52 The Story of The Bronx 



pathway coming up from Westchester, to take in also of 

 ye uplands betweene Hutchinson's and Rattlesnake Brooke, 

 from the said path to ye extent of half a mile north-west 

 for them to plant, or otherwise to manure, as they shall see 

 cause; ye remainder to lye in common between them and 

 ye inhabitants of Westchester, at ye end of which half- 

 mile to be bounded by Rattlesnake Brooke, tell ye come 

 to ye head thereof; from thence striking a northeast line 

 to Hutchinson's River afore-mentioned . . . and ye said 

 patentees and their associates . . . shall likewise have free 

 commonage and liberty for range of feed for cattle, from 

 ye head of Hutchinson's Brook aforesaid, for about eight 

 English miles; to run northwest into ye woods as far as 

 Bronck's River . . . likewise they shall have ye privilege 

 of electing out of their owne number some discreet per- 

 son, who shall be elected yearly to the office of a deputy 

 constable, to keep his majesties peace, and to compose, if 

 possible, all private differences by arbitration amongst them- 

 selves, but that in all other matters they have relation to 

 ye towne and court of Westchester. ..." The patent 

 is dated: "ye ninth day of March ... in ye year of our 

 Lord God, 1667." 



The author gives the patent to show the phraseology in 

 which all of them are couched, and especially to show the 

 indefmiteness of the metes and bounds of the land granted. 

 It is almost impossible to locate with accuracy any of the 

 early grants, as the landmarks in many cases have disappeared 

 entirely, or else have lost their identity with the passing of 

 many generations — what is known by all of one generation 

 may be known by none of the next. 



In a case arising in 1909, wherein the Mount Vernon Sub- 

 urban Land Company petitioned the Commissioners of the 

 Sinking Fund of New York City for a release of the land 

 under water in Eastchester Creek, this Nicolls patent and a 



