HomeMy WebLinkAboutMamaroneck From Colonial Times Through the First Century of the Republic MAMARONECK .
FROM COLONIAL TIMES
THROUGH THE FIRST CENTURY OF THE REPUBLIC
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THE VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK
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MAMARONECK
FROM COLONIAL TIMES
THROUGH THE FIRST CENTURY OF THE REPUBLIC
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK
By Edward F. de Lancey
— 0 �\ (1886)
HISTORY OF RYE (EXCERPTS)
Chronicle of a Border Town
By Charles W. Baird
(1871)
With a Bibliography of Mamaroneck
Published by
Reproduced from the Engraving from the Original Painting in possession of the
Rt.Rev.W. H. De Lancey, Bishop of Western New York.
' The American Revolution Bicentennial Committee
VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK, NEW YORK
- I
1976
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data CONTENTS
Main entry under title:
page
Mamaroneck from colonial times through the first Introduction IX
century of the Republic.
l Reprint of the 1886 ed. of Mamaroneck, by History of the Town of Mamaroneck,by Edward F. de Lancey 1
E. F. De Lancey, first published as chapter 23 of 47
J. T. Scharf's History of Westchester County, New York, History of Rye Neck, by Charles W. Baird
by L. E. Preston, Philadelphia; and of excerpts from
the 1871 ed. of Chronicle of a border town, history of The Indian Purchases 50
Rye, by C. W. Baird, published by A. D. F. Randolph,
New York. Building the Village 56
CONTENTS: De Lancey, E. F. History of the town of
Mamaroneck.--Baird, C. W. History of Rye, excerpts; John Budd'sImprovements 57
chronicle of a border town. 58
The Boundary Dispute
1. Mamaroneck, N. Y.--History. 2. Rye, N. Y.-- Perils of the Wilderness 60
History. I. De Lancey, Edward Floyd 1821-1905.
Mamaroneck. 1976. II. Baird, Charles Washington, Town Matters iOlden Times 61
1828-1887. Chronicle of a border town. Selections. n
1976• 63
F129.M1.7M35 974-71277 761032 Modes of Travel
t
The Westchester Path 64
Manners and Customs 66
Drinking Habits 67
Yearly Fair at Rye 67
Occupations 68
Physicians and Lawyers 69
The Poor 69
Slavery 70
The Indians 70
Schools 71
Obtainable from; Churches
71
The Village of Mamaroneck74
Cemeteries
Village Hall 74
Mamaroneck, N.Y. 10543 The Revolution
A Selective Bibliography of Mamaroneck 79
VII
INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATIONS
Caleb Heathcote frontispiece "The generation that lived through the American Revolution . . .
Edward Floyd de Lancey XII saw an epoch marked and felt the sense of history." Thus wrote the historian
Dixon Ryan Fox at a time when, as now, a sense of the continuity of our
Map of Mamaroneck, 1797 6 common experience tended to be lost in the midst of today's predicaments.
Heathcote Hill 9 The American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of the Village of
Mamaroneck hopes that this publication may revive in some of our fellow
Disbrow House I I citizens an awareness of our debt to those who formed this community from
St. Thomas's Church (old) 28 colonial times through the first century of our Nation's life.
During that period, the Village of Mamaroneck was not a separate
St. Thomas's Church (new) 29 political entity; it was not incorporated until 1895. Thus, although a
number of pamphlets on its history have been published in the past forty
Charles W. Baird 46
i years, its earlier history must be sought in the archives of the two towns,
Map of Will's 2nd Purchase 49 Mamaroneck and Rye,from which the Village's territory has been carved out.
Map of the Town of Rye, by Robert Erskine, 1779 53 The text that follows is drawn from Edward F. de Lancey's chapter on
Mamaroneck in J. Thomas Scharf's History of Westchester County, pub-
Declaration of the Inhabitants of Manussing Island, 1662 54 lished in 1886, and Charles W. Baird's Chronicle of a Border Town: History
Map of the Boundary Dispute 58 of Rye, published in 1871. The first is reprinted here in full, followed
by excerpts from the latter, a much longer work.
The Old Fort, Rye 60 In selecting from Baird's 570 pages, the sequence of his narrative has
not always been strictly followed and his extensive footnotes have been
Halstead House 71
I omitted, but the excerpts are all taken verbatim from the original. The pas-
sages reproduced have been selected primarily with reference to the Rye
Neck area, formerly called Budd's Neck, which is now part of the Vil-
lage of Mamaroneck. In addition, however, a number of passages were
chosen because they illustrate the general political, social and religious
background for this history.
j The authors' occasional references to happenings "a hundred years ago"
and "early in the present century" will not be misleading if the reader
remembers that they were written a century ago.
The two authors whose works are reproduced here appear to have had
little in common beyond the fact that both were sons of scholarly clergymen.
Their works differ markedly in style and scope.
IX
VIII
Edward Floyd de Lancey was a graduate of the Harvard Law School and
is said to have "practiced his profession with more and less assiduity"
while devoting much of his time and effort to historical and genealogical
research and writing. His father was an Episcopal bishop who had helped to
establish St. Thomas's Church in Mamaroneck while he was still a theologi-
cal student. His ancestors included Van Cortlandts and Heathcotes whose
names are still commemorated hereabouts. De Lancey's account of the
history of Mamaroneck reflects both his legal training and his pride as a
scion of one of the Village's early prominent families.
Charles Washington Baird, like his father a Presbyterian clergyman,
became the pastor of the church in Rye in 1861. In 1865, he delivered
an address on the town's history which several of his fellow townsmen urged
him to expand for publication. After spending much of his time for six years
on the work, he published in 1871 his Chronicle of a Border Town: History
of Rye, which was hailed fifty years later as "still . . . a high model of what
a town history should be," embodying "that sense of proportion which is
so unfortunately rare among writers of local history." Baird's History of
Rye is notable not merely for its meticulous account of events and its listing
of all families living in Rye from 1660 to 1800, but more for its sympathetic
portrayal of he domestic, economic, and civic life of the people who settled
the wilderness, established local institutions, and eventually became part of
a new-born Republic.
The American Revolution Bicentennial Committee
THE VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK
i.
Burton C. Meighan,
Chairman
Hillier Krieghbaum,
Chairman,Historical Sub-committee
Jens J. Christoffersen,
Editorial and Graphic Consultant
- i
X
1
it
HISTORY
OF THE
k TOWN OF MAMARONECK
d
i IN THE
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER
AND
STATE OF NEW YORK.
EDWARD FLOYD DELANCFY
BY
EDWARD F. DE LANCEY
NEW YORK :
A 1886.
i
a
ffL
4 MAMARONECK.
THE Town of Mamaroneck was erected as a Town (at which place a bridge did not exist till the year
with its present boundaries by the"Act for dividing 1800) was originally crossed by a ledge of rocks
the Counties of this State into Towns," passed the sufficiently high to prevent the tide rising above
7th of March 17881 The language of the Act is, it,over which the fresh water fell directly into the
"And all that part of the said County of Westchester, salt water,and at low tide with a strong rush and
bounded southerly by New Rochelle, easterly by the sound.' The Indians gave the name to the place of
Sound,Northerly by Mamaroneck River,and westerly this uncommon occurrence and to the River itself.
by the Town of Scarsdale, shall be, and hereby is, In the earliest deeds and documents, the word is
erected into a Town, by the name of Mamaroneck." spelled"Momoronock," "Mamoronack"and"Mam-
Scarsdale,which comes just before Mamaroneck in the aranock;" the modern spelling does not seem to
Act, was erected into a town with these boundaries: have obtained generally till toward the middle of the
"Westerly by Bronx River,Southerly by the Town of eighteenth century. Very many ways of spelling
Eastchester and New Rochelle, easterly by the East this word are met with, but all.evidently aiming at
Bounds of a Tract of Land called the Manor of Scars- expressing its Indian sound. The Indians having no
dale, and Northerly by the North Bounds of the written language, all their names and other words
said Manor of Scarsdale." Both Towns were carved which we now have,are based upon the reproducing
out of the old Manor of Scarsdale, hence the ref- of their-spoken sounds in our letters. If a Dutch-
erence to Scarsdale in the boundaries of each. The man, Frenchman or an Englishman, undertook to
latter have never been altered since the erection of write the same word from an Indian's mouth, very
the Town and are its bounds to-day. It fronts upon different looking,and sounding words would be pro-
Long Island Sound, and extends from it north- duced. And as very many of our New York Indian
westward nearly four miles, with an average width terms and names represent an English spelling of a
of nearly three miles. It is situated twenty-one miles Dutch or French translation of an Indian sound, we
Northeast of New York City, and is distant South should never be surprised at any variety of spelling."
from Albany, the Capital of the State of New York, Though erected a town so late as 1788, Mama-
about one hundred and forty miles,and the village roneck is one of the oldest places in the County and
is south from White Plains, the county seat, seven the State, dating back to 1661, when the then
miles. All these distances are those of the roads as Indian owners Wappaquewam and Mahatahan
they existed prior to the introduction of Rail-Roads. sold and deeded their individual lands to John
The town of Mamaroneck has an area of about 4000 Richbell, an Englishman, on the 21st of Sep-
acres,or 61 square miles. Its population as shown by tember 1661. Long previous to this time, and in the
the State and U.S.census reports at different periods, year 1640 the entire and general Indian title, both
has been as follows: in 1790, 452; in 1800, 503; in to the land and the sovereignty, of all the territory
1810,496; in 1814,797; in 1820,878; in 1825,1032; of southeastern Westchester and Connecticut as far
in 1830,838; in 1835,882; in 1840,1416; in 1845,780; east as the Norwalk Islands inclusive, had been ob-
in 1850,928; in 1855,1068; in 1860, 1351; in 1865, tained for the Dutch West India Company by pur-
1392; in 1870, 1484; in 1875, 1425; in 1880, 1863. chase by Governor Kieft,through Cornelius van Tien-
Owing to a political squabble in 1885,the Legislature hoven, from the Siwanoy Indiana.' Richbell however
being Republican, and the Governor a Democrat,the was the first white man to purchase the individual
former would not pass a law to take a census in that right of the local Indian owners to the lands at Ma-
year,consequently there are no figures for it,but the maroneck.
population is now believed to be 2000. The average He was an Englishman of a Hampshire family of
number of voters is about 350.
The name is Indian,and signifies "The Place where 2 Time,blasting,and a succession of dams,have obliterated the orig-
the Fresh water falls into the Salt," and describes the inal ledge,but the remains of the reef can still be seen.
unusual natural fact,that the bed of the Mamaro- 3 I has been stated that'I Mamaroneck" meant 11 the place of rolling
neck River some distance above the place of the stones,"but for this I cannot find any authority. There are not rolling
stones anywhere about Mamaroneck either in the river or the town,
present bridge connecting it with the town of Rye, though both abound with rocks in situ,in the language of the geologists.
4I.Brod.296, 1I.Albany Records 78,147, II.Hazard 273,I. O'Call,
1 ii.Jones and Vorck's Laws,319. N.N.216.
1
MAMARONECK. 8
2 MAMARONECK.
ince of New Netherland and ruled by its authorities, A warrant under the same hands to presse a horse
Southampton or its neighborhood, who were mer- "III. That it be well wooded which I thinke you can with a running river falling directly into its harbour for Mr.Richbell if occasion should bee, hee paying
chants in London,'and who had business transactions hardly misse of. That it be healthy high ground, the latter overlooked by high wooded hills, and its for the hire."6
with the West Indies and with New England. He not bogs or fens for the hopes of all consists in that borders skirted by the cleared "planting fields" of Four years before, Charles II. had constituted a
was in Charlestown Massachusetts in 1648 according conhideration. the Indians, and within a day's easy sail of the Council in England,to which he committed the care
to Savage's Genealogical Dictionary,and he appears "Being thus fitted with a place look carefully into 11 Mauhadoes" it was well adapted to the"nimble" of the Trade with the Plantations in America. It
in an Inventory of the estate of Robert Gibson of the title and be sure to have all pretenders satisfied
' Roston,as owing the estate 36£ on the 8th of August before you purchase,for to fall into an imbroylid die- business proposed to be carried on by his Barbadoes was created by Royal Patent on the seventh of No-
friends and himself. Ricbbell first went to Oyster vember 1660. This "Council of Trade consisted
1656. Prior to 1657 he had been in St. Christopher's putable title would trouble us more than all other Bay, where on the'5th of September 1660 he bought of the Lord High Chancellor Hyde, the Lord Tress-
Island in the West Indies. In 1657 he entered into charges whatsoever. Having passed these difficultyes the beautiful peninsula, afterwards and still known urer of England, Thomas Earl of Southampton,
a business partnership in Barbadoes, then the centre and your family brought in the place direct your as"Lloyd's Neck." He had a controversy with the Monk Duke of Albemarle, eleven other peers and
of the English trade with the West Indies and North whole forces towards the increase of provision which Oster Ba people about some land at Matinecock, Nobles, twenty-three Baronets and Knights, and
America,being at that time,as it is now,an English must be according to their seasons, for planting of which he is bought, and which was finally settled twenty five"Merchants," together sixty two persons
I Island. The severe and oppressive English Naviga- corne,pease,beanes and other provisions which the y
in his favor. In 1665, after the English conquest he all mentioned b name in the Patent itself. Among
tion laws the scope of which Cromwell had enlarged, country affords,increasing your orchards and gardens, obtained a patent for Lloyd's Neck from Governor the"Merchants" was included Robert Richbell,the
and which he strictly enforced, drove many English- your pastures and inclosures; and for ye familyes Nicolle dated December 18th 1665, and the next year brother of John. As this "Council of Trade" em-
men at that period to embark in a contraband trade, employment in the long winter be sure by the first sold it to Nathaniel Sylvester, Thomas Hart, and braced the leading public men in England at that
a trade which increased in the next century to so great opportunity to put an acre or two of hemp-seed into Latimer Sampon,for 450£,by deed dated October 18, day,with the noble at its head who four years later
an extent in North America, that the severe measures the ground, of which you may in the winter make a 1666.' He then resided at Oyster Bay where in 1662 drew the King's Patent to his brother James for New
adopted by the English Government to suppress it quantity of canvass and cordage for our own use. In
he was appointed a constable.' In the preceding year York, it is almost certain .that John Richbell had
in the latter part of that century proved to be one of the falling and clearing your ground save all your 1661 his name appears on the Southampton Records some prior intimation,from his brother, a member of
the strongest, if not very strongest of the causes of principal timber for pipe stands and clap board and as a witness to a mortgage to one Mills on a Virginia the same Council,of the expedition intended for the
the American Revolution.' At Barbadoes the follow- knee timber, &c.,and with the rest endeavor to make plantation.' In May 1664 he was one of the Commis- capture of that Province from the Dutch, and the
ing curious and striking agreement was entered into Pott ash, which will sufficiently recompense the sioners for the five English Tdwns in Long Island' persons who were to be at the head of it. Hence,
by John Richbell with Thomas Modiford of that island, charge of falling the ground. But still mindfull not In the autumn of that year the English captured New his presence in Boston before its arrival,and if neither
and William Sharpe of Southampton,to establish on to put so many hands about the matter of present York from the Dutch. Of the expedition to attempt Carr nor Mavericke, the latter of whom had been in
the North American coast a plantation for the carry- 'profitt thatyou do ii;the meane tyme neglect planting hat capture Richbell probably had early knowledge. America before,knew John Richbell personally,they
t
ing on a trade not permitted by the Navigation laws. or sowing the grounds that are fitt for provisions, our It will be recollected that two of the ships the undoubtedly had been informed beforehand where
Itis headed, further advice is that as you increase in pasture fitt "Martin" and the "William and Nicolas," of the. he was to be addressed and what his sentiments were,
"Instructions delivered Mr. John Richbell in order to for cattle and sheep you fayle not to atocke them well,
expedition sent to capture New Netherland by the or they could not have written him the above letter.
the intended settlement of a Plantation in the south-west but be sure never to over-stock them by taking more Duke of York, were forced to run into Piscataway, It is apparent that Richbell was a man of a better
parts of New England, in. behalf of himself and of than you can well keep, for an hungry cows will
subscribers:" never turns to account. Lastly we desire you to ad- now Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the 20th of position than the ordinary class of Englishmen the
" July 1664,on board of which were Carr and Maver- in America,at the time he made his purchase of lands
God sending you to arrive safely in New England vise us or either of us how affairs stand with you,
icke two of the Commissioners' One or both of at Mamaroneck in 1661. His purchase of Lloyd's
our advice is that you informe yourselfe fully by sober what your wants are and how they may be most ad- them knew, or had letters to John Richbell who ap Neck was in September 1660. A year later on Septem-
understanding men of that parte of land which lyeth vantageously employed by us: for the life of our bus- as then in Boston to whom they sent the her 23d 1661.he bought his lands at Mamaroneck,and
betwixt Connecticott and the Dutch Collony and of iness will consist in the nimble, quiet and full corre- Parentl y wy proprietors
following communication announcing their arrival received from its Siwano Indian ro rietora Wap-
the seacoast belonging to the same and the islands spondence with us;and although in these instructions a used f and Mahatahan, their "Indian Deed"
that lye bettwixt Long Island and the Maine, viz.: we have given you clear] indicates et we are not written the third day after it happened,— P q
g Y Y , Y Mr. Richbell for them dated on that day.
"
within what government it is, and of what kinde satisfied that you must needs bring in the place so Wee shall desire you to make all convenient haste An attempt by another Englishman, also a mer-
that government is, whether very strict or remisse, many difficultyes and also observe many inconve- to our habitation on Long Island, and by the waye chant of Barbadoes, and resident of Oyster Bay,who
who the Chiefe Magistrates are,on what termes ye niencies which we at this distance cannot possibly Y
as you pass through the Countrey and when you come seems to have been either a business rival,or a persona
Indians stand with them, and what bounds the Dutch imagine and therefore we refer all wholly to your
to outwit him and the Indians
pretend to, and being satisfyed in these particulars, discretion, not doubting but that you will doe all hither, that you acquaint such as you thinks the opponent of Richbell
Kin Commission- will be welcome to, and are af- has singularly enough been the means of preserving
(viz.)that you may with security settle there and things to the best advantage of our designe thereby y g purchase
without offence to any. Then our advise is that you obliedging fected for his Majestyes Service, that some of ua are for us a perfect hiator of the ori finalwaso
endeavor to buy some small Plantation that is already your faithful friends and servants arrived here & shall suddenly bee in Long Island Mamaroneck in all its details. This man was one
settled and hath an house and some quantity of Thos.' Modiford where they hope they will be ready as in other places Thomas Revell "merchant of Oyster Bay." Finding
ground cleared and which lyeth so as you may en- Will. Sharpe.' to promote his Majestyes interest their readiness& that Richbell had obtained the Mamaroneck lands in
large into the woods at pleasure in each, be sure not Barbadoes,Sept.18, 1657." affection shall be much taken notice of,and your care September 1661 Revell undertook in October of
to fa le of these accommodations. and Incouragement bee acknowledged by the same year to buy the same lands or a part of
y The precise date of Richbell's arrival in the prov- them from some other Indians,including Wappaque-
"I. That it be near some navigable Ryver,or at least ince of New York is not now known. He seems first to Your very lovinge friends
some safe ort or harbor, and that the way to it be Robert Carr. wain however,for an increased price. Richbell after
p Y have gone to Oyster Bay Long Island,and thence to getting his deed of the 23d of September 1661 applied
neither longe or difficult. Mamaroneck. He certainly could not have found a Samuel Mavericke. g g
"II. That it be well watered b some rennin «• » Pascataway July 23d, 1664. to the Dutch Government at New Amsterdam for a
Y g place more in accordance with his Instructions on «
streame or at least by some fresh ponds and springs the whole coast of North America than the latter. to Mr. John Richbell,there. Ground Brief,"and subsequently a"Transport, as
the Dutch License to purchase Indian lands,and the
near adjoining. Directly on the Sound, close to Connecticut, and
III.Thompeon'e"Hist.Long Island." patent for them,were respectively termed. Governor
The famous cause of the write of Assistance,in which John Adams claimed by its people, but a part of the Dutch prov- svol.11.,15.
first distinguished himself, were in defence of Boston embants en- — ----- -- --- B II.Thompson"' Long Island."
Ma s III.Col. Hist.,66.
-r gaged in this contraband trade. s Deed Book iii.126,Sec.of State's Off-,Alb. 8 Ante,page 75.
i
I
4 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 6
Stuyvesant and his Council thereupon had the pur- formance hereof I Wappaquewam doe acknowledge Revell that the Land was agreed for by John Finch, Affidavit of John Finch.
chase as well as Revell's claim thoroughly investi- to have recd.two shirts& ten shillings in wampum &some part of the pay paid. This deposed unto the 5. The deposition of John ffinch of oyster bay&also
gated and testimony taken,and after full deliberation the da &date above written M 61 Edward Griffin.
Y ' 12th of 1:62 : Before us The ad deponents upon oath testifye, M° John
decided in Richbell's favor and issued to him both Twenty two Coates Richard Laws Richbell Merchant of Oyster bay did buy of Wappa-
Francis Bell
the"Ground Brief" and the"Transport." After the one hundred fathom of wampom quewam a Certaine Tract Oyster
land lysing westward of
English conquest and the order directing the confir- Twelve shirts the River called Mammaranock River&bounded by
mation of the Dutch grants to their proprietors and Ten paire of Stockings
before his English Patent of the 16th of October,1668, Twenty hands of powder Affidavit of William Joanes. Land purchased by Mr Thomas Pell of the Indiana.
was obtained, Richbell recorded these instruments,- Twelve Barrs of Lead 4. The depositors of William Joanes of Monusaing The said Wappaquewam being entrusted by his
brother Mathetuson t formerly called Mohey (as the
and he also had recorded the evidence taken before Two firelockes Island about 22 years of age. said brother
Mathetuson
Wappaquewam& Mathetuson did hey (as
e
the Dutch Council, his Indian deed of June 6, 1666, ffifleene Hoes The ad Deponent upon oath testifieth, That Thomas sell all his property &the h Land, & hi nfor with
confirming that of 1661,and an affidavit of another ffifteene Hatchets Close&himselfe being mates, the said Close having Edwd Griffin accompanied the said John Richbell
witness of the original purchase sworn to in 1665. Three Kettles" beene at oyster bay upon his returns to Monussing unto ye r Indian Wappaquewam to buy the a°Lands,
These documents in full are as follows,and they John Finch's affidavit. aforesd,did tell him that when bee was at oyster,bay, which accordingly bee did,&payd unto the sd Wap-
give us a very lively picture of the men and matters, 2. The deposition of John Finch&Edward Griffen That John flinch and Henry Disbroe of oyster bay
at Mamaroneck and at Man ussing Island both whites both of Oyster bay. did tell him, that John ffinch & Mr Richbell had e
said Lands,Two shirts & ten shillings in paquewam in part of payment for the purchase se of of the
,
and Indians,in the autumn of 1661.' These deponents testify&affirme, That they being agreed to purchase the land at Mammaranock River, and agreed upon Time for the payment of the residue,
Immediately after these curious papers will be at Peter Disbroes Islland (being to the westward of & desired him not to discover what bee had told according to a writing made at meatMomof the r River,
found the Indian Deed to Thomas Revell, and the Greenewich)the 23 day of September last past & them, for that bee had promised them to keepe bearing date 23d of Sept'made
&on that day the said
Indian Power of Attorney by which he tried to defeat being there employed by me John Richbell for to In- silence,&if it should bee knowne that bee had told Richbell atetoo2 possession of the sd Lands.
Richbell. These papers Revell had recorded in the terpret betwixt the said Mr. Richbell&the Indyans hi'm(the said Joanes) bee should then bee counted a In&upon the 7th day of March 1661, The ad John
records of the Town of Southampton upon Long Island (mentioned in this writing annext) about the pur- Traytor, this was about September 1661: Severall Richbell employed them the ad deponents&one Jacob
December 23d,1661,probably as a means of strength- chase of three Necks of Land. The said deponents moneths after Mr Richbell &John ffinch&Edward Young a Sweed(which are Indian Interpret.-) to goo
ening his claim. Thus we have a documentary his- doe both of them affirme,that this herein written was Griffin being at Mamaranocke River&they waiting with him to the Indyans to talks wt°them, Hee the
tory of both sides of this contest for the beau- a true and reall bargaine,made the day above ad. be- 4 for the Indyans coming to them to receive that part ad Richbell hearing a Report that Ye sd Indian Wap-
tiful lands of Mamaroneck in the reign of Charles the twixt the said Mr. John Richbell&the said Indyans, of the pay for the land as was agreed there to bee paquewam had afterwards sold the ad lands t0 M'
Revell,
Second. &the Condicons thereof. paid, & Nlr Richbell had then by him; They want- &in our voyage to speaks a Wappaquewam
Taken before mee ing bread sent for some to the Island Monusaing, with his brother Mathetuson alias Mohey
INDIAN DEED TO JOHN RICHBELL. John Heickeamett
wherefore the ad deponent came and carryed them we ell,
Recorded Mar: 13th 1666 for Mr Richbell. p aforesd who did fully manifest unto us that
Hempeteed this 20th of December 1661. some: when to the land he came Mr Richbell had hoe (acccording to his brothers Informacon),
(Liber Two of Deeds 192-199,Albany). , there sett up a Shedd to shelter from the weather, &
Peter Disbrow's affidavit. did employ & give power to his brother Wap-
1. Mammaranock,ye 23d Sept. 1661. « p R took possession there,Staying for ye Indiana to receive paquewam t0 sell his propriety of Land to Mr Rich
Know all Men by these prey . That I Wappaque- The De osicon of Peter Disbroe of Monussin Is- the pay as was promised. Mr Revell being then at
land setates sure 30th. bell whom Wappaquewam enformed him would
wam Right owner& Proprietor of part of this Land, d Monussin &hearing that Mr Revell came to buy the '
3. The s deponent upon oath Testifieth that Mr. g' g buy it of him, & withal] did relate to us sev-
doe by order of my brother who is another Proprio- p p land,did tell M,Richbell what hoe had heard:Where-
Richbell &c went to Mr. Revell (then on the Island fore Mr Richbell &John ffinch & myselfe came to erall of the particulars that the said John Rich-
tor&by consent of the other Indyans doe this day, aforesd)& warned Mr. Revell not to buy the Land bell by agreement was to pay for the ad Lands:
sell, Lett & make over, from mee m he res as Monussin Mr Richbell saying that bee would pur-
-
for ever unto John Richbell of oyster beyond Mammaraneck River of the Indyans, for that g Y g p Moreover the ad Mathetuson seemed to bee much
y (hee said) hee had bought it already: At that time posely goe to forewarne Mr Revell not to buy the disturbed in his mind That any Contract was made
bay his beyres &assignes for ever three necks of land beingbee had already reed for the same
Land. The Eastermost is called Mammaranock 'Wappaquewam came to my house Mr. Richbell and Y with any other for ye said Lands, hoe affirming that
When to Monusaing they came,there was some of the
Neck,and the Westermost is bounded with Mr Pella John ffinch being there also, the said Wappaquewam Indyans that had sold a land vizi: Cakoe&Wa a- bee knew not that any other than John Richbell had
purchase: Therefore know all Men whom these pres- said bee was the owner of the Land, & did in my Y they
made any contract about it,untill hee came down to
hearing owne that bee had sold the land to Mr, quewam, who would have secretly gone away (as they the Sea Coast. Wherefore Mr John Richbell did tell
ents concerne that I Wappaquewam, doe this da judged) but that John ffinch s cin of them called
Y Richbell but the other Ind ens over persuaded him � g ) pY g the sd Mathetuson that he was now come to settle &
alienate&estrange from mee, my heires & assignee ' y p them againe, saying to them,are you ashamed of lent the same—And the said Mathetuson did give
for ever unto John Richbell his heyres&assignes for d sell it re T Revell,because hee would give a great what you are doeing: Then at Peter Disbroe's house p '
deals more; The said Wappaquewam did also owne him free liberty to the same onel desiring Mr
ever,these three necks of Land with all the Mea- the said Cakoe&Wappaquewam did tender to Mr ' Y g
that hee had recd part of pay for the Land of Mr. Richbell that bee might be payd for it, ¬ to loose
dowes Rivers & Islands thereunto belonging, also Richbell&John ffinch: This t m beat understand- Richbell&John ffinch the pay againe which they his a for a neck &halfe of land, which he was yet
the ad. Richbell or his assignee may freely feed Cat- Y had rec°in part of payment for the Land, but they unpaid for:
tle or cutt timber twenty miles Northward from the ing was ye Indyans speech unto them; Also at the refused. John ffinch &blr Richbell saying to them To the former part were deposed John ffinch &
marked Trees of the Necks,ffor & in consideracon same time the said Indian Wappaquewam did ver- that they would stand to ye bargaine that they had Edward Griffin the 11th of ye leo moneth 11
Bally offer unto Mr. Richbell the Pay that hoe had made: The said Wappaquewam did there fully owne Before mee
the ad. Richbell is to give or deliver unto the afore- that he had sold the Land to Mr Richbell &John
rec d in part for the ad Land: But Mr. Richbell re- Rich: Lawes.
named Wappaquewam the goods here under men- fused,saying hoe would not But
it, but according
tioned, the one halfe about a moneth after the date ffinch: Stamford Apr.5th 1662. given before meTo the latter part the sd John ffinch&Ed Griffin
hereof,and the other halfe the next Spring following, asd bargains hee would have the land &pay him (the Rich: Lawes. &also Jacob Young have deposed this 11th xia'r
As the Interpreters can testify, & for the true per- Indian)his pay: Moreover the said deponent saith
p that Mr.Revell being at his house (before the former The originall was Interlin'd Before mee Richard Lawes.
'The doings of the discourse) that bee the said deponent did tell Mr. before deposed(unto) in the
ge parties at Manussing Island in this matter ars 28 line, (And Mr Richbell) t This affidavit is the only paper where this name is so spelled. In all
it is believed the earliest actions in which its settlers took part outside s Peter Diablo or Disbrough,was the leading man of the Greenwich In the 13th line(Monusaing), other instruments it is spelled"Mahatahan."
of themselves,that are now known. people who first settled Mannussing Island.
a
6 MAMARONECK.
Affidavit of Jonathan Lockwood. on the Maine land, for me to bargaine & absolutely
6. The Testimony of Jonathan Lockwood beingaged to sell unto Tho Revell his Hayres Exectr,Adminis- V
30 years or thereabout. tratote&Assigns have or any of them have in one
Saith,I being at peter Disbroes,&Mr Thomas Rev- tract of land on ye Main being bounded by ye sea on s
ell being there present,I heard Mr. Revell sayhee was the south west and at the east of Maramack River and
buying a parcel] of Land of the Indyans of the West at ye west with Mamgapes River, with two necks of /
side of Mammaranock River to Mr Pells land &I land and meadow &planting land, the necks of lat d /
wisht him not to medle with it, for it was already called by the Ingins Caywaywest 4& Mamgapes with
AP
fO F
bought by M°Richbell &I was a wittnesse to it, I all ye lands Meines and mineralls&trees to cut down """`
saw a part of the moneys pay"for it by Mr Richbell— at ye said Revells pleasure to plant with all rights& A A�A nA R n E�`
Mr Revell made this answer to mee,that howsoever priviliges with (two words here illegible)without let 1 V f 1 V r
bee would buyit&M°Richbell &he would try for it or molestation of us any under us quietly &peaceably 5, tAI found in State,Records
Y T Dmwn!r.Mm.-V -P
afterwards: ffarther this deponent saith not. Given Injoy ye sd land reaching one and a half miles above S atAIbany A71-
in
Yin upon oath before mee,Stamford Apr.4th 1665. Westchester path and from thence twenty english ba, tI•r,,,a 1P Made:in fy#Y
Rich Lawes miles to the Norward into the County for grass for t '.
feed for cattell and Timber as he shall have occasion; Of
Taken out of the Records&compared therewith this fp^'�
or a lands afforesaid I the said Cockoo doe confess
23d of August 1665 fY �yJ- �, .,•
p. me John Allyn,Recorder to have received now in hand of the said Thomas Rev-
ell at the house of John Coe in full payment for the
INDIAN DEED OR CERTIFICATE OF CONFIRMATION0, /
aforesaid tracts of land in severall goods to the just
To ,coax RlcasEl L. sum of Eighty odd pounds sterling for the said landsrso
Recorded for Mr.John Richbell,the 6th day of June with all reall rights. And fardder more I doe prom- ��
1666,this Indyan Deed. I Wappaquewam,together ise and ingauge my self in the behalf of the fore named p v
0.1 s
with my Brother Mahatahan, being the right owners Ingains&ye rest of those Ingains which I now sell
the Bride/-
of three Necks of Land, lying and being Bounded on this land for and them to bring suddenly after ye date _BeavorCreck,althl�
ye East side with Mamaranock River,and on ye west hereof for to give unto Thomas Revels or his order �� �' 1�s fazcrrryBoa�Z —
side with the Stony River,which parts the said Land, quiet and peaceable possession to him and his Heyres. :,
and Mr. Pells Purchase, Now These are to Sertify to And peaceably to keep and defend against all Dutch
all and every one whom it may concerne. That I and English that shall molest him, in witness whereof
Wappaquewum,did for myselfe,and in the behalfe of have ingaidged and confess my hand Subscribed this c5 „
my above said Brother Mahataban,firmly Bargaine 27th Oct. 1661 g
&Sell to Mr John Richbell of Oyster Bay, to him the marke } of Cockoo
and his Heires forever,the above mentioned three ye marke
Necks of Land, together with all other Priviledges of Wappequairan
there unto belonging, Six weeks before I sold it to s'r
Signed and delivered in the presence of us -
Mr Tho Revell, And did mark out the Bounds,and John Budd
give Mr Richbell possession of the said Land, and
John Coe
did receive part of my pay then in hand, asWitness o �k
Thomas ilobe2 (close)
my hand Simon Cooper
The mark 0 of WappaquewumMark
Wittness Tho. + Stedwell
Jacob Yough Dec 23°1661, A true copy per ecoos'� u
Catharine Pierson Youg h." Henry PiRe ist.
g �
The next papers are those Thomas Revell obtained Indian Power of Attorney to Cockoo to Convey .
from several Indians,after John Richbell's Purchase, Lands. I 6r11t
upon which he based his claim. Be it known unto all Christian people In- �+ t '_!FZ--
114 10,
�t u' r
COCKOO S DEED TO REVELL, gales and Others whom it may Come unto that we 1,+t03 ,
whose names are hereunto published Mahame eat& s�P'.�'t` .ASS _gill }
Be it known unto all Christian people, ingians & T P q e
others whom it may concern that I Cockoo'Sagamore Meamehet 1\askeway all Sagamores with vngoetaken xa > : s B
Mamamettehauck Wachithe Rawnotto with Cat ems;
do by vertue of a full and absolute power&order un- ' Y P P Scale > tZ�
Wa a uewam all Ingains living u Hudson River
to me given &intrusted by Mahamequeet Sagamore PP q g g P
&Meamekett Sagamore &Mamamettehoack & Capt &else where in America, Doe acknowledge&confess
a
Wappequsiran all Ingress living up Hudson River to have fully & absolutely & by oath of our free &
=
voulantary Acts,given granted full &absolute power
I Recorded in Liber Two of Deeds,at page 128, Sec. of state's of., unto our friends & one of our Counsell Cockoo by
Albany.
In some papers of that day this name appears as"Cakoe." 4 This is as near as this word can be made out.
f Meant for Wappaquewam. B The same as"Cakoe"above mentioned.
J
b
� MAMARONECK.
7
f
name an Ingaine the which wee do approve of and Sagamores with Vngoetaken Mamamettehouck Wach
doe confirm whatsoever the said Cockoo shall doe in ithe Rownottoy &Capt.Wappaquewam promise and
I° bargaining&selling unto Thos Revell of Barbadoes doe ingage ourselves unto the said Revell his Heyres
F all our real right&interest wee or either of us have, &ExOr'to put the saidRevell or his order in quiet and
our Hayres Exctrs Adminie'& Assigns have in one ,peaceable possession&him so to keep and for ever to
F+ tract of land on the Mayne the which hath two necks injoy as his and to his all right. And Allsoe we do
of land within it called Caquanost and the other further promise & ingage keepe and defend ye sd
b Mamgapos. Bounded on the southwest against Long Revell and his against all person or persons that.
Island&at the east with Marramack River& at the shall directly or indirectly annoy Molest or trou a ye
west with Mamgapos River, and at the north one and sd Revell or his,or lay any claime•or former grant of
a half miles if noe more above Westchester path for the same by ye Ingains Dutchmen or English or
planting ground &it is to improve at the said Revells. whome soeverfrom the beginningof the world unto the
pleasure as he or his shall see good with the Meddow day of Dat; &, forever to mayntaine our right and
grounds&other grounds Trees, Moynes,Minneralls tittle unto the said Revell & his Heyres Exct}° &
or whats soever as Rivers Springs within said bounds Assigns as witness our hands this 11 of Novembr 1661.
of said tract of land. As allsoe free liberty for feed- Whereas it is above mentioned the land for plant-
ing for all cattell horses & Mayers without lett to ing land shall run one &a half miles and more above
Rang or grase&trees to fall and carry away at his or Westchester path. All of us above Ingains doe freely
any of his Heirs pleasure above the marked trees for allow&consent unto that Revell shall have his line
the bounds Twenty English miles if not more into run as farre above Westchester path for planting
the Cuntry northward if not more with a plot of the ground into the Cuntry the full length as is from
tracts of land hereunto annexed and allsoe the marked Westchester path to the bottom of the Necks to the
trees. Now whereas wee the aforesaid the true and sea,this being in consideration the land to the north
well proprietors and Honnors I before named of the east is not fit for planting ground but full of hills and
X tracts of land wee are fully contented & paid and Rockey Woods above Westchester path. This we
satisfied that our friend Cockoo bath bargained and consent unto freely. As witness our hands possession
gould the aforesaid tracts of land with all the bounds given
as aforesaid unto the sd Thomas Revell with all In the presence of as The mark of+ Cockoo
things standing or lying thereon for himself,Heyres, witnessess Signed y'mark of+Mamamettehouch
Exctr', Administratr'or Assignes freely and forever and delivered in ye mark of+Wappaquaican
to possess and peaceably injoy and keep as his proper presence of us yo mark of+HayoroSagamore
right without lett or hindrance of us or any from by Simon Cooper ye mark of+Petowwahen
or under us. And allsoe we the aforesaid true The mark of
honnors and right proprietors of the said land Maba- Tho. + Stedwell yemarkof+CauronsoroSarho
meqeat Meamehet Naskeway Sagamores with Humphry Hughes ye mark of+Wappomus Sarho
vngoetaken Mamametchouch Wachithe Ronnottoy Thomas ilobs'
and Capt Wappaquewam wee and every, on of us John Coe
joyntly&severally doe allow& approve of what our The mark of
friend Cockoo bath done to bee fearme sold fast and Stephen E Champion
good in selling the said land to Thomas Revell. And A true Coppey December the 23d 1661
of him have received in hand full satisfaction & to Pr me Henry Pierson Registr.'
our consent for the said land in personal goods to Of the litigation which grew out of this transaction
the just sum of ninety pounds sterling to the use of we have the following account in the nature of a re-
us the aforesaid Ingains. Now for the better port of the evidence produced,taken from the record
Right & tittell of the said land unto the said at Albany. It bears no date but was probably what
Revell his Heyres Exctr' Administratr' & Assigns took place before the English Patent was issued by
with all the Proprietors Rights & privileges Governor Lovelace.
Regard or whatsoever else is just,and allsoe wee ye "An account of what part was acknowledged be
aforesaid Ingains do freely and absolutely assign and fore ye Governor concerning ye Purchase of Mama-
make over all our. rights tittell and Interest wee had ronock,by Mr. Richbell,and Mr. Revell, and Jaus.
in the fore mentioned tract of land as appeareth by Rockett,Wappaqueem, and many other Indians,
this our Deed and fearme bill of sall that we now give PRESENT.
unto the said Revell and his reall right in the'said Wappaqueem saith,that Mr. Richbell was ye first
land before Butting and Bounding as aforesaid. And that spake to him about ye purchase of said lands.
now for the more fearme and absolute assurance of the --- ---
said tract of land wee do jointly and severally for us This meant for Thomas Close.
$For the copies of this Indian deed and Power of Attorney the writer
and ours as I Mahameqeat Meamehet with Naskeway is indebted to William s.Pelletreau,the able editor of the three volumes
— -- — of the "southampton Records." The map referred to is unfortunately
I Owners. such a rough and mixed up scrawl that it was useless to reproduce it.
8 MAMARONECK.
MAMARONECK. 9
Jana. Rockett acknowledges ye like. Neck was sometimes called the Great Neck, from its
Wappaqueem saith that Thomas close with Cokoo longer extent of water front, which at first led to the partition of that year of the undivided portions of the the woods. She continued in possession until by
Manor of Scarsdale. Subsequently John Peter de deed of the 23d of December 1697,she sold her entire
spake to him to sett his hand to Mr. Revell's deed supposition that its area below Westchester Path was Lancey the son of Mrs. De Lancey who had succeeded estate of every kind and nature in her and her late
and he should have a Coate, on which he did it. greater than that of the East Neck. "The East to some of his mother's lands purchased all the rest husband's lands to Colonel Caleb Heathcote for the
He saith further that Mr. Richbell, came and view- Neck" extended from the Mamaroneck river on the
ed and agreed for ye land, but not bringing his goods east to a small stream called "Pi In's brook" on the of the lands on De Lancey's Neck from his brother, sum of £600 New York Currency and certain other
P and sister,and cousins, and thus became the owner of beneficial provisions recited in the instrument' These
tyme enough he sold it to Mr. Revell. He confesses west,which divided it from the"Middle"or"Great" the whole Neck, nearly a century ago. There was lands and some others adjoining which he had ac
that Mr. Richbell gave another Indian a Coate and Neck, and is the same which now crosses the however a small piece of land of about thirty acres on quired Colonel Heathcote had erected into "the
some seawant and a shirt,to marke out ye trees after Boston road through the land,and just east of the the left of the entrance to the Neck from the old Lordship and Manor of Scarsdale" by a Manor
ye agreement,but that he had nothing. house of the late Mr. George Vanderburg." The Mid- Westchester Path or old Boston Road,which never Grant from Lieutenant Governor Nanfan then at the
Another Indian saith that Cockoe and Thomas dle Neck extended from the latter stream west
Close received Mr.Revell's money betweene them and ward to a much larger brook called "Cedar or Grav- belonged to the Manor of Scarsdale nor to the Heath- head of the Province on the 21st March,17015 Upon
1.
kept it themselves, for ye proprietors had none of it. elly brook"which is the one that now bounds the cote or de Lancey families. This piece wasgivenon the eminence at the head of the Harbour,still called
Wappaqueem saith that what he received from Mr. land belonging to Mr. Meyer on the west. the 8th of August 1684, by Mrs. Richbell ust after Heathcote Hill,a he built a large double brick Manor
g g y a her husband's death,to her daughter Mary and her _
�. Richbell was by way of (unintelligible) but not in The "West Neck" extended from the latter to husband Capt. James Mott, and was expressly re-
parte of payment. another small brook still further to the westward. — --
= served in her deed to Colonel Heathcote of all the
He whose land it was, and Wappaqueem called termed "Stoney or Gravelly Brook" which was the rest of her estate in Mamaroneck. This piece from
brother,but were not natural brothers. east line of the Manor of Pelham. Mott's heirs passed by sale through various parties
x, 11th Nov. 1661, the power entrusting Wappaqueem Of the three in their order, The East Neck from and about a century ago became the property of a ven-
and Cockoo to sell 8th, , date oye deedwhich River to Pipin's Brook upon which
y�- 1661the f hih MP• ' P erable Quaker long well known in Mamaroneck,Giles
is before yp . ' Richbell took up' permanent residence about
, ye his P P Seaman. At his death in the settlement of his estate
It is evident from this that Thomas Close and 1665,as near as can now be ascertained,was called by it was bought by the late Isaac Hall, and by him
Cockoo were very sharp, but the blunder of dating the Indians "Mamaranock Neck." This fact is so it was sold to the enterprising gentleman who upon it
-; the power after the deed to Revell ruined their case. stated in the Petition of Richbell of the 24th of De-
erected the handsome summer hotel, since called by
Richbell continued in undisturbed,possession,and cember 1661, for a"ground brief" or Dutch license to& his own name—the "Rushmore," as well as several
no claim was ever at any time afterward set up under purchase Indian lands.' A misunderstanding by Mr. handsome private residences,now owned by various
a� those Indian deeds to Thomas Revell. Robert Bolton of the word "Mammaranock" in the parties.
On the 16th of October 1668,the English Patent crabbed writing of this ancient Document as recorded In the chapter on Manors in this work, part 14,'
s'^ from Governor Francis Lovelace confirming and led him to state in the first edition of his History of will be found at length the history of the East Neck
grantingto John Richbell the lands «
privileges and Westchester County, published in 1848,that the ab- as a part of the manor of Scarsdale. It is only necea-
y�i
immunities he possessed under his Dutch grants and original name" of the East Neck was "Wanmain- sary here to give an outline. John Richbell died on
Dutch court decisions passed the seals of the Prov- uck,"5 and the error has appeared in the second edi- the 26th of July 1684 2 leaving his widow Ann, and HEATHCOTE HILL.
ince. tion,a and it has been hence followed by other writers. three daughters him surviving. His wife's mother,
These Instruments,Dutch and English,having been It was a pure mistake in deciphering the written word. Margery Parsons had advanced him some goods in House in the style of that day in England, with all
already set forth fully in part number 14 of the chapter The true aboriginal name of the East Neck ovae the eland of St.Christopher's in the West Indies long the accompanying offices and outbuildings,including
on Manors relating to the Manor of Scarsdale in this "Mamaranock" he same as the town and village previous to his ever coming to Mamaroneck. As the American addition of negro quarters in accord-
work are not repeated here. The description of the bears to-da under the later spelling of "Mamaro- soon as he got his English Patent of the 16th of Octo- ante with the laws,habits,and customs of the period.
