Indians to make their marks on a bit of deer-skin, and returned to his employer with a map, a field-book, and a deed, by which the Indian title was “extinguished.”  The surveyor received his compensation, and set off on a similar excursion, for a different employer, and in another direction.  Nick got his reward, too, and was well satisfied with the transaction.  This he afterwards called “sellin’ beaver when he all run away.”

Furnished with the necessary means, Captain Willoughby now “sued out his patent,” as it was termed, in due form.  Having some influence, the affair was soon arranged; the grant was made by the governor in council, a massive seal was annexed to a famous sheet of parchment, the signatures were obtained, and “Willoughby’s Patent” took its place on the records of the colony, as well as on its maps.  We are wrong as respects the latter particular; it did not take its place, on the maps of the colony, though it took a place; the location given for many years afterwards, being some forty or fifty miles too far west.  In this peculiarity there was nothing novel, the surveys of all new regions being liable to similar trifling mistakes.  Thus it was, that an estate, lying within five-and-twenty miles of the city of New York, and in which we happen to have a small interest at this hour, was clipped of its fair proportions, in consequence of losing some miles that run over obtrusively into another colony; and, within a short distance of the spot where we are writing, a “patent” has been squeezed entirely out of existence, between the claims of two older grants.

No such calamity befell “Willoughby’s Patent,” however.  The land was found, with all its “marked or blazed trees,” its “heaps of stones,” “large butternut corners,” and “dead oaks.”  In a word, everything was as it should be; even to the quality of the soil, the beaver-pond, and the quantity.  As respects the last, the colony never gave “struck measure;” a thousand acres on paper, seldom falling short of eleven or twelve hundred in soil.  In the present instance, the six thousand two hundred and forty-six acres of “Willoughby’s Patent,” were subsequently ascertained to contain just seven thousand and ninety-two acres of solid ground.

Our limits and plan will not permit us to give more than a sketch of the proceedings of the captain, in taking possession; though we feel certain that a minute account of the progress of such a settlement would possess a sort of Robinson Crusoe-like interest, that might repay the reader.  As usual, the adventurers commenced their operations in the spring.  Mrs. Willoughby, and the children, were left with their friends, in Albany; while the captain and his party pioneered their way to the patent, in the best manner they could.  This party consisted of Nick, who went in the capacity of hunter, an office of a good deal of dignity, and of the last importance, to a set of adventurers on an expedition of this nature.  Then there were eight axe-men, a house-carpenter, a mason, and a mill-wright.  These, with Captain Willoughby, and an invalid sergeant, of the name of Joyce, composed the party.