Nathaniel BRITTAIN

                   Historical information included in notes.


Nathaniel sold his wares in all of the village of Gravesend, Long Island, NY located at the west end of the island He also joined farming and occassionally tapping to his other industries. [Britton Genealogy p. 4] Nathaniel came from England about 1652 and settled in New Hampshire (1652) and later moved to Newton, Kings Co, NY and then Flatland. In 1664 he obtained a tract of land on the Southeast side of Staten Island, NY where he finally settled.FTM-US/International Marriage Record 1560-1900: Lists his surname as Britton, her birth year 1643 in EN, marriage year 1653
   "When he arrived in this country, New Netherland was a feeble and ill-managed commercial community of less than 10,000 Europeans. The Dutch West india Company which controlled the colony was chiefly interested in the Indian fur trade. Contentions arose between the company and the settlers; and the last of the dutch governors, Peter Stuyvesant, found that he had little means of defense for the colony and no intelligent support. Upon the basis of vague claims upon the whole atlantic coast, King Charles II granted the region occupied by the Dutch to his brother James, Duke of york. A fleet was sent out to which the little town of New Amsterdam surrended in August 1664, and the name New York was thereafter applied. A Dutch fleet occupied the place for a few months in 1673, but that was the end of the Dutch in america. It was after the English occupation that Nathaniel obtained his patent to the land on Staten Island. Source: Brittain Genealogy" compiled by James E. Brittain in 1734. (BRI HIS 111)
HIS: It has been asserted by an eminent historian that Nathaniel Britton arrived in America, with his brother, William, and that they settled in New Hampshire in 1652 ("The Staten Island Historian" 21:17) and later moved to Newtown and flatland. (BRI HIS 004) Nathaniel Britton, of New York, was named as a brother and as beneficiary in the will of Rev. Richard Britton, Vicar of Bisley, Gloucestershire, England, dated 6 Aug 1678, probated 10 Sep 1680. See abstract of the will of WJ100 [Britton Genealogy p.4)

" Nathaniel Britton was a man of good English extraction, shrewd, pertinancious of his rights, perhaps contentious,of good education and fair means. He held office occasionally but apparently a good portion of his time was spent in the courts, either as a plaintiff or a defendant. A good many of the early settlers were accustomed to get solace or enjoyment out of these legal bouts, and the scarcity of public events was a stimulus thereto." Stillwell Genealogy vol. 4, pg. 43] (p. 4, BRI HIS 004)
As early as 1660, Britton owned a farm in Amersfoort (also called Flatlands) which he had bought from Hendrick Corneillessen. When, in the Fall of 1663, Nicholas Stillwell frustrated the efforts of the English to overthrow the Dutch on Long Island, it was to the dwelling of Nathaniel Britton that Nicholas Stillwell fled from his own when he was aware of the approach of the hostile English, following the arrest of James Chrystic. When Nicholas Stillwell decided, in 1663, to sell his plantation, he stipulated that" reasonable satisfaction be made to my son-in-law Nathaniel Brittaine for the house and houseing which he, the said, Nathaniel, hath built upon said land." Nathaniel Britton, thus ousted, proceeded to buy a farm, April 3, 1664, from Albert (Albertae) Terhume. This was located at New Utrecht, and happened to be upon the dividing line betwen New Utrech and Gravesend, it was claimed by both towns. Subsequent litigation proved that Nathaniel was not a Frenchman. (Stillwell Genealogy," (SG 4:46) by John E. Stillwell from Van Name (BRI HIS 004)
In 1664 Nathaniel made application for a patent for one hundred and forty-four acres of Land on Staten Island, near or at Old Town. On September 29, 1677, though thirteen years had elapsed, land was confirmed to him (probably before 1670 according to Staten Island Historian). He then turned his attention to agriculture and apparently remained a farmer until his demise. [SG 4:47] This was at New Creek near Old Dorp. This land purchase is found in the Book of Patents, B.4, p. 142, Albany, New York, and in the Richmond County Deeds (NY). (BRI HIS 004)
The Grant from Edmond Androse, Esq., to Nathaniel Brittaine reads:Sept. 29, 1677. Whereas--there is a certain piece of Land upon Statten Island ye wch by my order hath beene layd out for Nathaniell Brittaine being on ye South East side of ye sd Island begining at a certain markt tree at ye edge of ye hills at ye land of Pieter Bileocu (Billeau) Ranging thence...to ye land of Thomas Stillwell Ranging thence...to ye edge of ye meadow, etc....(on the) Northwest by ye highway near ye Hills con(taining) one hundred fourty four acres of upland together with one small Humocke adjoining lying to ye Southeastof ye sd land and alsoe ye swampy Reedy meadow lying betweene ye said Hummock and ye upland contay(n)ing by computacon both Hummock and Meadow Sixteene acres as alsoe one lott of meddow at ye Great Hill cont(aining) tenn acres of salt and fresh (meadow) bounded to ye Northeast by ye meadows of Obediah Holmes and to ye Southwest by ye meadow of Peter Billeau as by ye Returne of ye survey under ye Hand of ye Survr doth & may appears. Know ye, &c...Quitt Rent two Bushell of good Winter Wheat at New York. [Britton Genealogy p.5]1669-70, Feb. 16. Governor Lovelace appointed Nathaniel Britton and others as Commissioners to treat with the Indians for the purchase of Staten Island. Of this Commission his brother-in-law, Capt. Richard Stillwell, was President. The purchase of 1670 resulted from their labors (BRI HIS 004)1678, Dec. 28. Nathaniel Britton was a juryman (Gravesend Records) but was probably of Staten Island. (BRI HIS 004)
WILL: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as there is nothing certain but Death and nothing uncertian but the year of Death and I Nathaniel Britton being very sick and weak, but having my full powers, and in the first place I commit my soul in the protection of God Almighty and my body to be buried according to the custom. Wife Anne Britton to remain in possession of all the estate movable or unmovable; in the event of her emarriage she is to have the one-third part of the estate after the debts be paid, the the other two parts to be divided into five parts, one fifth part to Nathaniel Britton my eldest son, a fifth part unto Sarah my eldest daugther, a fifth part unto Rebecca, a fifth part unto Richard Britton, my youngest son and a fifth part unto my youngest daughter Abigail Britton. Finally the Ten pound left for me by my Brother Richard Britten deceased (minister) of Bisly which is in the hands and Custody of William Clutterbook, my Desire it that my two youngest children to Witt Richard Britten and Abigil Britten each of them shall have five pounds. So I commend my wife and children unto God and to walk in his way. Witnesses: Petrus Theshenmaker, Hans Christofsolfe (his mark), Corsen Cornelius Prince (his mark). Written November 30, 1683; proved March 4, 1684. Signed Nathaniel Britton. (Richmond County Deeds (NY), Staten Island, New York) (BRI HIS 004, p.5)STI HIS 021) [Register of Richard Britton, Sally Britton Shreeve]