I lands granted in Lovelace's Patent of Confirmation is as neck." That portion of it between the Harbour on the her 1668 and on the 14th of the next month he Here he lived during the remainder of his life,which
follows:—"A certain parcel of land within this ov-
P g east and Pipin's brook and the salt creek into which deeded the entire"East Neck" to her in considers- terminated on the 28th of February 1720-21 in his
ernment, on the Main, contained in three Necks, of it runs on the west,bears the name of "De Lance 's tion of that advance. Mrs. Parsons two days later, 56th year. The house stood till some six or seven
which the eastermost is bounded with a small river Neck" from the fact that it has been possessed as a on the 16th of November 1668 in consideration of years before the American Revolution, occupied
called Mamaranock river,being almost the east bounds whole for more than'a centuryand until a few ears natural love conveyed the East Neck to her daughter however,only by tenants after the death of his widow
y y
or limits of this government upon the main, and the ago, and in part still is possessed, by the family of —Ann the wife of John Richbell as a token of affec-
in 1736. Later it was accidentally destroyed by fire.
westermost with the gravelly or stony brook or river Gov. James de Lancey, the son-in-law of Col. Caleb tion and dutiful behaviour. This made Mrs. Rich- The present double frame dwelling standing on a
which makes the east limits of the land known by the Heathcote,the purchaser of the whole East Neck in bell the owner in fee of the entire East Neck. But portion of the old site, of which a cut is given,was
name of Mr. Pell's purchase. Having to the south 1697. It formed the largest part of the "demesne to make her perfectly secure Richbell made a settle- built in 1792 by the late John Peter de Lancey,a
the Sound, and running northward from the marked lands"of Colonel Heatheote's Manor of Scarsdale and ment of it by way of jointure in her favor,by a deed grandson of Colonel Heathcote who had succeeded
trees upon the said Necks twenty miles into the as such was held by his widow until her death in 1736 in Trust to John Ryder of the 23d of April,1669,in to the property, on his return to America with his
woods . . . together with all woods,beaches,mar- when an undivided half descended to her daughter consideration of a marriage long since solemnized be- family,having been a captain in the British Regular
Shea,pastures, creeks, waters,lakes, fishing, hawking Mrs. James de Lancey, who by agreement with her tween them s He died as above stated on the 26th of Army in which he had been placed in 1771,on leav-
hunting and fowling, and all other profits immuni- brother-in-law Dr. Lewis Johnston of New Jersey July 1684, and Mrs. Ann Richbell thereupon be- ing Harrow School, after a short period at the Mili-
ties, and emoluments to the said parcel or tract of continued in the possession and control of the other came vested in her own right in fee in the entire East tary School of Greenwich. Mr.de Lancey lived in
land belonging, annexed, or appertaining,with their undivided half until 1.774 when it was divided in the Neck from Mamaroneck River to Pipin's Brook and this house till his death in 1828. In it were born all
and every of their appurtenances, and every part andhis children except the two elder ones,and amongst
twenty tulles back from the Sound northward into P
parcel thereof." 2 Formerly a portion of the western part of the farm of Mr.Peter.lay
« » " » t Ante,147.
These Three Necks were called the East the m��nr�,,and later owned by James T.Roosevelt.
» "West" e The old"Duncan"or"Danben farm. 2 west.Co.Records Lib.A,p.34.
• `Middle, and the West Necks. The Middle y" s l �Ret.Lib.B,371,went.co. Records.
*Deed-Book iii.37,Sec.State's office,Albany. Ante,p.ICS. Ancient copies of all these deeds in the writer's possession. All are 5 Lib.7 p.196,Sec.of State's Off'.
s Richbell. grandson.i.P. 282. recorded in West.Co.Records,except that from Mrs.Parsons to Mrs. B And still in the possession of the writer who is his great, great,
' t Deed book III.97,Sec.of State's office. s Vol.i.p.469. Z
1
10 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK.
11
them his son William Heathcote,the late Bishop of cote Capt. James Mott William Penoir,l John Wil- Highway the left at the South end of their "Great � It is built hewn timber, and the coarse
Western New York, and Susan Augusta,the wife of liams, Henry Disbrough, Alice Hatfield John Dis- Lotts" or "Long Lots"was found to be useless and ` stone of the coo roughuntry even to the chimney above the
the late James Fenimore Cooper, who were also mar- brou h and Benjamin Disbrou h 2 This was to sat- the owners subsequently divided it u into nine small I roof. The siding has been renewed but always in the
ried in it on the 1st of January 1811. isfy all persons desirous of settling
n In Mamaroneck lots of about 10 acres each amongthemselves which old style. It has long been used simply as a store-
But to return, Colonel Heathcote had succeeded that there would be no difficult with the natives ended the whole matter. These` Great" or"Lon )I house as it was understood when it passed out of the
with tl}e rest of the property,to the Richbell proprie- About five years later Colonel Heathcote suggested to Lots, as well as the small ones are all shown on he Disbrough family that it should never be pulled
tary rights in the two mile bounds of Mamaroneck the owners of the house lots that instead of keeping Mapof the Manor of Scarsdale in this volume.They down. Its last owners of the name were two maiden
and he subsequently to his Manor-Grant purchased all the rest of the two mile bounds as undivided ro - never belonged to an bodybut the grantees of the ladies who, a few years before their deaths built in the
in addition a twelfth undivided part of he whole erty, that they should have it laid out and divided eight original house lots to which thy were append- same enrlo,ure the present new and good frame house,
tract. This tract had been set apart by John Rich- among themselves in severalty. It was talked of ant and appurtenant,and with their division bthe which.stands almost between the old one and the
yp
bell in his life time about the year 1670 for what he approved, and finally carried into effect b a mutual owners of those lots among themselves all their com- waters of the harbour. The old house has we]Ihome
called "allotments or house lots," comparatively agreement under seal made and executed by all the mon rights ended and he "two mile bounds" or its 209 years but in the course of things can not last
small pieces fronting on the Westchester Path or old parties on the 19th of February 1706-7. The instru- IsMammaroneck Limmits" come to an end forever. much longer.
road to Boston eight in number running northwardly. ment accompanied by a well executed p
cuted Ma of the lots The Proprietary rights in them of Colonel Heathcote The "Middle Neck" or the"Great Neck" or
One he reserved for his own house lot, and he and as laid out,into eight "Long Lotts"is in Colonel of course were terminated by his agreeing to their di- '`Munro's Neck" as it was styled after Mr. Peter Jay
his wife seem to have sold only two or three others, Heathcote's handwriting,and bears the autographic vision in fee. Munro became the owner of nine-tenths of it about
the first was a gift by deed to one John Basset in signatures of himself and all the other arties above Of the owner of the"allottments or house Lott," as the year 1790,has a curious history. But before it is
1669,which was No. four, next to his own lot No. 5. named. It is in these words ,•— P
they were in 1701 the descendants of none except of given it may be better, though a little out of order,
Another,No. one, was sold to one Jeremy Kanniffe, Mamoroneck ffeb.ye 14t1 1706-7. Colonel Heathcote are now in possession of any part to state the facts more fully than they have been
and Nos. 2 and 3 to Robert Pennoyer,and another to The free holders of Mamoroneck whose names are of them' gh althou descendants of Hattfield and the mentioned in treating of the Manor of Scarsdale, re-
James Mott. These seem to have been all that were hereunder written have mutually and unanimously _- = - garding the Pell-Richbell controversy about the WestNeck. Both the Middle and the West Necks to
up to 1676 when another was sold to Henry Dis- agreed for dividing the Long or Upper Letts in said = --- _ = = gather form that part of Richbell's land, now in the
brough on the 16th of February in that year. From Township as followeth—No. 1 containing 20 chains —_ — -— - town of Mamaroneck, which lay almost wedge
the language of ancient copies of the first deed to broad to James Mott,No.2 containing 21 chains, andshaped between the sou
-- - ---- thern parts of the Manors of
_
John Basset, and that to Henry Disbrough, in the No. 3 containing 22 chains to William Penoir, No. 4 $ _ _ Scarsdale and Pelham.
writer's possession it would seem that these"allot- containing 21 chains to Henry Disbrow, No. 5 con- _ The West Neck extended from the Cedar Tree o
ments" were twenty and a half rods wide front on taining 18 chains to r
Gravelly Brook, (that now running to tJohn Disbrow, No. 6 containing he west r
the Westchester Path,and the same in the rear,by 20 chains to John Bloodgood, No. 7 containing 20 — Mr. llMeyer's present house,) westward h another
eighty rods on.each side in depth running north- chains to Peter Hattfield,and No. 8 containing all --- . -
,westerly. Each was subject to areservation of an annu- the remainder of the land to the River to Caleb Brook,which was that which crossed the Westchester
Path or Road just west of the present residence of
al payment of one bushel of winter wheat or the value Heathcote,reserving out of the said Lotts the follow- � Mr. Geo. Stephenson,and upon which for years stood
thereof on the 1st of March, and one day's work at ing Highways for the use and benefit of all the free-
harvest time,to the Proprietor,and to a covenant that holders and Inhabitants one highway to be five Rod, = bore the name of Stony or Gravelly brook. Mr.Pell
they could not be sold without their consent and ap- wide in the ffront of the said Lotts,one highway of -- - - — the Cedar Tree or
probation. To each lot was appendant an undivided four Rods wide through the Sixth Lott claimed that his eastern line was
into the Woods DISBRow HOUSE, ERECTED 1677. Gravelly Brook,that now in the present Mr.Meyer's;
eighth right to commonage and pasture in the two Leading on the west side of Nelson's ffield into the
mile bounds. The precise extent of these bounds we Woods. Disbrou hs are still well known residents and prop- Mr. Richbell claimed that the Stony or Gravelly
know from the Deed to Disbrough, which calls them Signed sealed and g parts of the P
arty holders in other resent Town o: Brook,also called Cedar or Gravelly Brook,that near
"Mammaroneck limmits" and describes the tract as delivered in the presence of us Mamaroneck,among whom is Mr. William H. Dis. Mr. Stephenson's, was his western line and Pell's
"being in length two miles and in Breadth one mile Joseph Purdy Caleb Heathcote [L.s.] brow as the name is now spelled,the Civil Engineer eastern line. The controversy was a very hot one and
and a half and Twenty eight rods." The length was Thomas White his whose home is scarcely a musket shot from the old an- grew out of the use of similar designations of streams
from the Westchester Path northward and the Wm X Penoir [L.s.] cestral house. But there still stands upon the south- in their respective Patents. After proceedings in the
breadth was from Mamaroneck River to Dirty Swamp mark ernart of the"House Lott" of Henry Disbrough Court of Assizes,and before the Governor and Council
on the west. "Dirty Swamp" being the swampy James Mott [L.s.] P
the identical house he built there in 1677 the year the following Agreement was finally entered into by
ground over which the road passed near and east of Henry Disbrow [L.s.] after he was deeded the lot by John and Ann Rich- both parties; "Whereas There hath been a Matter or
the intersection of the present Weaver Street. The John Disbrow [L.s.] bell a memento of the earliest days of Mamaroneck, cause of Difference depending between Mr. John
swamp began some distance north of the Road and ex- John Bloodgood [L.s.] of the old family who built it, of New York and Richbell and Mr. John Pell for the which There was
tended across it to the salt water, a little stream or Peter Hattfield 8 [L.s.]in old times Westchester in the reign of Charles the Second,and of an order Issued forth from ye Governor for a tryall by
ditch running from it under the road.
This instrument finally closed and determined for- the Duke of York as its Lord Proprietor. It remained a Special Court of Assizes yet Notwithstanding upon
through a stone culvert,sometimes dignified by the ever all the common interests in the lands in the"two
in the Disbrough family till within thirty or thirty- proposal of an amicable agreement between them,
name of"Dirty Swamp Bridge." mile bounds"of Mamaroneck and made them the sap-
As soon as Colonel Heathcote obtained his Manor- arate private property in fee of the various owners. five years,and is now the property of the widow of the and to prevent further trouble to his Honour the
Grant, and about two months thereafter he obtained, To this there is apparent exception. The five rod late well known Publisher of New York,Mr.Stringer Governour and the Country by having a ,peciall
June 1701 from the of the firm of Stringer&Townsend. The accompa- Court, it is this Day mutually consented unto and
on the 11th b
e two Indian chiefs nying cut gives a good idea of it but it is a rear view, agreed upon,that the Neck of Land and meadow be-
of the neighborhood Patthunk and Wapetuck an In- 'so in the deed. He was a eon of Robert Penoyer the original gran-
dian deed of confirmation for this two mile tract to tee Ancient co the road shown in it and now existing in front of the tween Ceeder or Gravelly brooks es the East, andy
lcopy in writer's possession,Ree.Llb.c.west.Co.p.52. house not having been opened till the year 1800. It Gravelly or Stony Creeke on ye West shall be laved
himself and the seven other persons who in 1701 were a The original instrument came into the possession of the Griffen Fam-
„ fly who purchased No. 6 from John Blood ends and now halon t. faced the harbour,the side toward the present Union out by ye Surveyor Generall and devide between
the owners of these "allottments or house or p g
Mr.Charles Field Griffen to whom I am indebted for its w belexamongs
inn, avenue, which at this place is built upon the old them,so that each party shall have Meadow and up-
"home" "lotts." There were himself, Caleb Heath- A facsimile totem
porary copy is in Imy own possession. Westchester Path,being the original front of the house. land equivalent and proportionable Quantity and
t
MAMARONECK. 13
12 MAMARONECK.
of
Quality alike. To this agreement both partys do Thus was settled finally the line,afterwards of much from the Marked trees,standing on the aide` Neck, said John Richbell" released, in consideration r-
joyntly consentin token of Amity and Friendship buri- importance, as being the east line of the 6000 acre North Twenty miles into the Woods, and further in £380 sterling,to the above fon in the ur Palmers,the Reeck,
General,hisPerson, and ted Gres Movealeand im- sion and submitting the and all hisgUity f Re andpnterest there The four
ing in oblivion what unkindness hath formerly past tract carved out of Pelham Mannor and sold by PellIg
between them and this to be a barr to all future to Leisler for the Huguenots in 1689. And as also as moveable,no P Palmers then conveyed a right es fee a that Neck to
same to all Courts,Laws,and Justices.
Claymes or pretences that can or may be made on taken for the line between the later towns of New In witness whereof is this by the said Mr. John one Josiah Quinby.
either'aide or by either of yr heires Executors or Ad- Rochelle and Mamaroneck when erected in 1788 by 2 But the Steenwyck Mortgage of 1673,above men-
ministrators for ever. As to what expense or charges the State Township Act of that year. Richbell benevolently or willing. The Esquires tinned and another also made by John Richbell to
Either party hath been at Each is to bear his own We now recur to the singular history of the Middle Aldermen Gelyn ver Plank and Lawrence Spiegel. him on the 6th of July, 1678,bad been assigned to
charges,but for the charges of the Surveys and such Neck. In the Record Books of this Town. Signed in New Frederick Philipse,and under his will passed to his
g g Y
other Necessary expenses Relating to the Division of It will be remembered that John Richbell pur- orange 20 9ber s 1673."' This mortgage only covers daughter Eve the wife of Jacobus Van Cortlandt of
ye Lands according to this agreement it is Equally to chased his three Necks from the Indians on the 23d the West Neck as settled in the agreement with Pell Yonkers and of course under the law to him. These
be Borne betweene them. In testimony Whereof the of September 1661, and obtained the Dutch Govern- above mentioned. were both u'on the West Neck. Both Van Cortlandt
partyes to these presents have Later changeably Sett ment's groundbrief and Transport(or`License to pur- On the 12`"May, 1675,two years later, a mortgage and Adolph Philipse his brother-in-law were Execu-
to their hands and Seals ye 22 Daye of January in the chase'and `Patent') for them in May 1662, and his was made by John Richbell on the Middle Neck tors of F ederick Philipse's Will. They sent to Eng-
23d year of his Maj°Reigne Annoqe Dom. 1671 English Patent for them on October 16 1668• and alone, in consideration of £250 Boston Silver to land to Edward Richbell and in consideration of the
John Pell (L S)t that the East Neck alone was sold by his widow in Robert Richbell of Southampton, England for the cancellingof John Richbell's mortgages and of£400
Sealed and Delivered in ye presence of 1697 to Colonel Caleb Heathcote and was included term of 99 years,redeemable at any time in the term sterling n addition,he by Lease and Release of the
Henry Taylor by him in his Manor of Scarsdale in 1701. upon the payment of the principal and interest. 12th and 13th of August 1723 conveyed to them all
The very next ear on the 17 Jul 1676 Richbell
Allard Anthony Five years after the date of his Patent for the three Y ' Y his right not only in the West Neck, but in all the
Remains(as all other Lawful Acts)of forces and Necks on the 201i of November 1673 Richbell mort- made still another mortgage to one Thomas Kelland lands g possessed by John Richbell, except what he
!�
There Surveyor may proceed accordingly gaged the West neck to Cornelius Steenwyck,a rich of Boston, in consideration of £100 New England had released to the four Palmers above mentioned.
E. Andros" burgomaster,of New Orange,as New York was called money,upon the reversion of the Middle Neck for the Philipse and Van Cortlandt claimed that all the land
F, Though thus confirmed by the above order of Gov. on its reconquest by the Dutch in that year, and a term of r years,and also the reversion of the West the Palmers were entitled to under their deed from
Andros, no survey was made,why it is now impossi- member of Governor Colve's Council,by the follow- Neck for 99 years, after payment of the £2500 k. ward Richbell lay between the Westchester Path
Robert Richbell and the 2400 Guilders to Steenwyck.
ble to say, until the 22d of May 1677, when it was ing singular instrument—one of the few Dutch Mort- and the Sound,and that they by their later convey-
done b Robert Ryder. His description is in these gages that have come down to our days;• These Richbell Mortgages s the Great Neck passed ance from Edward Richbell were entitled to all be-
y Y p g g Y ' b assignments into the hands of Samuel Palmer,of
be-
words;— "Appeared before as subscribed Aldermen of the Y g tween the Westchester Path northward to the Bronx.
Whereas there hath been a difference between John City of New Orange,the honest Mr. John Richbell, Mamaroneck; the first of a family of that name who This claim the Palmers met by filing abill in Chancery
have been closely and honourably connectedthey
a h Ma against Philipse and Van Cortlandt and on May 2,
Richbell and Mr. John Pell which by virtue of an Inhabitant of the place Marraneck, in the Main, P
order from the right Honourable Major Edmund An- within this province,who acknowledged and declared maroneck from that day to this, and as they are still 1729 obtained a decree that the Proprietors of the
El robust and numerous will probably so continue indefi-
' Middle Neck under their mortgages and their Release
Es . Governor General of New York I have for himself,his heirs and executors full and duly to n
dross
made a gdivision of the within mentioned Neck of be indebted Mr. Cornelius Steenwyck Chief Council' nitely for the future. A Palmer was elected to a tow from Edward Richbell were entitled to have the Mid-
h Land by and with the mutual consent of both par- of this Province,a just and neat sum of Two thousand
office at the first recorded election in Mamaroneck dle or Great Neck extended as far Northward as the
in 1797,and a Palmer is a Justice of the Peace in Ma- East and the West Neck extended,and that Philipse
ties, which is in manner and Form as is hereafter and four hundred Guildersi Wampum, being occa- s
Expressed viz°. That the said Richbell shall extend sioned by and from delivered Merchandizes,disbursed maroneck to-day. and Van Cortlandt should be perpetually enjoined
By these assignments Samuel Palmer became legal- from making an claim or pretences to that part of
from Cedar Tree Brook or Gravelly Brook, south Moneys,or otherwise,by him the said John Richbell, g Y
ly entitled to the remainder of the term a 99 years the Great neck south and east of the Bronx River.
westerly fifty degrees to a certain mark'`Tree, lying to his full satisfaction received and enjoyed of Mr. ,
y Cornelius Steenwyck,which aforesaid sum of 2400 G. in the Middle Neck andby his will dated March 18th
above the now Common Road thin and four chains h Y In 1731 an action between James De Lancet' and
1712-13,he devised all his right,title and interest h) wife and Mrs.Martha Heathcote against Josiah Quin-
with P.,thence Extending South Sixty three degrees promiseth to pay,or cause to be paid to Mr. Steen- b was tried at Westchester for a trespass in the Ma-
East b certain marked Trees 'fixed Ending b a Obadiah Sylvan and Solomon Palmer. They con- Y
y p g y wyck aforesaid, or to him,that should or might ob- tinned in Y possession, and on the 8th of February nor of Scarsdale committed. by the defendant. The
certain piece of Meadow at the salt creek which Runs tain his action with good current Wampum,or to de- p defendant pleaded that the premises were not in the
Richbell who describes himself as e of he Manor of Pelham,and
Edward but in t
1722 ale b
Tree Brook or Gravelly Brook Extend- thereof n r before the first of Octo- , 7 Manor of Scarsdale,up to Cedar T e y liver the value the eo 0 o
ing from the first marked Trees Nor Nor West to ser next ensueing,without delay. For the better se- the Parish of St. James in the County of Middlesex, produced Pell's Patent. The agreement between Pell
Brunkes River by certain Trees in the said Line curity of the aforesaid Mr. Steenwyck,in the full in Great Britain heir-at-law of John Richbell there- and Richbell, above given, for dividing the land be-
marked upon the West with P.and upon the east with satisfaction of the sum aforesaid,he the said John tofore of Mamaroneck in the Precincts of Westchester tween Cedar Tree brook and Stony or Gravelly brook
in the Government of New York(who was Eldest son was then produced by the Plaintiffs, and the jury
R. performed the twenty-second day of May 1677. Richbell bindeth and engageth for a special Mortgage P
p me Robert Ryder Sur and a Pledge certain of his the said John Richbell's and Heir of Edward Richbell late of the City of found a verdict for the plaintiffs with damages and
The PrecedingSurveyor above mentioned is mu- Neck or piece of Land lying upon the Main beingRoberWestmt nich Esq. who was Eldest son and Heir e- costa.
p Y g P ' Robert Richbell of Southampton in Great Britain,de-
tually consented unto by the above mentioned Mr. the most Westerly neck of Land of the three, to him A great question arose some thirty five years later
John Richbell and Mr. John Pell in presence of us the said John Richbell in lawful Propriety belonging, ceased,who was the only Brother and Heir of the in relation to the Middle Neck and the Manor of
Thomas Gibbs pursuant to certain Patent of Governor Lovelace, Scarsdale. Many persons had become interested in
Walter Webly dated 16 October, 1668, limiting the Neck of Land t so in the original,it means°said." the former both as purchasers and as mortgagees. The
John Sharp aforesaid,upon the gravelly or Stony Water or River, 2 so in the original. Palmer, had early sold undivided twelfth parts to
Joseph Carpenter 1'2 which are the EasterlyLimits of Mr. Pell's Land 6 November'
� +From an ancient English translation in the writer's possession. various persons,among others one twelfth and aha
lf
of one twelfth" were
having at the South side the Sound, and runing thus 6Not recorded,copy in county'spossemion. sold to Robert Livingston July
7 This is from an ancient Copy of the document signed by Pell that 6 William D.Palmer,Esq. 20th 1728• The purch
7 Now usually called St.James's Piccadilasers had many of them died
was delivered to Richbell in the writer's posneeeion. 6 So in the original,it means"of the chief council." ly,thongh its legal designation g
2 Ancient copy in the writer's possession. 4 The shell money of the Indians.
is-,St.James's,Westminister." and left numerous heirs and ,mon these was r.
i
r
14 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 15
Livingston. There were heirs of many others, who subsequently Judges of the Supreme Court of the larches of his native land as they grow very rapidly the marine and inland views it commands are very
in the same way had become possessed of interests Province two Smith Junr and Jones were the two indeed and offered to send to his relatives in Scot- beautiful and extensive. The central portion is dot-
larger or smaller in that Neck. The Palmers under historians of the Province. Hicks was also Mayor of land for seed. Mr. Munro assented,the seed came, ted also with the handsome residences of gentlemen,
the erroneous idea that the division line between the New York and John Morin Scott was one of the the trees were planted,and answered the purpose ad- and on the high ground at the picturesque entrance '
Middle and the East Neck ran due north and not Generals on the Whig side in the Revolution,and a mirably for about twenty or twenty five years, then to the Neck is a large and handsome Hotel in the
Northwestward sold some three or four farms up- lawyer of eminence. The award was unanimous and they grew scraggy, began to die,and were gradually midst of large grounds handsomely laid out through
wards of 500 acres altogether to one Cornwall who the operative part is in these few words "we do removed the last of them during Mr. Collins'owner- the good taste and enterprise of Mr.Thomas L. Rush-
entered thereon. This land was within the Manor of award, order judge, and determine that the place ship,by whom the name was given to the place while more the gentleman who built it and who dwells in
Scarsdale and a part of the East Neck. Thereupon, where the straight line of partition that is to run be- it was his. This was the origin of the Scotch Larch the neighbourhood with his children around him,
the purchaser having in the mean time died four tween the said two Necks or Tracts of Land shall begin in Westchester County, neither a handsome, nor each with his or her family possessing handsome
ejectment suits were begun by Anne de Lancey and in the middle of the creek or run of water leading from long lived tree and not an acquisition of value. The places of their own.
Lewis Johnston against his sons Benjamin Cornell Dirty Swamp where the said Creek or Run of Water '`Mont"Mr. Collins evolved from his own conscious Upon Long Beach Point on the west extremity
(as the name soon began to be spelled and pronounced) crosses Westchester old Path. All the original ness perhaps because the larch grows chiefly upon of the Neck stands the splendid home of Mr. Henry
Joseph Cornell, Peter Cornell, and John Cornell. papers in this transaction bearing the autographs hills in its native land. M. Flagler. This point, originally with a splendid
This was in 1764. The number of persons who found of all the distinguished men and other parties men- Larchmont possesses one of the largest and most beach on each side of it, juts into the Sound from
themselves interested was so great as to greatly delay tioned above are in the writer's possession in perfect flourishing yacht-clubs in the country. The beauty the Body of the Neck. The late Mr. John Greacen
the proceedings. The question was where was the ' preservation and from them this sketch has been and accessibility of its situation and the wide ap- bought it of Mr. Thomas J. de Lancey, and built
proper starting point between the Necks and what drawn up. The result was to show the Cornell farmsroach to its shores by water gives it very great ad- a large double brick house, now a part of Mr. Flag-
the true direction the line was to run. Finally it were in the Manor of Scarsdale where Colonel Heath- vantages, as well its position at the wide opening of ler's magnificent mansion, at the western end of
was at last determined by all parties to leave the cote had originally laid them out, except in one in- the western end of Long Island Sound. The mem- this unique situation,and surrounded the point with
question to a board of arbitrators. But so delayed stance where the line went through one of the bership is about 400 and is increasing,and the club a huge wide stone sea wall upon the top of which he
was the business by the numbers it affected that the houses, which threw a little of the and west of the house on the water's edge is a fine and convenient laid out a drive, which is without a rival of its kind
Articles of Agreement to arbitrate were not executed line and on the Middle Neck.
building. Long Beach Point the western extremity on the American sea coast. The Neck itself is the
till the 218°of March 1769. The Parties were, "Wil- The Middle Neck continued in the hands of several of De Lance 's Neck extending outarallel to the "'Satanstoe" of Fenimore Cooper's novel of that
liam,Earl of Stirling, Peter van Brugh Livingston, owners,most of them members of the Palmer family shores of Larchmont forms a cove or smalharbour, name and is therein generally described. To this
John Stevens,John Reid, Walter Rutherford,Robert until about 1790 when Mr. Peter J. Munro who a of great beauty directly in front of the village it- point the late Mr. Greacen gave the name of
R. Livingston, Gentlemen, William Smith Junr., Esq year or two before had bought the original Samuel self. "Orienta," the origin of which as he himself told
Thomas Smith Esq. Joseph Cornell, John Cornell, Palmer House(now pulled down and which stood That part of the Munro farm west of the Turnpike the writer was this. After he got his house built
Benjamin Cornell, and.Sarah Cornell, Executors of back and a little to one side of the two enormous was bought about 1840 by the late Judge James I. he found that in the summer mornings, he could
Peter Cornell, Edward Burling, Benjamin Palmer, elms now standing east of and near, the Larchmont Roosevelt who arranged the Cottage now the property lie in bed and see the Sun rise directly out of the
John Palmer,Yeomen,Mary Ashfield Spinster,Sarah Railroad crossing at the Boston Road, and about 150 of the family of the gate Mr. George Vanderburg for water far up the Sound, and therefore he called
Morris as widow and Richard Morris Esqr, William feet south of the road itself) and its farm, acquired all his own residence. It has since' been laid out in .his place "Orient," but "subsequently" said he,
Smith Junr, Esqr,Surviving Executors of Lewis Mor- the other lands on the Neck except the Scott House �rr several small village plots, a large part of it is also finding that a, little hamlet at Oyster-pond Point,
ris deceased, James Kinsey of New Jersey, and John and the millpond on the extreme western extremityowned b the Proprietors of Larchmont, through Long Island, had appropriated that name, I just
Thomas junr. of Westchester, of the one part, and of the Neck, and became the owner in fee simple which runs the surface railway to the Larchmont tacked an "a" to the end of it and called my place
Anne De Lancey widow of the Honourable James De of the whole. In his possession and that of his station of the New Haven Railroad, which is upon "Orienta." Being a musical name it is often heard
Lancey Esq. Deceased, and Lewis Johnston of Perth family it remained till the year 1845 when theP art this property. West of the Railroad but invisible as applied to the Neck itself, a fact Mr. Greacen
Amboy New Jersey, Physician of the other part."1 south of the Boston road with the great househe from t on account of the forest, is"Hannah's Peak," said, he did not like "for it ought to be kept for the
The Arbitrators chosen were"Samuel Wyllys of built upon it was sold to the late Mr.Edward K. Col- the highest point on the Southeastern shores of Long place I made, especially as everybody on the Neck
Jericho Long Island, Gentleman,Abraham Clark of Tins. From him or his representatives it passed Island Sound and one of the stations of the Coast laughed at me when I adopted it." Unfortunately it
Elizabethtown New Jersey,Stephen Crane of the finally into the hands of the late Mr. Flint and his Survey. In its neighborhood can also be seen a fine has been taken of late to designate drinking saloons
same place, Gentlemen,William Nicoll Jr,of Islip,in associates who upon it have erected the beautiful specimen of that natural curiosity, the Rocking &c in the village of Mamaroneck.
Suffolk County Esq." These Parties gave bonds in summer village called Larchmont.
Stone. It is an immense boulder so accurately poised "Vergemere"the writer's place is at the East end
£5000 each to abide by the award, and it was agreed It is sometimes styled Larchmont "Manor" but as that it can be moved without being overthrown. of the Neck. It and Mr. Flagler's'are the only places
that each side should bear its own expenses, except this sketch shows the Neck upon which it is situated The part of the East Neck which early in the last upon it which have a double water front,and where
as'to those for the services of the arbitrators and never was either a Manor or part of a Manor. The century acquired the name it has since borne of "de vessels can lie in safety in all winds. It is surrounded
the running of the line in accordance with the award, Munro farm was very large and the extent of the part LAncey's Neck,"remained continuously in that family by old forest trees, is very handsomely laid out, and
of which each side was to pay one half. The point of it below the Boston Road,some 330 acres,and the without any of it being sold until 1848 when the commands extensive and striking marine views. Be-
to be decided as stated in the articles of agreement large Munro House now the chief Hotel, suggested late Mr. Thomas James de Lancey who had inher- tween these two are the seats of Mr. James M. Con-
was to fix the true point near and below Westchester the idea of calling it a"Manor" to the first or- ited the western part of it, with the assent of his stable,Mr. J.A. Bostwick,the Hon. David Dudley
Path from which the dividing line was to be run in a ganizers of the enterprise simply to give it prestige
uncle the late Rt. Reverend William H. de Lancey Field, Mr. Wm. G. Read, Miss Van Schaack, Mr.
North Northwesterly direction. and name. No pleasanter place can be found near who had inherited the eastern part, sold his por- Ambrose McGregor, as well as those of Mr. Leonard
The hearings were long and much evidence locally New York for a summer home.
tion in large divisions to various parties. Its splendid Jacob, Mrs. Eldridge,Mr. Meigham, and that of the
interesting was brought forward. The Counsel were, The origin of the name Larchmont is a little odd, situation, with its two beaches Long Beach and late James M. Miller,and Mr. James T.Burnet.
for Anne de Lancey and Lewis Johnston,Thomas as neither larches nor hills are indigenous to the Scotch Beach,with Mamaroneck Harbour on its east The town records of Mamaroneck consist of two
Jones, for the other parties, Whitehead Hicks, John Neck. When Mr. Munro built his house, he wished
to ]ant a quick growing g side and De Lancey's Cove on its west side marked volumes,one a small.parchment covered folio, begin-
Morin Scott,and William Smith Junr, all but Scott P q ck rowin rove of trees along the it out as a place for the fine seats and marine villas ning only on the 2d of April, 1697,containing the
turnpike road west of his entrance. His Scotch of gentlemen, with which its entire water front is records of the annual elections down almost to the
From the original instrument in the writers possession. gardener, a man of the name of Rae, suggested the
now covered. The roads and drives upon it, and present time,when it became full. The other is a
i
16 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 17
large folio about half full of deeds and miscellaneous 1817-24. Monmouth Lyon. 1860-61. Edward seaman. oldest burial place of civilized man in the town,and The prefixed Roman numerals are so used in the
papers among which are many freeing negro slaves 1825-26'Guy C.Bayley. 1862-64.Joseph Hoffman. it is hoped that some proper historic monument may French genealogies to denote the different in
1827. Coles Tompkins. 1865-66. Albert Lyon. et mark this spot so Sacred in the memory of the dividuals bearing the same Christian name.
under the state laws gradually abolishing slavery. It 1828_30. Monmouth Lyon. 1867-69. Jonas D.Hill. y
was opened in 1756. 1831. Daniel D.T.Hadden. 1870. Albert Lyon. earliest settler of Mamaroneck and his family and 1432. Guy de Laney, Ecuyer Vicomte de Laval et
The first entry in the records of Mamaroneck is as 1832-34. 'Walter Marshall. 1871.Jacob Buckler. friends. de Nouvion. Wife, Anne de Marcilly.
follows: 1835. Horace B.Slaat. 1872. John N.Boyd.
ls3s. Ames F.Hatfield. 1873-74. Francis a.corner. There is one other entry in the town book of such 1436. Jean I, (John)de Laney,2d lcomte.
"Captain James Mott elected and chosen assessor 1836. A os F.Epenas C.Hadden. 1875-76.William A.Boyd. an odd nature that it must be mentioned, an entry 1470. Jean II, (John) de Laney,3d Vicomte,Deputy
Y 1842-45. Elijah G.Dixon. 1877. John C.Fairchild. which shows the strength of an agricultural 8llpereti- to the States-General at Tours In 1484,present at
for the ensuing year 1697, Samuel Palmer chosen
1846-47. Edward Seaman. 1878-79.Joseph H.McLoughlin.
a.
supervisor, Henry Disbrow chosen collector de L and sur- 1848. George Baxter. 1880. William A.Sickles. tion very prevalent in the last century and which may the battles F and 4th
Vicomte.
veyor of the highways, William Palmer elected and 1849-53. Edward Seaman. 1881. Joseph H.McLoughlin. linger still in some old fashioned regions. 1525. Charles I, de Laney, 4th Vcomte. Wives,
chosen constable and recorder. All done by the free- 1854-56. Joseph Hoffman. 1882. William H.Lange. "April 5'h,1785. The Freeholders and Inhabitants 1. Nicole St. Pere, issue, one daughter, mar-
holders and inhabitants of the above said lace at 1857-58. Edward Seaman. 1883. William A.sickles. agree that the overseers of Highways are impowered ried Antoine Pioche, of Laon. 2. Marie de
P 1859. Joseph Hoffman. 1884-86. William H.Lange. , ,
town meeting held at the house of Madam Richbil's to call on all the Men in their several Districts for Villiers issue two sons Charles 6th Vicomte,
on the 2d day of April 1697." Space will not permit the introduction of much curi- the purpose of Destroying the Barbery bushes,so often and Christophe, Seigneur de Raray.
The entries of elections are made irregularly for a ous information contained in the town records which as the said overseers shall think proper, until the 1535. Charles 11, de Laney,5th Vicomte. Wife,Isa-
few years subsequently to the above date, but after- it was the intention to give,and which is found mixed whole are destroyed,any man refusing to come,if he bel Branche, married 15th April, 1534; issue,
wards quite regularly. From an examination the up with the routine entries of town meetings, &c. &c. is legally warned,shall forfeit 4s. for every day,to be Charles 6th Vicomte, Jacques (James) Claude,
following is a list of the supervisors and clerks of the The following entry however is of much importance recovered in the same manner as the fines for neglect and a daughter Barbe.
town from the beginning as accurate as it can be showing as it does the burial place of John Richbell of working the roads are, which fines shall be lay'd 1569. Charles 111,de Laney,6th Vicomte. Wives,1.
tnade: the first white man who bought Mamaroneck of the out as the overseers think proper." It was the popul,ir Madeline Le Brun, married 21st of July, 1569;
surERvrsoRs. natives-the Father of the Town, his mother in law, belief of that day that the smut or blight in wheat and issue,Charles IV., de Laney, Seigneur de Coc-
and one of his daughters. As Mrs. Richbell his g y
list. Samuel Palmer. tato 24. John B.Underhill. g other rains was that the
these unfortunate barberry quebine, (who died in 1667,leaving by Francolse
1698-99,1702. James Mott. 1825-27. Aaron Palmer. Widow continued to live in Mamaroneck and aur- bushes, hence in Mamaroneck as in many other Crochart, his first wife; Charles V, de Laney,
1707-8. Henry Disbrow. 1828.John Merrill. vived till the first years of the eighteenth century, ridiculous as it seems at this day,they were Seigneur de Charlemont, who died unmarried.
1710-n, Samuel Palmer. 1829. Edwin Post. though the precise date of her death can not be s places,proceeded against as public enemies. By his second wife Marthe de Resnel, the
g P rote g
1712-14, Nehemiah Palmer. 1830. Henry Munro. PCoequ
1715-16. Silvanus Palmer. 1&31--32. James H.Guion. found,it is most probable that she too is buried with The de Lanceys of New York so closely connected Seigneur de King, 0th who was created a oun-
1717. Josiah Quinby. 1833-34. Monmouth Lyon. her husband. There is no date to the entry, which with the Province,and State,and the County of West- seller to the King, 20th of March,1652,by whom
1718. John Griffen. 1835-42. James H.Guion.
shows beside the intimacy between the Richbell and cheater, are of French origin,g , the first of them in he had no children.)
1711-20. Henry Fowler. 1846. St Benjamin ri Brown. the Disbrow families. The James Mott who makes y '
1721-22.Silvanus Palmer. 1846. Stephen C.Griffen. America having been driven from France b the Re- Charles III de Laney,6th Vicomte, was pres-
y his
1723. Henry Fowler. 1847-49. Benjamin M.Brown. 1 his declaration was the husband of Richbell's daughter vocation of the Edict of Nantes, being a Huguenot. 1590. eo at the battle de Ivry in1590.
d 15t 2. BJanu-
d May,d e
I� ifs Claude
1724. Silvanus Palmer. 1850.James H.Guion. Mary whose burial is mentioned in it. The annexed account of this family is mainly from second w
III 1725-26. Henry Fowler. 1851. Charles W.Hopkins. ,
1727 42. SilvanusPalmer.t 1852. Louis Walsh.
Bolton's second edition of his History of West- 1593. ary, 1593, he had issue,Charles de Laney,Sieur
1743. Underhill Budd. 1853. Zechariah Voorhees. The Burial Place of Richbell. cheater County, which was drawn up from the au- de Suine et de Niville, Antoine, a Canon of the
1744. Nehemiah Palmer. 1854• Louis Walsh. "I James Mott do give and grant to Margaret Dis- thorities referred to in it, and later information from Cathedral of Laon, and Claude.
17457. Underhill Budd. 18558. John Morrell. he resent.writer. 1611. Charles de Laney,Sieur de Suine et de Niville,
1746-58. JohUnderhill
hill BStevenadd. 1855-60. WilliJohn M L.rr Barker, brow and her three sons Henery John and Benjamin the late Bishop de Lancey and t p
Dec.1758. John Townsend.2 1861. Louis Walsh. all belonging to Momoronack to them and their fam- The de Lanceys of New York,are a branch in the 1653.born in 1611,married u 25th June, 1653,.Jeanne
1759-60.Reuben Bloomer. 1862-64.Jonas D.Hill. 11 forever t i rburying ancient house of de Lancey in France, springing . Kin was created a Counsellor of State to the
eshe Liberty t of their dead
1761-70. John Townsend. 1865-66. Louie Walsh. yy
1771-75. William Sutton. lbs7. Jacob B.Humphrey.
Whether Father or Mother,husband or wife,brother from Guy de Lancey; Ecuyer,Vicomte de Laval et de 1689. King in 1654, and died 23d of November, 168 ,
1776. Reuben Bloomer. 1868. Schureman Halsted. or sister,son or daughter,in a certain peace of Land Nouvion who in 1432,held of the Prince-Bishop of leaving issue, one child,-
1783-93. Gilbert Budd. 1869-70. Thomas L.Rushmore. Laying near the Salt Meadow,where Mr. John Rich- the Duchy of Laon,the fiefs of the four banier of La- Charles Ambroise de Laney,Seigneur de Ni-
17%-97. Benjamin Griffen. 1871. James J.Burnet. bell and his wife's Mother, and my wife Mary Mott val and that of Nouvion.l These territories formed 1702. ville et du Condray, de Frenoi, et d Orgemont,
1798-1800.John P.De Lancey. 1872-76. Charles H.Birney.
1801-2. Edward Merritt. 1877. Matthias Banta, who has Was buried in my home lot or feild adjoining to my one of the fourVicomte-cies of the Laonnois,a divi- who married 9th January, 1702, Marie Made-
1803-6. Aaron Palmer. been continually re-elected to the house,written by William palmer Clerk of Momoro- sion of the old province of the "Isle of France," leine Labbe. He was confirmed in his nobility
1807-13. John Pinkney. present year,1886,and for the bordering on Picardy. 1697. by a decree of the King in Council,Nov. 30th,
y ❑ack b order of Capt James Mott. borde
Y P g v n-
1814. John Peter De Lancey? last few years by a unanimous y p
1815. Monmouth Lyon. vote of all parties,although he is I. Town Records 71. The manuscript genealogies of this family are re- 1697. He had issue,an only son,
81 a strong Democrat. served in the Armorial General de la France 2d Reg- 1707. Pierre Charles de Laney, Seigneur de Niville
1816.Aaron Palmer. g 2
f
France et de BI -us born 5th of June,1707; an officer of
Libra o ,
1817-19. John Pinkney. The spot is on the property of Mr. Thomas L. inter, 2d volume,in the National L y
Rushmore on the little knoll between the Harbour at Paris, and in the archives of the department of 1750. the King's Guards, who died unmarried in
Towx CLERKS. and De Lancey Avenue, marked by a few trees and a the Aisne, at the city of Laon. The latter have been 1750.
. . ur de Rara
1697-99.William Palmer. 1755-65. William Mott. few half buried tombstones of a comparatively late q P
1702. Obadiah Palmer. 1766-70. John Townsend. P y given in the Dictionnaire Histori ue du Depart- Christophe de Laney, lgne y,
1708-15. Eliezer Gedney. 1771-1806. Gilbert Budd. date. How many of the Disbrows are buried there ment de' 1'Aisne of M. Melville. The descent is above named, the younger of the two sone of
1718-54. Nehemiah Palmer. 1807-16. Dr.David Rogers,Jr.4 nought remains to tell. They have had for sixty or thus given from the French authorities' 15250 axles de Laney 4th,on, created Baron ids to de Laval et de
- - seventy years a cemetery of their own on West St.
no
1 Died 1742. Nehemiah Palmer was elected supervisor in his stead. The last person whom the writer knows to have been t g issue b his first wife,Barbe de Louen, married
Pe Sometimes spelled"Nouvian." These]ands and villages are situated )'
'Elected in the place of John Stevenson,who had removed from the buried on the knoll,was the venerable Quaker who a few miles from the city of Laon in the present department of the 1553. Secondly,January 19th,1553,Francoise Lami,
town.
Henry Merritt and John 2 The official MSS. of this work, the great National Register of the
once owned the farm and the knoll itself,Seaman Giles A daughter of Pierre Lami,Seigneur de la Mor sere.
a The candidates for supervisor in 1814 were
Pinkney. The result of the election was contested,and in June,1814. -and of whom he has a vivid recollection. It is the French Noblesse,were first printed by order of Louie SV.,in 17:18. la Noblesse de France,by Chenaye Desbois,vol.Viii:title"Laney;"An-
the justice of the peace appointed Mr.De Lancey supervisor. - s In two vols.Svo.,published at Paris and at Leon in 1865. nuaire de Is Noblesse of Borel d'Hauterive for 1855, "Laney-Raray."
4 Dr.Rogers and Gilbert Budd Horton were the candidates for town election,which was terminated in Jane of that year by the justices of 4 Le Nobiliaire de Picardie,Paris, 69" title"Lanei,"Dictionnaire de 6 Ecuyer,denotes a gentleman entitled to use coat-armor.
clerk in 1814. A contest took place between them over the result of the the peace electing Dr.Rogers to the office. 3
i'
18 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 19
1584. He died in 1584, leaving a son Nicholas de I The Arms are blazoned in the "Armorial chant and amassed a large fortune. He was a highly Justice of New York and continued so the remain-
Laney,second Baron, Treasurer of Gaston, first Gen6ral de la France," thus, "ARMES; or, a 11aigle esteemed and influential man,and held,through all der of his life. In 1753,on the accession of Sir Dan-
Duke of Orleans who married Luer6ce de eployee de sable, charge aur 1'estomac d'un ecusson his life, honorable appointments in the councils of vers Osborne as Governor, in the place of George
Lancise, a Florentine lady, and had four chil- d'azur, a trois lances d'or, posees en pal, pointes en the city,as well as in the Representative Assembly of Clinton, he received the commission of Lieutenant
-
dren. 1. Henry de Laney, third Baron, who haut." In English, ARMS• Or, an eagle wings dis- the Province. He was elected Alderman of the west Governor, which had been conferred upon him in
1654. was created January 17th, 1654, Marquis De played, sable, charged on the breast with a shield ward of the city, five years after his arrival, in 1691. 1747 by George II. and had been kept back by Clin-
Rarai. 2. Francois de Laney, Seigneur D'Ara- azure,three tilting lances or, in pale,points upward. He was representative from the city and county of ton until this time. The oath of office was adminis-
mont, called the Chevalier de Raray,who was On becoming a British subject, Etienne (or Ste- New York,in the Provincial Assembly, from 1702 to tered October 10, 1753. The tragical death of Sir
killed at the siege of Conde, 17th August, 1674, phen) de Laney modified these arms which had 1715, with the exception of 1709; and in 1725,on the Danvers Osborn by suicide two days afterwards, oc-
unmarried; and 3. Charles de Laney, Seigneur originated before the use of crests in heraldry, to decease of Mr.Provoost,he was elected again to that casioned the elevation of Mr. de Lancey to the Gu-
de Ribecourt, et Pimpre, who married Made- snake them more like those of English families,most body. The following year he was re-elected,and con- bernatorial chair, which he occupied till the 2d of
leine d'Aguesseau and died without issue in 1675. of which have crests; and though not registered in tinned in office until 1737; a service of twenty-six September, 1755, when the new Governor, Admiral
4. Madeleine de Laney, married 11th Novem- the English College of Arms,they appear as so modi- years in all. In 1716 being a vestryman of Trinity Sir Charles Hardy arrived, who administered the
ber, 1619, Charles de Mornay,Seigneur de Mont- fied in most English heraldic works, and have since church,he contributed£50 the amount of his salary government till the 2d of July, 1757. Preferring a
chevreuil. been so borne in America notably on the official seal as Representative to the General Assembly, to buy a naval command Hardy resigned, and sailed in the
Henry de Laney,above named,1st Marquis de of his son James de Lancey, as Lt. Governor and city clock for that church, the first ever erected in expedition to Louisburgh,and Mr. De Lancey again
Raray, married January 30th, 1633, Catharine Captain General of New York. They are thus blaz- New York. To him and Mr. John Moore,his part- took the reins of Government.
d'Angennes, daughter of Louis d'Angennes, oned:—ARMs; Azure,a tilting lance proper,point up- ner,the city is also indebted for the introduction of The ministry of England wished to keep the tom.
