THE TOWN OF PELHAM. 



79 



this State and to set up some of their manufactory's in some Convenant place for 

 such purpose which Would be a groat advantage to both Countries. For the Amer- 

 ican States are New and have no Possessions in the East Indians nor can they have 

 any unless they purchase it with money or Conquer it in War, but some of the 

 Merchants of these States might join the Holland Merchant s and Trade with them 

 as occasion might serve ; and Whereas there is an Island lying abont 25 milesfrom 

 New York in a very agreeable and Beautiful Situation and is Counted as Healthy 

 a place as any in the World; it Lyes off against the broad side of Long Island and 

 almost joins the main Land on the Manor of Pellham in Westchester Ceunti 

 State of New York, and Round it is a great plenty of Oysters. Fishing and Fowl- 

 ing in their season, a Ferry has been keept From thence to Long Island for many 

 years; Liberty has been granted by the Legislature to Build a Bridge over the 

 Narrows from the Island to the Main, it is imagined that when the Bridge is Built 

 that it will be one of the greatest Fisherries in the Sound, for the greatest part of 

 the Fish that comes Down the East River is thought to go through these Narrows. 

 This Island is laid out in a Regular form for a Town, it contains about forty -five 

 Hundred House Lotts, each Lott contains one hundred feet in length and twenty- 

 five feet in Breadth. The Pilots that is acquainted with the Sound says that the 

 largest ships can come Down the Sound with the greatest safety to said Island, 

 therefore we the Subscribers Do Earnestly Recommend this Island to be the best 

 place for carrying on the aforesaid Business of an) r in the States. The plan of 

 said Island niay be seen in the Bowery Lane, No. 38, New York. 



"Samuel Leeue, Surveyor. 



Bamp Ayes, James Sedikeb, 



Daxiel Teie, Jeremiah Fowlee, 



John Hawkins, Benj. Palmee." 



It is almost needless to say, however, that its projectors failed in their 

 plans, and were compelled to seek a less exposed and more eligible site. 

 From this circumstance the place acquired its present name, " City 

 Island." 



Benjamin Palmer, one of the principal proprietors, appears to have 

 been a great sufferer during the Revolutionary War, losing almost every 

 thing f^r his attachment to the American cause; upon the 29th of Sep- 

 tember, 1789, we find him petitioning His Excellency, General Washing- 

 ton, President of the United States, for redress under his grievances. 

 He complains " that himself and his family were taken prisoners by the 

 British, who used us very ill, and then ordered us off my plantation, 

 which I then had on said Island, to New York, where I have continued 

 with my family ever since." The reason he assigns for their using him so 

 cruelly, was on account of his sending a letter to General Howe, the 

 commander of the British army, in vindicaton of, and setting forth the just 

 cause the people of this country had to oppose the King's orders. " a In 



a Copied from original document, presented by Richard E. Mount, Esq., to N. Y. Historical 

 Society. 



