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History of Flatbush, continued


James the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, Supreme Lord and Proprietor of the Province of New-York, in consideration of the premises and the quit rent hereinafter reserved, I have given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these presents, do give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto Cornelius Vanderwyck, John Okie, Joseph Hegeman, Aries Jansen Vanderbilt, Lafford Pieterson, William Guilliamsen, Hendrick Williamse, Pieter Williamse, Arien Ryers, Peter Stryker, John Stryker, John Remsen, Jacob Hendricks, Derick Vandervleet, Hendrick Ryck, Okie Johnson, Daniel Polhemus, Peter Lott, Cornelius Vanderveer, Derick Johnson Hooglandt, Denise Teunis, John Johnson, Ditimus Lewis Jansen, William Jacobs, Hendrick Hegeman and Garrit Lubbertse, for and on the behalf of themselves and their associates, all the freeholders and inhabitants of the said town of Flatbush, and to their heirs and assigns forever, all the before recited tract and tracts, parcel and parcels, of land and islands within the said bounds and limits, together with all and singular, the woods, underwoods, plains, hills, meadows, pastures, quarries, marshes, waters, lakes, causeways, rivers, beaches, houses, buildings, fishing, hawking, hunting and fowling, with all liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances to the said tract of land and premises belonging, or in any wise appertaining: To have and to hold the said tract of land and premises before mentioned, and intended to be given, granted and confirmed, unto the said Cornelius Vanderwyck, John Okie, Joseph Hegeman, Aries Jansen Vanderbilt, Lafford Pieterson, William Guilliamsen, Hendrick Williamse, Peter Guilliamsen, Arien Ryers, Peter Stryker, John Stryker, John Remsen, Jacob Hendricks, Derick Vandervleet, Hendrick Ryck, Okie Johnson, Daniel Polhemus, Peter Lott, Cornelius Vanderveer, Derick Johnson Hooglandt, Denise Teunis, John Johnson, Ditimus Lewis Jansen, William Jacobs, Hendrick Hegeman, and Garrit Lubbertse, the said patentees and their associates, their heirs and assigns, forever. To be holden of his majesty in free and common soccage, according to the tenure of East Greenwick, in the county of Kent, in his majesty's kingdom of England: Yielding, rendering, and paying therefor, yearly, and every year, at the city of New-York, unto his majesty, his heirs or successors, or to his or their officer or officers, as by him or them shall be appointed to receive the same, eighteen bushels of good merchantable wheat, on or before the five and twentieth day of March, yearly and every year.

"In Testimony whereof, I have caused these presents to be entered upon record, in the Secretary's office in the said Province, and the seal thereof, have hereunto affixed, and signed with my hand, this twelfth day of November, in the first year of his majesty's reign. Anno Domini, 1685.
                        THOMAS DONGAN."

It will be perceived, that by the above recited Patent granted by Governor Dongan, to the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Midwout alias Flatbush, that the tenure by which they held their lands is denominated a tenure " in free and common soccage." The tenures of lands which were authoratively established in England, in the reign of William the Conqueror, were principally of two kinds, according to the services annexed. They were either denominated tenures by knight service, or tenures in free and common soccage. The tenures by knight service, in which the services were occasionally uncertain, were altogether of a military nature, and esteemed highly honorable according to the martial spirit of the times.




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