USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 11
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GENERAL HISTORY.
tis, 219; Peter Dubois, 293}; Martin Willsie, 4 parcels, 528}: John Van Amburg, 3464; Judith Crownell, 153; Gilbert Weeks, 285; Israel Knapp, 168; Isaac Springer, 50; Philip Pelton, 49; Jonathan Miller, 106; Titus Travis, 118; Jedediah Frost, 143; Richard Christian, 331; John Budd, 200; James Langdon, 82; David Hanion, 200; Paul Sparling. 54; Gilbert Bloomer, 187; Nathaniel Anderson, 266; Daniel Ter Bos, three parcels, 1497; Benj. Bloomer, 430; John Haight and John Nelson, 371}; Israel Knapp, 354; Cornelius Adriance, 27; Squire Baker, 30; Andrew Hill, 385; Paul Sparling, 54. Total No. of acres sold in Lots 3-5-9, 39100."
Previous to the Revolution, Roger Morris and his wife sold to Ebenezer Boyd and William Hill, 600 acres in Lot No. 5. The marsh or meadow between Constitution Island and Lot 2 was divided as stated before, and the north part fell to Mary Morris. From this share the commissioners sold parcels to Martin Wilsie, Solomon Cornell, Charity Huestis, Matthew Snook and Justus Nelson, amounting to 55g acres. Mr. Livings- ton reported as follows:
"Population of Lot No. 3, seventy-five houses containing -
as many families, reckoning six to a family, . . 450
"On Lot 5 three hundred and twenty families, reckoning six to a family, 1,920
"On Lot 9 one hundred and twenty-nine families, reckon- ing six to a family, 774
"Total, 3,144
"From my own observation and that of others I deem that 4,600 acres are under cultivation in Lot No. 3.
"On Lot No. 5 14,939 acres under cultivation.
"On Lot No. 9 7,348 acres inclosed and improved.
"Total acres improved 26,887."
"Uncultivated and unimproved 23,962, in all 50,849 acres.
" The assessors of the towns of Kent and Carmel, furnished their returns, of such part of their respective towns as were embraced in Lots 5 and 9:
" The valuation of real estate, in that part of Lot 5 which lies in the town of Kent is, $81,981.00
" In the town of Carmel, 234,230.00
"Total Assessors valuation of Lot 5, 316,211.00
7
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
"Assessors valuation of real estate on Lot 9, in town of South East, 250,394.00
"I could not procure the assessors returns of Lot No. 3 in Philip and Fishkill Towns but from good information state it, 81,022.00
Total of Lots 3-5-9, $647,627.00."
Mr. Livingston adds the following observations which are interesting as showing the conditions of this part of the county eighty years ago:
"Lot No. 3, contains 9,200 acres, of these 2,000 are feasible and well improved. Hardly equal however to some parts of Lot 5 which lie in Carmel and various parcels on Lot No. 9. Three thousand more may be equal to the better parts of Lot No. 5 lying in Kent and the middling qualities of the same Lot in Carmel. The residue of this Lot is mountainous some alto- gether inaccessible, the buildings are erected upon a humble scale, all wood. Perhaps one-third of the field enclosures are stone. It is perfectly well watered by springs and rivulets. The farmers all reside at inconsiderable distances from either Fish- kill or Cold Springs landings. This adds value to their several estates."
"Lot No. 5.
"The northern part of this Lot and that which lies in the town of Kent is mountainous and Rocky. Some of the valleys are excellent meadows and where the soil can be come at is good. But these estimable portions bear but a small propor- tion to the more rugged parts. The Southern division of this tract and which is the town of Carmel is hilly but cannot be deemed mountainous. Here extensive and excellent meadows every where meet the eye, and tillage is well attended to. The soil however is generally stony, very little wheat is grown on this Lot. Rye forms the bread of a very large majority. Their exports are rye Indian corn buckwheat beef pork butter and cheese. The whole of this Lot is well watered by ponds and small streams. Mahopac is a beautiful pond, has several islands and contains 659 acres of water. This and nine other ponds embelish this County. These waters all abound in fish. The northern section of this Lot can pass to the Cold Spring landing on an excellent turnpike road, but the middle and southern di- visions choose the port of Peekskill. The buildings on this Lot
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GENERAL HISTORY.
are generally below mediocrity. Many however are comfort- able. The day for elegance has not arrived."
