Under the Dutch 33 



he had little trouble in coming to terms with the Company, 

 especially as they were under obligations to him for services 

 rendered, as well as for money loaned. He was bound, however, 

 to obtain deeds from the Indians for any lands taken from them 

 which had not already been purchased by the Company. 



The tract selected by Van der Donck extended north about 

 eight miles from the mouth of Spuyten Duy vil Creek along the 

 east bank of the Hudson, thence easterly to the Bronx River, 

 which was the eastern boundary; the southern boundary ran 

 from the eastern entrance of Spuyten Duy vil Creek east to 

 the Bronx River; the southern boundary was Spuyten Duy vil 

 Creek. The boundaries were about the same as those of the 

 township of Yonkers as formed by the Legislature of 1788. 

 The tract was called "Nepperhaem" in the deed; but was 

 known popularly as "Colen Donck" (Donck's Colony), 

 and sometimes as "De Jonkheer's, " which latter by natural 

 corruption became Yonkers, the "J" in Dutch being pro- 

 nounced "Y." 



Van der Donck was attracted to this section by the fertility 

 of the soil, its nearness to the fort at New Amsterdam and by 

 the fact that there was a good running stream, the Nepperhan, 

 which could be easily dammed so as to furnish power for the 

 mills to be erected along its banks. As a result of these mills, 

 the stream was called De Zaag Kill or "Saw Creek," or, as 

 known in Yonkers to-day, the Sawmill River. The dams 

 remained until 1892, when they were removed for sanitary 

 reasons. 



The almost absolute powers given to the patroons brought 

 them to believe they were equal to, or independent of, the 

 Company's representatives. Hence, constant disputes arose 

 between them and the governor, he trying to curtail the 

 powers of these landed gentry, and they defying his authority 



