THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 6n 



called by the Indians Paperinemen, as we find the Director General, 

 William Kieft, granting unto Matys (Matthew) Jansen the isle of Paper- 

 inemen, iSth August, 1646." 1674, John Archer, lord of the manor of 

 Fordham, laid claim to a neck of land called Humock Island, commonly 

 called by the Indians Paperinemen, which he asserted he had by patent. 

 But it would appear that governor Lovelace had already settled an indi- 

 vidual by the name of Vervelen upon the island to keep a ferry for the 

 accomodation of passengers between the island and the Westchester 

 shore. To satisfy Archer's claim, however, the secretary of the colony, 

 Matthias Nicolls, agreed to pay a yearly rent for the same. 



In 1692, His Excellency the Governor "out of great favour and good 

 to the city of New York proposed the building of a bridge over the 

 spiken devil ferry. " b 



The same year at a meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen and Assistants, 

 we find them petitioning the Governor : — 



' ' That as Frederick Phillipse will undertake to build the bridge at the said place, 

 for the conveniency of all travellers and droves of cattle at a moderate and 

 reasonable toll ; they do therefore humbly pray, that if the said Phillipse will 

 undertake, in one year's time, to build a good and convenient draw bridge for the 

 passage of all travellers, droves of cattle and passage of carts and waggons, for 

 the toll of one penny for every neat cattle, and two pence for each man and horse, 

 and 12 pence for each score of hogs and sheep, and six pence for each cart and 

 waggon that shall pass thereon, that he may have the preference of their majes- 

 ties grant for the same by having a bridge built there. " c 



The following year, 1693, the 5th of King William the third and 

 Queen Mary, the Ferry, Island and meadow were confirmed to Frederick 

 Philipse, Lord of the manor of Philipsburgh, by royal charter and 

 power given him to erect thereon a bridge and to receive a certain toll 

 therein specified, and furthermore the said bridge to be henceforth 

 called Kings Bridget 



Madam Knight on her journey from New York to New Haven in the 

 year 1704, speaks thus of this place : "About 5 o'clock came to Spiting 

 Devil, else Kings Bridge, where they pay three pence for passing over 

 with a horse, which the man, that keeps the gate set up at the end of 

 the bridge, receives." 



During the war of the revolution, Kings Bridge constituted the " bar- 



a Dutch Trans. Rec. G. G. p. 360. 



b Minutes of Common Council N. T. Vol. ii. 70. 



c Minutes of Common Council, Vol. ii. 70. 



d Charter of Philipsburgh. 



e Journal Madam Knight, 56. 



