may desire to obtain it -, but, as regards his pleading before the courts, we cannot see that it can be admitted yet, with any advantage to the Director and Council in New Netherlands, besides that we are ignorant of there being any of that stamp in your city (who nevertheless before they can be admitted, must apply to your honor, or directly to our department) who can act and plead against Van der Donck, in behalf of the other side. We trust, that in this, you will consult the interests of your government and the welfare of the inhabitants.

24 July, lG53.a

Adriaen van der Donck married Mary, daiigliter of the Rev. Francis Doughty. Patentee of Mespath, Long Island. In consequence of the absence of all family records, we have no means whereby we can determine the exact date of the Patroon's death, but it is reasonable to conclude from the following document, that it took place circa, 1654, as in it we find his lands settled and divided among liis children. This was previous to tlie general massacre by the Indians, A. D, 16.55.

This letter was despatched by the Director General, Peter Stuyvesant and council, to Holland, in a vessel called the Fox, commanded by the skipper, Jacob Jansen Hay^s.

Honorable, prudent, wise and right respectful gents.

Although since our last letter, no act of hostility has been committed, yet those of Hartford continue their threatenings, anticipates, and encroachments,- and purchased from the savages all the land between Westchester and. the North river,b including different lots of land, which were as well under the administration of the Honorable Gov. Kieft as ours, in the usual manner granted by letters patent, and in virtue of these possessed by those of our nation, as so among others the land of Jonas Bronck, the lands of the old Verdonck divided and settled by his children and associates in various plantations and farms, but who in the massacre'^ were absconded with many others, all which are situated here and bordering on our island, only divided by a small creek, which in some places by low water is passable, so as they to us the