USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 31
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be returned. He was directed to inform the British officer that the American sentinels had always been instructed not to fire on sentinels unless they were first fired upon, and then to return the fire; that such would be their conduct ; as to the cannon- ading of Col. Morris's house, they might act their pleasure. The firing ceased for some time; but a raw Scotch sentinel having been planted one day, he very soon after discharged his piece at an American sentinel nearest to him, which was imme- diately returned ; upon which a British officer came down, and called to the American officers, observing that he thought there was to be no firing between the sentinels. He was answered, that their own began; upon which he replied, "he shall then pay for it." The sentinel was directly after relieved, and there was no firing between the sentinels, at that place, any more, and they were so civil to each other, on the posts, that one day, at a part of the creek where it was practicable, the British sentinel asked the American, who was nearly opposite to him, if he could give him a chew of tobacco; the latter, having in his pocket a piece of thick twisted roll, sent it across the creek to the British sentinel, who, after taking off his bite, sent the remainder back again."a
"On the 6th of October, 1776, (continues General Heath,) orders were given for throwing up a new work on Harlem creek below the wood at Morrisania."b
After the retreat of the American army northwards and the settlement of their lines on the Croton, the British refugee corps were stationed at Morrisania, under the command of Col. James de Lancey, who held his head quarters at Col. Morris's house. Here the British appear to have been kept in a constant state of alarm by their vigilant enemies. Upon the 5th of August, 1779, (says Heath) about 100 horse of Sheldon's, Moyland's, and of the militia, and about forty infantry of Glover's brigade, passed by De Lancey's mills to the neighborhood of Morrisania, where they took twelve or fourteen prisoners, some stock, &c. The enemy collected, a skirmish ensued, in which the enemy had a
& Heath's Mem. p. 62.
b Ibid. 68.
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number of men killed and wounded; our loss, two killed and two wounded."a The frequency of these attacks compelled De Lancey to shift his quarters under the British guns of Fort No. 8, in Fordham. The dwellings at Morrisania were burnt on the same day with the Westchester court house.
The property of William H. Morris is situated on the high ridge west of the mill brook vale. The house built by James Morris, Esq., occupies the site of one much older, erected in 1795. It is handsome, and well placed, and the neighborhood is rendered ex- tremely beautiful by the inequality of the ground, and the fine mixture of wood and pasture, which diversifies the appearance of the vales and eminences. Within are some good paintings, viz., James Morris, Benjamin Peale ; Hon. Daniel Webster, Frothingham ; and General Staats Long Morris, artist unknown. A broad and fine carriage road, lined on either side with elms, b is terminated by a picturesque view of the small hamlet of Morrisania. At no great distance stands the residence of the late Commodore Valentine Morris, now occupied by Mr. John Ray.
Upon the east side of the Mill brook lies the old race course, which is said to have been established by General Staats Long Morris, one of the first importers of blooded horses at the north. The western portion of Morrisania is watered by Cromwell creek,c which discharges into the Haarlem river. The principal seats which embellish this part of the town are those of Mr. Anderson and Mr. Wells, &c.
The Manor of Fordham,d which forms the last division of West Farms, was, as we have noticed, originally included in the township of Westchester. Its early Indian proprietors appear to have been the sachems Fecquemeck, Rechgawac and Packana- riens, who sold the lands of Kekeshiek, bordering the Haarlem
& Heath's Mem. 214.
b One of these trees measures fourteen feet in circumference, while its branches afford a shade of 120 feet.
On this stream a mill was erected by Lewis Morris in 1760, of which nothing remains but the mill dam.
d A word of Saxon origin, and compounded of Ford (ford) ham (mansion.)
