Thomas Delaval, Daniel Turneur, John Verveelen and others were the first patentees. He also granted to them four lots of land on the mainland numbered one, two, three and four, near Spuyten Duyvil. He also granted to the people of Harlem, Stony Island, or that part of Morrisania now known as Port Morris.'* The people at Harlem, though they had passed resolutions to stop the passage at Spuyten Duyvil, found that it was noeasy matter to do so. The fence was thrown down and the cattle from the island forded over to the main. The location of this fording-place is at the island in front of the residence of Joseph H. Godwin, at King's Bridge. John Barker from Westchester, in spite of the ferry regulations at Harlem, had swum a large number of horses and cattle across at Spuyten Duyvil. Verveelen, the ferry master, made complaint to the Mayor's Court of the city of New York,, and judgment was rendered that Barker pay the ferry master for all horses and cattle which had been "conveyed by him over the Spuyten Duyvil whilst the ferry has been at Harlem," which money the ferrymaster was ordered to apply to the repair ofthe fencesat Spuyten Duyvil.

In the meantime John Archer, of Fordham, and the people at Harlem were disputing over the land* and meadows at Spuyten Duyvil.' Like the other large proprietors, he leased his lands in parcels of from twenty to twenty-four acres to such persons aswould clear and cultivate them. The tenants also had a house and lot each in the village, so that in 1668-- 69 a goodly number of Harlem people went to reside on Archer's property. The village was located very near the present settlement of King's Bridge near to the "fording-place" in Spuyten Duyvil Creek, and hence is derived the name of Fordham -- ford, a fording place ; ham, a mansion.* But Nicolls had granted the Harlem people four lots on the main-