, he had shipped for Colen Donck seven persons, four of whom had cruelly deserted: and betrayed him. Upon this we find him again petitioning the Directors of the Dutch West India Company's department, Am- sterdam.
Remonstrates reverently, Adriaen Van der Donck, residing in New Nether- lands that to the supplicant was granted by the Director General and Com- pany in New Netherlands, the Saw Kill with the adjacent lands to erect there saw and grist mills, and clear the land for a plantation and farms as far as his property would permit it, which grant was chiefly obtained because the sup- plicant had contributed a vast deal by his services as mediator, to negotiate and conclude a peace between the director Kieft from the one side and the Indians from the other side, not without great sacrifice from his side, as it was the first part of the year when his presence was wanted at home, and all this at his own expence so that he might assert without boasting that he con- tributed at least as much to its consolidation than any other person whatever, so that at length peace was concluded when the supplicant advanced the prin- cipal part of the money, as the Director General was at that period not well provided with it to procure seawant,e which was wanted for presents in con- firmation of the peace which God be praised, remains yet uninterrupted. After I attained this grant in the year 1646, I resolved to reside here, erected a saw mill and laid out a farm and plantation, and was actually resolved to continue on this spot, when I further with consent of the Director General, purchased a part of said land from the Indians the original proprietors, who reclaimed it as belonging to them, but the suppliant observing that near the saw kill were valleys used as commons which by enclosure might be properly adapted for hay lands, so was he permitted by the Director General to purchase these valleys from the Indians, on the best possible terms. This induced the sup- plicant to follow his plan, having obtained as I already mentioned the consent and approbation of the Director General and Council, and included said val-
& Holl. Doc. xxxii. 130, iv.
b lIoll Doc. xxxvii. 141.
" Indian name for shell money.
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leys in his purchase, as he did not possess other low lands. This valley con- tained about 30 or 40 morgen,a with another handsome vale bordering on said, on the back part of the Island of Manhattans, and stretching as far as Paprin- emin called by our people, in spite of the dyvel, where the supplicant was de- termined to fix his residence as soon as he should have finished all his con- cerns at the saw kill ; and which yet remains his firm determination as soon as he shall have returned in safety to that country, as he made every prepa- ration to execute his purpose, by commencing to build on that spot and culti- vate the soil ; so because he is delighted with that situation, as because it shall enable him to reap all the advantages of the aforesaid valleys, without which all his great expenses which he made at the saw kill, would be in vain and his prospects in future profits would be obscured, while all his toils and la- bors would have been rendered useless with respect at least to himself, and whereas the supplicant is informed that some greedy land speculators arrived in 1652, to obtain a grant of these lands in a clandestine manner ; so it is that the supplicant now addresses himself to your honors, with great re- speet that it may please them to resolve that the supplicant shall not be dis- possessed of these lands and valleys, by any individual under any pretext what- soever, by which doing &c. &c.b
26 May, 1652, occurs an octroy, granting to Adriaen van der Donck, Patroon of the Colony of Colendonck, power to bequeath his said fief of Colendonck.
"The states general of the United Netherlands, to all who shall see or hear these presents, send health. Be it known, that we, at the humble re- quest of Adriaen van der Donck of Breda, Patroon of the colony of Nepper- haem, called by him Colendonck, situated in New Netherlands, within the limits of the privileged West India company, and having taken into consideration the 5th article of the freedom granted by the assembly of the nineteen of the said company, to all those who shall plant in New Netherlands aforesaid, have granted, consented and privileged, grant, consent and privilege, out of our sovereign will by these our letters, that he may dispose, bequeath and order the aforesaid, his fief named Colendonck, either by codicil by form of testa- ment, or last will before a notary and witnesses, superintendence within the property situated in the same, as or otherwise as it shall please him, to the profit of his children, if he have any, or other, strangers, &c., &c.c
a A Dutch morgen contained a little over 2 acres English, 7 morgen containing 15 acres.
b Alb. Rec. vol. viii. 79.
e Holland Doc. No. xxv, 118. VOL. II.
