FOOTNOTES:
[1] The custom of changing the names of sons, or rather substituting the sur-names for the christian name, prevailed at this period; as in the above instance, the father’s name was Barent Janse, and the son was called Jan Barentse.
[2] According to the New-York doctrine, this boundary of the town can only be correct when the tide is flood, for when the water is low, the town is bounded by property belonging to the Corporation of the City of New-York, and not by the River.
[3] This town enjoyed this privilege in common with the other towns on Long-Island, and their cattle which ran at large were marked with the letter N.
[4] At the annual town meeting, April, 1823, a committee was appointed to inquire if this town at present, had any, and if any, what right to the above-mentioned tract of meadow ground called Sellers neck; what progress this committee made in their investigation, the compiler is uninformed. This meadow called Seller’s neck, the Compiler thinks was apportioned among the patentees and freeholders, and what leads him to this conclusion is, that on the 10th of May, 1695, John Damen, who was one of the patentees of this town, sold to William Huddlestone all his interest in the said meadow.
[5] This “port or entrance,” as it is called, is situate in the valley on the Flatbush Turnpike, near the “Brush” or “Valley Tavern,” and a short distance beyond the 3 mile post from Brooklyn ferry.—A freestone monument has been placed here, to designate the patent line between Brooklyn and Flatbush.
[6] Although the bounds of this grant commences about 250 yards in the town of Bushwick, the Corporation of New-York have made no claim to land beyond the Wallabought.
[7] There was some peculiar circumstances attending the consummation of this charter, which the Compiler thinks ought to be known. A short time previous to obtaining the charter, the Common Council of the City of New-York resolved that the sum of L1400 was necessary for the procuring of that instrument; L1000 of which sum they determined to raise immediately by a loan on interest for one year; which they accordingly did, and gave a mortgage for that amount to James De Lancey, Esq. dated January 14, 1730. Directly after the execution of this mortgage they resolved to address the Governor, “for the great favour and goodness shewn to this Corporation in granting their petition, in ordering and directing his Majesty’s letters patent for a new charter and confirmation to this Corporation,” and probably informing him that they had obtained the money. The consequence was, that on the next day, January 15, 1730, the charter was completed; and on paying the L1000 was delivered to them on the 11th day of February, 1730, almost a month after its date. By which it appears that the Corporation of New-York still continued purchasing the right of the town of Brooklyn from the Colonial Governors. See List of Corporation Charters and grants, 1747.
[8] The jurisdiction of New-York by their first charter in 1686, was limited to low water mark around Manhattan Island; but was extended to low water mark on the Brooklyn side by Governor Montgomery’s charter in 1730.
[9] For what purpose was it, that the Corporation’s Counsel was heard at the bar of the House, if not to advance and support their rights? If it was not done at that time, the plain inference would be, that they were aware they had no right.