This is an extremely detailed historical and genealogical account of Harlem from its establishment by Kuyter and Stuyvesant between 1656 and 1660 to the end of the 17th century. Notwithstanding the historical detail, genealogists will be delighted to know that more than half of Riker's 900 pages are occupied with multi-generational accounts of the lineages of the following Harlem patentees and their heirs or successors: Benson, Bogert, Brevoort, Bussing, Delamater, Dyckman, Haldron, Kiersen, Kortright, Low, Montanye, Myer, Nagel, Oblenis, Parmentier, Tourneur, Vermilye, Verveelen, and Waldron.