History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 1

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, ed
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1354


USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 1


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.


J. Thomas Scharf


HISTORY - -


OF


WESTCHESTER COUNTY,


NEW YORK,


INCLUDING


MORRISANIA, KINGS BRIDGE, AND WEST FARMS.


WHICH HAVE BEEN ANNEXED TO NEW YORK CITY.


BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL. D.


Author " History of Maryland," " Chronicles of Baltimore," " History of Baltimore City and County," "History of St. Louis City and County." " History of the City of Philadelphia, Pa.," etc., etc. Corresponding Member of the Historical Societies of New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Historic and Genea- logical Society of New England, Philosphical Society of Ohio, etc., etc.


ASSISTED BY A STAFF OF CAREFULLY SELECTED EXPERTS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.


IN TWO VOLUMES, ILLUSTRATED.


VOL. I.


PHILADELPHIA: L. E. PRESTON & CO. 1886.


F :27


53


Copyright, 1886, BY L. E. PRESTON & Co. All Rights Reserved.


PRESS OF JAS. B. RODGERS PRINTING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA.


PREFACE.


IN presenting this "HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY" to the public, the Editor believes, no apology is necessary. It is a new and trustworthy history of the county, founded upon the best authorities, and the most authentic documents and authoritative records. In no sense of the word is it built up out of, or repeated from, any previous one on the same subject, or any of its branches.


The plan of the work is to a large extent novel-the grouping of so many representative writers, to tell so interesting a story as that of the origin, career and significance of Westchester County, has no parallel in the history of any other county in the United States. To present the principal historical phases of the several towns, and the county's life and development, together with the traces of previous occupation and the natural history of the county, the various chapters were assigned to writers, most of them well known in their respective spheres, and some of them of national reputation, who, from study and association, were in a measure identified with their subjects. Their treatment of these topics is such that what they have written may be taken as the best comprehensive expression of existing knowledge, put together with that authority which comes from special study. In the diversity of authors there will, of course, be variety of opinions, and it has not been thought ill-judged, considering the different points of view assumed by the various writers, that the same events should be interpreted sometimes in varying, and perhaps opposite, ways. The chapters may thus make good the poet's description, --


"Distinct as the billows, yet one as the sea,"-


and may not be the worse for each offering a reflection, according to its turn to the light, without marring the unity of the general expanse. The Editor has endeavored to prevent any unnecessary repetitions, and to provide against serious omissions of what might naturally be expected in a history of its kind. In more than one instance he has been constrained by his deference to local authority upon strictly local subjects, and by yielding to the testimony of experts in matters which they alone are supposed to know thoroughly, to hold back his own judgment in regard to certain subjects, and permit the local writer and the expert to tell the whole story their own way. The result has sometimes been clash, confusion and contradiction ; for there is nothing about which local authorities and experts differ so much among themselves as those particular events and things in regard to which they collectively consider it the height of presumption for "outsiders" to disagree with them. Where the subject happened to be one of moment and importance, the author has cut the Gordian knot and stated things to suit himself; but in indifferent or trivial concerns he has simply stood aside and let each writer give his own version.


Some space has been given to biographical sketches of leading and representative men, living and dead, who have borne an active part in the various enterprises of life, and who have become


vi


PREFACE.


closely identified with the history of the county. The achievements of the living must not be forgotten, nor must the memories of those who have passed away be allowed to perish. It is the imperative duty of the historian to chronicle the public and private efforts to advance the great interests of society. Their deeds are to be recorded for the benefit of those who follow them,- they, in fact, form part of the history of their communities, and their successful lives add to the glory of the county.


The Editor would be unjust to himself and the county whose history he has compiled, if he did not acknowledge, with feelings of profound gratitude, the cordial aid extended to him and his undertaking by the respective writers and by the people of Westchester County. They have given him the fullest encouragement throughout, and have helped him materially in elaborating and perfecting the work. Important and valuable assistance and information have been received from the following persons, to whom also particular recognition is due :- James Wood; Franklin Crouch, Rev. David Cole, D.D., Rev. John A. Todd, Thomas C. Cornell, Joseph Barrett, Frederick Whittaker and Josiah S. Mitchell.


The scope and method of this history of Westchester County, is best understood by the table of contents, and the names of the writers annexed. It is sufficient to demonstrate the broad taste and judiciousness of selection on the part of the Editor. Without their indispensable aid and invaluable stores of material on the history of this interesting county, which they have been diligently collecting for years past, it would have been impossible to present this history in the satisfactory shape it now assumes.


