New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06

Getty Island. New-York City" the subject OF
paper read by Frederick Wendell Jackson at
meeting Of the New-York Historical Society Last
week is a part Of New-York little known. even
BY name. to It's inhabitants and Mr. Jackscns
paper a summary of which follows. presented
comprehensive history and description Of an in
,eres,ng and picturesque portion Of the metrop-
oils.
City Island, Mr.. Jackson said. was the largest
Of the various islands round New-York, which
have All been taken by the city the United
States Government for public purposes BY an
act OF the LEGISLATURE in June. 1885, when
large slice Of WestChester County was annexed
to the cit.', City Island was included.
The Pearl Of the Sound" the fishermen oyG-
terlnen and pilots who love its very mud delight
to call the island Close beside tat that time it
was called Mnneford-occurred enc Of the sad
dest happenings in the history OF the province
the death of Anne Hutchinson on the night of
September 20. 1G43. a band Of Indians attacked
her settlement far out in the wilderness and
swept 1t away Mrs Hutchinson was burned TO
death in her cottage. All her family were killed
except one daughter. eight years old, who was
taken captive and afterward given up TO her
friends and sent ~ Boston.
The band Of Indians who perpetrated this foul
deed were the Siwanoys, branch of the Mohi-
can tribe who in their turn were a branch Of
the Turkey tribe. Delaware stock of aborig-
ines This tribe occupied the lands from He'll
Gate along the Sound including the whole east
ern side Of Westminster County and Connecticut
as far as Norwalk. and inland to the Bronx and
headwaters Of the Croton. The Siwanoys then
were the first inhabitants OF City Island. which
they called Minnefords. or Mnnefor's, Island
This is supposed To have been the name OF the
Indian chief who owned it, and means Island or
Shells" The immense number of shells which
line the shores Of the island were the CHIEF
means by which the aborignes in old days
found their sustenance. and to-day many OF
the inhabitants support themselves in the same
way.
When Pen. IN 1664-the year the Dutch sur
rendered TO the Brtish-receved the suomls-
sion Of the inhabitants as the just ana right
full owner Minneford's Island was not aHec'-
ed by this happening. for the simple reason
that no one then living within lts Hnll'S'
and the Indian who came to fish naturally
took little interest in the matter lhere
were. however. two unfortunate creatures who
had fed there The wave Of fanaticism when
had swept through New-England had reached
Long Island. and on October =. 1865. Ralph Hall
and Mary. his wife, were arraigned for trial at
the Court Of Asszes in New-York upon sus-
nicion Of witchcraft The New-York code having
no penalty for witchcraft they were brought TO
trial for murder by means of witchcraft. Botf
pleaded not guilty. and the jury found that there
was some suspitions b. the evidence Of what
the woman is charged with, but nothing consld-
cradle OF value TO take away her HE. But IN
reference 10 the man wee find nothing consider
able to charge him with.
HELD AS BOND FOR HIS WIFE.
The Court then gave sentence that the man be
bound body and goods, for his wife's appearance
from session 10 session until the case was de-
cided For three years the unfortunate couple
lived in a lonely hut on the bank OF Minnefords
Island At last they were acquitted, there hav-
ing been no direct proof Of witchcraft.' This was
.he first case on record in the Province OF New
York for wtchcraft.
Minneford's Island. or Great Minnefords, as IL
was often called to distinguish it from the group
Of islands known by the name. sold by John
Peu on December II. 1880. 10 John Smith. or
Bouckland. In 100 william Everden and Gabriel
I-mbriel appear 10 have been tie principal own
ers and from them it passed TO Amos Dodge. 1t
seems 10 have returned 70 its original owner. for
in 1747 Thomas Pell advertised for sale property
OF which the island was part. In 1870 another
advertisement appeared In 1851 the island was
bought by Joseph Palmer. Of Throg's Neck
who soon after conveyed il TO his brother Ben
janin.
Then the history Of the island became inter
esting Benjamin and Philip Palmer had lived
az Throg's Neck from childhood, directly oppo-
site the island and knew every part OF the latter
thoroughly. u is probable that they had dreamed
as BOYS II the scheme which they now thought
WAS about 10 be realized. The City Of New-York
was all very well in its way but II was down at
the end Of Manhattan Island. and it seemed 10
have accomplished all that could be expected or
H. Ships that piled the Sound were exposed TO
great peril in passing through Hell Gate and
any plan by which the danger could be AVOIDED
Uould be hailed with enthusiasm. Benjamin.
Palmer's dream that Great MlnneloTd
Island should solve the problem. 1t was CEN
trail point in the highway Of commerce, there
were natural harbors and protection from
storms. and land enough for building dwelling
houses and stores. He set 10 work TO carry out
his scheme in the most businesslike manner. He
first secured free right-of-way across Rodman's
Neck and the use OF the road 10 the ferry across
the Sound His brother and Samuel lie Rue were
associated with him.
The Governor OF the Province Of NewYork
was petitoned for letters patent for the land un-
der water surrounding the island, TO the distance
Of COO feet in the Sound. In May 1863 patent
for land TO 400 fee issued. A plan or map
was then prepared and an advertisement pup
Nshed describing the good fortune which would
accrue T. all who shared in the enterprise Il
scheme TO raise money for developing the bu5l-
ness was then arranged. and actually put into
operation when the lots were distributed and
the treasurer was elected by the joint vote of
the stockholders and the Inhabitants OF the
island.
THE FIRST PRIVATE BANK.
II was the first private bank recorded in the
Colonies. and it's scope and power was well ca!eu-
lated 10 realize all the great benefits Of which
Palmer dreamed Gradually the community got
into shape and the list % property IN
l1G amounted 70 about twenty five. The plan