USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 1
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N
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01149 0270
HISTORY 0
OF THE
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER,
FROM
ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT
TO THE
PRESENT TIME.
BY ROBERT BOLTON, JR. AUTHOR OF THE "GUIDE TO NEW ROCHELLE," AND A MEMBER OF THE N. Y. HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
VOLUME IL.
" It is the privilege of History to impart the experience of age, without its infirmities ; to bring back things long obscured by time, or sinking into oblivion ; and enable us to form some reasonable conjectures of what may happen to posterity."-Poulson's Hist. of Holderness.
NEW YORK: PRINTED BY ALEXANDER S. GOULD), 144 NASSAU STREET.
1848.
Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year eighteen hundred and forty-eight
BY ROBERT BOLTON, JR.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
1281019
POUNDRIDGE.
POUNDRIDGE is situ- ated fifteen miles north- east of the village of White Plains, and dis- tant one hundred and thirty-nine miles from Albany ; bounded north and east by Lewis- Presbyterian Church, Poundridge. borough, south east by the state of Con- necticut, and west by Bedford and North Castle.ª The name of this town is undoubtedly derived from the ancient Indian pound, which formerly stood at the foot of a high ridge, a little
· Poundridge was organized on the 7th of March, 1788,
VOL. II.
1
2
HISTORY OF THE
south of the present village of that name. On account of its na- tural boundaries this section of country was peculiarly adapted for the favorite Indian practice of entrapping wild game. Upon the north the Stony mountains formed an impassable rampart, whilst the long chain of ponds and streams on the east line of the town closed up all avennes of escape in that direction. The Indians therefore availing themselves of these natural barriers, constructed a palisaded pound at the southern extremity of the ponds, into which they drove the wild game from the west. Van der Donck the historian informs us, " that the Indians fre- quently united in companies of from one to two hundred, when they have rare sport. On these occasions they drive over a large district of land and kill much game. They also make ex- tensive fikes with palisadoes, which are narrow at the termina- ting angles, wherein they drive multitudes of animals and take great numbers. At a word they are expert hunters for every kind of game, and know how to practice the best methods to insure success."a The shouts and yells of these savage hunts- men must have reverberated in frightful echoes from the neigh- boring woods and hills, serving no doubt much to bewilder their prey.
Poundridge was originally included in the Indian grant made to Jolin Turner of New Haven, on the 1st of July, 1640. The sale is thus recorded in the town books of Stamford.
" Bought of Porus, sagamore of Toqnams," (Stamford,) " and Wascussue, sagamore of Shippan, by me Nathaniel Turner of Quinnipiacke,"b (New Ha- ven,) "all the ground that belongs to both the above named sagamores, ex- cept a piece of ground which the aforesaid sagamore of Toquams reserved for his and the rest of the said Indians to plant on ; all which ground being ex- pressed by meadows, uplands, grass, with the rivers and trees ; and in consi- deration hereof, I the said Nathaniel Turner am to give and bring or send to the above said sagamores within the space of one month, twelve coats, twelve hoes, twelve hatchets, twelve glasses, twelve knives, four kettles, and four fathom of white wampum ; all which land both we the said sagamores do pro- mise faithfully to perform both for ourselves, our heirs, executors or assigns
a Van der Donck's Hist. of N. N. New York Hist. Soc. Coll. New Series, vol. i.
b Capt. Nathaniel Turner purchased in behalf of the people of New Haven.
3
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
to the above said Nathaniel Turner of Quinnipiacke, his heirs, executors or assigns, and hereunto we have set our marks in the presence of many of the said Indians, they fully consenting thereto.a
Witnessed by us,
Ye marke of M1 Ponus, sagamore.
William Wilkes,
Ye marke of · Wascussue, sagamore.
James, &c. The marke of 12 Owenoke, the son of Ponus. Rec'd in part payment,
12 glasses, 12 knives, 6 coats.
Besides Poundridge the above sale also embraced the present townships of Darien, Stamford, New Canaan, and the greater part of Bedford and Greenwich.
The planting grounds reserved by the sachem Ponus, were situated four miles south of Poundridge, in the vicinity of the street still bearing his name. In 1644, " the western Indians be- ing at war with the Dutch, had communicated their hostile feel- ings to those around Stamford, who at this period numbered one thousand warriors ; but the firmness and courage of Capt. John Underhill compelled the whole of them to sue for peace. Upon occasion of its ratification the Wappings of Stamford presented themselves with others at Fort Amsterdam, April 6th, 1644.b In 1655 occurs the following agreement between the inhabitants of Stamford and the Indian Sachem, Ponus, &c.