Seigneur de la Loupe and his wife Francoise, ward with a pennon argent bearing a cross gules fire engines,in 1731.I He was one of the principal mand of New York in the hands of Mr. de Lancey,
daughter of Odet, Seigneur d'Auberville,Bailly fringed and floating to the right,debruised of afess,or. benefactors of the French church, Du St. Esprit, es- but it was then, as it is to this day, a rule of the Eng-
of the city of Caen, in Normandy, by whom he CREST; a sinister arm in armor embowed, the hand tablished in New York by the refugees who fled upon lish Government never to appoint a native colonist to
j had, 1. Gaston Jean Baptiste de Laney,2d Mar- grasping a tilting lance,pennon floating,both proper. the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and a warm the supreme command over his own colony. To effect
quis; 2. Charles de Lancy-Raray,killed at the MOTTO; Certum voto pete finem. friend of the French Huguenots at New Rochelle. their object in this case without violating their
siege of Lille,in 1667,unmarried; and 3. Marie The name of this family,anciently spelled"Lanci," The following letter addressed by him,1591,to his rule,they decided not to appoint any new Governor
Charlotte, wife of Louis des Acres, Marquis de and later "Lancy," in France, was anglicised bjV friend Alexander Allaire is still preserved among the as long as Mr. de Lancey lived; he therefore re-
1'Aigle, who died in Paris, August 27th, 1734, Etienne de Laney on being denizenized a British sub- public records at New Rochelle. sion as the Governor of New York under his h, some
1 JIiLIET 16x1. Sion as Lieutenant-Governor until his death, some
aged 82 ears. ect in 1686 after which time he always wrote his NIED
Yoax LE 27 s
g Y J Y f Jul 1760.
ill,l fterwards on the 30th o y,
1660. Gaston Jean Baptiste de Laney, second Mar- name Stephen de Lancey—thus inserting an"e"in Moxs.ALLAIRE: three years a
„ Monsieur Notre Amy Mons.Bonheiler, avant de partir me donnera «
as
quis de Raray, married 4th May, 1660, Marie the final syllable. The de is the ordinary French On the 19th of June, 1754, Governor de Lancey
ordre u'en cas uil vin-se a mourir it soit fair donnation de ses t6rres
convened and presided over the celebrated Congress of
Luce Auber , daughter of Robert, Marquis de prefix, denoting nobility. &�sa filleule votre fills, Sy Tons faire guelque Benefice des dits
L, Vatan, and had two sons, Charles Henry de The Seigneur Jacques (James) de Laney,above- terres. Soit A Couper des arbres on a faire des foius our les prairies vous Albany,the first Congress ever held in America, over
Laney, third Marquis, made a page to the King named,second son of Charles de Laney,fifth Vicomte Is pouves a]'exclusion de qui quese Boit,Je anis' which he presided. This was a Congress of delegates
Mone.votre tr6 humble serviteur, from all the colonies,which the home government di-
1679. in 1679, who died shortly after,unmarried,and de Laval et de Nouvion, was the ancestor of the ETIENNE DE LANCEY,
Gaston Jean Baptiste de Laney, who succeeded Huguenot branch,the only existing one, of this fam- Con est la 0r6table coppie de]'original.9 rected the.Governor of New York to hold, for the pur-
pose of conciliating the Indian nations who were in-
his brother as fourth Marquis and died unmar- ily. His son the Seigneur Jacques de Laney of Caen, He was a vestryman of Trinity church,New York at vited to attend it; of renewing the covenant chain
ried not long after. Both these brothers died married Marguerite Bertrand,daughter of Pierre Ber- d January inter-
g g married British
mar
the
41. He closely to
death,in 17 more clo e
is des hem
time of h attaching t
1680. in 1680; and with them ended the males of trand of Caen,by his first wife, the Demoiselle Firel, the 1 and attac g Y
23d,1700,Anne Van Cortlandt,daughter of Stephanus eat,and comprising all the provinces in one general
this branch of the family. Their sisters were and had two children,a son Etienne (or Stephen) de Van Cortlandt whose family was then one of the
five Henriette wife of the Marquis de Creve- Lance born at Caen October 24 1663 and a dau h-
( Y treaty to be made with them in the King's name,and
Stephen a re
, , 9 , , e Ste presents we
Y g e Provinc and rese
most opulent and extensive in the ) P r no other ur ose. Speeches p
3
p for P P
coeur, Catharine,wife of the Seigneur de la Eil- ter, the wife of John Barbarie. On the revocation de Lance at his death in 1741 left issue surviving,
larderie;z Francoise, died unmarried; Annette, of the edict of Nantes,Stephen de Lancey was one of Y made to the Indians who promised to do all that was
James, Peter, Stephen, John, Oliver, Susan and asked of them, but no formal treaty whatever was
died unmarried, and Marie Luce, wife of the those who, stripped of their titles and estates, fled
Comte de Nonant,who died 16th March, 1743, from persecution—leaving his aged mother, then a Anne. Of these sons Stephen and John died bathe- concluded. The Congress voted instead, that the
lors. Susan married Admiral Sir Peter Warren, and delegation from each colony except New York,should
aged eighty. widow, in concealment at Caen,he escaped to Hol-
Anne the Hon. John Watts of New York. The eldestappoint one of their number,who together should be
I Le Palaie d'LHland where remaining a short time he proceeded to onneur,Paris,1664,page 312,family"d'Angennee.of in the City of New York 27th November, 1703, and
" son,James de Lancey, a man of great talent,was born a committee to digest a plan for a general union of all
sIn front of the altar at the church of Vreberie, (department
England, and taking out letters of denization as an the colonies.
Oise,France),there is a tombstone erected to this lady,inscribed: English subject at London, on the 20th of March, received his education at the University of Cambridge, The choice of the New York committee-man was
i1 for N York where he arrived on
1686 he sailed o New
, r of Corpus most impar-
Haute
D. o• M. England. He was a fellow commons p
]let repose the 7th of June following. Here with three hundred l{ left to Governor de Lancey, who, acting
P g handsome William
etpuissanteDame pounds sterling, the proceeds of the sale of some Christi College(where he was styled the tially, appointed his political opponent,
Madame FRANCCISE DE LANCI RARI,dame American")and studied law in the Temple. In 1725, Smith, Esq.,the elder.5 This movement, which was
Des Torres et Seigneuries,d'Haramout,Ribecourt, family jewels,the parting gift of his mother, he em- he returned to New York and on the decease of John
Pimpre St.Germain etRuy,en partie Chatelaine barked in mercantile pursuits. By industry and strict not within the objects of the Congress as defined in
Hereditaire et engagiate des Domaines de B6thizy application to business,he became a successful mer- Barbarie, his uncle by marriage, was appointed by
et Verberie,possides par ses peres de puisplus George II.to succeed him in the Provincial Council. $For a full biographical sketch of Governor De Lancey,see Documen-
deux cents ans veuve de Messire Barthelemi de
Flahaut Chevelier seigneur de la Billarderie Maitre a MSS.,"Bertrand"Genealogy:—John Barbarie and his family came He took his seat at the board, January 29, 1729, hi Iy History of New York,vol.IV,p.1037.
de cam de Cavalerie,exempt des rdes du corps to New York in 1668 in which year on 5th Janus be and his sone held it to April 9, 1733,when he was appointed Chief + daVirginia and Carolina did not send delegates,but desired to be con-
do P ga P- , y ( �)� sidered as present. Doc.Hist.N.Y.,II,567.
du Roi tue a la batalle de Mal plaquet. La dits Peter,and John Peter,were denizened as English subjects in London. I Miscellaneous works, by Gen.de Peyster;De Peyster Gen. Ref. 5 See Letter of Lords of Trade,directing the holding of the Congress,
Dame de la Billarderie set decodes la 25 Juin,1624. He was subsequently a merchant in New York, in partnership with and the minutes of its proceeding-in full,in Doc.Hist.N. Y.,II,555
agree de 61 ane. his brother-in-law,Stephen de Lancy,and a member of the Council of P'64.
9 Copied from original MSS.in Rec.of New Rochelle. and N.Y.Col.Hist.,vi.p.853.
Priez pour son ame the Province.
7 .
f
MAMARONECK. 21
20 MAMARONECK.
the letter of the Board of Trade above mentioned, re- The death of Governor James de Lancet', which the First Dragoon Guards; both died bachelors,the sue. 2. Susan Augusta, wife of James Fenimore
salted in the adopting of a plan of a union to be made took place on the 30th of July, 1760, was an event former May 6th, 1840,and the latter May 26th, 1857; Cooper, the eminent American Author,3born 28th
b an act of Parliament,which, after the provisions which had a great influence in the affairs of the Prov- and three daughters, Margaret, married July 17th, January.January,
married .lot January, 1Fra and died
Y 1794 Sir Jukes Granville Clifton Jukes, Bart. and 20th of January, 1852. 3. Maria Frances, born
were resolved on, was put into form by Benjamin ince. He was found expiring upon that morning,
Franklin, who was a delegate from Pennsylvania,and seated in his chair in his library,too late for medical died June 11th,1804 without leaving children; Anna August 3d, 1793; died 17th of January, 1806. 4.
and Susan who both died spinsters,the first, August Elizabeth Caroline,born 4th March, 1801, and died,
which was not decided upon, but merely sent to the aid. His funeral took place on the evening of the
different provinces for consideration. 31st of July, 1760. The bodywas de osited in his
10th 1851, and the last April 7th, 1866. single, 25th February, 1860. 5. Martha Arabella,
82.
Before the motion for the appointment of this com- family vault, in the middle aisle of Trinity Church, Stephen the second son of Lieutenant-Governor de born 10th January,1803, who died in May 18
William Heathcote de Lancey, the first Bishop of
mittee was made,Governor de Lancey, being in favor the funeral service being performed by the Rev.Mr. Lancey was the proprietor of what is now the town of I
North Salem in this county,which came to his father Western New York, was born at Heathcote Hill,
of the colonies uniting for their own defence, pro- Barclay, in great magnificence; the building was as art of his share in the Manor of Cortlandt, which Mamaroneck, October 8th, 1797.
posed the building and maintaining,at the joint ex splendidly illuminated. The accounts of the funeral P
town Stephen de Lancey settled. He built a large A
pence of the colonies,of a chain of forts covering their and the procession from his house in the Bowery to double dwelling, which he subsequently gave to the at Nfter ew Rochelle, where his teacherattendwas Mr. Waite,
ding school at Mamaroneck, and then
whole exposed frontier,and some in the Indian coup- the church, filled columns of the papers of the days .
- town for an Academy which is still in existence.) He father of the present Chief Justice Waite of the Su-
try itself. But this plan,like the other,was without The following particulars are copied from amemomarried Hannah Sackett,daughter of Rev. Joseph preme Court of the United States,he was sent to the
effect upon the Congress; for,as he tells us himself, randum written by the elder John Watts, of New Sackett of Crom Pond and died without issue May academy of the Rev. Mr. Hart, at Hempstead, L. I.,
"they seemed so fully persuaded of the backwardness York, in 1787
of the several assemblies to come into joint and Vlg- «James de Lancey was a man of uncommon abilities in every view, 6th, 1795. Heathcote,the third son of the Lieuten- and on the death of that gentleman, was transferred
at the suggestion of his father's personal friend, the
ant-Governor,died young before his father. gg
orous measures that they were unwilling to enter from the law to agriculture,and an elegant,pleasant companion—what John Peter de Lancey,the fourth son of Lt. Gov- Hon. Rufus King, to that of the Rev. Dr. Eigen-
y 1 rarely unites in one person; it seemed doubtful which excelled,his
upon the consideration of the matters. His idea Quick penetration or his sound judgment; the first seemed an instar-t ernor de Lancey,was born in the city of New York, brodt,at Jamaica. Entering Yale College in 1813,
seems to have been for a practical union of the col- guide to the last. No man in either office,(Chief Justice or Lieut. Y g
onies for their own defense to be made by themselves; Governor,) had more the love and confidence of the people; nor any July 15th, 1753, and died at Mamaroneck, January Mr. de Lance graduated in 1817 an at once com-
whilst that of the committees,who despaired of a vol- man,before or since,half the influence. He was unfortunately taken 30th, 1828. He was educated in Harrow school in menced the study of theology with the celebrated
from us in July,1760,so suddenly that his very family suspected no England, and at the military school at Greenwich. Bishop Hobart, as a private student. He was or-
from
union, was for a consolidation of the colonies danger. We had spent,very agreeably,the day before on Staten Island; In 1771,he entered the regular army as Ensign,and dained a deacon by that prelate on the 28th of De-
to be enforced by act of Parliament. Neither plan, after ten at night he left my house perfectly well,in the morning he served up to the rank of captain in the 18th,or Royal cember, 1819,and a priest on March 6th,1822.
however,met with favor in any quarter,and the Con- was as usual,but about nine a servant was dispatched to tell me his mas- Mr.de Lance married on the 22d of November,1820,
ter was very ill. I mounted instantly and hurried to his house in BoweryA Irish Regiment of Foot. He was,also, for i time by Y
grecs effected little but the conciliation of the In; Lane,but on the way was alarmed by a call'that all was over,'and too special permission,Major of the Pennsylvania Loyal- Frances,third daughter of Peter Jay Munro, of New
dian8� true I found it;he sat r4clined in his chair,one leg drawn in,the other York and of Mamaroneck, the distinguished lawyer,
I not been fists,commanded by Col. William Allen. ' nro thelastEn English
the elbow so natural) that had Dr.Harr Mu g
arms over v.
extended hiss, Y, of the Re �
r onl child Y
In the autumn of 1754,the Governor suggested to � He received the Heathcote estates of his mother, only
child
Assemblythe system of settling lands in town-
apprized of it,I certainly should have spoken as I entered the room.
3 g Nobody but his youngest daughter,a child,was present at the time,so in the Manor of Scarsdale; and having retired from Rector of St.Peter's church, Albany, N. Y., by his
ships instead of patents, a measure which, being little did the family apprehend the least danger. Never did these eyes
passed by them, rapidly increased the population and behold each a spectacle,or did my spirits feel such an impression. The a military life,in 1789 returned to America and re- third wife, Eve Jay, daughter of Peter Jay, the rat
prosperity of the rapidly
idea affects a whenever o I think s it; to lose such a companion,such sided at Mamaroneck. He built a new house, still of that name in Rye, (one of whose younger brothers
a counsellor,such a friend." standing on Heathcote Hill,the site of his grandfather was Chief Justice John Jay) by his wife Margaret,
Lancey which was a
c
- daughter of the Hon. Henry White, of the Council of
On the 31st of October, 1754, Governor de La y Heathcote a great brick manor house, w g
' m- James de Lance married as above stated, Anne,
h rter of King's now Colum- Y to the Revolu- , the Province of New York, and his wife Eve Van
signed and eased the g ( rut several ears riot
11 burnt g P cldenta y Y P
bia)college,in spite of the long and bitter opposition eldest daughter and co-heiress of the Hon. Caleb tion. He married 28th September, 1785, Elizabeth Cortlandt,of Yonkers.
of the Presbyterians,led by Mr. William Livingston. Heathcote, Lord of the Manor of Scarsdale. By her, Floyd, daughter of Col. Richard Floyd of Mastic, While a divinity student Mr. de Lancey held the
So decided were they against the Episcopalians at he had four sons; first, James; second, Stephen; Suffolk County,the head of that old Long Island first services of the Episcopal Church in Mamaro-
this time, and so determined were the efforts of Mr. third, Heathcote; fourth, John Peter; and four family, and had three sons and five daughters. The neck; and with the aid of his father,John Peter de
Livingston to break down the college, that, though daughters; first, Mary,wife of William Walton, who sons were, 1.Thomas James, a lawyer, who died in Lancey and Peter Jay Munro, who were its first
died in 1767• second Susannah born 18th November, wardens founded the Pariah of St. Thomas in that
signed and sealed, the charter was not delivered in d . � ' 1822,at the early age of 32,leaving by his wife Mary, ,
consequence*of the clamor,till May 7th, 1755,when, 1737,died a spinster in 1815;third,Anne,born 1746, daughter of Thomas Ellison, an only child, a son, village.
after an address, Governor de Lancey presented it to and died in 1817,who married Thomas Jones,Justice also named Thomas James, who married Frances After serving for short periods as deacon in Trinity
the trustees in form' of the Supreme Court of New York, author of the
" Augusta Bibby,and died in 1859,without having had church, and in Grace church,New York, he was in-
No American had greater influence in the col- History of New York during the Revolutionary War;
oniea than James de Lancet'. Circumstances, it is and Martha who died a spinster, aged 19,in 1769. issue. 2. Edward Floyd,born 18th June, 1795 and vited by the venerable Bishop White of Pennsylvania
died a bachelor, 19th October 1820. 3. William to be his personal assistant in the "Three United
De Lance the eldest son of the Lieutenant- Churches" of Christ church, St. Peter's, and St
h as JamesMamaroneck
rue aided in raisin him to this elevation—sacY, born 8th Oetober, 1797 at ,
t gHeathcote b
education,connections,wealth, and his high conser- Governor,born in 1732,was the head of the political and died at Geneva, New York, April 5, 1865, the James in Philadelphia,of which he was also the Rec-
vative principles; but he owed as much to personal party,called by his name, from his father's death to late Bishop of Western New York. tor. Mr. de Lancey accepted this position and re-
qualities,perhaps,as to all other causes united. Gay, the Revolution and its leader in the Assembly of the The daughters were five in number. 1. Anne moved to Philadelphia,where he continued to reside
witty, easy of access, and frank, he was, personally, Province. He married, August 17th, 1771, Margaret Charlotte,born 17th September, 1786, married 10th in the closest and most confidential relations with
the most popular ruler the Province ever possessed, Allen of Philadelphia, daughter of William Allen, December, 1827; John Loudon McAdam, the cele- Bishop White,until the death in 1836, of that great
even when drawing tightest the reins of Govern- Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, whose sister was the brated originator of McAdamized roads,2 and died at and venerable prelate,the first Bishop of the Ameri-
ment."5 wife of Governor John Penn of that Province. The Hoddesdon in England29th May, 1852 without is- can Church, consecrated by Anglican Bishops.
late Mrs.Harry Walter Livingston(born Mary Allen) g ' y' '
During this period, in 1827, in his thirtieth year,
I See his speech to the Assembly of August 20th,1754. Ass.Jour.,II, who died in 1855,was a niece of these two sisters. Mr. de Lancey was chosen Provost of the University
386,387. James de Lancey had two sons, Charles in early life I see Town of North Salem.
2 See the proceedings of the Congress. Doc.Riot.N.Y.,II,386,387. a British naval officer, and James, Lieut-Colonel of 2 She was his second wife. His first wife was Glorianna Nicoll of
9 Assembly Journal,II,for September,1754. Suffolk County,Long Islaad;a first cousin of Mrs.John Peter de Lancey, a This marriage was solemnized in the house of Mr. de Lancey,at
*Doc.Hist.N.Y.IV,10751. the mother of his second wife. Heathcote Hill.
6 Doc.Hist.N.Y.,p.1057. 6 Parker's Post Boy and other newspapers.
S
22 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 23
of Pennsylvania, that old"College in Philadelphia" and yet his courtesy and gentlemanly bearing,together sagacious, more steady, more true, in laying the tion, died at Westchester 4th Sept. 1820; 9. Susanna
founded by Benjamin Franklin; and also received with a pleasant touch of humor, so lubricated the foundations of the Church,like a wise master-builder, wife of Col.Thomas Barclay and mother of Henry,
Bar-
the degree of D.D., from his Alma Mater, Yale Col- friction of every contest,that no undue heat remained we never expect to see." de Lancet', Thomas,George, and Sir Anthony Bar-
° lege—being the youngest man upon whom,up to that on either side when the struggle was over. No higher John Peter De Lancey by will(dated 28th of Janu- clay, and Beverly Barclay, and of Eliza wife of
time,she had conferred that honor. He remained testimony could be given to the manner in which he ary,1823)devised his property in this town to Thomas Schuyler Livingston, Maria wife of Simon Fraser,
in the Provostship five years, having brought the discharged his high office,than the fact of great and James De Lancey, the only child of his deceased son and Susan, first wife of the late Peter G. Stuy-
University up to a very flourishing condition, when steady growth in his Diocese,together with a main- Thomas James,and to his son William Heathcote De vesant of New York, and Ann wife of William H.
he resigned to resume his profession and was elected tenance of an internal harmony, unity and peace,such Lancey the Bishop of Western New York (except a Parsons of that city; 10. Jane wife of her cousin the
assistant minister of St. Peter's church,Philadelphia, as no one of our great Dioceses has been able to equal, portion of the western end of De Lancey's Neck which Hon. John Watts Jr, for a time first Judge of West-
with the reversion of the Rectorship upon the death much less surpass; nor was he ever the subject of he had conveyed in his life.time to his deceased son chester County, and afterwards Recorder of New
of Bishop White. systematic attack from outside of his own jurisdiction. Thomas James,who had devised the same to his only York; 11. Warren, drowned by accident,a child; 12.
That event occurring in 1836, Dr. de Lancey then But his care was not limited to his own immediate child Thomas James the younger). All the property Warren, made a cornet of Horse for his gallantry at
became Rector of St. Peter's and remained such until charge. While Hobart College, and De Veaux Col- of Thomas James the younger lay upon the western the battle of White-plains at the age of 15, he having
1839, when,upon the division of the State of New lege, and the Theological Training School, and other part of de Lancey's Neck. The eastern part of that run away from his mother's house at West-farms to
York into two Dioceses, he was elected Bishop of flourishing Church schools, manifest his power of Neck,the Heatheote Hill tract,and sedge lots,with the join the British Army; afterwards of New York, and
that part of the State, west of Utica, and consecrated organization and maintenance, and his success in other lands of John Peter de Lancey in Mamaroneck subsequently of Madison County New York,where he
Bishop of Western New York, at Auburn, May 9th, rallying aid by means of the confidence which his passed to the late Bishop de[Lancey, who devised the left descendants.
1839, and took up his residence at Geneva in Ontario personal and official character inspired,he never ne- same to his four "surviving children, Edward Floyd. Oliver de Lancey, the youngest of the sons of the
County,a town nearly in the centre of the new Dio- glected the General Institutions of the Church. Not John Peter, William Heathcote, Jr., and Margaret, Huguenot, and the third of them who left issue,born
cele the same year. only in General Convention was he one of the strong wife of Thomas F. Rochester, M.D. The Heathcote 16th Sept. 1718,died at Beverly,Yorkshire,England,
After a long,distinguished and successful episcopate men of the Upper House; but in the Board of Mis- Hill estate was devised to them equally, and subse- 27th Nov. 1785, a merchant of New York,but more
of twenty-seven years, Bishop de Lancey died in his sions,in the Church Book Society, in the General quently by purchase of the shares of his brothers and prominent in Public life, was Colonel of the Forces,
own house in Geneva, on the 5th of April,1865,in the Theological Seminary,he has been among the fore- sister became the sole property of Edward Floyd de and Receiver-General,of the Province of New York
sixty-eighth year of his age. "In him," said awriter most,sometimes the one of all others to lead the way Lancey, the present proprietor. Thomas James de for many years; Member of Assembly for the City
the Church in America loses the further at critical moments, and to sound the call to which Lancey, the younger, sold his part of de Lancey's from 1756 to 1760; Member of the Governor's Council
of the day,
services of one of her oldest and wisest Bishops. ,De- others were glad to rally. His clear-sightedness,ln- Neck in his lifetime, and it is now held by many from 1760 to 1783; commander of the Forces of the
scended from one of the oldest and best families in deed,sometimhs made him a little in advance of his owners. The eastern part, has now been sold Province in the French War, and as such present at
this country—which dates far back in our colonial time; and no truer proof of wisdom could be given by by the children of Bishop de Lancey except the the Repulse of Ticonderoga; commander of the De-
history,and was from the first one of the staunchest a tenacious man than the promptness with which he extreme south-eastern part,the country seat of Ed- partment of Long Island during the whole Revolu-
tionarypillars of the Church' Bishop de Lancey had also the dropped a subject when satisfied that it was not yet ward F. de Lancey. War,for which he raised a brigade of three
ase of this kind was in regard Peter de Lancey,second son of Etienne de Lancey Regiments called "De
good fortune to be personally connected with the ripe for action. One cLancey's Battalions"of which
leading minds in our American branch of the Church to the General Theological Seminary, which he fore- the Huguenot, prominent in the affairs of the he was the Brigadier-General. Married Phila Franks
Catholic. After studying for holy orders under saw must sooner or later change its form from a gen- Province, Member of Assembly from Westchester for of Philadelphia in 1742,and had issue two sone and
Bishop Hobart, and being ordained by him both eral to a local institution; and about twenty years many years, and High Sheriff was born 26 August, four daughters; 1. Stephen,a lawyer born 1748,died
Deacon and Priest,he became assistant to the vener- ago he proposed it in the Board. The proposal failed, 1705, and died 17 October, 1770; he married Eliza- 6 Dec. 1798 at Portsmouth N.H.,Lt. Col. of one of
able Bishop White,and continued in the closest and and was not renewed. The time for that change is beth daughter of Gov. Cadwallader Colden Jan.7th his Fathers Battalions,after the war Chief Justice
most confidential intercourse with him to his death much nearer now than it was then, and the shape 1737-8 and had issue twelve children. 1. Stephen a of the Bahamas, and Governor of Tobago,
in 1836. * * * During his connection with which it will take, will probably be different in some lawyer, Recorder of Albany, and Clerk of Tryon married Cornelia daughter of Rector Barclay of
is from Bishop de Lancey's ideas at County; 2. John succeeded his father as Member Trinity church,N.Y.,had one son,Sir William Howe
numerous oats important respects _
h filled n t o y _
the Diocese of Pennsylvania, e p p p P
f the de Lance K. C. B. Quarter-Master-General Master General of Wel-
of dignity and useful service, among which were the that time.' But his foresight as to the coming change for Westchester and was also High Sheriff o y, Q
Provostship of the University of Pennsylvania, the will continue on record. Another and still more im- County, married Miss Wickham and had an only lington's Army in 1815,who was killed at Waterloo.
child a daughter who was the wife of the Hun. The daughters of Govr.Stephen,were, 1. Susan, mar-
Secretaryship of the House of Bishops, and of the portant subject was also introduced first by him into Christopher Yates,Chief Justice and Governor of the ried let Col.
Pennsylvania Convention; his activity,high charac- General Convention—the adoption of the Provincial Win. Johnson eldest son of Sir John
ter and living influence, were inferior to those of no System. Bishop White,indeed, had sketched out the State of New York. 3. Peter a lawyer of Charleston, Johnson, Bart.,and 2d General Sir Hudson Lowe,K.
oS. C. 4.Anne wife of John Coxe of Philadelphia. 5. C. B. Governor of St.Helena during the captivity of
other Priest in the Diocese. This early promise was plan long before, and he had taken it from the uni-
not disappointed, but abundantly fulfilled, in his vernal system of the Church in all ages and countries; Alice, wife of Ralph Izard of S. C. Delegate to the. Napoleon the Great. Charlotte her only daughter by
Continental Congress from South Carolina, 1780 to Col. Johnson married Count Balmain,the Russian
career as the first Bishop of Western New York. He but Bishop de Lancey was the first to propose it,
1783,U. S. Commissioner to Tuscany in 1777, and U. Commissioner at St. Helena; 2. Phila died,single,3.
was one of the men whom nature had marked out for formally, to the Legislature of the Church. The
a ruler among his fellows. With sound principles, time had not come; and the Bishop wisely let it sleep S.Senator from S. C. 1789 to 1795. 6. Elizabeth died Anne married Wm. Lawson of the Island of Berbice,
single; 7. James High Sheriff of Westchester at and 4. Charlotte married Col. Child of the British Army.
earnest devotion,personal gravity, and spotless purity thereafter; but here, as before,the proof of his fore-
of life,he possessed a clearness of head,a keen knowl- sight as to the approaching and certain needs of the for several years preceding the outbreak of the 2. Oliver De Lancey the second son of Brigadier
edge of human nature,and a coolness,caution,readi- Church is written in the records of her institutions. American Revolution, Colonel of the Westchester General Oliver, (often confounded in histories and
near, and boldness,which all combined in making Bishops of more brilliance in some departments, of Light Horse,the alert and famous Partisan Chief of other writings with his Father) entered the British
him a successful Bishop. His skill in debate was re- more moving eloquence, of more sympathetic temper- the Neutral Ground in the war of the Revolution, Regular Army,as Cornet in the 17th Light Dragoons,
• markable,and was fully equalled by his mastery of all aments, of more personal popularity, of more rapid Member of the Council of Nova Scotia, died May 2d, a youth,several years prior to the American Revolu-
the resourcesof parliamentary tactics,either for carry- visible success, we may behold; but a Bishop more 1804 at his residence Willow Park, near Annapolis, tion. He succeeded Andre(being then a Major) in
the a measure which he favored, c defeating one to Nova Scotia, aged 58 years; 8. Oliver, of Westfarms, 1780 as Adjutant-General of the British Army in
ing ]The change did not come till about fifteen or sixteen years after Lieutenant in the British Navy,resigned because he America. In 1794 was made Colonel of his Regiment
which he was opposed. His vigilance and unflinching Bishop de LA death, when the Seminary was totally reorganized as it
i would not fight against his native land in the Revolu- , in succession t0 the Duke of Newcastle, and Barrack
tenacity were fully on a par with his other qualities; now is.
t
1
MAMARONECK. 25
24 MAMARONECK.
t — --- — --
Master General of the Empire a year or two later. I About 1870 began a change,and now it is understood is lodged in the basement of the town hall. The I past to the general satisfaction of the entire commu-
nit The salary now is$1100 per annum.
Died unmarried, Colonel of his Regiment and a full that the clouds are entirely dispersed. As soon as this number of members in 1886 pp was 25. Y Y
i' General in the British Army in 1820, was found to be really the case,village improvement On January 4, 1884,application was made to the The New Haven Rail Road runs through the town,
The Daughters of Brigadier-General Oliver de began at once,and is now going on with increasing authorities of the town of Mamaroneck by Henry M. but so far north of the village,the harbor and the
Fla ler, Jabez A. Bostwick, Ambrose M. McGregor, Necks on each side of it and the Sound,that neither
Lancey were, 1. Susanna wife of General Sir Wm. rapidity. g
paper until four James M. Constable,Thomas L. Rushmore,William can be seen from the station. The daily trains are
Draper,the conqueror of Manilla, and the opponent Mamaroneck was without a news
of "Junius." 2Phila wife of Stephen Payne-Galwey years ago, its local wants being supplied by the G.Read, David Dudley Field,David
. i
F.Britt,Joseph numerous and convenient. It is now understood
F of the Island hila 3. Anna wife of Col. John neighbouring Journals of Rve and Portchester. In Hoffman, M.D.,Samuel W. Johnson, Edward F. De that a new Rail Road will be built in a very short
Harris Cruger,the gallant defender of Fort Ninety Sia May 1882, The Mamaroneck Register was established Lancey, Charles J. Osborne, William T. Cornell and time, which will run near the water and across the
in Carolina,Member of the Council of the Province by William E. Peters, met with very fair success and Leonard Jacob for authority to form and organize upper edge of the harbor, and enter the City of New
rr of New York, and as such certified to the correctness is still in existence under him as Editor and Propri- the Mamaroneck Water Company and lay pipes York over the new Bridge across the Harlem river
and legality of the final Partition of the Heathcote es etor. It is a four page paper, of six columns to a through the town streets. The application was at Second avenue.
li'r i tate in the Manor of Scarsdale in 1774. 4. Charlotte page, and is issued every Wednesday. It pursues an granted, the company was formed and soon after The churches of Mamaroneck are two only, the
wife of Field Marshall Sir David Dundas K. C. B. independent course in politics. Several years prior began the construction of a water works,and in the Episcopal church of St. Thomas, and the Society of
who succeeded the Duke of York as commander in to 1882 an attempt was made to publish a paper spring of 1885 water was introduced through their Friends. The meeting house of the latter, however,
chief of the British Army. called the Investigator by George M. Forbes. pipes into houses in the village. The company has is a few feet across the line of Mamaroneck in the
All the usual stores and markets, and conveniences But it met with no success,
of living are to be found in Mamaroneck, and of a ence,was given up. water supply is taken is the Mamaroneck River. into that town by the town line as fixand after a brief exist- a capital of $25,000. The source from which the adjoining town of Scarsdale, having been thrown
J ed by the Act
f: class and grade not exceeded by any other village in About 1856 an attempt to run a steamer called the The site of the old saw mill originally erected by of 1788. The Society itself is it is believed the see-
the County. Divided from the village of Rye Neck Island City,between Mamaroneck and New York was Colonel Heathcote before referred to, was bought,the and oldest meeting in the County of Westchester,
Only by the Mamaroneck river with a free bridge made,stopping at New Rochelle and City Island,and dam rebuilt in an enlarged form forming a large the first being that at the town of Westchester which
both assenst-
ers and freight. The leading pond, the waters of which are pumped up into a was organized in 1685. The Friends came to Weng
b town
and the Count from Lon
f' carryingg to g
across it, the latter has drawn off a large portion o p g
reservoir on adjacent high round about 117 feet cheater, both the Y,
the population naturally belonging to Mamaroneck man in the enterprise was the late John Griffin. Her .1` g g '
which is the poet town for both, and has made prat- landing place was at the foot of Bleecker now above high water mark of the sound. This head is Island,those who came to the neighborhood of Main-
of
T sufficient for all general purposes. The officers of aroneck,chiefly from Flushing and the country imme-
'', tically both places one except in voting. Hence too Union Avenue in De Lancey s beck, Bishop de Lan* the company are President, James M. Constable; diately about it. The meeting at Mamaroneck was
I, the different societies of all kinds found in an Amer- cey who owned the spot having at the request of Mr. P Y
ica11 town, social, charitable, musical, mechanical, Griffin and the other gentlemen obtained a grant per- Treasurer, J. A. Bostwick; Secretary, William T. organized in 1686 and was held at a private house.'
Cornell. This house the writer believes was that of Samuel
and to some extent religious have their headquarters mitting the building of a Dock below low water mark There are two School Districts in Mamaroneck, Palmer, afterwards the "Old House" of Peter Jay
in Rye Neck and will be found described in the at that point,and leased themtheprivilegeatanominal Munro before referred to and its position described.
I'I Chapter on Rye. rent. The enterprise failed, was subsequently re-
s
One and Two,well attended and in a good state r
of efficient But they suffer as does the whole They increased so much, that in 1704 an application
�I,'i' The village of Mamaroneck until within the last newed by Wm.Taylor with a landing on Harbor y
schools stem of the State of New York,from being was made to the Court of General Sessions, Colonel
!II' few years has suffered, from and Rye Neck has been Island,but that also failed. The"Mary E. Gordon." Y Caleb Heathcote presiding, that Samuel Palmer's
benefited by, a singular cause as far as growth is freight boat only, was built by Capt. Gedney,the old one of the foot balls of politics, and like all others P g�
throughout the State are therefore liable to evil in
house at Mamaroneck be recorded as an authorized
concerned. In 1811 under a special act of the Leg- sloop owner in 1880, and makes trips three times a g Quaker worship under the Act of William
l islature was incorporated "The Westchester County week. Her owners are Captain Joseph H. Gedney and fluences. An instance of how oppressive and unjust Place for Q P
Manufacturing Society."' The Act gave this corpo sons. She is the first boat that has brought freight the School system as now administered is, upon the and Mary. The order was granted and a copy signed
owners of the real estate of the Commonwealth, is by Colonel Heathcote delivered to Samuel Palmer.
ration power to purchase, hold, and convey, lands regularly to the present dock,and is the modern sue- In 1728 the meetin was made a "Preparative Meet-
and tenements,goods,wares, and merchandise what- cessor of a very long line of "Mamaroneck Sloops." furnished now by our County of Westchester. The g
writer is informed that the amount apportioned to ing for Business," that is, for the administration of
et he -
a were those Mamaroneckosite side of the We c s
1 in their d wn the o
of this incorporation." Famous vessels ydiscipline, &c. O pp
soever necessary to the objects phis ear,1886 from the Common School P
County t
this Cou ,
Y Y
and at
ne Palmer's house
fon o 1 Palms
da was a ver t of Samuel farms on sloops, and their g r Path and west u it bought two fa s y Y to
in clause r his sweeping P > >
Under t nand
III' P g g he amount assessed upon
the Mamaroneck side of the river belonging to Gil- Some of them were very fast,and there was a fierce Fund is$56,000 while t P
collected from its real estate last year for that fund the top of the rising ground ascended by the Path or
beet Budd,a most honorable and respected man, one rivalry between the old sloop captains of all the was $75,000. No remarks are necessary, the fact road was laid out, and still is,the old burying ground
"Hadley" farm of about 62 acres the ports on the sound as far as New London. They of the Palmers and adjoining it was another plot
called the Hadley al P ,
speaks for itself.
as well as freight, and and still called the Quaker
regularly till existing a Q
r t - carriedpassengersg lar er and s
Homestead of about 182 acres o og Y g
other the n Hal] a large frame g
ssesses
a Tow
The Town o g
gether 244 acres. This was all the land in the imme- great was the excitement,and often high the betting, P Burying-Ground. The Boston Road to-day at that
of the mouth of the river on its when a new and fast vessel made her first appearance edifice on High Street near ]Mount Pleasant Street,
diate neighbourhoodresent ur- point is still the old Westchester Path. Both plots
for d o
,� „ which was bought and alters p P
west side and the village upon which the latter could from any of the little ports on the Fast River. were directly opposite the entrance to Mr. Peter Jay
pose,from the former Methodist Society of Mamaro- Y PP
department was in 1819 he erected
fire de in which
it of having a r s rounds with
row. The company built a large dam and factory. The necessity g P that society removed to Mun o g
g P Y g ears ago, when t y
neck a few
Y g ,
r it ended forced upon the attention of the inhabitants of Mam- his splendid Country House,now the Hotel at Larch-
But after a moderate success for a few years p Public Hall on the
Y contains a large
Pub c
Neck. It c
0
Rye g
Larch-
in failure,and from that time till 1870 it was followed aroneck by a conflagration which took place in the Y mont terined the "Manor House. In the centre of
main floor, with public offices, a lock-up, and a
1 t 1884. little distance back
village on Januar s mentioned lot some
by a long succession of unsuccessful enterprises of a business part of the � g Y � the last me plot,
n was formed house fire apparatus beneath it. There is also in it probably the first Quaker
Ladder Coma was built ro Q
r a Hook and Lad m the road Y
r ahint
urn succumbing to Soon after Company from , P
manufacturing character each g
failure,or forced sale. The consequence was that the known as Union Hook and Ladder Company,No.1,.of the Library of the Athenaeum Society, and the Safes
and Cases of the Town Records in charge of the Meeting House in Mamaroneck. The exact year is
title to the property became so involved,embarrassed, Mamaroneck and Rye Neck. Joseph H. McLough- uncertain but was probably 1739,' in which year Mr.
P P Y
Town (,leek
lost in it. The land be- lin a ver active man and the leading plumber of —
faith was o t
hi and confused that Y f the oldest
a town and one o
Mamaroneck is a post o
Po
he Westchester
came unsaleable,and 1t remained practically dead to the town, was elected foreman of the company,An- ,MS.letter of James Wood,the present President of t
in the State,dating as such from the last century.
the great detriment of the village in every respect. drew Coles, assistant foreman, Lewis R. Bramm, Historical Society,who has made exhaustive researches into the history
Treasurer, and Charles F. Seaman, Secretary. The The resent postmaster is William A. Boyd who has
p p � of the Friends in Westchester County.
1 Ch.17 Laws of 1811. apparatus was purchased by public subscription,and held the office and administered for very many years s Letter of James Wood.
4
t
26 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 27
k
Wood says a meeting house was built there,but he was removed from Mamaroneck and set on said land tincts of the Parish of Rye,one of the two territorial of England within New York, whereas it was estab-
does not know whether it was the first. Mr.William of Benjamin Palmer,and that the expense of removing parishes erected in Westchester County in the former lished by the royal authority many years before, New
H. Carpenter of the present meeting who at the the house and setting it up,and completing it will year under the Act establishing parishes of the Church York being a conquered Province. And being the
writer's request made investigations of this point amount to about eighty pounds, including the seven of England within the Counties of New York and only British American province so conquered from
says it was"in 1735 or thereabout."i On that spot pounds for one acre of land bought of Benjamin Westchester passed March 24,1693,'an act which with another nation by the English Crown,it was there-
stood the house, and there the Meeting was held, till Palmer and John Cornell, and that a subscription several amendments made in later years continued in fore the only one in America in which that Crown,by
1769. On the 6th of the 2d montb,—February—in was made by friends belonging to the weekly meeting force till repealed by the Legislature of the State in the law of England,had the power and right to es-
that year the quarterly meeting at the Purchase of Mamaroneck amounting to Twenty-eight Pounds the year 1784,just about a hundred years. The Estab- tablish the church of England. In 1725 Mamaroneck
directed five Friends to "review" "the place near the towards the expense of the said house beside the land lishment of the Church of England within the Prov paid towards the tax to support the Rector of Rye
centre of said meeting" to which it was proposed to given;and requested the quarterly meeting to ask for ince of New York and its Parochial organization in under the act of 1693, £18. Later, in 1767, the
!} move the Meeting House at Mamaroneck,there being and from each monthly meeting towards paying the Westchester County will be found fully described in amount then, was£19, 2, 6. These sums were the
some dissatisfaction. debt. At the succeeding November meeting at Pur- Parts 10, and 11,of the chapter on Manors in this vol- annual ones for those years. The amounts were an-
At the quarterly meeting held at the "oblong" on chase,six pounds, 13 shillings werereported from the ume.2 The Inhabitants of the Parish of Rye elected nually fixed by board of Justices under the law.
�+ the 30th of the succeeding 4th month, April, 1768, Weekly meeting at Westchester "and paid in," and Church wardens and Vestrymen,and paid the charges So strong was the connection of Mamaroneck
!; the committee made the following interesting report: there was also "paid in" a subscription "from Oa- authorized by law during this whole period. Their with Rye as a part of that Parish,in fact and in feel-
The friends that were appointed a Committee to wego particular meeting" of seventeen shillings and duties besides those of seeing to the proper religious ing,that it continued practically down to the founding
take a review of the place to set the meeting house sixpence, and delivered to Edward Burling jr. It is Services in the pariah churches, were also those in re- of St. Thomas' Church, Mamaroneck. All Mamar-
�'j,l on made report that they had met the friends belong- most surprising that in 1768, a gift from Oswego then lation to assessments, taking.care of the poor, and oneck people of the Episcopal Church attended at
;I ing to Mamaroneck weekly meeting and taken a re- a mere frontier Indian trading station should have other duties now performed by town officials. During Rye church, and were married and buried, and their
view of the places proposed to set the meeting house been sent down to the Friends at Mamaroneck 1 By his residence here Colonel Heathcote was usually children baptized,by the Rectors of Rye. A very few
on for Mamaroneck weekly meeting&are of opinion the 6th of 5th month,June 1769,Benedict Carpenter chosen a vestryman and often a Warden. The first went to the New Rochelle church but the large ma-
that a piece of land of Benjamin Palmers near&ad- reported that the debt had been reduced to£18, 10,05. election under the act of 1693 we know was held pur- jority went to Rye. It was simply an example of the
joining Cornells land is the most suitable place for In due time that was paid off, and the new Meeting
euant to the summons of Justice Theall under the law power of faith and habit which descended to them
i! that purpose as being near the centre of said weekly bouse—if it may be called so—was entirely paid for, at Rye on the 28th February 1694-5. John Lane from their ancestors.
meeting&as Benjamin Palmer offered to give half an From that time to the present the meeting has con$ and John Brondig (Brundige) were elected church While a youth in Yale College the late Rt. Rev.
acre of land to our Society for that use &purpose& timed. It felt the change growing out of the move- Wardens, and Jonathan Hart Joseph Horton William Heathcote de Lancey first began holding
Ii John Cornel half an acre adjoining to it for the same ment of Elias Hicks upwards of sixty years since. Joseph Purdy, Timothy Knapp, Hacbaliah Brown, Episcopal services in Mamaroneck while on his
use&also each of them to sell half an acre for three The two parties quietly separated and another meeting Thomas Merritt,Deliverance Brown,and Isaac Den visits to his home at Heathcote Hill. He entered
pounds ten shillings apiece therefore this meeting was formed which erected another small Meeting ham, vestrymen 3 In 1702 is the record of another college in 1813 and graduated in 1817,and these ser-
approves of having a meeting house set up&erected House in the same grounds with the old one, where election, when on the 12'" of January at a lawful vices began in 1814. He met with better success
III' on said land of Benjamin Palmer,&appoints Edward worship is also maintained. town meeting in the Precinct of Rye Colonel Caleb than he anticipated. His Father John Peter De
Burling&Joseph Griffen to take deeds of Benjamin '°In 1883 the meeting house being in an almost hope- Heathcote and the Justice Theall (who summoned Lancey took great interest in the matter, as did his
Palmer&John Cornel for said land, &John Cornel
lessly dilapidated condition a movement was success-
the meeting of the Inhabitants for the election of friend and neighbor Mr.Peter J. Munro, and Mr.
