A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time, Part 29

Author: Bolton, Robert, 1814-1877. cn
Publication date: 1848
Publisher: New York, Printed by A.S. Gould
Number of Pages: 640


USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 29


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And now, having thus disposed of that outward estate and substance that it hath pleased God to possess me of, I commit my soul to God, &c.


& In testimony whereof, I the s'd Lewis Morris, have hereunto to this my last will and t't subscrib'd, sign'd and fixed my seal, at my plant'n over against Harlem, in the p'e N. Y., this seventh day of this twelfth month called Feb- ruary, in the year 1690, in presence of Johannis Vermilje, Jan Tibout, Lamu- eert Zoches, Davied Lillies, marks of Susannah Roberts-Wm. Bickley.


BY THE COMMANDER IN CHEIF.


Whereas, Lewis Morris, gent., administrator of the goods,


294


HISTORY OF THE


rights and credits of Lewis Morris, deceased, is obliged to make and exhibite a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, rights and credits of the said dece'sd, into the surveyor's office of this province. These are to authorize and impower you, Stephanus v. Cortlandt, Nicholas Bayard, John Pell and William Richardson, to make a true and faithfull appraisement of the goods, rights and credits aforesaid, according to the best of your knowledge and discretion, and for so doing, this shall be to you a sufficient warrant. Dated at Fort William Henry, the 23d of October, 1691.


Richard Ingoldsby to Stephanus van Cortlandt, Nich Bayard, John Pell and William Richardson, Lewis Morris, inventory. A true inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of Coll. Lewis Morris, deceased, appraised at the plantation, the day of 1691, by Coll. Ste- phanus van Cortlandt, Coll. Nicholas Bayard, John Pell and William Richardson, Esq., by virtue of a warrant to them directed, under the hand of the commander-in-chief and seal of the prerogative office, bearing date the day of October, Anno 1691, and exhibited in the surveyor's office, being the prerogative registry of this province by Lew.s Morris, administrator of all the goods, chattels and credits of the said Coll. Lewis Morris, deceased.


Imprimus, 161.


Shop goods.


36 Armes v Alry, (vitriol) at 2s 6d, £ s. d.


10 14 00


8 pieces and § strouds, 44 00 00


3 tunn of iron at 141b. p. tunn,


42 00 00


30 yds. and § of black silk prunella,


10 15 00


39 yds. lutestring,


12 00 00


3 pieces of 10 yds. bagg, Holland, 33 yds. in each piece, at 8d. 43 12 00


7 pices white calicoes, at 20s.


7 00 00


300lb. white sugar,


7 10 00


16 pr. of women's worsted hose, at


2 8 00


16 pd. varne,


0 16 00


1 case black hefted knives,


0 6 00


10lb ginger,


0 2 00


a Arms, (aams) an old Dutch measure.


COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.


295


£ s. d.


8 yds. red caddis,


0 0 8


12 yds Scotch tikkin,


1 16 00


- 6 yards English tick, 1 black leather saddie,


1 4 00


1 00 00


3 yds duffells,


0 12 00


45 yds Penny stone, at 2s 6d,


5 12 00


53 yds. Loskoram, at 15d,


3 6 3


16 inkhornes,


0 6 00


12 mille pins,


0 14 00


195 9 5


5 ivory combs,


0 2


6


6 horne and wood ditto,


0


1 6


4 mille needles,


0


3 9


5 pair shoe buckles,


0


1


3


4 pr. knitting needles,


0 3 6


2 doz. fish hooks,


0 6 00


9 yds. mock medley,


2 14 00


6 gimbletts,


0 2 00


10 doz. gimp buttons,


0 . 4


5 yds. fustian,


0 7 6


3 lb. white and brown thread,


0 15 00


3 oz. silk,


0 6 00


2 suites dampceriyed curtains,


2 0 00


13 yds diaper linnen,


0 19 00


6 yds ozenbriggs,


0 6 00


14 yds dampureyed swanskin,


0 14 00


9 ditto white bay damnifyed,


0 18 00


6 ditto kersy, at


1 4 00


6 ditto serge, at


1 0 00


8ª ditto topsills,


0 5 00


1 } hair plush,


0 6 00


8 pair womens knit gloves,


0 8 0


1 doz. ditto kid,


1


4 00


6 pr. mens sheep, ditto,


0 6 0


8 pr. damnified bodice and stomacher,


1 0 00


4 pr mens worsted hose,


0 10 00


2 mens thread hose,


0 8 00


2 Spanish leather skinns,


0 18 00


4 shamy skins full of holls,


0 6 00


6 yds move,


1 16 00


16 yds persian silke,


0 00


3 ditto course cambrick,


2 5 00


296


HISTORY OF THE


19 yards hair barattinc, 22 yds stript blew, 4 yds scarlett, at 3d,


£ s. d.


