NYBROOKLYN-L@rootsweb.com GERARDY-CRAY-THE GREENOAKS-OTHER PIONEER NAMES The Green Hook, since known as the G.M. Woolsey farm, was patented to Jean Gerardy, November 5th 1653. On the same day Teunis Craye took out a brief for the Polhemus estate, and another had been granted three days earlier to Philip Gerardy for the Dr. Ditmars farm. March 7th 1654 Annetje Jan Bogardus obtained a Patent for forty-two Morgan and fifty=four rods of land lying adjacent to the Pot Cove, and which later was included in the estates of “Squire John and Major Richard Lawrence. John Greenoak, the ancestor of the family of that name, came to Newtown early in the eighteenth century, from England, and in 1717 married Mary Lawrence, who after his death married Joseph Hallet in 1728. His son John Greenoak located on the farm near Hallet’s Cove afterward owned by the Messrs. Higgins, carpet manufacturers. he was three times married, his first wife having been Jemina Hallett. His son John Greenoak came in possession of an estate at Hallet’s Cove, afterward known as the H.F. Blackwell place. His wife was Lydia Hallett. Nothing more has been attempted in the foregoing sketch than to give some account of the early settlement of the territory now included within the borders of Long Island City. No effort has been made to pursue the subject beyond what may properly be termed the pioneer period. The date of beginning was so remote and the sources of information have been found so meagre that no claim is made that all who deserve mention in the preceedings pages have been referred to. What has been written is offered with the explanation that it is as nearly complete as it can be made, and in the hope that it will in some measure add to the interest of an article which has been prepared more especially to trace the growth and development of Long Island City in the past may be mentioned the Blackwells, Hallets, Lawrences, Lents, Ditmars, Suydams. and Greenoaks, of Astoria; the Bennetts and Hunters, of Hunters Point; the Paynters, Tottens, Millers, Delafields, Gibbses, and Parcells, at Tavenswood; the Van alst, Bragaws, Rapelyes, De Witts, Brinkerhoffs, De Bevoises, Duryeas, Morells, Alsops, Polhemuses, and Van Marters, of Dutch Kills, and the Willings, of Middletown. Of Many of these families descendants are now living in the city, and some of them rank among its most prominent citizens. Geraldine