Edward Burling and Joseph Griffen & Benjamin fully inaugurated to restore it, retaining however the 1695) were elected Church Wardens, and Justice and Mrs. Peter Jay, the blind Mr. Jay, of Rye.
Cornel,or the majority of them are appointed a Com- frame of the venerated structure,which resulted in Purdy, Justice Mott, Capt. Horton, Deliverance Finally young Mr. de Lancey was so successful that
III mittee to sell the meeting house at Mamaroneck with the present exceedingly comfortable and neat house Brown, Hachaliah Brown, George Lane, Sen., on April 12th, 1814, under the auspices of his Father
the ground it stands on & the land to the westward of worship. During the greater portion of its exist-
Thomas Purdy, Thomas Disbrow, Isaac Denham, and Mr. Peter J. Munro a parish was organized under
VIII of the house adjoining the road the width of the house ence the meeting has been large and influential, and Samuel Lane, were elected vestrymen for the theold act of 17th March,1795,to which was given the
&give a deed for the same or remove the house to & many of its members have been noted for their prom- 4
on the land of Benjamin Palmer aforesaid—if that ensuing year. name of St. Thomas. Mr. John Peter de Lancey
j inence in business and social circles and always for These elections will be found mentioned in Baird's and Mr. Peter Jay Munro Church Wardens, and
house should be sold the new house to be near the
their integrity and stability. During very many
dimensions of the old meeting house, &to be one years latterly there has been no acknowledged min- History of Rye,chapter 24th,from which I have taken Capt. William Gray, Benjamin Hadden, Henry Ged-
the particulars not having had the time to examine the ney,Samuel Deal, Abraham Guion, and Matthias G.
story high with a chimney to it, &report to be made inter in connection with the meeting,yet it has con- Rye Records personally as was intended.'The very able Valentine Vestrymen$ at the first election held on
by said Committee to next Quarterly Meeting, &said tinned without it, and from present appearances al- and Reverend Author of that very valuable work was Tuesday in Easter week of that year. The Rev. Mr.
Committee or some of them are to get a subscription though its members are not numerous yet it bids fair evidently unaware of the legal nature of the origin of Haskell Rector of Rye and several of the clergy of
made by the weekly meeting of Mamaroneck&bring to hold its own for many years to come a continuing the establishment of the church of England in West- the neighbouring parishes took charge of the services,
to next Quarterly Meeting." testimony to spiritual worship without priest or choir.
The old meeting house was not sold but was taken It may be of interest to name a few of its adherents cheater County,and has given an eroneous view of it which were held in the present Town Hall, then a
down and apart and removed to the new location on the in that chapter, as will be seen by comparing it with Methodist Church just built, by the courtesy of that
P now living,viz. Jonathan Carpenter, William Bur- that which will be found in the chapter on Manors in Society which had just previously been organized.
beautiful and commanding hill where it stands to-day. ling, David F. Britt, Samuel J. Barnes, Thos. K. this work. A view based on the mistaken idea that They were continued with much though not perfect
The old plot was not sold but kept as a burying Morrell, Noah Tompkins,John D.Schureman,James it was the Act of 1693 which established the church regularity. In 1813 the Legislature passed a new
ground. Another plot beside it on the west was sold Griffen, George Millets and William H. Carpenter « »
i now within the I
Act relating to Religious Societies which changed
and a e ace of Mr. Meyers. This
'n the u
P Y whowith their families are earnest 1 e s ort of
PP III. Bradford's Laws, ls. and made more favorable the method of organizing
was the lot long known as the Locust lot from its are' the ancient society they Proud to be connected s Ante pp. 98 to 108 incursive. Episcopal Churches. The parish continued however
being covered for many years with those trees. At with."2 3 Town Records of Rye• under the original organization of 1814, till 1817,
!b the succeeding meeting in October, Edward Burling From 1693 to 1784 Mamaroneck was one of the Pre- 6Town Records of Rye• when b the advice of Mr.Munro anew organization
Pre-
reported for the Committee that the Meeting House In 1704,Madame Knight,in her Journal before referred to,says in Y — g
speaking of the towns of Mamaroneck,Rye,and Horseneck(Greenwich)
2Letter of William H. Carpenter to whom and Mr.Berling I am in- "that one church of England parson officiated in all these three towns $Certificate recorded in Lib.A. of Religious Societies in west. Co.
t Letter of Mr.Carpenter. + debted for copies of the Documents used and cited in the above sketch. ones every Sunday throughout the year. Reg'r.office p.59.
7
}
28 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 29
was effected under the later law, in order that some to April 1822, about ten months, the first clergyman In the same enclosure with the church, and a short propriately in the chapter on Rye. The late Mr.
of its benefits might be availed of. regularly in charge of St. Thomas's, Mamaroneck. distance from it stand the Rectory and parish build- James M. Fuller organized a Methodist Sunday-
The first meeting with this object was held 5 April In 1823 a frame church with pointed windows and ings in the same style of architecture but built of school and erected a building for its use in 1878 on
1817 and the new incorporation was effected June a low tower was erected, and consecrated on the 17th brick with brown stone casings,and slate roofs. They Weaver street mainly at his own expense, which he
9th 1817. The Parish was admitted to union with of June in that year by the Rt.Rev. John Henry Ho- are happily of irregular shape and combined so under superintended himself until his lamented death in
the Convention on the 1st of October 1817, Dr. bart,then the Bishop of New York. The expense a series of varying angles and roofs,that they present June 1885, when Mr. William H. Stiles succeeded
Guy Carleton Bayley being its first delegate. The was mainly borne by Mr. John Peter de Lancey, Mr. to the eye but a single very picturesque edifice. him assisted by Mr. Bradford Rhodes. The .object
next year 1818 Mr. William H. de Lancey then pur- Peter Jay_Munro, and Mr. Purdy the father of the The whole together, though the general effect is im- is to afford Sunday-school instruction to children in
suing his studies in Theology with Bishop Hobart present Mr. Samuel G. Purdy, of Harrison. The paired by being in the business and not very attrac- the neighbourhood,which is distant from the villages
was the lay delegate. The Church Wardens were the clergy present were the Rev.Lewis P. Bayard and the tive part of the village, an evil that has been partially of Mamaroneck and Rye Neck. All the gentlemen
same, John Peter de Lancey and Peter Jay Munro. Rev.Lawson Carter,both warm friends,and the former remedied by the liberal purchase and removal of ad- connected with it are Methodists but it is under-
The vestrymen under the new organization were a relative of Mr. de Lancey and the wife of Mr. joining buildings, and throwing their area into fair stood that it is not conducted under the auspices of
Henry Gedney, Benjamin Hadden, Jacob Mott, Munro. A cut of it is given which shows the edifice gardens, form one of the most thorough, complete, any denomination in particular.
Thomas J. de Lancey, Benjamin Crooker, Guy C. as it was originally. It was enlarged some years later, beautiful and churchly group of Parish edifices, with The Incidents of the Revolution which occurred in
Bayley, Monmouth Lyon, Edward F. de Lancey. in 1835 by a chancel,and again in 1857-atthe than- appropriate surroundings in this county, and are a Mamaroneck are not many. Its inhabitants as well
The Rev. Mr. Haskell, who was Mr. John P. de Lan- cel end by an addition containing another window on noble monument to the Wife and Mother in whose as the great majority of the People of the Countywere
cey's Rector at Rye, and under his influence long each side,and so remained until removed,and subse- memory they have been erected. a perfectly satisfied,quiet, community, satisfied with
afforded a nursing hand to the infant parish, often quently torn down,on the erection of the present their surrounding, and their lot. They had a market
--�
J _
30 MAMARONECK.
MAMARONECK. 31
i
to Boston. Through some carelessness in running Rangers being all mixed together each man fighting leaving no sons,his name has not been perpetuated Mayor of New York,and on her mother's side of Wni.
out with a smart breeze, she ran a little too near the for himself. Right in the midst of it rushed Rogers. in his children,but some of the descendants of his Coddington the first Governor of Rhode Island. The
end of a reef in rounding the Scotch Caps,struck a Roused by the noise,he flew up to the fight not know- daughter have been well known in Mamaroneck, and Underhills and the Coddingtons and the Willets and
pointed rock, and sank beyond it with all on board. ing how it was going, but roaring out with presence in Westchester County,and in the State and Nation, the Motts had become Quakers. James Mott, after a
The crew was saved but the beef in the hold was all of mind, in stentorian tones, "They are running," and should be mentioned here. John and Ann Rich- few years as a successful merchant in New York re-
lost. It is not related that any second attempt was ever "they are running," "give it to'em boys, damn 'em, bell left three daughters. 111. Elizabeth, the eldest tired just before the Revolution,with a moderate com-
made. give it to'em." Reassured by his voice and words who became the second wife of Adam Mott of Hemp- petence, at the early age of thirty-three and settled in
.rallied, stead, about the time that her father removed from Mamaroneck, on the "West Neck" of his Grandfath-
The most important Revolutionary incident, was the Rangers,actually on the point of fleeing,
the night battle on Heathcote Hill and the high redoubled their efforts, and the American forces fell Oysterbay,—where he had been Adam Mott's neigh- er's grandfather, John Richbell, on the peninsula
ji bour,—to make his final settlement at Mamaroneck. nearly in front of the Village of New Rochelle. His
ridge above it, between the Delaware Regiment, and back taking many prisoners with them, and the
parts of First and Third Virginia Regiments of Wash- Rangers remained in possession of the ground. The —2d. Mary, who in 1670 married Captain James wife was then in failing health and he sought a quiet
�• ington's army, under Colonel Haslet and Major surprise was a failure,the action really a drawn one Mott,second son of Adam Mott of Hempstead by his home,remote from the threatenings of war which per-
first Green, and Roberts's Rangers of Howe's Army under though the Rangers retained the field, Rogers's wari- wife Jane Hulett. Captain James Mott was long vaded the City. But the war noon came,and in place
Major Rogers,resulting in the repulse of the former ness and presence of mind being all that saved them prominent in Mamaroneck,was Justice of the Peace of quiet, he found himself with wife and children be-
with severe loss to the latter who retained their posi- from defeat and capture. Such is the account that and Supervisor,and left two children James and Mary. tween the lines of hostile armies and exposed to dep-
tion. On October 21st, 1776, Rogers's Corps of about has come down from men living in Mamaroneck at ---3a. The youngest daughter of John Richbell,named redations from outlaws on both sides. His wife died
400 or 450 men which formed the extreme end of the the time. Col. Tench Tilghman, Washington's aid, Anne after her mother, married John Emerson of early in the Revolution.
right wing of Howe's Army, then moving up from writing the afternoon after the fight to Wm. Duer White River,Talbot County,Maryland. The ancient handsome two story farm house, occu-
Pelham Neck, reached Mamaroneck and encamped says"They attacked Rogers at daybreak, put the Elizabeth (Richbell)Mott,gave to her eldest son pied by James Mott, with its double-pitched roof,
upon the high flat of Heathcote Hill,under the lee party to flight, brought in thirty-six prisoners, sixty her father's name and called him Richbell Mott and still stands in good repair, fronting to the South,
of the ridge above it for protection from the North- arms, and a good many blankets; and had not the his grandmother Ann Richbell made him one of her on its own private lane, half a mile east of the Boston
west winds, which at that season had grown cold. guides undertook to alter the first disposition,Major executors and three of the grandsons of this Richbell road, surrounded by trees and with its own farm
No enemy was beyond them and this position was Rogers, and his party of about 400, would in all prob- Mott bore the same name. Richbell Mott was a man buildings and cultivated fields, and in recent years
therefore chosen. Rogers himself made his head- ability have fallen into our hands. We don't know of Character and Substance, and in 1696 married has been occupied by the Pryor family. But the an-
quarters in a small house which then stood directly how many we killed,but an officer says he countiild Elizabeth Thorne. He possessed considerable land in tient tide Mill which stood near the house on the
on the north side of the old Westchester Path, or twenty-five in ope orchard. We had twelve wounded, Hempstead and made his home on Mad Nan's Neck land locked bay which made the Mill Pond,and which
road,right opposite the gate of the lane which ran among them Major Green and Captain Pope."' The (Little Neck). His grandson Richbell Mott son of his James Mott continued to operate after the Revolu-
down de Lancey's Neck to Sutton's House, which fact is the number killed on each side is not certainly eldest son Edmond,born in Hempstead in 1728 mar- tion,was replaced about the end of the last century
stood within the present Miller premises now owned known. All of both sides were buried just over the ried in 1749 Deborah Doughty,and died in 1758 leav- by a large new Mill, and a new dam about half a
by Mr. J. A. Bostwick. On the 22d of October Wasb- top of the ridge almost directly north of the Heath- ing two daughters Margaret and Phebe. This Mar- mile lower down the bay neair its mouth.—James
ington rode up to White Plains in advance of his cote Hill house, in the angle formed by the present garet Mott married in 1772 the Hon. Melancthon Mott's three sons Richard Robert and Samuel had
army,who had then reached Valentine's Hill. Learn- farm lane and the east fence of the field next to the Smith of New York one of the most prominent men grown to manhood, and they fitted up the new Mill
ing there of Rogers's advance and position,he at once ridge. There their graves lie together friend and foe of the State during and after the Revolution in the with twelve runs of Mill Stones, and all the improve-
sent orders to Colonel Haslet to take his Delaware but all Americans.' The late Stephen Hall,(father of policy opposed to that of Alexander Hamilton. Rich- ments then known and gave it the name of the Pre-
regiment of 600 strong, and 150 men of the First and the late Abram, Isaac,and Thomas, Hall)a boy of 17 bell Mott Smith, one of the sons of Hon. Melancthon mium Mill, and it was operated with much success
Third Virginia under Major Green,and surprise and or 18 at the time,said that they were buried the morn- and Margaret (Mott) Smith died on the coast of Ja and exported flour to Europe while England and
cut him off.' The Virginians were to lead the attack ing after the fight and that he saw nine laid in one pan in 1800. Another son was Colonel Melancthon France were at war, with large profit. Soon after the
and the Delaware troops to support them. Rogers large grave.'Such was the skirmish on Heathcote Hill, Smith,the father of Admiral Melancthon Smith U. Premium Mill was built Richard Mott, the eldest son
s had been a scout of Sir William Johnson's with Israel the only "engagement" about Mamaroneck during S. N. on the retired list who distinguished himself withdrew from the milling business, and commenced
Putnam,in the French War, was a man of fair edu- the Revolutionary War. There was another on the so highly during the late Civil war especially at the cotton spinning in a small Mill still standing disman-
s cation, not much principle,but extremely bold, tour- back part of the Manor of Scarsdale at the Fox Mead- capture of New Orleans, and who is now living in tled, near his pleasant dwelling house,to which he
ageous,and wary. Knowing the American Army was ows,immediately before the battle of White plains, an honored old age, at South Oysterbay L.I. gave the name of Hickory Grove, a little west of
below his position and to the southwest of it,he ex- but that does not fairly belong to this chapter. Dr.Valentine Mott,the celebrated Surgeon of New where the N. Y. and N. H. Rail Road now runs
tended his pickets more than a third of a mile the The writer, knowing that Mamaroneck did her full York was descended from Elizabeth(Richbell)Mott's near Mamaroneck,and "Mott's Spool Cotton," had
second night beyond where they were on the first night duty in the late civil war, tried some years ago to get younger son William Mott of Great Neck,—L.I. a good reputation for many years. Richard Mott
` and doubled their numbers,and then went to his own at Albany the returns of enlistments and names of James Mott of Premium Point,long a well known became a Quaker Minister of considerable reputation.
headquarters. Haslett marched all night and reached the men,but failed,the supervisor never having filed resident of the Mamaroneck of a hundred years ago, He was a man of fine presence and a graceful and
the neighborhood before day. His guides not aware them. was the only child of the first Richbell Mott's young- pleasing speaker. He died in Mamaroneck in 1857,
of the change in Rogers's pickets led the Virginians The following is an account of the descendants of est son Richard,and Sarah (Pearsall) Mott, and was in his 90th year.
directly upon them in the dark, which threw them John Richbell, who left only daughters,and of the born in Hempstead at"the Head of the Harbor"— James and Mary (Underhill) Mott had four chil-
into confusion. At once all hopes of a surprise van- Mott family of whom one of them was the ancestress. now Roslyn in 1742. He married in 1765 his second dren,born in New York but brought up in Mamaro-
�'`` cousin M Underhill, daughter f Samuel and nn
iahed. The uproar roused Rogers's camp, the men The writer is indebted for it to Mrs. Thomas C. Cor- ua Mary Unde g o S A neck. Their eldest son Richard just mentioned was
rushed to the top of the ridge overlooking it and be- nell,of Yonkers: (Carpenter) Underhill of Oysterbay. Samuel Under- born in 1767. Their only daughter Anne born 1768
fore they could form, their own pickets and the Vir- John Richbell,the first patentee of Mamaroneck hill a cousin of the Underhills of Westchester Coun- married at Mamaroneck in 1785,while still wanting
ginians mixed together came rushing in upon them. ty, was a great grandson of the celebrated Capt.John three months of her seventeenth birthday,her father's
It was pitch dark,and the fighting went on in the Underhill who died in Oysterbay in 1671, and Ann cousin Adam Mott of Hempstead,in whose veins ran
2III.Force, Fifth Series 57, 6. Carpenter's mother Mar Willet wife of Joseph Car- the blood of the best Quaker families of that first set-
utmost confusion,the Delawareans,Virginians and p y p
_ s My father told me when be was a boy their green graves were die-
tinctly visible. penter of Glencove was a grand daughter on her fath- tlement of the Quakers in America. The young Adam
P III. Force,Fifth series,576. 4 Abraham Hall told the writer this fact many years ago. er's side of Capt. Thomas Willet the first English Mott,the third in descent of the first Adam Mott
� I
-I
MAMARONECK. 33
32 MAMARONECK.
fourth from John Richbell,— and would allow nothing produced by Slave labor to be granted by Governor Fletcher on the 12th of October, runs into the Woods,&from the head of said line to
of Hempstead,and the four ye head of the other line afore mentioned.'
brought his young bride to the old Mott homestead, used in his house, and as far as possible limited his 16He was the most prominent of the gentlemen The witnesses were Seringo
household to American Manufactures. Robert Mott, and who be- Rarea uash
Harbor, ho mentioned a row q '�'
em stead H he bodies above Benjamin Disbrow
Sound near H p who formed t �
n the shore of the w .
the second son of James Mott of Premium Point died of these three Pat- ash akin
Uncle tees W
i rest U and Paten
his Owners a with P
to ne lir,w
d been ranted g
on land which had g came the Ow Benjamin Col e ,
Richbell Mott in 1708 and which Richbell Mott sold in New York in 1805 and his youngest son Samuel ents. The first purchase made by Colonel Heathcote Ranchomo
I un Adam died there in 1843. d was from Pathunck, Wam- Uraticua and '+
15. The o n mentions im
I r Mott in 17 g region ckana
ll,l to his brother Adam Mo Y in the Pa -�-
J''" between 1785 and 1790 built a new Mill at Cow bay— The Premium Mill continued to be operated with g six other Indians
pus, Cohawney, and five other Indians,who on the
(now Port Washington,)and prospered therefor more varying success for many years and after James Mott 19th of October, 1696, executed to him a deed con-
On the same fourth of July,1701,when there seems
than fifteen years,and when his wife's brother Richard and his sons, passed through other hands and in 1843 ve in "for and in consideration £100 good and law- have been a meeting of all the parties in interest,
retired from the Premium Mill,the remaining brothers was purchased by Henry Partridge Kellogg then of �1 mons of New York," "all that tract of land situ-
to I' Robert and Samuel induced their brother-in-law Adam Poughkeepsie in whose family it remained for nearly y Indians and whites, at Mamaroneck, to consummate
ate lying and being in the County of Westchester in several Indian purchases;Seringo,and three other In-
Mott of Hempstead to leave his prosperous Mill at forty years. The Mill itself venerable with age was the Province of New York in America,bounded north sevedianral
executed the following deed to Joseph Horton
1'p Cow bay and join them in the Premium Mill,and he finally removed within the last three or four years, b Scroton's 1 River, easterly by Byram River and for a very large tract indeed. It is printed verbatim
removed to Mamaroneck in 1803 anline, sou
ki d settled in a house and near its site now stand several handsome modern Bedford litherly by the land of John Harrison
ill from the
erwards the property of Peter Jay Monroe, anoriginal in John Horton's hand writing in
aft Cottages or Villas. _ and his associates, and the line stretching to Byram the writer's possession
� called the "Mott House," on a pleasant farm adjoin- The Three Great Patents of Central Westchester. river aforesaid, and westerly to the land of Frederick
ing what is now known as Larchmont. The oldest Phili se."z The: 4: of July-1701
son of Adam and Anne Mott,born in the ancient Mott Very closely connected with Mamaroneck and Th s covered all the present town of New castle «gietb known to all home it may consarn That I Sa-
mpstead Harbour in Scarsdale a parts of the Manor of Scarsdale,was that
homestead near the mouth of Heand most of North castle as it now exists,and other ringo hafe This day Sold unto Joseph Horton saner
1788 and named after his grandfather James Mott, part of the County lying between that Manor and
lands south and east of the latter. It is hence some- (senior) A sarten Track or paraal of Land Setuaten
went to Philadelphia and there married in 1811 Lu- Harrison's Purchase on the south,the Manor of Cort- times called"North castle Indian Deed," or from one and Lyen within the profence (province) of Nu
went o Philffin,who afterwards as Lucretia Mott of Phil- landt on the north,the Colony of Connecticut on the of the Indians "Wampus's Land Deed. Colonel Yorcke which land beginen at the purch[ase] lastly
cretiadelphia became eminent as a Quaker preacher and east, and the Manor of Philipaeburgh on the west. Heathcote made most of the purchases of the Indians purched by Cornal Hacoct' John Horton Cap"
eloquent advocate of many reforms. In 1814 James This immense area containing 70,000 acres of land, of Northern and Central Westchester then inhabiting Th
Joseph' Purdy and all the Land from biram
and Lucretia Mott spent some months at biamaro- was bought from the natives by Colonel Heathcote it, in accordance with the customary rule in such mat- reuer'wasaward unpurch�and so to run upward to
neck on the invitation of their Uncle Richard Mott to for himself and associates and granted to him and terswhichhasbeen before explained.That for the lands brunkess reuer,'and I Saringo do oblidge myself my
'I join him in Cotton Spinning, and if the project had them in three'extremely large Patents, called from between the Mehanas'and Byram Rivers,he delegat- arslo or assins to marcket"oute by Mark Treese as may
- their relative situations the West, the Middle, and ed his powers to others to obtain,by this license dated
been carried out as first proposed,the eloquent Quaaper her agan 1' and This To be marcked outs The
ker Preacher would have been known as Lucretia Mott the East Patents. at Mamaroneck the 4th of July 1701, "I underwritten
of Mamaroneck instead of Lucretia Mott of Philadel- In the purchase of the Indian title to these lands, Sext: or Saventh Day of This entant13 munth and for
l: phis. But she was then only 21 years old, and and in the Patents for them express provision was do give free liberty,so far as it lyes in my power(by the Tru Burformance I haf Sat my hand and Sale
virtue of a grantto me from Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, Sineded Saled and Dleaved In prants of us This been
Rich-
did not so much as imagine that she could speak in made that the rights of Heathcote under the Rich. late Governor of New York)unto Robert Lockhard,
till i in order To a furder confrnashon.
public,and the spinning project not coming to satis- bell patents and deeds,should not be interfered with. Richard Scofield, Selleck, and Gershom
Nathaniel
factory terms they returned to Philadelphia. Adam and Hence their long connexion with his lands now com- Lockwood,to purchase of the Indian proprietors the John Horton Seringo }-
Anne Mott's youngest son Richard,born at Premium prised in the towns of Scarsdale and Mamaroneck. lands hereafter mentioned from Mehanas river to Byram (illegible) Hatfield and three other
Point in 1804,now for malty years the Hon. Richard These "Great Patents," as they were styled were River,and so run northward three miles into ye woods Hannah ark Indians (names
Mott of Toledo Ohio still survives in a vigorous old bounded in part by Scarsdale Manor and are so upon Byram River,and one mile into ye Woods on Ilia p illegible).
age of 82, one of the best known men in Northern intimately connected with its history, that some the Mehanas River, provided it does not injure the John + Cake
Ohio. mention must be briefly made of them and their right of Bedford or Greenwich, nor is within my pat- mark
When the laws of the first Napoleon dragged the origin. By its terms the Manor-Grant;of Scars• ent right from Mrs. Ann Richbell. Witness my hand. his
United Staten into controversies with France and dale embraced White Plains, a part of Northcas- Caleb Heathcote. Robard + Smeth
England which culminated in the war of 1812,Amer- tie, part of Bedford, and part of Harrisona Pur-
Mamaroneck,July 4th, 1701. mark
as to White
ican Commerce was crippled or ruined and the Pre- chase, but it expressly provided y e same dathe following Indians "in conaidera-
,i mium Mill at length went under a cloud. One Plains that it should give its Lord no other title ThEndorsed upon the deed is this statement of the
entire Ship's cargo from the Mill was confiscated in than that he already possessed by virtue of his tion of a certaine sume of good &lawful money" ex- consideration by Horton,
France on a charge of violating a paper blockade,and purchase of the right title and estate of Mrs. Ann ecuted a deed for the land to the above named four I Joseph Horton oblige mysalf To pay one Sarengo
II. no restitution ever made. Richbell in the Estate of her husband John Richbell persona and Coll.Heathcote, Capt. James Mott,Jon-
ii James Mott made Premium Point his home until the original grantee from the Indians and from both athan Lockhard,Gershom Lockhard's eon,and Henry
1816 and died in New York in 1823 in his eighty-first the Dutch Government and the English Government. Disbrow,the same persons mentioned in Heatheote's .,Ancient copy of the original deed with Heathcote'a license appended,
year. He was a man of culture and high character, These Great Patents were not Manors,though two of license,thus describing it, "to begin at Byram river at in the writer's possession. Also recorded in west. Co. Records Lib.
ye Collony Line &so to run to Mehanas river as said e,ss.
Pel-
unusually handsome in person,tall,erect,and of much them were larger than either of the Manors of Pel- s Be it.
grace and dignity of manner and stood high in general ham, Morrisania or Fordham. They were simply line goes running northerly on Mehanas river 88 y a Colonel Heathcote.
it esteem. In dress and habits he was always a strict Patents for great tracts of land issuinto ye woods, & from the Collony ,Dept.Theau.
ed according to river goes a mile
Quaker of the old days,and active in the interests of law to three bodies of grantees as individuals,who Line on Byram river three miles northerly as the river a Byram River westward nnpnrchaeed.
9 Rronx River.
}iia religious society travelling much in their service each possessed an undivided share, bodies which in 10 Mrs.
in the States of New York, Pennsylvania and New modern parlance would be called "syndicates." They 'New Croton River. 11 Mark it.
1N ]s Appear here again.
England. He gave freely for many years,in time and were based upon a license to Colonel Heathcote to 9Lib.I.52,of Deeds,See.of State's oft-,Albany. ppe
3 "Jlianus." 13 Instant.
means,and in the use of his pen in the advancement purchase vacant and unappropriated land in WestNow spelled- 5
of Education, and the suppression of intemperance, , chester county and extinguish the title of the Natives
7 •
.. .........
34 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 35
he performen his part accorded to bagen 1 as may noted Zachariah Roberts 11 of Bedford in the writer's to 20 knifs to dufils 1 Anne Millington
apen connsarnedd Land which he Is or (illegible) possession: to 12 hos' to blankits Joseph Horton (L.S.)5
to performe to 12 swords to 10 barils of Sider 8 Out of the lands the Indian title to which was ex-
The.a buv named horton Is obliged To Pay Sringo gatonah's Deed to Col. Caleb Heathcote. to 12 axis" tinguished by the various Indian deeds above set
and the rasa of his (illegible)as folas 8 „ forth were formed the three Great Patents that have
This Bill of andSealbearing date in the year one p prominently gag been mentioned the West Patent dated 14th February
One of the arsons rominentl engaged with Col-
1 barel s Sidar thousand seven hundred and two:Wewanapeag
that we onel Heathcote in obtaining the several Indian deeds 1701 to ten Patentees,the Middle Patent dated 17th
6 Shurts Katonah, Wackamane and Wewanapeag proprietors
5 galana of rum of the sd land afternamed lying above Bedford and above set forth for the lands between Harrison and February 1701 to 13 Patentees, and the East Patent
1 Cot bounded Southward by Cross Ritter, eastward by the Croton River was Joseph Horton of Rye the dated 2d March 1701 to 11 Patentees. Ten of these
:]larked trees, h westward b by Cross
Rift's land &North- grantee in the above deed of the 4th of July 1701 for patentees were the same in all three Patents. They
1 shepe all the unpurchased land between Byram river and were the ten persons to whom the West Patent,the
4
wards petticus Small Riuer, which sd track of land earliest of the three, was issued, and their names
And this to be payd at or before The furat day of g
is estimasion is five miles loo and three miles wide: the Bronx. The following instrument shows the were Robert Walters, Leigh Attwood, Cornelius De
ally Heatheote's
Jnery I nex in(three small words illegible) The day this above sd. upland & medow land we Katonah nature the agreement between them and incident-
manshshened a July: 4. 170018 Wackamane and Wewanapeag, we for ourselves and thcote s precise view of his own bounds and peyster, Caleb Heathcote, Matthew Clarkson, Johll
what belonged to him under his Richbell convey- Chollwell, Richard Slater, Robert Lurting, Barne
1 hors: 1 Sadal : 1 bridal from our ayrs and all other indians whatsumeuer doll,alienate,asigne,&Set over this abound land lying antes in the territory covered by the foregoing Indian Cosens, Lancaster Symes, all well known as promi-
se
2cots se the County of Westchester & in ,ye prvence of deeds and the three great patents subsequently based nent men of the City and Province-of New York.
upon them. In the Middle Patent in addition to the above ten,
1 caf New Yorck unto Cornall Caleb Hethcut of Mama- p Joseph Theale, John Horton, and Joseph Purdy, all
2 shurds 1 ranuck and Captain petter 11 Mathews of new Yorck,
„a Josep)1 purdy of By and Richard Scoffeld of Stan- Agreement of Joseph Gorton with Colonel Heathcote. of Rye,appear as Patentees. In the East Patent
1 anther of rum besides the above ten Peter Mathews of Bedford ap-
ford, or any other concerned in the aboue said pur- Whereas by virtue of a License from Coll. Benj°
This deed included all the land that had not before thea. We the aboue sd indiens trew proprietars of ye 8leteber late Governor of this Province unto Coll. pears as a Patentee. Several of these Patentees held
been purchased, from Byram River northwestward to aboue sd land as the bounds are named we have sold Caleb Heathcote impowering him to buy any lands their shares not for themselves but in trust for friends
the Bronx River. In the month of June preceding, &doe set over from us our ayrs executors administra- from the Indian Proprietors betwixt Scroton's River 4 and some of them cold their shares other persons.
on the eleventh,twenty-three days prior to the execu- tors, or asigues for euer unto the aboue named Caleb''t and the north end of Harrisson's Pattent,the said Immediately after the Patents weerr e issued, all the
tion of the above deed,Seringo and two other Indiana Hethcut, petter Mathews, Joseph Purdy, Richard Heathcote and Joseph Horton have [bought] & are different Patentees named each executed joint cove-
"in consideratione of a certain sum of money"deeded Scoffeld to them their ayrs executors administrators about to buy of the Indian Proprietors considerable pants under seal,that no survivorship should take place
to Colonel Heathcote,Capt.Joseph Theal,Lieut.John and asignes for euer with all the rights titles privileges tracts & parcells of Land; Now know all men by among them,and that each should be divided into as
Horton," and Mr Joseph Purdy of Mamaroneck a & apurtenances thereunto belonging promising to these presents that It is mutually agreed&concluded many distinct parts as there were Patentees. The
tract "bounded as followeth,—Southerly by Byram them.&theyrs that they shall enioye the same pees- betwixt the said Caleb Heathcote & Joseph Horton covenant for the West Patent was dated February
River Northerly to the Northwest corner of areat ablywithout let or molestation from us or ours or an that such arts of an tract or arcells of land bought 18th 1702,those for the Middle and East Patents were
swamp commonly called the Round Swamp,thence a other indians laying any claime thereunto for euer, by them of the ind an Proprietors as falls within both dated the same day,the 25th of June 1702 s
southwesterly line to Rye,great Pond,and bounded and we doe acknowledg that we have reciued full said Heatheote's lines by virtue of his deeds from The following statement showing in the three
by the said pond westerly, and so runs to Harrisons satisfacktion for the aboue said track of land as Mrs. Ann Ricbbell late deceased, the bounds whereof Patents, the changes of the Patentees names, the
great marked tree." witness our hands and sealls this 27 day of March run with Mamaronock River to the head thereof Quit-rents payable for each, the number of acres of
On the 5th of July 1701, the same Seringo and 1702. thence in a north line twenty miles into the woods improvable land in each, and their respective boun-
the other Indians deeded to Heathcote,Theal,Joseph from Westchester Path now all such lands .as fall daries, is from the original in the writer's possession.
Signed Sealled and delivered Katonah �- It is undated but was evidently made out in Colonel
Horton, and Purdy a tract bounded "southerly by within the lines of those deeds as before mentioned � y
in Bedford in the res Wackamane Heatheote's lifetime, and probably about 1715 or
the Colony Line, easterly by Mehanas River, north- p shall be and remain to the said Caleb Heathcote his
erly by Bedford line and marked trees to Mehanas ante of us Wewanapeag + Heirs&assigns forever notwithstanding any deed or 1716.
River,and Southerly as said river goes against the Zechariah Roberts bill of sale in Partnership betwixt said Heathcote& « The West Patent.
stream to the head thereof."to John Dibell Horton to them from the indians, the said Heathcote Patent: 14 Feb: 1701
On the 27th of March 1702 a deed for lands north John Miller paying and bearing the full charge of the purchase of 5000 Acres Improvable Land
of Cross River above Bedford village was executed Chickheag + all such land as falls within his lines afforesaid, &the £6,5,0, Quit-Rent
to Colonel Heathcote by Katonah the Sagamore of Caconico + said Heathcote not claiming a greater breadth through 10 Shares.
all that region,which as it is not recorded is here Arottom + said purchase that is,or shall hereafter be made by Patentees Names In trust for or sold to,
given from the original in the hand writing of the Mangockem+ him&said Horton,than be has at Westchester Path, R. Walter Schellenx&Lyon
Acount of good which is from Mamoronock River to Pi�in's brook L. Atwood Clarksons
adjoyneing the great Neck. In witness whereof the C. Depeyster
par soc
to one 6 ups to 12 kina C.Heathcote
1 According to bargain. g p Said Joseph Horton hath here unto sett his hand&
a Rest. to anker of rum to 12 citels 18 p M. Clarkson
"Follows. to 20 bars of lead to 6 iron citels seal this ffourteenth of July in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred&one. Jno. Chollwell --Quinby
4January to 12 drain 14 knifs to cotun cloth R.Slater T. Weaver
5 mentioned. Signed Sealed&Delivered in presence of
6 S in the original. R. Lurting C. Heathcote
7 Shirts Benjamin Collier Barne Cosens Peter Fanconnier
8 This extraordinary deed is written on the reverse side of a private 11 Roberts was the leading man of Bedford,noted for his bitter hostility
letter to Joseph Horton from one Samuel Ufford, dated "Stratford the to the Church of England,and his intense desire to profit by all the 1 A coarse and thick,but soft woolen cloth made in Holland. s Original deed in Colo.Heathcote's handwriting in possession of the
14th day of may,"but no year; it is not recorded. public employments he could obtain. a Ham,
8 The draughtsman of the last Indian deed. la Peter. 3 This was a very good price for that day. writer. It is not recorded.
1e Ret.in"Albany Records,"i.p.94. 11 Sickles. 14 Drawing-knives.7 4 Now Croton River. 6 From ancient copies of these covenants in the writer's possession.
36 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 37
_ _ I
Bounded Patentees Names In Trust for or sold to In relation to White plains it has been stated er- before the verdict was rendered. They claimed that
Northerly, Ro.Walter Schellinx &Lyon roneously that Colonel Heathcote died, "about four territory under an Indian deed to Peter Disbrow and
Jno. Chollwell —Quinby years later"than 1702, in which year a committee of three others of 2d June 1662, for "a certain tract of
By Croton River and the Mannor of Cortlandt,or one L.Atwood Clarksons
Rye people were appointed to agree with him on a land above_ Westchester Path to the marked trees
of them. C. De Peyster line between his Patent and White plains, and that bounded with the above said Blind Brook," (this is
Easterly, R. Slater T.Weaver
the question remained "still unsettled."t This is an the whole description) and as being in Connecticut
With Bedford Line of Three Miles Square,the White
Barne Cosens P. Fanconnier entire mistake,Colonel Heathcote lived nearly twenty of which they insisted Rye was a part,but they never
Fields, and Byram Point. M. Clarkson
years instead of four,after 1702,and maintained his would take out a patent for it. Hence when the
Southerly, Lan.Symes right to White plains, but was always ready to agree Quaker Harrison,and his four or five associates, ap-
By ,the land of John Harrison&c,Rye Line stretch- Rob. Lurting C. Heathcote with the Rye people about the matter, but they, plied to the New York government for a grant of it
Peter Mathews though occasionally talking about it, practically re- as "unappropriated and vacant land" it was, after
ing to Biram River and the White Plains, Caleb Heathcote mained passive, in consequence of the Richbell ver- due deliberation,granted them by Patent. In order
Westerly, Bounded dict against them of December 3, 1696, above set to quiet the border disputes of that day they had pre-
By Brunk's River and the Mannor of Philipsburgh, South forth. Not till after Colonel Heathcote's death, viously tried to get the people of Rye to take out a
Excepting out of ye Bounds aforesaid all ye Lands by the Division Line between N.Y.and said Colony of which occurred on February 28,1720-21,was the matter patent for this land,but they always refused to do so.
within Richbell's Patent, now in ye Tenour&occupa- Connecticut,and so along said Line until it meets with closed,though negotiations were pending in his life- This grant for Harrison's Purchase,and the Richbell
tion of Coll.Caleb Heatbcote. the Patent of Adolph Philipse,and so along his south- time, and Governor Burnet's Patent for White plains verdict coming only about six months after it, was
ern bounds till it meets with the Mannor of Cortlandt was issued to Joseph Budd,Humphrey Underhill and more than the Rye people thought they could bear,
The fiddle Patent. and from thence by a Line that shall run upon a others,bearing date the 13th of March 1721. . The and therefore, early in 1697, they revolted, seceded
and again
set themselves u as a
with four or five exceptions, from New Yorkp
"
Patent: February, 1701 direct course until it meets with the first easterly Line Patentees named therein, " p , ,
1500 Acres Improvable Land of 20 of the said Mannor of Cortlandt,and from thence were entirely different men from the proprietors of part of Connecticut. The New York government by
£1, 17,6 Quit Rent along the said line Westerly till it meets with the Pat- the White plaines purchase"I whose names appear peaceful means tried to bring them back,but in vain,
ent granted to R.Walter&others, thence southerly in a list taken from the Rye Town Records under and this secession continued for about three years,
13 Shares along the said Patent untill it meets with the bounds date of 1720,in Bolton's History, (1st ed. vol.ii.p. until King William by a sharp "Order in Council,"
Patentees Names In Trust for or Sold to of the Township of Bedford &thence round along'[ 341) and copied in'Baird's Rye and Bolton's second made on the 28th of March, 1700,ordered them back
C. Heathcote said bounds untill it meets with the patent granted to edition. This list was probably one of the proprie- to the old jurisdiction, in the words of the order
Jo. Theale Coll. Heathcote and others, and along the bounds of tors of some part of the grants embracing the present "forever thereafter to remain under the Government
J. Horton said Patent unto the Colony Line where it first began.— township of Rye. of the Province of New York."' That government
J. Purdy Also a small Tract of Land beginning westerly at a The terms of the settlement with Rye of adjoining in the beginning had even tendered them a Patent,
R.Walter Schellinx&Lyon great Rock on the Westmost side at the Southmost lands with Colonel Heatheote's representatives,about and Colonel Heathcote, who was one of the Gover-
Leigh Atwood Clarksons end of a Ridge Known by the Name of Richbell or which there was dispute are thus set forth,in "Notes nor's Council, at the request of the latter, in 1697
M.Clarkson Horse Ridge and from thence Northwest and by North of agreement between Rye and Devisees of Heath- went to Rye,and personally endeavored to settle the
Lan.Symes to Brunk's River,Easterly beginning at a mark'd Tree cote," in the writer's possession:—"Rye is to give us controversy. His letter to the Governor and Council
C. De Peyster Y°Heirs Coll.Depeyster at the Eastmost side on the Southmost end of the said their title to all lands which we claim in Harrison's describing his visit and its failure, gives the facts of
R.Slater Tho.Weaver Ridge and thence north to Brunk's River." purchase, as also to all the lands lying between the the case very clearly, and they prove that their own
John Chollwell —Quinby This West Patent by its bounds excluded White- old Collony Line and Mamaroneck River and the folly lost the Harrison lands to the people of Rye.
Barne Cosens P. Fanconnier plains, which Colonel Heathcote claimed under his White plains. We are to give them the benefit of "I asked them"he says, "why they did not take out
Robert Lurting C. Heathcote Richbell deeds and Patents. This led to a contro- the covenants in Jamison's deed to Coll. Heathcote a patent when it was tendered them. They said they
Bounded versy between him and some "Rye Men" who for the purchase lands." This was carried out by a never heard that they could have one. I told them
Southerl claimed Whiteplains as a part of their town. This deed from Robert Bloomer, John Budd, Samuel that their argument might pass with such as knew
fby the Division Line betweene ye Colony of Connecti- claim however remained passive,and nothing but a Purdy,John Horton,Nathan Kniffen,John Disbrow, nothing of the matter, but that I knew better; for
cut and the Province of New York parallell to the claim during Colonel Heathcote's life as the result of Samuel Brown, Roger Park, Joseph Galpin, Abra- that to my certain knowledge they might have bad
Sound.
the Richbell verdict against Rye in 1696 (set forth ham Brundige,and nineteen other inhabitants of Rye a patent had they not rejected it; and that it was so
Easterly, above in full) the year before Colonel Heathcote and White plains,to Mrs.Ann de Lancet'and Mrs. far from being dune in haste or in the dark,that not
By Mahanas River. bought the Richbell estate of Ann Richbell. The Martha Johnston dated September 5th 1739 for all a boy in the whole Town,nor almost in the County,
Northerly, land was then worth very little, and the Rye claim- the lands referred to in the above agreement' In but must have heard of it; and that I must always be
by Bedford Line and Markt Trees runing westerly
ants were very few. Colonel Heathcote died Febru- connection with these matters it must be borne in a witness against them, not only of the many mes-
ary 28, 1720-21, and his entire estate passed under mind that when the first claim of the Rye people was sages they have had from the Government about it,
to Mahanas River.
Westerly, his will to his two daughters, Ann,the elder, subse- defeated by the verdict against them in favor of Mrs. but likewise from myself."
quently the wife of James de Lancey chief justice of Richbell of December 3,1696,they were already greatly "I told them as to the last purchase wherein I was
again and as the said River goes against the stream to the Province of New York who died its Governor in angered by the grant of the Patent to John Harrison concerned, if that gave them any dissatisfaction,
the head thereof,then alongthe Easterly branch of an r since been known that I would not only quit my claim, but use my in-
Martha, the younger, subsequently the d his associates for what has eve
1760, and a, e y g ,
Biram River to the said Colony Line again where the wife of Lewis Johnston, M.D.,of Perth Amboy,New as "Harrison's Purchase" by the Governor of New terest in getting them any part of it they should de-
same began. Jersey,who died in 1774. His widow, Mrs. Martha York, on the 25th of June 1696, about six months sire. Their answer was, they valued not that; it
The East Patent Heathcote, was the sole executrix. By her and the was Harrison's Patent that was their ruin."5
"
Patent: 2 March 1701 two gentlemen just named, in the course of time, t Baird's History of Rye,p.156. The same erroneous statement was
.T 6200 Acres Improvable Land settlements were effected of Colonel Heathcote's in- copied from Baird into the second edition of Bolton's Westchester,vol.
ii,P.558. 4 iv.Col.Hist.627.
