On 12/22/03 (7:20:30 AM MST), Nancy Hyden Woodward ([log in to unmask]) asked, "Was Jamaica, across the East River from Manhattan, where the colonial government had its office in the 1600s? I was under the impression that it was on Manhattan island but once again, a reference to Jamaica has come up." Jamaica was not across the East River from Manhattan. The Village of Breuckelen, later Anglicized as Brooklyn was across the East River. Jamaica was in the southwestern part of Queens County (remember back then all of Nassau County and a small part of Suffolk County was included in Queens County). Then, of course, there is the Island of Jamaica in the Caribbean. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Happy Chanukah* Walter Greenspan * This year, the 8-day Festival of Chanukah occurs from Friday night, December 19 through Saturday night, December 27 on the civil calendar.