" Our agreement made with Ponus, Sagamore of Toquams, and with Onox his eldest son. Although there was an agreement made before with the said Indians and Captain Turner, and the purchases paid for, yet the things not being clear, and being very unsatisfied, we come to another agreement with Onox and Ponus for their land from the town plot of Stamford north about sixteen miles, and then to a marked white oak tree with ST, and from that tree we went towards the Mill river side, we marked another white oak tree with ST, and from that tree west we were to run four miles eastward, and from this east and west line we were to have further to the north, for our cattle to feed,
a See Bedford.
b The Wappings were probably engaged " in the great battle fought between the Dutch and Indians in that part of Horseneck called Strickland's plain, now inclu- ded in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut." O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. 302,
4
HISTORY OF THE
full two miles further, the full breadth only, the said Indians reserve for them- selves liberty for their planting ground, and the above said Indians, Ponus and Onox, with all other Indians that be concerned in it, have surrendered all the said land &c., for and in consideration hereof, the said town of Stamford is to give the said Indians four coats which the Indians accept of as full satisfac- tion for the aforesaid lands although it waspaid before. Hereby all Ponus's posterity is cut off from making any claim or having any right to any part of the aforesaid land &c., the said Ponus and Onox his son, having this day re- ceived of Richard Lane, four coats, acknowledging themselves fully satisfied for the aforesiad land.
Witness the said Indians hands this fifteenth day of August, A. D. 1655. Witness William Newman,
Richard Lewis.
Ponus M his mark, Onox () his mark.
Upon the 7th of January, 1667, Taphance son of Ponus and Powhag or Pinaghag son of Onox, confirmed to the people of Stamford the agreement of 1655. By these sales Poundridge be- came a part of Stamford township, within Fairfield County.
On the 26th of May, 1685, the general court of Connecti- cut issued the following patent to the inhabitants of Stamford, embracing all those lands
" Bounded on the south west by ye five mile brook, between Stamford aforesaid and Norwalk, from the mouth of the said brook, till it meet with the cross path, that is, where the county road crosses the said river, and from thence to run up into ye country till twelve miles be run out upon the same line, that is between Stamford and Fairfield, and upon the west, to Totomak brook, where the lowermost path or road that now is to Greenwich, east by ye said brook, and from thence to run in a straight line to the west end of a line drawn from the falls of Stamford mill river, which line is to run a due west point towards Greenwich bounds, a short mile, and from the west end at the said line, to run due north, to the north of ye present country road to Rye, and from thence to run up into the country, the same line that is between Nor- walk and Stamford, to the end of the bounds, the said land having been by purchase or otherwise, lawfully obtained of the Indians, native proprietors. And whereas, the proprietors the aforesaid inhabitants of Stamford, in the colony of Connecticut, have made application to the Gov. and company of the said colony of Connecticut, assembled in court, 25th May, 1685, that they may have a patent for confirmation of the aforesaid land, so purchased and granted to them as aforesaid, and which they have stood seized and quietly possessed of for many years late past, without interruption. Now, for a more full confirmation of the aforesaid lands, as it is butted and bounded aforesaid,
5
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
unto ye present proprietors of the said town of Stamford, &c. & :. Know ye, that the said Gov. and company aforesaid, in general court, according to the conditions granted to them by his majesty in his charter, have given and granted, and by these presents, do give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto Mr. John Bishop, Mr. Richard Lowe, Capt. Johnathan Silleck, Capt. John Sil- leck, Lt. Francis Bill, Lt. Jonathan Bull, Ensign Jobn Bales, Mr. Abraham Ambler, Mr. Peter Ferris and Mr. Joshua Hoyt, and the rest of the said pre- sent proprietors of the township of Stamford, their heirs, successors and as- signees forever, the aforesaid parcel of land as it is butted and bounded to- gether, with, &c. &c., that the aforesaid tract of land, shall be forever here- after deemed, reputed, and be an entire township of itself, to have and to hold the said tract of land, premises, &c. &c., yielding rendering and paying there- fore to our sovereign Lord the king, his heirs and successors, his dues ac- cording to charter. In witness whereof, we have caused the seal of the colony to be hereunto affixed, this 26th of May, 1685, in ye first year of the reign of our Lord King James the second, &c. &c.
ROBERT TREAT, GOV.
This patent included the southern portion of Poundridge; for, until the final arrangement of the boundary lines in 1731, Stamford extended four miles into the present town.
Upon the temporary settlement of the colonial lines, A. D. 1701, we find the Indian sachem Catonah, confirming Robert Walters and others in these lands.
