He therefore sought counsel of the community, and the twelve men, from whom, by the charter of the company, he was directed to ask advice agreed that Smits' murder should be avenged, but they thought that " God and the opportunity" should be taken into consideration and that the director should make the necessary preparations. They advised that trade and intercourse with the savages should in the meantime be maintained and no hostile measures should be adopted against any one but the murderer until the hunting season was ended, and then it would be proper to send out two parties, one from the Sound or East River side and the other from the Hudson

' N. T. Col. Docs., xi. 102.

31 Broadliead, 316, "Doc. History N. Y.," iv. 8, 9.

Y70

HISTOKi: OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

River side to surprise them. It was also suggested by the twelve men that the director should " lead the van," but that in the meantime a shallop should be three times sent to demand the murderer.^ Kieft would not listen to this wise counsel ; by private colloquy with each of the twelve he tried to advise them to sanction a war, but they voted to await the arrival of the next ship from Fatherland.^ A treaty of peace was finally made with the Indians at the house of Jonas Bronx's^ in 1642, and in 1643 Jonas Bronx, probably the first white settler in Westchester town, died at his home, and his estate was administered upon by friends at Harlem*.