Record of John Pell's Sale of City Island in 1685 Reveals the Identities of Two More Early Residents of the Manor of Pelham

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It is fascinating to consider that the island we know today as City Island, once part of the Manor of Pelham and -- later -- the Town of Pelham, was likely among a few of the first pieces of land on which European settlers set foot in Pelham.  The island (and the smaller, but adjacent Hart Island) were the first large offshore islands beyond Hellgate.  Hellgate, of course, often was considered the entrance to Long Island Sound from New York City.  It was an dangerous area that bridged the so-called "East River" adjacent to Manhattan and the more westerly Sound.  Thus, City Island (and Hart Island) likely were seen and visited by countless ships and sailors traveling to and from New Amsterdam (later New York City) via Long Island Sound during the early to mid-17th century.  

City Island, of course, was part of Thomas Pell's original purchase from local Wiechquaeskecks on June 27, 1654 (Old Style Julian Calendar).  Although Pell never lived on his purchase, choosing instead to remain in Fairfield, he clearly built a house, barn, and working farm in Pelham.  See Mon., Mar. 31, 2014:  Inventory of the Estate of Pelham Founder Thomas Pell Taken Shortly After He Died in Late September, 1669.  

According to tradition, the home built by Thomas Pell stood not far from the tip of today's Rodman's Neck where a home later built by Samuel Bowne once stood.  From there, occupants looked out from the mainland over City Island.  Actually, it seems likely that a caretaker may have resided in the home built by Pell.  Nevertheless, the tradition that the Pell farm house stood where the home of Samuel Bowne stood has been repeated countless times. For an example, see: 

"Pelham Neck is terminated by the property of the late Gilbert Bowne [a son of Samuel Bowne]. On the site of the dwelling-house, stood the residence of Thomas Pell, Esq., first lord of the manor. Perhaps the finest view of City Island and the adjacent waters are to be had from this portion of the Point." 

Source:  Bolton, Jr., Robert, The History of The Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, From Its First Settlement to the Present Time Carefully Revised by its Author, Vol. II, p. 71 (NY, NY: Chas. F. Roper, 1881).  For more on the Bowne home and family, see, e.g.:  Wed., Apr. 20, 2016:  Photograph and Biography of Gilbert Washington Bowne, a 19th Century Owner of Lands on Rodman's Neck and City Island.  

As early as August, 1668, Thomas Pell seems to have allowed settlers to live for a time on City Island.  Indeed, as I have written before, a couple named Ralph and Mary Hall who were persecuted for alleged instances of witchcraft in the Town of Seatalcott (later known as Setauket, now Brookhaven) fled for a time to City Island in the Manor of Pelham and lived there.  See Fri., May 12, 2006:  Possible Evidence that Residents of the Manor of Pelham Were Acquitted in Rare 17th Century Witchcraft Trial in New York. 

Now there is evidence that after he inherited Pelham Manor from his uncle and Pelham founder Thomas Pell, John Pell also allowed settlers to reside on City Island.  The evidence appears in a December 11, 1685 deed registered in the Westchester County deed records reflecting a sale of City Island, then known as Mullberry Island and as Great Minneford Island.  Today's Historic Pelham Blog article publishes images of that registered record and transcriptions of it.

I have written before, generally, about this sale of City Island.  See Fri., Oct. 20, 2006:  John Pell, Second Lord of the Manor of Pelham, Sells City Island and Then Buys It Back.  This sale reflects one of the earliest instances of John Pell attempting to sell portions of the land he inherited from his uncle.  In the December 11, 1685 land conveyance, John Pell sold today's City Island to John Smith of Brooklyn.  After Smith's subsequent death, John Pell purchased back the land by making a payment of 50 pounds to Smith's widow and her new husband to "void" the earlier sale.  It seems that during the early 1680s (and before) John Pell was engaged in efforts to arrange settlers and plant families on portions of his land.  See Tue., Apr. 01, 2014:  Significant Discovery: In 1680 and Before, John Pell Sought to Colonize Pelham With Settlers.

Interestingly, the conveyance record of the sale of today's City Island in 1685 allows us to identify two more of the earliest occupants of the Manor of Pelham.  In it, the parties reference that "Mullberry Island or Great Minneford Island" as it then was called was "lately in the possession or ocupation of William Pate and Robert Godfrey."  As the record indicates Pell as the owner of the property at the time, it appears likely that William Pate and Robert Godfrey leased the island, probably to raise livestock or even to farm a little.  

It, indeed, seems likely that Pate and Godfrey lived on the island since the conveyance record suggests that there were improvements on the island that were part of the conveyance.  Although care must be taken since such language might merely be the equivalent of "lawyer's language" simply to ensure that the conveyance included any improvements if any happened to exist, the language of the conveyance nevertheless contains mention of interesting specific improvements including "houses barnes orchards edifices buildings gardens and all other conveniencyes and appurtenances to the said Island belongeing or in any manner of wayes appertaineing." 

First Page of Registered Copy of John Pell's Land Conveyance of

City Island to John Smith of Brooklyn Dated December 11, 1685

(Old Style Julian Calendar).  Source: County of Westchester New

York Deedbook A 1681-1688, p. 65 (via FamilySearch, New York Land

Records, 1630-1975, Westchester, Deeds 1681-1698, Vol. A-B; free

account registration required to access via this link).  NOTE: Click on

Image to Enlarge.