To the publishers of this history, the Editor on behalf of himself and his collaborators, must gratefully pay the meed, thrice deserved, of most hearty and effective co-operation with him and them throughout the undertaking. They have most liberally met every desire of the writers in respect of letter-press and engravings of portraits, views, maps and other illustrations; they have spared no expense or effort to make the mechanical execution of the volumes equal to the sub- ject, and to the Editor's ambition, and they have helped him in every difficulty and sought to remove every obstruction from his path while the work was in progress.


To the subscribers of the work, who, by consenting to take it unseen on the Editor's own recommendation and the strength of his and the publisher's reputation, have secured its successful completion and publication, the Editor renders his most grateful thanks, with the earnest hope that nothing in the volumes and nothing omitted from them may cause them to regret their confidence and their liberality.


BALTIMORE, July 6, 1886.


J. THOMAS SCHARF.


CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.


CHAPTER I.


PAGE.


TOPOGRAPHY, BOUNDARIES AND GE-


OLOGY, . . 1-9


BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL.D.


CHAPTER II.


THE INDIANS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 9-20


BY JAMES WOOD.


CHAPTER III.


THE DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 20-31


BY JAMES WOOD.


CHAPTER IV.


THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF MANORS IN NEW YORK, AND IN THE COUNTY


OF WESTCHESTER, . 31-160 a


PARTS :


1. Tho Indian Owners of New Netherland and of Westchester.


2. How the Indian Title vested successively in the Dutch West India Company, the British Crown, and the Independent State of New York.


3. The Dutch in New Netherland.


4. The Colonization by the West India Company.


5. The Nature of the Dutch System of Government and Law, established in Now Netherland, and of the Patroonships.


6. Tho Patroonship of Colen-Donck.


7. The Capture of New Netherland from the Dutch, and the Creation of the English 'Province of New York.'


8. The English System in the Province of New York under the Duke of York as Lord Proprictor.


9. The Manors in New York, what they were not, and what they were.


10. The Franchises, Privileges, and Incidents, of Manors in tho Province of New York, and in the County of West- chester, and the Parishes in the latter.


11. The Church of England Parochial Organization in West- chester County, and its Relations to the Manors.


12. The Manors and the County in their Mutual Relations, and the Origin and Formation of the latter.


13. The Manor of Cortlandt, its Origin, Special Franchises, Division, First Lord and his Family, Particular History, and Topography


14. The Manor of Scarsdale, its Origin, Local History, Adjoin- ing Patents, its First Lord and His Family, Division, and Topography.


BY EDWARD FLOYD DE LANCEY.


CHAPTER V. l'AGE. THE COLONIAL PERIOD, 1683-1774, . 161-177


BY REV. WILLIAM S. COFFEY, A. M.


CHAPTER VI.


WESTCHESTER - COUNTY, NEW-YORK, DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLU- TION. . 177-457


BY HENRY B. DAWSON.


CHAPTER VII.


EARLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, 457-472j BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL.D.


CHAPTER VIII.


GENERAL HISTORY FROM 1783 TO 1860, 473-490 BY REV. WILLIAM S. COFFEY, A. M.


CHAPTER IX.


THE CIVIL WAR FROM 1860 TO 1866, 490-516 BY CAPT. FREDERICK WHITTAKER.


CHAPTER X.


WESTCHESTER COUNTY AT THE PRES- ENT DAY, . . 516-525 BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL.D.


CHAPTER XI.


THE BENCH AND BAR, .


526-568


BY HON. ISAAC N. MILLS.


vi


CONTENTS.


CHAPTER XII.


PAGE.


THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, . . 568-598


BY GEORGE JACKSON FISHER, M. D.


CHAPTER XIII.


THE LITERARY MEN AND LITERA- TURE OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, . 598-639 BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL.D.


CHAPTER XIV.


THE CIVIL HISTORY, 639-657


BY REV. WILLIAM J. CUMMING.


CHAPTER XV.


SCARSDALE, . . 657-685


BY ALLEN M. BUTLER, M. D.


CHAPTER XVI.


NEW ROCHELLE, 685-701 BY REV. CHARLES E. LINDSLEY, D. D.


CHAPTER XVII.


PELIIAM, .


701-714


BY REV. CHARLES E. LINDSLEY, D. D.


CHAPTER XVIII.


PAGE.


WHITE PLAINS, .


714-744


BY JOSIAH S. MITCHELL.