£7, 16,0,Quit-Rent terests in Whiteplains,the three patents above men- 2 so styled in Baird,Met.Rye,p.156. s Vol.xii.p.36 of the Col. Mos. in sec. of state's office, Albany. It
t,
11 Shares. tioned and in Harrisson's purchase. a From an ancient copy of the deed in the writer's possession. is printed in Baird's Hist,of Rye,p. 100.
i
38 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 39
Some five years after the granting of the West "Being all that certain tract of land in the County of August, 1720, to Samuel Purdy and others for the prayed our Grant&confirmation of a Certain tract of
Patent to Robert Walter and his associates in 1701, of Westchester, bounded Northerly by the Manor of Township of Rye, and with the eastern and northern Land in our County of West Chester Bounded North-
the southern part of it on the Byram River was,in Cortlandt, Easterly with Bedford line of three miles bounds of that granted to William Nicoll &c.,the erly by the Mannor of Courtlandt Easterly with Il
derogation of their rights, granted to Anne Bridges square,the Whitefeilds,and Byram River,Southerly 25th day of June, 1696, called Harrison's Lands,or Bedford Line of three Miles Square the white feilds
and four others of the town of Rye. The West Paten- by the Colony second line, Rye line stretching to Harrison's Purchase. &Byram River Southerly by the Land of John Har-
tees remained quietly in possession however of all their Byram River, the land of John Harrison, and the "Matters relating to that affair being in reality as rison Rye line Stretching to Byram River aforesd, &
territory. About twenty-three years after the issu- White Plains, and Westerly by Brunk's river and hath been related, the several questions which do the White plains& Westerly by Bronckx river&the
ing of the West Patent,and about two after Colonel the Mannor of Philipsburgh. On the return of which naturally arise therefrom, are,first,what could induce Mannor of phillipsburgh excepting out of the bounds
Heathcote's death,a suit in ejectment was brought, by purchase the said Coll.Heathcote and his associates these last Patentees to sue for a Grant of that laud aforesaid all theLand within Richbells patent now in
the persons named in the Bridges grant of 1705-6 applyed for,and on the 14th day of February 1701-2, in 1705-6, which they well knew had been already the tenure & Occupation of Coll Caleb Heathcote
against Robert Walter and other owners of the West obtained the Crown's Grant for the same, To Robert patented in 1701-2. Secondly,Why,having been at the which first above named tract of Land was purchased
Patent. The reasons for it are now unknown as the Walter, Leigh Atwood, Cornelius Depyster, Caleb trouble and charges thereof, they not only left the by Caleb Heathcote & others with whom he has
latter had never been disturbed in the possession of Heathcote, Mathew Clarkson, John Cholwell,Rich- said first Patentees so long quietly owne, but also agreed excepting James Mott& Henry Disbrow whom
their lands by any-body. It was unsuccessful how- and Slater, Lancaster Symes, Robert Lurting [in survey the same, and not only be present thereat he hath undertaken to Satisfy within which bounds
ever. The following curious and interesting paper Quest for the said Coll. Heathcote again] and Barne without the least objection, but also shew them the there are by Estimation about five thousand Acres
entitled"A true state of the case,"gives all the facts, Cosens, under£6,5.=Quitrent. East and North lines of Well's and Harrison's pur- of profitable Land besides Waste&Woodland which
and also shows how thoroughly Colonel Heathcote "Notwithstanding all woh yet, and the said lands chases; to let them dispose of several pieces part of reasonable request we being willing to grant %nova
was even then considered "authority" in West- being vacant and unappropriated,the purchase there- it, and the buyers thereof without interruption en- Ye that of our Special Grace certain knowledge &
cheater County matters. Its author, evidently a law- of was so lawfully made, and the grant obtained: On joy the same about 23 years after that first grant was meer motion we have given granted ratified &con-
yer, is unknown, but it is in the small, clear, beauti- the 12th day of January,1706, being near five years obtained; and lastly what could induce them, so firmed and by these presents do for us our heirs &
ful, handwriting of Peter Fauconnier an owner,by after, Anne Bridges, John Clap, Augustin Graham, late then to serve a Lease of Ejectment on it." Successors give grant ratify&confirm unto our Said
trust or by purchase,in all three of the great Patents John Horton,and Thomas Height, on a wrong notion The answers to these questions we are left to con- Loving Subjects Robert Walters Leigh Attwood
above mentioned, and one of the best surveyors of of an insufficiency of power and authority in the then jecture, as except the boundaries of the patents it Cornelius Depeyster Caleb Heathcote M. Clarkson
that day. It is printed from the original in the Lieutenant-Governour to grant the above mentioned refers to, which accompany it. Nothing else appears Jno Chollwell Rich Slater Lancaster Symes Robert
writer's possession. tract to the above named purchasers thereof, and ono on the paper. It is apparently part of a lawyer's Lurting & Barne Cosens all the aforesaid tract of
"A true state of the case, such other groundless surmises, did sue for and thenstatement of facts, upon which to base an opin- Land within our County of Westchester & within
Between the ejector John Horton &c., and Robert obtained,an other posterior grant for the Southern ion. It would seem from the statement itself the limitts & bounds aforesd together with all and
Walter &c., in behalf of the ejected, for lands in part of the same individual tract of Land: that the Bridges Patent was granted on the idea Singular the woods underwoods trees timber feedings
Westchester County. "It being for A certain tract of land in the county that Lieutenant-Governor Nanfan for some reason pastures meadows marshes swamps ponds poolles
"Coll. Caleb Heathcote well acquainted with of Westchester within the Province of New York,be- not stated, had not the power to issue the West waters water Courses rivers rivulets runs brooks
the North bounds of the Tract of land called Well's ginning at a Beach tree standing by Byram river near Patent when he did, and that it was therefore of no Streams fishing ffowling hunting & hawking mines
and Coxe's purchases, being the lands long before a great rock, markt with the letters I. H.I. P. I. C., effect. An utterly false idea, for his power as Com- Mineralls (silver and Gold mines Excepted) and all
claimed by, and since patented to, the Town of Rye thence running up the said river North North West mander-in-chief was exactly that of all Governors- other profitts benefitts priviledges Libertys advantages
the 11th day of August 1720; to a certain Ash Tree,on the upper end of a place in-chief, as set forth in the royal "Instructions" to Hereditaments-& Appurtenances whatsoever to the
"With the East and North bounds of the lands commonly called Pondpound's Neck, marked with each of them. The West Patent remained, undis- aforesa tract of Land within the limitts&bounds aforesa
granted the 25th day of June,1696,to William Nicoll the letters aforesaid &c to the Colony line, Westerly turbed,and is the foundation of the present title to belonging or innywise appertaining To have and to
Esq., Ebenezer Willson,David Jamison, John Harri- to the eight miles stake standing between three white the region covered by it (now New Castle and a hold all the aforesaid tract of Land together with all
son, and Samuel Haight, called Harrison's purchase; oak trees markt[viz.] one of the said trees is marked large part of North Castle and a part of Bedford). & Singular the woods underwoods trees timbers feed-
"With the North bounds of the lands claimed by with the letters C C R on the north side and Y D on The suit was probably a scheme of some lawyer,or ings pastures Meadows Marshes Swamps ponds pools
the Inhabitants of White Plains; the south side,and from the said trees on a direct line, some person, who was a personal or political oppo- waters water Courses Rivers Rivuletts runs brooks
"With the Eastmost bounds of the several con- runs to the Northernmost corner of Rye pond, and nent of some one or more of the proprietors of the Streams fishing fowling Hunting and Hawking Mines
tiguous tracts of land granted the 23rd day of Decem- thence south ten degrees Westerly to a white oak sap- West Patent, for the value of the land then was en- Mineralls Silver and Gold mines Excepted&all other
ber, 1684, to Frederick Phillipse, and the course of ling marked bythe Pond side with the letters T.I. P. tirely too little to induce a speculative action. The profits benefits priviledges Libertys Advantages He-
Brunks river; thence by a range of marked trees south sixty four following is the text of the West Patent from a certi- reditaments&appurtenances whatsoever to the aforesa
"With the South bounds of those granted the 17th degrees East to an Ash Tree standing by Blind Brook fied copy of 1734,in the writer's possession. tract of Land in this the Limitts & bounds aforesa
of June, 1697,to Coll.Stephen Cortlandt; on the East side thereof,and thence by another range belonging or in any way appertaining unto them the
"With the North and West bounds of the lands be- of marked trees to a certain Chestnut tree markt with THE WEST PATENT. said Robert Walters Leigh Atwood Cornelius Depey-
longing to the Town of Bedford; the letters J. P.on the North side,on the West side, Recorded at the request of Robt. Walters&others. ster Caleb Heathcote Matthew Clarkson John Choll-
"And well knowing how, and where, the three with the letters I.P.on the south side with the letters William the third by the grace of God of England well Richard Slater Lancaster Symes Robt Lurting
several lines which have to divide this Province from I.H. and thence by a range of marked trees to the Scotland ffrance&Ireland King Defender of the ffaith and Barne Cosens their heirs and assigns to the only
the Colony of Connecticut,are to fall and to run,and place where it begun. &c, To all to whom these presents shall come or may proper use benefit & behoof of them the Sd Robert
consequently the location, extent, and limits,of the "That this last-mentioned grant is all included concern Greeting Whereas—our Loving Subjects Rob- Leigh Attwood Cornelius Depeyster Caleb Heathcote
then still vacant lands adjoining thereunto; he did in, and that the east, south, and most of the west ert Walters Leigh Attwood Cornelius Depeyster Caleb M Clarkson,Jno, Chollwell Lancaster Symes Richard
acquaint there with the Persons hereinafter named bounds thereof are,the very same with the southmost Heathcote Matthew Clarkson John Chollwell Richard Slater Robert Lurting&Barne Cosens their heirs &
jointly with, and for the use of, whom, with and by ones specified in the aforementioned grant of the 14th Slater Lancater Simes Robert Lurting&Barne Copens Assigns for ever To be Holden of us our heirs & Sue-.
the assistance of Joseph Theale,John Horton,Joseph February, 1701-2 to Robert Walter &c.,will unques- have by their petitions presented unto our trusty & cessors in free& Common Socage as of our Mannour
Purdy, Nathaniel Seleick, Richard Scofeild, James tionably appear by comparing the southern bounds wellbeloved John Nanfan Esq', our Leiut', Gov°, & of East Greenwich in our County of Kent within our
Mott, and Henry Disbrow, he did wholly and law- of the one with those of the other, and both with the Commander in Cheif of our Province of New York Realm of England Yealding rendering&paying there-
fully purchase the same. northern bounds of the Patent granted the 11th day and the territories depending thereon in America&c, fore Yearly &every Year for ever at our City of New
70"M4
40 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 41
York unto us our heirs and Successors or to Such Of- said Refferees or any three or more of them are to goes against the stream to ye head of the said river, certain Tract of Land, Called Whitefeildin the
ficer Or Officers as shall from time to time be im- award what sum the persons claiming under Bedford and so to the said colony line,which said tract of County of Westchester, Do authorize and appoint
powered to receive the same the Annual & Yearly are to pay by the acre for the said Lands and the land on the 5th day of July last past, was by our said Samuel Purdy,Esq'.to Lay out and Divide the said
rent of Six pounds five Shillings Current money of West Patent proprietors are, upon payment thereof, Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theal, John Horton and Lands in Order To our coming to an Entire Division
New York in Leiu& stead of all other rents dues to release all their right in the Lands to the persons Joseph Purdy, &c., purchased of the native proprie- of the Same, to Each Respective Pattentee or his
duties Services demands wtsoever In Testimony where- claiming under Bedford, &shall warrant & Defend tors, and containing within the limits aforesaid,by assigns.
of we have caused the great Seal of our said Prov- them agt. all persons claiming under the West Patent. estimation, about 1500 acres of profitable land, be- Witness our Hands
ince to be hereunto affixed Witness John Nanfan The Improvements are not to be valued, and if the sides wastes and wood lands,which reasonable request, James De Lancey
Esqr our Leiut: Governour and Commander in Refferees or any three or more of them award that we being willing to grant, know ye,that of our espe- D. Clarkson
Cheif of our province of New York & the territories the proprietors of the West Patent are not entitled to cial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we C. D'Peyster
depending thereon in America&Vice Admiral of the the Lands in Dispute but that the same are the prop- have given, granted, ratified and confirmed,and by P. Fauconnier
same&c at our ffort•in New York the fourteenth day of erty of the claimants under Bedford, then that the these presents doe for us, our heirs and successors, John Symes
ffeby A'1701,&in the thirteenth Year of our Reign former shall release all their right to the latter of, give,grant, ratify and confirm unto our said loving Josiah Quimby.
John Nanfan, By his Honr' Command M. Clarkson in, and to, the Lands in Dispute. Dated this 27th subjects,Col. Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theal, John Memorandn'. for Justice Purdy to take Notice
Seery. day of March 1771, Horton, Joseph Purdy, Robert Walters, Leigh At- where the Division Line between Greenwich and
Seery Office N York Mar 22d 1734 John Bard wood,Matthew Clarkson,Lancaster Sims, Cornelius Stamford falls upon the Colony Line.
A true Copy from the Record De a ster Richard Slater John Cholweoert e
'` MORRIS D SeeryDavid Clarkson�in Behalf of the West P Y > > ll]> RbA true copy From y Originall by
FFRED
' Thomas Jones' Patent Proprietors. Lurting and Barne Cosens,all the afore recited tract Sam'. Purdy.,'3
Compared with the Record g of land within the county of Westchester, and within
James Wright in Behalf of the claim- Mr. Purdy accepted the appointment and acted.
ALD } s an
the limits bounds aforesaid together with all and
John Lawrence ants under Bedford. He divided the Patent into two parte which he called
singular the woods underwoods,trees, timber, feed- „ „ u „
g � n containing thirteen
It will be noticed how carefully this patent by ex- was made the the East and West Ranges, g
Under this agreement the settlementin pastures, meadows marshes swamps, ponds,P � P „
press words excepted and preserved to Colonel Heath- �' P ' ' Lotts each. The number of acres in each is not
cote his lands under the Richbell Patent, which 1n Bedford people payingabout eight shillings Per acre, pools, waters' water.
courses rivers rivulets rune
now known,but the value of each lot is shown by the
it is believed, for the land to the proprietors of the brooks streams fishing, fowling, hunting, hawking, original list and valuation by Purdy,in the writer's
this Patent in Bedford under the deed from Katonah . � &c.,mines,minerals, &c., (silver and gold mines ex- possession,which is as follows:—
above
somewhat similar settlement had been made six cepted,)and all other profits,benefits, privileges, lib-
above given, became the subject of controversy— ears before in 1765 b the Proprietors of the Mid- An Estimate o the Lotta in Whitefield Pattent.
and remained unsettled till 1771,when the dispute Y Y P erties,advantages, hereditaments and appurtenances .f .�
was finallyterminated b the following mutual Agree- dle Patent, or "the Whitefields Patent" as it was whatsoever to the aforesaid tract of land within the East Range, West Range.
Y g g often called which adjoined the West Patent on the No. £ No.
£
ment, the original of which is in the writer's pos• ' � limits and bounds aforesaid,belonging or 1n any way 1 93 00 1. ...............................:. 7300
East,by a like arbitration with Samuel Banks and or ways appertaining,unto them the said Colonel 2.
session. some twenty four others, who having bought the •••••••••.....................•• 93°° 2. ................................ 7s 00
Caleb Heathcote, &c., &c.,their heirs and assigns to 3• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8500 3. ................................ 85 W
Agreement between the Proprietors of the West .Patent rights of two or three of the Patentees entered upon, the only proper use,benefit and behoof of him the 4. ................................ 85 00 4. ............................... 95 00
and Bedford. and took possession of the whole of that Patent the 5. ................................. so 00 5. s5 00
./� P � said Colonel Caleb Heathcote, &c., &c., their heirs s. ................................. 54 00 s. .,.•,,,,.;.....•,•.,•.,........• 92 00
"It is this day agreed between the proprietors of grant for which is as follows: and assigns for ever, to be holden of us,our heirs and 7. ................................ 4400 7. ................................ 77 06
that part of the West Patent in Westchester County THE MIDDLE PATENT. successors, in free and common soccage as of our 8. ................................ 4400 a. ................................ 77 00
9. ................................ 4400 9. ................................ 8400
which was released to the said proprietors by Caleb manor of East Greenwich in our county of Kent, 10. ................................ 44 00 18. ................................ 88 00
Fowler Benjamin Smith, & Joseph Sutton & the (The Whitefields).
"William the Third b the race of God of En within our realm of England,yielding,rendering,and 11. ................................ 50 ou 11. ............................... 9600
persona settled upon the same Lands and claiming a ' Y g ' g- 12. ............................... 62 00 12. ................................ 100 00
paying therefor yearly and every year,on the first day
title thereto under the Township of Bedford, that the land,Scotland, France,and Ireland,King, Defender 1s. ............................... 72 00 13. ............................... 100 00
of the Faith, &c.,to all to whom these presents shall of the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour,the annual
whole matters in Dispute between the said parties, yearly rent of one pound, seven shillings and six- L&50 00 £1139 00
shall be submitted to the arbitration of Richard come or may concern,sendeth greeting: Whereas our
loving subjects Col. Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theal, pence, current money of New York, in lieu and stead 860 00
Willis & William Seaman of Jerico, George Town- of all other rents, dues, duties,services and demands
send of Norwich Thomas Hicks,
' Atwood,Matthew Clarkson,Lancaster Sims,Cornelius whatsoever. In testimony whereof, we have caused Pr me
donk of the Township of Hempstead,&all of Queens the great seal of our said Province to be hereunto af- Sam"Purdy.
County, Gents. That the whole matters Differ- Depeyater, Richard Slater, John by their
Robert fixed. Witness John Nanfan, Esq., our Lieutenant
ences in Dis ute.between the said parties shall be Lurting,and Berne Cosens,have by their petition, The names of the persona living on this Patent six
p p Governor and Commander-in-chief of our Province
of
submitted to the determination of the said refl'erees Presented unto our trusty and well beloved John Nan- years after Purdy,s appointment above given were
New York and territories depending thereon in
or any three or more of them without any Exception fan, Esq.,our Lieut. Governor and Commander-in- collected by Benjamin Fox of King Street and sent
America, and Vice-Admiral of the same, at our Fort to Mr.Murrayf New York who was the lawyer and
chief of our Province of New York and territories Y
whatever. That Bonds shall be executed mutually in New York, this 17th day of February, 1701-2,and agent of some of the patentees. Under date of"King
each in the penall sum of£5000 New York Money'to depending thereon in America, sin and prayed our in the fourteenth year of our reign."' t tr a 1 P «
stand to the award of the said Refferees or any three rant and confirmation of a certain tract of land in „ St. 8 y 7 , 1739, Fox writes Murray, Inclosed
g JOHN NANFAN.
or more of them. That the award shall be made and the county of Westchester,bounded southerly by the have sent you the names of the People Possessed on
This,the smallest of the three Great Patents, was
• read to be delivered to the parties or some of them colony line of Connecticut, easterly by Mahanaa the Whitef'eild,or Middle Patent which have Indev-
y P held by its Patentees without a division of their our
to colect as well as I could." The list which
river,northerly by Bedford line and marked trees to
on or before the first day of September next. That interests till 1733, when the following appointment
if the Arbitrators or any three or more of them shall Mahanas river again, and southerly as the said river of Samuel Purdy to lay it out was made: is on a separate paper,is as follows:
award the Lands in Dispute to be the property of the
' 'Then recorder of New York,and later Judge of the supreme Court, "New York Aug. y'. 2U°i: 1733. s This name,singularly enough is so spelled in all the old deeds and
proprietors claiming under the West Patent,then the
the Author of the History of New York during the Revolutionary War. "We the Undersigned owners and Proprietors of a documents. It should,of course,have been "Whitefields."
--- -- He represented the Heathcote estate,his wife,Anne De Lancey, being 3From an ancient copy in the writer's possession,in Samuel Purdy's
112,500 dollars. a granddaughter of Colonel Heathcote. 1 Book of Patents,No.vii.224,Sec.of State's Office,Albany, handwriting.
X
i
42 MAMARONECK. MAMARONECK. 43
Thos. Hutchins —Owens patentees in the said Letters Patent 'Named, or of were, will be seen from the following authentic state- the "Profitable Land '''of the Patents themselves.
Thos.Meritt John Finch those claiming under the said patentees, or some or ment: As will be seen,by referring to it, that document
l John Runells,Sear John Brush one of them."3 Peter Fauconnier, who was a surveyor,and as has gives for the different Patents these areas;—
John Runells Jun, Benj Brush The East Patent was granted March 21 1701 to the been stated, an owner in all three patents, was, with In the Weat Patent, 5,000 Acres Improvable Land,
Benj. Platt Sam" Peters same Patentees as the West Patent with theLancaster S mes the active managers for the own- In the Middle addition. Y ag d e Patent, 1,500 Acres Improvable Land
Jacob Finch Ebius Brock to their number of Peter Matthews of Bedford. Five ers of all three patents. An account showing the In the East Patent, 6,200 Acres Improvable Land,
Sam"Banks Francis Purdy days before, on the 25th of February in the same amounts due from each owner, arranged under, the In all together, 12700 Acres Improvable Land,Which
John Purdy' year,Katonah,Wakemane, and another Indian exe- head of each Patent separately, dated in 1716, in the is not quite one sixth of the actual area of the terri-
When,twenty-five years later, the final settlement cuted a deed of confirmation to the Patentees of their handwriting of Fauconnier is in the writer's posses- tory of the three Patents by Fauconnier's account.
of 1765,between the patentees and the settlers above right and estate in the tract'in which they thus de- sion,and it shows that the three Patents together con- As the whole Manor of Cortlandt north of the Cro-
referred to,was made,the parties then in possession, .scribe, "bounded as followeth viz. Westward by Bed- tained seventy thousand,70,000, Acres of Land. The ton River and east of the Hudson containing 5000
whose names are recited in the award,were;— Sam't ford, and by the patent granted to Caleb Heathcote headings of the accounts of the three patents are acres was only valued in 1732 at £9625 or $25,062,'
and others,5 northerly b Coll. Cortlandt's purchase these;— and as the twentysix lots of the "Middle Patent"
h Banka,John Banks,Benny Platt,Jonathan Platt,John � Y Y p "The first of the 3 Patents above mentioned con- were only valued in 1733 at£1989 5 or about$5,000
Runnels,Jonathan Owens, John Rundle, John Arm- and Croton's river, southerly and easterly by the Co]- � y ,
strong, Roger Sutherland,Smith Sutherland,Charles ony lines." taining about 30,000 acres of rough Land, between 10 both valuations being made for the respective pro-
The patent itself in its general language is similar Patentees." ' rietors b the same man Justice Samuel Purdy,
' Green, Charles Green,Junr, David Brundige, Walter P gP Y ,
Morris, Aaron Furman, Junr, Shubel Brush, James to those of the West and Middle Patents above set "The Second of the 3 Patents here-above mentioned and as the Patentees of the latter were only awarded
forth. It bounds the Tract ranted in these words containing about 5000 acres of rough Land,between nine shillings,one dollar and twelve cents,an acre,for
Abraham
� Brundige, Stephen Edegett, Nehemiah Brundige, g ;-
13 Patentees."2 their unsold lands in the same patent in 1765 a en-
Abraham Knapp, Joshua Lounsbery, Daniel Brown, The Ent Patent Bounds « P g
Junr, Phinehaa Knapp, Jeremiah Numan, Robert ,�
The Third of the 3 Patents here-above mentioned er&tion later,it is easily seen how very little, was the
Bounded South, by the division Line between containing about 35 000 acres of rough Land between actual value of the 70 000 acres of the three great at=
II Murfee,Jeremiah Green. , g p
New York and Connecticut, East, by the other 11 Patentees."8 ents when they were granted, and during the lifetime
Some of these names appear in Fox's list of 1739,
but only a few. division Line between New York and Connec- In a"statement of the three Patents" which has of their original Patentees. These facts also show how
The arbitrators in 1765 were: "Daniel Kissam ticut, and so along said Line untill it meets with already been given,showing the dates of the Patents, careful we should always be in considering these mat-
Samuel Townsend, George Weekes, Benjamin Tread the Patent of Adolf Philipses and so along his the Patentees' names, and the boundaries granted by tera not to judge of estates in the 17th, and 18th, cen-
well and David Batty, all of Queens County"and southern bounds till it meets with the Mannor each,the areas of each are set down in what that doe- turies in Westchester County,large or small,by the
their award dated October 6, 1765,recites that they, of Cortlandt, ,and from thence by a Line that ument calls "Improvable Land," corresponding to values of, either the early,or the latter part of the
having sat as arbitrators and heard the said disputes,
shall run upon a direct course untill it meets with the — — ------ 19th century.
" first easterly Line of twenty miles of the said Mannor
1 The"West Patent."
and having deliberately heard,examined,and consid- of Cortlandt, aad from thence along the said Line 2 The Middle Patent. 4 See in Part 13,mite,p.135.
ered all'the proofs and allegations of the said Parties Westerly till it meets with the Patent granted to R. S The"East Patent." 5 See ante,p.886.
in Controversy, do for the settling peace and amity ,
between them make this our award, order, arbitra• Walter and others,'thence southerly along the said
ment, determination, and judgment of and upon the Patent,untill it meets with the bounds of the Town-
Premises as Follows—First, We do award and order, ship of Bedford, and thence round along said bounds
until it meets with tli
rant
e Patent d 11.Heath-
that the said Anne D La
Y, o granted to Co
De Lance
y,John Bard,Pierre De-
peyater, David Clarkson, Peter Remsen,and Johncote and others,ands thence along the bounds of said
Ogelbie,and all others who claim lands under the said Patent unto the Colony Line where it began,"
Patent which are not already sold or conveyed to the No attempt was made to settle this tract till about
persons now in possession of the said lands, or to the year 1744, when parties from Stamford and its
those under whom they claim, or to some or one of neighborhood acquired portions of land within its
them,shall and do upon demand execute and deliver limits.
III in due form of law a release of all their rights and The area of these three great Patents,the " Pest,"
Titles of, in, and to, the lands specifyed in the said the"Middle," and the"East," was very much greater
Letters Patent,to said Samuel Banka and the other than is commonly supposed. The Patents themselves
persons above named who are now in possession of only give their respective areas in what those instru-
the said Lands,and to their heirs and assigns forever; ments term profitable land, that is,land that could
and that the said Samuel Banks and the other per
be easily cultivated. But as the greater part of north-
sons above named, who are now in possession of the ern and central Westchester abounded in high semi-
said Lands,shall and do upon the delivery of such mountainous ridges, rocky heights, and great forests,
Release pay unto the said Anne De Lancey and such characteristics which to a large extent it still retains,
other persons as are hereby ordered to Execute the the"profitable land" really bore but a small pro-
said Release, the sum of nine Shillings New York portion to what was then deemed the unprofitable
money'for every acre of said lands, which the said land. How very extensive these great patents really
Samuel Banks and the other persons above named or s From the original award signed by all the arbitrators,in the writer's
those under whom they claim,or some or one of them, possession.
have not already purchased of some, or one, of the 4 Book I,p.100, Sec.of State's Offe.Albany.
SThe"Middle Patent."
5 Phillpse's Upper Patent,now Putnam County.
1 Original letter and list in the writer's possession. r The West Patent.
"One dollar and twelve cents. s The Middle Patent.
1MEOW
HISTORY OF RYE NECK
as exerpted from
HISTORY OF RYE
Chronicle of a Border Town
N: t
By Charles W. Baird
(1871)
Text selected
by
ILII k
Grace Huntley Pugh
and
j
Elbridge Sibley
Ij
I' CHARLES W. BAIRD Mamaroneck 1976
t' -
i
49
INTRODUCTION
AMONG the numerous pointe ing from the 'Fresh' or Connecticut River to the°South' River,
WILis of land jutting into Long or Delaware,and extending to the great lakes and the Saint Law-
VPaAC{rASE Island Sound, and forming the rence on the north,an area now covered by three States and part of
lesser indentations of its north- a fourth. But her ]told on these possessions was feeble and relax-
ern shore, is one that may be ing. The progress of the colony had been slow. Little had been
said to mark the limit of the done toward the occupation of this expanse. Small towns,
State of New York. From the scarcely more than hamlets, had risen under shelter of the forts
jagged rocks that terminate this on the island of Manhattan,and near the present site of the city of
a WILLS
(?'PURCHASE. point, a tract of land nowhere Albany. Five or six villages were scattered on the south end of
Q C
y Zt more than two miles wide Long Island. A few plantations were to be seen along the banks
t"• stretches northward about nine of the North or°Maurice' River. Some show of a purpose to
miles to a sharp angle upon the defend these possessions was made,by keeping up a military post
g W Connecticut border. This•little at Hartford,on the extreme eastern frontier,and by the conquest
territory, called by the Indians of the Swedish settlements on the Delaware, at the south. But
41J Peningo, with the island of the policy of the Dutch government was not favorable to a co-
2 o Manussing on the east, and a lonial system. Though anxious to enrich herself by foreign com-
APAWAM I S �«- part of the neighboring shore merce, Holland was slow to extend protection to distant depend-
on the west, constitutes the encies,or pledge herself to their defence. These settlements were
town of Rye. Lying thus on usually left to be cared for and controlled by individual or associ-
the confines of two States, ated enterprise. Thus a board of merchants at Amsterdam,
whose boundaries from the out- known as the West India Company, had obtained the exclusive
set were but ill-defined,and remained for nearly a century in dis- right of trade with the western world,and the sole privilege of
pute,its history might in a measure be forecast. Throughout the. granting lands to those w}to might choose to remove thither. This
earlier and forming part of that history,this was I debatable ground' Company ruled with a high hand over the traders and farmers of
—a fact very perceptibly bearing on the social and especially on the New Netherland. Occasional efforts were made to encourage emi-
religious character of the community seated here. gration; but the inducements were not strong. The Company's
The territory of this town was formerly much larger than that object was evidently not so much to reclaim the wilderness,as to
just described. It comprehended also the present towns of Harri- drive a profitable business with its savage inhabitants. Settle-
son and the White Plains, until after the Revolution. These in- ments were made with a principal view to the monopoly of the fur
deed were the choicest portions of the land originally acquired. The traffic; and New Amsterdam itself was little more than a trading
narrow tract along Byranr River and the Sound was first occupied post. The emigrants who had been tempted across the sea chiefly
by the settlers for convenience and security, because nearer and by hopes of immediate gain, had little of the energy and public
more accessible to the older plantations of Connecticut. As soon spirit of their New England neighbors, who had crossed it in
as they could safely do so, they removed from the shore, where search of an asylum from oppression,and an inheritance of free-
the surface is rocky and broken, to the more fertile inland ridges dom for their children.
and plains.
From this inequality of surface, however, the scenery of the WESTCHESTER COUNTY, as early as this period of the Dutch
town takes its varied beauty, and gains attraction as a place of occupation, was already a scene of historic interest. For here the
suburban resort and residence. troubles of the Dutch with the Indian tribes of the interior com-
In the south and southwest, towards the Sound and bordering menced. And here began those difficulties with the English,
upon it, the land is generally level. Near the Episcopal Church which, though less sanguinary,foreboded much more clearly the
rises a rocky ridge extending northward, and dividing the town termination of their rule.
in two nearly equal parts. This ridge gradually widens into a This region was as yet almost an unbroken wilderness. Except
plateau of undulating surface, one fourth to three fourths of a mile along the seaboard, no settlement had been effected by either
wide, sloping on the northeast to the Byram River, and on the Dutch or English. A vast,limitless waste, teeming with vague
west to Blind Brook. Another ridge begins at the lower end of perils,formed the background of some sparse settlements along the
Peningo(Neck,or Brown's Point,and gradually rises toward Grace shores of the Sound. Deep forests, pierced by paths known only
Church Street,where it breaks into a succession of hills that extend to the red man, stretched from the Hudson to the Connecticut.
to the village of Port Chester. Along the shore of the Sound the These forests consisted chiefly of oaks of carious kinds,which,
rocks rise compactly, forming low bluffs, or are broken into large, together with the walnut, chestnut, beech, and other trees,grew
irregular masses. Similar masses of coarse granite, below the to a height that amazed European eyes. Many of them were
Beach, form`clumps' or islands, curiously worn and perforated loaded with vines, whose profusion is noticed by early travellers.
by the action of the water, and bearing names which were given 'Almost the whole land is full of them,' they write, 'as well the
them by the settlers,or by passing mariners,in remote times. wild woods as the mowing lands and flats; but they grow princi-
The date of the settlement carries as back more than two hun- pally near and upon the banks of the brooks and streams.' Some
dred years, to the time when the Dutch were still in possession of portions of the country were cleared of underbrush,and presented
the province they called I New Netherland.' Half a century had the appearance of beautiful groves. This was owing to the Indian
elapsed since these shores were discovered by Hendrick Hudson. custom of setting fire,in the autumn, to the tall grass,for the pur-
In virtue of that discovery, Holland claimed a vast domain, reach- pose of starting their game from the thickets. Elsewhere these
50
51
fires had completely destroyed the heavier timber, producing tracts tract of land. What negotiations had preceded this transaction, ter path,all the lands,trees to fell at his pleasure,with all the grounds which these four names appear together. The settlers now bought
of meadow land, a pleasant relief from the sombre shades of the and what were the terms of sale, we do not know. The deed of and meadow grounds and planting grounds, moynes and minerals, the tract of land above the Westchester Path, and west of Blind
forest. But much of the woodland was marshy,and densely cov- this purchase has long since disappeared. It was lost during the springs and rivers or what else lying or being within the said track of Brook, or directly north of Budd's Neck. This was the territory
ered with a rank growth of bush and shrub. Extensive swamps lifetime of Disbrow himself. land,and also range,feeding and grasse for cattell,twenty English miles of the present town of Harrison; and the following deed exhibits
overspread the valleys and lower plains, through which the brooks Nearly six months elapsed before any further step was taken by northward into the country,and trees to fell at his or their pleasure,and the claim of the proprietors of Rye to that tract,which was wrested
to their proper use and improvements of the said John Budd,his heirs,
and streams, then much fuller than at present,made their devious our planters. They had no intention of settling,as yet, on the executors,&c.,for ever to enjoy,possess and keepe as their real right,as from them forty years later:
way. land thus acquired upon the main. But east of Peningo Neck, also peaceably to inherite the sayd track of land with all thereone, and `Know all men whom this may concern that we Peter Disbrow,John
Occasionally,however, there were traces of a rude cultivation. separated from it only by a narrow channel,lay an island about a we the before named Ingains doe acknowledge and confesse to have re- Coe and Thomas Studwell and John Budd have bargained and bought
Near the rivers, and especially along the inlets of the Sound,por- mile in length, called by the Indians Manussing. This island ap- ceived in hand of Ore said John Budd,the juste sum of ei-litie pounds and paid for to the satisfaction of Showannorocot and Roksohtohkor
tions of the land had long been appropriated by the Indians for their pears not to have been included in the first purchase. It offered sterling in full satisfaction for the aforesaid land with all the limits, and Powataham and other Indians whose names are underwritten a
corn-fields and gardens. There are probably not a few spots on manifest advantages for the commencement of the plantation. On bounds and privileges with hegrece and regrece, without lett or certain tract of land above Westchester Path to the marked trees
our Westchester farms,upon which the red man's toil was expended the twenty-ninth day of June, 1660, Peter Disbrow, with John molestation of any one. Now for the more true and reall enjoyment bounded with the above said river Blind brook; which tract of land
before the coming of the white settler,who found his labors greatly Coe and Thomas Stedwell, concluded a treaty with the Indian and possession of the said John Budd his heirs,&c.,we doe jointly and with all the privileges of wood,trees,grass,springs,mines and minerals,
lightened by the partial preparation of the ground, and who gladly proprietors for the purchase of this island. severally,us and either of us,or any by or under us,for ever assign and to the said Peter Disbrow,John Coe, Thomas Studwell, to them and
availed himself of the Indian clearings, which were generally By these two treaties,our settlers acquired the lower half of the make over by virtue of this our deed and bill of sale, disclayme any there heirs for ever; with warrants against all persons,English,Dutch,
effected where the soil was the richest and the location the most present territory of the town,between Blind Brook and the Sound further right in the sayd tract of land from the day of the date hereof, or Indians. To this bargain and sale we the above said Indians do
and all and each of us do promise to put the said John Budd or his into bind ourselves,heirs and assigns to the above said Peter Disbrow,John
favorable. or Byram River; together with the adjoining island of Manussin
g• quiet,peaceable possession,and hint to keep and defend and mayntaine and the rest above said,to them, their heirs and assigns for ever; as
The country lying between the Hudson and the Byram rivers Nearly a year after, they bought the land lying farther north, against all person or persons whatsoever that shall directly or indirectly witness our hands this present day and date,June the 2: 1662.
was claimed by a part of the Mohegan tribe. Various independent between the same streams. This included considerably more than lay any clayme or former grant,or shall trouble or molest the said John
families of this tribe had their villages here,and roamed through the present territoryof the town. SHowANNOROCOT his mark
Budd or his,be they English or Dutch,or Ingains,or whatsoever. We
the surrounding forests in pursuit of game. These villages were P g ROMBQUE his mark'
Our planters next turned their attention to the lands lying west the aforenamed Ingains doe engage ourselves,heirs,executors,&c.,to
most numerous along the shores of the Sound. of Blind Brook—a much more extensive and important field. g g ons as aforesaid. I Shanarocke,Rackeate, To complete our series of Indian deeds we here give the follow-
make god this our hole ate P + e,
Eastward, they could not hope to extend their limits further than Mepockheast,Tawwaheare, Nanderwhere, Tomepawcon, Rawmaquaie, ing, which is a confirmation of the last grant,for the land above
the bounds of the neighboring town of Greenwich,a member of Pawwaytahem, Mawmawytom, Howhoranes, Cockkeneco,ITawwayen, Westchester Path. Four years after the sale of this land to Budd
the same colony with themselves. But westward, were no Attoemacke,Heattomees, have hereunto set our hands at time and and his three associates, the Indians confirm the tract to Budd
, t
THE INDIAN PURCHASES. times, and we doe approve of each of our hands to this deed to be alone, as included in the grant which they had already made
rights which they considered themselves bound to respect, inter- good and firm. Witness this our hands this da being the 8th of No- to him individually, November 8, 1661,of a tract of land extend-
IT was in the last days of the Dutch rule on this continent, that posing a barrier to their spread into the unknown and limitless
vember,1661. Signed,sealed and delivered. y+ g ing °northward into the country' sixteen miles from West-
alittle company of New England men, from the nei;hboring forest waste. And unquestionably, it was in this direc#ion that
THOMAS REVELL The mark of .S'HANOROCKE Chester Path. Thus by three distinct grants from the Indians,our
town of Greenwich, ventured to establish themseldes here. They they chiefly hoped to secure a wide and valuable domain. Accord- JOHN CoE NANDERwHERE early settlers were secured in the possession of the territory,which
came to plant another of those settlements by means of which, it ingly, within a little more than a year after the last purchase east AIEPOCKHEA9T was afterward
P THOMAS CLOSE S 1
is well known, the Connecticut colonists had resolved to encroach of Blind Brook they given to Harrison and his associates.
ey had bought from the Indians the lands or g c es. It is not
g t HUMPAREY HUGHES HowxouaxEs surprising that they should have felt this to be a most oppressive
on the territory beyond them; 'crowding out the Dutch,' whom the west side pf that stream, extending to Mamaroneck River,
RAWMA@uAIE act, nor that they should have resisted its execution to their ut-
they affected to regard as mere intruders. The spot these settlers and indefinitely beyond. Upon these purchases, the town of Rye I RACKF,ATE most ability.
had chosen was, in their own language, °a small tract of land subsequently founded its claim to the territory now known as Rye PAcKKATE AF.M
lying betwixt Greenwich and Westchester.' It was one of those Neck, and to the present townships of Harrison, and the White COCKENSECO' `To all Christian people,Indians and others whom it may concern
necks' to which the Indian natives were so partial, oil account Plains. that we whose names are hereunto subscribed living upon Hudson's
A second deed,executed a few days after the date of the above, river in America,Shonarocke,sagamore,and Romackqua and Pathung,
of the facilities afforded them for fishing, and where tlrev were In these transactions John Budd takes the lead,instead of Pe- related to the islands in the Sound, near the territory thus pur- whereas we have formerly sold a tract of land unto M'John Bud senr.,
accustomed to make their more permanent homes. Here stood ter Disbrow. His first treaty with the Indians is'dated Novem- chased. These were Hen and Pine islands, and the Scotch Caps. bounded on the sea on the sowth, on the north by Westchester path,
the villages of several Mohegan families,and near by,undoubtedly, her 8th, 1661,when he bought the tract of land called by the In- This transaction was followed,in a few days, by the purchase of and the name of the tract of land is commonly called Apauamiss, and
lay their gardens and corn-fields. These were much more erten- deans Apawamis,and by the white men Budd's Neck. Thig tract the West Neck or the tract of land adjoining Budd's Neck proper,+ pwhereas th have sold unto the sayd M' John Budd twenty English
sive than we have been accustomed to suppose. There is evidence was bounded on the east by Blind Brook,and on the west by the and lying between Stony Brook and Mamaroneck River. miles northwardes from the above sayd tract of land which is called by
that a considerable part of the land along the shores of the Sound little stream whose Indian name was Pockeotessewake,since known A auamis
had been cleared and partially cultivated U,y the Indians, before as Stony Brook, or Beaver Meadow Brook. Northward it ex- '11 month,twelfth day, 1661. P ,the above sayd twenty English miles we doe acknowledge
+ Know all men whom this may concern,that I Shenorock,Rawma ua that ra have sold unto M'John Budd for range, for feed, for timber,
the white race obtained possession of it. These clearings were tended as far as the Westchester Path, and southward to the sea. Rackeatt,Pawwaytahan,Mawmatoe, Howins,have bargained sold and
q + fore thatng,to him and his heirs for ever, and now and
doe ackne o
made in the rude way so often practised by our Western pioneers, The land thus described constitutes now the southwestern part of I delivered unto John Budd a neck of land bounded b edge that we have bargained,sold and delivered,we and every one of
—through the agency of fire. But they greatly assisted the the town. It has always formed a part of the territory of Rye. g + Y a neck re land us, from our heirs, executors or ass nes jointly and severally unto
labors of the white settler in his improvement of the soil. Early But, unlike the former purchases, it was claimed by a single pro- river
bought of a and other Ingalls d the south, and with ilierrematy John Budd,his heirs,executors or assigns,a track of land lying within
river on the west, and with marked trees to the north, with twenty Y g
writers inform us that the lands thus cleared were at once taken
prietor,and for a period of nearly sixty years was held under miles for feeder round for Y the compass of the above sayd tweet English mi
a g g cattle with all th Y les bounded on the
u e wood e ,
Thos � s
Those who trees,
o first arrive • ees many
d says + od
•'t P ys one, found ]ands all pre- distinct patent. meadows and rive es, south by�Pestchester path,and on th
rivers and have received full satisfaction P + e east by the Blind brook,and on
n in coats and
pared,abandoned by the savages who here cultivated their fields. three score faddom of wompon7 of Thomas Close for the said John's the west by Mamarranack river,and the north bounds is sixteen Eng-
Those who have come since have cleared the lands for themselves 'To all Christian people, Ingains and others whom it may concern, use,and to engage myself to warrant the sale thereof against all men lish miles from Westchester path up into the country,for which land we
that we whose names are hereunto subscribed, living upon Hudson's English,Dutch and Ingans, and for the faithful performance ante hereof I received already in hand a certain stut7,to the value of twenty pounds
in the forests.' This was particularly the case near the coast. river, in America, P + sterling
The original purchasers of this place were three in number: I�Ta ockheast Tawwhearr t we Shanarocke, sagamore, and Rackceate, have set my hand in the presence of Thomas Close an ,,for the above sayd track of land, for which land we are full
P e N n d William
+ a derwhere Tom a Jones Y
e we n
+ o Raw
Pe + + ma uai +
Peter Disbrow, P e
br � satisfied
o v .sfie
John Coe an q t d b the sayd
d 1 h Joh
+ Thomas e n B
mas Stedwell. da and Y add for the a
fourth, year Y hove sayd
Y y above written. The mark of SAENEROCRE + yd track of land, for
ntth, John Puwaytahem, I1larvmatvytonr, Howhoranes, Cockkeneco, Tawwayco, the which we doe acknowledge we have bargained, sold and delivered
Budd,was associated with them in some of their purchases,and Attoemacke,Heattomeas,all Ingains,for divers good causes and con- Witnesse THOMAS CLOSE RAwMA@uA his mark unto John Budd and his heirs for ever, with warrantee against all
several others joined them in the actual settlement of the place; siderations us hereunto moving, have fully and absolutely bargained WILLIAM JONES his marcke Howxis men,English,Dutch and Indians, and doe give him full possession,
but the earliest negotiations appear to have been conducted in be- and doe for ever sell untoJohn Budd,senior,of South hole,his heires, PRA$ his mark
half of the three persons we have named. They were all resi_ executors, and promise so to keep him,to the which bargain and agreement we
&c.,all our real right,tittell and interest we or eather of RAZI his mark'
u
s have hereunto eunto set our
!lands this day,being the 29 of April,1666.
cents of Greenwich at the time when the first Indian treaty was have in one track of land lying on the mayn, called Apawammeis, The last of these purchases was made in the following summer,— lf'itness,JOSEPH HORTON The marke of SHANAROCKP
signed. bated and bounded on the-east with Mockquams river, and on the on the second day of June, 1662,—by John Budd in company Witness,JOHN RAwLs The markes of RojlAcx@uA Sachems both
On the third day of January, 1660, we find Peter Disbrow in south with the sea against Long Island, and on the west with Pockco- with the other three purchasers. It is the first occasion upon The mark of Coco the Indian The mark of PATHUxG'
treaty with the Indians of Penin;o Neck for the purchase of that tesswake river,and at the north up to the marke trees nyeer Westches- P
i
52 a 53
The valuation at which our settlers bought their lands from the chase of the northern part of Peningo Neck,—dated May 22,1661, r '< 77
Indians, deserves attention here. It has often been represented mentions'the bounds of Hasting on the south,' showing that the
that such purchases were made at a merely nominal price: a few lands previously bought had received a name,and implying that • a►,. • `• =
old coats and worthless trinkets. The deeds we have quoted they were already occupied. It is unlikely, indeed,that the set-
show that this is far from being true of the purchases at Rye. tlers would delay their coining, after securing the site which theyIF
_ ; *`�M► ` �ia;
The clothing given was indeed no trifle in those days. The`eight judged to be favorable for the purpose; and accordingly we pre- a r•+►a1� .�"
• coats and seven shirts' which formed part of the payment in the sume that they arrived in July or August,1660. They came un- y ='&� `:' .• "''"
purchase of Manussing Island, had a considerable value in the doubtedly in boats. It was but an hour's sail,and they could thus �� '+ h�`; �' f •" K�'")�'•'"•
eye of the lanters. But in addition to these the ve'fifteen trans ort their families and household nods much more readil 4
Y P Y€' P g s a .fit =
fathom of wampone,' or about four pounds ten shillings sterling. than by the Indian paths through the forest,and across the ford ( • r �a:: f• • .;' �'"�•�•✓
What were the terms of the firstpurchase on Peningo Neck we do from Peningo Neck. !!hr' `�. !`-.. 1'
not know; nor do we learn what the 'full satisfaction' acknowl- It is easy to see why this spot should have been chosen. Here •�+ a �• y
e• t"•t� � f- �a
edged for the second purchase was. But it appears that Mr. the settlers would be almost in sight of Greenwich, whither they ; ;, • �,
Budd paid for the land which he bought on the west side of Blind could speedily retreat if molested. They were not likely to be e
Brook, the value of about one hundred and twenty pounds. Pre- noticed by the Dutch,though their island lay within the line des- t, , h. l ' '"` ph�`. }r ��•n•r` IT •,•f~
suminn that the lands on the east side cost our settlers about as i nated b the last treat From their savage neighbors
e g Y Y• g bhbors they � � 't ,";tr. • . ,�
much more,we find that they must have expended nearly or quite would be comparatively safe. And here, while exploring the ad- � '., ' ya �� 0�* �¢ �•"`
two hundred and fifty pounds in their Indian purchases. These jacent shores, and completing their purchases of land, they could I A 4 f C �;� * Q !++ <�:Ih" "t•"'-' ••
facts certainly confirm the statements of Dr. Trumbull, relative to quietly gain a foothold,and wait for accessions to their numbers. _ J ,
the expenses borne by the early settlers of Connecticut. Their Looking southward, our planters had in prospect an almost un- f•; < ,}; 7.r h'.1t.• y+ �'•
lands,he says, I though really worth nothing at that time, cost the broken wilderness. The only spot between them and New Am- I _•r
plarnters ver- P Y attempted considerable sums,besides the purchase of their pat- sterdam, where Europeans had et attem ted to establish them- � �r� • '.' �'1' V �� ��•�'"�
encs,and the right of preemption. In purchasing the lands and selves, was apoint of land, ten miles below, known to the Dutch E l3 y tH sly, •
making settlements in a wilderness,the first planters of Connecti- as Ann's Hook. Here, eighteen years before, the famous Mother
cut expended great estates.' Hutchinson had been slain by the Indians, in one of their risings aM
We have anticipated the course of events,in the history of our upon the Dutch. This point had since been bought by Thomas i t;' d - `� t, • �. , i - % !}'
settlement, in order to complete our account of these Indian pur- Pell of Fairfield, who was now endeavoring under authority of C_
chases. They occupied, it appears, a period of two years and a Connecticut to form a settlement there, in spite of Governor Stuy- `� `x tt
half. Meantime, the three purchasers, who were living at Green- vesant's remonstrances. Across the Sound which is here about ' -'� 1"�'' 't • �"""•,
wick when the first two treaties were made, had come down with five miles wide, the shores of Long Island were already in great
some others to the little island of Manussing, near the mouth of part possessed by the English. Hempstead, just opposite; Oyster J f r h {
Byram River, and were already preparing to cross over to the Bay and Huntington, to the east, had been settled some years be- 4;• s; � , ^,► �, �'�`'
main. The account of this settlement we reserve for another fore; the first with the consent of the Dutch themselves,the other I •� ��� 4
chapter. Elsewhere, too, we shall consider the relation in which two under patent from the New Haven Colony. It was at Hemp- � IL
John Budd stood to the other colonists, and that of his claims to stead Harbor, directly across the Sound, that the dividing line, I J.Rvkc. 8..•`R�
theirs. But it may be remarked here, that by the several Puragreed upon in 1650, between the Dutch possessions on Long e+ }i• R•tt•.Rrt�r 4 �C -' -T
chases now recorded, the founders of this town acquired the title Island and those of the English, terminated. sr.
to a very considerable territory. The southernart of it aloneHastings. ,�yrwat� N
P The island villane took the name of There is no i • r,•..wrW ,v;- D• ° RRPP
comprised the tract of land between Byram River and Mamaroneck reason to doubt that it was so called after the famous seaport on the
River, while to the north it extended twenty miles, and to the British Channel. And it is fair to infer that some one at least of *� �a+� ` to,
northwestboundaries, ��� •
an indefinite distance. These
so far as u
the settlers came from Hastings in Sussex, England. Part of the r�ti+•�•'" �a�7"' �•-• t,{�„y;,
they were stated with any degree of clearness, included, besides mainland received this appellation, together with the island. ' The i d�
the area now covered by the towns of Rye and Harrison, much of bounds of Hastings,' extended,we have seen,about as far north,on a
the towns of North Castle and Bedford in New York, and of Peningo Neck,as the present village of Port Chester. But some htCti:�dl• '•�t`"`�
Greenwich in Connecticut: whilst in a northwesterly direction, time els sed before an im improvements were attem ted in this direc- 13'�'i+,fl'.a ++• t '
P Y I P 1.
the territory claimed was absolutely without a fixed limit. Indeed, tion. For two or three years certainly,flue planters confined them- •tt !•�
we shall see that as the frontier town of Connecticut, Rye long selves to their insular home. I •• "'�"' 'F" R'
cherished pretensions to the whole region beyond, as far as the The three purchasers of the island,Disbrow, Coe,and Studwell, Mei-s-_ & fl`13
!