"Lot No. 9.
"Is so very like the south part of Lot 5 that a description of the one is a portrait of the other. This tract is not really mountainous but yet is very near it. The soil is good but stony. Croton river enters near its northwest and leaves at its Southeast angle. Ponds also beautify this tract and small streams abound. More than half the field enclosures in this Lot as well as Lot 5 are composed of stone. A turnpike road passes through this Lot from the north east to the south east corner, ending at Sing Sing."
Sales by the Commissioners of Forfeitures of the Lands of Beverly Robinson and wife. Sales in Lot No. 4 :- Squire Baker, 116 acres; Joshua Tompkins, 112; Nathaniel Jagger, 87; Titus Travis, 118; John Russell, 101; Josiah Ingersoll, 30; John Clin- ton, 110; Wm. White, 179}; Philip Pelton and Joshua Myrick, 500, 500, 178; Gilbert Oakley, 130; Richard Denny, 1148; Na- thaniel Tompkins, 219; John Hyatt and Isaac Penier, 232; Rich- ard Slatterly, 120}; John Likely, 964; Wm. Colegrove, 187; John Hyatt, 316; Comfort Luddington, 15; Elijah Oakley, 264; Caleb Frisbee, 99; John Denny, 106; Cornelius Tompkins, 240; Daniel Bugbee, 220; Anthony Field, 500; Richard Denny, 80}; Samuel Cromwell, 239; Titus Travis, 127}; Jonathan Miller, 106}; Jedediah Frost, 143; Gabriel Acker, 172; Philip Steinback, 122}; Peter Rickey, 287; Thomas Hill, 370; Richard Christian, 331}; Wm. Crawford, 281; Reuben Tompkins, 217}; Daniel Delavan, 370; Hyatt Lane, 203; Richard Denny, 1292; John Hyatt and Isaac Penier, 461}, 480}; John Budd, 200; James Langdon, 82; Wm. Smith, 188; Nathan Lane, 278; Ebenezer Boyd, 192; Sam- uel Drake, 51, 74; Joseph Paine, 117; John Hoyt, 154; Robert Oakley, 221}; Gilbert Lockwood, 137; Jesse Owen, 188; Zeph- aniah Platt and John Bailey, 495, 500; Jacobus Swarthout, 110; Mary Conklin, 370; Comfort Luddington, 15; Caleb Frisbee, 99; Henry Kiers, 147; John Brinkerhoff, 250; James Sherwood, 160; Isaac Springer, 50; Jonathan Price, 240; Thomas Lewis, 207; John Yeomans, 134; John Christian, 259; John Shouck, 280; John Weeks, 425; Thomas Bashford, 158; Moses Dusenbury, 105; Nathaniel Jagger, 123; Sibert Cronk, 240; Joshua Tomp- kins, 185, 111, 37; John Campbell, 439; Abraham Baker, 438; Gilbert Budd, 85; Widow Hester Van Tassel, 123; Oliver Odell,
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
172; Matthew McCabe, 193; Daniel Willsie, 130; Ezekiel. Gee, 200; Samuel Drake, 500; Joshua Drake, 500; Solomon Hopkins, 250; John Horton, 140}; James Jacocks, 162; Jonathan Owens, 272g, 312}; Amos Odell, 46}; Henry Post and Isaac Odell, 227}; Thomas Smith and Jacob Reed, 134}; Joseph Bard, 184; Wm. Oakley, 129; John Hyatt and George Lane, 465; Jacobus Swart- hout, 464; Jacob Griffin, 397; Richard Christian, Jr., 1522; John McDonald, 1123; George Lowe, 239; Wm. Dusenburry, 305 ¿; Peter Barager, 213; James Perry, 150; John Smith, 165; John Hyatt and Nathaniel Hyatt, 457; Joshua Hyatt, 457; Solo- mon Smith, 163; Hannah Knapp, 2223; Abraham Post, 252; Moses Dusenburry, 1151; John Drake, 271; Jesse Owens, 82; Moses Dusenburry, 2172.