2 17 00


2 4 00


6 0 00


232 19


4


9} yds hair chamblett,


4 5 00


4 pieces and remnant pintados,


3 0 00


5 yds. crape,


0 5 00


5 yds shalloon,


1 5 00


6 yds. worsted drogged,


0 12 00


1 lb. mounry,


0 8 00


20 lb. cordage,


0 10 00


A parcell sadlery,


2 10 00


4 lb. white lead, at 6d,


0 2 00


20 1b. red oker,


0


5 00


22 calve skinns,


3 6 00


40 hog skinns,


6 0 00


2 pr. silk hose,


2


0 00


5 yds. red baye


0 7 6


1 pair red stockings, wosted, women,


0 7 00


1 pr. green silke hose,


0 15 00


Household linnen,


19 Holland sheets,


29


5 00


15 pr. other linnen sheets,


9


0 00


9 diaper table cloaths,


4 10 00


7 damask table cloaths,


9 0 00


9 Ozenbriggs,


0 18 00


6 damask cupboard cloathis.


0 18 00


5 doz. damask napkins,


10 0 00


3 doz. diaper napkins,


1 16 00


5 doz. Ozenbrigg's napkins,


2 9 6


5 towels,


026


41 pillow cases,


2 11 3


Household stuff.


13 cane chairs, broken and out of order,


3 18 6


12 old Turkey worke chairs,


3


0 00


2 wicker chairs,


0 8 00


6 leather chairs,


1 4 00


3 couches,


3 0 00


340 16


9


Balance,


340 16 9


297


COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.


2 panns,


4 low chairs,


0 16 00


1 suite tapestry hangings,


35 0 00


1 pr. blanketts dam ,


0 6 00


6 Turkey cushions,


0 18 00


3 Turkey carpetts,


6 0 00


10 tables,


2 0 00


5 cloath and searge carpets,


2 5 00


1 clock and case,


5 0 00


1 marble mortar,


1 19 00


1 lignum vitæ, ditto,


0 9 00


2 skreenes,


0 6 00


4 looking glasses,


2 0 00


4 trunks,


1 4 00


1 scriptore,


5 o CO


A parcell books,


12


0 00


2 presses apparrell,


3 0 00


1 Jack and 3 spitts,


2 0 00


3 cases of bottles of spirits,


4 8 00


1 watering pott,


0 6 00


4 pr. bellows,


0 6 00


5 chests,


1 10


0


4 ditto drawers,


16


0 0


1 weather glass,


0 18 0


1 speaking trumpet,


0 60


1 redd plush saddle,


1 10


0


6 hammockers,


5 8 0


1 callico quilt,


2 10


0


1 hd. and } salt,


1 16


0


1 cwt. white tallow,


2


1


8


Scales and beams, and 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 16 lb. weight,


2


0 0


6 barrels beef and 2 ditto pork,


14 0 0


(4) 3 galls. spirits,


0 12 0


1 barrell molasses,


1 10


0


£159 10


5


1 barrel Movado sugar, 1 firkin soap, home made, 244 1b. Casteel soap at 7d.


0 6 0


7 2 4


Pewter,


6 doz. and 5 plates,


2 cisterns,


4 stands,


5 salts,


VOL. II.


38


0 12 00


3 9 0


298


HISTORY OF THE


8 basons, 2 cheese plates, 2 pye plates, 4 old pewter candl,


1 egg dish, 1 ordpann, 1 fruit pott, (168) 4 quart potts, 4 saucers,


18 platers. 1 flask and bold standish,


1 lanbeck and 1 pewter worm. In all 364 1b. at 10d. per lb. Iron 15 3 4


Andirons, grate tongs, fire shovels, racks, tramells, iron potts, trevetts, dripping pan, cleavers, frying panns, fenders, &c., in all 927 lb. at 7d. Hooks and eyes, . 27 0 9


2 anchors and 2 graplins gt. 319, at 6d. Copper


7 19 6


1 copper kettle,


6 potts,


1 desertion copper,


1 cooler.


