Selected and alphabetized from: Morris's Memorial History of Staten Island c. 1898 AND Supplement to Ye Old Names and Nicknames c. 1903 in Proceedings of the Natural Science Association.
The historical newspapers on this site may refer to places on Staten Island that have been given new names since publication. The following list includes old and largely forgotten names and nicknames of towns, neighborhoods, ferries, streets, hills, lakes, ponds, swamps, etc. The historian Ira K. Morris first published this list in 1898 in chapters 37-39 of Morris's Memorial History. It was based on the 1896 pamphlet written by William T. Davis. In 1903 Davis added a supplement of newly discovered names to the list. The list below is an alphabetized combination of the original and the supplement.
"As part of its Proceeding for March 14th, 1896, the Natural Science Association published a pamphlet on Staten Island names. This was received with some favor by the public, and was incorporated in Vol. 1 of Mr. Morris' Memorial History of Staten Island. Since 1896 many old newspapers have been examined, and the records at Richmond have been more carefully gone over. Several residents * have also taken an interest in the subject and have communicated additional information, and from these, and various other sources sufficient material has been accumulated to warrant the publication of a supplement to the original pamphlet. To that pamphlet and the accompanying map, drawn by Mr. Charles W. Leng, -we refer the reader for information and the further elucidation of facts mentioned in the present supplement."
Since that time interpretations of the origins of these names may have changed so it is necessary to look at this document in its historical context and be aware that there may be factual errors contained here.There are also a few terms and interpretations which the modern reader may find offensive. They are presented here simply as historical documentation of the viewpoint of the writer and a reflection of the culture at the time the document was written over a century ago.
Four of the common citations in this list, "Clute" ,"Bayles," "Dripps," and "Beers", refer to:
Annals of Staten Island, from its discovery to the present time / by J.J. Clute.
Dripp's Map of 1872.
Beers and Company produced maps and atlases of Staten Island over a period of years. Search historical Staten Island maps in the NYPL Digital Collections.
See the original: Ye Olde Names & Nicknames Full text of the booklet explaining Staten Island place names by William T. Davis from the Internet Archive. A supplement to this was published in the Proceedings of the Natural Science Association of Staten Island Vol. 3 No. 25, October 1903 available in Google Books.
Davis's "Ye Old Names" supplement entries, from Proceedings, added to the original list in italics below.
Abner Decker's Point. The bluff at the end of the Shore Road at Mariners' Harbor—the “jumping off place.” “On the public road leading from Port Richmond to Abner Decker’s point.”—From deed of Aug., 1874—description of 1807. “ . . . road leading from Port Richmond to Abner Decker's point at a place called Holland's Hook.” Richmond County Gazette, July 17th, 1867.
Abraham Tappen's Brook. Mentioned as lying to the west of Blazing Star, now Rossville, in 1774. Liber E. p. 57. (See 'Gene's or Tappen's Creek).
ACHTER CULL. Corrupted into Arthur Kill. Same as Staten Island Sound. Clute, pp. 16, 234. Bayles, p. 3. A report of the speech of Pennekek, Sachem in Achter Col (Elizabethtown) is given in Valentine's Manual for 1863. This Pennekek seems to have been a most important Indian and often figures in the treaties made from 1649 to 1655.
Acre of Mystery. A name for the burying ground on the Poor House farm. A great many unknown persons are buried there.
AFRICA OR LITTLE AFRICA, SANDY GROUND, HARRISVILLE. Africa is a nickname for a negro settlement, near the Rossville Road, Westfield. Harrisville is the official name of the place. " At Harrisville, W. of Rossville road, b'd N. by lands of P. A. Ash, E. by lands of R. H. or Robert Dixon, S. by lands of Thomas Jefferson or Leven Purnell and W. by lands of Aaron Close."
ALGERNON. " Map of the Staten Island North and South Shore Railroad." Filed Jan. 9, 1883, No. 394. The terminal station of this proposed railroad, at the shore near Eltingville.
ALLEN OR VAN ALLEN TOWN. The southern part of Kreischerville on Van Allen Hill. Named after the Van Allen family. An effort is being made to change the name of that part of the Fresh Kills Road which extends from Van Allen Town to Tottenville, to River Side Avenue.
AMBOY, BILLOPP'S, DOTE'S (DOTY'S) AND BUTLER'S FERRIES. At Tottenville. " These are to inform all persons that there is a ferry settled from Amboy over to Staten Island, which is duly attended for the convenience of those that have occasion to pass and re-pass that way. The ferriage is fourteen pence, Jersey currency, for man and horse, and five pence for a single passenger." Reprinted in Valentine's Manual, 1862, p. 715, from an old newspaper of July, 1737. Amboy Ferry is on Bew's map, 1781. Bayles, pp. 143, 681, 684. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. III., p. 54. Map, 1797. (See Philadelphia Turnpike.)
ANDROVETTE'S HILL. Near Kreischerville, on the south side of Gene's Creek.
ANDROVETTEVILLE. A name for Kreischerville. The place is the residence of many members of the old Staten Island Huguenot family of Androvette. " Androvettetown is beautifully located near the margin of the river. It contains a mine of wealth both as regards purity of clay and pretty ladies." Staaten Islander, March 8th, 1856.
AQUE-HON-GA. Early name of Staten Island. High Sandy Banks. Indian Names in New York, by W. M. Beauchamp.
AQUEHONGA MANACKNONG. Early name of Staten Island. Schoolcraft interprets “Aquehonga Manacknong,” as far place of bad woods.
ARENTSVILLE. A proposed name for Tottenville. The Arentsville Times was published for a short time.
Arentsville, Eel Town, Etc. “We trust that no such excitement will ensue as arose upon the question of calling the village ‘Tottenville’ or “Arentsville.’ The atmosphere of Tottenville and its vicinity in those days was of a very unwholesome and sulphurous character. Even Eel Town, Huckleberry Grove, ‘Pison Pint,’ Devil's Pit, Crow’s Ridge, and other small villages were all affected by it.” Richmond County Gazette, Dec. 28, 1870
AUNT GERTIE'S HILL. A high sand dune on the old De Hart farm, to the east of Newton's Creek, at Holland's Hook.
Aunt Nellie's Spring. Named after Aunt Nellie Storer and situated on the shore near Kreischerville. This spring is covered by very high tides.
Aunt Suckey Baker's Spring. The little stream that once flowed from this spring crosses the Todt Hill Road and unites with the Moravian Brook. Many years ago the spring was enlarged, walled up and changed into a well, but in old time its water was considered to have curative power. Aunt Suckey Baker's maiden name is said to have been Jose' and Old Jose' once owned this mineral spring on the “Iron Hill.”
Back Settlements or Wood Lotts. “ . . . being in the aforesaid county of Richmond near Smoaking Point, Bounded west by Peter Woglum, East by John Woglum and North by the River Containing sixty-one acres Including two roads one from Smoaking Point to Billop’s ferry the other from the Last Mentioned road up to the Back Settlements or Wood Lotts (so called) as they are severally laid out and Fntered on Record. 1763, Liber D. p. 594.
BAKER'S FIELD. At Montgomery and Monroe Avenues, New Brighton. A well known children's playground about 1870.
BARNES' CREEK. A westerly branch of New Creek, into which the Moravian Brook flows.
BARNES' LEAD. Off South Beach between New Creek and the Elm Tree Light at the foot of New Dorp Lane.
BARRETT'S POND. A small pond in the Barrett Nursery grounds at the head of Burger Avenue, West New Brighton.
BARTON'S OR SEAVER'S CREEK. A northwest branch of New Creek. The brooks from Reed's and Mersereau's Valleys, after joining, flow into this creek.
BASIN, THE. At the foot of Clinton Street, Stapleton. Walling, 1859. Beers, 1874. A well-known locality. The present docks extend much further into the bay, and the old Basin has in consequence lost its importance.
BASS CREEK. At Great Kill. On Map of 1797 and later maps, but now nearly obliterated by the subsidence and washing away of the beach. This name is also applied to a branch of Main Creek and to a small creek on the Sound between Hanne's and Mark's Creeks.
BASS CREEK. On the Sound. Small creek next north of Hanne's Creek.
BASS CREEK. Small creek between Peter's and Flowk creeks.
Battery Morton. Shown on T. R. Hassler's Coast survey map (1846?) as lying back of the light house at the Narrows.
BATTLE HILL. A sand dune on the southerly side of Bridge Creek, where it is crossed by Western Road. One of the numerous skirmishes between the British and the Americans from New Jersey occurred here during the Revolution. A trench was dug on the creek side of the hill in which the killed were buried. A part of Battle Hill is now occupied by the dwelling and garden of the Rev. Jas. E. Kenny.
BATTLE ROW. A nickname for McKeon Street, Stapleton.
BAXTER'S LEDGE. Between St. George and Robbin's Reef. Chart U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
BAY CITY. Map of the proposed village of Bay City, including Tompkinsville and Stapleton, was filed 15th February, 1859. No. 164.
Bay View Pond. “A skating pond called Bay View Pond has been opened outside of the village of Tottenville, under the direction of Mr. Christopher. It faces Princes Bay and is well prepared for the enjoyment of those who may frequent it. Four ice boats and a refreshment room add to the attractions.” Richmond County Gazette, Jan. 3d, 1866.
BAY VIEW POST OFFICE. At Clifton. Named in the N. Y. State Manuals from 1858 to 1863 inclusive, after which it was discontinued. Joseph Feeny was postmaster in 1858 and James Kelly for the succeeding five years.
BEACH AVENUE. A proposed name for New Dorp Lane on map of Oceanville, filed April 19th, 1853. No. 110.
Bedell's Ferry. Apparently Situated at the Narrows. “ . . . bounded southeasterly by said first-mentioned road [Old Town Road], southwesterly in part by said road and in part by land now or formerly of Leonard Parkinson, northerly by the road leading to Bedell's Ferry, and northeasterly in part by land now or formerly of said Wanderbilt, and in part by other land of the said Samuel R. Smith, formerly of Rebecca Vreeland . . . .” Richmond County Gazette, Nov. 23, 1859. “All that certain lot . . . of woodland - in the town of Southfield . . . on the northerly side of the road leading from the village of Richmond to the landing formerly known as Bedell’s Ferry in the town of Southfield.” Richmond County Gazette, Dec. 12th, 1866.
Bedell's Point. “likewise five acres of salt meadow lying and being or known by Bedell's Point or along the said point.” 1771. Liber E. p., 41. John Bedell's Point is the point of upland that runs into the meadow where Retchum's Mill Pond Brook joins Bedell's or Simonson's Creek. Perhaps John Bedell's Point is not the same as “Bedell's Point.”
BEEK'S AND CORSEN'S FERRIES. On May 15, 1747-8, a petition in opposition to De Hart was presented by neighboring property owners. " John Beek and Jacob Corsen have for some years past, used to carry travellers from their lands to the City of New York and to the opposite shores of New Jersey * * * ."
BEN WILLIAMS' HAUNTED OR MAGNOLIA SWAMP. To the west of the Amboy Road, between Oakwood and Giffords. " A very worthy old stage driver, named Ben Williams, running a line of stages over the route nearly parallel with that which had been selected for locating the railroad, remarked, on learning that such a road was in contemplation, ' Make a railroad ? Where will they get passengers from? I have run my stages for five years, and am not half full most of the time.' " Hand-book and Business Directory of Staten Island," p. 13.
BEND, THE. A bend in the Shore Road (Richmond Terrace) between Davis and Bement Avenues.
BENEDICT'S CREEK. Second creek north of Rossville. The Benedict farm fronts the Fresh Kills Road and extends on to the meadows at Benedict's Creek. This is said to have been formerly known as Winant's Creek.
BENHAM'S BROOK. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, p. 91. Same as Betty Holmes' Brook. Flows into Benham's Creek, a branch of Richmond Creek. On the Fresh Kills Road between Betty Holmes' or Benham's Brook and Gifford's Lane, is the haunt of Rooney's ghost. Willows grow on both sides of the road and holes have been cut into their trunks and rails fitted between the trees, thus making them serve as fence posts. A small stream flows along the road side by the willows, and Rooney, it is alleged, fell into this little two inch brook and was drowned. His ghost, they say, now prowls up and down the road.
BENTLEY DOCK ROAD. An old name for Bentley Road. Tottenville. Beers, 1874, calls it Bentling Road.
BENTLEY. A name for the post office, at what is now called Tottenville. The N. Y. State Manual mentions Bentley Post Office in 1861; in 1862, Tottenville is named in its place.
BETTY HOLMES' OR TAYLOR'S BROOK. Rises near Annadale and flows northerly into Benham's Creek, a branch of Richmond Creek.
BEULAH. The sandy point or dune that extends along one side of Old Place meadow reaching northward nearly to Old Place Creek. Though termed Beulah in a spirit of irony, to a naturalist it is well named and is anything but desolate. Also known as the Big Hummock.
BIDDLE GROVE. At Tottenville. Map of the Biddle Grove Property. Filed June 30th, 181870. Beers, 1874.
Biddle's Pond. At Biddle's Grove, Tottenville.
Biddle's Road. Led from Amboy Road towards Ward's Point through property of Henry Biddle. Garretson's Lane. Ran from Amboy Road along easterly line of Garret Garretson’s farm to the Meadows, Tottenville.
BIG HUMMOCK, OR BEULAH LAND. The long sand hill that extends along the meadow at Vroom and Old Place Creeks.
Big Hummock (Beulah) and Little Hummock are situated on Daniel’s Neck. (See Great Meadow Island).
Big Hummock or Beulah Land. “ . . . . On the Westerly side of Old Place Creek, Beginning at the Southwesterly corner of Old Place Creek and the Hummock (so called) . . .” 1869. Liber 82; Deeds, p. 488.
Big Rock, The . Half way down the “Gully” is the largest exposed rock in Tottenville.
BIG, GREAT OR STORER'S BEDS. The Great Beds Light is situated southwest of Ward's Point. Chart IT. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Fishermen call the wide and shallow part of the Sound north of Ellis Point, Great Beds, Big Beds or Storer's Beds.
Billopp's Ferry. 1763, Liber D. p. 594; 1774, Liber E. pp. 57 and 60.
Billopp's Lots at Prince's Bay. “Whereas the said Thomas Billopp in and by his last will and Testament among other things have Divised and Bequeathed unto his Daughter, the said Mary Davis, by her then name of Mary Farmer a Certain Tract of Land Iying and being on the South side of Staten Island in the provence of New York in Richmond County Called Lott No. 7 or by such or the like kind of name at or near a Certain place there Called Princes Bay Bounded with sea . . . unto the said William Davis and Mary, his wife, and their heirs and assigns All that the said Tract of Land and Premises hereinbefore and hereinafter more particularly mentioned that is to say Lott Number 1 called Huckles Berry Lott No. 2 called Two Dogwoods Lott No. 3 called Blackoak sap Lott No. 4 called Sassafrace Lott No. 5 called Birch sap Lott No. 6 called Blake and Lott No. 7 called (no name given) . . .” 1765. Liber E., p. 24
BILLOPP'S POINT. At the western end of the Island. Faden, 1779. Proceedings, Natural Science Association, Vol. III, p.. 54. Clute, pp. 100, 103. Bayles, p. 3.
BLACK POINT. "116 acres, situated on the northwest side of Staten Island and known by the name of Black Poynt, laid out for John Tunisson, by Phillip Welles, surveyor." Land Papers, 1680. Probably near Old Place.
BLACK POND AND MOORE'S POND. On the south side of the Richmond Road, near Moore Street, Richmond. Both have been drained. A bog remains on the site of Black Pond, where cranberries grow in some abundance.
Blacksnake Pond. Near Aspinwall Avenue, Tottenville. Filled in several years ago.
BLAKE'S OR BROOK'S POND. Artificial pond near the corner of Prospect Street and Manor Road. Walling, 1859. The dam of this pond gave way during the great storm of Sept., 1882, and the torrent demolished the brick and stone bridge at Post Avenue. The dam was not rebuilt.
BLAZING STAR FERRY. Generally called " Old Blazing Star," was formerly known as Smoking Point. About 1835, it was changed to Rossville, in honor of Colonel Ross, who located there and built the neat residence now known as the Lyon mansion. Notice of the change in made in the Richmond County Mirror, 1837. Mentioned in Clute, p. 73. Bayles, 192, 682. On Map, 1797.
BLEAK HOUSE. A nickname for the Livingston residence, now the railroad station at Livingston. It was so called because of its exposed position.
BLOOD ROOT VALLEY, BLACK HORSE RAVINE, OR VALLEY OF DEAD MAN'S CREEK. This deep shaded ravine lies west of Egbert Avenue, about a quarter of a mile from where it joins the road to Egbertville. It is called by the first of these names because the Blood Root grows there in abundance; by the second, on account of a tradition that a messenger between the British forts used to ride in the days of the Revolution through the valley, and by the third, from the circumstance that a dead man was once found by the brook side.
BLOODGOOD'S SWAMP. Near Sand Lane, south of Richmond Avenue, Clifton. Wm. Bloodgood is represented as owner of considerable land by Blood, 1845.
BLOOMING VIEW. The present Huguenot. Colton, 1846. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859. Bayles, p. 436. It is possible that what is sometimes called the Bloomingdale Road (now Rossville Road) should be Bloomingview Road, but the first mentioned name is the one said to have been in use.
Bloomingdale. Said to be an old name for the valley at Pleasant Plains through which Sandy Brook flows. (See Bloomingdale Road).
BLOOMINGDALE ROAD. An old name for the road leading from Pleasant Plains to Rossville, now known as the Rossville Road. The part nearest Rossville is also called the Red Road.
Blue Factory Pond. A name for the artificial pond at the Ultramarine Works, Rossville.
BLUFF, THE. At Tottenville, near the end of the Amboy Road.
Bluff Point. At the Narrows. Shown by Des Barres, 1780.
“Bodine’s Mill Creek’’ is mentioned in legal notice in Richmond County Gazette, April 12th, 1876, and in other similar notices
BODINE'S POND. Formed by the damming of Palmer's Run and used for many years by various milling industries. The pond was drained some years ago and the wells of the Richmond County Water Co. have been sunk in the remaining marsh. Mill Lane (Columbia Street) and Pond Road (Jewett Avenue) skirted the edges of this pond.
BOGARDUS CORNERS. At Woodrow, where the Woodrow Road and the Rossville Road meet. Named after Charles Bogardus, Sr.
Bogardus Pond. On the westerly side of the Rossville Road, near Sharrott Road.
BOGGY MEADOWS. Hollow near the Smith Infirmary, through which Brighton Avenue now passes. A name of thirty or forty years ago. Duck Pond was a feature of the locality.
BOILING SPRING BROOK. Flows into the Factory Pond. (See Boiling Spring.)
Boiling Spring. In a brook near the Pines, Tottenville. Also a second “Boiling, Spring ” on the flats at Uncle Nat Dubois', north of Mill Creek on the Sound. This spring is submerged when the tide is half flood to half ebb.
BOYD'S HILL. An old name for the high ground along the Richmond Road near the head of Wright Street, Stapleton.
BOYLSTED'S SWAMP. Shown by Bew, 1781, but made to cover so much territory that its position is uncertain. The Haunted or Magnolia Swamp, however, appears to occupy a portion of the ground.
BRADY'S LITTLE POND. On the edge of the Downs, a few feet to the southeast of Simonson Avenue. Also called Duck Pond.
BRADY'S POND. Large artificial pond close to railroad track at Grasmere. It occupies the site of the Haunted Swamp. (See Haunted Swamp and Brady's Little Pond.)
BRAISTED'S CREEK. A southerly branch of Old Place Creek, that reaches to that part of Lambert's Lane sometimes called Bloomfield Road.
BRIGHTON HEIGHTS. Same as Upper Terrace. The " Brighton Heights Dutch Reformed Church " is situated on the corner of Tompkins Avenue and Fort Place. Clute, p. 260.
BRIGHTON PARK. Placed between Franklin and York Avenues by Higginson, 1860. This property is commonly spoken of as Hamilton Park_ Beers, 1874.
BRIGHTON POINT. Same as Duxbury's Point. VANDERVENTER'S POINT. Located at or just outside of the Narrows. Faden, 1776 and 1779. Clute, p. 229.
Brimstone Hill. On the westerly side of the Richmond road near the head of Vanderbilt avenue. Recorded in Libers A, p. 247 and 11, p. 563 of Lispendens, at Richmond, in connection with the lands of John Wandel, Abraham Blake and Richard O. Cary.
BRISTOL OR NEW BRISTOL. Old name for Port Richmond. Clute, p. 221. In the Mirror, March 17th, 1838, there is an article on the improvement at " Mersereau's Ferry or New Bristol." New Bristol is shown by Burr, 1852. Cyrene is said to have been a proposed name for Port Richmond. The name " Port Richmond " was given to the place by the late Rev. Dr. James Brownlee.
Britton's Lane. Leads from the Amboy Road near Annadale to the shore. Now Harrison Avenue.
BRITTON'S UPPER POND, BRITTON'S POND OR CLOVE LAKE (MILL POND), MARTLING'S POND OR RICHMOND LAKE, RESERVOIR OR BROOK'S POND, SCHOENIAN'S POND. A series of artificial ponds in the Clove Valley represented on most maps of the Island. The last mentioned has lately been drained.
BROGAN'S ROCK. A large, fiat rock on the shore south of Pennsylvania Avenue, Clifton. Named after Brogan, a boatman.
BROOK ST. BROOK. Once flowed to the bay at the Watering Place-the present Tompkinsville-a pure stream, but now a dirty, garbage transporting torrent in wet weather, and dry in summer. Mentioned in the Abstract of the Title of Thomas E. Davis to certain Lands in Castleton, p. 11, (1834) as " the creek which flows through the Marine Hospital ground."
BROWN'S POND. An old name for a small pond northwest of Light House Hill, Prince's Bay. It is now on the Mt. Loretto grounds and used as an ice pond.
BUCKRAM FIELD. The field south of the Dye Works at Broadway, West New Brighton. Soldiers were encamped there during the last war.
BUCKWHEAT ISLAND. Small meadow-island in the Sound north of Dongan's Island. It is near the mouth of Mark's Creek: Clute, p. 8. It is related that a canal boatman ran ashore on this Island in the night, and in mentioning the accident, said he had grounded on " Pancake Island."
Buck's Hill. “ . . . to the lots at Karle's Neck, and from thence bounded by the rears of said Karle's Neck lots, as they severally bear to the place where it first began, abutting and bounded upon the road or highway towards the north, and upon lands held by the said John Beathy on Buck’s Hill formerly possessed by Samuel Oliver, and land now in the tenure or occupation of Richard Conner towards the east, and upon the land held by the said John Hillyer as aforesaid towards the southeast and upon land belonging to the said Matthias Sweem, formerly Hubbards, towards the south and upon the said rears of the Karle's Neck lots aforesaid towards the west and containing . . . about one hundred acres.” Liber D, p. 299, 1757. (See Mills Dale or Buck’s Hollow).
Buffalo Corners. Brown's Saloon, once situated on the corner of Bennett Street and Cottage Place, Port Richmond, displayed a buffalo's head over the door that gave the name to the corner. In the Richmond County Sentinel for Jan. 24th, 1877, there is an account of a strange phase of insanity exhibited by a person living at “Buffalo Corners in Port Richmond.”
BUNKER HILL. An old name for the high bluff at Prince's Bay where the lighthouse now stands. Map, 1797. A rather high conical hill at Huguenot, west of Arbutus Lake, is now known as Bunker Hill.