Sales in Lot No. 7: Elija Oakley, 264 acres; David Hill, 160; Joseph Crawford, 85}; Alexander Kidd, 111; David Close, 159; James Hays, 252; Ephraim Warren, 128; John Newbury, 125; David Hecocks, 293; Roswell Wilcox, 161; John Burck, 130; Peter Coiley, 17; Increase Bennett, 4; Anthony Post, 98; Na- thaniel Delavan, 465; Caleb Frisbee, 115; Robert Morris, 300; Wm. Duer, 208; John Newbury, 60; Anthony Post, 28 poles; John Burch, 40 acres; Abraham St. John, 200; Jonathan Burck, 112; James Calkins, 482; Robert Mooney, 146; Benjamin Bird- sall, 30}; John Healy, 208; James Fairley, 119; Matthew Pat- terson, 157; Abraham St. John, 59; Comfort Sands, 187; Nehe- miah Stebbins, 329; Benjamin Birdsall, 173; Henry Luddington, Samuel Mills, Billy Trowbridge, Benaijah Beardsley, 338 and 126; Uriah Wallace, 80; Samuel T. Pell, 300; Comfort Ludding- ton, 200; James Philips, 113; Jehiel Weed, 170; Daniel Shaw, 14; Samuel Towner, 269; Jedediah Wyllys, 105; Thomas Mit- chell, 122; Asa Howes, 271; Jedediah Wyllys, 200; Robert Morris, 194; James Corey, 85}; David Hecocks, 120; Ephraim Jones, 119; Comfort Sands, 456; Ezra Gregory, 166; James Rosekrans, 118; Anthony Post, Matthew Patterson, Alexander Kidd, 199; Wm. B. Alger, 250, 70.
Lot 8.
In this lot there was sold to Philip Pelton, Benjamin Pelton and Daniel Pelton, 159 acres, being in two parcels. This was land formerly sold by John Ogilvie and Margaret Ogilvie to Edward Price, and afterward owned by Tertullus Dickerson, by whose conviction it was forfeited. This tract or a part of it
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GENERAL HISTORY.
now belongs to Theodore Kelly. The old "Burcham Mills" stood on this tract before the Revolution.
Sales in Lot No. 1: The greater part of this lot was sold to William Denning, a wealthy merchant of New York. The whole of the western part of the lot was sold to him by Daniel Graham, the surveyor general of the State, as commissioner of forfeitures. A tract adjoining this on the east and running the whole length of the lot was also sold to William Denning by Daniel Graham, May 3d, 1785. These two deeds include all the lot except a comparatively small tract in the southeast corner. Of this a tract of about 439 acres was sold to Major John Camp. bell. The parsonage farm of St. Peters Church and St. Philips Chapel embraced about 200 acres, and lay next east of Major Campbell's, and was given to the church by the State, while near the southeast corner was a larger tract sold to John Meeks. Jonathan Owen also had a tract of about 580 acres, which lay at the extreme southeast corner of Lot No. 1.
Sales in the Oblong: By the attainder of Henry Clinton, several parcels of land were sold in the Oblong. The following is a partial list: Isaac Elwell, 41 acres; Benjamin Sears, 48, 82; Joseph Crane, Jr., 25; Mark Gage, 75; Elihu Gage, 53, 71; An- thony Gage, 112; Nathaniel Sinclair, 4; Thomas Higgins, 952; John Elwell, 15; Joseph Drake, 3; John Starr, 83}; Wm. Clin- ton, 29, 46; Benjamin Sears, 25.
The Oblong was not a part of the Philipse Patent. Its history will be found in a succeeding chapter.
CHAPTER VII.
THE GORE.
