1685 Crab Meadow Patent
(My note: This article was found at the Huntington Historical Society Archives by Dr. John Strong and passed to me. There is no other information concerning this article at this time. William Pelletreau wrote extensively on New York State history during the latter half of the 19th century).
An Historical Curiousity.
MR. EDITOR.--There is now on exhibition and for sale at the autograph store
of W.E. Benjamin, 751 Broadway, New York, the original Patent for Crab Meadow,
in the town of Huntington. It is written on parchment and bears the signature
of Gov. Thomas Dongan and has the seal of the Province of New York attached.
It is alluded to in Mr. Street's sketch of the Town of Huntington, But as it
has never been printed in full (to our knowledge), we furnish the following
copy.
WM. S. PELLETREAU.
252, West 14th St. New York.
Thomas Dongan Lieutenant Governor and Vice Admiral of New York and Dependencyes
in America under his most Sacred Majestye James the second of England Scotland
ffrance and Ireland Kind Defender of the Faith &c. supreme Lord and proprietor
of the Province aforesaid. To all unto whom these presents shall come sendeth
greeting WHEREAS John Palmer of the Citty of New York Esq John Royse of the
same place Merchant and Richard Cornhill of Flushing in Queens County Esq have
by my Lycense purchased from the Indian natives a certain parcel of land lying
and being on Long Island to the Eastward of Huntington commonly called or Known
by the name of Crab Meadow and by the Indians called Katawomek as by a deed
from the said Indians bearing date of the tenth of October last past acknowledged
before the Councell and Entered on record in the secretary's office may more
at large appear. Now know ye that I the said Colonel Thomas Dongan by virtue
of my commission and of the authority to me devised and from the sd King in
me residing in consideration of the premises and of the quitt rent hereinafter
reserved and expressed have given granted ratified and confirmed and by these
presents do give grant ratify and confirm unto the said John Palmer John Royse
and Richard Cornhill all the before recited parcel of land lying and being on
Long Island to the Eastward of Huntington commonly called or Known by the name
of Crabb Meadow and by the Indians called Katawomek bounded on the West by a
certain cove leading to Huntington Mill and from the head of the said cove running
South to the highway which leadeth to Southampton and soe along the highway
side to a place called Whitmore's Hollow and from thence Northward all along
the said Hollow as the Hollow runneth to a place called the ffresh Pond and
from thence Westward as the Sound runneth to the outermost point of land which
maketh the cove aforesaid and soe up to the said cove to the head thereof where
it first began with all and Singular its rights members and appurtenances together
with all and all manner of messuages passages pastures meadows marsh woods underwoods
ways fences lakes ponds creeks beach or beaches rivers brooks hunting hawking
fishing and fowleing and appurtenances whatsoever to the said piece or parcell
of land and premises or to any part or parcell thereof belonging or in anywise
appertaining and the reversion remainder and remainders of all and singular
the before mentioned premises To have and to hold the said tract or parcell
of land and all and singular other the premises hereby granted ratified and
confirmed or intended to be herein or hereby granted ratified or confirmed with
their and every of their rights members and appurtenances whatsoever unto the
said John Palmer John Royse and Richard Cornhill their heirs and assigns to
the only propper use benefit of them the said John Palmer John Royse and Richard
Cornhill their heirs and assigns forever as tenants in common without any lett
hindrance molestation right of survivorship or otherwise to be holden of his
most sacred majestye his heirs and survivors in free and common soccage according
to the tenour of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in the Kingdom of England
yielding therefore and paying yearly and every year on the five and twentieth
day of March in lieu of all services and demands whatsoever as a quitt rent
to his most sacred majestye aforesaid his heirss and successors at the Citty
of New Yorke, six bushells of good winter wheat.
In testimony whereof I have caused these presents to be entered and recorded
in the Secretary's office and the seal of the province to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand at Fort James the twenty third day of December Anno Dom
one thousand six hundred and eighty five and in the first year of his said Majestyes
Raigne.
THOMAS (L.S.) DONGAN.
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