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River, to the Dutch West India Company, A. D. 1639.a In 1646, we find the whole of Fordham, as well as the Yoncker's land, in the possession of Adriaen van der Donck, whose widow Mary conveyed them to her brother, Elias Doughty. The fol- lowing sales appear under the hands of the latter in 1666-7 : "Know all men, by these presents, that I, Elias Doughty, of Flushing, do sell unto Mr. John Archer, of Westchester,b his heirs and assignees, fourscore acres of land and thirty acres of meadow, lying and being betwixt Brothers' River and the wa- tering place at the end of the Island of Manhatans ; and if the land be not fit to cleare for the plow or hoe, this land is to lye together ; and if there be not all such land together as there should, or if there should happen eight or ten acres of land that is not for such use, then the said Archer is to have it with the rest ; and he shall have equal right privilege in the commons as any other man shall have within that Patent that hath no more arable land ; and the meadow is to be mowed all. As witnesse my hand this 1st of March, 1666. As witnesse, if there should lye any more land, that is to say, between thirty and forty acres, it is all in common, and I am to give the said Archer a firme bill of sale under my hand and seal.
" ELIAS DOUGHTY.
" I, Elias Doughty, do own to have received full satisfaction of the said Archer for the said lands and meadow ; the house is yet to be : and he, the said Archer, is to have his within the abovesaid tract of land. September the 18th, 1667.
" It is to be understood that Mr. John Archer is to have the freshest meadow (boggy) that lyeth in the north side of West- chester path between the Patent of Mr. O'Neale, within his se- cond purchase, upon consideration that the said John Archer shall pay to the said Doughty, &c. &c. ; as witness my hand.
" ELIAS DOUGHTY.
Examined by John West."
By these and other purchases, John Archer, Esq., eventually
a See Yonkers.
b Vol. ii 179.
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became seized in fee of 1253 acres. Upon the 13th of Novem- ber, 1671, Francis Lovelace issued the following letters patent, under the great seal of the province :-
Francis Lovelace, Esq., one of the gentlemen of his Majestie's Hon'ble Privy Chamber, and Governor-General under his Royal Highness, James, Duke of York and Albany, and of all his territories in America, to all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting : Whereas, there is a certain par- cel or tract of land within this government, upon the main continent, situate, lying and being to the eastward of Harlem River, near unto ye passage com- monly called Spiting Devil, upon which land ye new dorp or village is erected known by the name of Fordham-ye utmost limits of the whole tract or parcel of land beginning at the high wood land that lyes due northwest over against the first point of the main land to the east of the island Pepiriniman-there where the hill Moskuta is-and soe goes alongst the said kill, the said land striking from the high wood land before mentioned east southeast, till it comes to Bronk's, his kill ; soe westward up alongst ye main land to the place where Harlem Kill and Hudson River meet, and then forth alongst Harlem Kill to the first spring or fountain, keeping to the south of Crabb Island ; soe east- ward alongst Daniel Turner's land, the high wood land, and ye land belonging to Thomas Hunt ; and then to Bronk's Kill afore mentioned, according to a survey lately made thereof by the surveyor-general-the which remains upon record ; all which said parcel or tract of land before described being part of the land granted in the grand patent to Hugh O'Neal, and Mary his wife, pur- chase was made thereof, by John Archer, from Elyas Doughty, who was in- vested in their interest as of the Indian proprietor, by my approbation, who all acknowledge to have received satisfaction for the same : and the said John Archer having, at his own charge, and with good success, begun a township in a convenient place for the relief of strangers, it being the road for passen- gers to go to and fro from the main, as well as for mutual intercourse with the neighboring colony, for all encouragement unto him, the said John Archer, in prosecution of the said design, as also for divers other good causes and con- siderations : know yee, that by virtue of ye commission and authority unto me given by his royal highness, upon whom, by lawful grant and patent from his majestie, the propriety and government of that part of the main land, as well as Long Island, and all the islands adjacent, amongst other things, is settled, I have given, granted, ratificd and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, ratify and confirm to ye afore mentioned John Archer, his heirs and assignees, all the said parcel or tract of land butted and bounded as aforesaid, together with all the lands, soyles, woods, meadows, pastures, marshes, lakes, waters, creeks, fishing, hawking, hunting and fowling, and all ye profits, com- modityes, emmoluments and hereditaments to the said parcel or tract of land or premises belonging or in any wise appertaining, and of every part and par- cel thereof ; and I doe likewise grant unto ye said John Archer, his heirs and VOL. II. 41