T HE Gore was a tract of land to the north of the Philipse Patent and was for many years a source of dispute and litigation between the Philipse family and the owners of the Rumbout and Beekman Patents, which adjoined them on the north. The vague and indefinite manner in which the bounds of early land grants were described almost invariably led to disputes of this nature. In this case the dispute arose, not from uncertainty as to the bounds of the Philipse Patent, but from the peculiar manner in which the south lines of the Rum- bout and Beekman Patents were described. The south bounds of the Rumbout Patent are thus defined: "Also from the said Fish kill or creek called Mateawam, along the said Fish kill into the woods at the foot of the High Hills, including all the reed or low lands at the south side of said creek, with an easterly line four hours going, sixteen English miles."
The Beekman Patent was described as "Beginning at the north side of the Highlands, at the east of the lands of Col. Van Cortlandt and Company (that is the Rumbout Patent) so far as the line between the Province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut extends."
The bounds of the Philipse Patent were described as beginning at Anthony's Nose, which was the southwest corner of the patent, and running north along the Hudson River "until it comes to the Creek River or Run of water called the Great Fish kill to the northward and above the Highlands which is like- wise the southward bounds of a tract of land belonging to Col. Stephanus Cortlandt and Company and so easterly along Col. Cortlandt's line and the south bounds of Col. Henry Beekman until it comes twenty miles or unto the Division Line between our Colony of Connecticut &c."
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GENERAL HISTORY.
The Philipse family claimed that by the terms of the Rum- bout Patent the Fishkill Creek was its south boundary and, as the Philipse Patent was bounded on the north by that patent, it followed that the Fishkill was their northern boundary. Again as the Beekman Patent was said to be "on the north side of the Highlands" and they were bounded north by the Beek- man Patent, it followed that they owned all the land south of the north line of the mountains. On the other hand the pro- prietors of both the Rumbout and Beekman Patents claimed that the north line of the Philipse Patent was a due east line from the mouth of the Fishkill and that their southern bound- aries extended to it.
Among the Philipse papers is a brief, written by David Og- den, the counsel for that family, which states in a few words their line of argument. "There is no dispute as to the point of beginning, on the Southside of the Fishkill. "As the Rum- bout Patent was all that tract on the north side of the High- lands, no part of the Highlands was included in it." "The words along the Fishkill intended it to be the boundary, as much as along the river." "That as the Wappingers kill with the addition of 500 rods, was the north boundary of the Rumbout Patent, so the Fishkill, with the reed or low lands, was the sonth boundary." "The words easterly line mean the same with reference to the Fishkill that northerly does to Hudson River, and that the four hours going should be measured along the Fishkill, and that a straight line measured along the Fish- kill or so as not to go on any of the hills, will by the map differ but little." "That a line running east from the mouth of the Fishkill instead of being on the north of the Highlands, in less than a mile runs into them and continues therein the whole 16 miles."
He concludes that the Fishkill is the true north boundary of the Philipse Patent except where there are " reed or lowlands," and all such belong to the Rumbout Patent. After a long con- troversy the dispute was settled January 26th, 1771. At that time the contest was between Lawrence Lawrence, who owned one-third of the share of Jacobus Kip in the Rumbout Patent, and the heirs of Frederick Philipse. The matter was left to the decision of William Nicoll and Thomas Hicks. They decided that "a line should begin at the northern extent of the bushes or shrubs upon Plum Point: being the south side of the month
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of the Fishkill, and should run from thence East 6 degrees North, as the Compass now points, 16 miles, and that the said line shall forever hereafter be and remain the boundary." At the Revolution this triangular tract was owned by Beverly Robinson, Roger Morris and Philip Philipse. The shares of the first two were confiscated and by a law passed in 1784 the tract was divided into three lots, of which the State of New York had two and the heirs of Philip Philipse had one. The lot of the Philipse family lay next to the east line of the Rum- bout Patent and was 115 chains wide at the east end, the course of the east line being north 25 degrees 30 minutes west. This lot is the southeast corner of the town of East Fishkill. From the Philipse papers it is found that the cost of their claim to this Gore was £1,818, 12s.
GORE IN BEEKMAN PATENT.
