The record-union., 1894-04-28
COLONIAL HOUSES.
Quaint Buildings Amid Picturesque
Scenery Near New York.
Revolutionary Associations - Historic
Structures Still Standing as Memo
rials of the Early Ages of American
CiviliZation-Some Ancient Colonial
Grants.

1t is often the case that travelled New
Workers rave over the beauties of some
island across the seas, while at their very
doors is one not exceeded in variety OF
scenery and magnificent views by any
other, either foreign or domestic. Only
five miles from the Battery to its nearest
point, it stretch fourteen miles In length
and seven miles in breadth. To one who
has traversed its interior as well as It's
shore line there are numerous lovely
landscapes. Standing on the top OF Iodt
Hill, the ancient Dutch name, now al
tered to Ocean Hill, at an elevation OF 800
feet above tide, splendid panorama IS
seen on every side.
To the north the bold Palisades. the
Hudson River. the spires and elevated
buildings, the thousand dwellings and
business blocks of New York and the ad-
jacent cities of Jersey and Brooklyn, with
innumerable masses Of vessels and the
graceful span of the bridge. On the east
the low, wooded shores of Long Island,
and between the noble bay, alive with
passing steamers and the white wings OF
various craft: on the south the lower bay,
Mountains of New Jersey and opening
into the dim Atlantic; in the west the
winding Arthur Kill ana Kill Won huIl,
Newark Bay and the Orange Mountains,
and all around the north and east shores
of the island continuous villages. In the
interior are lovely valleys, well wooded,
and on the south and west fertile plains,
with strips of salt meadows. An abund-
ance of clear and healthfuI water every
where, one spring flowing from one OF
the highest hills and another OF the east
side, known as the ''W Watering Place" In
the earliest annals of the island.
NAMED BY HENDRICK HUDSON.
On a fair September day, in the year
1609 a vessel of eighty tons sailed into
New York Bay. The scene that met the
gaze of Hendrick Hudson must have
been charming one. After the Dutch
men had examined the region, Hudson
named the island ''Staaten Eylandt"
Forests covered part of it, and the In
dian name, "Aquehonga Manacknong,"
signitied thick woods. The Raritans pos
sessed the island and had many settle
ments. After Hudson's return several
expeditions were sent from Holland,
which were principally occupied in Sc
curing furs. The Dutch West India
Company with charter from Holland,
was granted a large extent of country
and it was called New Netherlands.
In 1924 Peter Minuet was appointed
Governor, and brought with him some
Walloons, a number of whom settled on
the island, but were soon driven away by
the Indians. In 1880 Michel Paw was
granted Staten Island and much adjoin-
ing country, but he did not attempt to
colonize. In 1888, after Minuet had been
recalled, Wouter Van Twiller was made
Governor. In 1896 David Peterson de
Vries obtained grant of large part of
fha island and commanded the S6tttA-
ments, which were called Bouweries.
Dude Dorp, now called New Dorp, was
one of these. These prospered until
troubles with the Indians arose, often
from very slight causes.
TROUBLES WITH INDIANS.
In 1888 William Kieft was appointed
Governor OF New Netherlands. He was
very hot-headed man, and he was soon
involved in disputes with the Indians,
which led to several conflicts, which al
most depopulated the BOuweries. In
1912 Cornelis Melyn took possession of
the island not already occupied by De
Vries' Bouweries. His settlements were
in the neighborhood of the Narrows,
overlooking the upper and lower bays.
Old Town is the name still recognized as
that portion in the lower bay below the
Narrows.
In 1647 Peter Stuyvesant succeeded
Kieft as Governor. He conciliated the
Indians, but was so imperious in his
dealings with others that he was in con-
slant turmoil. Melyn, who had been in
continual controversy with Kieft, found
himself in the same position with Stuy-
vesant. Charges and counter-charges
were made by each government, each
sending representatives to Holland,
Melyn himself accompanying them. He
was triumphant, and returned to the
island with new colonists, but was again
harassed by the Governor.
ATTACKED BY THE REDSKINS.
In 1866 the Indians made an attack
upon the island and nearly depopulated
it, and in 1861 Melyn, no doubt discour-
aged by his efforts to preserve his colo
nists, sold his rights to the West India
Company and returned to Holland.
In 1866 Johannes de Decker Obtained a
grant of 12O acres and settled on it soon
after. There are many families of this
name now residing oD the Island, his de-
scendants, who have dropped the de, and
call themselves Decker.
Under the purchase of the West India
Company many settlements of French
Waldenses and Huguenots from Rochelle
were made. These were mostly on the
southwestern portion of the island. The
names of many island families, such as
Latourette, Guyon, Cortelyou, Depuy,
Androvette, Bodine, Crocheron, De
Groot, DeHart, Disosway, Dubois, Jour-
neary, Mersereau and many others are
distinctly traceable TO these ancestry. In
1864 the English troops captured the col
ony of New Amsterdam, under a grant
to the Duke of York, and Manhattan
Island changed its name to New York.
the Dutch name of Staten Island still re-
manning.
Richard Nichols was the first Gov
ernor under the new rule from 1864 to
1867. Colonel Lovelace, who succeeded
him, thought it best to once more buy
the island from the Indians in April,
1910. no doubt to etfectually extinguish
their title. Under the succeeding Eng
lish Governors from 1910 to I7OS about a
hundred and forty grants were made,
which, together with the settlements
already made and occupied, covered
almost the entire island.
Under these colonial grants many of the
Huguenots and English families built
mansions IN various parts of the island,
which remain, many Of them, in good
preservation.
VISIT TO THE ISLAND.
Let us visit the island and see what the
Dutch, Huguenot and English ancestors
built to remain until this generation. 1t
is a beautiful day and the sail down the
bay is refreshing.
Everywhere the white sails of the ves-
sells going and coming or the steamers
leaving trails of smoke or white waves
behind them, and in the background the
island with its abounding greenery fad
ing into the blue of its hills. Along the
entire shores, the numerous villages re-
hecting the morning sunshine and the
various docks with their attendant boats
and masts of vessels outlined against the
lighter buildings. 1t is before the day of
rapid transit, which although adding to
the closer communication with the city
has completely disfgured the symmetry