David Pietersen de Vries was the famous navigator, the author of the " Journal notes of several voyages in Europe, Africa, Asia and America," one of the earliest and most authentic writers on New Netherland, He was also a Patroon of Swanandael on the Delaware, of another Patroonship upon Staten Island, and in the words of Brodhead, was " frank, honest, religious, and a sincere advocate of the true interests of New Netherland."

Cornelis Tienhoven the Secretary, so long in office under Kieft and Stuyvesant, and often their envoy to the different English Colonies, and active in other public positions in New Amsterdam is so well known as to need no further mention.

Van der Donck began his settlement on the banks of the Neperhaem, or, as more lately termed, the Neperan near its confluence with the Hudson, erecting a saw mill, and other improvements incident to such an enterprise, at that place. From this mill the stream derived its Dutch name of Saeg-Kill, or Saw- Kill, and the English one, by which it continues to be known, the " Saw-Mill River." For his own residence and home plantation, he selected the southern end of the beautiful peninsula, or tide island as it really was, and the meadows immediatelyabout it, which the Indians called Papirinemen, directly opposite the northernmost extremity of Manhattan Island, almost surrounded by the waters of the same name, connecting the Spyt-den-Duyvel Creek, on the west, with the Great Kill, or Harlem River on the east ; and upon which afterward was erected the first bridge connecting Manhattan Island with the mainland of Westchester County, then, and to this day called Kingsbridge. ^ He also cultivated the ancient corn grounds of the former Indian owners, now the beautiful flat surrounding the old " Cortlandt House" soon to be the parade-ground of the new "Van Cortlandt Park ; " that estate which has continued in the family for nearly two centuries, liaving now been wisely acquired by the City of New York for a grand suburban park.