flushing Creeke, for wch I amn informed, they have already a Bill of Sale, provided they bring the Indyan ProprietoTM to acknowledge the same before me, That so it may be Recorded accordingly, Given under my hand at ffort James in New Yorke, this 23a day of June 1666. RICH NICOLLS. Mr. Jacques. A LETTER FROM THE GOVERNO TO M'. JACQUES CONTILlleau. There hath been with mee this day, some Persons from New Towne and Breucklyn, about yo Division of the Meadows in dispute between them, and at length I have brought them to an Agreement, and would have yo" to come to mee on Munday Morning next, when I shall give you instructions for the Surveying and laying out thereof. Your Loving ffriend RICH NICOLLS. A LETTER FROM Ye GOVERNO' TO THE SEVERALL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ON LONG ISLAND INTIMATING Y INTELLIGENCE REC'D OF THE APPROACH OF SOME ENEMIES SHIPPS. Mr Denton. Having reed Intelligence by Letters from the Governor of Rhode Island, and others upon the Maine, That two Shipps of the Enemies have lately taken a Barke belonging to Conecticott, and a Shallop near Martins Vineyard, and it being to bee apprehended there may bee a greater Number of them ready to do some violence upon the coast, I thought good to advertize you of it, That upon the Receipt hereof, you do give notice to the Inhabitants of your Towne, as also to the rest of the Townes within the North Riding that they be all ready upon the first occasion with their armes to defend themselves & oppose the Enemy, and that such Townes as lye near the sea, do keep a stricter watch to prevent any surprizall, as well as to give warning to Inland Townes. This is all at p'sent from James ffort 1st Augst 1666 Your very Lo: ffriend RICH NICOLLS. The like Letter was sent to Mr William Wells to give notice to the Townes of Southhold, Southton & Easthampton. Another to Mr Jonas Wood for Huntington and Seatalcott, and likewise to Mr Пlubbard of Gravesend, & Mr Betts of New Towne. A LETTER WRITTEN TO Ye OVERSEERS OF Ye RESPECTIVE TOWNES FOLLOWING CONCERNING THE VALUATION OF THEIR ESTATES. Gent The Governo' was heretofore pleased to send forth his speciall Warrant to the High Sheriff requiring him to give you notice that you should send in ye valuation of your Estates, to the Secretaryes Office, at New Yorke, by the 15th day of this Instant Month, which you have omitted to do; I am commanded to put you in minde of it, & withall to acquaint you, That it is expected that you forthwith send in yo' valuaçons without further delay, according to the Tenour of the said Warrant. August 27th 1666. flushing Your Loving ffriend M. NICOLLS. A LETTER WRITTEN TO Yo INHABITANTS OF FFLAT LANDS, TOUCHING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, & Y INHABITS OF FFLAT BUSH. The Governor having recd yor complaint, that the difference betweene your Towne & flat Bush, concerning the Meadowes Canarsie, is not as yet composed, as also yo' desires to have a tryall for yo' right, at y Assizes; By his Honors Order, I am to acquaint yo", that it is his advice (to p'vent expence & Charges at Law) that yo" endeavour to make a finall agreement amongst yo'selves, concerning that Matter, and make Report thereof, before Thursday next, or that you leave the businesse as it is, untill ye Assizes shall bee over, when the Governo' himselfe will decide it; However, if you shall chuse rather, to have a tryall at y Assizes, upon notice of it before Thursday next, the action will be admitted, and yo" may proceed to tryall. New Yorke, ye 15th Sept. 1666. To the Constable & Overseers of flatt Lands, to bee cominicated to yo rest of y Inhabitants. Your Loving ffriend M. NICOLLS Secret. A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE INHABITANTS OF FFLAT BUSH TOUCHING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEENE THEM, AND FFLAT LANDS. The Inhabitants of flatlands having made complaint to ye Governo', that ye difference betweene them and yo' towne, concerning the meadowes at Canarsie, is not yet composed, where upon they desire a tryall at the Assizes; By his Honors Order, I am to acquaint you, that it is his advice (to p'vent expence and charges at Law), That yo" Endeavour to make a finall agreem among yo'selves, concerning that Matter, and make Report thereof before Thursday next, or that you leave the businesse as it is, Untill the Assizes shall bee over, when the Governo' himselfe will decide it; However, If you shall choose rather to have a tryall at the Assizes, upon notice of it before Thursday next, the acçon will be admitted, and you may