Hudson. It is not surprising that our settlers should have enter- were soon joined by other adventurers, if indeed they were not 4 o f • ,mss i hww.
tained very vague conceptions upon this subject. Except along accompanied by them at the outset. The following are the " ;:� •+�t9M�
the seaboard, the country was almost utterly unknown. The names of all the planters of whom we have any record, as be- S`t • g,._ 'r'' - D'�"~
t ;t 1VZawytamclC• •J•y•
vast wilderness that spread down to the very border of their fields t
— 41 =t i�•a.
longing to the island settlement:
f
upon the coast,remained for years a mystery and a terror to the Peter Disbrow, Richard Vowles, Thomas Applebe,
few settlers who had ventured upon its outskirts. John Coe Samuel Allin- Philip Galpin, ,Sa r
THESE dealings with the natives for the purchase of their lands Thomas Studwell, Robert Hudson, George Clere, °t :�>
were still in progress, when the settlement on Manussmg John Budd, John Brondish, John Jackson, I a +t ' `s`+ ,£o.• `' Poe[ `. /��
Island was commenced. The precise date we are unable to fix, William Odell, Frederick Harminson, Walter Lancaster.
but it must have been in the summer or the fall of the.year 1660. Two other names which are undecipherable, stand connected ,? TOWN OF RYE ,
Disbrow and his companions, it will be remembered were 'all P Q s �
P + + with these, making seventeen in all. The last three do not ap- :•� itwa, y r_ p I N 17 7(J
living at Greenwich' when they concluded their treaty with the pear until the third year of the settlement. The others may not + / `� f r a�8rR7 EK rk SNE, fRJ..
Indians for the purchase of the island. This was on the twenty- improbably have been associated with it from the first. Y • `� 6.0 ra A*r 1'0/p pg f
/ ..f 1` Ji rn 4Gd.
ninth day of June,1660. But the next deed,—that for the pur- I 4 r,;, > ,..z t
1 R "Y V-4/-- S•C/I7Y
54 55
It may be interesting just here to pause and consider who these been impugned. Hence their declaration that they came not
men were,and with what views they had come to this spot. With hither to live without government.' There is evidence, too, that
perhaps one exception,thev were Englishmen by birth,and doubt- they felt themselves in danger from lawless and disorderly men,
��_ _ �.. - �`�•= ._;,��,._y`,. less also Puritans in faith. They were, most of them, the sons who were but too ready to join a new adventure. For at the same
Z' I' .~' of men who had sought refuge on these shores, among the ear- time with the above statement, our settlers drew up the following
.#Vf' ?fy 6�G' ���j�,,,, / C 2 liest companies of emigrants to New England. There are grounds compact, which they signed in the same manner
for believing that they were men capable of appreciating the ben- We do agree that for our land bought on the mayn land,called in
A
!Z /� efits and obligations of civil freedom. Some of them at.least, the Indian Peningoe,and in English the Biaram land, lying between
//'1j�U R 'V"X Imo` �3 ( as we shall see, were men of religious principle and conviction. the aforesaid Biaram river and the Blind brook,bounded east and
(/� e ^' ' 1 It is not unreasonable to suppose that they were in sympathy west with these two rivers, and on the north with Westchester path,
d ! >/+O 7/�jwith the great movement which brought the Pilgrims to this hem- and on the south with the sea, for a plantation, and the name of the
�r isphere, a movement influenced, as we believe, by the highest town to be called Hastings.
14
motives that ever led to the founding of a state. It is far from `And now lastly we have jointly agreed that he that will subscribe to
Strue, that all who came out with the early colonists of New Eng- these orders,here is land for him,and he that doth refuse to subscribe
y�- s �y n hereunto we have no land for him. HASTINGS, Jil 26 1662. The
C{lv V / j 'rr ) ,. ]and were men of this stamp. Unworthy and disorderly char- y
/// acters appear to have thrust themselves among them from the first, planters�ha>#dso theseorders.
. 1A1W '! But there is presumptive evidence that the founders of this planta- ROBERT HUTSON,
•� Joni BRoxnlsH,
bye tion were of a different class. SAMUEL ALLIN, FREDERICK HARMINSON,
;
w4v * iC 4 • The earliest document that has come down to us from these times, THOMAS ArYLEsr:.
LM► a ` ' L� gives us certainly a very favorable impression of the planters. It is 'August 11,1662. These orders made by the purchasers of the land
IV . V w ,N � f14� h . Ga a declaration of their purposes and desires, drawn up about two with our names.
�•� J ^ q� �+V !'�• «� ` f�.�'� � .l years after the commencement of the enterprise. A word should PETER DISBROW, JOHN COE,
�/�+- ti f J be said here as to the occasion of this document. The Restoration THOMAS STFDWELL, WILLIAM ODELL'
�/►" ' a 1 had just occurred in Great Britain. On the accession of Charles
the Second to the throne, it was expected that the American While thus endeavoring to maintain good order in their little
W� \�o �, , Colonies would profess their allegiance in the usual form of an commonwealth, our settlers were anxious,as they had good reason
.�, i' address and petition. The colonies were somewhat slow to do this. to be,about their political situation. .Great uneasiness was• now
Connecticut, however, was the first to offer these professions of felt throughout New England, regarding the designs of Great
/traps submission. The address of the General Court at Hartford to the Britain. The king, whose restoration the colonies reluctantly
King was ordered to be drawn up on the 14th of March, 1661. proclaimed, was thought to be not a little inclined to curtail the
It had probably come to the knowledge of the settlers at Hastings. liberties of his subjects across the sea, and to repress the spirit of
R _ They unite in expressing their concurrence in that address.. And independence for which they were already becoming noted. Con-
they also take the opportunity to define their true position, as necticut, however, by the skilful management of its agent, the
I those who,though dwelling. in the wilderness, I remote from other celebrated John Winthrop,had obtained a royal charter confer-
;: places,' are loath to be viewed as outlaws. And while proclaiming ring most valuable privileges: constituting that colony, in fact, a
their reverence for constituted authority,they reserve their rights self-governing state, and reaffirming its claims to a wide extent of
� ��r� of conscience and private judgment. They will yield subjection territory. The news of this success spread joy throughout the
b- ` 'l 4-"1 v+�_ only to`wholesome laws,that are just and righteous, according to colony. The General Court at Hartford hastened to apprise the
�l God and our capableness to receive., towns, and require their submission to the new order of things.
'HASTING,July 26 1662 Notice even was sent,to Governor Stuyvesant's great displeasure,
Know all men whom this may concern that[we the]inhabitants of as far as Oostdorp, or Westchester Village in New Netherland,
Minnussing Island whose n[ames are here) vnder writtne,do declare where Connecticut men had settled some years before under
vnto all the true[th] we came not hither to live withovt goverment grants from the Dutch. The Hartford government informed them
as pr[etended,] and therfore doe proclayme Charles the Second ovr that by the terms of the new charter they were included in the
R (V,, Amt'/►' lawful lord and king: and doe voluntaryly submit our selves and all colony limits; and enjoined upon them, `at their peril,' to send
ovr lands that we have bought of the English and Indians: vllder his deputies to the next meeting of the Court. Perhaps it was the
gratious protection: and do expect according to his gratious declara- very same messenger, riding °post-haste' to the Dutch village,
1 "x(14991 tion: unto all his subjects which we are and desiore to be subject to all who turned aside from his course along the Westchester Path,as
/ his holsom ]awes that are just and Righteous according to God and lie reached Peningo Neck, and came down to the little island
/ �� our capableness to receive: where unto we doe subscribe. settlement with the good news of the charter. At all events,a
« * * + +r ■ PFTFRDIEBRow,
,R Jonx Co ,
message of like import reached the inhabitants of Hastings; and
• + * +� + � � *
The mark of The mark of THOMAS STED WILL, they gladly took steps to place themselves at once under the pro-
;6
ro-
STS SAMUELL ALLING, The mark of WILLIAM ODF.LLE, tection Of the Colony,and seek the rights and privileges of a fully
t The mark of constituted town. A meeting was called, and Richard Vowles was
� ROBERT HUTSONE, chosen to go to Fairfield,and there be qualified as constable for
rJ/4` I. Joxx BRONDISH, the plantation. Shortly after, the settlers addressed the following
The mark of letter to the General Court:—
FRFDF.RICK HARMINSONE, 'FROM HASTING THE 1 NTH 26: 1663.
The mark of THOMAS APLEBE. 'MUCH HONNORED SIRES,—Wee the inhabitance of the towne of
a
It would appear from the language of this document that some Hasting whose names are beer vnder writne: being seted upon a small
suspicion had been cast upon the enterprise. The motive of these tract of land lying betwixt Grinwich and Westchester:which land wee
planters in going beyond the limits of previous settlements had have bought with our money: the which: wee understand doth lye
r!_i
56
within yourpatant: and whereas you have allredy required our sub- Thus by the year 1665 there had sprung up two infant settle- Court the next session.' S7
iection: as his maiesties subiects, which we did willingly and red- BUILDING THE VILLAGE. ments within 'the bounds of Hastings:':' the one on the island,
g Three years pass, and these divisions are still unhealed. The
ply imbrace and according to your desiour: we sent a man to Fairfield Tan
or three years passed over the island settlement, before the other on the shore of Peningo Neck, stretching across to Blind inhabitants of Rye and one Richard Bullard have petitioned the
who have there takne the oathe of a Constable: we have now made 1 Brook. The latter, we find had begun to be known b the General Court to interpose. October 8, 1668, °This Courte sees
choyse of our nayghbar John Bud for a deputi and sent him up to your an attempt was made to occupy the opposite shores. It is no + g y
unlikely that the settlers meanwhile began to appropriate some art name Of RYE. It is supposed that this name was given in honor cause to desire and appoynt L"'Rich' Olmsteed, Mr. Tho: Fitch
Corte to act for us as fee shall see good: it is our desiour: to have Y gP of two rominent members of the colon Thomas and Hachaliah and Mr. John Holly to goe to Rye speedily, to heare and labour
° [some] settled way of goverment amongst us: and therfore we do of their purchase on the Neck, dividing it into allotments, and per- P Y+—
crave so much favor at the hands of the honnorable Cort: that whether haps beginning to clear and improve the soil. They continued Browne. They were the sons of Mr. Thomas Browne,a gentle- to issue and compose such differences as are amongst them respect-
they do make us a constable or aney other offesere that they would give however to make the island their home. There is a tradition that i man of good family, from Rye in Sussex County, England, who ing land or other matters, and make returne of wh
at tbev shall
him povr to grant a warrant in case of need because we be som what in those early times the farmer would spend the day in toil on his ! removed to this country in 1632,and settled at Cambridge,Massa- doe, vnder their hands to the next Court.'
remote from other places: thus leaving it to yovr wise and judicious rough plantation, and then at sundown return, for safety from chusetts. It is curious that the names of two neighboring seaports What were these differences? One might imagine from such
consideration we remayn yours to command: wild beasts and savages,to the village across the creek. on the English coast, Rye and Hastings, should have been thus frequent orders respecting the new town, that its inhabitants were
PETER DISBROW But about the year 1664, the colony was joined by several new bestowed on this place. But the more famous of the two desig- `all by the ears,' in some quarrel that threatened to break up the
families. The names of Thomas and Hachaliah Browne, George nations was to give way to the humbler. On the 11th of May, little settlement. But fortunately, we have the petition which
RICHARD FFowLEs
GEORGE CLERE Lane, George Kniffen, Stephen Sherwood, and Timothy Knap+ 1665, the General Court of.Connecticut passed an act, merging explains the whole matter,and shows that these repeated orders
these settlements under the name which the town has borne ever related to one lengthened dispute. The following, dated October
PHILIP GALPINE first appear about this time in our Chronicle. Their coming since. The act is as follows:—
JOHN COE may have been due to an event which had long been anticipated , 1668, is—
WILLIAM ODELL and eagerly desired. In September,1664, New Amsterdam was 'It is ordered that the Villages of Hastings and Rye shall be for the `The humble petition of the inhabitants of the town of Rye,to the
JOHN BRONDAGSON G surrendered to the English,who soon made themselves masters of future conioyned and make one Plantation; and that it shall be called Right Honorable the Governor and the rest of the gentlemen of the
JOHN S STF the entire province. This circumstance might lead some to seek a I by the appellation of Rye.' General Court at Hartford.
Txoxas STEDWF.LL home here, who would hesitate to do so while the Dutch still f 'May it please your Honor, with the gentlemen of the General
This is ouer desier his mark
In the name of Much of the land within the village limits was of course vacant Courte,to understand that about four years since,that John Budd did
strength
WALTER LANCASTER claimed the soil. The new settlers brought considerable b as Yet. Only a small portion had been divided among the settlers, present a paper with several names to it,of inhabitants on his neck or
the Rest. his mark.' to the little colony. Thomas and Hachaliah Browne are known to { 1
have been men of substance; and so perhaps were their associates. while the rest remained unimproved and awaited a future par- island,so called and patented. It was for the settling of himself and
The modest request of the men of Hastings was gtanted, after There was no room for them,however, on the island. Fourteen tition. Some of the 'home-lots' had been assigned to persons children; on which we conceived had it been performed it had done
some delay. At the session of the General Court in Hartford, or fifteen families already occupied its narrow limits; and indeed who left the settlement at an early day. These were bought up noe great injury to the towne; but he noe ways pretended it,as doth
on the eighth of October, 1663,— it no longer seemed necessary or desirable that the settlement by others; and thus began the process of absorption which in time agree,but hath and doth dayley let it and settle people upon it,ex-
should confine itself to this s ot. It was now strong enoug to brought these lands on Peningo Neck into the possession of a com- treamely prejuditiall to the towne,without the towne's approbation,
'Ln' John Bud' makes his appearance, and is appoynted p which wee humbly conceive may be our injury if not speedily pre-
Commissioner for the Town of Hastings, and is inuLsted with push into the wilderness. paratively small number of persons. The process indeed was a vented; Doe humbly request that neck of land tray be delivered up
Magistraticall power within the limits of that Town.' Moreover One of the ' very rapid one. It had been taking lace in tlse other towns of
first buildings a P
s erected on the
g mainland,was nndottbt' Connecticut, to the great displeasure of the magistrates who to the town;we paying him by Indian purchases with interest,he abut-
'Rich:-Vowles is appoynted Constable for the Town of Hast- edly the mill. It stood at the head of the creek or the mouth of a + in-for what land lie hath sold,if not prejuditiall to the towne. And
pugs, and Mr. Bud is to give him his oath.' Blind Brook,on the opposite side of Peningo Neck,and within half passed a law,in 1650,to arrest the`great abuse'then creeping in, them that are prejuditiall, may be removed, and that you would be
Connecticut at the same time reasserted its claim to the tern- a mile Brook,
the Beach. Mr. John Budd was the proprietor; and of buying and purchasing Home Lotts and laving them together, pleased to depute two or three persones whom you shall think meet,to
tory west of this place,the General Court declaring that 'all the no doubt the inhabitants of Hastings felt themselves greatly in- by means whereof;' they said, 'great depopulatious are likely to come and sepeti amongst us with what speed may be. Soe we rest
g Y follow.', Every person owning such a plot, not yet built upon, your humble petitioners.
land between West C%ester and Stamford doth belong to the Col- debted to him for• its establishment. A grist-mill was indeed an
on of Connecticut.' was ordered,within twelve months,to'erect a hon se there,fitt for PETRI[ Dr91SROW, WILLIAM VoonnuLL, ROBERT Br.00xER,
y' important institution in a new settlement. The Indian corn upon
R1cHARD VOwLEs JOHN BRONDIG, STEPHEN SIIERWOOD
Budd and Vowles had both been admitted, the year before, to which the white man,like his savage predecessors, P b an inhabitant to dwell in.' This measure had probably little ,
b p ,depended chiefly effect. In Rye, at least, as the country became open for settle- TIMOTHY KNAPP, THOMAS BROWNE, GEORGE LANE.'
the privileges of freemen; the former as an inhabitant of South-' for food,must needs be ground into meal by some readier appliance ment,and the population spread out into the wilderness,the minute
old,and the latter as an inhabitant of Greenwich. Perhaps Hast- than the stone pestle and the mortar. Hence great anxiety was subdivisions of the lands first occupied disappeared. A few farms About the time when, John Budd engaged with Dis-
ings,which had not yet been recognized as a plantation, was at always shown for the erection and support of the mill. Special comprised what had been a mosaic of petty allotments, the earlier brow, Coe, and Studw ell in the purchase of Peningo Neck, he
that date considered to lie within the bounds of the latter town. grants and privileges were often conferred on thero rietor. He
P P ownership Of which was almost forgotten. Thus the titles to bought from the Indians a tract of land on the opposite side of
Our little village now rejoiced in something like swell-ordered was generally regarded as a leading member of the community, most of the property in this region go back to the Browns, Blind Brook, which was subsequently known as Budd's Neck.
social state. It had a magistrate 'commissionated to grant war- And the mill itself was likely to be the nucleus of the starting
rants,' and also in case of need 'to the Halsteds,the Parks, and others who are commonly This transacts
mar on se g
r persons.' supposed ems to have been not g
It hada sett] ed altogether pleasing to his
Y settlement. Y
P The settlers would gat PP a 1 a
orally prefer those locations to have purchased their lands directly from the Indians. The companions. Perhaps they were somewhat disappointed to find
grave and discreet constable,with full power to apprehend . . . which were of easy access to it. This would be the case es-
curious system of proprietorship,about which we shall speak soon, that he proposed to hold these lands in his own right. The other
'Such as are ouertaken with drinke, swearing, Sabboath break- pecially while the means of transportation continued to be very has passed completely-out of mind. purchases had been made by the associates in common; or when
ing, slighting of the ordinances, lying, vagrant persons, or any rude, and the highways were mere paths through the forest, or effected by one alone, had been transferred to the body of proprie-
other that shall offend in any of these.' among the stumps.and decaying trunks of recent clearings. ! tors. Perhaps it was expected that like Disbrow,Mr. Budd would
With these safeguards and immunities,our settlers remained for Mr. Budd built his mill on the west side of Blind Brook
Creek ,
another + M
year or two upon their R JOHN BUDD'S IMPROVEMENTS. regard r• g
y p r rsland. Meanwhile, however, cer- at Dint where it would be cony OV1:,iSiENTS. , himself as an anent simply-, and retain only his share of
P convenient lot•the inhabitants of Pen-
changes had been going on, betokening the removal of some, ingo Neck, whilst yet it stood on his own tract of land, known as the purchase.
at least, of the inhabitants from the island to the main. On the P THE earliest notices of Rye that have come clown to us, con- No.breach, however, occurred for a few years. LI 1663, the in-
at or Budd's Neck. The spot is still pointed out. It is ou 1 tain allusions to some serious difficulty among the people. habitants of Hastings made choice of their'nayghbar John Bud'
twenty-eighth of April,1663, the four purchasers—Disbrow,Coe, the south side of the bridge over which the cross-road from Milton I The very act by which the town was constituted,Dlay 1l,1665, to go up to Hartford and urge their claim to be taken under the
Studwell,and Budd—by a deed of sale conveyed the island, to- to the post-road passes. Part of the dam, indeed, still remains refers to this subject. 'Mr. Gold,Mr.Lawes, and John Banks, or
ether with the land on the main to the g _ colony s care. In 1664 he was chosen as their deputy t
g e followin planters: o the
. Sam and forms the road-bed; and within the recollection of persons y , are desired and appointed pointed to take mines to goe 1 Y
' b P an two of them ]] ] General Court. But a new grievance arose when this neighbor
uel Allen,Richard Fowles, Philip Ga}pin, Thomas Applebe,Wil- now living, traces of the mill itself were to be seen. This was down to settle and issue such differences as may be disturbeing to began to dispose of portions of his laud without the consent of the
liam Odell,John Brondig,and John Coe. According to the terms. probably the first building erected on the mainland. Hither the y°inhabitants of those Villages of Hastings and Rye.'
Y town. The planters were exceedingly jealous of their right to
of this transfer, the planters were to pay forty shillings a lot, in 'men of Hastings' came from their island village,while all around There is a hint, soon after, that these troubles may have arisen admit or reject strangers who came among them. The new set-
cattle or corn, between the above date and the month of January was still a wilderness. And hither their descendants for several out of some controversy about lands. October 12, 1665, 'Mr. tiers on Budd's Neck were in close proximity to the village, and
• ensuing. generations continued to resort. Lawes and Lt.Richard Olmsted are desired and appointed to view indeed they seem to have considered themselves as within the
1 the lands apperteineing to Hastings and Rye, to see what there is limits of the town of Rye. Yet they had never been formally
that may be sutable for a plantation and to make returne to the admitted to the privileges of freeholders.
W
t
59
58 The differences relative to this boundary question began, as we east of the Hudson River,running parallel with that stream north.
We are not told how the visit of Messrs. Law and Olmstead have said,in the times of the Dutch. We have already seen how ward from Long Island Sound. An agreement to this effect was
IMASS:
conflicting were their claims and those of the neighboring L+'nglish, written out, but did not receive the signatures of the parties. The
resulted,nor what success they met with in the endeavor to 'coo-
ose' these differences. But either their efforts were ineffectual, ——— —— — —— ' L NEOF Massachusetts and Connecticut professed a right to the whole ter- treaty actually signed a few weeks later,described an entirely dif-
P \D R MAS SACK US ETTB
or a new controversy arose;for in May,1671,a large committee— \ ritory beyond them,westward to the Pacific Ocean. Holland ad- ferent line. According to this, it was ordered and declared I that
Capt" Nathan Gold, Mr. Tho: Fitch, Mr. Holly, L't Richard \ vanced a counter claim to the domain of the colonies,eastward y`Creeke or ryver called Momoronock w`h is reported to be about
Olmstead, and Mr. John Burr'—are appointed. `They, or any GZ\ w to the Connecticut River,if not to Cape Cod. The first proposal thirteen Dint to y' East of West Chester and a Lyne Salt,
a from
three of them,are desired to repayre to the say d Rye as soone as c^\ >_ to adjust these differences came from Peter Stuyvesant,in the year y°East point or Sy de where y°fresh water falls into ye Salt,at high
may be, and to endeavoli fe a comfortable composure and issue of 1650. His conference with the English at Hartford resulted in water marke North North west to y,line of y°Massachusetts, be
\ Z an agreement on various matters in dispute, one of which was y` westerne bounds of ye said Colony of Connecticutt.'
such differences as are among the people there,' and also to aid
them in procuring a minister to settle among them. And finally, o EWo,YORK ; — the vexed question of the boundary. It was resolved that the line Little (lid the commissioners who agreed to this arrangement
all these efforts failing apparently, more stringent measures are \ o.' ; D should `begin at the west side of Greenwich bay,being about four imagine whither a boundary thus projected would carry them.
Z < Manifest] the supposed that a line drawn in a direction north-
adopted. October 14th, 1672, the Court °order that Mr. Bird \ a V miles from Stamford, and so run a northerly line twenty miles up y, Y PP
Budd and those of Rye that have im roniated the lands of R e c\ y *Po'KEEPSIE northwest from the mouth of Mamaroneck River,
into the country,and after as it shall be agreed•U the two govern- which was said
[ ] P l y \ ments of the Dutch and of New Haven,provided the said line come to be about twenty miles east of the Hudson,would continue at the
to themselves shall appeare at the Generall Court in May next, to \ z
make appeare their right,for then the Court intends to setle those \ i-i L) not within ten miles of Hudson river.' same distance from the river till it should reach the Massachusetts
lands according to righteousness, that so a plantation may be en- \ i> W This agreement, which seems to have been entered into by the border. So far from this,however,a look at the map will show that
NEWBURGH\O!, such a line A B must intersect the Hudson near West Point and
couraged,and plantation worke may go forward to better sattisfac- \j I z Dutch in perfect good faith,never acquired the force of law,as it ) ,"
tion than formerly.] \. i W was not sanctioned by the governments at home. The English even cut off a large tract of land on the other side of that river,be-
The person thus summoned to Hartford was John Budd,junior; W EST POINT\, I z practically disregarded it in their subsequent steps to plant settle- fore reaching the southern boundary of Massachusetts,which at that
his father having died in 1670. We do not learn ]now the con- I'
q i ments along the coast, even beyond the specified line. A second time it was claimed ran across the continent to the sea' Whether
troversy was ended,for the minutes of the next General Court l\ I U conference took place thirteen years after, on the thirteenth of it was the design of the delegates from Connecticut to mislead in
PEE KSKI LL I i RIDCEFIELD ANGLE October, 1663. this matter or not,they certainly made the most of their advantage,
contain no mention of the case. The following order,however, e _ _
seems to bear upon it,and implies that the matter was considered M\20 MILES o F` \ The correspondence on this subject, preserved in.the archives at and soon extended their settlements to the banks of the Hudson.
and determined at that meetin , \ u HWILTONANCIE Hartford,is very curious. The proposition made by Connecticut Connecticut, however, was not really prepared to insist on the
g:— of
' l%, \SING SING o ` to the Agents of the Dutch Governor that came from the Man- advantage given her by the careless wording of a hastily written
This Court orders that all grants of land made to any perticuler
person,not yet taken up and layd out,shall be taken up in one intire -\DUKES haloes was, among other things, That West Chester and all ye treaty. On the arrival of a new governor in New York in the
"1, L—TP.EES W iJ- _;—
peice,in a comely form,except by speciall liberty from this Court; and ,, V o z people and lands Between that & Stamford shall belong to this following year, delegates were sent from Hartford to congratulate
that all former grants that are or shall be layd out by order shall be li l Np Colony of Connecticutt till it be other wise issued.' Governor him and assure him of the friendly disposition of the colony. They
sufficiently bownded, and so mayntayned as to preuent all future 6Y SMR. p,N •S Stuyvesant's agents refused this proposal, but made another,as fol- were empowered at the same time to treat with him fora new set-
trouble.' NEW 1J1' T `_ lows: Westchester with the land & people to Stamford shall dement of the bounds upon the best terms to be obtained. An
MAMARONEG
The decision of the Court,whatever it may have been, seems RIVER % .L'- \ Abide under the Government of Connectecute tell the tyme that agreement was soon reached. On the twenty-fourth of Novem-
to have terminated the dispute relative to Budd's Neck. That JERSEY _f( the bounds and limits betwixt the Abovesaid Collonij and the pro- her, 1683, the articles were concluded between Governor Donna:.
territory was incorporated into the town of Rye, while the claims ^ Vince of new Netherlands shall be Determined heare [by our mu- and Council and the governor and delegates of Connecticut, by
of Mr. Budd as proprietor were allowed. There is no evidence , ! tual Accord or by persons mutually chosen, margin] or by his which the dividing line of their respective territories was placed
that a distinct stent for the tract was obtained from Connecticut. ,;. Royal Majesty of england and the high and mighty lords the estates very nearly where it has remained ever since.
P , . Y
A z ,
And it was not until the year 1720 that Joseph Budd, grandson LONG 1 S LA N D of the united provinces. In pursuance, then, of this agreement, the boundary was to Ue-
of the first purchaser, obtained a patent for his lands from the ,l The Dutch, however,soon vanished from the scene; and now gin at the mouth of Byram River, a small stream dividing the
government of the province of New York. =J' began a conflict of claims among the English themselves. On the towns of Rye and Greenwich at a Dint shout thirty miles from
After the settlement of the dispute concerning Budd's Neck,the t enty•third of April,1662,King Charles II.by that famous char- the city of New York. P
jurisdiction of the town appears to have been unquestioned. Local ter, afterward so remarkably preserved,granted to the colony of This arrangement was of course: highly pleasing to the towns..
T has been
the fortune of
officers were sometimes appointed specifically fon the east side of Connecticut a territory described as follows:— that found themselves comprehended within the limits of the col-
Blind Brook,' and the °west side.' And in the year 1700 we meet the town of Rye to be con-
record:— cerned from the first in a bound- `All that part of our dominion in America bounded on the east by ony to which they had hitherto been attached, and toward which
with the following Narraganset River, commonly called Naragonsit Bay,where the said all their sympathies inclined. But Rye and Bedford THE ary dispute which has been were as
At a towne meeting held in rye august the 2,the towne in ienerall river falleth into the sea,and on the north by the line of the D<assachu heartily attached to Connecticut as any of these; and it was with
pronouncedone of the most
doth grant unto the inhabitaince of the neck of appoquamas the Liberty remarkable on record.' This setts plantation,and on the south by the sea; and in longitude as the deep sorrow that they saw themselves shut out from their sister
y to haue a pound and pounders and fence viewers.' line of the Massachusetts colony,running from east to west; that is to plantations.
controversy has referred to the sa from the said Narra anset Ba on the east to the South Sea on the
-= line separating the Dutch terri- y' g y It must have been a stirring time at Rye when this.letter,con-,
- P west part; with the islands thereto adjoining,'etc.
BOUNDARY tory of New Netherland,after- Though the charter of Connecticut was of earlier execution and veying perhaps the first intimation of the accomplished change,was
ward the British province of consequently of greater authority than the patent to the Duke of read in °town meeting.' Hard things were doubtless said of their
Connecticut friends, who New York,from the colony of York, the inhabitants of that colony naturally felt considerable u readily consented to part with them
;
Connecticut. The differences alarm at his Majesty's disregard of their rights, and in view of the and harder yet of their undesired lieges at New York.
t `{ 5 that arose in this connection advent of so powerful a claimant to their lands. Accordingly the The people of R;a were soon sternly summoned to make submis-
=„ n{. ,, ;• . x DISPUTE. were a fruitful source of un_ Sion to their new masters. We have a proclamation from Gov-
N 3;' General Assembly of the colony hastened to appoint delegates to
easiness and strife to our inhab- accompany their governor to New York,for the purpose of con- ernor Dongan which implies that they had shown some reluctance
ra r fl T, itants for a period of seventy gratulating the duke's commissioners,and settling the boundary to do this. Its tone certainly was not calculated to conciliate them,
years and more. This prac- with them. nor to justify the good opinion which the magistrates had expressed
tical inconvenience ceased in On the twenty-eighth of October, 1664, these delegates met the of this`noble gentleman.'
the year 1731,when the line commissioners,and without any difficulty agreed upon a settlement This summons was not obeyed. The people doubtless felt that
-- was at length virtually fixed of the boundary between the province and the colony. It was un- it was a grievous wrong to question the validity of their claims to
where it is now considered to derstood that the limit should be fixed at a distance of twenty miles the lands they held. These had been acquired in a manner rec-
- be.
60
ognized by the Connecticut laws as valid and sufficient,—by purT good reason to fear that the Dutch would embrace the opportu- 61
chase from the Indians and actual possession. They had held pity to attempt the recovery of their North American possessions. and rivalries that were agitating Europe. But doubtless every ants, but it also regulated the disposal of lands belonging to per-
there for a quarter of a century under the Hartford government. On the thirtieth of July, 1673, a fleet of twelve Dutch vessels ap- colonist of Connecticut, in the seventeenth century, had shared in sons removing from the town. `All lands within the township,'
It was manifestly unjust that they should be required to seek a geared in the bay of New York, and landed a force of eight hun- the apprehensions that were caused by the policy of France. The the law required, 'shall be tendered to sale to the town before any
to fresh dred men. The town was surrendered to them with little show designs of the French upon Canada and the valley of the Missis- other sale be made of them to any other than the inhabitants of
new title to them, risking their forfeiture, and submitting
expense and trouble. The magistrates of Connecticut had been of resistance,and in a few days Albany,and most of what was sippi,and the progress of their plans for the occupation of so that towne where they]y.' The object of this provision was, of
especially careful to secure the relinquished towns in. their former formerly New Netherland, came again under the dominion of large a part of the continent, were topics of village and house- course,to prevent unsuitable persons from acquiring rights in the
rights. Rye and Bedford towns now boldly declared the ar- Holland. The towns on Long Island were summoned to submit, hold debate. But in 1689 France declared war against England. town by such purchase.
rangement to be null and void,and asserted their independence of and those nearest to New York did so without objection. The One of the earliest measures of this war, which lasted nine years, On the fifteenth of December,1689,a bounty of fifteen shillings
New York and allegiance to Connecticut. others were threatened with hostilities if they held out. For sev- was an attempt to conquer the province of New York. In the was ordered to be raised by a town rate,for the killing of wolves.
a For ten years disaffection smouldered; the authority of the era) weeks the inhabitants of both shores were kept in uneasiness
dead of winter, a party of Frenchmen and Indians fell upon the One mode of destroying these animals was by entrapping them in
province was practically ignored; taxes were paid but irregularly by the appearance of a number of small Dutch vessels cruising village of Schenectady,and surprised its defenceless inhabitants in wolf-pits. Several of these existed in this neiglnborinood. The
to either government• and whenever possible, matters in contro- along the Sound and occasional) capturing ships belonging to the their midnight slumbers. Sixty persons were cruelly put to death, ridge overlooking the village, where Park Institute now stands,
government; P + a + Y capturing P belonging
versy were carried up to Hartford, and Hartford magistrates came English. Connecticut,after sending remonstrances to the Dutch and the rest fled in terror, half naked, to Albany. The New was known as early as 1690 by the name of Wolf-pit Ridge or
down to perform their functions at Rye. These were troublous commander at New York, which were received with coolness and England colonies were called upon to raise a force to repel the Plain.
times in the town. Their revolt lasted nearly four years. indifference, made preparations for war. The several towns of invasion of the province. Connecticut was especially active in Persons were appointed at town meetings, to look after the
the colony were ordered to provide means of defence. this expedition; and among the volunteers that joined it were a boundaries of public lands. These were preserved, in a very rude
Rye, as a border town, was all alive to the danger. It was ex- number of the inhabitants of Rye. In a °list of soldiers for ye and imperfect manner, by means of marked trees. From time to
pressly excused from the requirement to raise men and arms for Expedition of Albany,' who left Fort William on the second of time the marks required to be renewed. As early as 1680 we
the emergency,on account of its {being near' to the enemy. But April, 1689, occur the names of Jacob Pearce, Richard Walters, read of the 'old marked trees.' As there were several such divid-
doubtless every able-bodied man was on duty here. The adjoining Jonas Stevens,and John Bassett,all'of Rye;'together with others ing lines that ran across the tract between Blind Brook and Byram
that are not so designated but whom we recognize as persons River,and separated the several purchases from each other,it must
.} - —– town, Mamaroneck, had submitted to the Dutch. Four of the in- a + a P P ,
habitants had gone down to New York to present themselves be- from this town: John Boyd, Philip Travis, Philip Galpin.1 have been no easy task to trace them and keep them up.
k fore the commander, and give in their adhesion to his government. The weWier was extremely severe when our soldiers set out for In 1733,Samuel Purdy,Robert Bloomer,and Daniel Purdy were
Two of them, John Basset and Henry Disbrow; had been ap- Albany. Captain Milborne received word as they were starting, appointed a committee I to regulate and renew the bound marks of
F pointed magistrates of the town under the new order of things. that he must bring I as many duffels as lie could get.' 'Yesterday lots in Will's Purchase,to the eastward of the colony line,begin-
' The people of Rye appear to have remained firm. One of their I evening,' wrote the aldermen,°the soldiers tormented us consider- ning at Thomas Sutton's land and going northward along said
5
ably for blankets as it was ver cold. We went everywhere and line.' This southern limit of Will's second purchase is the
T leading men,Mr.John Banks,took a prominent part in the events Y Y Y
1 twenty-first f October the General omit could not find any. Blankets are not to be had here.' Whether present boundary of the town of Rye in that direction.
that followed. On the tweet fin t o O b G C Y
Y
sent him from Hartford to New York with a letter to the Dutch from exposure or some other cause, one at least of the soldiers Public lands were sometimes given away by the town. Not
commander,Monsieur Anthony Colve,protesting against his course. from Rye lost his life in this expedition. however in the lavish way in which they were often disposed of by
Nearly a month elapsed before Mr. Banks' return. He informs
other towns;but generally in small parcels and on particular occa-
the Council that Monsieur Colve, who had detained him under sions. Indeed,the town as such does not appear to have had much
t r land to give away,so lou as the proprietary bodies existed and
- restraint fifteen days, is a man of resolute spirit and passionate. g Y+ g P P •Y
" _ _, _ Hs,.:• He is in expectation of strength from foreign parts,upon whose kept the management of their large possessions in their own
TOWN MATTERS IN OLDEN TIMES
The ota torr. arrival he seems to be resolved to subdue under his obedience . hands.
what lie can. He saith lie knows not but he may have Hartford OWN offices,in the olden time,were posts of honor and rewards At the first town meetings, the number of freeholders was per-
before long.' All through that fall and winter, our people must 1 of merit. The good people of Rye appear to have had enough hapand had exclusive•eve oco control of Ethelicomm commonteen of these
landswere
withinproprietors,the first
have felt great uneasiness regarding the designs of their newel_ of these in their gift to gratify any reasonable number of aspirants.
PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS. b n a a I purchase on Peningo Neck. .All other lands not yet distributed
come Dutch nei;hbors at New York. In December, Rye united About the_year 1700,when there were sixty persons paying county belonged to the 'town in general,' or the whole body of inhabit-
with Stamford and Greenwich in supplicating.the General Court rates, we find them making choice of the following officers: a
OUR little longe was founded in troublous times. It is not easy in Boston for he] Till now, the say, they have ke t silent 46 Supervisor; five Townsmen or Selectmen• a Constable• a Town ants qualified to vote. These also possessed the right to admit or
for us to realize now the anxieties and fears that must have expecting that forces would come 'against this open declared en
Clerk or Recorder; two Assessors; two Listers; two Pounders- exclude new-comers into the settlement. All the plantations at
occupied the minds of its earl settlers; nor to credit them with two Fence-viewers; three Sheep-masters;• and a Collector. With that day were very careful to exercise this right.
P y emy. But the long delay renders them fearful that this project P The people of Rye were called upon in 1711 to a taxes raider
the degree of courage and resolution which they showed in establish- has been laid aside. Should this be, they declare, 'we shall be a Justice of the Peace, besides two Deputies to the General Court, pay
ing themselves here amid such discouragemerts. Let us briefly much endangered if not ruined, if your honours do not b some and any number of °layers out' of public lands and roads, to sa `an act for raising one shilling on every chimney,and two shillings
3 Y Y
notice the events that,within the first thirty years of the settle- speedy means relieve us: for we are frontiers, and most likely nothing of the captain, lieutenants,ensigns, and sergeants, of the on every Negroe or Indian Slave.
ment, brought alarm and even suffering to the firesides of these assaulted in the first place.' train-bands;' there seems to have been official business of some
Justice was administeredtri
by a magistrate, known at first as the
pioneers. _ sort or other, for nearly ever member ofthe This war to r _ e little o
P c n 1 was soon dispelled b the return of • y commonwealth.ea
p y peace be Y
The Indians dwelling along the shores of the Sound roved from I Commissioner. In 1691-98, the General Court of Connecticut
a a P tween England and the United Provinces. In June of the fol- The town meeting of those days was a very different affair from substituted for this office that of Justice of the Peace. These
the first to be pacific and friendly toward the settler; and our ]owing year the Dutch evacuated New York, and all other places that of our times. Besides electing officers, the -inhabitants had functionaries were alike appointed by the government. They
inhabitants probably felt little apprehension from them until the which they had regainer]in America,in accordance with the treaty a great variety of matters to talk over and determine. We give were invested°with magishaticall power .within the limits of the
outbreak of war,in the year 1675. But in that year, King Philip, which had been signed. The people of Rye could at least con- some examples, without attempting to classify the subjects. respective Townes where they fiver];' and were impowered'with
of Mount Hope, a chief of the Pokanokets, succeeded in uniting gratulate themselves that they were not to belong to the territories The prevention of damages by cattle was an important matter the Selectmen of the town, or any two of them, to hear and deter-
the tribes of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in a desperate effort of Holland; thouali the arrival of Major Andros,at New York, to 1 e considered. Frequent orders were given concerning the mine an action that should be resented before them for tr all to
n
lasted out two ears
Y P
try
all the English. The conflict a dab
toe years, but a few g building and '•r g >
weeks after, ave i • s o re.am ,f fences. At a town meeting held t nem one s cause for apprehension, in e d March
and it did not actual) spread into the territory of Connecticut et
a PP a P a + the value of forty shillings. The first Commissioner appointed
16 aa
reed Y 3 vi 72 it
Y e v of the claims which, was a reed that the first
ch, as we have already seen,were now set a s of April follon4ing should be for Hastings at Rye, in 1663 and 1664, was Mr. Jahn Budd. He
i n sorrows pro-town in that colon shared in the anxieties and s ow
t
every Y P up by a new master,the Duke of York. axed of all persons and young cattle and horses,unless it be such was followed by Lieut. Joseph Horton, in 1678. And in 1698,
dated by the fearful struggle. as are wrought, and that they henceforward should goe out on the pending the return of the town to Connecticut the General Court
Two years before the outbreak of Kinn +
g Philip's War, the in- Another wave of political trouble reached our town in the year first of April, and whatever person hath not his fence up by that appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace,then newly created,
habitants of Rye had been alarmed by danger from another quar- 1689. It is strange that this feeble and obscure settlement in the time shall forfeit five shillings a rod.' Mr. Deliverance Brown, who was continued in office by the pro-
ter. England was at war with Holland; and tine colonies had western world could feel the remote effects of the great contests The town not only hel thed right to receive or exclude inhabit- v'n i government
a
n c al of New York.
IL
62 63
For the punishment of trivial offences, they had the stocks and and three horses,and three hundred and ninety-four sheep. There former volume. 'Beaver Swamp' was in the valley of Stony conveyance of letters and other missives in the service of the
the whipping-post. Our notices of these interesting objects are were six grist-mills and one saw-mill in Rye; and during the Brook, where the Union Cemetery is situated. colony. This was done in view of the great extravagance of
scanty, but sufficient. The town in 1739 and two subsequent year mentioned, 12,939 yards of cloth were manufactured in the The upper part of Budd's Neck was owned, it century ago, people thus employed, 'by profuse spending at the ordinaries and
years elected a 'public whipper.' Thomas Rickey and Samuel town.2 chiefly by the Purdys and Thealls. Captain JOSHUA PURDY lived other places on the road upon the country's account,and also by
Bumpas were the persons chosen to this office. They do not I in the house now owned by Mr. William Purdy. He was highly great delays on journeys.' According to the schedule,the charge
appear to have distinguished themselves in any other capacity. r ��,'. .` f esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. Like many of them, he was to be as follows,from the first of May to the middle of Octo-
adhered to the government side in the great struggle which soon , Y Y
• Of the stocks,mention is made but seldom. In the records of the Y her: From Rye to Hartford the horses h er twelve shillings the
Vestry of Rye, we find the following item, under the date of �,__. �*�
followed and in 1776 was a prisoner at the White Plains. The man and expences twenty shillings; all is one pound twelve shil-
March 6, 1770:— , -wk:ice ' chairman of the Committee of Safety wrote, August 20, recon- lings.' From October to April, the charge was to be eight pence
gy r; rr r.. mending his release,as a man of influence, toward whom lenity more for ever night the lye out.'
