The First Attempt to Settle Staten Island! 
(In the Light of the Ancient Records) 
GeorcE W. Tuttle 
The discovery by Henry Hudson may be considered the first 
chapter in the history of Staten Island, and the second chapter the 
first attempts at settlement. It is a part of this second chapter 
which it is proposed to outline with the aid of contemporary 
records, some of which have recently become available. 
At the time the first colonists came Holland built more ships 
and her carrying trade was greater than that of any other nation. 
Amsterdam was the commercial and banking center of the world, 
and the States General had committed its interests in New Nether- 
land to a great chartered company called the West India Company 
with headquarters at Amsterdam. 
Staten Island was described about 1628 by Isaac de Rasiers as 
follows: “ The west point is an island, inhabited by from 80 to 90 
savages, who support themselves by planting maize.” (N. N. N. 
103.)” It was considered desirable for settlement, however, for 
Director General Minuit (1626-1631) on August 10, 1630, bought 
Staten Island from the Indians for Michael Pauw (absent) and 
paid for it with some duffils,* kettles, axes, hoes, wampum, drilling 
awls, jews’-harps, and divers other small wares. (C. D. 12: 2; 
IME, IP, 122.) . 
Pauw, apparently, never entered upon his purchase or did any- 
thing with his Staten Island property, and in 1637 the directors of 
1 Read at the meeting of the Section of Historical Research April 6, 
1917. 
2 See Literature cited, p. 23. 
3 Duffil (obselete spelling), duffle. A kind of coarse shaggy woolen cloth 
usually referred to Duffel, a town near Antwerp. “The clothing of the 
Indians as well of men as of women consists of a piece of duffels ... 
around the body ... which they obtain in trade from the Christians.” (C. 
ID), 8 Asit.)) 
15 
