Report of Committee on Historical Tablet ^^ 



Contract between Lords Directors and Melyn regarding Staten 

 Island, 14th June 1659. Melyn agrees to release to Welt India 

 Co. his authority, jurisdiction, etc. as Patroon, and keeps lands, 

 houses, and lots, thus far possessed. When a sheriff is wanted 

 in the colony, or shall be appointed, his son when he becomes of 

 age, shall have the preference. (O'Callaghan Hist. 2 : 575 ; Col. 

 Doc. 13: 200; Albany Records vol. 8.) 



23rd July 1659 "As very few persons live on Staten Island 

 on behalf of Baron van der Capelle, not more than two or three 

 families, for whose safety, pursuant to your orders five or six 

 soldiers are kept there at the expense of the Company and as so 

 far no more show any inclination to settle there as colonists, this 

 matter remains as it was, at least until you shall have spoken with 

 Cornelis Melyn, who is still in Holland." (Director and Council 

 to Directors in Holland. Col. Doc. 14: 441.) 



Extracts from "The Remonstrance & Petition of Cornelius 

 Melyen to ye West India Company in Amsterdam Ano 1659. 



"In the year 1640, on July 2d, obtained from your Honors 

 liberty to found in New Netherland, wherever he might think 

 proper a colony and that for this purpose he selected the said 

 Staten Island, . . . August 13, 1640, when he was going thither 

 with people, cattle, goods and all implements necessary for agri- 

 culture, he was taken by a Dunkirk frigate, on account whereof 

 he was prevented said year till Anno 1641, when through your 

 help and assistance he arrived with the ship ' Den Eyckenboom ' 

 (The Oaktree) in New Netherland on the said Statten Island 

 with 41 persons. He immediately began to build houses, to 

 plough land, and to do everything conducive to establishing a 

 good colony. . . ." 



He writes of the massacre by the Indians in 1643 as follows: 

 "My houses and farms and everything were burnt my cattle 

 besides some people were shot dead, so that I was obliged to flee 

 for the sake of saving my life, and to sojourn with wife and chil- 

 dren at the Menatans till the year 1647, • • • I agreed on certain 

 conditions Avith the Hon. Lord Hendrick Van der Capellen to 

 resell etc. about one-third share of my Colony on the Staten 

 Island, which upon contract he agrees at his expense to people 

 with settlers, and to bring his share up to condition, which he has 

 demonstrated. Consequently about 70 strong and with fresh 

 necessaries for agriculture I again set sail for New Netherland, 

 with the ship named the New Netherland Fortune. ... I have 



