continues to this Day*. Sir Robert Carr was equally fuccefsful on South River, for he compelled both the Dutch and Swedes, to capitulate and deliver up their Garrisons the firft of October, 1664; and that was the Day in which the whole New-Netherlands became fubject to the English Crown. Very few of the Inhabitants thought proper to remove out of the Country. Governour Stuyvesant himself, held his Estate and died here. His Remains were intered in a Chapel, which he had erected on his own Farm, at a small Distance from the City, now poffeffed by his Grandfon Gerardus Stuyvefant, a Man of Probity, who has been elected into the Magistracy, above thirty Years fucceffively. Juftice obliges me to declare, that for Loyalty to the present reigning Family, and a pure Attachment to the Protestant Religion, the Descendants of the Dutch Planters, are perhaps exceeded by none of his Majesty's Subjects.

* The Dutch were fenfible of the Importance of preferving an uninterrupted Amity with thofe Indians, for they were both very numerous and warlike. The French pursued quite different

Measures, and the Irruptions of those Tribes, according to their own Authors, have often reduced Canada to the Brink of Ruin.

THE

THE

HISTORY

O F

NEW-YORK.

PART II.

From the Surrender in 1664, to the Settlement at the Revolution..

R

ICHARD NICOLLS being now poffeffed of the Country, took the Government upon him, under the Stile of "Deputy-Governor "under his Royal Highness the Duke of York, of all his Territories in "America." During his fhort Continuance here, he paffed a vast Number of Grants and Confirmations of the ancient Dutch Patents, the Profits of which must have been very confiderable. Among these, no one has occafioned more animated Contention, than that called the Elizabeth Town Grant · in New-Jersey; which, as it relates to another Colony, I fhould not have mentioned, but for the Opportunity to caution the Reader against the Representation of that Controverfy contained in Douglass's Summary. I have fufficient Reasons to justify my charging that Account with Partiality and Mistakes; and for Proofs, refer to the printed Answer in Chancery, publifhed in the Year 1751.

Besides the chief Command of this Province, Nicolls had a joint Power * with Sir Robert Carr, Carteret, and Maverick, to fettle the contested Boundaries

*The Commiffion from King Charles II. was dated the 26th of April, 1664. After a Recital of Difputes concerning Limits in NewEngland, and that Addresses had been fent home from the Indian Natives, complaining of Abuses received from the English Subjects; the Com

miffioners, or any three or two of them, of which Nicolls was to be one, were authorised to vifit the New-England Colonies, and determine all Complaints military, civil, and criminal, according to their Difcretion, and fuch Inftructions, as they might receive from the Crown. E

of

of certain great Patents. Hence we find, that three of them had a Conference with feveral Gentlemen from Connecticut, refpecting the Limits of this and that Colony. The Refult was an Adjudication, in these Words:

By Virtue of his Majefty's Commiffion, we have heard the Difference, "about the Bounds of the Patents granted to his Royal Highness the Duke " of York, and his Majefty's Colony of Connecticut, and having deliberately "confidered, all the Reasons alledged by Mr. Allyn, fen. Mr. Gold, Mr. "Richards, and Captain Winthrop, appointed by the Affembly held at Hartford the 13th of October, 1664, to accompany John Winthrop, Efq;. "the Governor of his Majefty's Colony of Connecticut to New-York, and "to agree upon the Bounds of the faid Colony, why the faid Long Island, "fhould be under the Government of Connecticut, which are too long here "to be recited, we do declare and order, that the Southern Bounds of "his Majefty's Colony of Connecticut, is the Sea, and that Long Island is to be under the Government of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, as "is expreffed by plain Words, in the said Patents, respectively, and also by "Virtue of his Majesty's Commiffion, and the Consent of both the Gover"nors and the Gentlemen above-named. We also order and declare, that "the Creek, or River called Mamaroneck, which is reputed to be about "thirteen Miles to the Eaft of Weft-chefter, and a Line drawn from the "east Point or Side, where the fresh Water falls into the Salt, at high Water Mark, North-north-west to the Line of the Massachuset's, be the western "Bounds of the faid Colony of Connecticut, and all Plantations lying West"ward of that Creek and Line fo drawn, to be under his Royal Highness's ** Government; and all Plantations lying Eastward of that Creek and Line, "to be under the Government of Connecticut. Given under our Hands, at James's Fort in New-York, on the Island of Manhattan, this first Day of December, 1664.

་་

"Richard Nicolls,

"George Carteret,.
"S. Mavericke,"

"We the Governour and Commiffioners of the General Affembly of "Connecticut, do give our Confent to the Limits and Bounds above-men"mentioned, as witness our Hands,

At the Time of this Determination, about two Thirds of Long Island were poffeffed by People from New-England, who had gradually encroached upon the Dutch. As to the Settlement between New-York and Connecticut on the Main, it has always been confidered by the Former, as founded upon Ignorance and Fraud *. The Station at Mamaroneck was about 30 Miles from New-York, from Albany 150. The general Course of the River is about North 12 or 15° Eaft: and hence it is evident, that a North-northwest Line will foon interfect the River, and confequently leave the Dutch Country, but a little before furrendered to Colonel Carteret, out of the Province of New-York. It has been generally esteemed, that the Connecticut Commiffioners in this Affair, took Advantage of the Duke's Agents, who were ignorant of the Geography of the Country.

About the Close of the Year, the Eftate of the Weft-India Company was feized and confifcated, Hoftilities being actually commenced in Europe as well as America, though no Declarations of War had yet been published by either of the contending Parties. A great Dispute between the Inhabitants of Jamaica on Long Island, which was adjusted by Colonel Nicolls, on the fecond of January, 1665, gave Rise to a falutary Institution, which has in Part obtained ever fince. The Controverfy refpected Indian Deeds, and thenceforth it was ordained, that no Purchase from the Indians, without the Governour's Licence executed in his Prefence, should be valid. The Strength and Numbers of the Natives rendered it neceffary to purchase their Rights; and to prevent their frequent felling the fame Tract, it was expedient, that the Bargain should be attended with fome confiderable Solemnity.

Another Inftance of Colonel Nicolls's Prudence, was his gradual Introduction of the English Methods of Government. It was not till the 12th of June, this Year, that he incorporated the Inhabitants of New-York, under the Care of a Mayor, five Aldermen, and a Sheriff. Till this Time, the City was ruled by a Scout, Burgomasters, and Schepens.

In March preceding, there was a great Convention, before the Governour at Hempstead, of two Deputies from every Town on Long Island, empowered to bind their Constituents. The Defign of their Meeting was to adjust the Limits of their Townships for the Prefervation of the public Peace.

* The Town of Rye was fettled under Connecticut, and the Grant from that Colony is bounded by this Line of Divifion.