Disputed Claim of Proprietors of East Jersey 47 



Present. 



The Queens jNIost Excellent ^Ma'^^'. in Councill. 



Upon reading this day at the Board the Petition of Peter Son- 

 mans and Wilham Dockwra for themselves and the rest of the 

 Proprietors of the Eastern Division of the Province of Xova 

 Caesaria or New Jersey in America, relating to the Island of 

 Staten, which the Governor of New Yorke pretends to, in Right 

 and for the use of Her Ma*'', and keeps Possession thereof, and 

 praying that Directions be given for the hearing and finaly 

 Determining of that matter. It is ordered by Her Ala'^. in Councill 

 That it be, as it is hereby Referred to the Lords Comm*"^. of Trade 

 and Plantations to Examine the matter of the said Petition, a 

 Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, and upon hearing the Pef^. 

 and others concerned, to Report to this Board, what they con- 

 ceive fitt for Her Ma'^'. to do thereupon. 



John Povey.^^ 



That the circumnavigation of Staten Island by Christopher 

 Billop or any one else had any bearing upon the settlement of 

 this disputed title is highly improbable. It presented questions 

 to be settled by courts rather than by sailing craft ; and it seems 

 odd, that dispute having arisen, the Duke of York should have 

 been willing to surrender a large Island, but desirous of retaining 

 a small one, as the result of a twenty-four hour sailing test. 



The first grant of land on Staten Island to Billop bears date 

 25 ]\Iarch, 1676, and was confirmed by patent dated 6 May, 1687. 

 The first was a mere grant of land. The second created the 

 Manor of Bentley. Christopher Billop was in July. 1674. com- 

 missioned by Governor Andros, second lieutenant of a company 

 of foot; (3 Col. Doc. 221) ; in August, 1676, he desired to give up 

 his commission (id. 239) ; from August 14th, 1677 to 10 March 

 1679 he was commander and subcollector at Delaware Bay ; on 

 the latter date he was dismissed in disgrace. (12 Col. Doc. 580. 



"3 N. J. Arch., ist ser., 61. 