1 copper still. Qt in all 416 lb. at 18d. Brass. 31 40


2 brass kettles,


3 stewpans, candlesticks, &c., of brass, implements cont. 102 lb. at 15d. 6 7 6


£558 2 10


2 boxes candles, qt. 150 at 6d. 3 15 0


Steele


40 1b. at 12d.


200


1 whip saw, qt. appraised among the former impl.


Bedsteads and Bedds.


One bedd and furniture in the great room, 25 0 0


One in the dining room,


18


0 0


One in the lodging room,


15


0


5 bedds without furniture,


20 0 0


Plate.


900 oz. plate at 6s. 9d.


303 15 0


Cash and wampum,


0 4 other ditto,


36


0 0


89 2 0


299


COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.


Gold.


(169) 180 guyneys,


243 0 0


1 double guiney,


2 14 0


23 jacobuss,


34 10 0


6} ditto,


4 10 0


4} ditto,


1 10 0


1 pistolle,


4 0


2 double doubloons,


9 12


5 pr small clasps,


1 bullett,


1 plain piece,


1 single tooth-pick,


1 double ditto,


1 case ditto with small bodkin,


2 bodkins,


1 mourning ring,


1 heart with lock of hair,


1 mash bead,


cont. in all 4 oz. 5 pwts. and 5 grs. at 41. 13s. 9d. per oz. 19 19 0 .


Debts good and bad,


. 2194 0 0


112 bottles, four of them with syrup, and other odd things, ·


1 8 0


Wheat.


540 bushells at 3s.


81 0 0 .


50 acres of wheat at 12s.


.


30 0 0


24 oxen,


72


0 C


17 cows,


34 0 0


4 bulls,


8 00


8 year and vantage,


10 0 0


5 yearlings,


3 15 0


2 calves,


0 12 0


30 horses, mares, and colts,


60 0 0


30 head of swine,


9 0 0


147 sheep,


36 15 0 (170)


20 3 earts and 1 pr timber wheels, 0 0


1 sloop and yall,


74 00


1 yall and pinnace,


10 0 0


0 6 0 12 lb. deer suett at 6d.


Hangings of the lodging rooms, three old cabbinetts for all tools and


utensils for the farme and family, and apparell not particularized, 20 0 0


.


Plantation Impl'ts.


Stock, viz.


£3661 13 10


300


HISTORY OF THE


24 galls. refined molasses at 18d.


1 16 0


£4134


5 10


N.B. Miss addition in folio 4,


15 4 0 .


£1149


9 10


Negroes.


22 man negroes at 201.


440


0 0


11 women at 157.


165


0 0


6 boys at 15l.


90


0 0


2 garles at 121.


24 0 0


25 children at 5l.


125 0 0


£844 0 0


3 box irons and heaters,


1 little letter box,


Memorandum ; we finde in fol. the particulars by the apppraise-


ment to amount to the summe of,


195 14 5


in ful. 2,


38 0 4


in fol. 3,


.


107 18 3


in fol. 4,


135 7 8


in fol. 5,


98 12 5


in fol. 6,


3023 11 0


in fol. 7,


472 11 0


£4071 16 1


Besides the negroes in fol. 7, more,


844 0 0


Appraised by us underwritten.


More 17 doz. scissors at 3s. 2 11 0


7 cwt. 1 qr. 9 1b. old lead


at 30s. per cwt. 11 0 0


STEP. V. CORTLANDT, N. BAYARD, JOHN PELL,


WM. RICHARDSON.


£13 11 0


S. V. CORTLANDT.


Exhibited the seventeenth day of February, 1691, by Lewis Morris, ad- ministrator, &c, for a true and perfect inventory, &c., but under protestation of adding, &c., if &c.


