[Robert Bolton, Jr. (1848)] Younckers. Jonkers and Yonkers, is derived from the Dutch " Jonker" or "Jonkheer," meaning in that language the ''young gentleman,^'' a common appellation for the heir of a Dutch fam-ily.a Yonkers and the Mile Square constrtuted a township within the great manor of Philipsburgh, until the year 1779, when the manor was confiscated and conveyed to the people of this state. A. D. 1788, the present township was independently organi-zed.'^ Thirty years after the Dutch discovery of the New Nether-lands, A. D. 1639, we find the Dutch West India Company pur-chasing lands in this town of the native Indian sachems. " Appeared before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of the New Netherlands, Fecquemeck, Rechgawac, Packanniens, own-ers of Kekeshick, which they did freely convey, cede, 6cc. &c, to the behoof of the General Incorporated West India Company^ which lies over against the flats of the Island cf Manhates, mostly east and west, beginning at the source of the said Kill till over against the high hill of the flat lands — to wit, by the great Kill, together with all the rights, estate and title to them, the grantees. a Benson's Mera. of N. Y. i Act passed 7th March. 1-788. Rev. Stat. vol. iii. 386, Vol. n. 5,1 402. ■ HISTORY OF THE <fcc. (fcc. In lestimony of the truth of which, this is subscribed by witnesses. Done 3d of August, 1639, at Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland.'i Cornelius van der Hovken, ?.. T^ • 1 X.--. -rr ■ f ^s witnesses.