" This indenture, made the 25th of Feb. 1701, betwixt Robert Walters John Chollwell, Leigh Atwood, Cornelius Depeyster, Richard Slater, Barne Cosens, Lancaster Symes, Matthew Clarkson, Robert Lurting, Peter Matthews and Caleb Heathcote of the one part, and Sagamore, Katonah, Wakemane and Weewanessege, Indians, of the other, for the consideration of a certain sum in hand paid by the said Robert Walters, &c., at and before the ensealing and delivering of these presents. The receipt whereof they do hereby acknowl- edge, &c. &c., have given, granted, bargained and sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released and confirmed, and do by these presents, clearly and absolutely give, grant, bargain and sell, alien, enfeoff, release and confirm, unto the said Rob- ert Walters, &c., a certain parcel or tract of land, lying and being in the county of Westchester, in the province of New York, butted and bounded as followeth, viz., westward by Bedford and by the patent granted to Caleb Heathcote and others, northerly by Col. Cortlandt's purchase and Croton's run, southerly and easterly by colony lines, to have and to hold, &c. &c.ª The mark of M\ Catonah.
· Indian deeds, Alb. Rec. warrant for Survey, Lib. i. 100.
-
6
HISTORY OF THE
On the 2d day of March, 1701, William the third, by his royal letters patent, under the great seal of the colony of New York, did grant and confirm unto Robert Walters, John Cholwell, Leigh Atwood, Cornelius Depeyster, Richard Slater, Barne Cosens, Lancaster Symes, Matthew Clarkson, Robert Lurting, Peter Matthews and Caleb Heathcote, a certain tract of land in the county of Westchester.
" Bounded to the south by the east division line between the province of New York and the colony of Connecticut, and on the east by the other divi- sion line, and so along the said line, until it meet with the patent of Adolph Philips, and so along his southern boundaries, till it meet the patent of the manor of Cortlandt, and from thence by a line that shall run upon a direct course, until it meet with the end of the first easterly line of twenty miles of the said manor of Cortlandt, and from thence, along the said line westerly, until it meet with the patent granted, to Robert Walters and others : then, southerly, along the said patent, until it meet with the bounds of the township of Bedford, and thence along the said bounds, till it meet with the patent granted to Col. Caleb Heathcote and others ; and, along the bounds of the said patent, unto the colony line, which said tract of land, on the 25th day of February, was by the said Robert Walters, in his aforesaid company purchased of the native Indian proprietors, &c. &c.
This grant was subsequently known by the name of the East Patent.
The same year occurs the following confirmation from the In- dian sagamore Catonah to the "inhabitants of Stamford, in their former sales under ye hands of Taphance, son of Ponus, and Penaghag, son of Onox."
Buffonal. mar
" We the said Catonah and other Indians do by these presents sell and fix bounds as followeth, that is to say westward as far as ye west bounds of Bed- ford purchase, bounded north by ye south side of Bedford purchase and by ye Stone hills, upon a straight line eastward unto ye upper end of ye Long Pond, and from thence an east line until it meets with a line drawn north from ye
7
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
upper end of Five Mile river, which is ye east line of our several purchases, and we, ye said Catonah and other Indians, give, grant, and quit-claim all ye meadows, trees, feeding grounds, rivers, pools, and other privileges that doth belong to ye said lands and meadows within to ye southwards of ye north bounds above mentioned unto ye said inhabitants of Stamford, &c., &c. Also, we do acknowledge by these presents to have received of ye said in- habitants a considerable and valuable sum of money for all ye said lands, &c. It is to be understood that ye above said Catonah and other Indians doth by these presents confirm all ye said old deeds of Taphance, Ponus and Penag- hag, and old Onox, also young Onox, also that deed made to Captain Turner in behalf of ye town of Stamford, also that deed of Nonatomonoa, that is to say, a quit-claim to any parte or parcel of lands and meadows within ye said bounds above mentioned. In witness of truth, we whose names are under- written have hereunto set our marks and seals, at Stamford, this eighth day of July, 1701.
Signed, sealed and
delivered in the presence of John Q.
The marke of Kenhoctam
The marke of Ramhorne
The marke of Syngo
The marke of Arutar O
The marke of Catonah M1 sagamore.
The marke of Maninus
The marke of Wequacumoke K
The marke of Pepiamah
'The marke of Wokea
The marke of Papaumema 02
The marke of Temon <
The marke of Pohorus O
The marke of Mockea M
By the final settlement of the boundary lines on May 14th, 1731, Poundridge was transferred to the Province of New York.
In 1744, John Crawford was appointed assessor for the East Patent.a
The following items are from the town records.