L. MORRIS.


Lewis Morris, heir of his uncle Lewis, and third proprietor of Morrisania, appears to have been a man of extraordinary talents. Chief Justice William Smith informs us, that of all the members of the New York assembly in 1710, "Colonel Morris had the greatest influence on our public affairs. He was a man of letters,


301


COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.


and, though a little whimsical in his temper, was grave in his manners, and of penetrating parts. Being excessively fond of the society of men of sense and reading, he was never wearied at a sitting till the spirits of the whole company were dissipated. From his infancy he has lived in a manner best adapted to teach him the nature of man, and to fortify his mind for the vicissitudes of life. He very early lost both his father and mother, and fell under the patronage of his uncle, formerly an officer of very con- siderable rank in Cromwell's army ; who, after the Restoration,


disguised himself under the profession of Quakerism, and settled on a fine farm within a few miles of the city, called, after his own name, Morrisania. Being a boy of strong passions, the general indications of a fruitful genius, he gave frequent offence to his uncle, and, on one of these occasions, through fear of his resentment, strolled away into Virginia, and thence to Jamaica in the West Indies, where, to support himself, he set up for a scrivener."a " As a proof of his boyish propensities, (says Mr. Dunlap,) we are told that when a pupil to Luke Coppathwait, a Quaker, Lewis, hid himself in a tree by which his teacher was to pass, and in a feigned voice, with great solemnity called upon Luke, (from above, of course,) and ordered him to go and preach the gospel among the Mohawks. Luke considered the bidding miraculous, and prepared to obey, when either by compunction of the boy, or other means, he was undeceived. After several years passed in the West Indies, the wanderer returned to Mor- risania, and was received by his uncle with forgiveness and joy. 'To settle him for life, the uncle brought about a marriage be- tween Lewis and Miss Graham,"b " a fine lady, (continues Mr. Smith,) with whom he lived above fifty years, in the possession of every enjoyment which good sense and polite manners in a woman could afford."c


Upon the Sth of May, 1697, Lewis Morris obtained royal let- ters patent from King William the Third, erecting Morrisania into a township and manor, to be holden of the king in free and


& Smith's HIstory of N. Y.


Smith's Hist. of N. Y.


b Dunlap's Hist. N. Y. vol. i. 278.


302


HISTORY OF THE


common soccage, its lord yielding and rendering therefore annu- ally, on the Feast Day of the Annunciation of our blessed Virgin Mary, the rent of six shillings.


THE ROYAL CHARTER.


William the Third, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &e., to all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting : Whereas, the Hon'ble Edmund Andross, Esq., Seigneur of Sausmarcz, late governor of our province of New York, &e., by a certain deed or patent, sealed with the seal of our said province of New York, bearing date the 25th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1676, pur- suant to the commission and authority then in him residing, did confirm unto Col. Lewis Morris, of the Island of Barbadoes, a certain plantation or tract of land laying or being upon the maine over against the town of Haerlem, com- monly ealled Bronekse's land, containing 250 margin or 800 aeres of land, besides the meadow thereunto annexed or adjoining, butted and bounded as in the original Dutch ground brief and patent of confirmation is set forth; which said tract of land and meadow, having been by the said Col. Lewis Morris long possessed and enjoyed, and having likewise thereon made good improve- ment, he, the said Edmond Andross, late governor of our said province, did further, by the said deed or patent, sealed with the seal of our said province, and bearing date as aforesaid, we grant and confirm unto the said Col. Lewis Morris, for his further improvement, a certain quantity of land adjacent unto the said tract of land-which land, with the addition, being bounded from his own honse over against Haerlem, running up Haerlem River to Daniel Tur- ner's land, and so along this said land northward to John Archer's line, and from thence stretching east to the land of John Richardson and Thomas Hunt, and thence along their lands southward to the Sound, even so along the Sound about southwest through Bronck's hill to the said Col. Lewis Morris' house- the additional land containing (according to the survey thereof) the quantity of fourteen hundred and twenty aeres, to hive and to hold the afore-recited traet of land before possessed by him, and the additional land within the limits and bounds aforesaid, together with the woods and meadows, both salt and fresh, waters and ereeks, belonging to the said lands, unto the said Col. Lewis Morris, his heirs and assignees forever. under the yearly rent of four bushels of good winter wheat, as by the said deed or patent, registered in our secre- tary's office of our said province of New York, &c.,-relation being there- unto had-may more fully and at large appear. And whereas, our loving sub- ject, Lewis Morris, (nephew unto the said Col. Morris, lately deceased, his sole and only heir,) who is now, by right of descent and inheritance, peacea- bly and quietly seized and possessed of all the aforesaid tracts of land and premises within the limits and bounds aforesaid, hath, by his petition, present- ed unto our trusty and well beloved Benj. Fletcher, our Captain General and


303


COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.


