ii6 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



which still remain. A square of something less than one thou- 

 sand feet on each side was intersected by two main streets, with 

 subdividing lanes, along which were laid out the erven and tuynen, 

 or house lots and garden plots, the intention being to enclose the 

 whole quadrangle in palisades for protection against the Indians — 

 a precaution sometimes neglected by the settlers to their sorrow, 

 as in the case of Wiltwyck, later known as Kingston. Outside 

 of the village was laid out the bouwlandt or farming land. 



The houses at Old Town, if not mere cellars (22), "were 

 slightly constructed of straw and clapboards" (23), and in the 

 middle of the village a blockhouse was erected (24). The block- 

 house therefore stood on the fiat below Fort Wadsworth, and 

 not upon the hill. The settlement does not seem to have become 

 known as Old Town until after 1664 (25). 



Under date of April 16, 1663, the Directors wrote to Stuyvesant 

 in the following terms : 



" You have not been correctly informed in regard to a new 

 request of the oppressed Piemontese for transportation to New 

 Netherland but we have been approached on a similar subject by 

 and in the name of the Protestant people of Rochelle, who are 

 now considerably oppressed and deprived of their privileges. 

 Although we cannot yet say much about it, it is not unlikely that 

 it will go on some time and then we shall not fail to give you 

 timely notice before they arrive, that you may make the neces- 

 sary preparations. As in the meantime, more and more will 

 come there from here every day, we think, that you should not 

 delay the purchasing of fertile and conveniently located lands 

 from the natives, to anticipate the English and be in possession of 

 these lands more rightfully and peacefully. You will act accord- 

 ingly" (26). 



On the I2th day of March, 1664, Charles II of England made 

 a grant of a large territory, including New Netherland, to his 

 brother James, Duke of York and Albany (27), 



Stuyvesant, in a letter to the Directors, dated August 4, 1664, 

 wrote as follows : 



