Tuttle: Historic Maps of Staten Island yy 



This map was considered the oldest map of the State of New 

 York, until the discovery of Map No. I. Nieu Nederlandt ap- 

 pears for the first time upon a map and the first record of the 

 name is found in the charter of 1614 above referred to. This 

 map shows for the first time " Manhates " as an island. This 

 is also the earliest map of the East River and Long Island Sound. 

 The names Hellegat and Riviere vanden vorst Mauritius are 

 respectively applied to Hell Gate and the Hudson River. 



No. 3. America Septentrionalis pars A. Jacobsz 1621. 



This map shows very well the style of charts used by navi- 

 gators at this period when the Dutch were in the lead. The many 

 lines in all directions were a common feature of these charts. 

 Instead of placing a compass rose in some unimportant part of the 

 chart, as we do at present, they drew lines in the direction of the 

 points of the compass from many centers, so that a mariner could 

 go almost anywhere by following one of these lines. In those 

 days the principal nautical instruments were the cross staff, com- 

 pass, and chart, all very imperfect. The cross staff, which was 

 the predecessor of our more modern sextant, and the manner of 

 its use in determining latitude and other nautical measurements, 

 may be seen in the upper left hand design. 



R. Achter Kol first appears on this chart as the name of 

 the present Arthur Kill. The name Achter Kol, or Col, as it 

 usually appears in the maps and descriptions of the period, was 

 not applied to Arthur Kill alone but also to Newark Bay and to 

 the territory to the west of Arthur Kill as well. When the 

 river was meant, the name was usually given, Riviere Achter Col, 

 or Kil Achter Col. In the Dutch language, Col used as a 

 geographical term has the meaning of defile, strait, or pass ; while 

 Achter means behind, and Kil a narrow channel of the sea. 

 Achter Col, therefore, meant behind or back of the strait. Col or 

 strait in the minds of those who gave these names apparently 

 referring to the Narrows and New York Bay. 