CHAPTER XIX.


KINGS' BRIDGE, .


744-768


BY THOMAS H. EDSALL.


CHAPTER XX.


WESTCHESTER TOWN,


768-822


BY FORDHAM MORRIS.


CHAPTER XXI."


MORRISANIA,


822-836


BY FORDHAM MORRIS.


CHAPTER XXII.


WEST FARMS, .


836-846


BY FORDHAM MORRIS.


CHAPTER XXIII.


MAMARONECK, .


846-888


BY EDWARD FLOYD DE LANCEY.


ILLUSTRATIONS.


VOLUME I.


On or opposite page


On or opposite page


Antographs of Supervisors . 474


Ewen, John, Portrait of . .


767


Bailey, N. P., Residence of . 754


Fanenil, Peter, Portrait of 711


Baird, Charles W., Portrait of . 620


Fellows, E. B., Portrait of . 842


Banta, Mathias, Portrait of . . 563


Ferguson, Geo., Portrait of . 700


Bartlett, W. 1I. C., Portrait of . 622


Fireships, The American 391


Bathgate, James, Portrait of 592


Fisher, G. J., Portrait of . 581


Beach, W. A., Portrait of .


559


Fisher, G. J., Autograph of


581


Beal, W. R., Portrait of .


834


Fitch's First Steamboat . 470


Bixby, S. M., Portrait of


832


Flagg, Levi W., Portrait of


587


Bine Bell Tavern 472j


Flying-Machine, The 479


Brewster, Joseph B., Portrait of. 701


Fort Washington, 1886 .


517


Brown, Nehemiah, Portrait of . 528


Fountain, Ilosea, Portrait of . 585


Butler, Allen M., Autograph of


684


Fountain, James, Portrait of


577


Camp, Hugh N., Portrait of .


835


Fox, William W., Portrait of . . 845


Carpenter, Jonathan, Residence of . 698


Fuller, Mrs. J. M., Residence of 682


Carpenter, Jonathan, Portrait of .


699


Franklin, Benjamin, Portrait of . 171


Carpenter, W. J., Portrait of . . 598


624


Garth, D. J., Residence of . 681


472a


Gedney, Bartholomew, Portrait of . 743


Church, Old Dutch, at Fordhanı


620


Gedney, Bartholomew, Residence of 743


"'Clermont," The Steamer


471


Gifford, Silas D., Portrait of . 532


759


Coffey, William Samnel, Portrait of .


634


Griswold, R. B., Portrait of . 597


Coffin, Owen T., Portrait of 550


Cole, David, Portrait of . 630


Colgate, Robert, Portrait of 766


766


Hall, 11. B., Portrait of . 836


Continental Currency


47.2f


Hall, Ernest, Portrait of . 562


740


Cornell, Benjamin, Portrait of .


675


Hand, N. H., Portrait of. .


741


Cornell Homestead, Residence of R. C. Cornell .


696


Hasbronck, Joseph, Portrait of


587


Conrt-Ilonse, Westchester Connty, 1886 .


729


Hasbrouck, Stephen, Portrait of .


586


Comming, W. J., Antograph of 657


Haskin, John B., Portrait of 561


818


Cromwell, C. T., Portrait of .


552


Head Costumes 462, 463


464


Dawson, Henry B., Portrait of


612


Heathcote, Caleb, Portrait of


152


De Lancey, Edward F., Autograph of


888


Hoe, R. M., Portrait of


833


De Lancey, Right Rev. William 11., Portrait of .


867


Hoffinan, A. K., Portrait of .


588


Depew, Channcey M., Portrait of


557


House in which Poe wrote "The Raven " 618


De Vries, David Pietersen


35


Ilndson, llenry, Portrait of


21


Dickel, C. W., Residence of


664


Disbrow House


856


Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, 1798


686


Doctor of Olden Time


468


Huntington, C. P., Portrait of . .


820


Drake, Joseph R., Portrait of


616


linntington Ilomestead, Views at 822


Dyckman, Isaac M., Portrait of


765


Huntington Homestead . S21


595


Dyckman, J. O., Portrait of .


534


Indian chief 32


Dyckman, John 11., Portrait of


765


Indian family 33


Dyckman, William N., Portrait of .


764


Edsall, Thomas H., Autograph of.


761


Indian relics and specimens 14, 15, 16


Evans, Oliver. .