Allowed, To John Doughty for fees of putting— —in y' 7t would be advisable,' thou h he had never been friendly to the Y Y Y
g 3 Postal communication between New York and Boston was first
Stocks, G shillings.' American cause.'
established in the year 1672,during the administration of Colonel
LATER TOWN HISTORY ,k Mr. PETER JAY"was living at this time on the estate which he Lovelace, the second English governor of the province. The fol-
hadbought twenty-five years before,at Rye,from John Budd's lowing order shows what facilities were thus afforded:—
IN the year 1788 the town of Rye was reduced to its present Y
i
I grandson. The Jay mansion stood nearly on the site of the
size, by an act of the legislature of New York, constituting c,; - deep, •A Proclamaciou for a Post to goe Monthly from this City to Boston
' resent house. It was a lone low building but one room
� - P b' ' and back againe.
three towns within the territory previously covered by this. Their and eight feet in width having attained this size b repeated '
:F �� • eighty + b Y 1 Whereas it is thought convenient and necessaryin obedience to his
act provided— "' !a '.rF�r r r' additions to suit the wants of a numerous family. Here John Sacred Ma'ties Commands, who enjoynes all his subjects in the distinct
'That all that part of the county of Westchester,bounded easterly Jay,now a young man of twenty-five, had spent his childhood; Colonyes,to enter into a strict allyance and Correspondency witli each
by Mamaroneck-River, northerly by North-Castle,westerly by Bronx- going from this pleasant home when eight years old to school at other,as likewise for the advancem'of Negotiation,Trade and Civill
River,and southerly by the town of Scarsdale,shall be,and hereby is ' New Rochelle,and when fourteen to King's College,in New York. Commerce,and for a more speedy Intelligence and Dispatch of Af-
erected into a town b the name of White-Plains. OLD NAMES AND PLACES.
y He was now a rising young lawyer in the city, having been ad- fayres,That n Messenger or Post bee authorized to sett forth from this
'And that all that part of the said county of Westchester called and rnHE quaint nomenclature of our early settlers is rapidly passing t mitted to the bar two years before, in 1768. Citty of New Yorke monthly, and thence to travail to Boston, from
known by the name of Harrison's-Purchase, shall be, and hereby is 1 out of mind. Many of the names traced on our ancient whence within that Month bee shall returne againe to this Citty. 'These
erected into a town by the name of Harrison. records have become quite obsolete, and will be as novel to the are therefore to give notice to all persons concerned,That on the first
'And that all that part of the said county of Westchester,bounded descendants of those who used them as to those of us who dwell day of January next, the Messenger appointed shall proceed on his
southerly by the Sound, easterly by Connecticut, and westerly by the in places that know them no more. Yet it may be presumed that _ journey to Boston: If any therefore have any Letters or small portable
town of Harrison and Mamaroneck-River,including Captain's-Island, some interest will be felt in the effort to recall,and as far as possi- = -" Goods to bee conveyed to Hartford, Connecticut,Boston,or any other
and all the islands in the Sound lying south of the said bounds,shall `' arts in the ]toad,the shall be careful] delivered according to the
ble to locate them. - a P y y
be,and hereby is erected into a town by the name of Rye: a 3F.T `_ a t-• Directions by a sworne Messenger and Post who is purposely imployed
The Indian names, Peningo, Apawamis, Manussing, Honge, - r f -
" �" t` in that Afftyre;In the Interim those that bee disposed to send Letters,
For some years after the beginning of this century, there were Eaukecaupacuson, Quaroppas, Pockeotessen, Mamaroneck,Mock- ri _ lett them bring them to the Secretary's Office, where in a Lockt Box
uams or Moa uanes Armonck were careful] retained b the �`
persons still living in Rye who had taken an active part in the stir- q q Y Y ?� �? they shall be preserved till the Messenger calls for them; All persons
early settlers in their deeds, but most of them were never used. +' a in the Post before the Bagg be seal'd a Dated at New Yorke
ring events of the Revolution. A few of these were veteranw �' P y g an P
soldiers of the Continental army. Others there were who had The Armonck was already known as Byratn River, the Mock- this 10°A day of December I672. By order of y° Governor.'
Y perhaps uams as Blind Brook when the came here. Eaukecau acuson
served more bomb] but erha s as usefully in the warfare carded q Y P 's According to the instructions to the post or messenger, dated
soon yielded to Lame Wills Purchase and Rye Woods. {� ,
on along the shores of the Sound and across its waters. Several • Y n I �f January 22, 1672-3, lie was to apply to the governors, especially
too were at least suspected of having been engaged less creditably Pockeotessen was called Stony Brook. Apawamis became Budd's �_ Governor Winthrop of Connecticut, for`the best direction how to
in the system of spoliation of which this Debatable Ground had Neck, and later Rye Neck. Qnaroppas was replaced by The l l r L yp forme the best Post Road;' to establish places on the road where
been the scene during the war,as Skinners, or Cow Boys; an in- White Playnes.' Only Penin(, Manussing, and Mamaroneck + �� !<_ to leave flue war'-letters,and to mark some Trees that shall direct
timation not seldom heard in the purlieus of the taverns and most remain in common use. It must be confessed that the aboriginal ,
P designations had little of beauty or euphony to recommend them. _ r-' I! � �.„ Passengers the best way, and to fix certain Houses for your sev-
likely to find expression amidst the excitement of an election, at _ erall Stages both to bait and lodge at.' The messenger was to
the oils. Scarce] a fame] lived in the town of which some Homely as they were, the Anglo-Saxon names of these locali- c qL - �' g
p y family szr allow persons who desired it to travel in his company and to afibrd
member had not been a witness and a sufferer in the perils and ties were certainly more convenient. them the best help in his power. He was to provide himself with
privations othose trying times. The'Scotch Caps' are the rugged masses of rock that lie off the
P f Y g tapering point of land known as Brown's or Wainwright's Point. a spare horse, a Horn, and good Portmantles.
In point of popullation, the town remained nearly stationary for They received this name from the first settlers, who also called Such was the mode of travel and. despatch for the next thirty
a long aeries of years. At the close of the last century it con- the southern part of the peninsula itself the 'Scotch Cap Neck,' I MODES OF TRAVEL. years. Madam Knight's account of her journey from Boston to
tained nine hundred and eighty-six inhabitants,of whom one hun- New York and back in 1704 agrees precisely with this descrip-
or Ox pasture Neck.,vas anciently a°warehouse'and a dock. '
dyed and fifty-four were qualified electors, and one hundred and , tion. It appears that site availed herself when she could of the
'Ware's Cove or Reynolds Cove, is below this, opposite the SITUATED so near the seaboard, and within thirty miles of
twenty-three were slaves. In 1810, the population was twelve IJ the cit Rye has enjoyed from the earliest times whatever company and protection of the messenger riding post. The fol-
north end of Pine Island. This island contains about eight acres Y+
lowing extract gives us a life-like view of the good lady and her
hundred and seventy-eight,of whom two hundred and twenty-five and lies within a few rods of the shore. 'Galpin's Cove' was on facilities existed for public communication. But it is difficult to
were subject to taxation. The taxable property of the town wasI conductor
Budd's Neck, below 'Bullock's Landing," at the foot of Mr. conceive how rude and inconvenient these must have been,until a
then valued at $319,871. In 1820, the population had only in- Lenin's land. comparatively recent date. For at least fifty years after the foun- `Tuesday,October y'third,about 8 in the morning,I with the Post
creased to thirteen hundred and forty-two; and the taxable prop- We have on record the names of several brooks which are dation of the town,all travel by land was performed on horseback. proceeded forward . . . and about 2,afternoon,arrived at the Post's
erty was valued at $444,619. At that time—fifty years ago— Deputies rode their hired horses u to the sessions of the General second stage,where the western Post met him and exchanged Letters..
represented at the present day only by very insignificant rills. P P
there were in the town of Rye one hundred and seventy-seven Court. It was seldom however, that the inhabitants ventured so Racing here discharged the Ordinary for self and Guide, as I
persons employed in a agriculture, eight persons employed in There can be no doubt that they were more deserving of the understood was the custom,about 3,afternoon,went on with my third
Pg ' e Y Pname when the forests and the swamps were here to feed and far as Hartford,except on public duty. Their journeys were gen-
manufactures, and thirty-five engaged in commerce. There 1 erall short and limited to the neighboring towns of Greenwich Guide,who rode very hard: and having crossed Providence ferry,we
shelter them. Besides Blind Brook and Stony Brook, there was Y g b come to a River which they generally ride through But I dare not
were but eight 'foreigners not naturalized.' There were one and Stamford. The sympathies and interests of the people then g y '
hundred and twenty-six'free blacks,'and fourteen slaves. The Bound Brook, Gunn Brook,Hassock Meadow Brook,HorseneckP P venture;so the Post got a lad and Canoe to carry me to the other side,
Y Brook, Rattlesnake Brook, Blind Brook Branch, Crooked Gutter, turned eastward—not as now toward New York. and he rid through and led my horse. . . . Rewarding my sculler,
electors numbered two hundred and eighty-three. The town and Causeway Brook. These were noted boundary marks in In 1672, the government of Connecticut established a schedule again mounted and made the best of my way forward. The Road here
contained five thousand eight hundred and ninety-two acres of other days and in our fall freshets the sometimes approach roach their of prices, to be paid to persons who should be employed for the was very even and v°da pleasant,it being now near Sunset. But the
,I improved land, nine hundred and eighty-one cattle,two hundred Y Y I l y P
i
>, I
,I
64
i
6S
Post told me we had near 14 miles to ride to the next Stage,where we New York. The towns of this province under the Dutch anti E
THE WESTCHESTER PATH. were to lodge. I asked him of the rest of the Road,foreseeing we must fish governments, like those of Connecticut, had the superintend-
travel in the night. lIe told me there was a bad River we were to ride ence and management of all their local affairs, including the lay-
through,which was so very fierce a horse could sometimes hardly stem ing out of roads. In 1691 an act was passed 'to enable each
The old Westchester Path was originally an Indian trail,.that led from Manhattan it: but it was narrow,and we should soon be over.' Late at night,the
e
Town to regulate its Fences and Highways.' By this law free-
island t0 a`wading place'not far from the mouth of Byram iver,and thence through traveller after all these adventures'was roused from her pleasing imagi-
Poses soun
nations by the Yosding his horn, which assured me hrespective towns and to
e was holders were impowered to meet in their
• the present town of Greenwich,perhaps to Stamford and beyond. It was used by the arrived at the stage where we were to lodge:and that musick was then choose annually three surveyors or'ordrers' to lay out and re-
arrived and English, from the very first occupation of the country; and long* before most musical and agreeable to me.' pair roads. Their'orders' were to be 'entered in the Town's
any towns or plantations appeared along its course, it formed a line of travel between j T N a local histor , some notices of the principal roads within the books for that purpose and approved by the next Court of Ses-
New York and New England. For this reason it was probably that the earliest settle- 1 limits of the town will not be out of place. To the inhaUitant sions.' This law was in force until the year 1703. In that year
ments were made upon this line. Motives of convenience and safety would induce an act was passed for laying out highways throughout tine sev-
the settler to fix upon a spot not remote from the only thorouhfare as yet existing this record will possess a certain interest, for it relates to our most eral counties of the province. Among other provisions, it directed
genduring monuments of the past. The travelled highway, which
through the forest. Accordingly we find that the original purchases of land were in that—
p retains the course of some ancient forest path, first worn it may be
many cases bounded by this path, as a well-known landmark, familiar alike to the One Public,Common Highway be laid out and kept in repair from
by the Indian hurter, then used by the early settlers, and grad-
red man and the white. Man Of the old farms in this town and in the adjoining New York through that county and the county of Westchester four
Y J g ually improved with the progress of the community, is often the rods,English wide, to be forever a Public Road to the Colony of Con-
towns, are described in deeds still extant as bounded by the old Westchester Path. link that most visibly connects the present with by-gone times. ' '
It is now the dividingline between the towns of Rye and Harrison. The first allusion necticut'
Y But a wider interest belongs to the great thoroughfares of the
to this path that we have found occurs in the year 1661. Five years later, it is land, such as that which crosses the town of Rye. The post-road This was the first formal act establishing our present post-road.
already spoken of as,ye now known and common path coming up from Westchester.' from New York to Boston intersects the lower part of our town, It had existed before,as we have shown,in separate links, from
Owing to such frequent reference in grants and deeds, the precise location of por- and forms the main street of the village. This road did not exist at town to town, following very much the same general course as
tions of the road has been preserved. Its course was long denoted like other bound= the time of the first settlement. The only avenue of communica- now. But it had never before been constituted as one road.
aries in early times, by means of `marked trees;' and there are maps on record, 0 tion by land with other places was, as we have seen, the 'old Until quite recently the Boston Road was familiarly known to us
exhibiting these landmarks, and showing the direction of the road. It is curious Westchester Path.' An Indian trail originally, it was never laid as ' the turnpike.' It has in fact ceased to be a turnpike road only
to see how long even such rude and perishable monuments may serve their pur- out as a public highway, but was used for awhile U,v the inhabit- within two or three years past. In 1800 a corporation was formed
pose. Some years ago it became necessary to ascertain more exactly the boundary ants of the towns through which it passed, as well as by occa- by act of the legislature, by the name of f The President, Direc-
between the towns of Rye and Harrison. A party of several of the `oldest inhab- sional travellers to Now York or Connecticut. In all likelihood, tors and Company of tine WESTCHESTER TURNPIKE ROAD.' Messrs.
itants'was made up, to accompany the surveyor,and assist him by their recollections this for several years was the route of the monthly post on his Philip Pell, John P.Delancey, Cornelius Rosevelt, Peter J. Mon-
in finding the marks indicated by the old maps and deeds. They had little difficulty
way to the eastern settlements. Here, not far from the line over roe, and Gabriel Furman, were the members of this corporation in doing this, along the greater part of the way'; though the youngsaplings and which the engine now speeds hourly, our settlers may have heard mentioned in the act.
Th en
'staddles'marked a half century earlier and more, had like themselves grown to a the shrill notes of the messenger's horn that announced his a1 t- g eral course of this road coincided with that of the old
proaclr to the village. Boston Road established by act of the Assembly in 1703;just as that
green old age. At length,however,the party came to a stand. The`white oak stump' The 'country road,'as it was called, appears to have been laid road followed in the main the course of the country road established
which was designated as the next way mark could not be found. After some deliber- out about the year 1672. In May of that year, the General Court in 1672. There have been several deviations,however, from the
ation it was suggested that they should proceed to the extreme end of their survey, of Connecticut appointed— ancient line in the town of Rye; and these we may here indicate.
and then measure back to the last point ascertained; and at the given distance they 'Mr. John Holly, Lab Jonathan Belt and .John Green to veiwe the The first occurred where the turnpike road entered Rye, cross-
discovered, by digging under-ground, the mouldering remains of a I white oak townshipp of Rye,and to consider what highways may be requisit and ing Mamaroneck River. Here the old road ran about thirty rods.
stump'whose testimony completed the chain of evidence required. necessary for the use of the towne and Colony,and lay them out and north of the line adopted in 1800. Tile street now called Tomp-
The Westchester Path in this town has been disused,probably for a hundred years see them recorded in the town book;and if the said highwayes shall fall kins Avenue is the ancient highway. In 1811 the commissioners
past,except in some few places,and as a way of communication between one farm and in any man's perticuler proprietie, the sayd committee are hereby up- closed a part of `the old Boston road, beginning at Mamaroneck
another. There is no proof indeed that it was at any time a graded road, travelled poynted to order such person or persons reasonable sattisfaction for the River and extending eastwardly to the post set in the ground op-
same,which shall be allowed out of the common lands within that town-
. by wagons or stages. Such conveyances were scarcely known in those early days. 4 polite Daniel Gidney's lnonse,and thence to the land of William
For generations the bridle-path and the'cart-way'were the only kind of road ship not allready layed out. And the sayd Gents are desired to take Gidnev.'
known or needed. The `marked trees'which formerly indicated its course are care to lay out the highwayes so as may be least preJudiciall to the pro- But the inhabitants of Rye had other means of communicating
now replaced by small granite posts, denoting the boundary line of the towns 11prietos.' with the outside world,and they probably depended more upon
of Rye and Harrison. By means of this boundary, we may trace the old path The roads here provided for were for the most part neighbor- water communication than upon that by land. The earliest men-
for about three miles from the vicinity of Mamaroneck River to a point on the hood roads simply. As yet there was no public thoroughfare tion of a dock or wharf at this place occurs under the date of 1679,
through Connecticut or New York. But the convenience of every when the town granted to John Ogden 'forty-eight or fifty acres
bank of Blind Brook,near the house lately Mr. Allen P. Carpenter's. Beyond
this,its course is not certainly known. I am inclined to believe that the Ridge town would require that there should be at least a road to the near- of land by the water side at the Fishing Rock,for the purpose of j
Road is the continuation of the old Westchester Path at least for some distance. est settlement. This,at Rye,was the road to Greenwich or Stam- building a house and wharf. The inhabitants of Peningo neck to
' ford which was probably one of the roads laid out under the order have wharfage free.'
This seems probable from the fact that it begins where that path, so far as it can now of 1672. 'The Stanford road'-'the path commonly called the A great event for Rye was the establishment of a ferry in 1739
be traced,ends; and pursues for awhile the same northeasterly direction. Indeed Standford Road'—is mentioned in 1680, eight years after that between this town and Oyster Bay,Long Island. The charter
there is a tradition, which confirms this view, that the Ridge Road is the oldest thor- ;onler. We suppose this to be identical with our present post- issued in that year for this purpose, sets forth that 'the principal
oughfare in these parts. Bearing more to the eastward, perhaps, from a point road,leading from Mamaroneck River to Byram River,in the same freeholders and proprietors of the lands in the two, patents called
above the Catholic Cemetery, the path ran to the wading-place,where.Byram bridge general course as now. That portion of it which passes through Budd's Neck and Penning's Neck' have made application for it.
now crosses the river, and thence followed apparently the course of the present post- the village of Rye along the bank of Blind Brook, must have The inhabitants generally seem to have taken a deep interest in
road through the town of Greenwich. It is mentioned as a� boundary in several been opened before the year 1676. the enterprise. Messrs. John Budd, Hachaliah Brown,and Jona-
ancient deeds of that town. The 'country roads' leading from one town to another came in than Brown were at the ]read of it. Tile list of subscribers
time to be considered as the-public highway of the colony and the toward the expense of obtaining the patent, embraces twenty-six
province. names.3 Those who thus contributed were to 'enjoy a share of
Rye was then claimed by Connecticut as still within the colony's the privileges and emoluments of the ferry in proportion to the
limits. But in 1700 the town was returned to the province of sums'subscribed.
i
G
66 67
At the beginning of the present century,the ordinary and favor- period. Deerskin and buckskin, raccoon and foxskins, wolf and cotton. It does not appear that any uniformity was attempted in ern in the House which David Doughty formerly occupied—the
ite mode of travelling to New York and back was by sloop. Sev- bearskins, were much used for this purpose. `Indian stockings,' dress. Town to refund back money he shall pay for a permit for the
eral market sloops ran regularly between this place and the city. or moccasins, were worn to some extent instead of shoes. 'Trainings' took place six times a year. These were great same.'
Some of them started from `Saw Pit,' now Port Chester; others The household linen with other valuables were stored away in occasions, and were usually solemnized by prayer. The time of Of the drinking habits of our early settlers,we have other traces
from Milton,and others still from Rye Neck. There was a dock the great'chests,' three or four of which appear to have been meeting was eight o'clock in the morning. No man could be ab- besides the maintenance of so many public houses. Even those
below Milton, at Kniffin's Cove, and one known as Jonathan owned by every family. These were the only receptacles which sent unless excused, without incurring a heavy fine. Ministers,as who brought with them something of the rigidity of Puritan man-
Horton's, near the house of Captain Bouton. In 1803, nine the housewife had at her command for such domestic treasures• well as magistrates, were exempted from training; but they too, ners,had their drinking cups and tankards at hand. But there is
market sloops'ran reoularl from Rye to New York• four from In these chests also important papers and other treasures were P
P b Y Y � � P P P with every other male person above sixteen years of age, were reason to believe that they exercised a comparative moderation in
Saw Pit, and one from Rye Neck. There were also three preserved. Sometimes a neighbor would intrust his valuables to required to 'bee allwayes provided with,and haue in readiness by the use of spirituous liquors. At a later day,we hear much of
`packet vessels' carrying freight and passengers. be locked up with the family goods. Nathaniel Sherwood testifies, them, halfe a pound of Powder, two pound of shott, and two the prevalence of drunkenness in this community. The Rev. Mr.
In 1812, one sloop ran from Rye Neck to New York, and three November 1, 1704, that some years ago lie Had charge of a deed fathom of Match.' Good Mr. Denham, at Rye, had his `mus- Muirson writes, in 1707, `Swearing and drinking and Sabbath-
from Saw Pit. from Richard Ogden to John Wilson; but having `lost the key of t quett'and his `two-edged sword,' which he could doubtless make breaking' are the vices that are °chiefly predominant.' And
The facilities of communication with the city by steamboat his chest,lie did desir them to Secure it other where,but they neg use of, upon occasion. `A pair of shot moulds,' is an item of Mr.Wetmore, schoolmaster at Rye, complains in 1765, that
afforded between the years 1820 and 1830, opened. a new era letting that he cannot now tell what is be come of it.' frequent occurrence in lists of household effects. many of our people are too much addicted to the taverns.'
in the history of the place. A 'considerable improvement in its Few luxuries were to be found in these dwellings. The floors Convenient to the spot where these martial exercises took place,
moral and material aspect' was now seen. 'A higher tone of were generally bare. `One rugg' is mentioned in the inventory stood the village stocks. For here, in full view of the concourse,
manners and morals, more of the spirit of ingairy, more of move- of John Hoyt's estate,in 1684; also `one carpet or curtain,'—a i unhappy culprits were sometimes put,as a punishment peculiarly
ment and energy,' were observed. Property rose in value; and hanging for the parlor wall, perhaps,—and `one cushion case.' YEARLY FAIR AT RYE.
severe. Thus persons found guilty of cursing and swearing, were
even as early as 1825,there were schemes for disposing of land, Feather beds and cha$•e beds, feather pillows and bolsters, are fined ten shillings, and were condemned 'to sit in the Stocks.two Among the topica of village talk in 1770, perhaps the chief was
` specially noted. The `warming-pan' was considered indispensable j howers the next Trayneing day.' the plan for establishing a FAIR at Rye. We have a striking proof
in building lots,'at high prices, which foreshadowed the vaster
operations of like character in our own day. Rye became,about to comfort. Every house possessed a loom; a shop for weaving, In Rye,there was'a place`in the heart of the towne,where they of the change that a century has wrought in men and manners,in
this time, the home of several intelligent and enterprising men, frequently built of stone, would be found on nearly every farm. Y usually traine.'3 This we conjecture to have been where the flag the interest which this scheme awakened. An old English cus-
whose exertions and personal influence greatly promoted the prog- A huge fire-place, ten or twelve feet wide, and half as many in staff now stands, at the junction of the post-road and the road to tom,of which we know scarcely anything at present,was so highly
ress of things in the town. depth, occupied one side of the kitchen. The `cross-cut saw' the purchase. Here,perhaps, in 1697, `Major Sellick, of Stand appreciated by the Browns and Halsteds,tlie Parks and Purdvs of
The construction of the New Haven Railroad was an event of of the early settler was needed, to prepare the great logs which ford, with about fifty Dragones whom he called his life guard,' those days, that they joined with many others in a petition on the
moment for our town, which now came into rapid communication were rolled into this cavernous depth. 'In the kitchen, the high made his appearance,ready to defend the town against the author- subject,addressed, 'To his Excellency the Right Hon"John Earl
with the city. This road was commenced in March, 1847, and wooden settle was never absent—now used as a screen, and now ity of New York,from which it had revolted. of Dunmore, Commander in Chief in and over the Province of
completed in January,1849. Before this,for several years,stages receding to the wall. This was the principal sitting-room of the The train-band of Rye does not seem to have been completely New York.' This petition purports to come from`a great Num-
bad been running from Mamaroneck to Williams' Bridge,where family. Blocks in the chimney-corners were used for children's• officered for a number of years. Joseph Horton is confirmed in her of the Principal and other Inhabitants in the Town of Rye
passengers were enabled to take the cars of the Harlem Railroad. seats; the settle kept off the air from the door; a tin candlestick 1667 as `lieutenant to the trayn band.' The fact is, our town and it `humbly shows' that by an act of the Assembly passed
But this mode of travel was scarcely more expeditious or conven- with a long back was suspended on a nail over the mantel. As ! did not number persons enough, until near the close of the cen- many years before,Rye had been declared entitled to the benefit
ient than that by steamboat from Rye Port. fears of the Indians.died away, and weapons of warfare were less tury, to entitle it to have a company under the law. ` Captain Jo- of holding a fair once in every year. It was to be held in the
used, occasionally a musket might be seen suspended transversely .� septi Horton' is first heard of in 1690. Captain Theall, who is month of October, and the object was `for selling of all Country
from beam to beam. A small open recess for books was usually seen �I mentioned about the same time, had been'the chief military ofli- Produce and other effects whatsoever.' The inhabitants represent
on one side of the fire-place, a little below the ceiling. The family ter for the train-band' of Bedford, and hence probably retained that they have never before applied to have the fair held, as they
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. Bible was never wanting. It occupied a conspicuous station upon his title after coming to this place. had a right; `but now, believing the keeping of a Fair as afore-
the best table,and though much used, was well preserved.' The train-band was held to be a most important means of pub• said in said Town of Rye would be of general service to said
HOUSEKEEPING in Rye in the olden time did not require The week-clay life of our early settler was one of hard and un- lic security in every town. Rye, from its remoteness and its Town,' they humbly pray his Excellency that he 'would please
a great variety of furniture. Each room, even the kitchen remitting toil. No'eight hours' labor'law would have suited his feeble condition, must have depended peculiarly upon this defence. to appoint DOCTOR EBENEZER HAvrLAND of said Rye to be Gov-
and the parlor,or'best room,' was generally-supplied with a bed. ideas or agreed with the requirements of his position. His acres In 1673, when there was a prospect of collision with the Dutch, ernor,and to have full power according to said Act of Assembly,
Beside this,a table or two, a cupboard and some chests, consti- of forest land must be cleared and fenced, his meadow and upland who regained possession of New York for a short period, 'Rye, to keep and hold a Fair in said Rye in the month of October next.'
tuted the heavier articles of `household stuff.' Of chairs there lots be tilled by his own strong arms, aided perhaps by those of his being near'to the enemy's position, was 'excused' from sending its This petition was signed by fifty-seven inhabitants, and was duly
were few, sometimes none. Philip Galpin's house, in 1684, stalwart boys. Not less busy were the wife and the daughters,upon quota,to form a company of five hundred dragoons,who were to presented to Governor Dunmore in April, 1771. His Excellency
boasted of three benches; and rude stools, and the invariable whom devolved not only the cares that now rest upon the Humblest be drawn from the train-bands of the several towns for the pro- graciously appointed Dr. Haviland to be governor of such a fair,
coffer or cliest, served our early inhabitants for seats. of their sex,but also the labor of preparing, through every stage tection of any threatened part. to be kept at Rye on the second Tuesday in October,yearly,and
The cupboard displayed the choicer eating utensils of the family. of manufacture and adjustment, the coarse but substantial gar- to end the Friday next following, being in all four days,and no
They were of pewter; the dishes in ordinary use were of wood. ments of the entire family. Our early settlers had doubtless brought with them many old- longer.
The value set upon these articles appears from old inventories and world customs which are little known to us. One of these they The act to which the petitioners referred was passed in 1692,
from wills, where they rank with important legacies. Richard Tile'TRAYN BAND of Rye' is mentioned in the Colony Records observed in the conveyance of lands: it was called the investiture and was entitled an act for settling Fairs and Markets in each
Lounsbery,in 1690,leaves to his wife`her bed and some small re- of 1667. This was the militia company of the town, such as `by turf and twig.' This was a relic of feudal times. It con- respective City and County throughout the province.' It provided
versions of Pewter;' and to his daughter Mary `two Great Char- every settlement in Connecticut was required to maintain. It sisted in the delivery of a turf, a stone,a branch,or some other that in the county of Westchester there should be held and kept
gers of Pewter,two pewter platters next to them, two lesser Plat- consisted of all male persons between sixteen and sixty years of age, I object,as a symbol of the transfer of the soil. Anciently,this had two fairs yearly; the one in the town of Westchester on the set-
ters,and a flaggon, and a cow.' Peter Disbrow's widow,in 1688, ministeis and magistrates only excepted. The officers of the train- been practised by the feudal lord,in conferring a fief upon his vas- and Tuesday in May, and the other at Rye on the second Tiles-
relinquishes her thirds in favor of her sons Peter and John, who band were a captain, a lieutenant, an ensign, and four sergeants. sal. We find it observed on Manussing Island in 1693, with all day in October. Such fairs had been held from time immemorial
promise her a certain earl allowance `only her wearing clothes Not fewer than sixty-four, and not more than two hundred men t formality, and on Budd's Neck as late as 1768. in England as in other countries indeed they are still maintained
P yearly
with her bed and what belonged to it,and her pewter those to might constitute such a company. The arms of the private sol- to some extent. We do not know holy far the English custom
remain to her,and to be at her disposal: diers were pikes, muskets, and swords. These they provided, if DRINKING HABITS. was carried out here; but there is reason to suppose that a con-
The apparel of our settlers was mostly of domestic manufacture. able, for themselves. The muskets had matchlocks, or firelocks, siderable amount of traffic was carried on at these times.
Samuel Hoit's wardrobe, in 1684, contained 'one pair of serge and to each there was a pair of `bandoleers,' or pouches for powder The earliest reference to the sale of liquor in this town occurs
trowsers,one pair of linen trowsers,one ould serge coat lined,'and and bullets, and a stick, called a rest, for use in taking aim. The under the date of April 17, 1789, when David Doughty was A hundred years have wronght great changes in the outward
one Kersye Coat.' Serge and kersey were woolen materials of pikes were poles,with a spear at the end,fourteen feet in length. `permitted to sell spirituous liquors without paying excise.' appearance of our town. But in the character of the population,
different texture. Leather garments were much worn at this For defensive armor, corselets were worn, and coats quilted with April 14, 1797, `Samuel Travis was permitted to keep a Tav their manners and customs, their habits, ideas, and convictions,
:7 -
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68
Lyme.' A town meeting was called, and the inhabitants'agreed The legal profession was not largely represented in early times
a far greater change has taken place. A century ago the inhab- is seen without a Stone or Brick Chimney,and rarely any without a and voted that no person or persons shall hereafter during the said in the town of Rye. The single name of TIMOTHY WETMORE
itants of Rye had few interests that reached beyond the limits of shingled roof—generally the sides are of shingles also. The farms year presume to take and destroy said oysters,' under penalty of appears as that of an attorney-at-law living in this place before
their own toren. Most of them, probably; had never extended are very close together, and separated, as one enclosure after a fine of forty shillings for each offence. the Revolution. Mr. Wetmore was licensed April 26, 1770.1
their travels further than the city of New York. The first stage- another also is, by fences of stone, which are indeed easily made, Besides the market sloops that sailed from Il
Saw Pit, Rye,and e was the son of the Rev. James Wetmore and held a position
coach had not as yet made its appearance on our post-road upon as the country is immensely stoney.' Rye Neck to New York, there were some larger vessels belonging of commanding influence in this community.
its way to Boston, though doubtless the proposal to run such a The stone walls here spoken of had but lately taken the place here, and sailing to distant ports. Mention is made in 1774 of a JONATHAN F.VICKERS,who taught school at'Saw Pit'for some
vehicle next year was already the talk of the neighborhood. RYE of the rail fences which prevailed throughout this region before Whaling Sloop belonging to Mamaroneck.' years toward the close of the last century,was familiarly known as
FERRY was still in operation. The road leading to it past Strang's the Revolution. During the war these had all been consumed as -'lawyer' Vickers,and was engaged to some extent in the practice
tavern, and up the hill by the church, was more frequented than fuel, and the whole country at the close of that period lay open of the law.
any other. Oyster Bay and other towns on Long Island were in and waste. In the great abundance of timber in early times, DANIEL HAIGHT, Esq., attorney and counsellor-at-law in Port
easy and frequent communication by this route. I Friends from farmers made little use of stone for walls. The rock that cropped PHYSICIANS AND LAWYERS. Chester, was admitted at the bar in 1850,and has pursued his pro-
Harrison,. and other farmers from King Street and the Plains, out of the soil in their fields was generally undisturbed, while fession in this town since that time.
made use of it not Infrequently; and the store kept at the House smaller stones were gathered in cairn-like heaps,out of the plough- AMHERST WIGHT,junior,Esq., was admitted at the New York
by the Ferry seems to have been the resort of their wives and man's way. RYE appears to have been without a resident physician for the bar in 1849,and came to Port Chester to reside there in 1859.
daughters as well,in pursuit of Calicoes, Ribbands, Fans,Gloves, Rye, from early times, rejoiced in a considerable number of first sixty years. Judging from the accounts we read of the His father, Amherst Wight, Esq.,is one of the oldest members of
Necklaces, Looking Glasses,' etc., which were kept there for sale. millers. Our numerous streams afforded excellent facilities 'for medical profession in those days the loss may not have been very the bar in New York,having been admitted to practice in that city
mills. Of these we find fifteen or twenty in operation before the serious. 'During the greater part of the colonial period,' that in 1816. He is still, though eighty years of years, in active busi-
period of the Revolution. The first established were grist-mills. profession is said to have been 'totally unregulated. Quacks,said ness, going daily to his office in New York from Port Chester.
John Budd's, afterwards known as Lyon's mill,on Blind Brook
OCCUPATIONS a colonial historian,abound like locusts in Egypt.' Mr. Wight was born in Bellingham, Mass., where his father and
Creek, was built some time before the year 1669. Not long after, Our people probably depended for medical aid,as they did for grandfather lived and died. He came to this place in 1862.
perhaps,the mill on the opposite side of Rye Neck was built by many other conveniences, on the neighboring town of Stamford.
UR ancient inhabitants were wont to call themselves,for the the same proprietor on Mamaroneck River. In 1696, Samuel At Stamford there were professors of the healing art as early as
O
most part, by the humble but honest name of 'yeomen.' Lane and Joseph Lyon received permission from the town to build the beginning of the last century. Twelve miles were quite a
They were farmers,living frugally upon the produce of the soil. a mill on Blind Brook,—the location of which is supposed to be THE POOR.
Most of their wants were supplied by domestic industry;and what that now occupied by Park's mill. This was long known as Bloom- distance to'send for the doctor,' but the circuits of old-time phy-
they purchased was commonly procured in the way of barter. er's mill: and there were at least two others, above it, on the sicians extended often to even greater lengths. Mrs. Sarah Bates,
a useful and skilful femalepractitioner of Stamford, was one of
'They trafficked chiefly,' we are told,in'wood and cattle.' same stream. What is now known as Davenport's mill,neanrthe 'several ancient dames of the town, in whose hands,' says Mr. Under the Connecticut laws, the poor were 'to
By the middle of the last century, however, we find quite a 9utlet of Stony Brook, was owned in the latter part of the last Huntington, 'for the first hundred years, probably, was most of be relieved by the townes where they live, every towne providing
variety of trades carried on in Rye: such as those of wheelwrights, century by Justice Gilbert Bloomer; and that now known as Van the medical practice known here.' for theire own poore:and so for impotent persons. There is seldom
cordwainers, carpenters, saddlers, tailors, hatters, weavers, rope Amringe's was formerly Deall's mill. In 1705,Samuel Hunt had Dr. DEVANEY is the first physician whose name is on record any want releife, because labour is deare,and provisions cheap.'
makers,and the like. We are not to suppose that the persons so leave to build a grist-mill on Mamaroneck River at the falls abovehere. It occurs in the Vestry Book, under the date of 1724. The Vestry of Rye, about whom we shall have more to say
designated were employed exclusively in these occupations. They Henry Underhill's. He must build within two years,and 'grind hereafter, had among other cares the charge of the town poor.
were generally farmers, who joined some kind of handicraft to the town's corn for the 14th part.' In 1711, Richard Ogden was Dr. NATHANIEL DOWNING resided here in 1763. His name This was made their duty by the Act of 1693, 'for Settling a Min-
their ordinary business,particularly in winter. The weaver's or allowed to build a mill on Byram River, 'between the lower going occurs in connection with a subject which was just then agitating istry' in the province of New York; which provided for the main-
wheelwright's shop was no unusual appendage to a farm-house a over and the country road.' Peter Brown's fulling-mill stood in our community in common with others, that of btoculation. This tenance of the minister, and also of the floor, in each of the
century ago. 1731 in the rear of the late 'Penfield House,'—now owned by the method of preventing the contagion of small-pox—by introducing parishes constituted by that law. The sun required for both pur-
into the system a minute portion of the virus, and thus communi-
As in all old-time rural places,these occupations were very gen- family of the late D. H. Mead. Kirby's mill was built about a poses was to be raised by a tax on the inhabitants; the justices
erall pursued b the same families age after age. In one branch hundred ears ago b one Frost. Colonel Thomas' mill is dating the disease in a mild and comparatively harmless form— and vestrymen being required to la the tax which the constable
y P y a y ' y Wrightb was extensively used a hundred years ago. It awakened,however, y q y
of an .ancient family, for instance, the designation 'house-car- indicated on our revolutionary chart of 1779: it stood near the cross was to collect.
penter' occurs through as many as four successive generations. road from Harrison post-office to King Street. Kennedy's mill is the liveliest fears of the ignorant everywhere; and in some places Nothing is said,however, of any appropriation for this purpose
Another family is said almost to have covered the lower part of marked on a map of Rye in 1798. inoculation was absolutely forbidden,and physicians performing it at Rye until the year 1725, when the Vestry agreed that there
were rendered liable to severe penalties. In Rye, it appears to should be raised, besides the money 'for y° Minister; the sum of
Budd's Neck with its'rope-walks.' And others of our inhabitants, No early mention is made of saw-mills at Rye. The first settlers
even to the present day, show a long transmitted fondness for the built their houses without the aid of this useful instrument. Not have been permitted under certain regulations, which betray the eight pounds 'for y' Poor.' This moderate amount appears to
fisherman's goodly craft, which their remote ancestors followed only the beams, but even the planks and shingles, were hewn and same prejudices and misapprehensions that prevailed elsewhere. have sufficed for several years. But in time the duties of the
along the same shoals and shores. shaped by hand. April 4 1763 Jaynes Wetmore in Rye, on the post-road,
' y ' P Vestry accumulate. Bills come in for the boarding of paupers;
Labor was well paid in early times, at least that of the white But beside these various employments,our inhabitants had abun- acquaints all persons that are disposed to be inoculated, that they for medical attendance; fbr funeral expenses,including the usual
Tuan. In 1680, a day laborer in Connecticut had two shillings, dant opportunities of making or eking out a livelihood by'follow- may be well accommodated at his house, 'where constant attend- allowance of 'Rum'; for transporting vagrants to other parishes.
and sometimes two shillings and sixpence per day. Provisions ing the water.' The title 'mariner' soon appears as an occasional ance will be given by Doctor Nathaniel Downing(as he boards at These items bring up the sum required to forty or fifty pounds
were cheap. .Wheat sold at four shillings a bushel eas.at three. said house) who has inoculated a Number of persons there that
P substitute for yeoman.' Within a few years after the settlement 1 sometimes, and even to ninety or one hundred.
shillings; Indian corn at two shillings and sixpence 'Porck'at have had the Small Pox uncommonly light.' Septeutber 23 1763
g P � of the town,there were several docks or landings along our shore. ,The � + + Just before the Revolution, we find introduced in Rye the cus-
leasant situated house at Rye Ferry, where inoculation w
threepence per pound; 'Beif' at twopence half=penny; butter at From these,small fishing craft put out into the Sound,and before P y y' as tom of putting up the poor at auction. Before this, they had been
sixpence.' long a few sloops or barges sailed to Oyster Bay and to New York. carried on last fall and Winter with great success,' is advertised as taken in to board with families,whose bills, if approved,were paid
We have a graphic description of the farms and the farming in this A century ago, most of the families composing the little village of now provided with genteel accommodations,for all those who are by the Vestry. But in 1775,'the Justices and Vestry agreed that
region,as they appeared in 1789,from the pen of General Washing- Saw Pit derived their support from these pursuits. So too did inclined to be inoculated for the Small Pox the ensuing season at
ton. Writing at Mrs.Haviland's,in Rye,he speaks of the land he a very moderate price: and as the greatest care.and attention will the poor of the parish should be sett at vandue to the Lowest bid-
many of those living on the lower part of Rye Neck. This famil. der, and that the Clark of the vestry put public advertizement for
had passed through during the day, as I strong, well covered with n g g v. be given by the Doctors and Nurses,provided for the patients; it the same.' And net year'pursuant to the advertizement for the
with the water re pared them to en a e acts el as they A x
rarrty p } •y,
grass and a luxuriant crop of Indian Corn intermixed with Pom- engage b sale of the poor of the parish of Rye, the poor was at vandue sold'
is hoped that the usual success and encouragement will be con-
.did,in expeditions of various kinds upon the Sound during the tinned.'
pions (which were yet ungathered ) in the field. We met four Revolutionary War. at the house of John Doughty (lately Van Sicklin's). The four
droves of Beef Cattle for the New York Market (about thirty in A hundred years ago, the oyster fishery had become quite an But the inhabitants watched these proceedings with an evil eye. or five paupers thus disposed of were bidden off at various prices,
a drove) some of which were very fine—also a flock of Sheep for important business at Rye. In 1753,much excitement was caused Their alarm and displeasure found vent before long'at a lawful from six to twelve pounds each; and notice was given that'who-
the same place. We scarcely passed a farm house that did nottown meeting April which was held at the school-house in Rye, A
abound in Geese. Their Cattle seemed to be of a good quality, by a'great destruction of our oysters in Byram river. Certain � P ever takes them or anyof them are to find him her or them
and'their hogs large,but rather long legged. No dwelling house Persons were getting great Quantities with Rakes, to Burn into 2, 1765.
with comfortable Clothes,Meat,Washing and Lodging,and return
:1
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i
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70 71
them as well clothed as they receive them.' This transaction, necticut, Hudson, Delaware and Susquehanna rivers,were in sub- 'Neither learning nor religion has within my knowledge flourished .''
however,was not as barbarous as it appears. The sale was simply jection to the Five Nations; and within the memory of persons SCHOOLS, to any great extent among the inhabitants. Academies have been
a contract with parties who engaged to support the poor at the now living,' he adds, acknowledged it by the payment of an established at New Rochelle,Bedford,and Salem,but neither of them
least expense to the Vestry,and the sums named represent the annual tribute.' has permanently flourished. The ancient inhabitants had scarcely any
amounts they were willing to take for their board. The Dutch, it is well.known, treated them with little kind- TTNDER the old Connecticut laws, every town of fifty house- schools,at least of any value. A few gentlemen are scattered in vari-
• The parochial system ceased at the time of the Revolution, and ness. They do not seem to have fared much better at the <J holders was required to'a appoint one within their Towne to ous parts of this county,possessing the intelligence usually found in
the Vestryof Rye became a defunct institution. After the war, r PP ' that class of men,but the people at large are extremely stinted in their
} hands of the Connecticut people. The laws of the General Court teach all such children.as shall resort to him,to write and read. information.'
the care of the poor devolved in this county as elsewhere upon for the regulation of the Indians appear harsh,perhaps not more The wages of this teacher were to be-paid either by the parents On Rye Neck, or Budd's Neck as it was then called,there was
the county officers. so than the fears and dangers of the settlers warranted. Com- or by the inhabitants in general. When any town should have a school-house as early as the year 1739. It stood not far from
plaint is made in 1640 that °our lenity and gentlenes toward In- increased to the number of one hundred householders or families, the spot where,thirty years ago, there was a little building which•
deans hath made them grove bold and insolent.' No town, it I they shall sett vp a Grammer Seboole.' The instruction im- some of our citizens well remember as the place where they ac-
SLAVERY IN RYE. was ordered in 1660, 'shall stiffer any Indians to dwel within a parted at this school must be such as would fit youths for the quired the rudiments of knowledge. This was on the west side of
quarter of a mile of it,nor shah any strange Indians be entertained university. These provisions were made to the intent—in the the post-road,below the farm-house belonging to Dr. Jay. From
Some of our inhabitants well remember the times when slavery in any Town.' An Indian {found walking up and down in any quaint language of the times—°that Learning may not be buried this spot the school was removed a few years since to its present
still prevailed in Rye. At the beginning of the present century, Towne,after the day light shutting in, except he giue sufficient in the Grave of our Forefathers:' site on Barry Lane. This is now one of the most flourishing and
nearly every family owned one negro 'hand,' or more. Generally, reason,' shall be fined—in 1663—'or else be seuerly whipt six As the population of Rye scarcely reached the lowest of these well managed schools in the town.
they were such as had been born and brought up in these house stripes at least.' Orders increasingly strict were made to arrest figures while the town belonged to Connecticut, these regulations
holds, and in many cases the attachment between master and ser- the growing evil of drunkenness among the Indians. White men were never enforced here. If anything was done for the educa-
vant was mutually strong. As a rule, the slaves were kindly were guilty, then as now, of selling liquor to the natives,an evil tion of the young,it was by voluntary effort.
treated; but there were instances of inhumanity, here as every- which the Court endeavored to repress. The laws for the Pequots, The first mention of this fatter that we find, however, implies .
where, under this atrocious system. One such instance an old in 1675, provided that °whosoever shall powow or use witchcraft that the people had not been very successful in such endeavors. 4,
inhabitant relates as having `made an abolitionist of him,'from his or any worship to the devil or any fats god shall be convented and At a meeting of the town held April 22, 1690,1 Captain Horton,
Al
r`
d. Whosoever shall ro bane the holy Saboth da b min-
observance
W John rondi a are chosen to procure a m
t v Joseph heall and Jo B
The ne roes of that da were greatly given to the Y Jos T i
youth u l P P Y P
Y P g Y g Y g P P g �
R
' w •-e or la such as chopping or fetchin home of wood � _
v 1 oth
e tl ate .
observance of festivals and frolics. The state of morals among � r play, PP g o ister,and if possible a a.,hoolm 8 r
o shillings a
and fishing, fowlein , bunting, &c., shall a as a fine termAs to schools writes the Rev.James Wetmore in 1728 there
them was much the same as to slave communities elsewhere; b, g g P Y
as to their religious interests, they were little cared for. The first.- or be sharply whipt for euery such offence.' Some per- are several poor ones in different parts of the parish. Where a
mention of slavery occurs in our records in 1689. sons were complained of in 1678 as I frequenting the meetings of number of families live near together,they hire a man and woman
With the growth of the town,the number of slaves increased the Indians at theire meetings and dances, and joining with them at a cheap rate, subscribing every one what they will allow. Some
very considerably. From eighteen,—according to the census of in their plays by wagering of their sides.' This, it is declared, masters get £20 per annum and their diet• but there is no public.
