18 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1634. 



Nassau, to purchase from the Indians a tract of hmtl situated on 

 the Schuylkill, which purchase was accordingly made during the 

 year 1633.^ 



As this is the first claim to land in our vicinity by virtue of a 

 title acquired from the Indians, and as it comes to us under very 

 suspicious circumstances, particularly as to the time of the pur- 

 chase, a document that was executed many years afterwards in 

 confirmation of that claim will be here given at length. 



"We, the undersigned, namely: Amattehooren Alibakinne, 

 Sinques, Sachems over the district of country called Armenve- 

 ruis," situate around and on the Schuylkill, declare well and truly 

 to have sold to Arent Corsen, the Schuylkill and adjoining lands, 

 for some goods, which u'ere not fuUi/ paid to ?/s, but as we are 

 now fully satisfied therein, therefore, we, the above named 

 sachems, do hereby fully and irrevocably convey and cede the 

 same, confirming the aforesaid sale, and ai'e ready on all occa- 

 sions to maintain and defend against all pretension and claim to 

 be set up to it by whomsoever, etc. Thus done, and in testi- 

 mony of the truth signed by us natives, in the presence of the 

 undernamed witnesses. Done in Fort Beversreede in the South 

 River of New Netherland. Signed, marked in this manner, 

 thereby written."^ 



The unmeaning marks of the Indians, of which there are four 

 besides those made by the three sachems, appended to this docu- 

 ment, are omitted, and also those of the witnesses of whom two 

 were of the council. It is also attested by J. Hudde. 



The above documeftt, it will be seen, is without date ; but 

 another paper,^ somewhat similar in character, executed in 1651, 

 that will be noticed hereafter, gives us to understand that the 

 transaction occurred in 1648. Both documents were got up 

 when spirited controversies existed between the Swedes and 

 Dutch, and may be safely regarded as attempts to patch up an 

 Indian title to lands by the latter, that would ante date any 

 claim set up by the Swedes. 



The extreme jealousy of the West India Company, lest any 

 one should share with tbem, in the smallest degree, the trade of 

 New Netherland, led to fierce disputes with patroons still residing 

 in Holland. The difi'erent interpretations put on the charter of 

 the company, and on the privileges granted by them to the 

 patroons, were well calculated to widen the breach between the 



1 N Y. Col. Doc. i. 588. 



' Armenveruis, on the Dutch map, is located on the Jersey side of the river, near 

 Fort Niissau. 



3 N. Y. Col. Doc. i. 593. 



* lb. 598. This purchase of land on the Schuylkill bj' Corsen, is referred to in 

 Hudde's heport. lie gives the date of the transaction coufhmiug the purchases, as 

 June 10th, 1C48. 