52
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About this period, the Patroon commenced the compilation of his celebrated book, entitled “ Beschyvinge van Nieuw Neder- land," or a description of New Netherland, the copyright of which bears date, 17th May, 1653.ª
The work is dedicated " To the Illustrious, Most Wise and Prudent Lords, the Honorable Ruling Burgomasters of the far-famed commercial City of Am- sterdam.
Why mourn about Brazil, full of base Portuguese ? When Van der Donck shows so far much better fare ; Where wheat fills golden ears, and grapes abound in trees ; Where fruit and kine are good with little care ;
Men may mourn a loss, when vain would be their voice,
But when their loss brings gain, they also may rejoice.
Then, reader, if you will, go freely there to live, We name it Netherland, though this excels it far ; If you dislike the voyage, pray due attention give, To Van der Donck, his book, which, as a leading star, Directs toward the land where many people are, Where lowland Love and Laws all may freely share.
[Evert Nieuwenhof."
24th of July of the same year, we find him petitioning the Di- rectors of the West India company, for permission to search the records of the colony, and also for leave to pursue the practice of his profession.
The following appears in answer to it :
As Mr. Adriaen van der Donck has petitioned our college, [stating] first, that he has received his degree at law in the university of Leyden, and been admitted to practice it before the supreme court of Holland, he may be per- mitted to follow his profession as advocate in New Netherlands. 2ndly, That he may examine all the records and documents in the secretary's office to accomplish his history of New Netherlands, which he did undertake to write, so is our resolution upon these points, we consent and permit him, that, in conformity with the rules and customs of this country , he may follow his profession as advocate in New Netherlands, to give his advice to all who
& Holl. Doc. No. xii. 4, No. xiii. 42, No. xiv. 43, No. xv. p. 44, No. xvi. 45, No. xvii. 47. This book has been recently translated from the original Dutch, by the Ilon. Jeremiah Johnson. See 1 vol. new series N. Y. His. Soc.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
may desire to obtain it ; but, as regards his pleading before the courts, we cannot sce that it can be admitted yet, with any advantage to the Director and Council in New Netherlands, besides that we are ignorant of there being any of that stamp in your city (who nevertheless before they can be admitted, must apply to your honor, or directly to our department) who can act and plead against Van der Donck, in behalf of the other side. We trust, that in this, you will consult the interests of your government and the welfare of the inhabitants.
24 July, 1653.ª
Adriaen van der Donck married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Francis Doughty. Patentee of Mespath, Long Island. In con- sequence of the absence of all family records, we have no means whereby we can determine the exact date of the Patroon's death, but it is reasonable to conclude from the following document, that it took place circa, 1654, as in it we find his lands settled and divided among his children. This was previous to the general massacre by the Indians, A. D. 1655.
This letter was despatched by the Director General, Peter Stuyvesant and council, to Holland, in a vessel called the Fox, commanded by the skipper, Jacob Jansen Hayes.
Honorable, prudent, wise and right respectful gents.
Although since our last letter, no act of hostility has been committed, yet those of Hartford continue their threatenings, anticipates, and encroachments, and purchased from the savages all the land between Westchester and the North river,b including different lots of land, which were as well under the administration of the Honorable Gov. Kieft as ours, in the usual manner granted by letters patent, and in virtue of these possessed by those of our nation, as so among others the land of Jonas Bronck, the lands of the old Verdonck divided and settled by his children and associates in various plantations and farms, but who in the massacrec were absconded with many others, all which are situated here and bordering on our island, only divided by a small creek, which in some places by low water is passable, so as they to us the
a Alb. Rec. vol. iv. 3.
b Thos. Pell, proprietor of the manor of Pelham, was authorized by the assembly of Conn., to purchase all the lands from Westchester town to the North river, of the Indians, 1664. Trumbull's Conn., 272, Webster's Letters, 205.
The massacre here alluded to, took place Sept. 1655, during the absence of Stuyvesant, when the warriors of the Algonquin tribes, made a furious onset upon the colony. See Bancroft's His. U. S., vol. ii. 299.
