Luke considered the bidding miraculous, and prepared to obey, when either by compunction of the boy, or other means, he was undeceived. After several years passed in the West Indies, the wanderer returned to Morrisania, and was received by his uncle with forgiveness and joy. To settle him for life, the uncle brought about a marriage between Lewis and Miss Graham,"'' "a fine lady, (continues Mr. Smith,) with whom he lived above fifty years, in the possession of every enjoyment which good sense and polite manners in a woman could afford.""

Upon the 8th of May, 1697, Lewis Morris obtained royal letters patent from King William the Third, erecting Morrisania into a township and manor, to be holden of the king in free and

SmiUi's Hstory of N. Y. b Dunlap's Hist. N. Y. vol. i. 278.

Smith's Hist, of N. Y.

302 HISTORY OF THE

common soccage, its lord yielding and rendering therefore annually, on the Feast Day of the Annunciation of our blessed Virgin Mary, the rent of six shillings. •

THE ROYAL CHARTER.

William the Third, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. King, Defender of the Faith, &c.,to all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting: Whereas, the Hon'ble Edmund Andross, Es|., Seigneur of Sausmarez, late governor of our province of New York, &c., by a certain deed or patent, sealed with the seal of our said province of New York, bearing date the 25th day of March, in the year of our Lord 167fi, pursuant to the comiTiission and authority then in him residing, did confirm unto Col. Lewis Morris, of the Island of Barbadoes, a certain plantation or tract of land laying or being upon the maine over against the town of Haerlem, commonly called Bronckse's land, containing 250 margin or 800 acres of land, besides the meadow thereunto annexed or adjoining, butted and bounded as in the original Dutch ground brief and patent of confirmation is set forth ; which said tract of land and meadow, having been by the said Col.