BURGER'S HILL. At Burger and Castleton Avenues, West New Brighton. A well known locality among the boys some years ago, who used to sleighride down Burger's Hill.
BURIAL RIDGE. The knoll near the Billopp House at Tottenville from which many Indian remains have been exhumed.
BURNT HOUSE. On the edge of the meadow at Great Fresh Kill and southwest of Lake's Meadow Island. The ruins of the Burnt House were plainly in sight from the Kill, and were for many years a land mark among boatmen., "Burnt House " is shown by Dripps,1850.
BURNT ISLAND. On the 10th of June, 1778, three boats laden with American soldiers landed between Blazing Star [Rossville] and " Burnt Island " in the mouth of Fresh Kills, and surprised the British picket. Bayles, p. 202. This island is referred to several times in the Land Papers as " Ye Island of Meadow against Seadar Poynte." On the map of 1797 it is marked " Island of Salt Meadow."
Burnt Island. “ . . . near a certain place known by the name of the burnt Island.” 1784, Liber E. p. 449.
BURYING HILL. A small sand knoll southwest of Smoking Point, near Rossville, supposed to have been used as an Indian burying ground.
BUTCHERVILLE. On the Watchogue, Butcherville, or Snake Road, between the Willow Brook and the Stone Roads. Butcherville Road is mentioned in Adv. State Tax Sale, Dec., 1890.
BUTLER'S COVE. At Ward's Point near Tottenville.
BUTLER'S POINT. An occasional name for Ward's Point; originally Billopp's Point.
BUTLER'S POND. South of the railroad track between Garretson's station and Grant City. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. II., p. 75.
BUTT FIELD. Near the Morning Star Road, at Red Lake. Well known to the neighbors as a ball ground, and called the Butt Field, because in one portion of it there are stones and stumps, the latter, however, now mostly removed.
Camp Washington. This name is older than the war of the Rebellion, as appears from the following: “We have received an invitation to attend the game of the Quickstep Baseball club, which will be played on Thursday, Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day), at Camp Washington. Game called at half past one o'clock.” Richmond County Gazette, Nov. 23, 1859.
Camps. Camp Lafayette, New Dorp. “Camp Herndon, on the Stapleton Flats.” Richmond County Gazette, Sept. 11th, 1861. Staten Island railroad notice: “Stopping at Camp Scott, Garretson's Lane, New Dorp (Camp Yates) - - ” Gazette, Sept. 25, 1861. “Camp Leslie, Clifton Park, ” Simonson avenue, Clifton. Gazette, Oct. 2, 1861. “Camp Low at Elm Park.” "Gazette, Nov. 6, 1861.
CANAL, THE. Dug from the Clove Valley Brook to the Factory Pond at West New Brighton. Abandoned in 1894 and has since been filled in.
CAMP HILL. A knoll southwest of the Black Horse Tavern, near the Amboy Road, and called Camp Hill by the British soldiers during the Revolution. Proceedings Natural Science Association, Vol. IV., No. 7.
CAMPS. During the Rebellion the following camps were located on the Island: Washington, Arthur, Vanderbilt, Yates, Lafayette, Leslie, McClellan, Herndon, Morrison, Low, Ward, Scott, Decker and Sprague.
CANADA HILL. The prominent hill back of the railroad station at Richmond Valley, Westfield.
CANAVELLO'S POINT. In Great Kill. West of Long Point. Named after C. A. Canavello.
CANNON'S OR LANDING CREEK. Lies between Chelsea and Travisville. Andrew Cannon is mentioned as having 161 acres on Long Neck in the Land Papers, 1686. Abram Cannon's Creek is mentioned by Bayles, p. 129. Named on map 1797. Lately called Chelsea Creek.
CAPE HENLOPEN. Fifty years ago a small pond on the east side of Van Pelt Avenue, not far from the present Erastina Station, was known as Cape Henlopen. Gradually the name became changed, so that today the children about the place know the little pond as Cape Malorca, even sometimes calling it Kate Malorca. At present it contains no cape, but there may have been one in old days, or perhaps its general shape suggested to the fancy of some seafaring resident of Mariners' Harbor the name of Cape Henlopen.
CAPO DI MONTE. Old name for Grimes' Hill. Blood, 1845.
Carle's Neck Run. “ . . . bounded on the east by the Great Swamp; to the north by the land of Edward Jones, formerly John West's, and west by the land of John Crocheron, and south by Carle's Neck Run, and the land of Isaac and Bart Simonson.” 1785. Liber E. p. 355. Johnson's, Mills' or Benedict's Creek. Names for what is now generally called Benedict's Creek, near Rossville.
CARROLL TOWN. Five or six small dwellings in a wooded hollow on Tompkins Avenue, and the present railroad track between Fort Wadsworth and Arrochar stations. Named after " Mattie " Carroll, a carter.
CASTLETON HEIGHTS. The high land north of the Moravian Cemetery and east of Egbert Avenue. Walling, 1859. The town of Middletown was created by an act of the State Legislature in 1860 and was formed from parts of Southfield and Castleton. The hills once called Castleton Heights are now in Middletown. Thoreau in 1843, used to date his letters at Castleton. He lived on the Richmond Road. The residence of Alderman J. Y. Cebra, on the Turnpike and Cebra Avenue, was also called " Castleton Heights." Blood, 1845.
Castleton Hill. “ . . . northeast side of the highway leading from the Moravian Church to the Richmond Turnpike, over Castleton Hill, commonly called Toad Hill . . . .” Richmond County Gazette, May 31, 1871.
CAUSEWAY, THE. Constructed over Palmer's Run and connecting Castleton and Northfield. The Shore Road at the Causeway formerly ran several yards further north, where Bodine's lumber yard is now situated. Walling, 1859. In 1774 when the road from " Darby Doyle's ferry to Elizabeth Town Point ". was laid out it was stated that it should go " over the Mill Dam as the Road now runs to the Dutch Church."
CAVE, THE. A hole in the Serpentine Rock nearly opposite to the point where the Little Clove Road joins the Turnpike. It was dug by Housman and his negro servant shortly after the Revolution, in their search for gold.
CEDAR BUSH POINT. On the north side of Richmond Creek and not far from Never Fail Point.
CEDAR GROVE. Near Oceana, at the foot of New Dorp Lane. Dripps, 1850. Higginson, 1860. Dripps, 1872.
CEDAR HILL. Near Kreischerville, on the north side of 'Gene's Creek. It is a rather high sand hill covered with cedars.
CEDAR POINT. Often mentioned in the Land Papers, of which the following is a sample: " 80 acres of land lying upon the northwest side of Staten Island, with 3 acres of meadow fronting, and 7 acres of meadow at ye west end of ye Island of meadow, against Seadar Poynte, laid out for Elias Puddington." 1676. The " Island of Meadow " lies at the mouth of Fresh Kills.
CEDARS, THE. There are several places known by this name on the Island. One is the hill top near Griswold Avenue, northeast of Silver Lake, a cleared place among the cedars being used as a ball ground; also the upper part of Bement Avenue that once extended through cedars. A third is the Jones' property on Prospect Avenue, New Brighton. Blood, 1845. Walling, 1859. Still another is at Tottenville to the east of Ward's Point.
CENTERVILLE. Old name for Castleton Corners. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859. Higginson, 1860.
CHARLESTOWN. A name for Kreischerville.
CHELSEA HEIGHTS. On the Turnpike, near Signs Road. Walling, 1859. Beers, 1874.
Cherry Island. “On some of the early Spanish maps it (Staten Island) is called “Cherry Island,” but this name must date sometime posterior to its settlement, as we have no evidence that cherries were indigenous.
CHERRY POND. A small pond between the Swamp and Radcliff's Pond. It is now nearly drained. A cherry tree stands on its margin.
CHESTNUT HILL. The northern part of Kreischerville (Androvetteville) and traversed by the Fresh Kills Road. The following may refer to same Chestnut Hill: " Description of a survey of a lot of land containing 81 acres with 8 acres of meadow, situate in the middle or body of Staten Island, upon a ridge known by the name of Chestnut Hill, laid out for Joseph Arosmith, by Phillip Wells, surveyor." Land Papers, 1683.
Christopher's Gully. In the valley of Uncle Ed. Wood's Brook, near the Cove, Tottenville.
CHRISTOPHER'S SWAMP. Near the Billopp House, Tottenville.
Chum, The. Logan's Spring or Harbor Brook. The late Mr. Geo. W. Wright, of West New Brighton, contributed the following: “The brook you call the Harbor Brook passes through the premises of the late Geo. Wm. Curtis and was by his guest, Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne, years since, named ‘The Chum.’ I think this name antedates yours. I think Mr. Hawthorne found in his rambles that his brook and the one through Mr. Goodhue's united before running into the Kills, and as they both passed through the same channel to the Kills suggested the term ‘Chum.” Mr. Curtis is my authority for the name. The statement above suggesting the name is simply my fancy.”
CHURCH ROAD, PORT RICHMOND PLANK ROAD, STONE ROAD. Road leading from Port Richmond to New Springville. Known at first as the Church Road, then as the Port Richmond Plank Road, then as the Stone Road, and now called Richmond Avenue. This old highway is a direct continuation of the Morning Star Road at Graniteville, and it is to be regretted that when the change of name was made, that Morning Star was not preferred. Map of the Port Richmond and Fresh Kills Plank Road. Filed 15th March, 1852. No. 95. " Port Richmond and Fresh Kills Plank Road Company. The annual election of a Board of Directors of this Company will take place at the office of the Company at Marshland, on Wednesday, March 5th, at 12 M. By order of the Board of Directors. Dated, Marshland, Feb'y 6th, 1856. H. I. Seaman, Secretary." Advertisement in Staaten Islander, March 1st, 1856. " B'd N. by Springville Cemetery, E. by Stone road, and S. & W. by land of Cortlandt Crocheron and others; with house, 8: acres." , Adv. State Tax Sale, Dec., 1890.
CITYVILLE. The Cityville post office was located at Factoryville (West New Brighton) as appears by the following heads of notices published by the same postmaster: " List of Letters remaining in the City Ville Post Office, June 30th, 1835." D. V. N. Mersereau, P. M. Free Press, July 11th, 1835. " List of Letters remaining in the Post Office at Factoryville, Sept. 30th, 1835." D. V. N. Mersereau, P. M. Free Press, Oct. 10th, 1835. On the 1st of January, 1839, Nathan Barrett, postmaster, published in the Mirror, a list of letters remaining in the Cityville Post Office. (See North Shore.) Cityville is shown by Burr, 1852.
CLARENDON. Near the shore at Great Kill. Shown as a locality by Higginson, 1860. Dripps, 1850, gives Clarendon as the residence of E. R. Bennet; the White House, as the residence of W. H. Vanderbilt; Huguenot Farm, as the residence of Dr. E. Clark; Mooreland, as the residence of T. W. C. Moore; Wheat Sheaf Farm, as the residence of W. A. Seely; Hay Hill, as the residence of C. E. Leveridge; and Oakland, as the residence of the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. All of these farms were on the South Side, from New Dorp Lane to the present Eltingville.
CLAY BEDS. At various places on both sides of Fresh Kills Road at Kreischerville and Green Ridge. There are also clay beds on the Prince's Bay side of the Island.
CLAY PONDS. Some of the clay diggings at the brick works near Green Ridge have become filled with water and are locally known as the Clay Ponds.
CLIFTON AVENUE. A proposed name for the Finger Board Road on map of Oaklands, filed Dec. 21st, 1857. No. 159.
CLIFTON LAKE. Near New York Avenue, in the grounds formerly belonging to Mark Birmingham. Beers, 1874.
CLIFTON PARK OR PAGODA. At the head of Simonson Avenue, Clifton. Shown on map of New-Berry Ville, filed June 3d, 1853. The park is shown by Walling, 1859. " Simpson Gordon, Florist, &c., Vanderbilt Ave. near the Pagoda," advertises.
CLOVE, THE. The old Dutch and the present name of the cleft in the hill through which the Clove Road finds its way into Clove Valley. Clute, p. 232. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, p. 45. The Turnpike Road traverses Clove Valley from northeast to southwest.
CLOVE LAKE SWAMP. In the Clove Valley and crossed by the Turnpike Road. Often mentioned in connection with the natural history of the Island.
CLOVE VALLEY BROOK. Flows from the Clove Valley ponds to Palmer's Run at the Mill Pond meadow, West New Brighton.
COD-FISH LANE. Fifth Street, New Brighton.
COEURAET'S BAY, PORT MAY OR GODYN'S BAY. What is now known as the Lower Bay. Bayles, p. 47.
COMES' FERRY. In 1747, Solomon Comes having purchased DeHart's farm before any decision upon DeHart's petition had been reached, renewed this petition: " Petition of Solomon Comes for a ferry between Staten Island and New York, &c." " Petition that his ferry between Staten Island and New York, may be declared a public ferry." Land Papers, 1747, 1748. Comes' petition was granted.
COMMON WOODS. An old name for a tract of woodland near the Amboy Road and crossed by what is now Prince's Bay Road. Mentioned in old deeds.
COMMONS. At Chelsea. " B'd N. by land of John Simonson, E. and S. by the Commons and W. by Chelsea Road; with house I acre." " B'd N. by land of Eder Freeland, E. by land of Charles Mersereau, S. by land of N. J. Egbert and W. by the Commons, 5 acres." Adv. State Tax Sale, Dec. 1890. The open fields near the corner of the Mill Road and New Dorp Lane are locally known as the Commons. (See Sunset Hill.)
Commons. “ . . . at Karles Neck at the Fresh Kill upon Staten Island in the County of Richmond in the Province of New York . . . and bounded South East and South west by the Commons . . . .” 1728, Liber D. p. 125.
CONCORD DOWNS. This name has been applied to the large tract of naked, hilly land lying between the Finger Board Road and the Richmond Road. It was once covered with trees. The same character of country, though wooded, extends to the Old Town Road. The Downs are now much used by golf players.
[ON THE] CONCORD DOWNS, which are composed of impervious drift material, there are many ponds and swamps. Fifty-two are shown on Vermeule & Bien's map. They are nearly all called ponds by the neighbors, but are, as a rule, only ponds by courtesy, most of them being overgrown with swamp-loving vegetation. The largest of these ponds are here mentioned.
CONNOR'S OR DUER'S POND. On what was once the Keteltas farm, at Richmond Avenue, Clifton. Beers, 1874. Now filled in.
CORK HILL. A later name for Vinegar Hill. The Cork Hill boys and the boys from Rocky Hollow used to march against each other some years ago and indulge in " Wild Irish " stone fights. They were imbued with an excess of local pride.
Corsen Avenue. “Corsen Avenue sometimes called Vanderbilt Avenue . . . .” A Peter Stuyvesant owned land there. Richmond County Gazette, Aug. 10th, 1859.
CORSON'S BROOK. Rises near the Willow Brook Road, flows -through the Corson farm and empties into Willow Brook near Bull's Head. Beers, 1874.
COTTAGES, THE. Some years ago, a number of small dwellings were built near the corner of Lafayette Avenue and the present Second Street, New Brighton, and the vicinity became known as " The Cottages." Later the neighborhood grew more wealthy, better dwellings were erected, including the Village Hall, and the district in consequence changed its name to " The Capital." "New Brighton Cottages " are located on Blood's map, 1845.
COURSEN AVENUE. An old name for Vanderbilt Avenue, Clifton. This road passes through what were once the Coursen and Metcalfe farms. Coursen Avenue is shown on " Map of Property Purchased by the Staten Island Association, Situated at the Narrows, Staten Island, near New York." Filed March, 1839. No. 22.
COURT HOUSE. Old name for the railroad station at Oakwood.
COVE, THE. East of Butler's Cove, on the edge of the " Meadows " and the " Cedars."
Cranberry Bogs. Natural bogs containing cranberry vines at Sleight Street and Sprague Avenue, Tottenville.
CRAVEN'S SHOAL. Off South Beach, northeast of Hoffman Island. Chart, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Map, Bayles' History.
CREEK OP GRANEES. "Description of a survey of a lot of land lying upon the south side of Staten Island, with 5 acres of meadow adjacent to ye creek of Granees, and 5 acres of moore to ye north east of Seadar Poynte, laid out for Theo. Davison." Land Papers, 1676.
CRIPP'S BACK. A hill crossed by the Annadale Road, between Washington Avenue and Fresh Kills Road. The following occurs in notice of auction sale in Richmond Republican, January 22, 1831: " All that certain lot of land called Cripp's Back, formerly owned by Nicholas Journeay, deceased, situate in the town of Westfield, in the county of Richmond, beginning at the east corner thereof at Cripp's Back Bars, so called."
Crips' Back. “Also all that certain lot of land . . . in the Town of Westfield near the Fresh Kill, the same being the southwesternmost part of the tract or lot of land called Crips' Back . . . .” Richmond County Gazette, May 10th, 1865.
CROCHERON MILL POND OR BULL'S HEAD POND. Near Sign's Road at Bull's Head. The mill is no longer in existence.
CROCHERON'S HILL, FORT HILL, OR LOOK-OUT PLACE. The cedar-covered hill west of Richmond village, where the old British fort is located. Geib's Hill is a later name.
CROCHERON'S SWAMP. Southwest of Union or New Springville Road, on the edge of Dock Creek meadow. New Springville Brook flows through this swamp.
CRONK'S OR HOPPING'S HILL. A prominent knoll on the north side of the Amboy Road. Tottenville.
CRUSER OR BOILING SPRING. Near Bement Ave., West New Brighton. Bayles, pp. 6, 116. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. I., p. 62. Boiling Spring brook flowed into the Factory Pond.
Cruser or Boiling Spring. “The curious natural phenomenon known as the boiling Spring [is] at Elliotteville; a spring from which bubbles of gas continually escape in such profusion as to resemble in appearance the operation of boiling.” Richmond County Gazette, Dec. 17th, 1862.
CUCKOLD'S TOWN, CUCKLESTOWNE. Early name of Richmond, the county seat.
DACOSTA'S FERRY. Placed on Bew's Map, 1781, to the west of the Dutch Church, at what is now Port Richmond.
DADDY'S CREEK. On the Sound. Next creek north of Saw Mill Creek.
DAM-MEADOW CREEK. A branch of Bridge Creek. The Dam-meadow and Dam-meadow Creek are crossed by the railroad trestle just beyond Arlington. The meadow is nearly encircled by higher land, covered with a growth of timber, and owing to this isolation has also been called the Pond-meadow. It is bounded on the southwest by Peggy's Point.
DANIELL'S NECK. " Description of a survey of 120 acres of land lying upon the west side of Staten Island, to the north of Long Neck, and to the south of Daniell's Neck, laid out for Jonsia Cronsoon, by Phillip Welles, Surveyor." Land Papers, 1685. Mentioned again in 1697 in connection with the petition of Richard Merrel; also in Bayles' History, p. 129.
Daniel's Neck, “ . . . also twenty acres of Meadow lying and being on Staten Island aforesaid on the southwest side of a Certain place Commonly Called Daniel’s Neck to the northeast and east of a Certain Creek which bounds the Meadow ground now in the possession of the said Mark Dusachoy.” 1734. Liber C. p. 454.
Darby Dryles Ferry. 1774, Liber E. p. 60. “ . . . formerly called Watson's Ferry,” 1785, Liber E. p. 94.
DE HART'S COVE. East of DeHart's Point. Usually called Johnny DeHart's Cove.
DE HART'S FERRY. Located 500 to 600 feet east of the New Brighton landing at the foot of Jersey St. In 1747 Jacob de Hart petitioned Gov. Geo. Clinton for letters patent for a public ferry. He had operated the ferry for some time previous to his petition.
DE HART'S POINT. The first prominent point east of Bowman's and a part of the old Delart farm. The knoll of upland at the end of the Shore Road, near Holland's Hook meadows, is said to have also been called DeHart's Point (Bayles, p. 3), but this seems to be an error.
DEAD MAN'S CREEK. On Dead Man's or Burnt Island. Empties into Little Fresh Kill.
DEAD MAN'S OR NOAH'S ISLAND. Same as Burnt Island. These names are used by fishermen of the present day.
DEAD MAN'S OR SNAKE POND. A small pond on the southerly side of Old Place Road near the bend, and not far from Spirit Point. It is called Dead Man's Pond, because a murdered peddler was thrown into it many years ago.
DECKER TOWN. A nickname for Travisville, because so many people by the name of Decker reside in the place.
Decker's Ferry. “R’d to Decker's Ferry” is shown on John Hill's map of 780. The ferry must have been situated near the end of the present Shore Road at Mariners’ Harbor. Decker certainly had another ferry at what is now Port Richmond. “A ferry was established across the Kill Wan Kull from Staten Island to Bergen Point in 1764. It was at the present site of Port Richmond. In 1777 it was known as Decker's Ferry; afterward it was called Ryer’s and still later Mersereau’s.” Bayles, p. 684. Decker's Ferry is shown to the east of the Dutch Church on the old Church Road (Richmond Avenue), on Bew’s map, 1781.
Decker's Ferry. 1792, Liber E. p. 248.
DECKER'S SWAMP. West of Beach Avenue, at Richmond Valley, Westfield. The Sand Ridges form the western boundary of this swamp.
DEEP HOLE. In Prince's Bay. Seventy-four feet deep. Another deep hole is in the Sound near Tottenville, and is forty-eight feet deep. Still another deep hole is just below where the Fresh Kills bridge crosses Rich mood Creek.
DEHART'S OR BOWMAN'S BROOK. Bends about the high sand dune or Gerty's Hill at Holland's Hook, and flows into Newton's Creek. Near the bridge where DeHart's Brook crosses the Shore Road, Sukey Rowland claimed that she was caught by the Devil many years ago and had her tongue pulled. She was a gossip and her stories with oft telling grew apace, so that her good neighbors became angry with this monger of tales whose tongue was so very long.
DENYSE'S OR BLACK-FISH ROCK. Near the shore at Brighton Point (St. George) and about three hundred feet east of Lightning Rock. The place was well known to fishermen some years ago, but has now been filled in.
Devil's Elbow. “All that certain piece of salt meadow lying and being in said Westfield on the west bank of Lemon Creek so called, bounded and described as follows, to wit: “Beginning at a stake sixty feet from the bend of said creek below the “Devil’s Elbow ’” so called . . . .”1878, Deeds, Liber 141, p. 112.
Divison Avenue. Church Road, Mechanics’ Avenue, Etc. “Portrichmond. The Board of Trustees have resolved to make the following changes in names of streets: Division Avenue to Jewett Avenue; Simonson Avenue (down shore) to Simonson Place; First Avenue to Grace Church Place; Heberton Street to Heberton Avenue; Church Road to Richmond Avenue; Phebe Street to James Street: Mechanics’ Avenue to Lafayette Avenue; Steamboat or Ferry Street to Ferry Street. It was also resolved that signs with the names of street thereon should be placed at the street corners.” Richmond County Gazette, Sept. 2d, 1878.
DOCK OR NEW SPRINGVILLE CREEK. Branch of Main, and next considerable creek southeast of Neck Creek. The one in which New Springville dock is located.
DOCK ROAD. Leading from New Springville dock to the Stone Road. Not named on the maps. A branch of this road, called Morgan's Road, extends southward along the edge of the meadow. When Garretson's Road was opened, this part was abandoned and is now a grass-grown lane.
Dissosway’s Mill Pond. Mentioned in 1774, Liber E. p. 57, and probably the pond known in 1859 and later as Weir's Mill Pond, at Mill Creek, Tottenville. (See Le Conte's Corner).
DONGAN CEDARS OR DONGAN WOODS. Near Four Corners. Clute, p. 122.