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savages declared and solicited them to purchase other lands to the east and west of the North river, dat. 20 June, 1664.ª
On the 12th of March, 1664, the Dutch possessions in America were patented to his Royal Highness James Duke of York and Al- bany, by his brother King Charles II. This grant was immediately followed by a military and naval armament under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls, which reduced the New Netherlands to the subjection of the English Crown, 27th Angust, 1664.
One of the articles of capitulation drawn up by the commission- ers at the surrender, declared that "all people shall continue free denizens, and shall enjoy their lands, houses and goods, whersoever they are within this country, and dispose of them as they please.b
Sept. 21, 1666, Mary Doughty, widow of the late Adriaen van der Donck, and wife of Hugh O'Neale,c in right of her former husband, claimed "all that land upon the maine not far from Westchester, called the Younckers land, and brought forward several Indians to prove the purchase."d
Sth October, 1666, 18th King Charles II. Governor Nicolls granted the following patent to Mr. Hugh O'Neale and Mary his wife,
PATENT FOR NEPPERHAEM.
Richard Nicolls, Esq , governor under his Royal Highness, ye Duke of York, of all his territoryes in America, to all to whom this present writing shall come, sendeth greeting : Whereas there is a certain tract of land within this government, upon the main, bounded to the northwards by a rivulet called by the Indians, Macakassin, so running southward to Nepperhaem, from thence to the kill Shorakkapoch, and then to Paprinimen, which is the southermost bonnds, then to go across the country to the eastward by that which is com- monly known by the name of Broncks's his river and land, which said tract hath heretofore been purchased of the Indian proprietors by Adriaen van der Donck, deceased, whose relict, Mary, the wife of Hugh O'Neale, one of the patentees is, and due satisfaction was also given for the same, as hath by
a Alb. Rec. vol. xviii. 257.
h Smith's Hist. of N. Y., p. 19.
Hugh O'Neale, formerly of Newtown, Long Island. Assize Rec. p. 47.
¿ See Confirm. of Van der Donck's purchase.
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some of the said Indians been acknowledged before me : now for a further confirmation unto them, the said Hugh O'Neale and Mary his wife, relict of the aforesaid Adriaen van der Donck, in their possession and enjoyment of the premises,
Know ye, that by the virtue of this our commission and authority given unto me by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, I have thought fit to give, ratify, confirm, and grant, and by these presents do give, ratify, confirm, and grant, unto the said Hugh O'Neale and Mary his wife, their heirs and assigns, all the aforementioned tract or parcel of lands called Neperhaem, together with all woods, marshes, meadows, pastures, waters, lakes, creeks, rivuletts, fishing, hunting, and fowling, and all other profits, commodities and emolu- ments to the said tract of land belonging, with their and every of their apurte- nances, and of every part and parcel thereof, to have and to hold the said tract of land and premises, with all and singular their appurtenances, unto the said Hugh O'Neale and Mary his wife, their heirs and assignes, to the proper use and behoofe of the said Hugh O'Neale and Mary his wife, their heirs and assigns forever, he, she, or they, or any of them, rendering and paying such acknowledgment, duties, as are or shall be constituted and ordayned by his Royal Highness the Duke of York and his heirs, or such governor or governors as shall from time to time be appointed and set over them within this province. That, if at any time hereafter his Royal Highness, his heirs, successors, or as- signes, shall think fit to make use of any timber for shipping, or for erecting or repairing of forts within this government, liberty is reserved for such uses and purposes to cut any sort of timber upon any unplanted grounds on the said tract of land, to make docks, harbours, wharfes, houses, or any other conveniences relating thereunto,and also to make use of any rivers or rivuletts and inlets of water for the purposes aforesaid, as fully and free as if no such patent had been granted.
Given under my hand and seal at Fort James, New York, on the island of Manhattau, the eighth day of October, in the eighteenth 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., &c., in the year of our Lord God, 1666.ª
RICHARD NICOLLS.
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