Bronck shall have no oilier claim than tlial the land shall have bfien cleared and brought in a proper manner of cnliivation by the diligence of Peter Andriessen and Lourent Uayts, who from their side shall be holden to accomplish their task. 21st July, 1639.

Maunt Jansskn, Witness."a

We find Jonas Bronck again leasing land on the 15th of August, 1639, to Cornelius Jacobsen StoU and John Jacobsen.''

Jonas Bronck must have died sometime prior to the year 1643, for we find his widow Antonia Slaghboom, at that date, niarried to Arendt van Curler. His descendants are said to be still numerous in the vicinity of Coxsackie, Green county, and Coeymans, Albany county, N. Y.

By the marriage of Antonia Slaghboom, BroncJc's land passed into the Van Curler family. In a letter to the patroon Van Rensselaer, dated " The Manhattans, this 16th of June, 1643," Van Curler says, " I am at present betrothed to the widow of the late Mr. Jonas Bronck. May the j^ood God vouchsafe to bless me in my undertaking, and please to grant that it might conduce to his honor and to our mutual salvation. Amen.''^

On the 30th of October, 1644, Van Curler obtained a" grond brief" for Broncks' land from William Kieft, director general. I cannot forbear quoting an interesting sketch of this distinguished individual by E, B. O'Callaghan, historian of the New Netherlands. "Arendt van Curler was one of those characters who deserve to live in history. His influence among the Indians was unlimited, and in honor of his memory these tribes addressed all succeeding governors of New York by the name of - Corlear." He possessed feelings of the purest humanity and actively exerted his influence in rescuing from the savages such Christians as had the misfortune to fall into their hands, of whose danger he might receive timely notice.