Governor-in-chief of our said province of New York and territories dependant thereon in America, &c., prayed our grant and confirmation of all the afore- recited tracts and parcels of land and premises within the limits and bounds aforesaid ; and likewise that we would be graciously pleased to erect the said tracts and parcels of land, within the limits and bounds aforesaid, into a lordship or manor, by the name or title of the manor or lordship of Morrisania, in the county of Westchester ; and whereas, it is publicly manifest that the said Col. Lewis Morris, deceased, in his lifetime, and our said loving subject, his ne- phew and sole and only heir since his decease, have been at great charge and expense in the purchasing, settling and improving of the said tracts and par- cels of land, whereon considerable buildings have likewise been made ; and our said loving subject, being willing still to make further improvements there- on-which reasonable request, for his further encouragement, we being will- ing to grant ; and know yee, that we, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these presents do for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, ratify and confirm unto the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and assignees, all the aforesaid tracts and par- cels of land within the limits and bounds aforesaid, containing the quantity of one thousand, nine hundred and twenty acres of land, more or less, together with all and every the messuages, tenements, buildings, houses, out houses, barns, barracks, stables, mills, mill dams. mill howles, orchards, gardens, fences, pas- tures, fields, feedings, woods, underwoods, trees, timber, meadows, (fresh and salt,) marshes, swamps and pools, ponds, waters, water courses, brooks, rivulets, baths, inlets, outlets, islands, necks of land and meadow, peninsulas of land and meadow, ferries, passages, fishing, fowling, hunting and hawking, quarries, mines, minerals, (silver and gold mines excepted,) and all the rights, liberties, privileges, jurisdictions, royalties, hereditaments, benefits, profits, advantages and appurtenances whatsoever to the afore-recited tracts, parcels and necks of land, and mill, within the limits and bounds aforesaid belonging, adjoining, or in any way appertaining, or accepted, reputed, taken, known or occupied, as part, parcel or member thereof, to have or to hold all the aforesaid recited tracts and parcels of land within the limits and bounds aforesaid, containing the quantity of one thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of land, more or less, together with all and every the messuages, tenements, buildings, houses, out houses, barns, barracks, stables, mills, mill dams, mill houses, orchards, gardens, fences, pastures, fields, feedings, woods, underwoods, trees, timber, meadows, fresh and salt, marshes, swamps, pools, ponds, waters, water courses, brooks, rivers, rivulets, streams, creeks, coves, harbors, bridges, baths, strands, inlets, outlets, islands, necks of land and meadow, peninsulas, land and meadow, ferries, passages, fishing, fowling, hunting and hawking, quarries, mines and minerals, (silver and gold mines excepted.) and all the rights, liberties, privileges, jurisdictions, royalties, hereditaments, tolls, and benefits, profits, advantages, and appurtenances whatsoever, to the afore re- cited tracts, parcels and necks of land and mill within the limits and bounds