Second Page of Registered Copy of John Pell's Land Conveyance of

City Island to John Smith of Brooklyn Dated December 11, 1685 (Old

Style Julian Calendar).  Source: County of Westchester New York

Deedbook A 1681-1688, p. 66 (via FamilySearch, New York Land

Records, 1630-1975, Westchester, Deeds 1681-1698, Vol. A-B; free

account registration required to access via this link).  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Third Page of Registered Copy of John Pell's Land Conveyance of

City Island to John Smith of Brooklyn Dated December 11, 1685

(Old Style Julian Calendar).  Source: County of Westchester New

York Deedbook A 1681-1688, p. 67 (via FamilySearch, New York Land

Records, 1630-1975, Westchester, Deeds 1681-1698, Vol. A-B; free

account registration required to access via this link).  NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Map of Town of Pelham with Inset of City Island, 1868.

Source: Beers, F.W., Atlas of New York and Vicinity, p. 35

(NY, NY: Beers, Ellis & Soule, 1868).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is a transcript of the registered record of the December 11, 1685 land conveyance reflecting John Pell's sale of City Island to John Smith of Brooklyn.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"JOHN PELL, ESQE. his Conveyance of Minnefords Iseland to JOHN SMITH of Brukeland (viz) TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE TO WHOM THIS PRESENT WRITEING SHALL COME JOHN PELL of Annhookes Neck, in the County of Westchester in the Province of New Yorke, in America Gent. sends GREETING:

KNOW YEE that the said JOHN PELL for divers good causes and valuable considerations hereunto moveing moore especially for and in consideration of the full and just sume of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS currant monneys of New Yorke, to him in hand payd and secured to be payd by JOHN SMITH of the towne of Brookeland in Kings County on Longe Island within the Province aforesaid, Yeoman, the receipt whereof he the said John Pell dote hereby acknowlidg and theirof and every part and parcell thereof dote clearely aquitt and discharge the said John Smite his heires executors and administrators and every of them forever by these presents hath given granted bargained sould allienated enfeoffted and confirmed and by these pressents dote give graunt bargaine sell allien enfeoffe and confirm unto the said John Smite his heires and assignes, ALL that his Iseland or tract of land scituate lying and being witein the County of Westchester aforesaid before the Neck of land called Annhookes Neck, aforesaid coonly called or knowne by the name of Mullberry Island or Great Minneford Island lately in the possession or ocupation of William Pate and Robert Godfrey.  TOGAITHER wite all the houses barnes orchards edifices buildings gardens and all other conveniencyes and appurtenances to the said Island belongeing or in any manner of wayes appertaineing.  TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Island or tract of land togaither with all and singular the above mentioned premisses wite their and every of their appurtenances unto him the said John Smite his heires and assignes to the only proper use bennefitt and behoofe of him the said John Smite his heires and assignes forever.  AND the said John Pell for himselfe his heires, executors adminisstrators and assignes dote covenant promise and grant to & wite the said John Smite his heires and assignes that he the said John Smite his heires and assignes shall and may from time to time and at all times forever, hereafter have hold use ocupie possess and enjoy all and singular the aforesaid Island or tract of land togaither wite all and singular the afore demissed premisses and every part and parcell theirof without any the least lett hinderense trouble or mollesstation of him the said John Pell his heires or assignes.  AND the said John Pell for himselfe his heires, executors and adminisstrators dote farther covenant promisee and graunt to and with the said John Smite his heires and assignes for ever, that he the said John Pell at the time of the sealeing and delivery hereof, hate ffull power good right and lawfull authoritie to graunt bargaine sell and convey all and singular the above demissed preimisses and every part and parcell thereof, and that the same are leare and free from all and all manner of former and other gifts grantes, baganes sailes mortgages dowers titles of dowers judgments executions rents, arrearages of rents or any other manner of tyes or inccumbrances whatsoever and he the said John Pell his heires and assignes forever shall and will warrant and forever defend, the said John Smite his heires and assignes in the quiett and peaceable possession of the above demissed premisses and every part and parcell theirof against any persons that shall claime any right title or interest of in or to the same by from or under him the said John Pell his heires or assignes or by from or under any other pretence or procurement whatsoever.

PROVIDED ALWAYES, and it is the true intent and meaning hereof, that if the above named John Pell his heires, executors adminisstrators or assignes shall and soe well and truely pay or cause to be paid unto the above named John Smite his heires or assignes the full and just some of one hundred pounds in current Silver monney of the Province of New Yorke, at or before the thirtiete day of Aprill next ensueing the date of these presents that then the said John Smite his heires or assignes all and singular the above demised premisses and every part and parcell thereof, unto him the said John Pell his heires and assignes forever anything herein conteyned to the contrarie in any wise notwitestanding.  IN WITNESS WHEREOF the said John Pell hath hereunto sett his hand and seale the eleventh day of December in the first yeare of his Majtses. Raigne and in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred eighty and five.

JOHN PELL (L.S.)

Sealed and delivered in
presence of us -- 

Paul Richards.
John Tuder.

This instrument of writeing was acknowlidged by John Pell to be his acte & deed before me the 11te day of Decembe. 1685.

William Morris.

Compared the above said with the origionall this 22d day of March 1685/6 and it is a true coppy.  

Pr. Joseph Lee, Register."

Source:  County of Westchester New York Deedbook A 1681-1688, pp. 65-67 (via FamilySearch, New York Land Records, 1630-1975, Westchester, Deeds 1681-1698, Vol. A-B; free account registration required to access via this link).

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "The Haunted History of Pelham, New York"
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."