73 
PART I 
NAMES FOR STATEN ISLAND AND SURROUNDING WATERS. 
Cherry Island. Isle of Mines. “On some of the early Spanish maps it 
(Staten Island) is called ‘Cherry Island,’ but this name must date sometime 
posterior to its settlement, as we have no evidence that cherries were indigen- 
ous. The Portuguese sometimes called it ‘The Isle of Mines,’ under the con- 
viction that the precious metals existed here in great abundance, if they could 
only be found, and that they had faith in their existence, is evident from the 
fact that they sunk shafts in several places remains of which are still to be 
seen. An old author, De Crique—I will not vouch for the correctness of the 
orthography—says that he had a brother who resided on the Island for several 
months, and prosecuted mining very successfully, having accumulated a large 
‘pile,’ which he might have increased indefinitely, had it not been for the per- 
sistent opposition of the spirits and hobgoblins which protected the treasure’, 
and which neither holy water, nor the image of the Virgin, thrice blessed, had 
any power to annihilate.” —Richmond County Gazette, July 11th, 1866. 
Sandy Hook Bay. Same as Lower Bay. Sandy Hook Bay is shown on “Map 
of an estate at Old Town in the town of Southfield, County of Richmond, 
Staten Island, belonging to the late Stephen Keteltas, Sr., 1846. ” 
POINTS AND COVES. 
Bluff Point. At the Narrows. Shown by Des Barres, 1780. 
Abner Decker’s Point. The bluff at the end of the Shore Road at Mariners’ 
Harbor—the “jumping off place.” “On the public road leading from Port 
Richmond to Abner Decker’s point.”—From deed of Aug-, 1874—description 
of 1807. “ . . . road leading from Port Richmond to Abner Decker’s 
point at a place called Holland’s Hook.” Richmond County Gazette, July 
17th, 1867. 
Winant’s Point. On the Sound at the mouth of Prall’s River between 
Bass and Hanne’s Creeks. 
Wandel’s Point. “ . . . also eleven acres and a half acre of mead- 
ow lying against Thomas Wandels poynt,” north side of Staten Island. 1730. 
Liber ©. p. 442. 
Bedell’s Point. “Likewise five acres of salt meadow lying and being or 
known by Bedell’s Point or along the said point.” 1771, Liber FE. p., 41. 
John Bedell’s Point is the point of upland that runs into the meadow where 
Ketchum’s Mill Pond Brook joins Bedell’s or Simonson’s Creek. Perhaps 
John Bedell’s Point is not the same as “ Bedell’s Point.” 
Long Neck Cove, at the Mouth of Cannon's Creek TG . bounded to the 
Northeast by the highway and on the northwest by Long Neck Cove, and yee 
erly by the land of Abraham Connors and southeast by the land of Eve Decker. 
; .”? 1731, Liber C. p. 394. 