469


Irving, Washington, Portrait of . 610


Evans' Steam Carriage


470


Jay, John C., Portrait of . 582


Evans, W. W., Portrait of 699


Jolinson, Isaac G., Portrait of 768


Evans, W. W., Residence of . 699


Jolinson, S. W., Portrait of. . 564


vii


8


Goodridge, Frederic, Residence of


Coffey, William Samnel, Antograph of 177, 490


Graystone, Residence of S. J. Tilden 554, 555


Guion, Place, View of . 685


Haerlem, View of, from Morrisania, 1765 394


Hague, William, Autograph of . 713


Cooper, J. Fenimore, Portrait of 609


Hand, N. H., Residence of


Curry, Rev. Daniel, Portrait of


621


Havemeyer, F. C., Portrait of .


Cromwell, C. T., Residence of .


552


Icad Dress, 1776 .


Cromwell, David, Portrait of 740


Heathcote Hill, View of . 854


Ilnguenot House, old 691


Dyckman, Isaac MI., Residence of


765


Huntington, HI. K., Portrait of.


Indian fort 34


Franklin's Cream Pot 641


Couldwell, William, Portrait of .


Cheese-Press, Primitive


Cobbling-stone .


Colgate, Robert, Residence of


viii


ILLUSTRATIONS.


On or opposite page


On or opposite page


Johnson & Co.'s Works


769


Popham, L. C., Residence of


680


Larkin, Francis, Portrait of . 558


Popham, W. II., Portrait of . 673


Lester, Simeon, Portrait of 698


Popham, W. H., Residence of 672


Lester, Simeon, Residence of .. 698


Popham, W. S., Portrait of 672


Lewis, Joseph H., Residence of


734


Purdy, Samuel M., Portrait of 558


Lindsley, Charles E., Portrait of


694


Putnam, A. E., Residence of 758


Lovatt, E. T., Portrait of


568


Reiufelder, M. I., Portrait of 596


Macomb's Dam, 1850 758


790


Robertson, W. H., Portrait of 530


590


Map, Cortlandt Manor


140


Scharf, Autograph of . 9


Frontispiece.


Map, Frog's Neck to Croton River 415


Schmid, H. Ernest, Portrait of .


588


Map, Geological, of county. 6


Scribner, G. Hilton, Portrait of


565


Map, Historical, of King's Bridge. 747


Scrihner, James W., Portrait of . 593


545


Map, Manor of Phillipsburg 161


141


Smith, Chauncey, Portrait of


567


Map of Mamaroneck 849


1


Sone, L. V., Residence of .


722


Map of Broncksland 769


Stage wagon .


173


Map of Bronx Neck . 780


Stamp, British 176


Map of Fordham and the Meadows 775


Stocks, The 472h


873


Map, Sauthier's, published by Faden


St. Thomas' Church (new) . 874


Map, White Plains, 1721.


720


Stuyvesant, Peter, Portrait of 24


Map, White Plains, 1776


727


Sully, Thomas 465


594


Mills, Isaac N., Autograph of .


550


Swinburne, Jolın, Portrait of


606


Mitchell, Josiah S., Autograph of


740


Tea Service, Old Style . 459


Morris, A. Newbold, Portrait of


829


Tilden, S. J., Portrait of 554


Tilford, J. M., Portrait of 742


742


Morris, James, Portrait of .


827


Tompkins, Daniel D., Portrait of .


671


Morris, Lewis, Portrait of .


826


Truman, Norman K., Portrait of


591


Morris, L. G., Portrait of .


829


Van Cortlandt, A., Portrait of . .


162


Morris, L. G., Residence and Views at


830


Van Cortlandt Manor House, King's Bridge 764


Morris, W. H., Residence of .


826


Van Reusselaer, W. P., Residence of .


553


Morris, W. H., Portrait of


828


Van Rensselaer, W. P., Portrait of


553


Mortar and Pestle 13


Van Wyck, P. C., Portrait of . .


595


Mott, Jordan L., Portrait of 831


584


Mt. St. Viucent, Academy of. 760


589


White Plains, 1855


730


Oliffe, W. M., Portrait of


744


Whittaker, Frederick, Autograph of


515


Old Clock. . 460


Wilkius, Isaac, Portrait of .


601


Paine, Thomas, House of


690


Williams, Isaiah T., Portrait of


548


Paine, Thomas, Monument of 689


Wells, James L., Portrait of


843


Paine, Thomas, Portrait of . 602


Wood, James, Autograph of . 20, 31


Peale, C. W.


