Ward's
Island was formerly known as Great Barn Island, given in 1637 by
Heyseys and Numers, both Indian chiefs of " Mayrechkeniockingh," to
Wouter Van Twiller; it was estimated to contain 200 acres, called by
the Indians "Teu-kenas." After many vicissitudes of ownership it passed
into the hands of the Ward family. This and Randall's Island adjoining
were used by Thomas Delavall for grazing purposes, indicating their
alluvial and fertile surfaces. Blackwell's Island was conveyed to Van
Twiller at the same time as Ward's Island, and then was supposed to
comprise 120 acres. It was called by the Indians Minnahanock.
Governor's Island was known to the Indians under the name of Pagganck,
and by the Dutch as Nuttens or Nut Island. It contained in 1756 about
120 acres.
Bedlow's
Island was thus called from its earliest owner, and afterwards, while
in the possession of Captain Archibald Kennedy (afterwards Earl of
Cassilis), it became known as Kennedy's Island.
Randall's
Island was first known as Little Barent's Island, afterwards contracted
into Barne's or Barn Island, and patented to Thomas Delavall, then
Collector of the Customs at New York. It came subsequently into the
possession of James Carteret, then to Philip Pipon, and then to Elias
Pipon in 1732, and used by him as a place of residence, because of its
romantic beauty, known as Belle Island. It passed from him to
St. George Talbot, who, charmed by its attractiveness, resided there
in 1747. From Talbot it passed to John Montres-sor, Captain of
Engineers in the British service, and stationed at New York. The
succeeding owners were Ogden and Randall. Jonathan Randall worked its
farming facilities so successfully that in ten years he paid the whole
purchase money of £2,400. He resided there for fifty years. It passed
from his family to the possession of the Corporation of New York.
Some transgression of the sea inland amongst the East River islands is obviously indicated in early maps, as in a
