406 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



That the government of Connecticut in May, one thousand seven hundred and 

 thirty-one in the most authentic manner had surrendered to this Colony the said 

 Equivalent Lauds. Pursuant to a former agreement in the year one thousand 

 six hundred and eighty-three but had in the year one thousand seven hundred 

 and seven granted to Nathan Gould and others fourteen miles in the length of 

 the said Equivalent Lands which included a great part of the land purchased of 

 the Natives and Patented within this government as aforesaid which grantees of 

 Connecticut (called the Proprietors of New Fairfieid) claimed these lands, not- 

 withstanding the said surrender, pretending that it could not take away their 

 Right of Freehold before vested in those lands, though it subject their land to the 

 government of New York. 



That in order to quiet this claim, your Petitioner, James Brown, in the year 

 one thousand seven hundred and forty-two, for about one thousand pounds val- 

 ue in New York money, had purchased their New Fairfield Right within the 

 Equivalent Lands, which purchase comprehended near two thousand acres of 

 the land purchased of the Indians and not included in the said Patent from this 

 government. 



That your Petitioners were solely interested in the said land purchase from 

 New Fairfield, and not granted by the said Patent, and paid the whole propor- 

 tion of the consideration for the same New Fairfield purchase. But are willing 

 to pay his Majesty the annual quit-rents for these lands, and some more of the 

 said lands purchased of the natives aforesaid. 



By which petition your said Petitioners did humbly pray that it might please 

 your Excellency, in consideration of the premises, to grant his Majesty's Letters 

 Patent to your Petitioners, for four thousand acres of the said Equivalent Lands, 

 including your petitioners lands under the purchase from New Fairfield Proprie- 

 tors, and such other lands within the said Indian purchase as should be conven- 

 ient for your said Petitioners, in the whole amounting to that quantity, with the 

 annual allowance for highways, &c, &c, and that a warrant might issue to his 

 Majesty's surveyor-general to survey and lay out the same as by the said petition 

 thereunto being had, may appear, which Petition on the 2d day of July follow- 

 ing, being read and referred for consideration to a committee of his Majesty's 

 humble Council for this province, (who thereupon made their report,) an order 

 was made by your Excellency, with that of the said Honourable Board, that 

 his Majesty's Letters Patent should be granted to your Petitioners for four 

 thousand acres of the vacant Lands, &c.,&c. 



May it therefore please your Excellency, in consideration of the families, to 

 grant to your said Petitioners, His Majesty's Letters Patent, and on the seal of 

 the Province, &c, and your petitioners shall pray, &c. 



Wm. Smith, 

 New York, July 5th, 1751,« James Brown. 



The following description of the Lands occurs amongst the Land 

 Papers. 



The description of the land granted on the Petitions of James 



a New York Col. MSS. 1744-1752, vol. xiv. p. 120. A second petition of Wm, Smith and Jas. 

 Brown occurs on the imh of Nov. 1751, for lands in the Oblong. Land Papers, Albany, vol. 

 xiv. p. 120. 