Old Poundridge, April ye first day, 1760.
At a town meeting held at the house of Ebenezer Lockwood, in said Old Pound in Westchester county, under ye Province of New York, we the freeholders, inhabitants and residents pro- ceeded as follows ; first, by major vote, Joseph Lockwood to be town clerk, and by major vote William Forster to be constable, &c., &c.
January 14th, 1762. It was voted that Joseph Lockwood be
& North Castle Rec. In 1746, Joseph Lockwood was assessor for the East Pa- tent
/
8
HISTORY OF THE
clerk of said meeting and Lieutenant Jolın Gauspur be modera- tor.
April 20th, 1776. Voted Ebenezer Lockwood as moderator, Joseph Lockwood as clerk, Lieut. William Jones, constable.
Upon the 7th day of August, 1766, the East Patent formerly granted to Robert Walters and others, was sold, in pursuance of a certain act of the Lieutenant Governor, the Council, and Gen- eral Assembly of this colony, entitled " An act for the more ef- fectual collecting of his Majesties quit rents in the colony of New York, and for partition of lands in order thereto," &c. The principal purchasers under the act, appear to have been the Lock- woods, Amblers, Forshers, Bishops, Ferrises, Hoyts, Hollys, Browns, Sillicks and Scofields, &c., &c.ª In 1826, the Legis- lature of this state claimed as successor of the Crown the sum of $243 71, due as quit rent on the East Patent.b To satisfy this claim nine hundred acres of land were sold in the southern part of the Patent.c
The village of Poundridge occupies an elevated situation near the centre of the town, and contains two churches, two stores, a school house, a post office and 15 or 20 dwellings. As early as the year 1744, a settlement was commenced on this spot by Captain Joseph Lockwood, and a few associatesd from Stamford, Con- necticut. At this early period the surrounding country was one vast wilderness heavily covered with timber. Upon a com- manding eminence which rises above the rest of the village stands the Presbyterian church. This building, which was
· The Wetmores also appear to have been among the early proprietors, for at a late period James Wetmore, attorney at law, (then residing in Nova Scotia,) served a writ of ejectment upon the Lockwood family to recover certain lands in Pound- ridge.
b See Revised Statutes for 1813.
c "Soccage lands were not deemed discharged of any rents, certain or other services, incident or belonging to tenure in soccage, due to the people of the state, (who were considered to stand in the place of the Crown.) Therefore on the first day of April, 1786, the Legislature of this state passed an act, entitled an act for the collection and commutation of quit rents."
d The descendants of the original settlers are numerous, and some of them still reside in the village.
9
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
erected in 1786, occupies the site of the old church destroyed by the British troops, A. D. 1779. The Presbyterian Society of Poundridge was first organized in 1760.ª The first church edi- fice however was not erected until 1770. Its incorporation oc- curs on the 28th of April, 1788. Nathaniel Bouton, William Fancher, John Hoyt, Benaiah Brown, Thaddeus Seymour and Ebenezer Seymour, trustees. " The said church to be governed according to the Directory of the now established Church of Scotland."b From this date to 1822, it remained in connection with the Westchester presbytery. Upon the 8th of May, 1822, it was received into communion with the General Assembly.
At a meeting of the congregation held the 22d of April, 1828, it was resolved, that whereas " some doubt existed with regard to the due legal organization of the Presbyterian church and congregation in Poundridge, they hereby declare themselves to be a Presbyterian congregation under the style of the " Presby- terian Congregation of Poundridge, belonging to the Presbytery of the North River, under the care of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States." On this occa- sion Horatio Lockwood, Joseph St. John and Samuel Weed, were elected trustees,c
This church and congregation are now in connection with the Bedford presbytery.
LIST OF MINISTERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT POUNDRIDGE.
Instal or call. Ministers. Vacated by.
1770,
Rev. Mr. Strong, resig.
1774,
Rev. Blackleach Burritt, do.
1791,
Rev. Benjamin Judd, do.
1795,
Rev. Samuel Blatchford, D. D.d do.
a At the first meeting of the congregation, Captain Joseph Lockwood was un- animously chosen chairman, and Mr. Jarvis, secretary.
b Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 21.
Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 197.
d The Rev. Samuel Blatchford, an Englishman, succeeded Dr. Dwight, at Greenfield, Conn., when the latter was called to the presidency of Yale College. VOL. II. 2
10
HISTORY OF THE
Instal or call.
Ministers.
Vacated by.
1800,
Rev. Richard Andrews,
do.
1819,
Rev. John Lowe, do.
1823,
Rev. Mr. Crocker, do.
1824,
Rev. Mr. Bronson,
do.
