Literature Relating to Staten Island 153 



the scope of which may be inferred from the following excerpts : 

 " In sixteen hundred and sixty-four the English government 

 asserted its right to all the territory on the Atlantic Coast of 

 North America between thirty degrees North latitude and 

 fifty-eight degrees North latitude, which claim included Staten 

 Island. . . . Staten Island was the first territory seized by the 

 English fleet when enforcing the claim of the English govern- 

 ment. Immediately following the establishment of an English 

 government in the province the English Crown purchased Staten 

 Island from the Indians. . . . this was in the year sixteen 

 hundred and seventy . . . after the English Crown had acquired 

 the actual title to the lands on Staten Island it made grants of 

 various tracts for settlement and farming purposes until it had 

 granted about one half (3^) of the Island. Then Queen Anne, 

 the owner in fee of all of the remaining Staten Island lands, made 

 one final, complete and comprehensive grant of all of the Crown 

 lands on the Island to Major Lancaster Symes." Hence the 

 title of the volume. 



Among the many subjects selected for illustration may be 

 mentioned a portrait of Queen Anne, which is given the prominent 

 position of frontispiece; views of the Ferine House, St. Andrew's 

 church, and the Museum of the Association; a photographic 

 reproduction of the opening paragraphs of the will of Major 

 Symes; and sketches illustrative of incidents connected with the 

 relations between the Indians and the early white settlers of the 

 island. 



The author acknowledges his indebtedness to the facilities for 

 historical research afforded by membership in the Association 

 and " specially recommends that when possible, persons who are 

 interested in Staten Island and its history should visit the ex- 

 ceedingly interesting Museum . . . maintained by the Staten 

 Island Association of Arts and Sciences. The Historical, 

 Geological, Botanical, and other exhibits there collected and 

 relating to Staten Island and open to the inspection of the public, 

 will richly repay a visit thereto. The bulletins heretofore issued 

 by as well as those continually issuing from that Association and 



