88 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

XIX.

On the 30th of March, 1647, Hans Hansen Bergen, or ÒHans the Boore,Ó1 as he was sometimes familiarly called, received a patent for 200 morgers (400 acres) of land on Long Island, being a portion of the extensive purchase made by Governor Kieft, in 1638, from the Indian proprietors.2 It is described as lying

“on the kil of Joris Rapalje,” from whose house Òit extends north by east till to Lambert Huybertsen’s (Moll) plantation; further on (to) the kil of Jan de Sweede,3 according to the old marks, till to the kil of Mespaechtes (Newtown Creek), to and along the Cripplebush; further to the division line of Dirck VolkertsenÕs land, which he purchased from Wilcox, and the division of Herry Satley.Ó4

This tract of land extended from the Creek of Runnegaconck to the present Division avenue, which formerly marked the boundary between the cities of Williamsburgh and Brooklyn. Following the direction of this avenue to near its intersection with Tenth street, it there passed over it and stretched in a somewhat southeasterly

widow of Joris Janse do Rapalie, then in her seventy-fourth year: “Mr. De Is Grange with his wife came to ask us to accompany them in their boat to the Wale-bocht, a place situated on Long Island, almost an hour’s distance below the city, directly opposite Corlaer's Hook. lie had an old aunt and other friends living there É We reached the bay in about two hours. This is a bay tolerably wide, where the water rises and falls much; and is at low water very shallow, and much of it dry. The aunt of De Is Grange is an old Walloon from Valenciennes, seventy-fonr years old. She is worldly-minded, living with her whole heart, as well as body, among her progeny, which now number 145, and will soon reach 150. Nevertheless she lived alone by herself, a little apart from the others, having her little garden, and other conveniences, with which she helped herself.” (L.I. Hist. Soc. Coll., i. 341, 342.)

Thus peacefully and pleasantly passed the later years of this “mother of New York,” who, with her mission fulfilled, still active, and with habits of industry begotten by her pioneer life, now reposed contented amid the love and respectful attentions of her kin. dred and her descendants.

1 Riker’s Newtown, 16.

2 See page 26, and Appendix 2.

3 For lands of “Jan the Sweede,” see chapter on “Early Settlers and Patents of Bushwlck.” “The Sweede's Kill,” now Bushwick Creek, probably then came up as far as the bound of the old Village of Williamsburgh.

4 Patents, GG, 205