It has been seen that the owners of the Philipse Patent claimed that the Beekman Patent lay to the north of the High- lands, and consequently covered no portion of the mountains, while the Beekmans with equal pertinacity claimed that their south boundary should be a line running due east from the south side of the mouth of Fishkill. The controversy lasted for many years and finally was settled, like that concerning the Rumbout Gore, by a compromise. On the 18th of January, 1758, Beverly Robinson, Susannah Robinson, Philip Philipse and Mary Philipse on the one part, and Henry Beekman, Catharine Pawling and Robert Livingston on the other part, mutually agreed, "for the ending of all disputes," that a line should be run "from Mateawam or the mouth of Fishkill as the Compass now points due east to the Oblong." From this point on the Ob- long a line was to be run northerly along the Oblong line, 200 chains, and from thence "a due west line as the Compass now points," to the rear of the Rumbout Patent, and this last line should be the boundary between the parties. Samuel Willis, of Hempstead, Long Island, was employed as the surveyor, and the north line is thus described :- " Began on the Oblong line at a large heap of stones set up which bears N. 25 degrees west, 38 links from a large rock on which are cut the letters H. B. B. R. P. P .; a new house erected by Daniel Chase bears the same course the rock does. From thence due west, the line runs about 12 feet south of Wm. Hunt's spring or fountain,
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GENERAL HISTORY.
where Col. Henry Beekman made the letters H. B., on the rock out of which the water of the spring runs. Said line also crosses a pretty large pond in the mountains, a little south of the mid- dle. On the east shore a monnment is set up about 2 chains south of one Baker's house standing in a hollow."
The rock mentioned as marked with the letters H. B. B. R. P. P., is still to be seen and is one of the most interesting land- marks in this portion of the country. It is in the town of Pawlings, on the homestead of Martin Leach, and is 78 feet north of the barn, and 20 feet. south of the wall on the sonth side of the orchard (which wall is the original north line of the Gore) and about 35 feet west of a wall running north from the east end of the barn. Some 20 rods east of this is a piece of low marshy ground and a small stream running to the south. A large rock and an old white oak tree stand on the west side of the marsh. The "new house erected by Daniel Chase " is where the house of Martin Leach now stands, about 20 rods south of the rock. The rock is 95 paces east from the road which runs north and south. As this farm includes land on both sides of the Oblong, the line itself has been obliterated by the removal of the fences, but the original line was two or three feet west of the rock. The letters P. P. are plainly visible, on the south side of the rock, which slopes downward, and the letters H. B. are on the north end, which is nearly perpendicular, near the top. The letters B. R. have disappeared and they were probably on a portion of the rock which has scaled off. From this rock the " Mizzen Top" Hotel bears a little south of east. The farm and homestead were sold by Daniel Chase to Jona- than Aikin; he left it to his son Peter, who in turn left it to his son Isaac; he left it to his nephew, Jonathan Aikin, who sold it to Martin Leach, the present owner, about 1870.
It is a curious illustration of how easily old landmarks are forgotten that neither the present owner nor his predecessor had any knowledge as to the significance of this marked monument. The line running to the west crosses the Harlem Railroad about 100 rods south of Pawlings Station. The "pretty large pond in the mountains," is now known as Whaley Pond. The agree- ment above mentioned is recorded in the records of Dutchess county, in Liber C., page 190. The Gore thus obtained was surveyed into farms by Jonathan Hampton and leased and sold to various parties. Farm 15, containing 249 acres, was sold to
106
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Reed Ferris, February 5th, 1772. It was then in possession of Isaiah and Joseph Burch. By agreement Reed Ferris was to bear the expense of any law suits he might have to sustain title. Farm 19 was sold to Stephen Wilcox, and was then in posses- sion of John Munroe and Amos Wilcox. Among the purchas- ers was John Kane, who married Lucy, daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent, and was the ancestor of the illustrious explorer, Dr. Elisha Kent Kane. The homestead of John Kane is south of Pawlings and was formerly known as the "Slocum place," and was iu 1877 the residence of William H. Chapman, Esq. Mr. Kane kept a store there previous to the Revolution.
The following is an abstract of the deed to Reed Ferris. The original is written on a large sheet of parchment and is still in possession of his descendants. The residence of Mr. Ferris is still standing.