DONGAN KNOLL. The highest point of the Island overlooking Willow Brook valley and beyond. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, pp. 63, 88, 89.
DONGAN'S ISLAND. Large island of meadow in the Sound near Chelsea. On Dripp's map of 1850 it is marked Dongan's Island, but on the later maps it is corrupted into " Duncan's Island." Called Prall's Island on map in Bayles' History. The " great island of salt meadow, near the Fresh Kills, and opposite to Long Neck, laid out for John Palmer by Phillip Wells, surveyor," is mentioned in the Land Papers in 1687, and is Dongan's Island. The patent to Palmer was approved at a council held March 31st, 1687, Governor Dongan being present, and on the 16th day of the following April, John Palmer and Sarah, his wife, conveyed the same territory to Thomas Dongan. Nearly opposite to this Island on the New Jersey shore, are the " Rotten Meadows."
Dongan's Island. “Also a certain Island of Salt Meadow situate in the Sound between Jersey and Staten Island commonly called Dongan's Island, containing by estimation One Hundred acres.” 1794, Liber E. p. 343.
Dongan's Mill Ponds. Col. Dongan had two mills, an upper and lower. 1759, Liber D. p. 326. 1764, Liber D. p. 514. 1774, Liber E. p. 59. 1792, Liber E. p. 248. Apparently Dongan’s Upper Pond was known later as Blake's or Brook’s Pond, and the lower as Bodine’s Pond.
DOVE AND BELLUE'S FERRY. " The statement in the petition and the Governor's warrant that there was a public road leading to the ` place on the eastermost part of Staten Island called Sand Bay, very convenient for travelers and transporting of goods and the posts,' taken in connection with an ancient map of Staten Island made by S. Bellin in 1764, found in Valentine's New York City Manual for 1861, page 597, shows quite conclusively that the Staten Island end of this ferry was at the foot of Cliff Street, just south of the present Quarantine officer's station in Clifton, about a mile below Vanderbilt or Clifton Landing, and on the line of the present Fingerboard Road, which undoubtedly formed in those days part of the Old Amboy Road, over which the posts traveled on their way from the mainland to the city." Mayor, &c., of New York against Starin, Sze., Argument for Defendants, p. 6. (See Sand Bay.)
DOVER. Shown by Bellin, 1764, as occupying the site of what has sometimes been called Stony Brook.
Drift Way. “North Side of Staten Island in Richmond County in the Province of New York bounded Northerly by Kill Van Cull, Easterly partly by a Messauge and piece of Land now belonging to Anthony White partly by Land belonging to Ann Groesbeck partly by a Certain Tract of Land purchased by Anthony W. Waters in his life Time of Samuel Ten Eick hereinafter Mentioned and Described and partly by Land late belonging to Abraham Barchalon deceased Southerly by the Wood Land of Jacob Corson and Westerly by the Highway as the Same now runs which said Highway was formerly Called the Drift Way.” 1775, Liber E. p. 71. “Highway formerly called the Drift,” is mentioned in connection with the Soldiers' Lots in the same indenture.
DU PUY'S POINT. The southerly point at the mouth of Peter's Creek.
DUCK CREEK. Next creek west of Lockman's. Smith, 1836. WOLFE'S BROOK. Flows into Wolfe's Pond, which lies northeast of Seguine's Point.
DUCK LANE. Nautilus Street, Clifton.
Dutch Block. A nickname for a row of houses on the west side of Jersey Street, New Brighton, about two hundred feet south of Richmond Terrace.
DUCK POND. Near the corner of the present York and Brighton Avenues, New Brighton. Now filled in.
DUTCH FARMS. Now called Concord. Maps of Concord were filed in County Clerk's office in 1853 and 1861.
DUXBURY ST. Named after Ellis Duxbury, and an old name for Tompkins Avenue. " Duxbury Street or road leading from the Quarantine to the north shore," is mentioned in the Abstract of the Title of Thomas E. Davis to Certain Lands in Castleton, pp. 12, 38.
DUXBURY'S POINT. Where the present ferry house is located at St. George. Faden, 1776 and 1779. Bew, 1781. Bayles, p. 395. Clute, p. 461. Abstract of Title, Thos. E. Davis, 1834, pp. 11, 44. Faden and Bew call it " Ducksbury Point"
EAGLE'S NEST POINT. In an indenture dated February 3rd, 1756, " Between Jacob Bergen of Old Town, Husbandman, Johannes Van Wagenen, Wheel-wright, Cornelius Kroesen and Daniel Corson Esq all of Staten Island in this County of Richmond and in the Colony of New York, Surviving Executors of the last Will and Testament of Jacob Bergen late of Staten Island aforesaid in the sd County of Richmond, Gentleman Deceased, of the one Part and Capt. John Keteltas of the City of New York Merchant, of the other Part," occurs the following: " And also a little Lot of Salt Meadow at Eagle's Nest Point on the West Side of Peter Nowee's Land, to the said Lott of Land belonging or appertaining, which said Premisses was formerly conveyed by the said Mary Brittaine unto her son Nathaniel Brittaine, as by an Instrument in Writing under the hand and Seal of the said Mary Brittaine unto him the sd Nathaniel Brittaine, Dated the 23 Day of Feby Anno Dom. 1685-6, Reference being thereunto had may more fully and at large appear." The land belonging to Peter Nowee's or Peter New, as he was often called, was just west of the southerly reach of the Old Town Road after leaving the present Richmond Ave. This would fix the location of Eagle's Nest Point on the edge of the meadows below Linden Park and near Old Town or Pole Creek. The eagle's nest was no doubt built by a fish hawk or sea eagle.
EAST SHORE. From Brighton Point to the Narrows.
Edgewater. Notice is hereby given, pursuant to statute, that an application will be made to the next legislature of the State of New York to incorporate the town of Middletown, and so much of the town of Southfield as lies. northerly of the New Dorp Lane or such other portion as may be thought best into a village to be called “Edgewater.” Dated Oct. 1st, 1865. Richmond County Gazette, Dec. 13th, 1865.
Edgewater, New Brighton, Port Richmond. “The charters for the incorporation of a part of Middletown under the name of the village of Edgewater, a part of Castleton under the name of New Brighton, and a part of Northfield under the name of Port Richmond, have been carefully revised and sent to the legislature, where it is supposed they will be passed and become laws of the State.” Richmond County Gazette, March 14th, 1866.
EDSALL'S ISLAND. " Description of a survey of several small pieces of salt meadow, on the northwest side of Staten Island, near the Fresh Kills, beginning at the southernmost branch of the Fresh Kills, where it joins the sound; thence southward-to Jacob de Muffes his creek, including a peninsula of meadow called Edsall's Island, laid out for Christopher Billipp, by Ro: Fulerton." Land Papers, July 6, 1687.
EGBERT'S LANE. Described in 1788 as being the western boundary of the town of Southfield; now Gifford's Lane. Bayles, p. 327.
Egbert's Lane. Mentioned by name in Liber E. p. 1, 1765. Tunis Egbert, Abraham Egbert and Henry Latourette, executors of the last will and testaIment of James Egbert, sell land to Capt. John Gifford.
EGBERTVILLE RAVINE. Lies between Kellett's Hill and Egbertville Road, near Egbertville. Richmond or Saw Mill Brook flows through this ravine.
EGH-QUA-OUS. Early name of Staten Island. High Sandy Banks. Indian Names in New York, by W. M. Beauchamp. The meaning of “Eghquahous” is also interpreted as far place of bad woods. Bayles, p. 1. Clute, p. 8.
EGYPT. A meadow island between Barnes' and Bartons' Creeks, southwest of Grant City.
ELLINGWOOD ROAD. Many of the iron mines on Ocean Terrace were situated on the Ellingwood property and the Ellingwood or Iron Mines Road lead to them from the Little Clove Road. The northern portion of the Ocean Terrace Road of the present maps represents a part of the old Ellingwood Road. The Douglass Road, the most tortuous private or public highway on the Island, was also partly on the Ellingwood property. Beers, 1874. Advertisement State Tax Sale, 1890.
ELLIOTT PLACE. An old name for First Street (Beers, 1874), now Livingston Place, at Livingston.
ELLIOTT'S POND OR THE RINK. Near the Amboy Road and Elliott Avenue, Tottenville. This was formerly a swamp, but is now a favorite skating place in winter, hence, one of the names.
Elliott's Pond or The Rink. Formerly a large dense swamp called Biddle's Swamp and later Kingsbury's Swamp.
ELLIOTTVILE. Foot of Bard Avenue; the present Livingston. Dripps, 1850. Dripps, 1872. Named after Dr. S. M. Elliott, oculist. On Walling's map of 1859 there is a bird's eye view of Elliottville.
ELLIS' POINT. First point northwest of Kreischerville.
ELLIS' SWAMP. Crossed by the Fresh Kills Road at Kreischerville. 'Gene's Creek extends into this swamp.
ELM TREE. A large tree that stood at the foot of New Dorp Lane, from which the present Elm Tree Light was named. On the map of 1797 is the following indorsement : " Large Elm tree standing by the shore, a mark for vessels leaving and going from New York to Amboy, Middletown and Brunswick." Elm Tree, with a picture of a tree, is given both by Smith, 1836, and Dripps, 1850. Old Elm Tree " where the Huguenots landed," is mentioned by Thoreau, letter of July 21st, 1843.
ELMORE'S POND. Near the corner of Simonson Place and Oder Avenue.
ELTING'S LANDING. At the present Kreischerville. Dripps, 1850.
ESEK'S CREEK. Branch of Dock Creek; also known as Blake's Creek.
FACTORY CREEK. Next creek west of Wreck Creek. Extends toward the Linoleum factory.
FACTORYVILLE. West New Brighton. Map of the Village of Factoryville, owned and laid out by N. Barrett. Town of Castleton, S. I. Filed Aug. 20th, 1836. Factoryville or Castleton is given by Dripps, 1850. The steamboat landing at Factoryville was called Castleton Landing. Walling, 1859. Higginson, 1860. Bayles, p. 264.
FALSE POND. A small pond several hundred feet east of Cape Henlopen and near Simonson Avenue. It seems to have been known as Paul's Pond, after Paul Mersereau.
Ferguson's Hill. A part of Fox Hill crossed by Belair road and Tompkins avenue, Clifton.
FERRIES [ EAST SHORE] were Tompkins' & Brown's Steamboat ferry, operated from 1817 to 1827; the Fulton Bank ferry, from 1827 to 1833; Richmond Turnpike Co.'s ferry, from 1S33 to 1845; C. Vanderbilt's ferry, from 1845 to 1855; Jacob L. Smith's ferry (lease in his name), from 1856 to 1867. George Law was chief owner in the Smith ferry and sold it to the Staten Island Rail Road Company in 1863 or 1864, who continued its management until the Staten Island Rapid Transit Railroad Company got control.
FERRIES [ NORTH SHORE] were the New Brighton Ferry, maintained by Thomas E. Davis, Griswold and Nathan Barrett, who ran the steamboat " New Brighton " in 1837 or 1838; George Law's ferry from 1859 to 1864; the North Shore Staten Island Ferry Co., purchasers of George Law's ferry, 1860 to 1877; New York and Staten Island Steamboat Co., successors to the last mentioned company, from 1877 to 1884, when the Staten Island Rapid Transit Rail-road Company commenced operations.
FERRY ROAD. An old name for Shea's Lane. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. III., p. 53.
Ferry Stairs. At Holland Hook. “Bounded on the north by the Causway leading to the Ferry Stairs, on the East, by Meadows belonging to Garret Post; on the South by Meadows which formerly belonged to Christian Garrebrants deceased, and on the West, by the Bridge Creek.” 1797, Liber E. p. 371.
FERTILE PLAIN. Between Benedict's Creek and the Fresh Kills Road. Walling, 1859. Named on the various editions of Colton's Road Map of Staten Island.
FEST'S POND. Adjoins Fronkel's Pond.
FIDDLER'S GREEN. A nickname of a small district on Journeay Avenue, not far from Green Ridge. It was the residence of Reynolds, the fiddler.
FIEDLER'S PARK. On the Turnpike, near Pavilion Hill. Dripps, 1872.
FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD LANDINGS. Before the present rapid transit system, Tompkinsville Landing, at the foot of Arietta St., was often called First Landing; Stapleton Landing at the foot of Canal St., Second Landing, and Clifton Landing, near the foot of Vanderbilt Ave., Vanderbilt's or Third Landing.
FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD POINTS, OR UNCLE IKE'S POINTS. On the north side of Richmond Creek and southeast of Cedar Bush Point.
Fish Lane. “Also lot of land assessed to Mary J. Cullen, situate lying and being in said village [New Brighton], bounded and described as follows, to wit: Commencing at a point on the southerly side of the Richmond Terrace, distant 50 feet from the westerly side of Fish Lane . . .” Richmond County Sentinel, March 23, 1878.
FLAG STAFF. Located at the Narrows on map of 1797. Same as Signal House. Bayles, p. 209. Clute, pp. 20, 113.
FLAT BROOK. Flows north across Lambert's Lane into Old Place Creek. (See Flat Brook, a branch of Saw Mill or Maggie's Creek.)
FLAT BROOK. Flows through the low, flat woodland lying between Merrill's Road and the Turnpike into Saw Mill or Maggie's Creek. (See Flat Brook, a branch of Old Place Creek.)
FLAT CREEK. Small creek between Mill and Lockman's Creeks. Smith, 1836.
FLAT CREEK. A branch of Richmond Creek and near Never Fail Point.
Flat Rock. “Also a certain parcel of meadow lying on the north side of the Fresh Kills near the mouth thereof beginning near the Flat Rock. being bonded by the west to the Sound on the north on the meadows not layed out and on the east and south by the small creek aforesaid and the Fresh Kill containing sixteen acres and two rods, there being five acres allowed for creeks, ponds and marshes as by the said patent. . . . .” 1708, Liber D, p. 112.
FLATS. The best known are the Stapleton Flats (Bayles, p. 304), located at the foot of Prospect Street. They were made by digging away Prospect Hill and filling in along the shore. The level ground at Brighton Point (St. George) was also once known as the Flats.
FLOWK CREEK. Branch of Main, and next creek southwest of Dock Creek. Mentioned in Richmond Republican, Jan. 24th, 1829. There is also a creek southeast of Travisville known as Long Neck Flowk or Little Flowk Creek. These creeks were no doubt named after the fish allied to the flounders, known as the flowk or fluke. The true flowk is a European fish. The present day fishermen do not know why these two creeks are so called, but the above explanation seems probable.
FOREST HILL ROAD. An extension of that part of the Willow Brook Road known as the New Road. It is crossed by Jones or Rockland Avenue, and is called by Beers, 1874, the Port Richmond Road. B'd by Rockland Avenue, E. by land of Judge Gildersleeve, S. by land formerly of Samuel Decker and W. by Forest Hill Road; with house. 7 acres." Adv. State Tax Sale, Dec. 1890.
FOREST HILL. Lies parallel to Richmond Hill, being separated by the Mills Dale or Buck's Hollow. The Forest Hill Road extends along the crest of this hill.
FORK CREEK. A forked creek on Long Neck that empties into Fresh Kills to the east of Wreck Creek.
FORT HILL. The hill crossed by Westervelt Avenue, New Brighton, and named from the several British forts located thereon in Revolutionary time. Clute, p. 93. Mentioned in advertisement State Tax Sale, December 1890. Map of property at Fort Hill, Staten Island, filed 20th July, 1853. No. 116.
FORT POND. In the Fort grounds at the Narrows, near the end of Richmond Avenue.
FORTS, OLD. The Dutch had their block-house at the Narrows; Washington his lookout, from whence came the tidings that the British fleet was near; the British their earth-works, and lastly the Union its more massive forts. A part of this eminence was once known as" Little Fort Hill." Many earth-works were thrown up along the shores of the Island, by the British, in the days of the Revolution. Fifteen of these redoubts have been located, and all but four have disappeared. One is near Richmond, another on Pavilion Hill, and two others still on Fort Hill overlooking New York Bay.
FOUNTAIN ST. Named after Garrit Fountain and now known as South Street. Mentioned in the Abstract of the Title of Thomas E. Davis to Certain Lands in Castleton. Livingston Street and Thompson Street are also mentioned in the Davis abstract, but they were never laid out.
FOUNTAIN'S POINT. In Great Kill. Immediately west of the mouth of Lockman's Creek." (See Lockman's Creek.)
FOUR CORNERS IRON MINES. Just east of Jewett Avenue, near the Turnpike. The abandoned diggings, now filled with water, are known as the " Iron Mine Ponds."
FOUR CORNERS. Same as Castleton Corners. Castleton Corners Post Office is first mentioned in the N. Y. State Manual for 1872.
FOX AVENUE. An old name for the present Broadway leading from the Amboy Road, between Annadale and Huguenot, to the shore.
FOX HILL. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, pp.88, 90 Southwest of the present Rosebank railroad station. This and Mayer's Hill are the most prominent of the Concord Downs.
FREEMAN WINANT'S SWAMP. Southwest of Union or New Springville Road, on the edge of Neck Creek meadow. The Crystal Water Company has located wells at this point.
FRESH KILLS. Mentioned in Land Papers, 1676; on map, 1797, and on all later maps.
FRESH KILLS. The present Green Ridge.
FRESH MEADOW, THE. In Logan's Spring Valley, north of Silver Lake. Named in the Palmer or Dongan patent, in 1687 (Bayles, p. 115); also in deed of Dongan's trustees to Hendrick Hendrickson. In the Phillip Welles patent the Fresh Meadow is mentioned as near a " great rock stone."
Fresh Meadow. “Tract or piece of Land beginning at a white Oak Tree $tanding or growing by a Rock by the side of a Small fresh meadow bearing northerly from a pond of water commonly called the fresh pond which white oak Tree is one of the Marked Trees of Philip Wells.” 1721. Liber C., p. 85. Also mentioned in 1731, Liber D. p. 8.
FRESH POND. Mentioned in Palmer patent in 1687. Bayles, p. 115. Same as Silver Lake. Clute, p. 59. Blood, 1845. Dripps, 1850.
FROG POND. Near Vanderbilt Avenue, in Leavitt's Woods. Now drained.
FRONKEL'S POND. Close to and southwest of Steuben Street, Concord. Contains an island.
GARRETSON'S BAR. Near (above) where the old Garretson or Fresh Kills bridge crossed Richmond Creek.
GARRETSON'S OR SHARROTT'S SWAMP. North of the Finger Board Road, close to where it is crossed by the track of the Staten Island railroad.
Garretson's Pond. At Garretson's Lane between Aspinwall Avenue and Sleight Street, Tottenville.
GARRETSON'S ROAD. Dripps, 1872.
GEIB'S MILL POND. At the old tide mill on Richmond Creek below the hill where 'the British Fort was located. It was formerly known as the Crocheron Mill Pond. Dripps, 1850. The mill was advertised for sale in the Staaten Islander during 1857.
GENE'S OR TAPPEN'S CREEK. Northwest of Kreischerville. Named after Eugene Androvette. On the map of 1797 it is called Tappen's Creek, and the older residents also know it by that name. Asher and Abraham Tappen are mentioned on old grave stones in a homestead burying ground, just south of the creek.
GLEBE, THE. A farm in Castleton, of 200 acres, bequeathed to St. Andrew's church by Ellis Duxbury in 1718. Bayles, pp. 242, 395. This farm included the present St. George landing (Duxbury's Point), the Light House Department grounds, the old Quarantine and the vicinity.
Glebe, The. “Plantation Called Duxbury’s Glebe.” 1765 Liber D. p. 609.
GLEN, THE. At the northwest end of Britton's Pond, near where the mill once stood. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, p. 64.
GOAT HILL. An old name for Fort Hill. The unfenced portion was formerly used as a goat pasture.
GOOSE PATCH, THE. The open field between Westervelt Avenue and Jersey Street, New Brighton, now traversed by Crescent Street.
GORE STREET. Now called Broad Street, Stapleton. Clute, p. 270.
GORE'S BROOK. Rose near the head of Vanderbilt Ave., flowed through the Gore farm and emptied at Stapleton. Once a well known brook.
GOTTSCHALK'S POND. Lies southwest of DeKalb Street, Concord. Gottschalk is a too difficult name for many of the neighbors, who have corrupted it into Gunshot.
GOVERNOR'S LOT. " Description of a survey of 124 acres of land lying at ye New Dorp, on Staten Island formerly called ye Governor's lot, laid out for Obadiah Holmes, by Ro. Ryder Surveyor." Land Papers, 1677.
Governor's Lott. “All that certain parcell of Land lying at the New Diropp on the South Side of the sd County formerly called the Governor's Lott. . . . .” 1714. Iiber C. p. 48. “. . . . bounded to the south east by the meadow to the northeast by the high way to the north west by the Land of the Governors to the south west by the Land of Abraham Lutine . . .” 1720. Liber C. p. 418.
GOZEN RYERSON'S FERRY. At the east end of Staten Island at the entrance to the Kills. Bayles, p. 683. In the minutes of the Common Council for March 29th, 1785, there is a memorandum stating that the Staten Island ferry was sold for the term of three years; from May 1st, 1786, to Gozen Ryerson for £20 per annum payable quarterly.
GRAND VIEW PARK ON CASTLETON HEIGHTS. Along the Todt Hill Road, Middletown. On map filed Dec. 22d, 1869, the Todt Hill Road is called Grand View Avenue, and Hillside, Crown Point, Park Place and Annfield Place are given as names for sections of the property.
GRANITE VILLAGE. Located in Northfield. Dripps, 1850. Higginson,1860. Graniteville. Walling, 1859.
GREAT KILL MEADOW. At Great Kill, and mentioned in advertisement in Richmond Republican, May 29th, 1830. The wet land along the edge of the meadow is locally known as " The Bogs."
Great Kill Meadow. Mentioned in 1786, Liber E. p. 170, and in advertisement in Richmond County Gazette, Oct. 15th, 1862.
GREAT KILL POINT. At Giffords. Once called Brown's Point and now often spoken of as Crooke's Point. Jos. Brown is given as a resident by Dripps, 1850. On map, 1797, it is mentioned as a " Beach of Sand."
GREAT KILL SHOAL. Southeast of Crooke's Point. This is what is called Old Orchard Shoal on the government chart (Great Kill Shoal not being mentioned), but according to oystermen, &c., the true Old Orchard Shoal is further to the west nearly opposite Huguenot. The Old Orchard, now washed away by the ever encroaching sea, is said to have been situated just west of Arbutus Lake. " Kill Shoal " is shown by Smith, 1836.
GREAT KILL. Mentioned In the Land Papers in 1676; on Map of 1797 and on all later maps.
Great Meadow Island or Great Island of Mark Disosway. “ . . . piece or parcel of meadow at Staten Island in the County of Richmond, aforesaid at a place called the Great Island of Mark Disosway . . . .” 1728, Liber D, p. 42. “All that certain lot of salt meadow, known by the name of Du Bois’ Meadow, situate on the northwest side of Staten Island in the County of Richmond being on the southeast part of a tract of meadow commonly called the Great Meadow Island . . . Bounded on the west by the meadow of the said Nathaniel Johnson, on the north and northwest part by the meadow of the said Abraham Monee, and part by Mark’s Creek, on the east and southeast by another creek, which meets or runs into Mark's Creek, and on the south by the sound. . . . .” 1792, Liber E, p. 348; also 1792, Liber E, p. 349. Mark Disosway's Creek is the one now known as Mark’s Creek, Watchogue.
