USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 33
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a On the 30th of April, 1802, Elisha Brewster and wife sold to Isaac Valentine " all that land bounded as follows : at a mulberry stump by the road that leads to New York, thence running southerly by and with said road to a black stump, froin thence by and with said road to the Indian graves," &c.
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Cornelius his X marke.
Joshua Knap, The U marke of Motepeattehow. John Odell his O marke.
Shapham C Cockinseka Z Orawapum CI
Kewetoham E Koawanoh < Moahpoatch T Pathunck Q Hohorises P Totonge 1
Oherowass X
Oramuptah -
This bill of sale is acknowledged by the said grantors to be their act and deed, before me in Rye, the day and year above written.
JOSEPH HORTON, Commissioner.ª
" 12th of April, 1694, Hachaliah Brown and Thomas Merritt were appointed to go with the Indians and renew the marks of the White Plains purchase, agreeing with the Indians as rea- sonably as they can."b " The same year Thomas Merritt and Joseph Galpin were chosen to lay out the land at the White Plains granted to Jonathan Horton by the town."c The next notice of this town occurs on the 9th of February, 1719, when, at a public meeting held by the proprietors of the White Plains, it was voted and agreed by the said proprietors that Captain Joseph Budd, John Hoyt, sen., John Horton, Caleb Hiatt, Samuel Purdy and George Lane, jr., layers out of the said purchase chosen by the said proprietors, for laying out all the above said land, as may appear by record bearing date February 11th, 1713, that the said layers out shall have for their trouble and industry for laying out the whole purchase and returning the bounds at or between the thirteenth day of April, which will be in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty, one hundred and ten acres of land lying between the lower end, the ridges and Mama- roneck river. At the above said meeting tis voted and agreed that David Ogden and Hachaliah Brown are to survey and lay out
a Rye Rec. lib. A.
৳ Rye Rec.
c Jbid.
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the above said one hundred acres and ten of land as above men- tioned."a
The following is a list of the proprietors, and the number of acres held by them under the survey.b
Joseph Horton, 18
Isaac Denham, 1
Joseph Budd, 26 Philip Galpin, 9
Francis Purdy, 2
Richard Lounsberry, 33
Deliverance Brown, 20
John Galpin, 5
George Lane, 23
John Horton, 15
Thomas Brown, 3
Joseph Horton, 17
John Frost, 20
Henry Disbrow, 8
Peter Brown, 32
Garrett Travis, 13
Peter Disbrow, 22
John Stockham, 7
John Merritt, 39
Jonathan Fowler, 19
Caleb Hiatt, 11
Richard Walter, 35
Samuel Hoyt, 42
Andrew Cox, 43
Timothy Knap, 16
Thomas Jeffrey, 21
Jacob Pease, 37
Isaac Sherwood, 38
George Kniffen, 12
Joseph Sherwood, 34
Joseph Purdy, 25
Francis Brown, 40
Benjamin Horton, 29
William Odell, 6
Isaac Odell, 31
Jonas Sherwood, 28
Joseph Galpin, 10
Thomas Lyon, 14
John Hoyt, 36
John Brondig, 4
Hachaliah Brown, 27
" In 1721, William Burnet, governor of New York, set out in order for patent, to Samuel Hunt, "a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Westchester, being part of a large tract commonly known by the name of the White Plains, beginning at three large white oak trees standing near together on the west side of Mamaroneck river, and runs thence south thirty-nine degrees west, thirty-one chains, &c., &c., containing two hundred and sixty acres after five acres deducted for every hundred acres for highways."c
Upon the 13th of March, 1721, his Excellency, William Burnet granted letters patent to Daniel Brundage for that tract of land in White Plains, beginning at a small white ash stake standing
a Rye Rec. lib. A.
b Sometimes called the second draught.
Alb. Book of Pat. No. viii. 442.
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on the east side of the Long Meadow brook, and runs thence south fifty-three degrees, west forty-three chains, to a heap of stones near the street, containing one hundred and ninety-five acres, the patentee yielding therefor on the festival of the Annun- ciation, the annual rent of twenty shillings and sixpence for every hundred acres.a
King George the Second the same year issued the following royal letters patent to Joseph Budd, John Hoit, and others.
CHARTER OF WHITE PLAINS.
George, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., To all to whom this present shall come. greeting : Whereas our loving subjects Joseph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb Hoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, John Horton, David Horton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Benjamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden, and William Yeomans, by their humble petition presented to our trusty and well beloved William Burnet, Esq., captain-general and governor-in-chief of our province of New York, in council, the twenty-first day of December last, did humbly pray that his said Excellency would be favourably pleased to grant to them, their heirs, and assignees, his true letters patent for their claims and purchase, lying within this province, in the county of Westchester, known by the name of the White Plains, in such manner and under such quit rent, provisions, and re- strictions as is and are directed in our royal commission and instructions to our said governor where petition was then and there received and considered of by our council of our said province, untill the first day of this inst., they did humbly advise our said governor, and consent that the prayer of the said petition be granted. In order to the granting whereof in pursuance of and in obedience to our royal instructions to his said Excellency, given at St. James the third day of June, one thousand seven hundred and twenty, in the sixth year of our reign, our said governor, together with George Clarke, Esq., sec- retary, and Cadwallader Colden, Esq., surveyor general of our said province, three of the commissioners appointed by our said instructions for setting out all lands to be granted within our said province of New York, did set out for the said Joseph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb Hoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, Jolin Horton, David Horton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Benjamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden, and William Yeomans, that tract or par- cel of land situate, lying and being in the county of Westchester, and is com-
a Alb Book of Pat. No. viii. 442.
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monly known by the name of the White Plains. Beginning at a large white oak tree marked with several letters, where two brooks fall into the west branch of Mamaroneck river, and runs thence by markt trees to Brunxes river near the place where a small brook falls into the said river by a bunch of elders, some of which are marked, thence up the stream of Brunxes river to an ash tree about seventeen chains above Anthony Miller's fulling mill, thence by marked trees to a white oak tree marked, near Long Meadow brook, then down the stream of the said brook to the lands laid out for Daniel Brundage then along his land to the said Long Meadow brook, then down the stream of the said brook to the place where it falls into Mamaroneck river, and down the stream of the said river to the land granted to Christopher Bridge, then along his line and to the lines of the land laid out for Samuel Hunt to Mamar .. oneck river, then down the stream of the said river to the place where the west branch falls into the said river, and then up the stream of the said west branch to the place where it begins, containing four thousand five hundred and thirty-five acres, with allowance for highways, and in the seting out of the said tract of land had regard to the profitable and unprofitable acres, and had taken care that the length of the said tract do not extend along the banks of any river, conformable to our said royal instructions, as by a certificate under their hands bearing date the tenth day of March last, entered of record in our secretary's office more fully and at large appears, which tract of land set out as aforesaid, according to our said royal instructions, and being willing to grant to the said Joseph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb Hoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, John Horton, David Horton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Ben- jamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden, and William Yeomans, their heirs and assignees, according to the prayer of their petition.
Know ye, that of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, we have given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto the said Jo- seph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb IIoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, John Horton, David Horton, Jona- than Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Benjamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden and William Yeomans, their heirs and assignees, all that, the said certain tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the county of Westchester, which is commonly known by the name of the White Plains, beginning at a large white oak tree marked with several letters, where two brooks fall into the west branch of Mamaroneck river, and runs thence by marked trees to Bronx's river, near the place where a small brook falls in- to the said river by a bunch of elders, some of which are marked, thenee up the stream of Brunx's river to an ash tree, about 17 chains above Anthony Miller's fulling mill, thence by marked trees to a white oak tree marked, near Long Meadow brook, then down the stream of the said brook to the lands laid out for Daniel Brondage, then along his land to the said Long Meadow brook,
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then down the stream of the said brook to the place where it falls into the Mamaroneck river, and down the stream of the said river to the land granted to Christopher Bridge, then along his line to the lines of the land laid out for Samuel Hunt, to Mamaroneck river, then down the stream, up the said river to the place where the west branch falls into the said river, and then up the stream of the said west branch to the place where it begun, containing four thou- sand four hundred and thirty-five acres, with allowance for highways, together with all and singular woods, underwoods, trees, timber, feeding, pastures, meadows, marshes, swamps, ponds, pools, waters, water courses, rivers, rivu- lets, runs and streams of water, fishing, fowling, hunting and hawking, mines, minerals, standing, being, growing, lying, or to be had, used and enjoyed within the limits and bounds aforcsaid, and all other profits, benefits, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and all that our estate, right, title, interest, benefit, claim and demand