270 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



that they had not paid for their lands, on the 6th of October, 1643), 

 who obtained the following "grond brief," or grant, in 1646 : — 



GROND BRIEF FOR CORNELL'S NECK. 



"We William Kieft, Director General, and the Council on the behalf of the 

 High and Mighty Lords, the (States General of the United Netherlands, the Prince 

 of Orange and the noble Lords, the Managers of the incorporated West India 

 Company in New Netherlands residing, by these presents do publish and declare 

 that we, on this day the date underwritten, have given and granted unto Thomas 

 Cornell a certain piece of land lying on the East River, beginning from the kill 

 of Bronck*s land cast south-east along the river, extending about half a Dutch 

 mile from the river till to a little creek over the valley (marsh) which runs back 

 around this land ; with the express condition and terms that the said Thomas 

 Cornell, or they who to his action hereafter may succeed, the noble Lords the 

 Managers aforesaid, shall acknowledge as their Lords and Patroons under the 

 sovereignty of the High and Mighty Lords the States General, and unto their Di- 

 rector and Council here shall in all things be confirmed as all good citizens are in 

 duty bound, provided also that he shall be furthermore subject to all such bur- 

 dens and imposts as by their noble Lords already have been enacted, or such as 

 hereafter may jx»t be enacted, constituting over the same the aforesaid Thomas 

 Cornell in our stead in the real and actual possession of the aforesaid piece of 

 land, giving him by these presents the full might, authority and special license, 

 the aforesaid piece to enter, cultivate, inhabit and occupy in like manner as he 

 may lawfully do with other his patrimonial lands and effects, without our the 

 grantors in the quality as aforesaid thereunto any longer having, reserving or 

 saving any part, action or control whatever, but to the behoof as aforesaid for 

 all destiny, for this time and for ever more, promising furthermore this their 

 transport firmly, inviolably and irrevocably to maintain, fulfil and execute, and 

 furthermore to do all that in equity we are bound to do without fraud or deceit, 

 these presents only as undersigned and confirmed with our seal of red wax here 

 underneath suspended. 



Done in the Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands, this 26th of July, 1646, un- 

 dersigned. WILLIAM KIEFT. 



By order of the noble Lords, the Director General and the Council of New 

 Netherlands. Cornelius van Tieniioven., Secretary." 



Of this family was probably Richard Cornell, who emigrated from 

 England to Long Island, during the early Dutch Colonial Government, 

 and purchased the estate of Little Neck. He afterwards removed to 

 Rockaway, where he became possessed, by patent from the British Co- 

 lonial Government, dated 1686, of a tract of land, part of which he sold 

 in 1 69 1, to John Sands. He died circ. 1693, leaving five sons, viz: 

 William, Thomas, Jacob, John and Richard, and two daughters — Mary 

 and Sarah. 



Upon the death of Thomas Cornell, the neck became vested in his 

 a Alb. Rec. G. G. 206 also 351. 



