The situation of this island is best described in the patent to Simon Simonse Groot, of date Aug. 9, 1694, "to confirm to him a small island in the Mohawk river within the town of Schenectady possessed by him for twenty-seven years, to wit, a certain small island in the Mohawk river lying to the north of the Hoek,1 or point of Reyer Jacobsen's [Schermerhorn], and the southward of the island belonging to Joris Aertsen [now Guise's] and to the westward of the island lately belonging to Sweer Teunise deceased, -containing five morgens or ten acres."2
Philip Livingston of Albany, afterwards became its owner and sold it to Jellis Fonda by whose will made Sept. 8, 1737, it was divided among his three sons, Pieter, Abraham and Jacob.3
1 De bakker's hoek on the south side of the river, being foremost farm numbered 9 owned by Volckertse Symonse Veeder de bakker.
2 Patents, 1466.
3 Will of Jellis Fonda among Bratt papers.
A History of the Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times. By Prof. Jonathan Pearson, A. M., and others. Page 80.