The term is simply a corruption of " Jonkheer," son of a gentleman.^ It is of interest, for, from this title so given to him who became in the succeeding year, 1646, the Patroon of Colen-Donck, is derived the name which that Patroonship, in common parlance, ever afterwards bore, and which is to-day perpetuated in the corporate name of the beautiful city which is embraced within its limits -- Yonkers.

Van der Donck was the first lawyer in New Netherland, and of course in that part of it now New York. Lubbertus van Dincklagen, who was appointed Schout-Fiscaal and Vice Director of New Netherland, 5th May, 1645, also a doctor of civil and canon law, was the second, and Dirk {Richard) van Schelluyne, who was also the first notary, commissioned 8th May, 1650, was the third.

These first lawyers are mentioned here because their names are found appended to so very many of the early deeds, and public and private documents, of the earliest part of the Dutch dominion in New York. Prior to leaving Amsterdam, van der Donck, probably as part of the terms between them, received from Kiliaen von Rensselaer, a lease of the westerly half of the first island on the west side of the Hudson below Albany then called Welysburgh, from van Wely, a relative of the Patroon. Later it was styled, "Castle Island," because upon its southern end was built the first fortified trading house erected by Corstiaensen under the charter of "The United New Netherland Company," of 14th October, 1614, and called Fort Nassau, which three years later, in 1617, was destroyed by a freshet. Subsequently, and till this day, from its proprietors, it was, and still is, known as Rensselaers Island. Here van der Donck erected a house and dwelt. In 1643 difficulties between him and Arendt von Curler, or Corlaer, the Patroon's commissary, occurred, and van der Donck, determining to leave his position, undertook to arrange for the