whatsoever, of, in, or to the same, and the reversion and rever- sions, remainder and remainders and the yearly rents and profits of the same, excepting, and always reserving out of this our present grant, unto us, our heirs and successors forever, all trees of the diameter of twenty-four inches and upwards at twelve inches from the ground, for masts for our royal navy, and also all such other trees as may be fit to make planks, knees and other things necessary for the use of our said navy, which now are standing, growing or being, or which forever hereafter shall be standing, growing or being in and upon any of the said land, with free liberty and lycense for any person or persons whatsoever, by us, our heirs and successors, or any of them, to be thereunto appointed under our or their sign manuel, with work - men, horses, waggons, carts and carriages, and without, to enter and come into and upon the said said lands and any part thereof, and there to fell, cut down, root up, hew, saw and rive, have, take, cart and carry away the same for the uses aforesaid, (excepting also and reserving all the silver and gold mines) to have and to hold all and singular the same certain tracts of land . and premises, with its hereditaments and appurtenances (excepting as before is excepted and reserved) unto the said Joseph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb Hoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, John Horton, David Horton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Benjamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden and Wil- liam Yeomans, their heirs and assignees forever, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and common soccage, as of our manor of East Green- wich, in the county of Kent, within our kingdom of Great Britain, yeilding, rendering and paying therefor yearly, and every year, forever, unto us, our heirs and successors, at our custom house in the city of New York, unto our or their collector or receiver general, for the time being, on the feast day of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, commonly called lady day, the annual rent of two shillings and six pence for every hundred acres thereof
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
in lieu and stead of all other rents, services, dues, dutyes and demands whatsoever, for the same four thousand four hundred and thirty-five acres of land so granted as aforesaid, provided, always, and these presents are upon this condition, that the said Joseph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb Hoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, John Horton, David Horton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Benjamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden and William Yeomans, their heirs and assignees, some or one of them shall and doc within the term and space of three years now next ensuing the date here- of, plant, settle, and effectually cultivate, at least three acres of land for every fifty acres of the land granted as aforesaid on default thereof, and if the said Joseph Budd, John Hoit, Caleb Hoit, Humphrey Underhill, Joseph Purdy, George Lane, Daniel Lane, Moses Knap, John Horton, David Hor- ton, Jonathan Lynch, Peter Hatfield, James Travis, Isaac Covert, Benjamin Brown, John Turner, David Ogden and William Yeomans, their heirs and assignees, or any other person or persons, by their privity consent or pro- curement, shall set on fire or burn the woods on the said lands or any part thereof, to clear the same so as to destroy, impair or hinder the growth of any of the trees that are or may be fit for masts, planks, knees or other timber for our royal navy, hereby reserved unto us, our heirs and successors, that then and in either of these cases, this our grant, and every article and clause therein or thereof, shall cease, determine and be void, everything therein contained to the contrary thereof, in any wise notwithstanding, and we do further of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, consent and agree, that these presents being entered upon record, as is here- tofore appointed, shall be good, effectual in law to all intents and purposes, against us, our heirs and successors, notwithstanding the not well reciting or our writing of the premises or any part thereof. In testimony whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent, and the great seal of our said province to be hereunto affixed to the same, to be entered of record in our secretary's office, in one of the books of patents there remaining. Witness our trusty and well beloved William Burnet, Esq., captain general and gov- ernor-in-chief of our province of New York, of our province of New Jersey, and of all the territories and tracts of land thereon depending, in America, and vice-admiral of the same at Fort George, in New York, the thirteenth day of March, in the eighth year of our reign, Anno Domini, seventeen hundred and twenty-one.
W. ROBIN, D. Secr'y.
The descendants of the ancient proprietors and patentees, (re- sident in White Plains) are still very numerous, viz. : the Hor- tons, Purdys, Browns, Merritts, Odells, Sherwoods, &c. &c.
The village of White Plains is pleasantly situated on a fine VOL. II. 44
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plain, three quarters of a mile east of the river Bronx, and con- tains about 700 inhabitants, 150 dwelling houses, a court house, jail, county clerk's and surrogate's offices, an Episcopal, a Pres- byterian, and two Methodist churches, a bank, two boys' semina- ries which are in a flourishing condition, and a female boarding school, four taverns, four stores, and a woollen factory, &c. The surface of the surrounding country is broken by a range of hills from the south, which diversify with a pleasing variety, both the soil and position of land thus distributed into portions for meadow, pasture and tillage.ª The whole town is also richly wooded and watered by the Bronx, Sheldrake and Mama- roneck rivers. These streams form romantic valleys, and supply numerous mill seats. Since the first settlement of this place, which commenced soon after its purchase from the Indians, in 1683, it has continued steadily to progress, and is now hardly to be excelled by any other inland village in the county. White Plains being a half shire town with Bedford, (which is sixteen miles north) the courts are held alternately at both places. The court house stands near the centre of the village, and occupies the site of the old building erected in 1759, upon the removal of the courts from Westchester. The first Court of Common Pleas as- sembled here, the 27th of May, 1760.