466


Wright, Green, Portrait of 679


Pillory, The


472i


Yonkers, View of .. 518


Poe's Home at Fordham 619


Young, John W., Portrait of . 742


Popham, Lewis C., Portrait of .. 674


3


Sauds, D. Jerome, Portrait of


Map, boundary lines between New York and Connecticut


Map, Carpenter's, of White Plains. 718


Scharf, J. Thomas, Portrait of .


Map, Manors of Westchester County 30


Scrugham, William W., Portrait of


Secor, Francis, Portrait of . 678


Map, Manor of Scarsdale


Smith, J. Malcom, Portrait of .


560


Map, Outline, of county


Map, Roads about White Plains.


732 403


St. Thomas' Church (old) .


Mapes, Daniel, Portrait of . 841


Swift, Saiunel, Portrait of .


Morris, Fordham, Autographı of


817


Morris, Gouverneur, Portrait of


603


Tilford, J. M., Residence of .


Varian, William A., Portrait of


Washington's Headquarters, White Plains


728


Nordquist, C. J., Portrait of.


Reynal, J., Residence of .. 724


Map, Attack on Fort Washington .


1


ر


Т


1


١٠


N


E


N


0


0


C


Lewishora


KEP O.


T


Trinity


Cross


Lake Luke


North


South / Salem


Salefo P.o.


18


-Poundridge P.O. POUNDRIDGE Boutonville PO.


Peach Lake


"Salem" CentreP.0


Cross River N


H & N. R R


T


Bedford 张 P.O.


N


Port


O


Purdy' Sta


BEDFORD


Blind


Falls Croton


Katonah Be Bedford


Somers


Goldens Bridge


Whitlockville Sta


Lake


HAR


Armonte


Rve


Pond


It KiscoP.O.


New Castle B0. River


Kensico


St Marys


Kisco


Lake


I


VH


White


West Somers P. O.


ALAKE


PAND


CITY


Tompkins


Hille


Neppercan P.o.


jeffers 011 # Walley


Yorktown


Rockdale Mills


Tarrytown


AHeights


Mohansic Lake


Meuville 1


E


Tarrytown


Huntersville


>Shrub Oak


RIVER


4


Hohegun Luke


River


2


D Croton Land;


-


Cortlandtville"


1


Peeliskill 1


C 0.


n


Montrose P.O.


.


0


Verplank


N


L


K


R


0


c


Bronx


Diouville


Chappaque


RAILROAD


Pleasay


Hallocks Mills


0


Merritt's # Cor.


NORTHERN


1 NT PLEASANT


-


GREEN Elmsford


Crompond


Tęatown


XOSSINING Sing Sing


Irvin


AQUEDUCT


HUDSON


CROTON


HUDSON


CORTINA N


Croton


EW CASTLE


stillwater


E


# Pines Bridge P.O


HARLEM


0


NEW


YORK


Coton


North Castle


Byram


RT


C


Banksville


Luke


S


U


Beaver


River


SO MER CROTON


Grei


TOW


D


OUTLINE MAP OF


WESTCHESTER CO. NEW YORK Showing relative position of Towns Prepared for Scharf's History of Westchester County


MANURSING


Ister


ISLAND.


R


Cottage


HEMPSTEAD HARBOR


r


ve PO. Fp


Milton


EW


I


S


O


MAMARONECK


ve Neckt WARBER


Z


Grand


echasc


Rwer


Mamaroneck


G


MAMARONECK


Petersville


HART


Chatsworth"


1.0


SOU


LITTLE NECASS


1


S CITY ISLAND


Hartsdale P. 0.


-


Its Cor


ville


PEL HAM


PELHAM BAY


#Pelham Manar


H.R.


V.A Schuylerville


Mt Vernon


CHESTER


WEST CHESTER


Wakefielf ! Olinville


Unionport


Bropx dale


0


West Fare


BIBERS.


E


AQUEDUCT


RIVER


Port


N


Washington


0


BROOKLYN


J


EAST BIFFTE


R


S


E


1


GOVERNORS


JJERSEY CITY


r


URGH


River


Truckahoe P.O.


A& C/R.R.


Ashford


East Chester West Chester


ONKERS


2


Dobbs' Ferry Hastmós


FLUSHING BAY


R.A.


CROTON Tanker's


N


Fordhair


WARD


E-


W


LONG-


NEW YORK


O


Harris


P.O.


naroneck


LAINS


SCARSDALE


NEW ROCHELLE


New Rochelle' HUNTERS


11


S


R.