"This indenture made the fifth day of February in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. Annoque Domini one thousand. seven hundred and seventy two Between the Honourable Roger Morris Esq. and Mary his Wife Beverly Robinson and Susan- nah his Wife the Reverend John Ogilvie and Margaret his Wife, Nathaniel Marston and Adolph Philipse of the first Part, Reed Ferris of Dutchess County Yeoman of the second Part Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part for and in Consideration of the sum of Eight hundred pounds Current Money of the Province of New York to them the said parties of the first Part in hand paid by the said Reed Ferris at or be- fore the Ensealing and Delivery of the Presents the Receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit re- lease and Discharge Reed Ferris his Heirs Executors and Ad- ministrators and every of them by these presents have granted bargained and sold aliened remised released and by these Pres- ents Do fully freely and absolutely grant bargain and sell alien remise release and confirm unto the said Reed Ferris in his ac- tual possession now being by virtue of a bargain and Sale to him * *
* and his Heirs and Assigns forever all these several Tracts of Land Farms or Plantations situate lying or being in Dutchess County being part of the undivided part of Philipse's upper patent in Pawlings Precinct called butted and bounded as follows to witt Farm Number Fifteen now in possession of
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GENERAL HISTORY.
Isaiah and Joseph Burch beginning at a stake in the line of Beverly Robinsons Lot Number Seven being the South East Corner of farm number Seventeen from thence North forty-four Chains forty Links to farm Number Nineteen then East Ninety- five Chains Eighty Links to the Corner of farm Number Nine- teen then North three Chains fifty Links to the South west Cor- ner of Farm Number Ten then East thirty-three Chains ninety Links to Farm Number Eleven then South Forty-three Chains fifty links to the Line of the said Robinson's Number seven then south Eighty-seven Degrees West fifty-nine Chains thirty Links along said Robinson's Line to the beginning containing two hundred and forty-nine Acres more or less as may appear by a Map and return Book made by Jonathan Hampton may appear, and also all that farm or plantation called farm Number Nineteen in possession of John Munroe and Amos Wilcox butted and bounded as follows to wit beginning at a Stake on
Colonel Beekman's or * * * line which is the North West corner of Farm Number Ten from thence South sixty-seven Chains then West forty-four Chains Eighty Links to the South East Corner of Farm Number sixteen then North thirty-seven Chains to Farm Number thirteen then East twenty Chains to the Corner of said Farm Number thirteen then North thirty Chains to Beekman's line then East twenty-four Chains Eighty Links to the Beginning containing two Hundred and forty acres more or less a's by a Map and return Book of Jonathan Hamp- ton may appear together with all and singular the woods etc.
" ROGER MORRIS,
" MARY MORRIS,
" JOHN OGILVIE,
" MARGARET OGILVIE,
" BEV. ROBINSON,
" SUSANNAH ROBINSON.
" NATHAL. MARSTON,
" ADOLPH PHILIPSE."
This Gore, like the other, was divided after the Revolution, between the heirs of Philip Philipse and the State of New York, the State taking the confiscated shares of Beverly Rob- inson and Roger Morris. The farms were sold to various parties.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE OBLONG.
T HE eastern portion of Putnam county is a strip of land one mile, three quarters and twenty rods wide. This strip is a portion of what is known as the "Oblong" or "Equivalent Lands," the history of which is exceedingly curious.
At the time of the early settlement of the colonies, the geography of the county was but little understood, and errone- ous descriptions led to endless controversies, not only between individuals but between townships and colonies as well. The boundary between the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam and the English colony of Connecticut was in the very earliest times a fruitful source of contention, the former claiming all lands west of Connecticut River, while the latter kept pushing their settlements along the shore of the Sound, till they extended beyond Byram River. After a long and angry dispute, an agreement was concluded at Hartford on the 29th of September, 1654. By this it was resolved that the boundaries between the Dutch and English on Long Island should be a line from the western part of Oyster Bay to the sea, and on the main land the bounds were to begin at the west side of Greenwich Bay and run in a northerly direction, twenty miles up into the country. Ten years later all this agreement was abrogated by the conquest of New Netherland and the establishment of the English rule in the province of New York.
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