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assignees, that the house which he shall erect, together with ye said parcel or tract of land and premises, shall be forever hereafter held, claimed, reputed, and be an entire and enfranchised township, manor and place of itself, and shall always, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, have, hold and en- joy like and equal privileges and immunities with any town enfranchised or manor within this government, and shall, in no manner of way, be subordinate or belonging unto, have any dependance upon, or in any wise be under the rule, order or direction of any riding, township, place or jurisdiction either upon the main or Long Island, but shall, in all cases, things and matters, be deemed, reputed, taken and held as an absolute, entire, enfranchised township, manor and place of itself in this government, as aforesaid, and shall be ruled, ordered and directed, in all matters as to government, by ye governor and his council, and ye general conrt of assizes, only always provided that the inhab- itants of the said town, or any part of the land granted as aforesaid, shall be obliged to send forward to ye next town or plantation all public pacquetts and letters, or hue and cryes, comming to this place or going from it towards or to any of his majestie's colonies ; and I do further grant unto the said John Archer, his heirs and assignees, that when there shall be a sufficient number of inhabitants in the town of Fordham aforementioned, and the other parts of ye manor capable of maintaining a minister, and to carry on other public af- fairs ; that then the neighboring inhabitants between the two kills of Harlem and Bronk's be obliged to contribute towards the maintenance of their said minister and other necessary public charges that may happen to arise, and likewise that they belong to the said town, according to the direction of the law, although their said farms and habitations be not included within this pa- tent, to have and to hold ye said parcel and tracts of land, with all and singu- lar the appurtenances and premises, together with the privileges, immunities, franchises and advantages herein given and granted unto the said John Ar- cher, his heirs and assignees, unto the proper use and behoof of him, the said John Archer, his heirs and assignees forever, fully, truly and clearly, in as large and ample manner, and from and with such full and absolute immunities and privileges as is before expressed, as if he held the same immediately from his majesty, the King of England, and his successors, as of the manor of East Greenwich, in the county of Kent, in free and common soccage and by fealty, only yealding, rendering and paying yearly and every year unto his royal high- ness, the Duke of York and his successors, or to such governor and governors as from time to time shall by him be constituted and appointed, as all acknow- ledgment and quit rent, twenty bushels of good peas, upon the first day of March, when it shall be demanded. Given under my hand, and sealed with the seal of the province at Fort James, in New York, on the island of Man- hattan, this thirteenth day of November, in the twenty-third year of the reign of our sovereign lord, Charles the Seccond, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and Anno Domini, 1671.
FRANCIS LOVELACE.
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Sometime prior to 1672, Daniel Turner purchased forty mor- gen of land from the Indian sachems Shahash Panazarah and others, bounded west by Harlem River, &c. This sale is pre. sumed to have embraced Devoe's Point, called by the aborigines Nuasin. On the 15th of June, 1668, Richard Nicoll, governor of the province, confirmed to the above grantee all that parcel of land " situated upon the maine, lying and being to the north of Broncks's land, beginning at the mouth of Maenneppis-kill, (now ! known as Cromwell's Creek,) and goes into the woods the depth of fifty rods, containing 80 acres," &c. &c.
Upon the restoration of the Dutch in 1673, we find the inhab- itants of Fordham, petitioning at a meeting of the governor-gen- eral, through counsellor Cornelius Steenwyck, in the village of New Harlem, 4th of October, 1673, " upon which occasion the inhabitants of Fordham appeared and complained, in substance, of the bad management of their lord, (land-heer,) John Archer, soliciting that they might be permitted to make the nomination of their own magistrates, &c. as is granted to all the other inhab- itants under this government ; on which, the aforesaid John Ar- cher, being summoned, this complaint was communicated to him, who voluntarily declared that he abdicated all authority and pa- tronage over the villages, reserving only to himself the property of the lands and houses there, and permitting the said inhabitants the nomination of their own magistrates, which was confirmed by the governor and council. The following act was granted them :
" The inhabitants of the village of Fordham are, by a majo- rity of votes, to choose a number of six persons of the best qualified inhabitants, and only those of the Reformed Christian religion, as magistrates of aforesaid village, and to present the aforesaid nomination, by the first opportunity, to the governor-general, from which he shall make the election. They are recommended to take care that at least the half of the nominated are of the Dutch na- tion. Done in this village of New Harlem, 4th of October, 1673.
