Morris: First Business Directory of Staten Island 73 



Three pages are occupied by A Short Sketch of Richmond 

 County, from which I quote verbatim as follows : 



" The first mention we have of our beautiful Island, is made 

 by Hendrich Hudson, in his account of his memorable voyage, on 

 which he discovered New York Bay and the noble Hudson. The 

 part of the account relating to Staten Island, or Staaten Eylandt, 

 as it was afterward named, is meagre indeed. That it was first 

 seen on the 3d day of September, 1609; that it was inhabited by 

 a tribe of Indians, (Mohicans,) and that Seals were numerous 

 at the back of the Island, is about all that we can learn from his 

 account. 



" Robins' Reef, off the North-Eastern point of the Island, was 

 a favorite resort of these animals, and derives its name from the 

 fact. It was originally called ' Robyns' Rift,' meaning the Seal's 

 place — Robyn being the name used for Seal. 



" Staten Island was first purchased from its Indian inhabitants 

 for Michael Paun [Pauw], one of the Directors of the West 

 India Company, together with an extensive tract in Bergen 

 County, New Jersey, by deed dated August loth, 1620, and the 

 whole tract received the name of Pavonia. It was called by its 

 Indian owners Aquehioneja, Manackoug or Eghqiiaoiis, which, 

 translated, means the place of Bad Woods, referring, probably to 

 the character of its original inhabitants. It was a very desirable 

 spot with the primitive Dutch settlers, and the Indians, who seem 

 never to have considered that they lost the right of possession by 

 sale, were always willing to convey for a consideration. They 

 resold the Island in June, (19th,) 1642, to Cornehus Melyn, a 

 Dutch Burgomaster, and subsequently, in 1657, to Baron Van 

 Cappelan. Both of these proprietors made improvements ; but 

 the colony founded by the latter was broken up by the Indians 

 from the Raritan, who murdered and dispersed his people. 

 Melyn stibsequently obtained the exclusive title, and claimed to be 

 independent of New Amsterdam. He is mentioned as having 

 given Governor Stuyvesant much trouble. On the 14th day of 

 June, 1659, he conveyed his rights to the Company. This Island 



