He settled early in Schenectady upon land called Poversens Landeryen lying mainly above the first lock west of the city; he also owned the island obliquely below, which was then called Sassian's island. He purchased these lands from Benjamin Roberts, who owned lands on the north side of the river called Maalwyck. He sold the southerly half of his farm to Barent Janse Van Ditmars and the northerly half to Douwe Aukes for his (adopted) son Cornelis Vielè, and removed to Claverack. (90-3)
In the confirmatory patent granted to Vielè Sept. 29, 1677, this land is described as, "a parcel of land at Schenectady, — said land stretching from the stone kil or creek to the point of the planted land of Barent Johnson [Barent Jansen Van Ditmars] S. S. W., somewhat Easterly, and from the point of the said land to a black oak tree without the fence of the said land, striking S. E. by E. in length together 352 rods and from the black tree to the hills in breadth 80 rods and from the common planting land to the stone creek along the hills in length 400 rods and by the stone kil from the hills to the river in breadth 8 rods containing in all 16 morens, 240 rods or about 34 acres." (90-4) Notwithstanding the above patent Bont still seems to have been accounted to have some right or title to the land, for on the 27 Sept., 1692, he conveyed it together with the island opposite, to Douwe Aukes for 60 beavers at 8 guilders each; and Aukes on the 14 Feb., 1713/4 transferred the same to Cornelis Vielè. On the same day Jan Bont, son and heir of Hendrick Lambertse Bont, confirmed the same to Aukes, describing the farms as a parcel of land called Poversens above Schenectady on the south side of the river over against Maalwyck, also an island, Sassian's, now in the occupation of Cornelis, — the description of said farm being substantially that above written in the patent. (91-1)
This land long remained in the Vielè family and the ancient house was standing between the two locks within the memory of many persons now living.
Notes
(90-3) Albany Com. Coun. Records, III, 75.
(90-4) Patents No. 1038.
(91-1) Deeds, V, 198.