" From the nomination of the inhabitants of Fordham, there are elected, by the governor, as magistrates of said village for the ensuing year,
" Johannes Verveelen, as schepen and secretary,
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" Michael Bastyensen,
" Valentyn Claessen.a
" Done at Fort William Hendricke, on the 1Sth Oct., 1673."
The following year, John Archer, Esq., laid claim to a neck of land called Humock Island, commonly named Papiriniman,b which he asserted he had by patent.
Upon the 25th of November, 1676, John Archer mortgaged the manor of Fordham to Cornelius Steinwyck, merchant of New York.
This indenture, made the twenty-fourth day of November, in the 2d year of the reign of our sovereign lord, Charles the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and Anno Domini 1676, between John Archer, owner and proprietor of the manor of Fordham, upon the main, near Spiting Devil, on the one part, and Corne- lius Steenwick, of the city of New York, merchant, on the other part, wit- nesseth, that the said John Archer, for, and in consideration of the sum of twenty-four thousand guilders seawant, or the value to him paid, secured to be paid at or before the ensealing and delivering of these presents by the said Cornelius Steenwick, whereof and wherewith he, the said John Archer, doth acknowledge and confess himself to be fully satisfied, and thereof doth clearly acquit and discharge the said Cornelius Steenwick, his heirs, executors, and administrators, hath allowed, granted, bargained and sold, and by these pre- sents doth fully, clearly and absolutely alien, grant, bargain and sell unto the said Cornelius Steenwick, his heirs and assigns forever, all his right, title and interest in the town and manor aforesaid, together with all the messuages, te- nements, buildings and fences thereupon, and all the land improved or other ways now in the tenure or occupation of him, the said John Archer, and others, his tenants or assigns, and also all and all manner of rents, duties and profits received or may be received, and payable for and in respect of every or any of the said barga ned premises, and also all and singular deeds, patents, eviden- ces and writings, touching and concerning the same, and the privileges therein contained, to have and to hold the said manor of Fordham, with the messua- ges and all and singular other the premises by these presents granted or in- tended to be granted, bargained and sold, with their and every of their appur- tenances, unto the said Cornelius Steenwick, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper nse and behoof of him, the said Cornelius Steenwick, his heirs and as- signs for ever, provided always, nevertheless, and upon the condition that if the said John Archer, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, or any of
« Alb. Rec. vol. xxiii. 26 and 52.
b See Yonkers.
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them at or in the new dwelling house of the said Cornelius Steenwick, sitnate and being in the city of New York, shall pay unto the said Cornelius Steen- wick, his heirs, executors, or administrators or assigns, that value of twenty- four thousand guilders, or the value, within the time and terms of seven years after the date hereof ; that is to say, before the twenty-fourth day of Novem- ber, which shall be in the year of our Lord, 1683, and also paying a yearly interest for the same until the principal be paid, at the rate of six per cent., as allowed by law, and that without fraud, or henceforth this present indenture or bargain and sale shall cease, determine, and be utterly void and of none effect to all intents, construction and purpose ; and that then also it shall and may be lawful for the said John Archer, his heirs and assigns, to enter into and upon the said bargained premises, wholly to re-enter, and the same to have again, and to possess as his and their former estates, any thing contained in these presents to the contrary notwithstanding : and whereas, the said John Archer, at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, hath deliv - ered to the said Cornelius Steenwick certain deeds, patent evidences in wri- ting, which he hath concerning the said bargained premises, he, the said Cor- nelius Steenwick, for himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, doth by these presents covenant and grant to and with the said John Archer, his heirs assigns, and every of them ; that if the said John Archer, &c. &c. recorded 25th of November, 1676.
