The lands in the several towns in Kings County, were parchased by the Dutch Governor, or with his consent, and it is presumed wholly of the anarsee tribe of Indians.

Jamaica was purchased of the Canarsee and Rockaway tribes.

Newtown was principally purchased of the Rockaway Indians.

Flushing was purchased by the Dutch Governor, it is believed of the Matinecoc tribe of Indians.

Oysterbay was purchased of the Matinecocs.

Hempstead was purchased of the Rockaway, Merikoke and Marsapeague tribes.

Huntington was purchased of the Matinecoc, Marsapeague and Secataug tribe.

Smith Town was, by the Montauk sachem, Wyandance, given to Lyon Gardiner, who sold it to Richard Smith, to whom it was confirmed by the Nissaquague sachem.

Brookhaven was purchased of the Satauket and Patchogue

tribes.

South Old was purchased of the Corchaugs.

Islip was purchased of the Secataugs.

South Hampton was purchased of the Shinecoc tribe.

East Hampton, was purchased of the Shinecoc, Corchaug,

Manhassett, and Montauk tribes.

Shelter Island was purchased of the Manhasset tribe.

Of rade.

On the first settlement of the Island the surplus produce was wanted by the new settlers; during this period they had little trade but among themselves, money was very scarce, contracts were made in produce, and business was carried on by barter and exchanges; contracts for the sale of land as well as others were made in produce.

In 1658, the town of Hempstead agreed to pay the herdsmen who attended their cattle, twelve shillings sterling a week, payable in butter, wheat, corn and oats, at stipulated prices. In 1659, the same town allowed six bushels of corn for killing a wolf.

be dated 14th, and one day added to February every fourth year to conform their chronology to that of the other nations of Europe, who had introduced a similar alteration some years before, in order to correct the error arising from the precession of the equinoxes and that the year should commence on the 1st of January instead of the 25th of March. Before this time it had been usual to preserve a correspondency of dates with those of other nations, to give a double date from the Ist of January to the 25th of March. Thus February the 8th, 1721, was written February the 8th 172990 the omission of the lower number, would cause an error of a year.

In 1659, the town of East Hampton, agreed to give Thomas James, their Minister, £60 a year, "in such pay as men raise, as it passes from man to man."

In 1663, the town of Jamaica, contracted with Zachariah Walker, their minister, to give him £60 a year, payable in wheat and corn, at fixed prices,

In 1664. the town of Gravesend, contracted to give a man and his assistant, 600 guilders, to guard their cattle that run at large during the summer season, to be paid in " bacon and

corn."

In 1670, the people of Newtown, agreed to give 40 shillings a piece, towards erecting a meeting house, to be paid "half in corn and half in cattle.

In 1686, the town of Huntington, contracted with a carpenter to make an addition to their meeting house, to be paid in produce at stipulated prices.

In 1680, the town of South Hampton agreed to give Joseph Taylor, their minister, the use of the parsonage, four acres in their ox pasture, one fiftieth in the commonage, and one hundred acres woods. Also, a yearly salary of £100, payable in winter wheat at five shillings a bushel, summer wheat four shillings a bushel, Indian corn at two shillings and sixpence a bushel, tallow at six-pence per pound, green hides at threepence, dry hides at six-pence per pound, beef at forty shillings the barrel, pork at £3, 10 the barrel, or three-pence the pound, whale bone at eight-pence the pound, and oil at thirty shillings. the barrel; to be collected by the constable and overseers, or by men to be appointed by them.

In 1682, the town of Hempstead agreed to give Jeremiah Hobart, their minister, the use of the parsonage, and three or four acres of land, the use of the common for his cattle, and to give him one hundred acres of land where he chose to take it up, and a yearly salary of £66, 14, payable in corn and cattle.

Debts were discharged-executions satisfied, and rates paid in produce. The rate at which produce was taken in payment of debts, was, the price which the merchants gave for the like articles at the time.

In 1654, the magistrates of East Hampton, ordered that the town rates should be paid in wheat at four shillings and six-pence per bushel, and Indian corn at three shillings and six-pence.

In 1665, the town court of Jamaica in an action of trespass gave judgment in favour of the plaintiff for twelve bushels and an half of wheat for his damages.

In 1679, the town court of Huntington gave judgment that the defendant should pay the debt demanded in "good merchantable pay at the current price

In 1680, the same court gave judgment for the debt, and the Constable sold a house and lot on execution for £10. 10, to be paid "in merchantable pay at the current price."

