Origins and name of the Bronx The Bronx was called Rananchqua[16] by the native Siwanoy[17] band of Lenape (the Delawares to Europeans), while other Native Americans knew the Bronx as Keskeskeck.[18] It was divided by the Aquahung River. Jonas Bronck (?–1643) was a Swedish born emigrant from [Sweden Komstad, Norra Ljunga socken, Småland,]] who arrived in New Netherland during the spring of 1639.[19][20][21][22][23] He became the first recorded European settler in the area now known as the Bronx. He leased land from the Dutch West India Company on the neck of the mainland immediately north of the Dutch settlement in Harlem (on Manhattan island), and bought additional tracts from the local tribes. He eventually accumulated 500 acres (about 2 square km, or 3/4 of a square mile) between the Harlem River and the Aquahung, which became known as Broncks River, or The Bronx. Dutch and English settlers referred to the area as Broncks Land.[19] The American poet William Bronk is a descendant of Pieter Bronck, either of Jonas Broncks son or of his younger brother.[24] T
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 00:30:04 +0000