On the 20th of November, 1684, Cornelius Steenwyck of New York, merchant, and Margaretta his wife, made their last will and testament in the Dutch language. After the usual preamble they express themselves to the following effect, viz. :
" We the said testators do declare that our earnest will and last desire is, that the general inheritance of us, the said testators, and between our heirs, shall be regulated after the form, manner, custom and practice of the Nether Dutch nation, and according to the articles made upon the surrendering of this place. And I, the said testator, with the free consent of my wife, by form of a legacy have given, granted, and legacied, as I, the said testator, by form of legacy, do give and grant by these presents, for and to the proper use and behoof of the Nether Dutch Reformed congregation within the city of New York, for the support and maintainance of their ministers ordained according to the church orders of the Netherlands, now at present here in being, or hereafter to be called, ordained, or to come, all the testator's right, property title, and heraditaments in and to the manor of Fordham, lying in the county of Westchester, together with all the lands, meadows, fields, woods, creeks, rivulets, and other waters, as also all the said testator's jurisdiction, right, title, action, and property, in and to the said manor of Fordham, with all the patents, deeds, schedules, hypothets, mortgages, and other instruments of writing to the said manor of Fordham belonging or in anywise appertaining, in
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as full and ample as the said mauor of Fordham now already in property is belonging, or hereafter more amply shall be confirmed unto the said testator by deed, conveyance, transport, hypothet, mortgage, judgement or otherwise, from er by any manner of way or means, of John Archer, deceased, last owner and proprietor of the said manor of Fordham.
And 1, the said testator, do further order and declare, as my last will and testament, the said manor of Fordham, together with all the benefits, profits, incomes, advantages, rents, and revenues, and all appurtenances thereof, shall be conveyed, transported, and made over, in a free, quiet, and full property and enjoyment by the testator's appointed executrix within the space of six months after the testator's decease, or upon lawful demand, to the elders and overseers of the Nether Dutch congregation, for the proper use and behoof of the minister of the said congregation, as herebefore at large is expressed and set forth, to be held in full propriety, possession, and enjoyment, inheritably and forever, by the said elders or overseers at the time of the testator's de- cease in being, and all others that from time to time shall succeed in their places, to the end and use as aforesaid, without any let or hindrance or con- tradiction of any person or persons whatsoever.
Provided always that none of the lands of said manor may be made away alienated contrary to the tenor of these presents, or otherwise disposed of, but from thenceforth forever be and remain as lands of inheritance towards the support and maintenance of the minister of said congregation is and recited and not otherwise. And finally, I, the said testator, do hereby declare that I have nominated, appointed, and authorized my aforesaid dear and loving wife Margaretta Recmur to be my only and lawful executrix of this my last will and testament, giving and granting by these presents unto her my said wife as full and ample power and authority as all other executors by law have and do enjoy, as in and by an English translated copy thereof and the said original Dutch will in the hands and custody of the said minister, elders and deacons fully and at large appear," &c., &c.
Soon after the making of this will the said Cornelius Steen- wych, died so seized and possessed of the manor as aforesaid.
Subsequently John Archer, the younger son and heir of John Archer, first grantor of the manor of Fordham, by an indenture bearing date the 16th of October, 1685, for and in consideration therein mentioned, did grant, release, and convey the said manor of Fordham, and his estate, right, and title of it and to the same, and the equity of redemption thereof, and all the deeds unto the aforesaid Margaretta Steenwyck, and make livery seizure there- of," &c. Upon the 10th of January, 1694, Dominie Henricus Selyns and Margaretta his wife, formerly Margaretta Steenwyck,
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by their certain deed poll, under their hands and seals, did grant and convey to Colonel Nicholas Bayard, Captain Isaac Vermil- yea, Jacob Bolen Rockloyzun, and John Harpendinck, then elders and overseers of the Nether Dutch Church within the city of New York, &c., and their lawful successors and heirs and posterity the said manor of Fordham, lying in the county of Westchester above mentioned, with all the lands and meadows, fields, woods, rivulets, creeks and other rivers, together with all the right, title, property, jurisdiction, and interest which either the aforesaid Cornelius Steenwyck or in quality as before in any other manner of way before that time had in the said manor of Fordham, and its appurtenances, whether it be by right from the said John Archer or from his son, John Archer, jr., to be held and forever enjoyed, used, and possessed, and held in full and absolute property, as an hereditary estate, by the said elders and overseers of the aforesaid congregation who were then in being, with all the profits, incomes, benefits, and revenues, for the better support and maintainance of the said minister, called pursuant to order of the church of Netherlands then present or that should thereafter be called and come.
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