In the 17th century, the site north from Wall Street was occupied by John Damen's farm; in 1685, Damen sold the land to captain John Knight, an officer of Thomas Dongan's administration.
The second New York City Hall, erected in 1700 and torn down in 1816,[REF] stood on the site of present-day Federal Hall National Memorial and occupied the eastern side of present-day Nassau Street, which, historically, curved around the City Hall.