304


HISTORY OF THE


aforesaid, belonging, adjoining, or in any appertaining or accepted, reputed, taken, known unto him, the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and assinees, to the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of him the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and assinees forever, and moreover, that if our further special grace, certain knowledge, and mear motion, we have brought it according to the reasonable request of our said loving subject to erect all the aforerecited tracts and parcels of land and premises within the limits and bounds afore- said into a lordship and manor, and therefore, by these presents, we do, for us, our heirs and successors, erect, make and constitute all the afore-recited tracts and parcels of land within the limits and bounds afore-mentioned, together with all and every the above granted premises, with all and every of their appurtenances, unto one lordship or manor, to all intents and purposes, and 'tis our royal will and pleasure, that the said lordship and manor shall from henceforth be called the lordship or manor of Morrisania ; and know yee, that we reposing especial trust and confidence in the loyalty, wisdom, justice, prudence, and circumspection of our said loving subjects, do, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said Lewis Morris, and to the heirs and assinees of him the said Lewis Morris, full power and authority at all times forever hereafter, in the said lordship or manor, one court-leet, and one court- barron, to hold and keep at such time and times, and so often yearly as he or they shall see meet, and all fines, issues and amerciaments, at the said court- leet and court barron, to be holden within the said lordship or manor, to be set, forfeited or employed, or payable or happening at any time to be paya- ble by any of the inhabitants of or in the said lorship or manor of Morrissa- nia, or the limits and bounds whereof, and also all and every of the power and authority therein-before mentioned, for the holding and keeping the said court-leet and court barron from time to time, and to award and issue out the said accustomary writs, to be issued and awarded out of the said court-leet and court barron, to be kept by the heirs and assinees of the said Lewis Mor- ris, forever, or their or any of their stewards deputed and appointed with full and ample power and authority to distraine for the rents, serveses, and other sums of money, payable by virtue of the premises and all other lawful remedies and means, for the having, possessing, recovering, levying and enjoying the premises, and every part and parcel of the same, and all waifes, estrages, meeks, deadodans, goods or felons, happening and being forfeited within the said lordship or manor of Morrissania, and all and every sum and sums of money to be paid as a post fine, upon any fine or fines to be levyed, of any bounds, tenements or hereditaments within the said lordship or manor of Morrissania, together with the advowson and right of patronage, and all and every the church and churches erected or established, or thereafter to be erected or established within the said manor of Morrissania, and we do also give and grant unto the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and assinees, that all and each of the tenants of him the said Lewis Morris, within the said manor, may at all times hereafter, meet together and choose assesors, within the manor


305


COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.


aforesaid, according to such rules, ways and methods, as are prescribed for cities towns and counties within our province aforesaid, by the acts of gene- ral assembly, for the defraying the public charge of each respective city, town and county aforesaid, and all such sums of money assesed or levied, to dispose of and collect for such uses as the acts of the general assembly shall establish and appoint, to have and to hold, possess and enjoy, all and singular the said lordship or manor of Morrissania and premises, with all their and every of their appurtenances, unto the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and as- sinees forever, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and com- mon socage, according to the tenure of our manor of East Greenwich, in our county of Kent, within our realm of England, yielding, rendering and paying therefor, yearly and every year, on the feast day of the Annunciation of our blessed virgin, unto us, our heirs and successors, at our city of New York, the annual rent of six shillings, in lieu and stead of all former rents, dues, services and demands whatsoever, for the said lordship and manor of Morris- sania, and premises : in testimony whereof, we have caused the great seal of the said province to be affixed. Witnesse our trusty and well beloved Benja- min Fletcher, our capt. gen. and gov. in-chief of our province of New York, and the territories and tracts of land depending thereon, in America, and vice- admiral of the same, our lieutenant commander-in-chief of the militia and of all the forces by sea and land within our colony of Connectient, and of all the forts and places of strength within the same, in council at our fort in New York, the 8th day of May, in the ninth year of our reign, Anno Domini, 1697.ª


By command of his excellencey,


BEN. FLETCHER.


David Jameson, Sect'y,



NDEM


INCITT


Lewis Morris


Autograph and arms of Lewis Morris.


a Alb. Book of Pat. No. vii. 64 and 70.


VOL. II.


39


306


HISTORY OF THE


" The greatest part of the life of Lewis Morris, before the ar- rival of Governor Hunter, was spent in New Jersey,a where he signalized himself in the service both of the Proprietors and the Assembly. The latter employed him to draw up their complaint against my Lord Cornbury, and he was made the bearer of it to the Queen." "In 1732," remarks Dunlap, "a question was raised, whether Van Dam (who administered the government un- til the arrival of Cosby) should receive the whole salary allowed to a governor, and the opinion of the assembly was asked ; but they declined giving an opinion, leaving it to the council, who consented that the warrants should be drawn for the whole. Cosby, on his arrival and friendly reception by the assembly, waited until their adjournment, and then produced the King's instructions to take to himself one half the salary and emolu- ments, during Van Dam's administration, leaving him one half. Van Dam agrees, provided Cosby accounts for certain monies re- ceived by him, and shares with Van Dam such monies. Cosby refuses, and erects a court of exchequer to compel Van Dam to comply with his terms. Suits commence on their part, but Cosby appoints the judges. Van Dam denies the legality of the pro- ceedings. Chief Justice Morris declines to obey the Governor's orders in the case, as illegal, and is by him suspended, after serv- ing twenty years unimpeachably. James de Lancey was ap-




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