This town has at different periods been visited by the yellow fever. Between July 10th and September 10th, 1809, 28 persons died of that disease.—During the prevalence of the yellow fever in the city of New-York, in the summer of 1822, seven persons died of that disease in Brooklyn. In the summer of 1823, the yellow fever made its appearance in the village of Brooklyn, and nine persons fell victims to that dreadful pestilence, in the space of one month, during which time its ravages continued. Every year that this disease made its appearance amongst us, it could be distinctly traced to some foreign cause; as, in 1809, it was brought in the ship Concordia, Captain Coffin, on board of which vessel the first case and death happened. In 1822, it was introduced from the city of New-York—and in 1823, it was traced to two or three vessels which had arrived a short time previous from southern latitudes. Indeed the high and airy situation of Brooklyn almost precludes the idea of its being engendered among us.
ANCIENT GRANTS AND PATENTS.
In the year 1638, William Kieft, Director General and Counsellor for their high mightinesses the States General, and his highness the Prince of Orange, granted to Abraham Rycken, a tract of land in the present town of Brooklyn.
September 11, 1642, William Kieft Director General, &c. patented to Jan Manje, a piece or parcel of land containing 20 morgan, or 40 acres, in the town of Brooklyn. A copy of which patent is hereto annexed as a specimen of those ancient instruments:
“By William Kieft, Director General and Counsellor, about the high and mighty Lords, the States General of the United Low Country, and his highness of Orange, and the Lords Commanders of the priviledged West India Company, residing in the New-Netherland, do ratify and declare by these presents, that we upon the date hereinafter written, did give and grant to Jan Manje, a piece of land, greatly twenty morgan stretching about south-east one hundred and ninety rods inward the woods towards to Sassians maise land—long is the limits of the said maise land fifty rod, and then again to the water side, two hundred and twenty rod, about north north-west, well so northerly and along the strand or water side, seventy rod. Which abovesaid land is lying upon Long-Island, between Andries Hudde and Claes Janse Ruyter.—With express conditions, &c. Dated at Fort Amsterdam, in the New-Netherland, the 11th day of September, 1642.
WILLIAM KIEFT.
By order of the Lord the Director General, and Counsellor of New-Netherland.
Cornelius Vantienhoven, Sec’ry.
January 29, 1652, Pieter Linde, having married the widow of Jan Manje, transported or sold the above tract of land to Barent Janse. August 23, 1674, before Nicasius de Sille, admitted Secretary of the Dutch towns appeared Jan Barentse,[1] and Auke Janse, with Simon Hausen as Guardian of the other children of Barent Janse, deceased, “procured by his wife Styntie Pieterse deceased, all living within the town of Midwout Fflackbush,” and declared that they transported the above tract of land to Dirck Janse Woertman.
September 12, 1645, William Kieft, Director General, &c. patented to Andries Hudden, “a piece of land lying upon Long-Island against over the fort, lying to the south-west to Jan Manje,” containing 37 morgan. December 10, 1651, “Pieter Cornelissen by virtue of a procuratie of Andries Hudden,” for the consideration of 400 guilders, transported to Lodewyck Jongh the above tract. July 19, 1676, Lodewyck Jongh transported to Jeronimus de Rapalje, eight morgan of the above tract. February 12, 1679, Harmatie Jansen relict of Lodewyck Jongh, transported to Dirck Janse Woertman, 12 morgan of the above tract. May 3, 1685, “Dirck Janse Woertman, transported to the heirs of Jooris Dirckse, a small stroke off land lying at the east side off the highway being all the claime they can pretende by virtue off the abovesaid Pattent.”