proceed to tryall. New Yorke 15th Sept. To the Constables & Overseers of flat Bush, to bee Communicated Your Loving ffriend M. NICOLLS. A WARRANT DIRECTED TO M' JACQUES CORTILLEAU, OR ANY OTHERS CONCERNED IN PENNOYERS LAND, TO MAKE OUT THEIRE RIGHTS AND TITLE THEREUNTO AT Y ASSIZES. Whereas there Issued forth an Order at y Gen Meeting at Hempsteed, in March 1664, where in particularly it was declared, that the title to a Parcell of Land adjoining to Gravesend, commonly knowne by the name of Pennoyers Land (where unto some derive a right from George Baxter, and others from Aram Huttum) should bee left to the Decision of a Tryall at Law, either at the next Court of Sessions or Assizes, and those claiming from Aram Huttum, having not any way endeavoured to make out their Title thereunto, to this day, wch the p'sons claiming under George Baxter have beene, and still are ready to do; These are to require those who are herein concerned, on the part of the said Aram Huttum, That they bee ready to cleare their Title to the Lands in question, at the next Court of Generall Assizes, otherwise they shall relinquish their Suite and Prtences there unto, & the p'sons in Possession, on the part of the said George Baxter, shall to all intents and purposes, receive a confirmaçon thereof, to them and their Heires for ever. Given under my hand at ffort James in New Yorke, the 18th day of September, 1666. RICH NICOLLS. A WARRANT SENT TO THE CONSTABLE AND OVERSEERS OF HUNTINGTON. Vpon complaint made to mee by the Inhabits of Oyster bay, that you do refuse to performe what was Ordered at the Generall Meeting at Hempsteed, to bee observed betweene yo' Towne & theirs: These are to require you without further delay, to put the said order in execution, otherwise that you shew cause to the contrary, at ye Assizes to bee holden in this Towne the 28th day of this instant moneth; Given under my hand at ffort James in New Yorke this 15th day of September 1665. R. NICOLLS. To the Constable & Overseers, etc. A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE GOVERNO TO Y CONSTABLE AND OVERSEERS OF HEMPSTEED. Having received a Petiçon from the Matinnicock Indyans, wherein they complaine of wrong done them by the Inhabitants of your Towne, by keeping their Lands without giving them satisfacçon; ffor the better deciding of all such differences, I have thought fitt to direct yo", That some Persons bee appointed out of yo' Towne, to attend at the next Genal Court of Assizes, to make good yo' Title to the said Lands, by yo' most Materiall Evidence and witnesses according to the severall Queres in their Peticon expres't, of which I here send you a copy, having appointed Mr. John Underhill of Oyster Bay, to bee Attorney for ye Indyan Plaintiffs; I am Your Loving ffriend. September 21st 1666. RICH NICOLLS. Septbr 27th 1666. LAWSUIT BETWEEN GRAVESEND AND FLATBUSH, L. I. The Inhabitants of Gravesend Pl The Inhabitants of flatt Bush Defts The names of the Jurors John Symonds of Hempsteed, fforeman of y° Jury, Richard Howell, Henry Pierson, John Cooper, of Southton, John Conckling of South-Hold, Robert Seely, Thomas Scudmore, Samuelle Titus, of Huntington, William Lawrence, Elias Doughty of flushing, Ralph Hunt of New Towne, John ferris of— Mr Rider, Attorney for the Pits Hee putts in their Declaraçon Alleadging their being fenc't out of the common Rhode or Highway, betweene their Towne and the fferry, by the Defts and that this is the third time, of their being so injuriously dealt with, An Order concerning this matter, made at the last Court of Sessions heald at Gravesend is read wherein it was referr'd to five men there in nominated, to view the Ground, and make report of their so doing, wth their opinions thereupon. The report of the said five men, was likewise read. Richard Ponton Sworne saith, That at y ffirst laying out of flatt Bush, to bee a Towne, hee had a Lott there, and that then the Highway or Rhode, betweene Gravesend and ye fferry, was on the outside of any of the ffencing, belonging to the Defts. Severall other Testimonyes were brought in, to prove the old Highway. Nicholas Bayard, Attorney for ye Defts. Hee putts in their Answer, to the Plaintiffs Declaraçons, and produces the Defendts Patent or Ground Briefe, wherin each Lott was to runn so farr into the woods, that consequently this Highway, fell within their Lotts, That their former Poverty, at the first Planting, was the Cause they could not run their ffencing to the utmost of their Limitts, but that now by their Labour, having Cleared the Ground, and by Gods Blessing, being