28 STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
Billopp is upon is judged to bee about 1300 acres; Ordered, That 
he have the whole Neck allowing halfe to be divided into Lotts, 
ye rest to be allowed for Commonage, so to be entyre unto him, but 
then he to have no Commonage upon y? rest of y* Island—That a 
survey thereof be made to know the true extent.” ® 
An undated survey, probably 1676, entitled “ Description of a 
neck of land upon Staten Island laid out for Christopher Billop 
by Robert Ryder surveyor”’ [with draught] is on file in the office 
of the Secretary of State in Albany. A photograph of this 
draught is herewith presented (pL. 1). A certificate on this sur- 
vey by the surveyor Robert Ryder, who executed many surveys on 
Staten Island, reads as follows: “ By vertue of a warrant ffrd bye. 
Right Honorable Major Edm* Andros Govuno™ of all his royal 
Highnesses Territory in America. For bye running out of a neck 
of Land upon Staten Island ffor Capt. Christopher Billip, w™; 
neck of Land lies in fforme bye above ffigures & contains nine 
hundred thirty two acres Ro. Ryder.” The survey is also signed 
Ja. Cortelyou Surv." gl. Within the outlines of the survey is the 
description in Dutch. A building is indicated on the property 
apparently in about the position of the existing Billop House. 
The mouth of Mill Creek is also depicted as well as the creek near 
Ward Point. 
A patent was granted to Capt. Christopher Billop on the 25th 
of March 1676 for the above-described land and it is clear from 
this patent that the above is the survey referred to therein. The 
survey therefore antedates the patent. 
A copy of the “ Patent and Confirmation granted unto Capt. 
Christopher Billop for a Tract of Land upon Staten Island” dated 
March 25, 1676," is submitted herewith (p. 32). 
Mill Creek is referred to as the “ Creeke which lyes over against 
the land belonging to Mr. Gabriel Minvielle.” The description of 
5 Coll, Doe, 732 ASE, | 
6 Land Papers in the Office of the Secretary of State, Capitol, Albany, 
IN, WW, th, De 1G. | 
7 Record of Patents in the Office of the Secretary of State, Capitol, Al- 
bany, N. Y. V..4, p..07 (Cold ron): 
