The matter was tinallv referred to the Patroon in Holland van der Donck left the island, and lived in a hut near Fort Orange, till spring, and then came down to New Amsterdam.' In the previous year, 164-5, he had been of great assistance to Director Kieft in advancing the requisite funds, and settling the terms of peace with the Indians, which closed the wicked war that Kieft had wantonly begun two or three years before, and which proved so disastrous to New Netherland.^ The Patroon of Rensselaerswyck, died at Amsterdam later in 1646, and with his death the connection of van der Donck with that Patroonship ceased, Nicolas Coorn succeeding him in his office by the appointment of the executors of the late Patroon, Johannes van Wely and Wouter van Twiller.
Van der Donck still desiring to become a Patroon, immediately occupied himself, on returning to New Amsterdam, in looking for a proper location. He finally selected tlie lower portion of what is now the county of Westchester and northern part of the city of New York, between the rivers Hudson and Harlem, on the west and south, and the Bronx on the east. A choice which eminently proved his good taste and sound judgment. The Indian name for this region was Keskeskick, and the Indian title to it was extinguished by its sale to the West India Company by its Indian owners on the third of August, 1639, in these words, " This day, date as below, appeared before meCoruelis van Tienhoven, Secretary in New Netlierland, Tequeemet, Rechgawac, Pachamiens, owners of Keskeskick, who in presence of the undersigned witnesses voluntarily and deliberately declare, that in consideration of a certain lot of merchandise, which they acknowledge to have received and accepted