in a better Condiçon, they suppose it not unreasonable for them to ffence in what their Patent gives them. The Pits insist upon the Enjoyment of their old Road, which they have had Right to aboue twenty three yeares, and Declare the inconveniency of their being forced to go so farr about the ffencing, by reason of the deepnesse of the wayes in winter there, besides that it's at least two Miles further, and many unskillfull in the new wayes, may bee subject to loose themselves in the woods. The Case in difference being referr'd to a Jury, They brought in their verdict as followeth, vizt. In the Case Where in Gravesend Inhabitants are Plaintiffs, and flatt Bush Inhabitts are Defend's The Jury finde for Gravesend, That the primary Highway from the fferry to Gravesend, shall henceforth remaine the Common Highway, except Gravesend Inhabitants will give way to some variaçon for flatt Bush men, their conveniency; and whatsoever Interrupçon of the said Highway which is to continue, flatt Bush men have occasioned, They are to remove the same that there may bee free Passage. The Inhabitants of Gravesend Plts The Inhabitants of flatt Bush Defts The Court do give their Judgment according to ye verdict of the Jury, who have found for the Pits and do order that the Defendts shall cleare the old Road or Highway, betweene Gravesend and the fferry, by the 1st day of November next, and that they cause a Gate to bee made, at each end of their ffence, & a way betweene them, is to be stack't out, or ffenc't, in bredth, three Rods, through wch Carts & Horsemen may Passe, but it shall not bee for drifts of Cattle; this Ord' is to bee of full force, from ye first day of Novemb afores, unlesse ye Inhabits of both. Townes, in yo meane Time, shall make some other agreem' amongst themselves, And y° Deft to pay the costs of Court and charges. October 1, 1666. ORDERS OF THE COURT OF ASSIZES IN LONG ISLAND MATTERS. By order of the Governor and Court of Assizes. A petiçon was brought in by Capt. Underhill, on behalfe of the Matinicock Indyans, against the Inhabitants or Hempsteed, that they encroached upon their Lands, having never paid them for it; Hereupon Issued forth the following Order (vizt.) The Governo' by and with the Advice of his Councell and the Justices of Peace, in the Genal Court of Assizes Assembled, having rec a petiçon from the Indyans of Matinicock upon Long Island, and taken their case into consideraçon, do thinke fitt to Qrder, And by these Presents do Order and appoint, That some Person or Persons, on behalfe of the Towne of Hempstead, and also the Indyan Proprietors, of ye Lands at Matinicock, or some Person for them, do attend on the 18th day of this instant moneth in the forenoone at New Yorke, when the Governo and Councell, will heare ye matter in difference between the Inhabitants of Hempsteed, and the said Indyans, and give their Judgm1 therein, according to Law & good conscience; In the meane time, the English that are now seated on the said Land at Matinicock, are under no pretence whatsoever, to bee molested or disturbed. October 1st, 1666. By Order of the Governo & Court of Assizes, A Petiçon was Presented by the Indyans of Southton, complaining of their being too much straitened, by the Inhabitants of that Towne; Upon consideraçon had there upon, this following Order was made (vizt.) The Governo by and wth the advice of his Councell, and the Justices of Peace in the Generall Court of Assizes Assembled, having recd a Petiçon from the Indyans of Southton, and taken into consideraçon their necessityes, do thinke fitt to Order, And by these presents do Order, and appoint, That the Constable and Overseers of Southton, do forth wth take speciall care, that one halfe of such a Parcell or neck of Land, according to the Request of the Indyans bee fenced in at their owne charge, the other half by ye Indyans, where unto, all Persons concerned in ye Township, are lyable to Pay their Proporçon; And for the full effecting thereof, this shall bee their warrant. October 1, 1666. By Order of the Governor and Court of Assizes. A petiçon from the Inhabitants of Bedford upon Long Island, That they might have a Cart Path over Capt. Betts his Ground, it being so troublesome for them to Cart their Hay, and carry it through the deepe Ground. This order was made hereupon (vizt) The Court having taken into consideraçon, the petiçon of the Inhabitants of Bedford, concerning a Cart Path through some meadowes belonging to Capt. Betts, it lying much for their conveniency, for which they propose to give any reasonable |