We have shown that the next grantee in Younckers, under the Indians, was the renowned Dutch De Heer Adriaen van der Donck. «i "This illustrious personage was a free citizen of Breda in Dutch Brabant, part owner of the famous turf sloop in which a party of Dutch troops were clandestinely introduced, in 1590, into the castle commanding that city, then in the hands of the Spanish, by which stratagem that stronghold fell into the hands of their high mightinesses the States General.''^ " Van der Donck enjoys the distinction of having been the first lawyer in the colony of New Netherlands. He received his education at the University of Leyden in Holland, where he attained the degree of Juris utriusque Doctor; he subsequently obtained permission to practice as an advocate in the Supreme Court of Holland. In the autumn of 1642 he embarked on board a vessel belongino; to the

' In possession of H. S. Gates, M. D., of Yonkcrs village.

b See Van Cortlandt's confirmation.

' See Bedford.

d Donck is a village in South Holland, three and a half leagues from Corenm.

• O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. 327.

406 ^' ' HISTORY OF THE "

Patroon Killian van Rensselaer, for the New Netherlands, On his arrival he was created sheriff" of Rensselaerwyck."=i

^fter remaining here for tv\^o or three years, and finding himself disappointed in his efforts to plant a colony in that neighborhood, "he obtained, in consideration of the assistance he afi"orded in negotiating the treaty between the Director General and the Mohawks, and in return for the advances he thenimade to enable the government to purchase presents for the Indians, the tract of land called Nejyperhaem. This valuable property was situated on the east side of Hudson's river, about sixteen miles above New Amsterdam, It was bounded on the north by a stream which the Indians called Maccakassin and ran south to Neperhaem ; thence to the tShorakapJwck kill, and to Pajnrinimen creek, called by the Dutch ' Spuyten dnyve!,' whence it stretched eastward to the river Bronx, The title of this colonic was '■Colen Donck,^ Donck's colon}^, and the proprietor thereof was invested with all the rights and privileges contained in the charter of 1629."'^ If Van der Donck obtained these lands in marriage with his wife Mary, as her brother affirmed, he certainly had the sanction of the Lords Directors of the Dutch West India Company, as Earls of the province of New Holland, as well as a charter afterwards, and a deed of confirmation from the ancient lords of the soil.