The tract is described in the patent : "Situated upon a river called Mennissincks, before a certain island called Menagnock, which is adjacent to or near a tract of land called by the natives Maghaghkamek." (See Menagnock.) Warensagskemeck, a tract also conveyed to Arent Schuyler in 1697, described as "A parcel of meadow or vly, adjacent to or near a tract called Maghaghkamek," is probably, by exchange of r and / and transpositions, IValenaskameck; Walen, "hollowing, concave" ; Walak, hole ; Walcck, a hollow or excavation ; -ask, "Grass" ; -kameck, an enclosed or limited field ; substantially, "a meadow or vly," ^ as described in the deed. Schakaeckemick, given as the name of a parcel of land on the Delaware described as "lying in an elbow," seems to be an equivalent of Schaghach, meaning "Straight." level, flat, and -kamick, a limited field. The tract was given to one William Tietsort, a blacksmith, who had escaped from the massacre at Schenectady (Feb. 1689-90), and was induced by the gift to settle among the Minisinks to repair their fire-arms. He was the first European settler on the

* Vly is a Dutch contraction of Vallei, with the accepted signification, "A swamp or morass ; a depression with water in it in rainy seasons, but dry at other times." A low meadow. IValini, (Eastern), hollowing, concave site.

ON THE DELAWARE. 227

Delaware within the limits of the old county of Orange. He sold the land to one John Decker, and removed to Duchess County. No abstract of title from Decker has been made, and proba'bly cannot be. Decker's name, however, appears in records as one of the first settlers, in company with William Cole and Solomon Davis, in what was long known as "The Lower Neighborhood" ; in New Jersey annals, "Cole's Fort." The precise location is uncertain.