Great Pond. Probably Silver Lake. “And also a certain pond commonly called the Great Pond, bounded by the lands of Wilhelmus Freeland and others, and reserved in the grant of Thomas and Walter Dongan for the lands surrounding the said pond, and also a copper and iron mine in the lands now possessed by Walter Dongan, likewise reserved in the grant of the said Thomas, in as full and ample a manner as in the said grants they were reserved.” 1794. Liber E. p. 343.
Great Pond. Appears to be the wide part of Great Kill near where the old Lake mill stood. “ . . . lot of meadow at the Great Kill containing ten acres and ten acres of swampy Reedy meadow by the Great Pond ... " 1714. Liber C. p. 44. “. . . . beginning by the water side sixty Rodd to the west of the Great Pond, and stretching into the woods northwest twenty-five degrees ” 1722. Liber C. p. 128. “Together with one lott of salt meadow at the Great Kills containing eight acres and eight acres of ready swampy meadow adjoining unto the meadow of Daniel Stilwell by the Beach to the Great Pond . . . . .” 1776. Liber E. p. 84.
GREAT PLAIN. Said to have been the comparatively level tract to the east of the Great Swamp. The following is from a notice of sale at public auction contained in the Richmond Republican, Feb'y 5th, 1831: " * * all that certain tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the county of Richmond and state of New York, and in the town of Castleton, at or near a place formerly called soldier's lots, in the rear of the land patented to Cornelius Corson and others, on the great plain."
Great Rock. “ . . . on the south side of the Fresh Kills beginning at a great rock near a gom tree that is marked on the south side on the King road running from thence upon a direct line to an old white oak stump and chestnut stump standing together with a stone planted by the stumps and from thence running east to the line of Francis Orselston and from thence running upon a direct line north to the Ready Meadow and from thence west to a marked stump with a stone by the stump and from thence to the tree where it began always excepted out of the same the Kings road and one acre of ground granted by the said John Belleville to the French Congregacon.” 1735, Liber D, p. 141.
GREAT SWAMP DITCH. An old water way. It formerly conducted water from Willow Brook at Bull's Head to the Butcherville branch of Palmer's Run.
GREAT SWAMP. Extends from the present Graniteville to New Springville. Mentioned in the patent to Palmer in 1687. Bayles, p. 115. Clute, p. 59.
Great Swamp. 1717, Liber C. p. 63; 1726, Liber C. p. 223, and p. 308; 1793, Liber E. p. 206.
GREEN RIDGE AVENUE. A proposed name for Journeay Avenue, Westfield.
GRIMES' HILL. Rises from the Richmond Road back of Stapleton.
GROOTE RIVER, MANHATTENS RIVER, MONTAIGNE RIVIER, NOORT RIVER, MAURITS OR MAURITSE RIVER. Early names for the North or Hudson River. Bayles, p. 46; Old map copied in D. T. Valentine's Manual, 1852. The early navigators considered the mouth of the river to be at the Narrows. The town of Castleton when laid out, was bounded " easterly by Hudson's River." Bayles, p. 326.
Gully, The. A ravine running westerly through Biddle's Grove, Tottenville, to the shore of the Staten Island Sound.
GUN FACTORY ROAD. A name for the Willow Brook Road. The gun factory was at Willow Brook and is shown by Dripps, 1850.
HALEY'S LANE. An old name for Davis Avenue, West New Brighton.
HALL'S GUN FACTORY POND OR WILLOW BROOK POND. An artificial pond at Willow Brook. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859.
HAMEL'S HOOFDEN. The Narrows. " These Hoofden, or head-lands. were named after Hendrick Hamel, one of the directors of the West India Company." Bayles, pp. 47, 83. Mentioned in 1630 in the Indian deed of the Island to Michil Pauw. Manuel of the City of N. Y., 1869.
Hamilton Hill. Crossed by the present Prospect Avenue, New Brighton. “On Wednesday morning last the barn of Mrs. S. T. Jones, in Hamilton Hill, back of New Brighton, was destroyed by fire.” Richmond County Gazette, October 18th, 1865.
HANNE'S OR BALL'S CREEK. On the Sound. Next creek north of Daddy's.
HARBOR PONDS. In property of Sailors' Snug Harbor. One lies north and one south of Castleton Avenue.
HAUNTED BRIDGE. On road to Amboy. Bayles, p. 147.
HAUNTED HOUSE. On the John J. Crooke grounds at Giffords. Named on Dripps' map, 1872.
HAUNTED SWAMP. By placing a dam near the Finger Board Road, and with the aid of the railroad embankment, this swamp has been converted into Brady's Pond. It received its name from the robberies and murder committed on its edge, on Roguery Hill. (See Roguery Hill.)
HAUNTED WOODS. On Old Town Road. Bayles, p. 147. There was also a Haunted Woods along the Amboy Road. (See Haunted Swamp.)
HAWTHORNE PLACE. Near the shore at Red Bank and west of the Prince's Bay light house. Shown as a locality by Dripps, 1850.
HENRY BEDELL'S MILL CREEK. A branch of Richmond Creek leading to the old Bedell Mill at Marshland, or Green Ridge.
HESSIAN SPRING. In the valley east of Jersey St., New Brighton. Bayles, p. 82. Clute, p. 32. " Hessian Springs " are located by Blood, 1845, and by Sidney, 1849. In the " Abstract of the Title of Thomas E. Davis to Certain Lands in Castleton," p. 18, (1834) occurs the following: " * * the said part of the second part, his heirs and assigns shall have * * the spring called the Hessian Spring, being upon said block or square, number sixty, for the purposes of watering the village of Tompkinsville and the premises hereby conveyed, or for any other purpose, and forty feet square of land surrounding and including said spring for the purpose of erecting thereon buildings and machinery for raising said water."
Hessian Spring Mill-pond. Formerly occupied a portion of the valley between the present Jersey Street and Westervelt Avenue, New Brighton. The following is from the Mirror of February 3d, 1838: “On Thursday last five or six men were engaged in cutting ice for the New Brighton Association on the mill-pond just behind the Hessian Spring, at this place, the ice gave way and they were precipitated into the water. All were rescued but one, Mr. William Ford, who was drowned. We learn that the members of the Association, with a promptness highly praiseworthy, have resolved to subscribe a fund amply sufficient to keep the family of the deceased well provided for during the winter.” (See “Hessian Spring.”)
HET KILL VAN HET CULL. Old Dutch name for the Kill van Kull, meaning the stream of the bay. Bayles, p. 3. " River Kill Van Kull " is shown on map New Brighton Association, Surveyed 1835, filed 1836, No. 12. Also called " River Kill Van Kull " in the Staaten Islander, February 22, 1854.
HICKORY CORNER. Several old fences met on the highest point just east of the upper part of the present Bard Avenue, where also stood a hickory tree, and the hill-top, in consequence, was known as Hickory Corner.
HILLEKER'S SWAMP. Crossed by Merrill Road, near Watchogue.
HOFFMAN ISLAND (UPPER QUARANTINE). SWINBURNE OR DIX ISLAND (LOWER QUARANTINE). Artificial islands off the shore from South Beach.
HOLLAND'S HOOK VILLAGE. Corrupted into Hollin's or Howland's Hook. On the shore, west of Mariners' Harbor. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859. Clute, pp. 181, 233. " Hollandshook " is mentioned in advertisement in the Richmond Republican, June 18, 1829, and the Mirror, Sept. 8, 1838.
HORSE-SHOE SPRING. Occupies a horse-shoe shaped depression in Clove Valley, southwest of Silver Lake.
HUCKLEBERRY CREEK. Third southerly branch of Old Place Creek. Reaches to Beulah Point.
HUDSON'S SPRING. Thirty years ago a fine spring issued from beneath the stone wall at the corner of the Shore Road and Vanderbilt Avenue, Clifton. It has now entirely disappeared. The tradition is that Henry Hudson, as he sailed past the Island, sent a boat ashore to procure water, and that he got it at this spring.
HUGUENOT HEIGHTS. At the corner of Woodrow Road and Huguenot Avenue. Dripps, 1872.
INDIAN, DECKER'S, RYERS', HILLEKER'S AND MERSEREAU'S FERRIES. At what is now known as Port Richmond. Clute, pp. 221, 309. Bayles, pp. 172, 202; 246,560, 684. Decker's Ferry is on Bew's map, 1781, and is mentioned under date of 1777 in Valentine's Manual, 1863. Ryers' ferry is on map, 1797, and on Eddy's map of 1812. John Ryers ran an opposition to John Hilleker's ferry. David Mersereau bought out both of these ferries. In the County Clerk's office there is a " Map of Land at Irvington or Mersereau's ferry, Staten Island," surveyed, 1842 (No. 28).
INDIAN HILL. On the Amboy Road, where joined by Washington Avenue, between Eltingville and Annadale. In the records of the laying out of the road leading from Darby Doyle's Ferry to Billopp's Ferry (part of the Richmond Road and all of the Amboy Road) made in 1774, Indian Hill is mentioned. LaForge's Hill is named as being more to the eastward, probably near the southerly turn of the Amboy Road at Eltingville, and Moore's Hill is named as near Sandy Brook (See Proceedings Natural Science Association, Vol. V., p. 14.) " Johnson's Hill and LaForge's Hill, near the church of the Huguenots," are mentioned in the Staaten Islander, February 25th, 1854. north side of the Amboy Road. Tottenville.
INDIAN SPRING. To the west of Willow Brook Road, not far from Corson's Brook. Sam and Hannah, the last Indians resident upon the Island, are said to have lived for some years near this spring.
IPE'S POND. Lies northeast of Steuben Street, and is the largest of the Swamp-ponds of the Concord Downs.
IRON HILL. Same as Todt Hill. " Description of a survey of 120 acres of land lying in the vicinity of the Iron Hill, upon Staten Island, laid out for Peter Lakeman, by Phillip Welles, surveyor." Land Papers, 1685. The " Iron Hills " are mentioned in the patent to John Palmer of 5,100 acres in 1687. Bayles, p. 115. Clute, pp. 24, 226. (See New Lots at Old Town.)
IRON MINE PONDS. The abandoned iron mines near Four Corners, now filled with water.
IRON MINES. Located principally on Ocean Hill, near Ocean Terrace Road, and on Todt Hill near Todt Hill Road.
Iron Spring. “He said he lived between the Iron Spring and ‘Skunk’s Misery’ and had walked five miles to take a look” (at the locomotive). Richmond County Gazette, March 28th, 1860.
IRVINGTON. Map of land at Irvington or Mersereau's Ferry, Staten Island, Filed Aug. 6, 1842. No. 28.
ISLAND CREEK. On Long Neck near Price's Meadow Island. Empties into Main Creek east of Marsh Creek. Peter's Creek on Karle's Neck is nearly opposite. Sometimes called Shrimp Creek.
ISLAND POND. On Fox Hill. A small pond.
ISLE OF MINES. The Portuguese sometimes called it [Staten Island] ‘ The Isle of Mines, ’ under the conviction that the precious metals existed here in great abundance, if they could only be found, and that they had faith in their existence, is evident from the fact that they sunk shafts in several places remains of which are still to be seen. An old author, De Crique—I will not vouch for the correctness of the orthography—says that he had a brother who resided on the Island for several months, and prosecuted mining very successfully, having accumulated a large ‘ pile, ’ which he might have increased indefinitely, had it not been for the persistent opposition of the spirits and hobgoblins which protected the treasurer, and which neither holy water, nor the image of the Virgin, thrice blessed, had any power to annihilate. ”—Richmond County Gazette, July 11th, 1866.
JACK'S OR BUTLER'S CREEK. Butler's Brook flows from Brown's Pond, near Light House Hill, into Butler's Creek at Prince's Bay. In recent years the creek has been improved and is now usually spoken of as the Canal. Black Jack Ward, a negro in the service of the Butler family for many years, once lived near by and the creek at that time generally bore his name.
JACKSON PARK. Corner of Franklin Avenue and Third Street, New Brighton.
JACKSON'S HILL. A recent name for the prominent hill rising from the Richmond Road opposite Osgood Avenue, Stapleton, and at present used as a common. It is a part of Grimes' Hill.
JACKSONVILLE. This was a name for Holland's Hook. It was the intention of a syndicate in 1828 to make it a summer resort. The project was killed by the panic that followed that period.
JAN. TUNISSEN'S VALLEY. " Description of a survey of Jan. Tunissen's valley on the Kill van Kull (Staten Island) amounting to 24 acres. Pieter Cortelyou, surveyor." Not dated but placed in 1696 of the Land Papers. Probably in the vicinity of Holland's Hook v which is situated on the old Tunissen grant.
JERSEY ST. BROOK. Once the overflow of the Hessian Spring but now in the same condition as the Brook St. Brook. (See Hessian Spring.)
JESSE BEDELL'S OR WAGNER'S CREEK. First southerly branch of Fresh Kills, after passing Burnt Island. It bends about Lake's Meadow Island.
Jew's Buildings. An account of the burning of a barn, in the rear of the “Jew’s Buildings,” at Clifton, is given in the Richmond County Gazette, Oct. 28th, 1863
JOHN BEDELL'S OR SIMONSON'S CREEK. Empties into the north side of Richmond Creek opposite Benham's Creek.
Johnson's Lane. Leads from the Amboy Road between New Dorp and Tysen's Lane to the Old Mill Road. Shown on Walling's map, 1859, and on Dripp's map,1872.
Johnson's, Mills' or Benedict's Creek. Names for what is now generally called Benedict's Creek, near Rossville.
JOHNSON'S POND. Near Tyson's Lane, New Dorp. Once a considerable pond, but drained some years ago. Named after Anthony Johnson. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859. Dripps, 1872.
JONES' WOLF-PIT. Abraham Jones owned a farm on what is now known as Jones' Road or Rockland Avenue, and his nearest neighbor lived over on the Willow Brook Road. A path led northeast through the woods to this neighbor's dwelling, and when the families visited in the evening, they were obliged to carry fire-brands to frighten the wolves. Not far from the path, Jones dug a wolf-pit, that may still be seen. In order to entrap the wolves, the pit was covered with dead sticks and leaves, and a piece of meat suspended from an overhanging sapling. The animals would jump for this, and fall through the frail support into the deep hole. The local history states " that in 1698 Thomas Stillwell received fifteen shillings for a wolf, and Cornelius Tysen received one pound for a wolf's head. Different bounties were offered for animals of different sex and age, as was the custom in many counties of the state." Bayles, p. 31. Many years ago, the land was cleared about the Wolf-pit, but it is now covered with woods again and is known on the farm as the " Wolf-pit. Section." There is also the " Big White-wood Section," and the " Fox-hole Section," this last being so named because in old time foxes were in the habit of digging their burrows in this particular part of the wood.
JUMPING-OFF PLACE. A nickname for the end of the Shore Road at the Bluff, at Holland's Hook.
KARLE'S NECK. " Description of a survey of 80 acres of land at ye head of ye meadows between Long Neck and Karle's Neck, upon Staten Island, with 6 acres of salt meadow and 4 acres of fresh in ye cove to the north of Seadar Poynte, laid out for Jon. Bissell." Land Papers, 1676. St. Andrew's Church is described as being on Karle's Neck, at the head of Fresh Kills, in the Land Papers, 1713, and in Bayles' History, p. 395. " Charle's Neck " is mentioned in Bayles' History, p. 129, and is shown by Smith, 1836. Karle's Neck was some-times called Short Neck to distinguish it from Long Neck.
KARLE'S OR CHARLES' NECK SETTLEMENT. The present New Springville. Bayles, p. 579. Smith, 1836.
KELLETT'S HILL. Near Egbertville Ravine and the old saw mill pond. Named after J. P. Kellett, the proprietor of the Richmond Hill hotel. Proceedings Natural Science Association, Vol. I., p. 62.
KETCHUM MILL POND. West of Richmond. Mill no longer in existence. Clute, p. 101. Often mentioned in Rep't Staten Is. Imp. Com. Another mill pond was once situated further up Ketchum's Brook, on the southeast side of Forest Hill Road. The remains of the old dam may still be seen.
KETCHUM'S MILL POND BROOK. Rises in the Mills Dale near the old road to Richmond, now sometimes called Egbertville Road, and flows through the Ketchum Mill Pond into Richmond Creek. This brook and its branches have been only slightly affected by artificial changes and are among the most rural on the Island.
KETCHUM'S OR CEMETERY HILL. The last hill in the range that commences at Brighton Point and terminates suddenly at Richmond Creek. A better view may be had of the meadows from the top of this hill than from Look-Out Place. For over a hundred years the crown of the hill has been used as a family burying ground.
KILLI-FISH BROOK. Flows from Mt. Tobey, the Lyster Pond, &c., and empties into Slaght's Creek at Valley Forge. Another branch rises more to the northeast.
KING-FISH HOLE. Situated off Elm Tree Light. Known to fishermen by this name because the King-fish or Barb sometimes occurs there in great numbers.
KING'S HIGHWAY. The Richmond Road. Bayles, p. 223. " Petition of Jacob Galliott and others, of Richmond county, for a warrant to lay out a cartway from their lands to the King's Highway." Land Papers, 1707. This road is described in 1801 as " main road leading from Van Duzer's Ferry." " Richmond Road to Quarantine " is shown on map of property purchased by the Staten Island Association, filed in March, 1839, No. 22; also on other maps of about the same date. " Road from Richmond Village to the Quarantine " is shown on map of the John Britton farm, filed Oct. 29th, 1853, No. 125.
King's Highway. 1727, Liber C. p. 256. King's Road. 1730, Liber C. p. 887. 1735, Liber D. p. 141. “King's highway or Amboy Road.” 1762, Liber D. p. 481. The present Richmond Road is the one usually referred to as the King’s Highway.
Kingsbury's Brook. An old name for Uncle Ed. Wood's Brook, Tottenville. Paul Gurne's Creek; Hanchemas Brook. “Beginning at a stake standing in the meadow by the creek called Paul Gurne's Creek thence along the said creek to a place commonly called Hanchemas Brook thence up the said brook to the land of Abraham Mannet. . . . to Sandy Brook.” 1725, Liber C, p. 205. “Running west from the creek commonly called Paul Gurney's Creek one hundred and thirty rodd to the highway of Capt. Christopher Billopp. . . .” Liber C, p. 324, 1727; also 1721, Liber C, p. 329; 1735, Liber D, p. 83; 1749, Liber D, p. 471. Devil's Elbow. “All that certain piece of salt meadow lying and being in said Westfield on the west bank of Lemon Creek so called, bounded and described as follows, to wit: “Beginning at a stake sixty feet from the bend of said creek below the
KITE OR HEIFER HILL. That part of Forest Hill over which the road from New Springville to Richmond (Poverty Lane) passes.
KLEINE KILL. An old name for Marshland or Green Ridge, meaning the Little River. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. III., p. 53.
KNYPHAUSEN HEIGHTS. The high land above Tompkins Avenue. General Knyphausen's Hessians were encamped around the British fort situated on these heights, the remains of which may still be seen.
KREISCHER'S HILL. At Kreischerville, opposite the brick works.
KREISCHERVILLE FLATS. In the Sound off Kreischerville.
KRUSE ROAD. That part of the Willow Brook Road between the Watchogue Road and the Church Road or Richmond Avenue, Port Richmond. It is one of the oldest roads on the Island and is on the map of 1797. Beers, 1874, calls it the " Kruse or Wilson Brook Road."
LA TOURETTE'S CANAL. Extends from Peter's Creek northeastward to the upland.
LA TOURETTE'S POND OR ARBUTUS LAKE. At the shore below Huguenot station on the old La Tourette farm. The Trailing Arbutus or May flower used to grow in considerable abundance in the vicinity and gave to the pond its latter-day name, which is sometimes corrupted into Brutus Lake. A bulkhead recently built has caused the sand to form at the shore end of this pond and prevents the salt water from entering it.
Lacount's Creek. “ . . ... near the ould Blazing Star in the town of Westfield . . . also a piece of salt meadow situate in the place aforesaid, beginning at the middle of an ould bridge formerly across Lacount's Creek ” 1791, Liber E. p. 442. “Beginning at Lacount's Creek and on the west side of the mouth of Perny Creek . . . .” Description of 1810. Deeds, Liber 187, p. 384.
LAKE'S ISLAND. Mentioned in advertisement, Staaten Islander, September 9th, 1857. The rise in the meadow to the east of Burnt or Dead Man's Island and probably the same as Edsall's Island. Thoreau in a letter written on Staten Island, July 21, 1843, says: " Last Sunday I walked over to Lake Island Farm, eight or nine miles from here, where Moses Prichard lived, and found the present occupant, one Mr. Davenport, formerly from Massachusetts, with three or four men to help him, raising sweet potatoes and tomatoes by the acre." Possibly the " Lake Island Farm " of Thoreau is not Lake's or Edsall's Island.
LAKE'S MILL POND. A tide mill pond at Great Kill that used to operate the old Lake mill, which has lately fallen into ruins.
LAMBERT'S LANE. Leads from the Stone Road to Watchogue and is named on most maps of the Island. It was called after Lambert Merrill, a carpenter by trade, whose housekeeper, Nancy Juson, according to the firm belief of the neighbors, was a veritable witch.
LAMBERT'S, COLLYER'S OR BOWMAN'S POINT. The point of Staten Island nearest to Elizabethport, New Jersey. Called Lambert's Point during the Revolution and later Collyer's Point. Map of property at " Bowman's Point " was made in 1869. In the Richmond Republican of October 9th, 1830, there is an advertisement of an auction sale of a piece of land, " Bounded northerly by the road leading from Mersereau's Ferry to the Old Point."
Latourette's Lane. Leads from the Forrest-Hill Road, or that port of it once called Mill Lane, to the road that leads over the Fresh Kills bridge.
LAWN, THE. A local name for the large field at the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Bay Street, Stapleton. Sometimes called Vanderbilt's Lawn, after its owner.
LAWRENCE OR BRIDGE CREEK. Said to have been also called Back Creek because it lay back of some of the farms that fronted on the North Shore. It empties into the Kill Van Kull at Bowman's Point. The brook that flows into the south branch of this creek is sometimes called Stony Brook. Bridge Creek is mentioned in connection with the war of the Revolution as follows: " It is imagined that another expedition is determined upon against Staten Island under command of Mr. Philemon Dickenson, who has assembled near four hundred men about Elizabeth Town; boats and scows are also prepared, with a floating raft, to cross Bridge Creek, and thereby secure a retreat to the point." Bayles, p. 196. Also mentioned in Adv. State Tax Sale, Dec., 1890.
LAWRENCE ST. An old name for Stuyvesant Place and part of Richmond Terrace. This street and Daniel Street, which occupied nearly the same ground as the present Wall Street, are mentioned in the Davis abstract, but the names were changed on the New Brighton Association Map, filed in 1836.
LAW'S REEF. The name applied to what remains of the old stone dock to the west of the present St. George Ferry slips, and at one time owned by George Law.
LEAVITT'S POND. Between Vanderbilt and Simonson Avenues. On what was once the Geo. Leavitt property.
LeConte's Corner. “ . . . to continue as said road runs to the place commonly called LeContes Corner, from thence as said road runs turning to the Left hand and so round the head of Dissosaway's Mill pond to the main road that leads to Billopp's ferry.” 1774. Liber E. p. 57. LeConte's Corner seems to have been at the present Kreischerville. Sharrott's Corner. “ . . . on the southerly side of the public road leading from Kilmeyer’s Hotel to Sharrott’s Corner, and known as the New Road, about two miles from Rossville.” Richmond County Gazette, September 24th, 1862. See Weir’s Hill.
LEMON CREEK POST OFFICE. Mentioned in the N. Y. State Manual for 1859. In 1861 Prince's Bay Post Office had taken its place.
