HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 121

Petersen, Dirck Paulusen and Hendrick Claesen, citizens of Breuckelen, petitioned the Council for leave to establish a “concentration,” in the following terms:

“Whereas, we lately obtained from your Honors a certain piece of land, situated back of the Waale-boght, or at Marcus' plantation; and whereas, we, the petitioners, have our fencing stuff ready, and some of us have already sowed and planted, and others contemplate beginning their plantations, and inasmuch as (otherwise) we should be at a considerable distance from our property, we have agreed unanimously to solicit as a favor, that we may be permitted to make a concentration there, in order to protect our property.”1

The petition was granted.

In the month of July, during the Indian troubles which prevailed, the Director proposed that Breuckelen should furnish 8, 10, or 12 men, to be “kept ready for the protection of one or the other place in danger, which may God avert!” A meeting of the inhabitants was forthwith held, at which every person present expressed a willingness to aid in protecting their neighbors on Long Island, but it was deemed that the town was not strong enough to furnish so many men; and a letter was despatched to the Director and Council to that effect; also refusing, from prudential motives, to cross the river to the defence of New Amsterdam. Letters expressing a similar resolution were also sent by the neighboring towns of Amersfoort, Gravesend, Midwout, and New Utrecht.2

In February, 1664, on petition of the magistrates of Breuckelen and the three adjoining Dutch towns, an ordinance was passed by the Council, providing for the registry of deeds, mortgages, and all legal writings relating to real estate in those towns, to be made, according to the practice of the Fatherland, before the Secretary and two of the magistrates of the town in which said property is situated, -no deed to be signed unless the original patent was exhibited.3

During. the same mouth the people of Breuckelen were forbidden, under penalty of 100 guilders,4 to remove their crops from the fields

1 N. Y. Col. MSS., x., Part ii., 117.

2 Ibid., x., Part ii. 191,193,195.

3 Ibid. x., Part iii., 53, 55, 56.

4 A guilder is equal to 41 cents, 6 mills, and fraction 666/1000.