Amsterdam New in aker beaver-m a Samuel Edsall, chase was made on the 22d day of October, 1664, almost immediately after the conquest of New Netherland by the English; and he The promptly took out a patent for it from Governor Nicolls. of land Nicolls patent describes it as " a certaine tract or parcel commonly formerly in the tenure or occupation of Jonas Bronck's, the Engby and e, Ranackqu of name the by Indians the by called lish Bronck's land, lying and being on the maine to the east and or Kill over against Harlem town, having a certain small creek Barnes which rans between the north east part of it and Little greater a and River, East the into goes so and Island, near Hellgate, g creek or river which divides it from Manhattan Island, containin hisng interesti an is It land.1' of margon about 500 acres or 250 torical reminiscence that this Bronxland tract, now the most thickly not only populated portion of the old County of Westchester, was Dutch, the under settled be to borders the first locality within our made under but was also the object of the first private purchase the English.

MORRIS

PURCHASE

The brothers Richard and Lewis Morris, who became owners of Bronxland by purchase from Edsall in 1G70, were descended from an ancient Welsh family of Monmouthshire. Lewis inherited the paternal estate of Tintern in that county, which was confiscated by Charles I. because of his connection with the Parliament party, in whose service he fought as commander of a troop of horse. For the loss thus suffered he was later indemnified by Cromwell. Emigrating to Barbadoes, he bought a splendid property on that island. He took part in the successful English expedition against Jamaica, haying received from Cromwell the commission of colonel.