" Whereas Juffrou Ar.tonia Slaghboom, the widow and relict of Monsieur Axeudt vau Curler, late of Schauccktade near Albany, is laiely dead, and in her last will and testament did nominate and appoint William Beeckman, Sen., of this city, to be her executor, and the said William Beeckman having made applicatiou unto me for letters of administration upon the estate of the deceased," &c.,&c.«

On the loth of July, 165 1, sixteen years prior to his death, Arendt

a O'Cilia^'hau-s Hist. N. ?T. Si:-3.

b A Jillo (li di,-rinc:ion f'lr :i ludv- among the Dutch.

c Surroijate's onict;, N. Y,, liCi.

454 HisTORV or the county of Westchester.

van Corlear, transported Broncks' land to Jacob van Stoll, from -vvhom it passed through several proprietors to Herman Smeeman.

"2"2d of Oct., 1C64. -- Herman Smeeman of Comoonepau on the niame, solil to Samuel Ediall all that certaiu tract of land situated on the East river through Hell-gate, commonly called Broncks' land, containiug_500 acres."

This sale was confirmed to Edsall by royal patent the same year.

NICOLLS' PATENT FOR BRONCK'S LAND.

Richard Nicolls, Esq., governor-general under his royal highness, James, Duke of York and Albany, of all his territories in America, To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting. Whereas there was a patent or ground br'uj heretofore granted hy the Dutch Gov. YVOl'm Kief t, unto Arent van Curler for a certaiue tract or parcel of land formerly in the tenure or occupation of Jonas Broncks, commonly called by the Indians by the name of Eanachque, and by the English. Broncks' land, lying and being on the maine to the east and over against Harlem town, having a certain small creek or kill which runs between the north-west part of it and Little Barnes Island, near Hell-gate, and so goes into the East River and a greater creek or river which divides it from JIanhattoes Islands, containing about 500 acres or 250 margon of land, anil including all the push thereunto annexed or adjoining, which said patent or ground brief so granted as aforesaid, bearing date the 20;!^ day of Oct. lG4-i, was by the said Arent van Curler, upon the 10th day of July, 16.ol, transported and made over unto Jacob Jans Stoll, and upon the 19th day of December, 1662, conveyed by i^latthcws de Vos, as attorney of Geertruyt Andries, the widow of the said Ja<:ob Jansen Stall, unto Geeririeti Jlendrick, formerly the widow of Andries Hoppen, and by her upon the same day, (with the approbation and consent of Dirck Girrits van Tright, then her husband,) made over to Harman Smeeman, who, upon the 22d day of October, 16G4, sold and conveyed the same for a valuable consideration unto Samuel Edsall, late of this city, beaver maker, now for a confirmation unto him, the said Samuel Esdall, in his possession and enjoyment of the premises, Know j-e that by virtue of the commission and authority unto me given by his royal highness, I have ratified, confirmed, and granted unto the said Samuel Esdall, his heirs and assignees, all the aforesaid parcel of land and premises, with all the soil, woods, pastures, meadow ground, marshes, commonage, creeks, waters, lakes, fishing, hawking, himting and fowling, within the limits before set forth, described, and all other profits, commodities and emoluments to the said parcel or part of land belonging or in anywise appertaining, to have and to hold the said parcel or part of land and premises unto the said Samuel Esdall, his heirs .ind assignees, unto the proper use and behoof of tr.e said Samuel Edsall, his heirs and assigns, forever, rendering and paying such duties and acknowledgments as now are or hereafter shall be constituted and established by the laws of this government, under the obedience of bis royal highness, his heirs and successors.