1830,
Rev. John White,a
do.
1832,
Rev. Charles G. Thompson,
do.
1834,
Rev. William Patterson, present minister.
Church Memoranda.
1826
members 46; baptisms 0
1836, ditto 62;
ditto 1
1846, ditto 90; ditto 3.
A considerable eminence rises a little to the east of the Pres- byterian church, from the summit of which is an extensive pros- pect of the beautiful country bordering the Sound and the dis- tant shores of Long Island, &c.
Prior to 1775, Poundridge constituted one of the precincts of Rye parish. In 1816 Episcopal services were performed here by the Rev. George Weller.
The Methodist Episcopal church of this place was first in- corporated in 1822, James Brown, John Haws and Samuel K. Olmstead, trustees.b The present church edifice was erected in 1833.
The village grave-yard is pleasantly situated about a quarter of a mile south of Poundridge upon a gentle acclivity. The head stones record the names of Thaddeus H. Lockwood who died in 1774: Ebenezer Lockwood, Esq., who died July 29th, 1821, æt. 84 : John Ferris who died A. D. 1788, and Captain John Grinell, born in Nantucket, Mass., December 7th, 1795, and died in Cron- stad, Russia, June 3d, 1831, æt. 34, &c., &c. Others are simply
a This individual was a native of Scotland and a classmate of Robert Pollock, author of the Course of Time.
b Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. A. 170. A second incorporation occurs on the 21st of December, 1832. The Methodist Protestant Church and Society in Poundridge, were incorporated on the 16th of March, 1833. Selby Fancher, William Brown and Joseph Waterbury, trustees. Co. Rec. Religious Soc. Lib. B. 12.
11
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
inscribed with the initials of the deceased. A. B. 1771. I. M. L., 1787, &c.
On the south side of the village, being a part of the old estate of the Lockwoods, are the residences of Horatio and Ezra Lock- wood, Esqrs. These gentlemen are the sons of Major Ebenezer Lockwood of the Continental army, one of the most active and efficient members of the committee of public safety.ª He was the son of Capt. Joseph Lockwood, one of the first setlers of Pound- ridge.
The Lockwood family originally derived from a place of the name in Staffordshire, England, and are probably descended from Edmund Lockwood, a freeman of Massachusetts in 1631, who subsequently removed to Connecticut with Messrs. Hooker and Stone.
Ezra Lockwood, Esq., of Poundridge, was for many years a judge of the late court of common pleas, in this county. Of this family is the Hon. Albert Lockwood, present judge of the county, and General Munson I. Lockwood, county clerk.
During the contest between England and the colonies, the in- habitants of Poundridge, generally, appear to have taken a decided stand in favor of liberty. The following letter from the commit- tee of public safety, to the Hon. Provincial Congress, is found in the acts of the latter body.
Poundridge, 15th of Oct. 1776.
HONORED SIRS :
" We the sub-committee of Poundridge, in Westchester County, beg leave to inform your Honors, that we are apprehensive that there is danger of our prisoners leaving us and joining the minis- terial army, as we are not above nine or ten miles from the water where the sound is full of the ministerial ships and tenders. One of our number is already gone to Long Island, and numbers are gone from other places, who are no doubt now with the ministe- rial army. There are disaffected persons daily going over to
& Major Lockwood was also a member of the convention that framed the first constitution of the state, and a judge of the county in 1778.
12
HISTORY OF THE
them which gives us much trouble. Therefore, we humbly beg your Honors would give us some directions concerning them, that they may be speedily removed at some farther distance. We would also inform you that for the misdemeanors of one of them and our own safety, we have been obliged to commit him to jail at the White Plains. These with all proper respects, from yours to serve.
JOSEPH AMBLER.a. Chairman of Committee.
In July, 1779, a skirmish took place in this village between the Americans and a strong force of the enemy, under Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton.
" About three hundred and sixty of the enemy's light horse, and light-infan- try, (says General Heath,) came out from Mile-Square, and attacked Colonel Sheldon's light-horse, who were posted at Poundridge, about ninety in number . The superior force of the enemy obliged our horse at first, to retreat ; but be- ing reinforced by the militia, they in turn, pursued the enemy. Our loss was one corporal, one trumpeter and eight privates, wounded ; three sergeants, one corporal and four privates missing ; and twelve horses missing. The stand- ard of the regiment being left in the house when the dragoons suddenly turned out, was lost. Of the enemy, one was killed, four taken prisoners, four horses taken, and one horse killed. The enemy set fire to and burnt the meeting house, and Maj. Lockwood's house ;b they also burnt Mr. Hay's house, at Bed- ford."c
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