From the Indian grants and royal patents, wc proceed to give our readers a brief account of the Philipse family, collected from the best authorities and original manuscripts still extant. ' • -..-

Frederick Philipse, or, (as the name was spelt at that early period,) Vreedryk or Vrederyck Felypsen,b father of the before mentioned grantee of this town, was a native of Bolswaert, in Fast Friesland, and son of the Hon. Viscount Felyps, of Bohemia, who sprang from the ancient Viscounts of that name and country. The early members of this family took an active part in favor of the Reformers, John Huss, and Jerome of Prague, for which they suifered severely both in person and property, being finally

» See Yonkers. '-^ - . •

b Vrederyck Felypsen is equivalent to Frcderyk Flypsen.

320 HISTORY OF THE

compelled to fly, for better security, to East Friesland.'^ The Christian name Vreedryk is of Dutch origin, and means literally y^ -peace rich^'^ or rich in peace,b in allusion probably to the bitter snifv3rings of former days, as well as the present enjoyment of religious peace. The surname Felypsen is a patronymic from Philip -- the F for the PH, and the ij for the single Y ; hence the English substitute, Frederick Philipse, which at an early period became the adopted name of the family, -- the Dutch termination se or sen, meaning in English son. Vrederyck therefore the son of Felyp.c Besides their high rank as nobles, they appear also to have held the office of Grand Veneurs, or keepers of the deer forests in Bohemia.<i In the year 1658, Frederick Philipse, (having previously obtained the consent of the Stadiholder and States General,) emigrated from East Friesland to the New Netherlands, carrying" with him money, plate and jewels. « Upon his arrival in the city of New Amsterdam, (as New York was then called,) he purchased a large estate, and soon became one of its wealthiest merchants.