ORIGINAL GRANTS, AND FARMS
 

123
 

THE NEGROES' BURYING GROUND

Block Check List.   154-155-153-122

Anthony Colve, Governour, etc., to Cornelis van
Borsum, husband of Sara van Borsum (a daughter of
Anneke Jans), for her services as Indian interpretess. Ground-
brief dated Oct. 14, i6y3.—Hist. MSS., Eng., XXIII: 20-433.

Conveys "A certain small parcel of land situate on the
Island of Manhattan about north-west from the Windmill,
beginning from the north end of the road which runs toward
the Kalckhook, broad in front on the road or west side, 24
rods; in the rear on the east side, the like 24 rods; long on each
side as well along the Kalckhook as on the south side, 44 rods
each."

Benjamin Fletcher, Governour, etc., to Captain John
Kipp, Lucas Kiersteed, and William Teller, Confirmation
dated April 10, 1696,—Liber Patents, VII:   11 (Albany).

Confirms above-named parties in same premises.

For a further history of this tract, at one time known as the
Negroes' Burying Ground, see Chronology, 0 4/14, 1673;
Ap 10, i6g6; D 17, 1723,

THE NEGROES' LOTS ALONG THE BOWERY ROAD

Block Check List.  Along the Bowery Road, 507-544,

The negro lots along the west side of the Bowery Road, be¬
tween Prince St. (the old Indian trench or graft) and Astor
Place (the old highway, or Cosyn Gerritsen's wagon way),
were taken from Wouter van Twiller's plantation when it
reverted to the Dutch government.

Three lots north of the old highway were included in the
series. It is believed that all of the land north of his wagon way
belonged to Cosyn Gerritsen in 1639. His name is given on the
Manatus Maps: No. 41.

These were all Stuyvesant ground-briefs, but the negroes
had been there for a long time before the patents were issued.
The grant to Manuel Gerrit de Reus, in 1643, recited other
negroes as neighbours,   (See the Herring Farm.)

In October, 1667, Governour Nicolls prefaced this series of
confirmations of ground-briefs thus: "Whereas there was here¬
tofore, that is to say. In the years 1659 and 1660, several grants
made by the Dutch Governor, Petrus Stuyvesant, unto certain
free negroes for several small parcels of land lying upon the
Island Manhattans, along the highway, near unto the said
Governor's Bowery,  .   .   ."—Liber Patents, II:   119.

The most southerly lot in the tier was Manuel De Spangle's.

Manuel the Spaniard procured his ground-brief several years
earlier than others In this series.

Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, etc., to Manuel de Span-
GIE, a free negro. Ground-brief dated Jan. 18, 1651. Not
found ofrecord; recited in Liber Patents, II:  132 (Albany),

Conveys premises described In following confirmation,

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Manuel de Spangie,
a free negro. Confirmation dated Oct, 19, 1667.—Ibid,, ll;
132 (Albany).

Confirms a ground-brief bearing date Jan, 18, 1651, for a
piece of land to the east of the land of Hans Kiersted, begin¬
ning at one end of Tosyn Briel's land and stretching to the
other negroes' land, containing as it lies, east-and-by-south to
the wagon-way, 83 rods where a great tree is marked with a
notch; from thence along the wagon-way towards the west till
you come to an Indian trench or graft, 32 rods and so on north¬
west (by west) to a mark at the corner or hook of Tosyn Briel's
land, 72 rods; the said piece of land lies triangular.

The great tree stood on the west side of the Bowery about
200 ft. south of Houston St, The Indian trench or graft was
almost identical with Prince St.

Petrus Stuyvesant, Director etc, to Antony Antonys.
 

Ground-brief dated i65g-6o. Not found of record; recited in
the following confirmation.

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Antony Antonys,
Confirmation dated Oct. 16, 1667.—Liber Patents, II: 124
(Albany).

Conveys a ground-brief by Director Stuyvesant to said
Antony Antonys, made in 1659-60, of a "parcel of land having
no name lying between Christoffell Santomes and Manuel de
Spang, containing before in breadth toward'the 'Wagon Path,'
i6 rods, behind 30 rods; and in length on each side, 55 rods."

These two lots became part of the Tucker farm.

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Christoffell
Santome. Confirmation dated Oct. 15, l66y.—Ibid., II:
122 (Albany).

CoNriRMS a grant to Christoffell Santome, a free negro,
made to him by Director Stuyvesant, in 1659-60, and desig¬
nated No. I. "Containing in breadth alongst the wagon path
32 rods; in length, on the south side, along by the land of
Antony Sopie, 46 rods; behind, on the west side, 3g rods; and
on the north side, alongst Manuell de Ros, 38 rods,"

This lot, No. I, became part of the John Dyckman farm.

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Manuell de Ros.
Confirmation dated Oct, 15, 1667.—Liber Patents, II: 122
(Albany).

Confirms Parcell of Land marked No. 2. "Containing in
breadth along the waggon path 19 rods; on the south side along
by land of Christoffel, 19 rods behind, on west side, 21 rods;
andonnorthside, alongst the land of Luycas Pieters, 19 rods,"

Lot No. 2 is identical with the A. L. Bleecker farm, at the
road.

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Luycas Pieters.
Confirmation dated Oct. 16, 1667.—Liber Patents, II: 124
(Albany).

Confirms "Parcell No. 3. Containing in breadth alongst
the highway 17 rods; in length on south side, along by Manuel
de Ros, 39 rods; behind on west side, 17 rods, and on north
side alongst Solomon Pieters ye negro, 31 rods,"

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc, to Solomon Pieters.
Confirmation dated Oct. 16, 1667.—Liber Patents, II: 123
(Albany),

Confirms "Parcell No, 4, Containing In breadth alongst
the Waggon Path 22 rods; on the south side, along Luycas
Pieters, 63 rods; behind on the west side, 19 rods; and on the
north side, alongst Otto Grim, 46 rods,"

Lots 3 and 4 are identical with the Herring farm, as to the
frontage along the Bowery Road.

Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, etc., to Otto Grim. Ground-
brief dated May 15, 1664. Not found ofrecord; recited in the
following confirmation.

This grantee was not a negro. .'\s his patent is dated five
years later than others in the series, it may be assumed that it
replaced a negro grant that had Lapsed. The lot is not num¬
bered in the confirmation. It can be positively identified as the
fifth lot in the series.

Richard Nicolls, Governour, etc., to Otto Grim. Confir¬
mation dated Dec. 24, 1667.—Liber Patents, II:  I47 (Albany).

Confirms Stuyvesant's ground-brief to Otto Grim, of May
15, 1664, of "land along by the wagon way containing on the
south side next to Solomon Pieters 46 rods; on the north,
adjoining Francisco Cartagena, 44 r,; in front, towards the
highway, 27^^ r.;   and behind, iB r."

Otto Grim's lot became vested in Richard Pero before his
death. It was devised by his will dated July 5, 1736, proved
Jan. 16, lys^.—Liber Wills, XVIII:  454 (New York).

Katie Perrow and other heirs of Richard Perrow, to
Jellis Mandeville. Deed dated Jan, 19, 1754,—Liber
Deeds,XXXVll: 66 (New York). Recites that Richard Per¬
row was the owner of this land ac the rime that he made his