�I 1712 —it had risen in 1755 to one hundred and seventeen. A doth too much encourage them in their devil worship. For some
g p• provision at all for a school in this parish.'
list of the families owning slaves at that period, shows that they acquainted with their customes doe say their exercises at such There was no respect in which Rye lost so much by its annexa- _
were distributed very widely throughout the town. Neither lay- times is a principal part of the worship they attend.' A heavy tion to New York as in the matter of common school education.
man nor ecclesiastic appears to have entertained scruples as to this fine was laid on any who should be present at these meetings. Connecticut, like Massachusetts,showed from the first great care x '
kind of proprietorship. The names even of several members of Long after the settlement of this town there were Indians living for the instruction of the young. Hartford established a town
the Society of Friends' are on the list. It is noticeable, how- within its bounds; some of them quite near to the village, but school as early as 1642, and in 1643 a vote was passed that I the Halsted House.
ever, that few families owned more than two or three negroes. the greater number back in the 1 wilderness' that still overspread town shall pay for the schooling of the poor.' In 1670, it was
In 1739,we find the town making choice of Thomas Rickey to the northern part of Rye. This was the case in most of the Con- said that one fourth of the annual revenue of the colony was laid
be the public whipper. In 1747, Samuel Bumpos is chosen to necticut towns. °The laws obliged the inhabitants,' says Dr. out in maintaining free schools. In New York, no provision was
the same office. Such an appointment implies the usual treatment Trumbull, Ito reserve unto the natives a sufficient quantity of made for a general system of education before the Revolution.
of refractory slaves. planting ground. They were allowed to hunt and fish upon all Whatever was done for this interest was done by individuals or by
For several years following the period of the Revolution, the the lands, no less than the English. The colonies made laws for religious bodies.
pages of our town records are occupied with certificates relating to their protection from insult,fraud,and violence. The inhabitants The society in England for the Propagation of the Gospel in
CHURCHES
the manumission of slaves. These declarations were made in suffered them to erect wigwams,and to live on the very lands Foreign Parts,supported a schoolmaster at Rye for a great many
accordance with the terms of an act of the legislature of this, which they had purchased of them; and to cut their fire-wood on years. This was done originally at the instance of the Honorable
State, passed on the twenty-second of February, 1788, and oftheir uninclosed lands for more than a whole,century after the set Caleb Heathcote, who was active in establishing a school here HE foregoing chapters have recounted some of the social and
T
another passed �i own.'
d on the twenty-ninth i 1' ' h incidental t the position of a border t
p ty n nth of March, 1799. The latter tlements be an. about the year 1706. �o tttcal changes es inciden a o p
g 1 g
act provided for theradual abolition of slavery. In 1817,another Tradition states that in old times a band of Indians used to visit Our common schools stem,in the State of New York,has been It is much more, however,in the religious bistory of our commu-
g Y Y g
act was passed, declaring all slaves to be free on the fourth of July, Rye once a year, resorting to the Beach,where they had a I frolic' in operation for less than sixty years. The first act which con- nity,as we observed at the outset,that the effects of such a position
1827. which lasted several days. According to my informant,they ap- templated a permanent system of common schools was passed by may be marked. Rye was the latest and remotest plantation of I
proached the village from the north,rushing down the road with a the legislature in 1812. Connecticut. It remained longer than any other plantation of that
whoop which could be heard by the whole neighborhood. It is On the whole, we can say but little to the advantage of Rye in colony without the benefits of a settled ministry and a well consti-
THE INDIANS. P ossible that their visit to the Beach had some connection with olden times, as to the vital interest of education. All we have tuted church. And when these benefits had been secured in a
'Burying Hill,' where former generations of red men are sup- been able to learn of the schools themselves,and the state of edu- measure, the transfer of the town from the government of Con-
THERE is a painful interest in gathering up the scanty knowl- posed to have been interred. cation among former generations,inspires us with the greatest sat- necticut to that of New York was followed by religious differences ;I
edge that has come down to us, about the aboriginal inhabit- isfaction and thankfulness in view of the advantages which the and divisions that could not but be greatly prejudicial to the high-
ants of this region. Here as elsewhere throughout our land,they town now possesses, in its numerous and generally excellent insti- est interests of the people. These facts, whilst they infer a low
have faded away from sight and memory,leaving but few and faint tutions of learning. As to the past, we fear that the remarks state of religion compared with that which existed in other and
traces of their sad history. of President Dwight, early in the present century, relative to more favored towns,render the history of the churches here all
It was sad enough before the coming of New England men to the moral and religious condition of the people of Westchester. the more instructive and worthy of record and remembrance.
these shores. 'When the Dutch began the settlement of this County, applied to Rye as much as to any other portion of the The settlers of Connecticut were English Puritans. Their doe-
ti
county:— trinal belief was Calvinistic,and their ecclesiastical system was a
country, wrote William Smith in 1762, 'all the Indians on Long
Island and the north shore o the Sound on the banks of the Con-
. .f ,
�II
• i�
73
72
modified Presbyterianism. A large proportion of those who came This order of the General Court was followed by another, the were electedin every town by a majority of the inhabitants who bents of the English Church were acceptable. In 1719, a change
were householders,and were maintained,as in New England,by a took place. Tile Presbyterians,apparently thinking that it was
over from England were avowed Presbyterians; the principal next October, more stringent and definite. The matter of the
friends and patrons of the colony in England belonged to that religious destitution at Rye is referred to the county court of Fair- tax levied on thein; the town being held responsible for the pay- high time they should have a minister of their own choosing, made
religious persuasion; and the standards of faith and practice to field. The magistrates there are recommended I to take an effect- meat of the salary agreed upon at the time of the minister's call. the attempt'to possess themselves of the church.' It had been
which the Connecticut churches held were much more nearly akin uall course to setle an able and orthodox minister in the towne of As in New England,also,pains were taken to induce each town to built by the town, and was doubtless regarded as town property,
to those of the Presbyterians of Great Britain than to the ways Rye,and to order due and competent mayntenance for such minis, call and support a minister. In 1675, it was ordered that besides to the use of which the more numerous body had at least an equal
° ter in a proportionable way among all the inhabitants, with coer- the usual country rate, a doable rate should be levied on all those claim. They appear to have succeeded in gaining possession of
of the Independents. They were therefore with propriety called
and were accustomed to designate themselves,not utif'requently,by tion of payment according to Tawe, upon complaynt and evidence towns in which there was not already a sufficient maintenance for the church, and during the three years' vacancy that elapsed
this denominational name. against any that shall neglect: and the well affected of the sayd a minister. Inquiry was made as to any towns that lead failed to before another rector was inducted,they probably met }sere, more
The first care of the founders of Connecticut was to provide towne to a setletnent of such a mercy among them, are appoynted make this provision,and those that proved to be remiss were urged or less regularly, under the teaching of a minister whom they
every town with religious ordinances and a competent ministry. to adres themselues to the sayd County Court at Fayrefield to that to the performance of the duty. invited to labor among them. This was STEPHEN BUCKINGHAM.
Indeed, ° the General Court' of the colony l would not suffer any end.' All the churches of the province were then supported in this
plantation to be made which would not support an able orthodox way, with but a single exception. A chaplain of the Established THE FRIENDS.
This measure seems to have had the desired effect. At a town Y+ g P P
preacher.' And if they saw anything like indifference or neglect meeting held in Rye, November 17, 1670, the inhabitants made Church of England officiated within the walls of the fort in New
with regard to this matter, they were not slow to speak in terms choice of Joseph Horton, Thomas Brown, and John Brondig, York, where the governor resided. �1HE religious community known as Friends,or°Quakers,' first
of decided rebuke. who are to do their endeavour to procure a minister.' It was In 1692, Colonel Benjamin Fletcher arrived as the newly ap- ` appeared in England towards the middle of the seventeenth
Nine years have passed since the commencement of a plantation also agreed to allow °two-pence in the pound for the maintenance pointed governor of New York. His aim from the first was°to century,and had an early share in the colonization of our own
at Rye; and in October, 1669,the General Court are `informedof a minister amongst us; that is to say, an orthodox minister.' make the Church of England the established church of the land.' country. Its founder and first preacher, George Fox, visited
that the people of Rye are yet destitute of an orthodox minister.' A minister, however, it was not easy to get in those days. At his first meeting with the Assembly of the province, he recom- America, and announced his message,as lie himself relates, to a
ines, especially if
It appears too that t they doe trot take due care to procure such a Either the committee suet with poor success, or the people showed mended a provision °for the support and encouragement of an able �willing people.' But the converts to his doctr
one as might carry on the work of the Lord on the Sabboth.' This no great alacrity in 'making out a call.' Six months pass, and in Ministry.' The Assembly reported a bill for this purpose on the they attempted to spread them, met violent persecution almost
is not owing solely to the weakness of the settlement. Rye now May, 1671, the General Court appoints certain persons to go to nineteenth of September,1693. everywhere.
r•es in the This act provided that in each of certain localities named, there From Flushing, probably, the Society of Friends spread at a
numbers some fifty families, and is considerably stronger than Rye,and besides other business, °to lend their endeavou
should be called, inducted, and established, within one year,
Greenwich, its neighbor. In some of the new plantations, says procuring of an able and orthodox minister to setle in that place.' a very early day to this place. Rye was in regular communication
Trumbull, thirty families supported a minister, and commonly I£ the people of Rye shall not concur with their endeauoures in good, sufficient Protestant Minister,to officiate,and have the care with Long Island,almost from the first settlement of the town.
Possibly, the individuals whom the Hartford government repri-
there were not more than forty when they called and settled one. procuring a minister, and comfortably setleing of him' among of souls.'It said nothing of any particular religions denomination.
What is the matter with the planters at Rye? They do not show them,then these persons are empowered I to agree with a suitable The governor's intention, however, in promoting this measure, manded in 1669 as'persons unsownd and heterodox in their judo
an utter indifference to religion,but they are getting into loose man for that worke in that place;'and they are to I insure to him a was very different. He knew that no persuasions would induce ments,'and `sowing the seeds of error among the people' at Rye,
and disorderly ways. •John Coe and Marmaduke Smith,' per- mayntenance to the value of forty pownds r annum, which the the Assembly to provide for the establishment of the English may have been of this persuasion. In 1706, there were °some
sons who are 'represented to this Court as unsownd and hetero- treasurer, by warrant to the constable of sayd Rye,shall order the Church,. lie. nevertheless claimed that he possessed by Quakers' in the town. Mr.Muirson,missionary of the Gospel
dox in their judgments if not scandolous in their Hues,' are un- gathering and payment thereof, with the Country Rate.' virtue of his office the power which the legislature thus declined Propagation Society,tried to win them over to his faith,but failed.
dertaking to teach or to conduct religious services among them. Three years more pass by,making fourteen in all,during which to recognize, of inducting or suspending any minister within his Mr. Bridge, his successor, reported °7 families of Quakers' in
Their labors too are acceptable,it would appear; for the people Rye seems to have been without a stated ministry. It does not government. his parish in 1710, °and 4 or 5 families inclining to them.' One
'seem to rest satisfyed without' a lawful pastor, °in the approue- follow that the Gospel was never preached here throughout that In April, 1704,the Rev. Thomas Pritchard, A.M.,arrived in of these, probably, was the family of Captain John Clapp, who
ment' of these teachers; who are thus 'put in a capacity more to period. Trumbull says that Rye and Greenwich had occasional New York, having been appointed by the Bishop of London and came to Rye as early as 1705. In 1718 lie was styled°a reputed
then farther the edification of the people there.' The preaching only, for a considerable time.' The °were but just sent by the Gospel Propagation Society,to officiate in the parish of Quaker.
prejudice P 1 P g y' y 1 Rye. Governor Cornbury forthwith issued his mandate for Mr. The first Meeting-house built in Westchester County,existed
court, therefore, I upon these considerations, doe authorize and im- come under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and not in circum-
power Mr. Nathan Gold and any three of the Commissioners' of stances for the support of ministers.' The probability is that the Pritchard's induction; and in May the new minister entered upon early as 1723. Not long after, we hear of occasional
Fairfield County, to require lite aforesaid persons, John Coe & pastors of neighboring churches preached ]sere from time to time, his duties. He soon proved, however, to be an unsuitable person, meetings held at Mamaroneck and Rye, in private houses.
Marmaduke Smith, or any others of that towne to appeare before during this period,as they did at a later day. Indeed we have and remained but a few months. His successor, who may be The PURCHASE MEETING-HOUSE was built in 1727.
them,and if upon examination things doe appeare to them as they Colonel Heatheote's statement to this effect. Speaking of the care regarded as the first rector of Rye, was GEORGE MUIRSON, A.M. Great excitement seems to have attended the efforts of this
are represented to this Court,they are desired to take effectual) that the people of Rye took to provide a parsonage house at such
P P P Y P P e + ` Mr.Muirson was a native of Scotland, and came to this country religious body to spread their creed here. 'Where any of them
course that the persons afoarsayd may -have no oppertunety af- times as they were destitute of a minister,' he mentions the adjoin- in 1703, as a schoolmaster of the Gospel Propagation Society. settle,' writes Mr. Wetmore, rector of Rye in 1730, 'they spare
foarded them to sowe the seeds of eror among the people there; ing towns of Greenwich and Stamford, as places °where they were While laboring in this capacity he won the esteem and affection no pains to infect their neighbourhood.' Where they meet with any
and allso they are to informe the people of Rve that this Court are always supplied.' Stamford,Norwalk,and Fairfield had ministers; of many persons, and was soon sent back to England strongly rec- encouragement, they hold meetings clay after day. Celebrated
resolved, if the sayd people's prudent considerations do not moue and we have seen that as early as 1669 the people of Rye were ommended as a candidate for orders. He returned to New York preachers are procured from a distance; and 'a great fame' is
them to make such prouisions of a suitable person, sownd &; or•tho- commended to their watch and care. in the summer of 1705, having received ordination from the spread before them, `to invite many curiosities.' 'Our people of
dox in his principles and apt to teach,(so.approued by Mr.Bishop, Bishop of London; and on the thirty-first of July, Governor credit,' says he, 'will often go to their meetings,especially their
Mr.Handford, Mr. Wakeman &Mr. Eliphalet Joanes,) the Court Cornbury signed the mandate for his induction as 'Rector of the great and general meetings,' which,he thinks, are very pernicious,
will themselues.procure and setle a preaching minister amongst PARISH AND VESTRY OF RYE. Parish Church of Rye, Mamerenock and Bedford.' and ought to be suppressed.- It is difficult to realize that these
them, and take sufficient order that lie be mayntained by them, at .By the aid and assistance of y°good Colonel Heathcote,' Mr. things were written.concerning°the calm community of Friends.'
their next session.' ATE come now to the period when Rye became a°parish,' and Muirson soon persuaded the people to engage anew in the effort to Such a stir reminds us of early Methodism, and of the fervid zeal
Who Marmaduke Smith was, we have been unable to learn. �1' its Puritan population found themselves under the pastoral build a house of worship. This was to be done by the act of the of Makemie and the Tennents,among the Presbyterians,
One Arthur Smith, of Southold, L. L,had been dealt with a few care of a clergyman of the Church of England. And here it may town of Rye.
years before by the magistrates of New Haven,for teaching I the be in place to" give some account of ecclesiastical matters in the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
opinions of the Quakers.' John Coe,as we have seen, was one province of New York, to which our town had just been re-an- PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
of the founders of the town of Rye. He came from Newtown,L.I., nexed. All the different denominations of Christians in that piov-
where the Society of Friends counted a number of adherents at an ince had enjoyed perfect liberty,and had stood upon equal ground, T �/rE 1771 ky M was introduced into Westchester County w
li OR- many years after 1700, the Presbyterians of Rye were 1�1 1771 by Joseph Pilmoor, stationed at that time in New
early day. It is possible therefore that these persons may have under the English laws,for thirty years. The I Protestant Relig- without a settled pastor.
• been of the Quaker persuasion, and that for want of a settled as- ion' was recognized, but no one Protestant Church was invested P York. Desiring to extend his labors beyond the city, lie visited
Q P P g The people, however,were too poor to'maintain two differing New Rochelle, and preached at the house of Frederick Deveau,.
tor, the inhabitants may have listened with favor to their teach- with rights superior to others. At the same time, provision was ministers.' They saw less occasion for doing so while the incum- whose wife was converted through his instrumentality. Francis
ings. made by law for the support of the Gospel ministry. Ministers
74
75
Asbury, afterwards Bishop Asbury,came to New York in Novem- The GEDNEY burying-place is near Mamaroneck, on the west ured files,but which to them were so full of fresh and lively import. will be by General Congress of Delegates from the different Colonies,
her in the same year, and during that month organized a society side of the river. It contains the graves of some of the oldest in- Of course the progress of affairs was watched with various feelings. and that we are willing to abide by such Measures as they in their
at New Rochelle,and established appointments at various places, habitants of this town. Here lies Eleazar Gedney, the ancestor, There were warm partisans of the British cause at Rye; and Wisdom shall think most conducive upon such an important Occasion.
preaching at West Farms, Mamaroneck, Rye, and East Chester. we presume, of that family in Rye, f born in Boston Goverment,' there were also those who earnestly espoused the people's side. °By Order of the Committee,
The Revolutionary War compelled the preachers to leave New and deceased October 27.1722. The prevailing mood, however,was one of uncertainty. Most of EIIF,NEZER HAVILAND, Chairman.'
• York, and the societies of this county remained without pastoral One of the most beautiful and interesting localities in Rye is the the inhabitants stood as yet in doubt with reference to the growing We do not learn where this meeting was held in Rye, nor how
care until the return of peace. cemetery of the JAY family,on their estate. To this spot,in 1807, dispute. Many,whilst they disapproved of the 'ministerial'policy,
Though there had been more or less of Methodist preaching in the remains of various members of that familywere removed from numerously it was attended. Possibly it took place at Dr. Havi-
and regretted the acts which were exciting so much opposition, land's, the 'noted tavern,' which was the favorite resort of our
the town of Rye, and a large and growing society had been or- their vault in New York. Here a monument stands+to the mem- looked with even more displeasure upon the course pursued by the citizens in those days; the small green in front of which would
ganized at White Plains, and possibly another at King Street,yet ory of JOHN JAY.' majority. The thought of resistance to law,and revolt from the offer them a convenient place of concourse.
it does not appear.that any permanent society was organized here mother country, was abhorrent to their minds. But the action of this meeting trade no small stir among the
until 1804 or 1805. In 1821, under the labors of E.Woolsey In 1774 the first recorded action of our inhabitants took place, people of Rye. Opinions were divided as to the wisdom of the
and W. Jewett, there was a revival of religion in Rye,and many .z. _, at a patriotic meeting held on the tenth of August. The occasion resolutions passed. They were moderate enough certainly, but
were converted and added to the church. p ;��I of this meeting was the closing of the port of Boston. The there was danger lest they might be misunderstood. To prevent
The Presbyteriati Church of Rye, which had been rebuilt upon }, a y British government persisting in the determination to tax the this,a paper was gotten up,six weeks after the meeting of August
its present site in the year 1793, was at this period occupies} but i �'LTk _ colonies, theeo le had now combined ver generally to resist
F P 3 g 10th, and signed by a large proportion of the inhabitants, whose
occasionally for public worship by ministers of that denomination. "` n, taxation by pledging themselves not only to refrain from buying
names appear attached to it in Rivington's I New York Gazetteer'
The use of this building was now obtained for the Methodists, r "' or selling the taxed article of tea, but also as far as possible to of October 13th, 1774:—
who held religious services here more or less regularly fora num- 3" prevent its importation. The famous 'tea-party' occurred in
'RYE,September 24,1774.
ber of years after.this, and made various improvements at their X ` -i Boston on the sixteenth of December, 1773; and in punishment {We the subscribers,freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Rye,
own expense. - of that daring act the government declared the port of Boston to in the County of Westchester,being much concerned with the unhappy
be closed. Upon this,public meetings were held throughout the situation of public affairs think it our duty to our King and country to
colonies,renewing the agreement against the use of tea,and ex- declare,that we have not been concerned in any resolutions entered
pressing sympathy with the people of that town. Such a meeting into,or measures taken,with regard to the disputes at present subsist-
p { was held in New York on the evening of July 6th, 1774; and on ing with the mother country: we also testify our dislike to many hot
CEMETERIES. _ = u1 the tenth of August,— and furious proceedings, in consequence of said disputes, which we
_ RYE'met and think are more likely to ruin this once happy country, than remove
- i of
+` habitants of the township- �•-T Th Freeholders and In
- _ e P
made choice of John Thomas jun., Esq., James Horton jun., Esq., grievances,if any there are.
The buCVing- known a3 THE UNION CEMETERY OF RYE,
brOnnd k
f_ _ - =
77
76 hausen,arrived and encamped upon the land between Mamaro- 'The party called Cow-boys were mostly refugees belonging to the
omitted, for lie belonged to one of the oldest families of this place. miles around, there are not more than eight or ten Whigs to 120 neck and New Rochelle. British side,and engaged in plundering the people near the lines of
Tories. On the fifteenth instant, a large yawl from the Asia, Rye was occupied it this moment by a small American force. their cattle,and driving them to New York. Their vocation suggested
Our people now begin to see something of I the pomp and cir- with about twenty-four men armed, came in the night into Maro- Early in October,1776, it had been sent to this point by Gov- their name. The Skinners generally professed attachment to the Amer-
cumstance of war.' June 12, 1775, the Connecticut forces en- neck harbour; and the inimical inhabitants loaded it with poultry ernor Trumbull of Connecticut, at the earnest request of the ican cause, and lived chiefly within the American lines; but they
camped near Greenwich are reviewed by General Wooster. 'A and small stock for said ship. The friends of liberty were so few, Committee of Safetyfor New York. , were of easy virtue,and were really more detested by the Americans
No reliance
great number of Gentlemen and Ladies, and a prodigious Con- that they were not able to collect a sufficient force to make any than their avowed enemies the Cow-boys. They were treacherous,
course of the Inhabitants' of the surrounding country, have Bath- timely opposition.' can be placed,' they write the same day to Washington, 'on the
Westchester Count militia.' The officers, in mail cases,op- rapacious,and often brutal. One day they would be engaged in broils
ered to witness the review. The droops'are an exceeding fine January,1776.—A daring outrage was committed on the night Y Y and skirmishes with the Cow-boys; the next day they would be in
Body of Men,' and perform their exercises and evolutions with of the seventeenth instant, near King's Bridge. Some cannon, pose the measures of Congress. league with them in plundering their own friends as well as enemies.
Spirit and Exactness, much to the satisfaction of their Officers,' which had been placed there for the purpose of defending the The battle of the WHITE PLAINS was fonglit on the twenty- Often a sham skirmish would take place between them near the British
and of the spectators also. On the twenty-seventh instant,these approaches to the city in that direction, were discovered the next eighth. lines; the Skinners were always victorious, and then they would go
Soon after the withdraws] of the American army from New boldly into the interior with their booty,pretending it had been captured
troops, or a portion of them, pass through Rye on their way to morning to have been spiked and rendered useless. The Com-
New York, where they are to encamp, at a short distance from mittee of Safety in New York took measures immediately to dis- York,great numbers of poor persons were sent into Westchester from the enemy while attempting to smuggle it across the lines. The
the city. 'General Wooster with 7 Companies of his Regiment; cover the perpetrators, who proved to be none other than William County from the poor-house of that city and from elsewhere. proceeds of sales were divided between the parties. The inhabitants
and Col. Waterbury, with his Regiment compleat,' constitute this Lounsberry and his tory confederates at Rye Neck and Mamaro- Rye, Mamaroneck, and New Rochelle are the places appointed for of the Neutral Ground were sure to be plundered and abused by the
neck. Lounsbapprehended on the twent third by Lieu- their reception. Judge Thomas has distributed them as well as one party or the other. If they took the oath of fidelity to the Amer-
force. err They appear to be a healthy, hearty Body of Men;'about Y was a PP Y" ican cause,the Cow-boys were sure to plunder them. If they did not,
1,800 in number; and some of them at least were destined to be- tenant Allen with a guard of twelve men. He appeared to be he could in the several districts of the county. Among the ac -
struck wit}r uilt when arrested but made no confession. counts sent in to the Committee of Safety for the support of these the Skinners would call them tories,seize their property,and have it
come well acquainted with Rye, for General Wooster afterward ` g confiscated by the State.
indigent people,is that of Ezekiel Halsted,who has provided for One of the principal terrors to the inhabitants of the Neutral
had his headquarters here for a considerable length of time. �nHE troubles in Westchester County were only beginning, as
Frequent outrages and depredations at this period betoken a 1 long as the American forces remained in possession of the fifty-one of them. The first appearance of 'the King's troops' Ground, at this period, was the body of troops known as 'The
state of affairs ahead unsettled. At Rye several daring robberies at Rye was in the last days of October, 1776. Just before Gen- Queen's Rangers.' We have noticed their first visit to our neigh-
state Y city of New York. Their presence checked the demonstrations era! Howe withdrew his arm from the White Plains a brigade occur. which the British commanders expected from the rural population Y + g borhood,at Mamaroneck,just before the battle of the White Plains.
The friends of Congress here complain that the tories are et- P P P under the command of General Agnew 'pushed forward about After that battle, when the lower part of the county lay open to
g + P g Cons ress dissympaplayed were
chiefly
Il�otstsncle as wm. Oelil averose�°
two miles beyond Rye,'in hopes of bringing a Ilarge detachment the incursions of the enemy, they soon became the scourge of the
ting the upper hand of them and threaten them daily.' Some g l Y P
patriots have had their private property injured b the destruction of the American army,which was stationed at Saw Pit, to an The Rangers were a artisan cors raised original]
p' P' P' P Y J Y occurring at Rye and in the neighborhood. But on the fourteenth population. a P P + a Y
of September, 1776, Washington abandoned the city,and with- engagement. Not being able to come up with them, they in Connecticut and the vicinity of New York, and numbering
of fences and croppingof horses'tails and manes. The tories are g
returned on Sunday afternoon, November 3d, to join the royal about five hundred men, all Americans and loyalists. At this
s walking about at ninht six eight, e Y
equipped and constantly m arms, e a g drew his army to the upper part of the island. A month lat r
and ten at a time. Some of them do not hesitate to say that the y forces near the White Plains. It was a great day for the loyalists time they were commanded by one Robert Rogers,of New Hamp-
(October 21-26) he retreated to the White Plains. at Rye. °Many of them showed particular marks of joy' upon the shire 'one of the most odious of all Americans of note' who had
are determined to defend themselves, and would fire upon any one With the arrival of the British fleet, the waters of Long Island +
passage of the king's troops. Conspicuous among these was the enlisted under the royal standard. As earl as December 12,
who should come,to their houses and attempt to take away their Sound became for the first time a scene of hostilities. July 23d, Rev. Mr. Avery the rector of the parish, who had been in come- Y Y
arms. Governor Trumbull of Connecticut wrote to General Washington p . ' 1776, the inhabitants of Westchester County complain bitterly to
�' spondence with Governor Tryon before the arrival of the British the Convention,through Judge Thomas Frederick Ja•and others
One Godfrey Hains,of Rye Neck,is the most defiant of these that'many of the enemy's frigates and ships' had'been stationed army in New York and had been ver outspoken in his professions a a + 3 +
tories. He gives great offence by his contemptuous speeches about between Montauk Point and Block Island, to intercept trade from y P P of their exposure and suffering from this source. They are in con-
Congress and the Committee of Safety. He has been heard to say the Sound. They have been but too successful,'he adds, 'in tak- of sympathy with the British cause. The American troops tinual danger of being made prisoners,and having their farms and
that there would be bad times here soon; some of thepeopleof ing several provision vessels;'indeed, it is impossible that any reached Rye on the same evening; and by the loyalist account habitations plundered by Robert Rogers's party. These men
the place world be taken off and carried to General Gage's arm which we have of the matter, showed their resentment toward make daily excursions in divers arts of said count taking with
y' should escape falling into their hands. The armed vessels in the Y P Y+ g
One, he declares, will be had at all events, and that is Judge the tory sympathizers'by plundering their houses,driving off their them by force of arms many good inhabitants; also their stock,
service of Connecticut were ordered to stop and detain all vessels
j cattle, taking away their grain;and imprisoning some of them.' sin and everything else that falls in their way, and lam waste
Thomas, who must be caught if it cost the lives of fifty men. going down the Sound with provisions,until further orders. Wash- bn
Other persons have been secret] warned to keep out of the wa b Among the rest, Mr. Avery was a sufferer, and lost his cattle, and destroying all that they cannot take with them. 'Th suffer-
P Y P Y+ ington requests the governors of Connecticut and Rhode Island to Two dayslater he was found dead in the neighbor-
there is a scheme to seize them in their houses and carry send some of their row-galleys, which he thinks may be of service horses etc. g ing inhabitants of Westchester County are ravaged without restraint
them off. in attempting something against the enemy's ships. One has hood of his house. 'Many people,' writes Mr.Seabury,from New or remorse.'
York, to the Secretary of the Gospel Propagation Society in
November, 17 7 5.—A plot has been discovered at Rye for the arrived, and three or four others are expected. E+ngland, 'are very confident that he was murdered by the rebels. The following item of news appeared in Gaines 'New York
capture of several zealous friends of their country. Godfrey Hains 'Two men of war are now anchored,' writes Colonel Drake Others suppose that his late repeated losses and disappointments, Gazette' of Monday, February 17, 1777:—
was arrested in September last for speaking disrespectfully of Con- from New Rochelle,August 27th, 'between Hart and City Islands;
ress but broke jail, and is now on board-the man-of--war in New the insults and threats of the rebels, and the absence of his beat 'A few Evenings ago,£grit Boats full of]filen carne over from Rye to
g j , one more has just gone past Frogs Neck. He has rallied as many
friends, w
York harbor. He is said to be bent on revenge. A number of his of the militia As possible. The Committee of Safety,upon hearing drove
had file day before gone off for fear of the rebels, the opposite Shore on Long Island,and carried off a Sloop laden with
neighbors and associates on Rye Neck lately formed a plan for tak- this, 'orders the militia to be called out with five days' provisions, drove him into a state of desperation too severe for his strength of Poultry and other Things for the New York Market. The Fog was so
mind. . He has left f ve or six helpless orphans,I fear in great thick,that the Guard,which is constantly kept upon the Shore,did not
ing Judge Thomas at his house in Rye Woods. A tender of the to watch the motions of the enemy on the Sound. August 28th, perceive them. One Man was taken in the Sloop.'
British man-of-war was to appear off Mamaroneck at a certain a party is to guard from Rye Neck to Rodman's Neck. Colonel distress; indeed, I know not what is to become of them; I have
time,and barges were to be sent on shore to receive Thomas and, only heard that the rebels had humanity enough to permit them This is one of file earliest notices of a kind of warfare which
g Budd commands it. They are in great want of powder. The Y Y
others. The plot fortunately came to the knowledge of Captain enemy as yet'have not Ueen able to plunder much.' to be carried to Mr. Avery's friends.at Norwalk in Connecticut' was now beginning to assume considerable importance. Small
Gilbert Bndd, of Mamaroneck, who was privately warned by it This melancholy incident gives us a glimpse of a state of things boats,resembling those used by whalers,about thirty feet long,and
I William Lately a and y a At Mamaroneck, Howe posted Lieutenant-colonel Rogers, in which was now commencing, and was to last throughout the propelled with oars, from four to twenty in number,were fitted up
ighbor• and upon his informatio W a
neighbor; P Y
eral others have been arrested, and bound over to keep the peace. command of the Queen's Rangers, a body of loyalist volunteers dreary years of the Revolutionary War: the inhabitants, accord- in the harbors along the northern shore of the Sound,and em-
December, 1775.—The tones of Westchester are unceasing in recently raised. This was the first introduction of the inhabitants ing as they had espoused the one cause or the other, leaving the ployed in harassing the enemy in various ways. They would dart
their efforts to furnish supplies, to be sent to the army at Boston. to this officer and his corps,at whose hands they suffered cruelly place with all haste upon the approach of the enemy's forces, or across the Sound, under cover of the night, and run into the inlets
Between Byrum River and King's Bridge,there are abort two thou- in after days. Rogers was attacked at Mamaroneck, on the night remaining to suffer abuse and depredation. of the Long Island shore, landing near the house of a tory family,
sand barrels of pork,chiefly in the hand of tones,besides what has of his arrival,by a detachment of American troops, who killed or These injuries were not inflicted solely by the regular troops of sometimes to plunder and sometimes to take prisoners. Small
been sent off. At the house of William Sutton,of 'Maroneck,' captured some forty of his rnen. This engagement took place on either side. Lawless bands of marauders—Cow Boys and Skin- British vessels,cruising in the Sound, were occasionally captured
about twenty]lead of fat cattle have been barrelled within a few Nelson Hill and in the vicinity; and the bodies of the killed were ners--infested the 'Neutral Ground,' ravaging the whole country by these nimble privateers. Market sloops,loaded with provisions
theast side of the hill. Tile day after this affair between the British and American lines,a region some thirty miles for the British army in New York, were their favorite prey.
days past; it is supposed that they are to be sent off for fire minis- buried on file sou
terial army. 'In the same neighbourhood, for three and four another division of General Howe's army,under General Knyp- in extent, embracing nearly the whole of Westchester County. Great quantities of forage and other stores belonging to the enemy
78
were destroyed by these parties. The newspapers from 1777 to its, the progress of our land and people during these two cen-
the close of the war contain numberless accounts of these exploits, turies, in all the conditions of physical and moral well-being. In
which were a source of no little uneasiness and inconvenience to the presence of evils and abuses distinctive of our own times, we
the British army, while they spread consternation among the loy- are tempted to say, I What is the cause that the former days were
alists of the surrounding country,and served greatly to cheer the better than these V We have seen under what abuses the com-
• Rpirits of the friends of the country. munity once suffered, almost without hope of remedy, where we
are now living. There is perhaps no respect in which, if we
Operations of this nature were not confined to the American
side. The loyalist refugees on Long Island would often retaliate `enquire wisely concerning this,' we shall not find abundant proof
, that the course of society has been onward. There is less of mis- A Selective Bibliography of Mamaroneck
upon their active assailants by similar whale-boat expeditions y a
starting from the opposite shore, and landing at Fairfield, Stam- rule,of corruption, of unrighteous exaction,l of vice, of poverty,
ford,and other points in Connecticut,and in Westchester County. of ignorance,than there was, in any of `the former days,' which
Many a night,doubtless, after some bold foray across the water, often appear, in a dim retrospect, so much better than these.
did our inhabitants keep watch for the arrival of the enemy's boats We may learn from these records of the past,to appreciate the Compiled by Jens J. Christof'ersen
upon Rye Neck or in Byram harbor. blessings of peace. We dwell in a region which again and again
has been the scene of turmoil and conflict; first,during the prim-
itive days of peril from the Indian; next, during the dispute be-
tween the two colonies relative to the possession of this border
CONCLUSION. territory; then,during the agitations that long preceded the Rev-
olution, dividing neighborhoods and families with bitter feuds;
and lastly, during the Revolution itself. And if throughout this The source material listed in the following is for the most part available in the
THE land is very good,and near the City; so,consequently,will in period,the interests of morality and religion suffered,the churches Mamaroneck Free Library, Mamaroneck, N.Y.
time be a great settlement.' remaining feeble and sickly,and the community torpid, it was un-
Thus wrote Colonel Heathcote, in the year 1705, concerning doubtedly owing in no small degree to the protracted disturbance J
Rye Parish,and the adjacent parts. of public and social feeling; to the want of that continued and
Our history may be said to illustrate, within these narrow lim- well-established tranquillity which is so essential to progress.
Barrymore,Ethel. Memories. An Autobiography. 310pp. illus. New York, Harper
& Brothers, 1955.
Contains many references to the Barrymore estate on Taylor's Lane in Mamaroneck.
Baird, Charles Washington. Chronicle of a Border Town. History of Rye, 1660-
1870, including Harrison and the White Plains till 1788. 600pp. illus. maps.
New York, 1871 (reprint, Harrison, Harbor Hill Books, 1974).
_ Bolton, Robert. A Guide to New Rochelle and Vicinity: Pelham, West Chester,
_ — _ West Farms, Morrisania, Fordham, East Chester, White Plains, Mamaro.
neck, and Rye. A facsimile of the 1842 edition with preface, annotations
and corrections by Marilyn Weigold, Ph.D. 12mo. 80pp. illus. Harrison,
Harbor Hill Books, 1976.
Contains the earliest description of Mamaroneck.
f ° Bolton, Robert. The Town of Mamaroneck. In his: History of the Several
RL
,Towns, Manors and Patents of the County of Westchester. Revised edition.
- 2 vols. New York, 1881.
Bolton, Robert. History of the Parish and Church of Mamaroneck. In his:
_ - - History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the County of Westchester,
- 1693-1853, pp. 628-637. New York, 1855.
= - - Brown, Helen Warren. A History of the Rye Neck Schools, 1739-1945. Hecto-
graphed typescript. 20pp. In the Mamaroneck Free Library.
(Campbell, H. Richmond). A Village of Yesterday: Mamaroneck in the early
Years of the 20th Century. A Project of the Village of Mamaroneck. Type-
script. 257pp. Dec., 1974. In the Mamaroneck Free Library.
Condensed transcripts of taped interviews of long-time residents, as interviewed by H.
Richmond Campbell, former editor of The Daily Times. Partially published in The
Dailv Times and in the next item.
f ,
•
81
80
Gish,Lillian (with Ann Pinchot) . The Movies, Mr. Griffith, and Me. Englewood
(Campbell, H. Richmond). Mamaroneck's Early Days. Oblong Oto. 16pp. � Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, 1969.
illus. Mamaroneck, Union Savings Bank, 1975.
Chapter 17 (pp. 229.237) deals chiefly with film-making in Mamaroneck in the early
Interviews with long-time residents, originally published in The Daily Times, Mamaro- 1920s.
neck.
Haven, Alice B. Cousin Alice. A Memoir of Alice B. Haven. 12mo. 392pp.
Cooper, James Fenimore. Satanstoe, or, The Littlepage Manuscripts. A Tale of New York, 1871.
the Colony. 2 vols. 235, 228pp. New York, 1845. Lived and died in Mamaroneck and is buried there.
Satanstoe is Orienta Point,Mamaroneck.
Henderson, Robert M. D. W.Griff:th: His Life and Work. New York, Oxford
Cornell,Thomas C.Adam and Anne Mott.Their Ancestors and their Descendants, University Press, 1972.
by Thomas C. Cornell, their Grandson. 419pp. illus. Poughkeepsie, 1890.
Has a chapter on his Mamaroneck moving picture productions.
See also under Mott.
Hufeland, Otto. Westchester County during the American Revolution, 1775-
Danforth, Elliott. Address delivered by the Hon. Elliott Danforth at the 230th 1783. 472pp. maps. White Plains, 1926 (reprint, Harrison, Harbor Hill
Celebration of the Purchase of Mamaroneck, N.Y., from the Indians, Books, 1974.)
September 21st, 1891. 26pp. Mount Vernon, Press of "The Argus", n.d. With references to the skirmish in Mamaroneck, the first bloodshed in the county, in
(1891). August of 1776, and the Battle of Heathcote Hill, on Oct. 21, 1776.
(Darby, Thomas J., the Very Rev. Msgr.) The Parish of Most Holy Trinity, Independent Herald of Westchester. All About Mamaroneck and Larchmont
1874-1974. 88pp. Paterson, N.J., n.d. (1974). on Long Island Sound.Tabloid format. 20pp. illus. N.d. (1966).
First National Bank, Mamaroneck, N.Y. Twenty Years of Banking in Mamaro- Ingen, John V. (Rev.) An Address delivered in Trinity Church, Geneva, on
neck, N.Y., 1891-1911. 4to. 5pp. illus. N.p', n.d. (1911). April 11th, 1865, at the Funeral of William H. de Lancey, D.D., LL.D.,
First Natioal Bank and Trust Company, Mamaroneck, N.Y., 1$91-1929. 24pp. D.C.L., the first Bishop of Western New York. 32pp. Geneva, N.Y., 1865.
illus. N.p..n.d. (1929). Bishop de Lancey was born in Mamaroneck and was the first rector of St. Thomas's
Church. He was the father of Edward Floyd de Lancey, the author of the first section
Fox, Dixon Ryan. Caleb Heathcote, Gentleman Colonist. The Story of a of this book.
Career in the Province of New York, 1692-1721. 301pp. portr. New York,
Scribner's, 1926. League of Women Voters. "The Friendly Village". Mamaroneck, N.Y. 16pp. illus.
Mamaroneck, n.d. (1950).
Freedman, Arthur, and Robert Segal. Mamaroneck Harbor. Photocopy of type-
script. 18pp. N.d. Unpublihed. In the Mamaroneck Free Library. League of Women Voters. The Village of Mamaroneck. 40pp. illus. N.p., n.d.
An attempt at a history of Mamaroneck Harbor, apparently written under the auspices (1961)
of the Old Town of Mamaroneck Historical Society.
League of Women Voters. Mamaroneck. Oblong 8vo. 32pp. illus. Mamaroneck,
French, Alvah P. The Town of Mamaroneck. In his: History of Westchester n.d. (1968).
County, vo1.2, pp.717-724. New York, 1925.
Fulcher, William Gershon. Mamaroneck through the Years. Commemorating Mamaroneck, Town of. Mamaroneck 1661-1961. A Panorama of her first three
Centuries. Ed. by Helen Warren Brown and Teunis E. Gouwens (for the
the 275th Anniversary of John Richbell's Purchase from the Indians Mamaroneck Tercentenary Committee). 4to. 44pp. illus. Mamaroneck, 1961.
(1661-1936). 4to. 64pp. illus. maps. Larchmont, Larchmont Times, 1936.
Fulcher, William Gershon. The Story of a Friendly Village: Mamaroneck, N.Y., Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce. Mamaroneck, Gateway to the World's Fair.
1896-1946. 144 pp. illus. Mamaroneck, 1946. 24pp. illus. N.p., n.d. (1939).
Fulcher, William Gershon. The Story of a Dream.The Mamaroneck Free Library, Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce. Let's look at the Friendly Village in New
1922-1947. 24pp. illus. New Rochelle 1947. York's "Year of History". 12pp. illus. N.p., n.d. (c.1960).
(Gedney, Elisha Haight). The New Church 1887. Copied from the Diary of my Mamaroneck Federal Savings and Loan Association. 50 Years of Service. Golden
Grandfather, a life-long resident of Mamaroneck, Elisha Haight Gedney, Anniversary, 1891-1941. 12pp.illus. N.p., n.d. (1941).
1872-1950 (by Austin H. Gedney). Dec. 1970. Typescript. 17pp. Un- Mamaroneck Graveyard Inscriptions. In: New York Genealogical and Bio-
published. In the Mamaroneck Free Library. graphical Record, Jan. 1925, pp.33-39.
About St.Thomas's Church.
06miL,.
82
Mamaroneck Methodist Church, 1859-1959. 40pp. illus. N.p., n.d. (1959).
Meister, Isidore (Rev.) Occasional Sermons and Addresses. 199pp. New York,
1899.
The author was pastor of Most Holy Trinity Church, Mamaroneck.
Miller, Robert B., and Charles Field Griffen (comps.) Archives of the Griffen
Family. 1899-1900. Typescript 80pp. Unpublished. In the Mamaroneck
Free Library.
Mott. Several publications by members of the Mott family in Mamaroneck, des-
cendants of John Richbell (James Lydia P., Maria, Richard, Robert &
& William), published between 1789 and 1857, are listed in Otto Hufe-
land's "Check List" pp. 115-116.
Old Town of Mamaroneck Historical Society. Quarterly Bulletin. Vol. 1 nos.
1-2 (all published). Mamaroneck, 1951-1953.
The original Minutes of the Society, from its foundation Sep., 1937, to 1954, is in the
library of the Westchester County Historical Society, Tuckahoe, N.Y. A copy of the
Minutes is in the Mamaroneck Free Library.
Peck, Helen S. A Small History, of the Gedney Family of Westchester County,
N.Y., 1603-1896. Compiled in loving remembrance of the late Fremont
Gedney,by his sister Helen S.Pack.59pp.Mamaroneck,Curtis G.Peck, 1896.
Pryer, Charles. Legends, Traditions and Superstitions of Westchester. 74pp. N.p.,
1890 (printed for private distribution).
Pryer, Charles. Reminiscences of an Old Westchester Homestead. 16mo. 174pp.
y
New York, 1897.
St. Thomas's Parish,Mamaroneck. Yearbook. Statistics, Reports of Parish Organi-
zations. Illus. Published annually, 1904-1923.
Shonnard, Frederic, and W. W. Spooner. History of Westchester County 4
to the Year 1900. 638pp. illus. maps. New York, 1900 (reprint, Harrison,
Harbor Hill Books, 1974) .
With many references to Mamaroneck.
Tropp, Alberta R. Methodist Episcopal Church in Mamaroneck. Local History
Seminar, Mamaroneck Senior High School, 1942. Typescript. 14pp. Un-
published. In the Mamaroneck Free Library.
U.S. Congress, 61st, 3rd sess. House of Representatives. Letter from the Secretary
of War,transmitting, with a letter from the Chief of Engineers. Report and
Survey of Mamaroneck Harbor, New York. (House Document 1087). lOpp.
large map. Dec. 6, 1910.
Westchester County,N.Y. Surrogate's Court. Abstracts of Wills for the Township
of Mamaroneck, Weschester County, N.Y., 1788-1855. Indexed Liber A 4
through Z; 27 through 35. As recorded at the Surrogate's Office, West-
chester County Court Building at White Plains, N.Y. Compiled by Mabel
Woods Smith. 54pp. Larchmont, Larchmont Chapter N.S.D.A.R., n.d.
4
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Cover picture:
John Richbell purchases Mamaroneck
from the Siwanoy Indians, 1661
Mural in the Mamaroneck Free Library
(Photo by John Sutphen)