LEMON OR SEGUINE'S CREEK. Empties into Prince's Bay to the west of Seguine's Point. Seguine's Creek is mentioned in the Richmond Republican, April 24th, 1830.
LEWIS' BEDS. Oyster beds in Lewis' or Benham's Creek. PERINE'S HOLE. A deep place in Perine's Creek, a branch of New Creek.
LEWIS' CREEK. An old name for Benham's Creek.
LIBERTY DITCH. Cannon's Creek, like most meadow creeks, contains several lengthy twists or turns, and in 1860, or thereabouts, when a piece of the meadow was purchased for manufacturing purposes, a short cut was made across one of these loops, which, from the spirit of the times, received the name of Liberty Ditch.
LIGHTNING ROCK. A considerable mass of outcropping Tremolite on the shore near to where the present St. George Ferry slips are located. The rock was much worn by the waves, a prominent crevice ran across it, and a large portion had been broken off, probably by glacial action, and transported several yards southward. It was the popular tradition that these changes had been brought about by lightning, hence the name.
LILY OR LULING'S POND. On the westerly side of the railroad track between Arrochar and Fort Wadsworth stations.
LINDEN PARK. Between the Old Town Road and Garretsons. The old Burgher farm.
LINDEN PARK SWAMP. Below Linden Park, near Garretson's Station. Branches of Perine's Creek drain this swamp. Often mentioned as a locality in connection with the flora of the Island.
LITTLE AND GREAT FRESH KILL. Fresh Kills divides at Burnt Island, which lies at its mouth, the northern arm being known as Little Fresh Kill, and the southern as Great Fresh Kill.
LITTLE CLOVE VALLEY. Reaching southward from the Little Clove Road.
Little Dublin. A hamlet on Wilson Avenue at Eltingville. Wilson Avenue is connected with the Amboy Road by a short lane known as the Wood Road.
LITTLE FLOWK OR JONES' CREEK. Branch of Main Creek; the one that bends toward Price's Meadow Island from the northeast.
LITTLE FORT HILL. Near the site of the present fort that commands the Narrows. Bayles, p. 259.
LITTLE HUMMOCK. A smaller dune to the southeast of the Big Hummock.
Little Island. “All that certain lot piece or parcel of salt meadow land situate lying and being in the town of Northfield in the County and State aforesaid, and commonly known by the name or designation of ‘Little Island' formerly the property of Asbury Crocheron, deceased, and is bounded westerly by the Fresh Kill Creek leading to Carl's Neck, southerly and easterly by Peter's Creek so called, and northerly by a creek or ditch on the line of meadow of David Latourette and contains about four acres of land be the same, more or less.” Description of 1855. Deeds, Liber 207, p. 279.
LITTLE NORTH RIVER. A name for Lemon Creek which lies north and south. It is mentioned in a deed as the west boundary of the old Seguine farm. The Prince's Bay Road leading to Seguine's Point, was once the private lane to the homestead. June 1st, 1895, a large number of tomcod and smelt from the United States fish hatchery were placed in the " Little North river at Prince's Bay."
LITTLE PLAINS. " Petition of Samuel Blachford, praying that a lot of land lying upon ye little plains, adjoining to ye soldiers lots on Staten Island, may be laid out for him." Land Papers, 1683.
LITTLE POND ROAD. Same as Little Clove Road. Dripps, 1872.
LOCKMAN'S CREEK. Next large creek west of Mill Creek. A small creek near by, rarely shown on maps, is called Flat Creek. Lackaman's Creek is shown by Smith, 1836.
LOG BROOK. Flows westerly across South Avenue into Old Place Creek. A few logs once laid across the brook and served as a bridge, hence the name.
LOG POND. Near Old Place at South Avenue. Log Brook flowed through this small pond which is now drained.
LOGAN'S SPRING OR HARBOR BROOK. Flows into the Kill Van Kull at Livingston. (See Logan's Spring.) " The stream known as Harbor Brook, on Henderson Avenue, at the premises of the Sailors' Snug Harbor," is mentioned in. an advertisement in N. Y. Evening Sun, September 12th, 1895.
LOGAN'S SPRING SWAMP. Near Silver Lake. (See Logan's Spring.)
LOGAN'S SPRING. Near the northerly side of Silver Lake, in the adjoining valley. Named after Logan, an Indian. Clute, p. 6. Blood, 1845. Sidney, 1849. Logan's Spring brook flows through the Dike to the Kill Van Kull at Livingston.
Logger-head Pond. Close to the south end of the Big Hummock at Watchogue. This name may have been applied to the pond from the snapping turtles that occur in it; the true marine Logger-head turtle probably never entered the pond, though it borders on the salt meadows.
LONDON BRIDGE. A name for Bull's Head during the Revolution. Clute, p. 231. Also mentioned in notice of Sheriff's Sale in Staaten Islander, Jan. 25, 1854.
London Bridge, Bull's Head. “In a somewhat sequestered spot near ‘London Bridge, ’on our island, a youth and maiden dwelt from childhood to that tender age, when eyes enquire ‘what's trumps,’ and hearts respond.” Richmond County Gazette, June 15, 1864. Also mentioned in the Gazette May 21, 1862.
LONG AND SHORT POINTS. Parts of the irregularly shaped peninsula of meadow lying between Dock and Flowk Creeks on Karle's Neck. Long Point is the farthest west.
LONG CREPLEBUSH. " Petition of John Shadwell, of the county of Richmond, praying that 8 or 10 acres of land, lying between his lot and the long creplebush, in said county, may be surveyed in order that he may obtain a patent for the same." Land Papers, 1702. There was a Cripple Bush on New York Island, as appears from the following: " One Lott of Ground Lying and being near the Crupple Bush." New York Weekly Journal, December, 1734. " Bestevaer's Cripple Bush, was the Dutch name for what was afterward called Beekman's Swamp, covered by the present Ferry, Gold and adjacent streets." " Bestevaar's Cripplebush, or the Old Man's Swamp." Valentine's Manual, p. 469, 1856; p. 545, 1860 and 1864.
LONG DIKE. Extending from Bowman's Point toward the Corner Stake Light at the mouth of Newark Bay.
LONG, LONG LANE THAT HAS NO TURNING, THE. A nick-name for Merrill Road, Watchogue, that for nearly a mile is perfectly straight.
LONG NECK. Separated from Karle's Neck by Main Creek. The land on which Linoleumville now stands. Mentioned in the Land Papers in draught of patent granted to John Garretsen in 1675.
Long Neck Cove, at the Mouth of Cannon's Creek. “ . . . bounded to the Northeast by the highway and on the northwest by Long Neck Cove, and westerly by the land of Abraham Connors and southeast by the land of Eve Decker. - .” 1731, Tiber C. p. 394.
LONG NECK ROAD. Rept. Staten Is. Imp. Cora., p. 73. Same as Richmond Turnpike.
LONG NECK VILLAGE. Walling, 1859. Now Linoleumville and Travisville. Long Neck Post Office is named in the N. Y. State Manual for many years, but was discontinued in 1866.
LONG POINT. In Great Kill. West of Fountain's Point and immediately west of the mouth of Duck Creek. (See Duck Creek.)
LONG POND. A very small pond north of Cape Henlopen. It has been known by this name for many years.
LONG POND. To the east of the Three Musk-rat Ponds. Lately enlarged.
LOUSE ISLAND. When the Quarantine was at Tompkinsville the washing for the immigrants was carried on in the "wash house" on Louse Island. In building the American Docks, Louse Island and the vicinity were filled in. The island is shown but not named on Blood's map, 1845.
LOVERS' LANE. Tree-shaded Pendleton Avenue; also, First Street, New Brighton.
LOWER COVE. Located near the foot of Lafayette Avenue, New Brighton. An old name.
LOWER TERRACE. Below the Upper Terrace. A part of Richmond Terrace or Shore Road.
LOWVILLE. At Cedar Street and Granite Street, Elm Park, Northfield. Named after Daniel Low. Map filed June 28th, 1849. No. 63.
Lydia Street. Now Bond Street, Port Richmond.
LYSTER'S OR LAFORGE'S POND. Partly on the Lyster and partly on the LaForge farm, near Mt. Tobey, at Valley Forge. Now nearly drained. The outlet of this pond is a branch of Killifish Brook.
MAIN CREEK. North branch of Fresh Kills.
MANOR, THE. Same as Cassiltown, Castle Town, or the later corrupted Castleton. The Manor of Castletown was the name of Gov. Dongan's country seat on the Island, and was called after the place of residence of the family in County Kildare, Ireland. The present Manor Road leads through a portion of the old Manor possessions. Bayles, pp. 95, 118, 261, 326.
MANOR DALE. That portion of the Valley of Willow Brook near the Manor Road. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, pp. 64, 88.
MANOR OF BENTLEY. The grant of 1,163 acres of land at the southwest end of the Island, now Tottenville, was named after Christopher Billopp's vessel, the " Bentley," in which he sailed around Staten Island in less than twenty-four hours, and thus secured it to the Duke of York. Bayles, p. 102. (See Bentley Post Office and Arentsville.)
MANOR ROAD AND EGBERT AVENUE. Only a part of what is now known as the Manor Road, which derives its name from the Dongan Manor, is on the map of 1797. It is said to have been laid out at an early period. Bayles, p. 118. This road runs southerly from West New Brighton through Castleton Corners to its junction with the road from Todt Hill, then westerly to Bradley's Road and then southerly again to the Egbertville Road. Beers, 1874. That portion from Bradley's Road to the Richmond Road (including the Egbertville or Saw Mill Road) is the old 1797 highway, and is some-times referred to as the Manor Road. (See Richmond Plank Road from Vanderbilt's Landing to Rossville.) That portion from Bradley's Road to the Egbertville or Saw Mill Road, is occasionally called Rosewood Avenue (Higginson, 1860), and also the Poor House Road. The Manor Road is shown on the map of Rose Hill Park (Unkart property) filed 20th of October, 1870. No. 294. Egbert Avenue is a direct southerly continuation of that section of the Manor Road leading directly from Castleton Corners, and is therefore often, in error, called the Manor Road. It, however, forks from the Manor where the latter turns to the west and it joins the Egbertville Road mentioned above, about a mile further to the east. Dripps, 1850, calls it Egbert's Avenue. It is Egbert Avenue of Walling, 1859, and Beers, 1874.
Manorton. A proposed name for a part of West New Brighton or Factoryville, as it was formerly called. Richmond County Gazette, Dec. 10th and 17th, 1862.
Mariners' Harbor Road. Now Summerfield Avenue.
MARK'S CREEK. First large creek south of Old Place Creek. Empties near Buckwheat Island. Mentioned in advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895.
Mark's Creek. 1784, Liber E. p. 91; 1792, Liber E. p. 348.
Marshall Lane. “Also one other road in the said quarter or west precinct known by the name of Marshall Lane. Beginning by the meadow side at Cedar Bush and running from thence as the road now runs between the land of John Marshall, deceased, and the land of the widow Parlee until it comes to the rear of the Smoaking Point Lotts so called, or to the highway laid out at the rear of said Lotts and from thence as said road runs between the land of Anthony Stoutenburgh and John Mersereau, John Simonson and others till it comes to the main road that leads to Billopp’s Ferry, said road to be opened two roads on the west side.” 1774. Liber E. p. 58. * Bounded westerly by the road called Marshels Lane . . . .” 1784, Liber E. p. 449. Mill Dam Road. Now East Broadway, which leads across Mill Creek, at Tottenville. “All that certain lot of land . . . on the northerly side of a new road or avenue called William Street leading from the Amboy road to the Mill Dam Road, so called, and within one-half mile from Totten’s Dock.” Richmond County Gazette. Jan. 2d, 1867.
MARSHALL'S CREEK. Next considerable creek to the east of Fork Creek. Sometimes called Marsh Creek.
MARSHLAND OR MARSHFIELD. Same as Fresh Kills or Green Ridge. Marshland Post Office is mentioned in the N. Y. State Manual for 1874; in 1876 Green Ridge had taken its place.
Marshland, Green Ridge. “At a meeting of the citizens of Marshland, it was decided to call the place Green Ridge, the boundaries extending from Valley Forge to Gifford's Lane.” Richmond County Gazette, March 24th, 1875.
MARTLING DALE. A part of the Little Clove Valley. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, pp. 64, 88.
MAYER'S HILL. The Finger Board Road bends about this bill. Beers, 1874.
MEADOWS, THE. A local name for the low land between Ward's Point and the Cove, Westfield.
Meadows, The. Foot of Aspinwall Avenue, Tottenville. Also called Bay View Skating Park early in the sixties, and for more than twenty years the principal place for ice sports.
MEANS' HOLLOW. A low piece of ground in Rossville near the corner of Shea's Lane and Fresh Kills Road through which flows a small brook.
Mecklenburg Road. A nickname for Sharrott Road, which leads from the Rossville Road near Bogardus Corners into Kreischerville village. Kaolin Pit Road. An old wood-road that leads from Bogardus Corners to the Fresh Kills Road, near Kreischerville.
MEISSNER'S HILL. A later name for Kellett's Hill, which is now' traversed by Meissner Avenue. Named after Frederick Meissner. Kellett's or Meissner's Hill is really only a part of Richmond Hill.
MERRILL TOWN. An old name for Bloomfield. (Watchogue.)
MERRY'S WELL. Capt. Merry lived on Beach Street, Stapleton, a number of years ago, and on his grounds, near the road, there was a very fine old well from which the neighbors were in the habit: of drawing water.
Mersereau Street. Now Broadway, Port Richmond. “All those . . . lots at Port Richmond . . . on Mersereau Street (now Broadway).” Liber 194. Deeds, p. 566.
MERSEREAU'S POINT. An old name for the point at what is now Port Richmond, to which Mersereau's Ferry ran. Minutes of the Common Council, July 21, 1823.
MERSEREAU'S, CHARLES WOOD'S OR OLD PLACE MILL POND. This pond was constructed in 1804, by David Mersereau, who built the tide mill on Old Place Creek. Bayles, p. 559. Charles Wood's Mill Pond is mentioned in the Richmond Republican, February 28th, 1829.
MIDDLE GROUND. The shallow area south of the channel at Prince's Bay. So called by oystermen, &c.
Middletown Road. Now Washington Street and East Broadway, Tottenville. Totten Road. Now Main Street, Tottenville. “Main or Totten Street,” Beers, 1874.
MILL BROOK. Same as Palmer's Run. Land Papers, 1680. Now called Bodine's Creek.
MILL CREEK SHOALS. In the Sound at Mill Creek, Tottenville.
MILL CREEK. At the head of Great Kill. Smith, 1836. Dripps, 1872. The creek on which Lake's tide mill is located. Its upper part is called Holmes' Creek.
MILL CREEK. Extends from Richmond Valley Station to Staten Island Sound. Map in Bayles' History.
MILL LANE. The present Columbia Street. Bayles, pp. 5, 207. Clute, p. 97.
Mill Lane. That part of the Willowbrook or Forrest-Hill Road leading from Poverty Lane to the old Ketchum Mill. An old name, but still occasionally used.
MILL POND AT GREEN RIDGE. An arm of Richmond Creek dammed in order to form a head of water for the old Henry Bedell tide mill. Beers, 1874. Bedell's Mill Pond was once called Seguine's Pond, advertisement Richmond Republican, October 4th, 1828; also Micheau's Pond, advertisement Staaten Islander, September 9th, 1857.
Mill Reef. “A beacon on the Mill Reef, opposite New Brighton, is very necessary, if we may judge from the fact that almost every day vessels are seen there fast upon the rocks. Coal boats, of which a great number go up the river laden from Elizabethport, are frequently detained a long time and seriously injured, there being nothing whatever to warn them of their danger.” Richmond County Gazette, March 14, 1860.
MILLER'S OR HOBLES'S POND. Near Steuben Street, Concord.
MILLS DALE OR BUCK'S HOLLOW. Extending from near the old mill at Egbertville along the northerly side of Richmond Hill to Ketchum's Mill pond. Rept. Staten Is. Imp. Com., pp. 64, 88.
MINERAL SPRING. At Freeman Winant's Swamp, near Union or Springville Road. One of the springs that flow into the small pond made by the Crystal Water Co. It owes its name to the considerable amount of iron found in the water, which at one time was taken as a cure for rheumatism.
MO-NOCK-NONG. Early name of Staten Island.
MONEE'S POINT. On Smith's map of 1836 this name is placed opposite the shore lying between Arbutus Lake and Seguine's Pond. On the very small map of the Island, published by Eddy, 1812, the name is also given. It is probably a corruption of the family name of ranee.
MOORE'S OR KETELTAS' BROOK. Rises in the woods near Journeay Road and flows across the Fresh Kills Road through Owl's Hollow into Wagner's Creek.
MORAVIAN SPRING. In the Moravian Cemetery and now covered by the artificial lake. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. IV., p. 52.
MORGAN'S CORNER. The present Egbertville was known by that name in 1838, according to an advertisement in a local paper. The hamlet known as Morganville today is located on the Manor Road about half a mile north of Egbertville.
MORGAN'S ROAD. Previous to the construction of Garretson's Road or South Broadway, there was an old road leading along the edge of the meadow on the westerly side of Karle's Neck. Several of the farms were occupied at that time by members of the Morgan family, and we have called it Morgan's Road. When the Plank Road was built the old one fell into disuse, and is now grass grown, and, as a highway, neglected.
MO-TA-NUCKE, Early names of Staten Island.
Mt. Hermon. Locality about the junction of Amboy Road and Biddle's Road. A Presbyterian chapel, afterwards a school, bearing that name was built there about forty years ago.
MOUNT MARION. Same as Ward's Hill. Blood, 1845. FIEDLER'S HILL. Rises from the Turnpike west of Pavilion Hill. TURNEY'S HILL. At the present Hill Street, between Jersey Street and York Avenue, New Brighton.
MOUNT TOBEY. The hill on the westerly side of Swaim's or La-Forge's Lane at Valley Forge, Westfield.
MUD LANE. St. Paul's Avenue, Edgewater. Bayles, p. 420. St. Paul's Avenue was once called Richmond Street. Blood, 1845.
MUDDY DITCH. Near the Mill Road at Oakwood. " B'n N. by Mill road, E. by land of A. S. or A. V. Connor or A. O'Connor, S. by beach and bay of New York and W. by Muddy Ditch. 8 acres." Advertisement, State Tax Sale, Dec., 1890.
NANNY-BERRY OR SUNSET HILL. A hill nearly covered with black-haw bushes and cat-briers, near where Bard Avenue meets the Clove Road. The open ground on this hill is locally known as the Common.
Narrows. “A quarter of a century ago, when I dwelt at the ‘Narrows’— it was not called Clifton then, but all the shore between Van Duzer’s and the forts was embraced in the general term of the ‘Narrows,’ Stapleton had not been born nor Clifton dreamed of . . .” Richmond County Gazette, March 7th, 1860.
NARROWS FERRY. " Silvanus Seamans, who keeps the upper ferry, at the Narrows, on Staten Island side, having good boats for that purpose, proposes, besides the proper attendance at the said ferry, constantly to keep a passage boat to go from thence to the city of New York, which will certainly set out every Tuesday and Friday, and return the same day if possible, and at any other time, if passage or freight presents. All gentlemen and others may depend on the best usage and care, either of themselves, horses or goods of any kind; he also keeps very good entertainment for men and horses. On either of those days the boat may be found in New York by inquiring at Mr. John Cregier's, a corner house at the Old Slip." N. Y. Weekly Post Boy, July, 1745. (Reprinted in Valentine's Manual, 1862.) The " Narrows Ferry " is marked on Faden's map, 1776. Frederick Simonson owned a ferry at the Narrows in 1777. Bayles, pp. 143, 171, 681, 684. " This is to inform the public that John Lane now keeps the ferry at Yellow Hook on Long Island, six miles below New York Ferry, and has provided good boats, well fitted with proper hands, and will be ready at all times, wind and weather permitting, to go to Smith's Ferry, on Staten Island with a single man only. N.B.-Travelers are directed to observe in going from Flatbush to Sand Ferry, to keep the marked trees at the right hand." Reprinted in Valentine's Manual, 1855, p. 571, from an old newspaper of 1753.
NECK, THE. Tottenville is sometimes referred to as being on "the Neck."
NECK OR LONG NECK CREEK. The branch of Main Creek into which Willow Brook flows. Map, 1797. Adv. State Tax Sale, Dec., 1890. Smith, 1836, calls it " Beck Creek."
NEDDIE WARD'S OR WARE'S HILL. Close to and northwest of Pleasant Plains railroad station and traversed by the Rossville or Bloomingdale Road.
Negro Pond. In the woods north of Sharrott Road. It is the pond of Little Africa and is near the Kaolin Pit Road.
NEVER FAIL POINT. The extreme point of Karle's Neck where Main and Richmond Creeks meet. It is called Never Fail Point because the oysters planted in its vicinity are always good.
NEW BLAZING STAR FERRY. On Long Neck, where the present Linoleumville is situated. Bayles, pp. 192, 682, 684. Map, 1797. (See Philadelphia Turnpike). The " New Ferry " is shown by Eddy, 1812. " Ferry at Blazing Star. Francis B. Fitch respectfully informs the Public that he has once more started the above Ferry, for which he has built a first-rate Scow, and as soon as the traveling will warrant, he intends adding a Horse-Boat, and no exertion or expense on his part will be wanting to secure public patronage. The Turnpike to Quarantine (it being only seven miles) is now in complete order, as also the Turnpike to New Brunswick, twelve miles. The road to Rahway, Milton, Westfield, etc., is also in good repair. Blazing Star, Nov. 24th, 1827." Adv. in Richmond Republican, Nov. 24, 1827. Under the colonial government, Richmond County was divided in March, 1688, into Castletown, Northfield, Southfield, and Westfield. Under the State government, act of March 7th, 1788, these divisions were again made and their boundaries fixed. The town of Middle-town was not organized until 1860. As might be supposed, portions of the boundaries of the original four towns were fixed by some of the old roads. Thus, on the map of 1797 the west boundary of Castletown (now the west boundary of Castleton and Middletown) is shown as a single road leading from the present Watchogue Road to the Richmond Road, and is described as leading to Houghwout's Mill, and " as it runs along by Richard Conners to the Tavern called the Rose and Crown, on the said Road leading to RichmondTown." This single road, which extends in a general way north and south, has received different sectional names. Thus, the part from the Watchogue Road to Willow Brook is known as the Willow Brook Road (Beers, 1874); the following southeasterly stretch as the Summer Field Road (Beers, 1874); then the southwesterly stretch as the Manor Road, and then the following southeasterly stretch as the Saw Mill, Conner or Egbertville Road. This naming has come about by the opening of new roads that are direct continuations of parts of the old zigzag highway, leaving it as a whole, a short cut to nowhere.
NEW CREEK. At South Beach. Many years ago a creek emptied near the Narrows following nearly, if not the same course as the present Old Town or Pole Creek. The mouth of this old creek became closed and New Creek was opened-hence the name. This must have happened previous to the making of the map in 1797. Not many years ago, the Boulevard was built a little np from the high tide mark and New Creek was bridged, but in many places owing to the washing away of the shore only a trace of the road remains. New Creek is very erratic as regards at least a portion of its course, and for many years previous to the winter of 1883-4 emptied a considerable distance to the southwest of its present mouth. There was a point formed which each year grew longer, until at last the stream flowed so slowly that in the winter mentioned it froze, and the up-land became flooded. When spring came the water broke through straight to the ocean, ,and now another point is being slowly formed. In 1797 the creek is portrayed as emptying straight to the ocean, without any accompanying point, but on the maps of 1850, 1859 and 1872 the point is shown.
