[E.B. O'Callaghan (ed.) (1856)] The Ocean on the south, and the East river on the north side form this Island, which, as we have already remarked, is a crown of New Netherland, on account of its convenient position, its suitable harbors, and anchorage grounds. The East river, which separates it from Manhathans Island as far as the Hellgate, is tolerably wide and convenient. Our freemen have resided on that Island down from the very first, according as circumstances permitted. In ao. i64o, a scotch-the year 1640, a Scotchman came to Director Kieft with an English commission, S^^<i'ti'^»w^'"i^" 286 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. and claimed this Island; but his pretension was not much respected; he therefore again departed without having accomplished any thing except imposing on the lower classes. Afterwards Director Kieft broke up and scattered the English who were desirous to settle at Oyster bay, and thus it remained for a while at that time. Forre«ier, Dowager In the vcar 1647, 3 Scotchman came here who called himself Captain P'orester, Starling's Goiernor..' ' and claimed that Island for the Dowager of Starlingh, whose governor he represented himself to be. He had a commission dated in the XVIIl"" year of King James, but it was not signed by his Majesty nor by any one else. Dependent from it was an old seal that could not be deciphered. His commission included the entire island, with five leagues around, both mainland and islands.