26 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



6. Cornelis Melyn,^ a Dutch merchant, visits New Netherland 

 June 1 6, 1639. (O'Callaghan's Hist, i : 238; Brodhead i : 289.) 



7. 1640. 3d July 1640. Petition of Melyn by which he receives 

 consent of Directors of West India Co, to estabhsh a colony on 

 Staten Island, and is acknowledged as its Patroon. (Col. Doc. 

 13 : 200.) 



8- 1641. 1 8th Feb. 1 641. Another petition, after Melyn's release 

 from imprisonment,'^ in which he requests " permission, to go to 

 New Netherland with his wife, children, servants, and some ani- 

 mals, in the Company's ships." (Col. Doc. 13: 200.) 



9. i8th and 25th February 1641. Two resolutions were passed by 

 the Lords Directors of West India Co., renewing consent formerly 

 given to Melyn to go to New Netherland. (Col. Doc, 13 : 201.) 

 10. Ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland, 

 offering a reward for the heads of Raritan Indians, passed 4th 

 July 1 641. 



" Whereas the Indians of the Raritan are daily exhibiting more 

 and more hostility, notwithstanding they have, by a messenger 

 solicited peace of Us, which we consented to, and permitted him 

 to depart unmolested, on the promise to notify unto Us, within 

 twelve days, the resolution of his Chief, which has not been done ; 

 the same Indians, who had experienced every friendship at our 

 hands, having in the meantime, on the plantation of Mess'"^- De 

 Vries and David Pietersen, partners, situate on Staten Island, 

 murdered four Tobacco planters, and set fire to the dwelling and 

 tobacco house, whereby the Planters, Farmers and other outlying 

 remote settlers stand in great danger of life and property, which 

 We, under existing circumstances, in consequence of the density 

 of the forest and small number of men, cannot prevent ; We have, 

 therefore, esteemed as the best means and considered it expedient 

 to encourage the Indians, our allies hereabout, to take up arms, 

 in order thus to cut off any stray parties who must pass through 

 their territory so that they cannot accomplish any thing against 



6 For an account of the descendants of Cornelis Melyn see New Am- 

 sterdam and its People, by J. H. Innes, N. Y. 1902, p. 350-356; also Baker 

 Ancestry, by Frank Baker, Chicago 1914. 



''■ He had been taken prisoner on his voyage out by the " Dunkirkers," 

 who had captured his vessel. 