NEW CREEK SHOAL. Near the mouth of New Creek.
NEW DORP PLAINS. The level country about New Dorp Lane. Higginson, 1860. Report Staten Is. Imp. Com., pp. 74, 79. Staaten Islander, Feb'y 16th, 1856.
“New Durrup Lane” 1769, Liber E. p. 15; 1790, Liber E. p. 301. Richmond County Free Press, April 26th, 1834.
NEW LOTS AT THE OLD TOWN. Mentioned in the survey for Abraham Lutine, Land Papers, 1685. At least a part of the New Lots extended along the present Richmond Road, adjacent to where it is joined by the Old Town Road.
NEW PARIS OR FRENCH TOWN. Nickname given to Grant City because so many French families reside there. This place has been misnamed Grand City on the railroad time tables for the past few years. There was a sign near the railroad track several years ago that read " Grand City." In Beer's Atlas, Grant City is also called Ocean View. This is, however, an error, Ocean View being the name of adjacent property.
NEW ROAD. An extension of the Willow Brook Road, by which name it is generally known.
NEW ROAD. An old name for the Harbor Road, Mariners' Harbor.
New Road. Amboy Road. “Bounded northerly by the land of Ephraim Van Gelder, westerly by the land of Daniel Stillwell and southerly by the New Road or Amboy Road.” 1762, Liber D. p. 497. New Road also mentioned 1789, Liber E., pp. 140 and 150; 1791 Liber E., p. 199.
NEW SPRINGVILLE BROOK. Rises near the corner of the old Saw-Mill or Conner Road and the Manor Road, and flows across Jones' or Rockland Road through New Springville into Dock Creek. This brook once turned a mill wheel in New Springville village.
NEW SPRINGVILLE SPRING. In New Springville village.
NEW-BERRY VILLE. Near Concord and traversed by the track of the Staten Island Railroad. Map of New-Berry Ville filed June 3d, 1853 (No. 113), showing Military Parade Ground and Columbian Park as portions of the property.
NEWTON. The present Giffords. Dripps, 1850. Higginson, 1860.
NEWTON'S CREEK. Empties into the Kill Van Kull between Bowman's and DeHart's Points. Many years ago a man by the name of Newton widened this creek so that he might get boats up to his ketchup and pickle preserving establishment, situated near the Shore Road.
NIEUWE DORP OR NEW TOWN. The original New Dorp was located at the foot of New Dorp Lane, near the shore. Its position, as well as that of Old Town, is shown on the oldest maps of the Island. Bayles, p. 87.
Nieuwe Dorp or New Town. “Tract of Land situate lying and being at new town allias new dorp at the South side of Staten Island.” 1719, Liber C. p. 108. Called “New Durrop,” 1762, Liber D. p. 591; 1786, Liber E. p. 107.
NOOK, THE. Angle formed by the meeting of Quin and Harrison Streets, Stapleton.
NORTH SIDE OR NORTH SHORE. North side of the Island. Letters remaining in the North Shore Post Office, J. J. Clute, post-master, are advertised in the Staaten Islander, Jan. 10th, 1857. The North Shore post office was situated, at least for a time, in the brick building on the north side of Richmond Terrace, close to the present West New Brighton railroad station. West New Brighton post office is first mentioned in the N. Y. State Manual for 1871.
OAKLANDS. At New York Avenue, Tompkins Avenue and the Finger Board Road. " Clifton Avenue or Finger Board Road " is shown on the map filed Dec. 21st, 1857.
OAKLEY'S CREEK. A small creek on the easterly side of Smoking Point.
Ocean Avenue. Now Cebra Avenue. “Cebra or Ocean Avenue.” Beers, 1874.
OCEAN HILL. The highest part of Staten Island along which Ocean Terrace Road runs. Map in Bayles' History.
OCEAN TERRACE. The high land between the Clove Valley and the Richmond Road along which the Ocean Terrace now runs. Map of property on ` Ocean Terrace' filed 19th September, 1860. No. 181. (See Ocean Hill.)
OCEAN VIEW. On the Richmond Road near Grant City. The Samuel Barton farm. An Ocean View of later date, is at Giffords.
OCEAN VILLE. At New Dorp Lane. Map filed April 19th, 1853. OCEANA. At New Dorp Lane, near the shore. Dripps, 1850. Higginson, 1860.
Old Eliza's Lane. Ran through her farm at Tottenville, from Uncle Nicky Corson's Lane to Raritan Bay. Mills Road. “ . . . along the road commonly known as the ‘Mills Road' to the public road leading to Rossville.” Description of 1810. Deeds, Liber 187, p. 384. Probably named after John Mills, whose meadow adjoined the land described.
OLD BLUE-BENT FIELD. The public school building on Andros Avenue, Mariners' Harbor, stands on part of the Old Blue-Bent Field. The name was applied to a tract of sandy land where the blue-bent or beard-grass (Andropogon) still grows in abundance, and where the Indians lived in old time, as evinced by their implements still to be found in the field.
OLD BURYING HILL ROAD. At Travisville. Extends from Cannon Avenue past what is now Sylvan Cemetery, to the Turnpike.
OLD COMP, THE. The name applied in a general way to the country lying between Kreischerville and the Amboy Road.
Old Elm, The. Stands at the edge of the Bluff, Tottenville. The Elm Tree. Near Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Chapel, afterwards Mt. Hermon Institute, Tottenville.
OLD FRESH KILLS BRIDGE. Also known as Plank Road Bridge, Draw Bridge (Walling, 1859), Garretson's Bridge and Long Bridge. In December, 1856, an advertisement appeared in the Staaten Islander, stating that " the bridges and the causeway over the Fresh Kills Creek and Meadows from the Fresh Kills to DePuy's Corner at Springville " would be sold at public auction on the 20th of the month. In the issue of Dec. 31st, 1856, under the heading of " That Bridge," appears the following: " The Pt. Richmond and Fresh Kills Plank Road Bridge, which was recently offered to the county for $2,000, has been sold at auction to Mr. Jacob Garretson, for six hundred and one dollars." Mr. Jacob C. Garretson subsequently offered (Staaten Islander, Jan. 3d, 1856) to place the bridge and causeways leading thereto in good condition, provided the towns of Northfield and Westfield would each pay $633.33. (See Church Road and Garretson's Road.) The County has recently had a new bridge built on the site of the old-one.
OLD ORCHARD SHOAL. The Old Orchard Shoal Light is situated a little over two miles southeast of Crooke's Point. Chart. U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. .(See Great Kill Shoal.)
OLD PLACE. Situated in Northfield, on what was once called Tunissen's Neck, between Tunissen's or Old Place Creek and Bridge Creek. The name arose in this way: Religious services were once held in a house along the road, but the structure becoming dilapidated a new place was selected, which, however proved to be less convenient, so the earlier building was repaired and services were resumed at. the "old place." Old Place, or more properly that portion of it now known as Summerville, was once called Skunk Town. Fortune Crocheron. who had been a slave, made a business of catching skunks and extracting the grease, which was sold as a cure for croup. After his death, the place gradually lost this name.
Old Place. 1799, Liber E. p. 438.
OLD PLACE BROOK. Rises near Quail Hill on the Old Place Road and flows across South Avenue into Old Place Creek.
OLD PLACE OR TUNISSEN'S CREEK. Old Place Creek is shown on recent maps. Sometimes called " Tunis Creek " by fishermen, &c. Tunissen's Creek is mentioned in Richmond Republican, April 25th, 1829; in the Staaten Islander, September 19th, 1857, and in an old deed of 1687, recorded in Richmond, Liber B, p. 95.
OLD PLACE ROAD. Leads from Graniteville to Old Place. Now sometimes called Washington Avenue.
Old Point Ferry. At Holland Hook. “Also that tract of land and meadow in Northfield aforesaid lying along the road leading from the Old Point Ferry to Port Richmond Ferry, fronting Newark Bay.” Richmond County Sentinel, Aug. 24th, 1878.
OLD QUARRY ROAD. Leading from the quarry on Quarry Hill, Graniteville, to the shore. Shown by Dripps, 1850, and Walling, 1859.
Old Sand Road. Now Fingerboard Road.
OLD TOWN OR POLE CREEK. Northeast branch of New Creek. The brook which is the head waters of this creek, rises near Sand Lane at the Old Town, and flows parallel to South Beach.
OLD TOWN POND. A small pond on the north side of the Old. Town Road near the railroad track. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. IV., p. 7.
ORCHARD, THE. A district of West New Brighton traversed by Barker Street. It was probably the site of Gov. Dongan's orchard. The hill side (See Cork Hill) occupied by Gov. Tompkins' orchard, was known by the same name.
OUDE DORP OR OLD TOWN. The present Old Town Road leads from the Richmond Road toward the beach, where the original Oude Dorp was situated. Dankers & Sluyter state that this settlement consisted of seven houses in 1676. Bayles, pp. 64, 8T. Clute, p. 16. Bew, 1781.
Outside and Inside. Among the fishermen and others at Tottenville the shore and adjacent property along Raritan Bay from The Meadows to what is now the foot of Beach Street is often called “Outside,” while “Inside’” is that portion along the shore of the Sound from Biddle's Dock to the Mill Creek. All of that part of the village north of the Amboy Road is sometimes included in the latter term.
OWL'S HOLLOW. Crossed by the Fresh Kills Road about one half mile west of Green Ridge. Moore's Brook flows through Owl's Hollow into Wagner's Creek.
OYSTER BANKS. West of Robbin's Reef, between Cavan's Point and Constable's Point, N. J. Bew, 1781, shows " Oyster Bay and Banks," and Des Barres, 1777, shows " Oyster Banks."
OYSTER BEDS. Same as Middle Ground and Round Shoal. Smith, 1836.
OYSTER CREEK. " Petition of Hans Lawrence of the county of Richmond, praying a warrant for a survey of a piece of land on Staten Island, containing about 40 acres; together with a small island of meadow, of about 2 acres, lying at the mouth of Oyster Creek, for which he has a patent." Not dated, but placed in 1697 of the Land Papers.
Oyster Creek. “ . . . with ten acres of salt meadow lying at Karles Neck in the County and province above st to the southward of a certain creek commonly called and known by the name of the Oyster Creek.” 1721 Liber C.p. 152.
OYSTER ISLAND. In Great Kill. Shown but not named on Chart, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Named on Dripp's Map, 1872.
OYSTER OR DEEP CREEK. A north branch of Old Place Creek, that reaches nearly to Bridge or Lawrence Creek. Oyster Creek is mentioned in advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895.
PALMER'S RUN. The brook forming the boundary line between Castleton and Northfield, and named after John Palmer. Land Papers,1680.
Palmer's Run, Dongan Creek, or Bodine's Mill Creek. “Dongan Creek Causeway” is mentioned in the Richmond County Gazette, Sept. 24th, 1873. See Causeway
PARADISE OR THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Where Tompkins Avenue crosses Richmond Avenue, Clifton.
PARK, THE. A local name including the dwellings facing Port Richmond Park.
PARKER AVENUE. An old name for Davis Avenue. Given by Walling, 1859. Shawmut Avenue was a proposed name for Davis Avenue. (Beers, 1874.)
PAVILION HILL. The same as Mount Tompkins. A great Sunday resort thirty or forty years ago. Called " Mount Pavilion " in N. Y. Herald of 1835. Blood, 1845. Now occasionally called Cow Hill.
PEGGY'S POINT. Southwest of the railroad trestle near Western Avenue. It is a point of higher land in the meadow. Peggy's Point is named after Judge David Mersereau's sister who married a Post. Judge Mersereau was prominent on the Island during the first part of this century. A man by the name of Page bought Peggy's Point and the surrounding meadows, and when he became old and decrepit he deeded the land to his relatives in consideration that they take care of him for the remainder of his days. Their care taking, however, according to the neighbors, was of a very poor quality, and the old man finally died in the wood shed.
PERINE'S CREEK. A north branch of New Creek. The brook from Van Wagenen's Pond, or Woodside Lake, flows into this creek.
Perkin's Lane. Leads from the Amboy Road at Annadale to the shore. Shown by Walling, 1859, and Dripps, 1872.
Perny Creek. “Beginning at Lacounts Creek and on the west side of the mouth of Perny Creek, and running along said Perny Creek northeasterly to another little creek branching from said Perny Creek, from thence along said little creek by the line of Henry Slaight's land crossing to Lacounts Creek, from thence along said Lacounts Creek to the place of beginning.” Description of 1810: Deeds, Liber 187, p. 384. Lacount's Creek. “ . . ... near the ould Blazing Star in the town of Westfield . . . also a piece of salt meadow situate in the place aforesaid, beginning at the middle of an ould bridge formerly across Lacount's Creek ” 1791, Liber E. p. 442. “Beginning at Lacount's Creek and on the west side of the mouth of Perny Creek . . . .” Description of 1810. Deeds, Liber 187, p. 384.
Peteets Island. “ . . . a small island of salt meadow or marsh on ye north side of a creek called ye Fresh Kill, containing three acres. Beginning at ye mouth of a small creek lying east by north from an island of upland formerly called Peteets Island. 1722, Liber C. p. 100.
PETER'S CREEK. Branch of Main, and next creek southwest of Flowk Creek. Named after Peter Du Puy. " Peter Dupuy's Creek " is mentioned in Richmond Republican, January 24th, 1829.
PETTICOAT LANE. Jones' Road or Rockland Avenue, in Northfield. Jones' Road once joined that part of the Willow Brook Road known as the New Road, much further to the north than it does at present, coming out near what is now the poor house farm.
PHENIXVILLE. A name for Bull's Head. Beers, 1874. Clute, p. 231.
PHILADELPHIA TURNPIKE. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, p. 73. Same as Richmond Turnpike, which was once the post and stage road to Philadelphia. That portion of the Turnpike, from its present junction with the Little Clove Road to the head of what is now known as Jewett Avenue, is represented on the map of 1797. The remainder of the road, both to the east and west of this section, was laid out in 1815 and 1816 by the " Richmond Turnpike Company," as appears from the following, copied from the session laws of 1815, act of March 31st, page 119. " Be it enacted &c. that all such persons as shall associate themselves together for the purpose of making a good and sufficient turnpike road in the most direct and practical route from a point on the easterly side of Staten Island within one mile of the marine hospital or Quarantine Ground in the County of Richmond to the westerly shore of said Staten Island at such point on the said westerly shore as may be in the most direct line from the place of beginning to the City of New Brunswick in the State of New Jersey, and a branch of said road in the most direct route to Amboy Ferry shall be and hereby are created a body corporate and politic by the name and style of Richmond Turnpike Company." The Session laws of 1817, page 17, Dec. 1, declares that it shall not be necessary for the Richmond Turnpike Co. to make a branch to Amboy Ferry from the road already completed by them leading from the Bay of New York to the New Blazing Star Ferry and they are thereby released from the same. The New Blazing Star Road is shown on map finished Oct. 12th, 1793, and filed Feb'y 7th, 1852. No. 89. The Turnpike was sometimes called the Governor's Road, that is, Gov. Tompkins' Road, because he was instrumental in having it laid out.
PIG ALLEY. First Street, New Brighton. Also called Lovers' Lane. Honeymoon Row (the name needs no explanation) extends along the south side of this endearing little street.
PINE TREE SWAMP. Near Lambert's Lane, Watchogue, and north of Hilleker's Swamp. Also known as Magnolia Swamp. Pine Tree Swamp is mentioned in the Richmond Republican, March 18th, 1831.
Pinefield Pond. In the “Pines” near the railroad track, Tottenville.
PINES, THE. A local name for a pine grove along the railroad track between Richmond Valley and Tottenville.
PLAINS, THE. A local name for Pleasant Plains, Westfield.
PLEASANT VALLEY. Commences near the head of Vanderbilt Avenue, where it joins the Richmond Road, and extends up the hill toward the Serpentine Road.
Poke Town. A nickname for the small settlement on Poverty Lane between the Willowbrook Road and New Springville. Named after the Green Heron or Poke.
Point Lot. “ . . . The third is a Lott, known by the name of the Point Lott, near the Lott aforesaid at fresh Kill . . .” 1796, Liber E. p. 397. Also mentioned Liber E. p. 431. Mr. John H. Garretson thinks this to be the land projecting into Bedell's Mill Pond at Fresh Kills or Green Ridge.
POINT NO POINT. On Long Neck near Island Creek and nearly opposite the mouth of Peter's Creek. When viewed from a distance there appears to be a considerable point at this part of Main Creek, but upon a nearer approach the point is not apparent. This is due to the gradual bend of the shore, which leads the boatman in a wide curve about what is in consequence named Point No Point.
POLE HILL. Near Grimes' Hill. Now known as " Morning Side."
POLLY FOUNTAIN'S OR JACOBSON'S BAR. Just outside of the Narrows. The Jacobson and Fountain farms were at the Narrows and lay side by side. The bar is also occasionally spoken of as Keteltas', after the old Keteltas farm, that extended to the South Beach at the Old Town Road. Beers, 1874.
POMONA GROVE. At Grove Avenue, Port Richmond. Map Bled Nov. 19th, 1869.
POMPEY'S KNOLL. A sand dune, close to the Sound, between Cannon's or Landing Creek and Chelsea. Pompey was a[n African American] and lived on this knoll many years ago.
POND ROAD. The present Jewett or Division Avenue. Beers, 1874. Bayles, p. 5.
POPPY JOE'S ISLAND. A meadow island covered with cedar trees, between Barnes' Creek and South Beach. This name is used in old deeds. The sandy beach is approaching this island quite rapidly. In the Richmond Republican, June 19th, 1830, the following mention is made of " Poppy Joe's Island, which formerly did belong to Thomas Walton, deceased, and the said Thomas Walton did convey the same to Isaac Cubberly, of Staten Island, deceased, and the said deceased Isaac Cubberly, did bequeath the same in his last will and testament to his son Isaac Cubberly, his heirs and assigns for ever, which said tract of land and salt meadow lying on the south side of the said Island, and fronting the beach or strand, and begins on the north side of the said tract of land and meadows, by a creek called the New Creek. * * * " Poppy Goes Island " is depicted on an old map of which the following is the title: " At the Request of Dr. Nicholas Lozier I have Surveyed All His Lands and Meadows now in his Possession And Find the Contents to Amount of 141 Acres of Land and Meadows as p. Mapp. Surveyed Jan'y 12th, 1793, by Bernard Sprong."
POVERTY HOLLOW. A hollow at Clifton into which Maryland and St. John's Avenues lead.
POVERTY LANE. The road " from Springville to Richmond." Beers, 1874. New Springville Road. This is one of the old roads and is on the map of 1797.
PRALL'S CREEK. The south arm or branch of Peter's Creek.
PRALL'S RIVER. The arm of the Sound between Dongan's Island and Staten Island. Advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895.
PRICE'S ISLAND. A hummock of land in the salt meadow south of Travisville on Long Neck. E. Price is given as a resident by Dripps, 1850.
Precincts or Divisions. “The following Road or Highway was Entered on Record the 15th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three. “The following Road appears to be layed out in the North Division of the County of Richmond, the 20th Day of September, 1773, Richmond County, S. S. John Batey of the South Division, Abraham Cole of the West Division, Bornt Simonson and Richard Lawrence of the North Division, Daniel Corsen of the Manour, Commissioners appointed for laying out and Regulating of Roads and Highways Do lay a Road in manner and from following: Beginning at the Northeast Corner of Christian Corsen’s fence now in possession of Abraham Spier, Running from thence with a direct line to the south past Corner of John Taylor and thence with the same Direct Line to the Land of Samuel Dehart, from thence northerly by the Line of the said Dehart Two Rods and from thence to Reverse the first given Line at Two rods Distance at the North side to the place of Beginning.
“To the County Clerk, we the under Written Commissioners Desire of you to Enter this return upon Record.
John Batey, Abraham Cole, Bornt Simonson, Daniel Corsen.
“Entered this day abovesaid By Paul Micheau, Clk.” Liber E. p. 55.
“South Precinct.” 1773, Liber E., p. 51.
“North Precinct.” 1776, Liber E., p. 87.
These Precincts or Divisions correspond to what was later known as Westfield, Northfield, Southfield and Castleton.
PRINCE'S BAY. On Faden's map, 1779. On map, 1797, and later maps. The name is given " Princess Bay " on chart, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and on the map in Bayles' History, which was copied therefrom.
Prince's Bay. “Prince's Bay, so called because a British prince once landed there during the Revolution, is a barely perceptible indentation of the coast.” Richmond County Gazette, Feby. 20th, 1867.
PROSPECT HILL. At the corner of Bay and Prospect Streets, Stapleton. On Blood's map, 1845. Now removed.
PROSPECT SQUARE. At Stone Street and the Richmond Road, Middletown.
PYSE CREEK. " Communication of Stephen Hesiott to the governor in relation to a certain piece or parcel of land on Staten Island, at the head of Pyse Creek, next adjoining to Peter Johnson and Wm. Johnson's lots." Not dated but placed in the Land Papers between Jan. and March, 1684.
QUALITY HILL. An old nickname for Fort Hill, applied to it by the residents of Thrifty Valley. Dutch Hill is a more recent name.
QUARANTINE. Central Avenue, New Brighton, passes through what was once the Quarantine of the port of New York, established on Staten Island in 1799. Blood, 1845. Dripps, 1850. The Lazaretto of Eddy, 1812. (See Philadelphia Turnpike.) The Richmond Republican, for March 29, 1828, contains the following advertisement:
" Quarantine and Richmond Stage. The public is respectfully informed that .~ Stage will commence running to and from the Quarantine ground and Richmond, on Saturday, the 29th of March inst., and will leave Richmond every morning at half past 6 o'clock, so as to take the Steam Boat for New York at 8. And will leave the Quarantine, for Richmond, every afternoon on the arrival of the Boat from New York, until further notice. Good Stages and horses and a careful driver have been procured. Fare each way 371 cts., intermediate distances, 6 cts. per mile.
D. DENYSE, J. FOUNTAIN, Proprietors."
The steamboat landing at Tompkinsville was often called Quarantine Landing.
Quarantine. The appraisement in 1800 of the Quarantine Ground at what is now New Brighton, by fire commissioners is to be found in Liber E. p. 454. Thirty acres of land, valued at $5,500, were taken.
QUARRY HILL. The trap rock quarry, known as the Upper Quarry, near Graniteville, is on this hill. Bayles, p. 433. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859.
Quarry Ponds. At the Upper Quarry, near Graniteville. Small rain water ponds in depressions where the rock has been blasted.
Quarry Road. Now John Street, which leads to the Bennett Trap-rock Quarry on the Morning Star Road, Mariners’ Harbor.
RADCLIFF'S POND. Northwest of the Swamp and near Vanderbilt Avenue. Now drained.
RAG-PICKER'S ROW. Several small houses on Minthorne Street, Tompkinsville, received this nickname many years ago. The corner one was occupied by Thomas Clark and in consequence of its position was known as Clark's Point.
RALPH'S ISLAND. The following is from the Richmond County Mirror of 1838: " Executors Sale. James Bodine Sen'r deceased. * * * * Also two lots of salt meadow, No. 1 containing 10 acres, situated in the town of Northfield in said county at a place called the Old Place;' bounded south by Tunison's Creek, on the west by meadow of Wm. Blake, on the north by upland of Mrs. Prior, and on the east by meadow of Jacob Bodine, conveniently situated and of a good quality. No. 2 containing 4 acres, situate as aforesaid, being on the opposite side of the said creek, and nearly surrounded by water-called Ralph's Island.' " This meadow-island lies south of Mr. Kinsey's residence on the Old Place Road, and is no longer surrounded by the creek, which has changed its course. It is, however, still a meadow-island, as the former bed of the creek is not entirely filled up, but supports a rank growth of water-loving vegetation, that in summer encircles this small piece of meadow.