SLIND


Park


NEW HAVEN


EAST


D


Park


E


THE


HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.


GENERAL HISTORY.


CHAPTER I.


THE BOUNDARY, TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.


BY J. THOMAS SCHARF, LL.D.


THE American people, their lives, their institutions, and their civilization are so entirely different from what is presented elsewhere that as they make their history, so they must preserve its records. Never fettered by axioms, they avoid all prejudices that come from the past; not more attached to one line of operation than another, they are not prone to employ an old method rather than a new; without rooted habits, they easily shake off the influence which other nations might exercise. Their firm conviction is that their country is unlike any other, and that their situation is without a precedent in all the history of the world. No natural boundary restrains, in this country, the efforts of man, and what is not yet done is only what he has not yet attempted to do.


"The perpetnal change," remarks De Tocqueville, "which goes on in the United States, the frequent vicissitudes of fortune, accompanied by such unfore- seen fluctuations in private and in public wealth, serve to keep the minds of the citizens in a perpetual state of feverish agitation, which admirably invigorates their exertions, and keeps them in a state of excite- ment above the ordinary level of mankind. The whole life of an American is passed like a game of chance, a revolutionary erisis or a battle. As the same canses are continually in operation throughout the country, they ultimately impart an irresistible im- pulse to the national character. The American, taken as a chance specimen of his country, must then be a man of singular warmth in his desires, enterpris- ing, fond of adventure, and above all of innovation. The same bent is manifested in all that he does; he introduces it into his politieal laws, his religious doe- trine, his theories of social economy, and his domestic


occupations; he bears it with him into the depth of the baekwoods, as well as into the business of the city. It is this same passion, applied to maritime commerce, which makes him the cheapest and quickest trader in the world."


The inner life, the domestic history of any portion of a people which thus impressed the shrewdest and most philosophical of all European writers on America, requires and deserves a more detailed examination and presentation than is possible to the historian writing the social and political history of a nation, or even of one presenting the annals of a State. It is in the private life, in the principles that impress individual action, in the moral character of the men of business, in the purity of social life and in the virtues which embellish the home, that depend the value of our civilization and the permaneney of our political insti- tutions. Mr. Alison, in his "History of Europe," pro- phesied that " democratic institutions will not and can- not exist permanently in North America. The frightful anarchy which has prevailed in the Southern States since the great interests dependent on slave emanci- pation were brought into jeopardy, the irresistible sway of the majority, and the rapid tendeney of the majority to deeds of atrocity and blood, the inereasing jealousy, on mercantile grounds, of the Northern and Southern States, all demonstrate that the Union eannot permanently hold together, and that the innumerable millions of the Anglo- American race must be divided into separate States, like the descendants of the Gothic conquerors of Europe. Out of this second great settlement of mankind will arise separate kingdoms, and interests and passions, as ont of the first. But democratie habits and desires will still prevail, and long after the necessity and the passions of an advanced stage of civilization have established firm and aristocratic governments, founded on the sway of property in the old States, republican ambition and jealousy will not cease to impel millions to the great wave that ap-


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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.


proaches the Rocky Mountains. Democratic ideas will not be moderated in the New World till they have performed their destined end, and brought the Christian race to the shores of the Pacific." All the convulsions thus predicted have taken place with even greater force and consequences than the historian contemplated, and yet our Union is preserved in greater strength and more apparent durability than was thought possible by its most enthusiastic admirer. The practical common sense, the wise and exalted patriotism of the people, have brought order out of confusion, removed obstacles to progress, destroyed institutions inimical to liberty, and placed their country, its institutious and its government upon a higher plane of progress and duration than was thought to be possible by the wisest of its founders. All the causes and consequences of our general history fall properly within the scope of the political histo- rian,-it is our more limited and restricted duty to collect and preserve the data of a small, yet mighty, part of the whole country, and to show what exists to-day in a single county of a great State, what forces in the past produced that wonderful wealth and civilization, that wise and exalted patriotism, that tact and shrewdness in business, that astounding material development, which illustrates the wealth and wisdom of Westchester County.


BOUNDARY .- The northern boundary line of West- chester County, as it is at present marked, was fixed at the time the county was erccted November 1, 1683, and at the same time Long Island Sound was desiguated as the southern boundary, and the Hudson River as the western boundary. The linc between New York and Connecticut has for more than two centuries been a matter of dispute between the two States, and consequently the Eastern boundary line only has a history to be traced.




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