RICHMOND, COUNTY 



This county, which includes Staten Island and small islands 

 in its vicinity, is located in the southeastern part of the state. 

 It was an original county, organized in 1683, and at the present 

 time forms a portion of the city of New York. The name is 

 derived from that of a son of Charles II. 



Staten Island was visited by Henry Hudson in his voyage 

 of discovery in 1609. In 1630 it was purchased from the 

 Indians by Michael Pauw, one of the four patroons of New 

 Netherlands, but it soon reverted to the West India Company. 

 Beginning with the conveyance of New Jersey to Berkeley and 

 Carteret in 1665, doubt as to the ownership of the island existed 

 between the colonies of New York and New Jersey. The claim 

 of New York was not settled for nearly a century and a half. 



Near the close of the seventeenth century a considerable 

 number of French Huguenots settled on Staten Island. When 

 hostilities broke out between the whites and the Indians at about 

 1640, many of the white, settlements were laid waste. The island 

 was transferred to Governor Lovelace in 1670, and was then 

 abandoned by the Indians. During the Revolution, July 4, 1776, 

 British troops occupied the island, and held it until their final 

 removal from the state in 1783. 



Although during the first century and a half following the 

 settlement of Staten Island agriculture remained the principal 

 pursuit, the fisheries about the shore assumed considerable im- 

 portance. Shipbuilding also received a large share of attention 

 for some time. 



Along the southern and western shores conditions are especially 

 favorable for oysters, although on account of the increasing 

 demand it is now necessary to supplement the natural beds by 

 artificial means. 



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