RARITAN BAY. At the mouth of Raritan River. Chart, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Map in Bayles' History.
RED BANK. The bluff at Prince's Bay. Colton, 1846. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859. Dripps, 1872. Map in Bayles' History.
RED LAKE. Between the Morning Star Road and Simonson Avenue, Port Richmond. The pond was formed in the depression made by excavating clay for the Northfield brick works. These works were abandoned some years ago and the pond has lately been drained.
RED LANE. Lincoln Avenue or First Avenue, Grant City, Southfield. Probably owes its name to the fact that much oxide of iron is contained in the soil which gives the road a red color.
REDOUBT HILL OR MOUNT TOMPKINS. The prominent hill back of Tompkinsville, on which British earthworks were located during the Revolution, the remains of one of which are still to be seen. " The Pavilion at Mount Tompkins " is mentioned in advertisement by Caleb T. Ward in Richmond Republican, March 1st, 1828. Mount Tompkins is mentioned in the Staaten Islander, June 11th, 1856. Redoubt Hill is mentioned in the Staten Island Star; Dec. 14, 1895.
REED'S BASKET-WILLOW SWAMP. In the hills, near the Richmond Road at Garretsons. The Reeds, father and son, were basket makers; they grew willows in this swamp and resided in a small house on its margin. In a fit of despondency, after having parted with his property, the younger Reed burned the house to the ground.
REED'S VALLEY. A fork of Mersereau's Valley. It contains a brook which joins the one that flows from the hermit's spring. (See Reed's Basket-willow Swamp.)
RESERVOIR OR BARRETT'S POND. Back of the Dye Works on Cherry Lane, West New Brighton. Beers, 1874.
Retreat Hill. The hill in front of the Seamans’ Retreat, Stapleton, over which the shore road passes. Portions of the hill were removed during 1861, 1862 and later. Mentioned in the Richmond County Gazette, May 7th, 1862, April 1st, 1863 and July 31st, 1872.
RICHMOND CREEK. East branch of Fresh Kills. Karle's Neck Creek or Micheau's Creek are old names for this.
RICHMOND HILL. North of Richmond village. Shown by Dripps, 1850. Mentioned in Simcoe's Military Journal and the Statten Islander, February 28th, 1857. Also called Latourette's Hill.
RICHMOND OR SAW MILL BROOK. Flows through the ravine at Egbertville and empties into Richmond Creek near St. Andrew's church. The Blood Root Valley branch rises near the highest point (Dongan Knoll), and the west branch rises in the Mills Dale.
RICHMOND PARK. On the Richmond Road between Egbertville and Richmond. Dripps, 1872.
RICHMOND PLANK ROAD FROM VANDERBILT'S LANDING TO ROSSVILLE. Map of the Richmond Plank Road from Vanderbilt's Landing to Rossville, 10.297 miles, J. B. Bacon, Surveyor, Staten Island," 1853. Filed 30th June, 1853, No. 114. The roads leading into this highway are the following, the names in parenthesis being additional to those given on the above mentioned map: Shore Road. (Bay Street. Beers, 1874.) Old Richmond Road. Clove Road. Fingerboard Road. Old Town Road. Castleton Road. (Four Corners Road. Beers, 1874.) New Dorp Lane. Amboy Road. Manor Road. (Saw-Mill, corner of Egbertville Road.) Gifford's Lane. Port Richmond Plank Road. (Seaside Avenue. Beers, 1874.) South Side Road. (Annadale Road.) Road to South Side. (Journeay Avenue. Beers, 1874.) Washington Avenue. Killi-fish Road. (Swain's, or Laforge's Lane.) Woodrow Road. (Shea's Lane, road to Woodrow, &c.) On several maps filed in 1843 and 1854, appears the " Richmond Plank Road," the " Plank Road from 'Vanderbilt's Landing," or the " Richmond Plank Road to Vanderbilt's Landing." In the Staaten Islander of Jan. 23d, 1856, it is stated that the Richmond Plank Road Company has paid 14 percent., and is now paying a dividend of 20 per cent.
RICHMOND STREET. An old name for St. Paul's Avenue, Tompkinsville. Blood, 1845. (See Mud Lane.)
Ridgway's Island. “Also one lot or parcel of salt meadow formerly belonging to Joseph Decker, situate on the east side of the neck, bounded . . ... southeasterly by a small ditch that separates it from meadows called Ridgway’s Island.” 1886. Deeds, Liber 187, p. 500.
River Road. “For Sale. The estate occupied by Mr. James Parker, situated in Castleton, Staten Island, on the River Road, between Sailors' Snug Harbor and Factoryville . . .” Richmond County Gazette, July 8th, 1863. (See Shore Trail). “River Kill Wan Kull” is mentioned as early as 1786. Liber E. p. 202. (See Het Kill van Het Cull).
ROBBINS' CORNERS. At New Springville, where the Stone Road meets Poverty Lane. The residence of Nathaniel Robbins, a notorious character during the War of the Revolution.
ROBBIN'S OR WINANT'S POINT. At the mouth of Dock Creek and southeast of Freeman Winant's Swamp. Capt. Nathaniel Robbins was a notorious individual who resided many years ago in New Springville and after whom Robbins' Corner was named. He rendered considerable assistance to the British quartered on the Island during the Revolution. Clute, p. 114.
ROBYN'S RIFT. " A reef in the bay at the mouth of the Kill Van Kull was once frequented by seals, to which the Dutch gave the name Robyn; hence the name ` Robyn's Rift,' which has, by careless usage, become 'Robbin's Reef'." Bayles, p. 3, 681. Chart U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Bay and Harbor of New York.
ROCKY HOLLOW. The hollow back of Stapleton through which the old Richmond Road runs. It is below Signal or Grimes' Hill. Bayles, p. 307. Rept. Staten Is. Imp. Corn., pp. 45, 82, 89.
ROGUERY HILL. A murder was once committed on a small elevation over which the Finger Board Road passes, and which from that circumstance received the name of Roguery Hill, and the road became known as the Roguery Hill Road, until the guide post, showing the road to Richmond, was erected, when it received its present . name. Clute, p. 232.
ROGUERY HILL ROAD. An old name for the Finger Board Road. Clute, p. 232.
Rose Hill Avenue. That portion of the Manor Road from Bradley’s Road to the Egbertville or Saw Mill Road, is occasionally called Rose Hill Avenue (Rosewood Avenue, Higginson, 1860) and also the Poor House Road.
ROSS' COVE. The bend in the shore at Rossville near the old Ross (now Lyon) homestead. Winant's or Ross' Brook flows into this Cove.
ROSS' OR WINANT'S BROOK. Rises between Shea's and Winant's Lanes and flows into Ross' Cove at Rossville.
Rotten Meadows. On the Old Place Meadows between Sedge Pond Creek and Vroom Creek. There are also Rotten Meadows on the New Jersey shore nearly opposite Dongan Island.
Round Pond. A small circular depression about thirty feet in diameter in the woods on the edge of Old Place Meadow, south of Snake Pond. Dry in summer. Snake or Dead Man's Pond has lately been drained.
ROUND SHOAL. A name for Middle Ground, or at least its upper portion. Chart Ti. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Ryers' Ferry. 1784, Liber E. p. 166.
Sagoddiochguisatt. “Certain Tract or Parcell of Land Lying and being at Sagoddiochguisatt, which by deed of gift has been granted unto the said John Mangilson by the Maquase Indians in the year 1681-2 the said Land Running from the marked tree whereon ye name of the sd John Mangilson Stands and also the mark of the Maquase Indians unto the Creek that Lyeth Westward the line of the sd Land Running into the woods direct North upon a straight Line, Together with all houses, Barnes, stables, orchards, fencings, Feedings . . .” Dated Feby, 10th, 1698-9. Iiber B. p. 322. Johannes Megapolensis, Jun. Account of Maquaas or Mohawk Indians. The Mengwe or Iroquois Indians. Morris’ History of Staten Island, Wol I. p. 13.
SAILOR'S HILL. A long sand hill on the southerly side of Decker Avenue (a name for the western end of Merrill Avenue) near Chelsea Road and Saw Mill Creek. The hill received its name from the circumstance that a sailor was buried there many years ago.
SALT POND. Close to Light House Hill, at Prince's Bay. So called because the tide flows into it. It has of late years become a marsh.
SAND BAY. Near the Fort at the Narrows. " Warrant to the attorney general to prepare letters patent for John Belue and John Dove of Staten Island, to keep a ferry at a place called the Sand Bay to run from thence to New York, Long Island and other adjacent places. " Land Papers, 1731. (See Dove and Belue's Ferry.)
Sandy Brook. 1720, Liber C. p. 104: 1726, Liber D. p. 81
Sandy Hook Bay. Same as Lower Bay. Sandy Hook Bay is shown on “Map of an estate at Old Town in the town of Southfield, County of Richmond, Staten Island, belonging to the late Stephen Keteltas, Sr., 1846.”
SAND RIDGES. West of Beach Avenue at Richmond Valley, Westfield. These ridges were occupied by the Indians in old time, and at present a number of interesting hybrid oaks grow in the adjacent low-land known as Decker's Swamp.
SAND ROAD. An old name for Van Pelt Avenue, Mariners' Harbor.
SANDY BROOK. Rises to the northeast of Wood Row Road and empties into Lemon Creek. Named on Map, 1797.
SANDY GROUND. Applied to what is now Rossville and its vicinity.
SANDY LEER. Apparently an old name for this, is the Flag Pond, but of late years it has been called Sandy Leer, because an individual by that name once lived on Simonson Avenue, and the pond was back of his garden.
SAW MILL OR COINER ROAD. Old names for the road commencing at the corner of Rockland Avenue and the Manor Road, and extending to the Richmond Road, at Egbertville, and now sometimes called the Egbertville Road. (See Manor Road.) The saw mill was located on Saw Mill Brook, and was operated by Richard Conner, whose residence stood near by. This road is shown but not named on map, 1797. The original town of Castleton was bounded by the " road leading to Haughwout's Mill," (Bayles, p. 326) which is evidently this and a part of the present Willow Brook and Manor Roads. This and the later constructed Jones' Road (Rockland Avenue) taken as one, is called Richmond Road, by Higginson, 1860. " Connor Avenue " is mentioned in advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895.
SAW MILL OR MAGGIE MERRILL'S CREEK. North of Chelsea. One of its branches crosses the Watchogue Road. A saw mill was formerly located on this creek.
SAW MILL POND. Near Egbertville. Both mill and artificial pond are gone.
SCHAEFER'S HILL. The steep ascent at the top of Targee Street, Stapleton. A recent name.
SCHUTTER'S, SHUTTOR'S, SHUTER'S, SUTER'S OR SHOOTER'S ISLAND. Opposite Mariners' Harbor. Mentioned in the Land Papers, 1676. Bew, 1781. Richmond County Clerk's office, Liber B. of Deeds, p. 63. Bayles, p. 326. Clute, p. 66. Walling, 1859. Beers, 1874.
SCHUYLER'S FERRY, ELIZABETHPORT AND STATEN ISLAND FERRY. In 1762 Adoniah Schuyler operated a ferry between Elizabethtown Point and the Island. Bayles, p. 684. In 1851 the Elizabethport and Staten Island Ferry Co. was organized and service maintained for a period.
SEA VIEW PARK. The Sea View Park Association owned the one half mile race course near the present New Dorp railroad station. Beers, 1874. There was also another race course at the foot of New Dorp Lane. The old Fair Grounds.
SEA-DOG SHOAL. Situated near the northerly end of Dongan's Island. Shown, but not named, on map 1797.
SEAL ROCKS. The name of several drift boulders at Prince's Bay under Light House Hill, on which seals are occasionally seen in winter.
SEAMAN TOWN. A nickname for a row of houses in Richmond Village.
Seaman's Lane. An old name for at least that portion of Seaside Avenue laid out by Henry I. Seaman and commencing at the Fresh Kills Road.
SEDGE POND CREEK. First southerly branch of Old Place Creek.
SEDGE POND. Sedge Pond Creek extends from the Sedge Pond on the Salt Meadows to Old Place Creek.
SEGUINE'S LANDING. At Seguine's Point, Westfield. Mentioned in advertisement in the Richmond County Mirror, Aug. 11th, 1838.
SEGUINE'S OR LIGHT HOUSE HILL. The hill on which Prince's Bay light is located. Chart U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Red Bank Light. Walling, 1859. Beers, 1874.
Seguine's Lane. Leads from the Amboy Road at Annadale to the shore. Shown by Walling, 1859, and Dripps, 1872.
SEGUINE'S POINT. The first point to the east of Prince's Bay.
SEGUINE'S POND. At the shore, below Annadale station. This was one of the most beautiful ponds on the Island before the timber was cleared away from its margin.
SEGUINE'S ROAD. Dripps, 1872. Same as Prince's Bay Road. Beers, 1874.
SEXTON'S POND. An artificial extension of Boiling Spring Brook on the Sexton property, Castleton Avenue, West New Brighton.
SHANNON'S HOLE. A deep place in the Sound between Slack's Creek and Benedict's Creek.
SHARROTT'S ROAD. Old name for Prince's Bay Avenue (not Prince's Bay Road). Beers, 1874.
SHEA'S LANE. Still so called on the maps but efforts have been made to change the name to New York Avenue and later to Rossville Avenue. Sometimes referred to on maps, &c., as " Road to Wood-row."
SHORE TRAIL. The Shore Road or Richmond Terrace. Said to have been an Indian trail. The road formerly ran all the way around the shore from Mariner's Harbor to the old Tompkinsville Landing, but when the Quarantine hospitals were built, that end of the road was closed. " Shore Road to Mersereau's Ferry " is shown on map of Simonson's property, filed June 18, 1834. No. 6.
Shore Road. Occupied about the same ground as the later constructed Boulevard at South Beach and shown on “Map of an estate at Old Town in the town of Southfield, County of Richmond, Staten Island, belonging to the late Stephen Keteltas, Sen’r, 1846. (See Shore Trail).
Sign of the Ship. “Also a certain piece or parcel of Woodland lying near the Sign of the Ship in the Township of Westfield in the county aforesaid on the North Side of the Road that leads from the Sign of the Ship to the Fresh Kills.” 1789, Liber E. p. 299. “A place called ‘The Sign of the Ship.’” Staten Islander, May 2d, 1896. This tavern is said by Mr. John H. Garretson, of Green Ridge, to have been situated on the Amboy Road, nearly opposite to Fox Avenue, at Huguenot. The proprietors name was Halle.
SIGNAL HILL. An old name for Grimes' Hill. Report Staten Island Improvement Commission, pp. 45, 82, 88, 90. The British maintained a number of signal stations on the Island during the war of the Revolution, one of which was located on this hill.
SIGNAL HOUSE. Located at the Narrows. Bew, 1781. Also called the Look Out.
SIGNS, THE. A mysterious black dog, as large as a horse, is said to have frequented a place called the " Signs.", Bayles, p. 147. This locality is reported to have been at the present Signs Road, near Bull's Head.
SILENT VILLAGE. For a number of years there were only a few small houses at the top of Davis Avenue, West New Brighton, and the settlement received the name of the Silent Village.
SIMONSON'S BROOK. Rises in the woods to the north of Springville Road (Poverty Lane), near the center of the Island, and flows southerly into Simonson's Creek, a branch of Richmond Creek.
Simonson's Ferry. 1774, Liber E. p. 62.
SLACK'S (SLAGHT'S) CREEK. First Creek north of Rossville. One branch reaches the Fresh Kills Road at Valley Forge.
Slam’s Row. On the east side of Griffin Street, Tompkinsville. “A stabbing affray occurred on Saturday night, in the neighborhood of “Slam’s Row,” in which a man named Fitzpatrick was severely injured.” Richmond County Gazette, March 20, 1861.
Sleighter's Pond. Close to the easterly side of the north end of the Big Hummock at Watchogue.
Smith Street. Now Cottage Place, Port Richmond.
SMITH TERRACE. On Boyd's Hill, Stapleton.
SMOKING POINT. The first point southwest of Rossville. Land Papers, April 5th, 1684. So called on recent maps. " Smoaky Point " of Sew, 1781. " * * * a place called Smoker's point " is mentioned in Land Papers, 1702. " Daniel Perrine of Smoking Point " is mentioned in a mortgage recorded at Richmond, Liber B p. 92.
Snake Pond. Opposite to where the Watchogue Road is joined by the road that leads to the Big Hummock—on the north side of the Big Hummock Road.
SOLDIERS' LOTS. Situated near the Willow Brook (Kruse) and Watchogue Roads. These are among the oldest roads on the Island. The Soldiers' Lots are mentioned in the patent to Palmer in 1687. Bayles, pp. 115, 143. Also mentioned in the Land Papers in connection with the petition of Samuel Blachford. (See Little Plains and Great Plain.)
Soria Brook. An old name for the brook that flows through the groundt of the Sailor's Snug Harbor. See Proceedings Nat. Science Assn., Vol. VII p. 55.
SOUTH BEACH. An old name for the sandy south shore of the Island. The name now includes the summer resort.
SOUTH BROADWAY. Beers, 1874. Garretson's Road or South Broadway, also once known as a part of the Port Richmond and Fresh Kills Plank Road, is the road leading from New Springville to Green Ridge. Garretson's toll bridge across Richmond Creek fell into ruins some years since: It connected Eltingville or Seaside Avenue (Plank Road, Higginson, 1860) in Westfield, with the Church or, Port Richmond Plank Road (Stone Road) in Northfield. The Port Richmond and Fresh Kills Plank Road and the Plank Road from Vanderbilt Landing, are shown on map of land, belonging to Obadiah Bowne, Esq., situate in Westfield, Richmond Co., N. Y. Filed Nov. 9th, 1853. No. 128. Garretson's Road is occasionally called Bridge Avenue, and also the Old Turnpike. (See Fresh Kills Bridge.)
SOUTH ELLIOTTVILLE. On Bard Avenue, south of Castleton Avenue, Walling, 1859.
South Shore, South Side or South Quarter. “ . . . . situate Lying and being in Richmond County aforesaid in the South Quarter so Called . . .” 1736, Liber D. p. 25.
SOUTH SIDE OR SOUTH SHORE. South side of the Island. South Side is named as a Post Office in the N. Y. State Manual for 1872. In the Manual for 1873, Sea Side is mentioned in its place and is still the official name of the place.
South Side Lotts. “Bounded on the west by the said Abraham Winant, on the north by Joshua Mersereau and James Seguin, on the east by Dowa Johnson and on the south by the Rear of the South Side Lotts.” 1772. Liber E. p. 42.
SPEAR'S OR SPIRIT POINT. A point of slightly raised upland projecting southwestward into the meadow near the head of Old Place Creek. Mrs. Prior, wife of Andrew Prior, the first miller of Old Place mill, committed suicide by jumping into the creek at this point. It is sometimes called Spirit Point.
SPLIT ROCK. A large split rock seen at very low tide off the shore at the foot of Hannah Street, Tompkinsville.
Split Rock. “During the low tide on Thursday caused by the extraordinary winds, Split Rock, which is just below the dock of the Corinthian Club House, at Tompkinsville, was visible, some two feet of it appearing above the water. This rock is well known to navigators and is not often seen.” Richmond County Sentinel, Dec. 31st, 1887.
STAATEN EYLANT. The name given to the Island by Henry Hudson. Clute, p. 8.
STANDRING'S POND. Close to and southeast of the Gun Factory Pond. Walling, 1859. Beers, 1874.
STATE LAND. At the Narrows. Where the United States fortifications are now located. State Land is shown by Blood, 1845. Also at Prince's Bay.
STEEP POINT. Projects into Staten Island Sound between Old Place Creek and Mark's Creek. Some of this point has been dug away in order to make the Sound more navigable.
STILL HOUSE LANDING. Named from a distillery built by Capt. Thomas Lawrence on a small wharf at the present New Brighton landing at the foot of Jersey St. Bayles, p. 82. Director Kieft founded a brandy still on the Island in 1640, which was the first manufactory of spirituous liquors in America.
STINKING BROOK. A branch of Palmer's Run, that crosses the Turnpike and receives the waste of the Four Corners' brewery. At this writing, it is remarkable for its growth of Algae and Vorticellae.
STONY BROOK SETTLEMENT. Second on the Island, and situated near where the Amboy and Richmond Roads meet.
STONY BROOK. The brook from which Stony Brook settlement got its name. It is the brook, now usually dry, that flows southward across the Amboy Road toward Great Kill. (See Bridge Creek.)
Storer's Lane. Widened and lengthened into Fisher Avenue, Tottenville.
STORER'S OR HUGHES' POINT. A short distance to the north of Ellis' Point. The line fence between the Storer and Hughes farms extends to this point. Sometimes called Story's Point.
Storer's Pond. On Abram Storer's farm and near Storer’s Lane, Tottenville. Used by Staten Island Rapid Transit Railroad for water supply.
STORY'S FLATS. Mud fiats in the Sound between Ellis and Smoking Points. Chart U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. These fiats should be called Storer's after the old Staten Island family of that name who owned the upland.
Strawberry Hill. A name given by Judge Emerson and his neighbors to an open space where strawberries grew on the slope of Ocean Terrace near the Douglass road.
STRAWBERRY ROCK. Off the shore near the foot of Central Avenue, Tottenville. This rock received its name. from the circumstance that strawberries once grew about it, before the shore had washed away.
SUGAR LOAF ROCK. A prominent boulder, the shape of a sugar loaf, near the paper factory, at the corner of Prospect Street and the Turnpike. It now occupies a cleared field, but was once surrounded by woods, and was then a point of pilgrimage for the boys of the period.
SUJNEN. “Sujnen" is given as a name for Staten Island in Valentine’s Manual, 1852, p. 401.
SUMMERVILLE. A proposed name for Old Place. Clute, p. 234. Summerville is located in Beers' Atlas, at the corner of Washington Avenue and the Harbor Road. Old Place is also shown further to the west.
Summit Avenue. Same as Todt Hill Road.
SUNNY OR LOVERS' LANE. Hamilton Avenue, New Brighton.
Susan's Bluff. The eminence on the southerly side of the Clove, formerly owned by Judge Wm. Emerson, who called it Susan's Bluff in honor of his wife. Judge Emerson was a brother of Ralph Waldo Emerson and lived on the slope of the bluff toward the Richmond road, where Thoreau visited him in the “Snuggery” during the summer of 1843. Susan Haven is described as the wife of Wm. Emerson in the Sepoy of Nov. 5th, 1859.
SWAIM'S OR LA FORGE'S LANE. Leads from Valley Forge to'the Woodrow Road. Called Killi-fish Road on " Map of the Richmond Plank Road from Vanderbilt's Landing to Rossville."
SWAMP, THE. A local name for the small swamp on Bard Avenue, near where the Morgan residence now stands.
SWAMP, THE OR CLIFTON PARK POND. On the edge of the Downs, a few hundred feet to the northwest of Simonson Avenue. Clifton Park is shown by Walling, 1859. The pond still has a few trees about it and is used for skating, being more of a pond than a swamp. The Bogie of the newspapers appeared in this pond in July, 1895, and attracted many people by its loud singing. It was probably an escaped specimen of the ordinary " Jug-of-rum " bull-frog, that is common enough in parts of New Jersey, but has not, so far, been reported from the Island. Goose Pond is a small pool a few feet to the west of the Swamp and connected with it.