Executions issuing out of the court of sessions, were also levied in produce, but it was appraised by indifferent men chosen by the parties or appointed by the sheriff, when it was delivered to the plaintiff in satisfaction of his judgment.

The prices of produce receivable for county rates, were generally fixed by the Governor and court of assize, but were sometimes submitted to the court of sessions, subject to the revision and approbation of the Governor.

In 1665 the Assessors of the several towns were ordered by law to estimate stock at the following rates:

A horse or mare, 4 years old and upward,

£12 0 0

Do.

do.

3 and 4

do.

2 and 3

2 10 0

do.

1 and 2

A goat one year old,

In 1679, the prices fixed at which produce should be received for county rates were as follows:

1 10 O per barrel.

In 1687, the prices of produce receivable for taxes were as

Contract prices of various articles, from 1655, to 1687:

£0 0 3 lb.

Pork,

6 per day.

The practice of paying in produce continued until about the year 1700; when trade had rendered money plenty, and introduced it into general circulation.

Of the Character of the first Settlers in the several English towns on Long-Island

The English towns on the Island, both on the Dutch and English territories, were settled by companies of individuals, the most of whom had first landed in some part of New-England; but had remained there only a short time, little longer in some instances than was necessary to select a proper place for a permanent residence, and to form themselves into associations adequate to the commencement of new settlements.

The first settlers of Southold, remained a short time at NewHaven Those of South ampton and Easthampton, were some time at Lynn. The people of Hempstead had made a short stay first at Wethersfield, and again at Stamford, before they fixed themselves in those respective towns.

The first settlers of Easthampton, came from Maidstone, in Kent. The first settlers of Southampton and of Hempstead, were probably the most of them from Yorkshire; and the first settlers of most of the other towns, seem to have been collections composed of individuals from almost every part of England.

These companies in most of the towns, consisted at first of only a few families.

The first settlement of Eastampton was commenced by nine families; of Southampton by fourteen; of Huntington,

by eleven; and of Oysterbay by ten; but in all these cases, the company in advance was immediately followed by others, and the settlements increased by the constant accession of new comers.*

The original settlers in most of the English towns, both in the Dutch and English territories, were principally English Independents or Presbyterians, and partook of the spirit and temper, which at the time of their emigration, characterised that class of men in England.

Many of the first settlers in the several towns on the Island, were well educated, and sensible men-they had sustained a good standing in society, and left reputable connections in England.

The early records and public documents of the several towns, evince that the leading men among them had a correct knowledge of the laws and constitution of England, and were well acquaiuted with public business.

They left England during the turbulent times, in the reign of Charles the first; when both civil and religious liberty, were prostrated by the illegal and tyrannical extension of the royal prerogative, and by the intolerance of the established Church, supported the one by the star chamber, and the other by the high commissioned court, before the abolition of these engines of arbitrary power."

*

They fled from tyranny and oppression, and were ardently devoted to the cause of civil liberty, and zealous for the purity and simplicity of the Protestant religion-they were zealous of their rights and resolute in their defence.

* In 1657, in South Hampton, there were 75 who bore arms in the Militia, and drew powder from the magazine, on an alarm created by the hostile acts of the Montauk Indians.

In 1659, in Hempstead there were 62 heads of families who contracted with the herdsmen to attend their cattle.

In 1684, in Huntington there was 84 enrolled on the assessment list, the chief of whom, probably were heads of families.

In 1680, in Oysterbay there were 41 freeholders, who shared in the second division of the lands in that town.

17th September, 1673, the number required to take the oath of allegiance to the newly established Dutch Government under Anthony Colve. was as follows:

Jamaica 68, Flushing 67, Brooklyn 81, Flatbush 78, Flatlands 48, Utrecht 41, Gravesend 31, Bushwick 35, Newtown 99, Hempstead 107.

*The Puritans being unable to adopt the constitution of the church of England, in 1586, established a government for their churches, by Pastors, Elders and Deacons. From 1560 to 1642, during the reign of Elizabeth, James, and part of Charles I. they were constantly harrassed by the Bishops for their non-conformity; and submission to the edicts of Episcopal tyranny was enforced by the high commissioned Court

This court with the star chamber was abolished in 1642, and these persecutions were suspended during the Commonwealth; but after the restoration of Charles II. in 1C60, they were renewed by the act of uniformity, the conventicle act, and the corporation and test acts, and continued until the evolution; soon after which in 1691, the toleration act was passed, which secured to the dissenters a partial and qualified enjoy