September 30, 1645, William Kieft, Director General, &c. patented to Claes Janse, from Naerder, a piece of land, containing 20 morgan, lying south-east, a little easterly, just over against the Fort, upon Long-Island. March 11, 1660, the above tract of land was transported by Claes Janse Ruyter, to Machiell Tadens, who transported the same to Machiell Hainielle.
The three patents to Manje, Hudde, and Janse, from Naerder, were located near the Ferry in this town, and all subsequently were purchased by Derick Woortman, alias Dirck Janse Woertman, and were by him sold to Joras Remsen, on the 10th day of October, 1706, for the sum of £612 10s. current money of New-York.
There is great reason to believe that there was a General Patent of this town under the Dutch Government, which patent is now lost. What strengthens this idea is, that the first by Governor Nicolls under the English is confirmatory of some former grant.
August 10th, 1695. The Patentees and freeholders of this town sold unto Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the neck of land called Red Hook, containing by estimation 50 acres; which they state in their deed “was formerly given and granted to the town of Broocklyn, in the year 1657, by Governor Stuyvesant, the Dutch Governor then at that time, and since confirmed by the English Governors, Governor Nicolls, and Governor Dongan.” Which is very strong proof of there having been a general Dutch Patent for this town.
October 18, 1667. Richard Nicolls, the first English Governor of New-York, granted to the inhabitants of Brooklyn, the following full and ample patent, confirming them in their rights and privileges.
L. S. “Richard Nicolls, Esq. Governor General under his Royal Highness James Duke of Yorke and Albany, &c. of all his Terretorys in America, To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth Greeting.—Whereas there is a certain town within this government, situate, lying and being in the West Riding of Yorkshire upon Long-Island, commonly called and known by the name of Breuckelen, which said town, is in the tenure or occupation of several freeholders and inhabitants who having heretofore been seated there by authority, have been at very considerable charge, in manuring and planting a considerable part of the lands belonging thereunto and settled a competent number of families thereupon. Now for a confirmation unto the said freeholders and inhabitants in their possessions and enjoyment of the premises, Know ye, That by virtue of the commission and authority unto me given by his Royal Highness, I have given, ratified, confirmed and granted, and by these presents, do give, ratify, confirm and grant, unto Jan Everts, Jan Damen, Albert Cornelissen, Paulus Veerbeeck, Michael Eneyl, Thomas Lamberts, Tuenis Guysbert Bogart and Joris Jacobson, as patentees, for and on the behalf of themselves and their associates, the freeholders and inhabitants of the said town their heirs successors and assigns, all that tract together with the several parcels of land which already have or hereafter shall be purchased or procured for and on behalf of the said town, whether from the native Indian proprietors, or others, within the bounds and limits hereafter set forth and exprest, viz. that is to say, the town is bounded westward on the farther side of the land of Mr. Paulus Veerbeeck, from whence stretching south-east, they go over the hills, and so eastward along the said hills to a south-east point which takes in all the lotts behind the swamp, from which said lotts the run north-west to the River[2] and extend to the farm, on the t’other side of the hill heretofore belonging to Hans Hansen over against the Kicke or Looke-out, including within the said bounds and limitts all the lotts and plantations, lying and being at the Gowanis, Bedford, Wallaboucht and the ferry.—All which said parcels and tracks of land and premises within the bounds and limitts aforementioned, described, and all or any plantation or plantations thereupon, from henceforth are to bee appertaine and belong to the said town of Breucklen, Together with all havens, harbours, creeks, quarryes, woodland, meadow-ground, reed-land or valley of all sorts, pastures, marshes, runs, rivers, lakes, hunting, fishing, hawking, and fowling, and all other profitts, commodities, emoluments, and hereditaments, to the said lands and premises within the bounds and limits all forth belonging, or in any wise appertaining,—and withall to have freedome of commonage for range and feed of cattle and horse into the woods as well without as within these bounds and limitts with the rest of their neighbours[3]—as also one-third part of a certain neck of meadow ground or valley called Sellers neck, lying and being within the limits of the town of Jamaica, purchased by the said town of Jamaica from the Indians, and sold by them unto the inhabitants of Breucklen aforesaid, as it has been lately laid out and divided by their mutual consent and my order, whereunto and from which they are likewise to have free egress and regress, as their occasions may require.[4] To have and to hold all and singular the said tract and parcell of land, meadow ground or valley, commonage, hereditaments and premises, with their, and every of their appurtenances, and of every part and parcell thereof to the said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, to the proper use and behoof of the said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns forever. Moreover, I do hereby give, ratify, confirm and grant unto the said Patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, all the rights and privileges belonging to a town within this government, and that the place of their present habitation shall continue and retain the name of Breuckelen, by which name and stile it shall be distinguished and known in all bargains and sales made by them the said Patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, rendering and paying such duties and acknowledgments as now are, or hereafter shall be constituted and established by the laws of this government under the obedience of his Royal highness, his heirs and successors. Given under my hand and seal at Fort James, in New-York, on the Island of Manhattat, this 18th day of October, in the nineteenth 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. Annoque Domini, 1667.
RICHARD NICOLLS.
Recorded by order of the Governor, the day and year above written.
MATTHIAS NICOLLS, Sec’ry.