Tan-fat Field. A tannery once stood in the field near the upper part of Burgher Avenue, West New Brighton, and the place was in consequence known as the Tan-vat Field. After a time, when the tannery was gone, the careless small boy corrupted the name into the “Tan-fat Field.”
TANGLE-WOOD. An old name for the tangled growth of bushes, young trees and cat-brier, on the westerly side of Bard Avenue, where it is crossed by Castleton Avenue. Part of this growth still remains on the southwest corner.
TAYLOR'S OR MORAVIAN BROOK. Rises in the swamps north-east of the Woolsey Pond on Todt Hill and flows through the Moravian Cemetery and the old Taylor farm into Barnes' Creek, a branch of New Creek. Report Staten Island Improvement Com., p. 46.
TELEGRAPH, THE. Same as Signal House and Flag Staff. Bayles, p. 241. Smith, 1836. Capt. Barnett's house is mentioned in advertisement in Richmond Republican, Feb'y 23d, 1828, as " on the bank of the river about a half mile north of the Telegraph at Fort Richmond, and about 20 minutes' walk from the Quarantine Ground." The Telegraph is mentioned by Thoreau in letter of July 21st, 1843, and pictured on an old print of about the same date. " Clifton and Telegraph Stage " is advertised in Staaten Islander during 1856 and 1857.
TEXAS. Southeast of Ward's Point, between the Channel and Middle Ground. The water is several feet deeper than on Middle Ground. A well known locality among fishermen, &c.
THOMAS CREEK. Flowed into Fresh Kill.
Thompson's Creek. The second small creek southwest of Old Place Creek, Though comparatively broad at its mouth it only extends a short distance into the meadow.
THOMPSON'S ROAD. South Avenue, Mariners' Harbor, was once well known as, and is still occasionally called Thompson's Road. " South or Thompson Avenue " is shown by Walling, 1859. The name South Avenue was given it in 1847 when a map of the property was filed at Richmond.
THREE ELMS. On South Beach, northeast of the Elm Tree Light. A locality among present-day fishermen. Two of the elms are now dead as a result of the encroachment of the sea. The trees are said to have been planted many years ago by the elder Barnes.
THREE MUSK-RAT PONDS. Southeast of Elliott's Pond and near Uncle Ed. Wood's Brook.
THRIFTY VALLEY. An old name for the low ground through which Monroe and Montgomery Avenues now pass.
Thrifty Valley. “The fire on Saturday night was in a small house in Thrifty Valley, near the Quarantine walls.” Sepoy, March 12th, 1859.
TIPPERARY CORNERS, NEW DUBLIN OR YOUNG IRELAND. Nicknames for Egbertville.
TODT OR TOAD HILL. Rises from the Richmond Road at Garretsons, the present Dongan Hills post office. It was not called Todt Hill before the Revolution, but the name began to be used during the latter part of the war. Bayles, p. 246. Clute, pp. 8, 226. In the Staaten Islander, for August 30th, 1856, there is an article on the origin of the name " Todt Hill." It is there stated that in one of the early encounters between the Indians and the Dutch settlers several of the latter were killed on the hill, which in consequence received the name of Todt or Death Hill. In the next number of the paper a correspondent, writing from " Cockroach Alley, Snailville," declares the proper name to be " Toad Hill," and relates this story: " In days of yore, a young man paid his ` distresses '-for so they were regarded toa young lady who resided on the hill. In order to offend him and cause him to discontinue his unwelcome visits, she privately dropped a toad or two-young ladies were not afraid of toads in those days-into his capacious pockets, where they remained until they became offensive. This circumstance became known, and afterwards, whenever a youth was seen wending his way towards the hill, his jesting friends would advise him to take care of his pockets if he was going to Toad Hill." Map of property on " Toad Hill " filed Feby. 4th, 1857, No. 157. " Todt or Toadt Hill " is mentioned in advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895.
TOM BELL'S ISLAND. A wooded point projecting into the meadows between Garretson's station and the South Beach on the south-west side of Seaview Avenue. Sometimes called Tom Bell's Woods. This wood is said to have been much frequented by foxes about fifty years ago.
Tompkins Avenue. Grove Street. Names for part of the present Castleton Avenue, West New Brighton. “All that certain parcel of land . . . on the southwest corner formed by the intersection of State Street and Castleton Avenue (formerly Grove Street) . . .” Liber 130, Deeds p. 232. “All that certain lot of land situated . . . on the north side of Tompkins Avenue (sometimes called Grove Street) . . . .” Liber 138. Mortgages p. 153. “The hill opposite Mr. Sexton’s on Tompkins Avenue, near Factoryville, is being cut down by the corporation of the village of New Brighton, and the soil removed to places near the shore.” Richmond County Gazette, Sept. 1st, 1869.
TOMPKINS' OR QUARANTINE LANDING. The ferry landing at Tompkinsville (see Quarantine). " The Steam Boat Bolivar, Capt. Oliver Vanderbilt, and the steam boat Nautilus, Capt. Robert Hazard, will take passengers to and from New York to the Quarantine Dock, Nautilus Hall, Mount Pleasant Garden, Planter's Hotel, and Union Garden, Staten Island, and start as follows: Leave Staten Island at 7 a. m., at 8 a. m., at 10 a. m., at half past 12 p. m., at half past 2, at half past 4, and at 6 o'clock. Leave Whitehall, New York, at 8 a. in., and at 10 a. m., at half past 12 p. m., at half past 2, at half past 4, at half past 5, and at 7 o'clock. Fare each way, 12 and a half cents." Advertisement in Richmond Republican, June, 1828. " For Freight or Charter.-The fast-sailing Periauger, New York, of 34 tons, will take in freight or passengers for New York or the adjacent country, on the most moderate terms. For freight or passage apply to John Kettletas, Tompkinsville." Advertisement in Richmond Republican, December 22d, 1827. Tompkins' and Staples' Ferry is mentioned in advertisement in New York Herald of 1835. Proceedings Nat. Sci. Association, Vol. III., p. 60.
Tosamoca Lot. “Beginning at the southwest part of the south precinct at a place called Tosamoca Lot, all the beach not granted before the lot of the Patent that the said Smith claims his Right by with the small Island called Oyster Island so running along and including the beach to the Land now in possession of Captain Ward joining the North Precinct . . . .” 1771, Liber E. p. 188.
TOTTEN'S LANDING. At the foot of the present Main or Totten St., Tottenville. Dripps, 1850.
Towd, Todt, Toad or Dongan Hill. The following is from a letter in the Staten Islander, Dec. 14th, 1898: Ralph's Island. “Island of meadow sold by Abraham Ralph to David Mersereau. 1799, Liber E. p. 436.
To THE EDITOR.
SIR: Pray use your powerful influence in stamping out the senseless awkward name “Toadt’” applied to a beautiful Staten Island hill. The great cooperative movement in England had its small beginning on Toad lane, Rochdale. Visiting the place the secretary told me the name was a corruption of “the old,” “Towd.” That section was settled by Hollanders, who said “Towd Man” and “Towd Fellow,” for “The Old Man,” and “The Old Fellow.”
That part of Staten Island southwest of the Fort was settled by Hollanders. and was known as the Old Town or Dorp, as there is now New Dorp. There. is also Old Town road or lane leading from the Richmond road. The Old Town probably became corrupted to “Towd Town” and the hill back of it to “Towd Hill.” I have seen it spelled in an old document “Toude Hill.” The name had no relation to an animal except in sound. To avoid such a suspicion it has been misspelled in various ways, even the senseless barbarous: “Toedt.” Pray help stamp this misnomen out and call it Towd or Toude or Dongan Hill. . . . W. Clifton, S. I., December 10, 1898.
Similar letters to the above appeared in the Richmond County Gazette. many years ago, and in the Staten Island Gazette and Sentinel, Oct. 24th, 1883. Both of them were written by J. O. Woods.
TUNISSEN'S NECK. An old name for the Neck between Old Place Creek (Tunissen's Creek) and Bridge Creek. Old Place is located on this Neck.
Tunesson's Neck or Black Point. “Against John Tunessin's Neck on the northwest side of the said Island.” 1729. Liber C. p. 437. “. . . . commonly called or known by the name of John Tuneson's Neck, granted to the said John Tuneson by a Patent from Anthony Colven, Goven" of the Province of New Amsterdam, now New York . . . .” 1741-2. Liber D. p. 359. “Whereas Anthony Colve Govern' General of New Netherland under their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, and his serene Highness the Prince of Orange, Did by Virtue of a Patent or Grant, bearing Date the 10 Ober, 1674, Give and Grant unto John Tunisson Van Pelt a Parcel of Land, Scituate upon Staten Island known by the name of Black Point being the first Point to the Southward of Dirck De Noorman, bounded on the south side by the Creek, on the West side by the Kill Wan Koll on the North side by the Creek, on the Fast side by the Woods of the Lords States Gen', with free Egress at the said Woods.” 1752. Liber D. p. 375. “John Tunesson's Neck or Black Point.” 1743. Liber D. p. 394. Old Place is on Tunesson’s Neck.
TURTLE POINT. Not far from the site of the old Fresh Kills bridge.
TUSITY'S POND. At the corner of the present Cebra and Ward Avenues, Middletown. Has been dry for many years.
TUXEDO. A nickname for a part of New Brighton; the end of Brighton Avenue, &c. A part of the Duck Pond district.
TYSON'S CREEK. " Petition of Obediah Holmes, for a warrant to survey and lay out a certain piece of land lying in the county of Richmond, adjoining to the land of the petitioner, upon the head of Tyson's Creek." Land Papers, 1686.
Uncle Aaron Van Name's Swamp. At Sprague Avenue, Tottenville.
Uncle Ben Joline's Lane. Ran through his farm at Tottenville, from “Uncle” Nicky Corson’s Lane to Raritan Bay.
UNCLE ED. WOOD'S BROOK. Rises on the Wood property close to St. Paul's Church on the Amboy Road, and flows southerly to the Cove, east of Ward's Point.
Uncle Jake Manee's Lane. Ran through his farm at Tottenville, from Uncle Nicky Corson’s Lane to Raritan Bay.
UNCLE NICK LOT. " Subdivisions of the Uncle Nick Lot, Annadale, S. I. Property of Mrs. Anna S. Seguine."
Uncle Nicky Corson's Lane. Now Brehant Street, Tottenville. “All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Town of Westfield, aforesaid being a part of the land of which Isaac P. Sprague, died seized, bounded and described as follows: Beginning on the northwest corner of said lands at the intersection of the southerly line of Amboy Road and the easterly line of a Two Rod road sometimes called Brehant Lane and running thence easterly along the said southerly line one hundred feet to land now of William E. Joline, thence . . . to land of Jacob A. Cole . . .” 1886. I)eeds, Liber 170, p. 343.
UNIONVILLE. Between Tottenville and the Billopp House.
UP SHORE AND DOWN SHORE. The terms " Up Shore " (same as North Shore) and " Down Shore " (same as East Shore) were formerly in common use and are still occasionally employed by the railroad officials. Bayles, p. 3.
UPPER OR PELTON'S COVE. At the Bend in the Shore Road between Davis and Bement Avenues. Once known as Rolph's Cove, and during the Revolution as Kruzer's Cove.
UPPER QUARRY SPRING. On the side of Quarry Hill, Graniteville. Beers, 1874.
UPPER TERRACE. The hill-side at St. Mark's Place, New Brighton.
VALLEY FORGE. On the Fresh Kills Road, between Rossville and Green Ridge. The LaForge farm lies on the westerly side of Swaim's or LaForge's Lane, which meets the Fresh Kills Road in a pleasant little valley through which flows Killifish Brook to the meadows. The last part of the name LaForge and the valley suggested the historic name of Valley Forge, which thus came to be applied to a vale on Staten Island.
VALLEY OF THE IRON HILL OR MERSEREAU'S VALLEY. There is to be found in the history of the county a pleasing anecdote of the rescue of a young lady by her lover, Mersereau, from the hands of an unscrupulous British officer, who was quartered on the Island during the Revolution, directly opposite the junction of the road from Garretson's station with the old Richmond Road, then called the King's Highway, in a deep ravine, penetrating some distance into Todt Hill. This is still one of the most beautiful spots on the Island; the hill sides are mostly wooded, a pleasant meadow with old apple trees occupies the bottom of the valley and the perennial spring flows as in the days of the Revolution. The neighbors and local historians had no name for this place and so the writer of this article, some years ago, called it Mersereau's Valley. Lately a very appropriate name for this valley was discovered in the survey for Hansse Christophell, made in 1685. It is there called the Valley of the Iron Hill, the Iron Hill being an old name for Todt Hill. (See New Lots at the Old Town.)
VAN ALLEN'S OR McCOMBER'S HILL. The southern part of Kreischerville. The Fresh Kills Road passes over this hill.
VAN BOSKIRK'S OR FACTORY POND. Connected with the , N. Y. Dyeing and Print Works, West New Brighton. It is now filled in and it is proposed to lay out several streets upon the newly made land. " Mill Pond, of the N. Y. Dyeing and Printing Establishment, formerly known as Van Boskirk's Pond," is shown on map filed March 20th, 1850, No. 70.
VAN BUSKIRK SPRING. On the Van Buskirk farm at Garretson's Road, Northfield.
Van Cleft Creek. “A certain tract of salt meadow in the town of Westfield, beginning at a stake on the bend of a certain creek known by the name of Van Cleft Creek, on the north side of said creek, and running from thence north 65 degrees and 30 minutes east 11 chain and 26 links along a range of stakes to the line of the land of Jesse Morgan . . . thence along said river [S. I. Sound] and Great Fresh Kill Creek to said creek known by the name of Van Cleft Creek, including an island of salt meadows known by the name of Van Cleft Island, thence along said creek called Van Cleft Creek to the southernmost side thereof . . . till opposite the place of beginning. From thence crossing said creek to the place of beginning. Being bounded on the north by the said creek and meadows of the said John Journeay, on the east by land of Jesse Morgan, on the south by meadows of Charles Morgan and Winant Winant and on the west by said river and Great Fresh Kill Creek.” Richmond County Gazette, May 10th, 1865.
Wan Cleft Island. At Great Fresh Kill and Staten Island Sound. See Wan Cleft Creek.
VAN TUYL'S OR VAN TYLE'S FERRY. To the west of Comes', formerly DeHart's, ferry. " Petition of Otto Van Tyle and others, against granting Jacob de Hart a patent for a ferry between their land and the river, and the land between high and low water mark (Staten Island) with caveat." Land Papers, 1747.
VAN WAGENEN'S POND. An old name for Woodside Lake.
VANDERBILT'S LANDING. Near the foot of Vanderbilt Avenue, Clifton. Named after Cornelius Vanderbilt. Dripps, 1850. Walling, 1859. Beers, 1874. A name in much use until recent years.
VANDERBILT'S PERIAUGER FERRY. Plied between what is now Stapleton and New York from about 1800 to 1817. This ran in opposition to Van Duzer's Ferry.
VINEGAR HILL. The southerly slope occupied by Monroe and Montgomery Avenues, New Brighton. This was also known as " The Orchard," because Gov. Tompkins' apple orchard was located there. " The Orchard " is shown on Blood's map, 1845.
VREELAND'S BROOK. Rises near Sign's Road and flows south-westerly through Vreeland's Swamp at Union or New Springville Road into Vreeland's Creek, a branch of Dock Creek.
VREELAND'S CREEK. A branch of Dock Creek into which Vreeland's Brook flows. Vreeland's Brook flows through this swamp into Dock Creek.
VREELAND'S SWAMP. On both sides of Union or New Springville Road, between Crocheron's and Freeman Winant's Swamp.
VROOM CREEK. Second southerly branch of Old Place Creek. Walling, 1859. Advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895. Walling, 1859. Gun Factory Road is mentioned in advertisement State Tax Sale, 1895.
Wandel's Point. “ . . . also eleven acres and a half acre of meadow lying against Thomas Wandels poynt,” north side of Staten Island. 1730. Liber C. p. 442.
WAPP'S PARK. A play ;ground bounded in part by Prospect, Bement and Burger Avenues, West New Brighton.
WARD'S HILL. The next hill southeast of Pavilion.
WARD'S POINT. Near Tottenville. Still called by this name. On the map of 1797 the position of Caleb Ward's house is shown.
WASHINGTON CRESCENT. Shown on map of the New Brighton Association, as occupying nearly the same site as the present crescent-shaped Hamilton Avenue. Madison Street, lying east of Jay Street, Nassau Street and Catlin Avenue, are also shown on this map. They have never been laid out.
WASHINGTON SQUARE. The park at Stapleton. Map filed June 5th, 1867.
WATCHOGUE, BUTCHERVILLE OR SNAKE ROAD. Starts where the Pond Road (Jewett Avenue) meets the Turnpike and runs a serpentine course to the Church or Stone Road. That portion from Four Corners to the Willow Brook Road is laid down on the map of 1797 and is among the oldest roads of the Island, but as far as observed is not named on the maps, though generally known as the Watchogue or Butcherville Road. It is sometimes referred to as the Snake Road on account of its serpentine course.
WATCHOGUE. Situated a mile south of Old Place. Owing to the similarity of the name Watchogue to the Long Island town of Patchogue it has been thought that like the latter, it was of Indian origin. This, however, is a mistake, and the original name, which was Watch Oak, was acquired in the following way: The hamlet was first called Merrill Town, owing to the number of families of that name living in the vicinity. Among them was Isaac Merrill, who owned a large farm, a portion of which was covered with oak timber. A man by the name of Brunsen was a neighbor of Merrill's. He was a smart man and is said to have been most clever in defending himself in court, in which, for one reason and another, he had considerable practice. Among other accomplishments, he could write with both hands at once, and, when he thought no one was looking, he could steal Merrill's oak trees as well. This was known to Merrill, and when a neighbor called one day and asked for a certain farm hand, Merrill told him he was out " watching oaks." The Merrill farm was called in time " Watch Oak Farm "-the place where they watched the oaks. This has been corrupted into Watchogue, and this, finally, changed to Bloomfield. According to Beers, 1874, the " Watch -Oak Road " leads from Chelsea to Bloomfield. Clute (p. 228) maintains that this name is of Indian origin.
WATERING PLACE. The name of a large spring that existed until thirty or forty years ago near the bluff at the southerly end of the present railroad tunnel at Tompkinsville, where ships used to procure a supply of water before going to sea. The name was also applied to the vicinity of this well known spring. Called " Weis " by Bellin, 1764. Clute, pp. 113, 460, 683. Bayles, pp. 85, 192, 241, 326. Map, 1797.
WATERING PLACE. The present Tompkinsville (See Springs, Ponds and Swamps.)
Watering Place. “Tract, piece or parcel of Land situate and being in Richmond County upon Staten Island near the Watering place on the East. Side of the said Island.” 1719, Liber C., p. 55. Also 1726, Liber C., p. 251.
WATSON'S, DUCKET'S, DARBY DOYLE'S, WM. LEAKE'S, COLE'S AND VAN DUZER'S FERRIES. According to Faden's map of 1776, Doyle's ferry was at the present Stapleton, at or near the Basin. Cole's ferry is often mentioned in the accounts of the Revolution. It was at the end of the Richmond Road, at its junction with the present Bay St., and later became known as Van Duzer's ferry. Property belonging to Edward Perine and wife is described in 1801 as: " Beginning from south side of Main road leading from Van Duzer's Ferry to Richmond Town at the northeast corner of John Bodine's land," &c. Van Duzer's periauger ferry seems to have been in operation from before 1788 to 1817. It is shown by Eddy, 1812. The old Van Duzer homestead has only recently fallen into ruins. " Vanduzer's Old Landing" is shown by Dripps, 1850. Bayles, pp. 143, 185, 202, 242, 326, 683, 684.
Watson's Ferry. 1762, Liber D. pp. 497 and 501.
WEIR'S MILL POND. At Mill Creek, Tottenville. Walling, 1859.
WEST BANK. Hoffman and Dix Islands east of South Beach are on West Bank. Chart, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Bellin, 1764. Sew, 1781.
WEST QUARTER. Applied to Westfield. The towns were at one time known as West Quarter, South Quarter, North Quarter, and the Manor.
WESTERN ROAD. Leading from Holland's Hook to Old Place. This road has been known as Collyer's Road, Bowman's Road, the New Road and the Meadow Road.
WESTERVELT'S POND. Once situated in the low ground in Thrifty Valley through which Monroe and Madison Avenues now run. It received the drainage of Vinegar (Cork) Hill, where the Orchard was located.
WHITE ROCK. The name of the rock to which Isaac Decker piloted the first British soldiers, who landed on Staten Island during the Revolution. Bayles, p. 242. The outcrop of granite on the shore, now nearly covered by the filling in for the Tompkinsville railroad station, was called the White Rock during recent years, and it is quite likely the place where Decker landed the soldiers.
WIDMAYER'S OR TRACK POND. Lies close to the railroad track at Grasmere, nearly opposite to Brady's Pond.
WILLOW BROOK. Rises near the highest point of Staten Island and flows southwesterly into Main Creek.
WILLOW POND. Included in the bend of the Finger Board Road. Five willows grow on its margin.
Willow Swamp. The Amboy Road crosses Willow Swamp at Sandy Brook. The “Quarantine Road near the Willow Swamp bridge,” which crosses Sandy Brook, is mentioned in the Richmond County Gazette, Feby. 19th, 1862.
WINANT'S LANE. Now known as Annadale Road. An old road; on map, 1797.
Winant's Point. On the Sound at the mouth of Prall’s River between Bass and Hanne's Creeks.
Winant's or Rossville Spring. On the southerly side of the Fresh Kill Road in Rossville village. It is really an overflow from a well situated a few hundred feet up the hill.
WOGLOM'S COVE. Between Smoking and Ellis' Points on the Sound.
WOLFE'S POND. At the shore, below Prince's Bay, northeast of Seguine's Point. Wolfe's Brook flows into this pond.
WOOD POND. Lies several hundred feet to the southwest of the Swamp. This small pond has been known by this name for at least fifty years. A still smaller pond near by and to the west is known as the Black Pond.
WOOD ROAD. Blood, 1845. Dripps, 1872. An old name for St. Mary's Avenue, Clifton. " Wood Road " was also used in the sense of a locality.
WOODSIDE LAKE. Near the Finger Board Road and in wet weather connected by a brook with Brady's Pond. Beers, 1874.
WOODVAIL ROAD. Leading from the Amboy Road to the shore. Beers, 1874. Mr. Wood owned property on one side of this road and Mr. Vail on the other, and in laying out the highway they combined their lands and names.
WOOLSEY POND. On the old Woolsey place on Todt Hill, close to the Four Corners Road.
WRECK CREEK. On Long Neck. Empties into Fresh Kills near Burnt Island. So called because an old wreck was once lodged there.
Yates' Hole. A deep hole in Fresh Kills just above Lake's Meadow Island.
YELLOW ROW. A number of squalid yellow painted houses, on the west side of Broadway, near the Dye Works, West New Brighton, were once known as the Yellow Row.
Yellow Row. “A building at Factoryville known as the ‘Yellow Row.” near the residence of Col. Barrett was struck by lightning during the storm. on Thursday last.” Richmond County Gazette, Aug. 9th, 1865.
YSERBERG OR IRON MOUNT. " Description of a survey of 176 acres of land upon Staten Island under the Yserberg (or Iron Mount) for Louis Lakeman by Jas. Corteljau, surveyor." Land Papers 1676.