Court House, White Plains.
: Spafford's Gazetteer of N. Y.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
There are events connected with this spot, which will long live in the pages of American history. It was here that the Whigs of Westchester county appointed to meet the committees of the several towns to elect deputies to the continental congress, who were to assemble at Philadelphia, on the first day of Sep- tember, 1774. The proceedings of the various meetings held here would afford matter for a good sized volume, we shall there- fore present our readers " with a small part only of the impor- tant productions of those eventful times." The following reso- Intions were adopted by the freeholders and inhabitants of Rye and Westchester.
"On the 10th day of August, 1774, the freeholders and inhabi- tants of the township of Rye, made choice of John Thomas jr. Esquire, Robert Bloomer, Zeno Carpenter and Ebenezer Havi- land, for a committee to consult and determine with the commit- tees of the other towns and districts in the county of Westches- ter, upon the expediency of sending one or more delegates to con- gress to be held in Philadelphia, on the first day of September, next. The committee, after making choice of Ebenezer Havi- land as chairman, expressed their sentiments and resolutions in the following manner, which were unanimously approved :
" This meeting being greatly alarmed at the late proceedings of the British Parliament, in order to raise a revenue in America, and considering their late most cruel, unjust and unwarrantable act for blocking up the port of Boston, having a direct tendency to deprive a free people of their most valuable rights and privileges, an introduction to subjugate the inhabitants of the English colonies, and render them vassals to the British House of Commons, resolved, 1st, that they think it their greatest happiness to live under the illustrious house of Hanover, and that they will stedfastly and uniformly bear true and faithful allegiance to his majesty King George the Third, under the enjoy- ment of those constitutional rights and privileges, as fellow subjects, with those in England. 2ndly ; but we conceive it a fundamental part of the British constitution, that no man shall be taxed, but by his own consent, or that of his Representatives in Parliament.
And as we are by no means represented, we consider all acts of Parliament imposing taxes on the Colonies an undue exertion of power, and subversive of one of the most valuable privileges of the English constitution.
3d. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the act of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, and divesting some of the inhabitants of pri-
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vate property, is a most unparalled, rigorous and unjust piece of cruelty and despotism.
4th. That unanimity and firmness of measures in the Colonies, are the most effectual means to secure the invaded rights and privileges of America, and to avoid the impending ruin which now threatens this once happy country.
5th. That the most effectual mode of redressing our grievances, will be by a General Congress, of delegates from the different colonies, and that we are willing to abide by such measures as they in their wisdom shall consider ne- cessary to be adopted on that important occasion.
By order of the committee,
Ebenezer Haviland, Chairman.
The committee for the town of Rye will meet the committees of the other towns and districts in the co. of Westchester, on Monday the 22d day of this instant, at the court house in the White Plains, to return an answer to a let- ter from Mr. Isaac Low, chairmain of the committee of correspondence in New York.a
The Westchester resolutions were as follows :
" At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the Borough Town of Westchester, in New York, the 20th of August, 1774, James Ferris, Esq., Col. Lewis Morris, and Capt. Thomas Hunt, were chosen a committee to meet a committee of the different towns and precincts within this county, at the White Plains, on Monday the 22nd inst., to consult on the expediency of appointing one or more delegates to represent this county at the General Con- gress, &c., and James Ferris Esq. being unanimously chosen chairman ; the committee after considering the very alarming situation of their suffering brethren at Boston, occasioned by the late unconstitutional, arbitrary and op- pressive act of the British Parliament, for blocking up their port, as well as the several acts imposing taxes on the Colonies in order to raise a revenue in America, thought proper to adopt the following resolutions, which were unanimously agreed to : "resolved, Ist., that we do and will bear true alle- giance to his majesty George the third, King of Great Britain, and according to the British constitution.
2ndly, that we coincide in opinion with our friends in New York and every other Colony, that all acts of the British Parliament imposing taxes on the Colonies without their consent or by their representatives, are arbitrary and oppressive, and should meet the abhorrence and detestation of all good men, that they are replete with the purpose of creating animosities and dissensions between the mother country and the colonies, or thereby tend to destroy that
a American Archives, fourth series, vol. i.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
harmony and mutual agreement which is so much the interest of both to cherish and maintain.
3rd. That we esteem it our duty, and think it incumbent on all the Colonies in America, to contribute towards the relief of the poor and distressed people of Boston ; and that a person of this Borough be appointed to collect such charitable donations, within the same, as may be offered for their support.
4th. That as a division in the Colonies would be a sure means to counteract the present intention of the Americans in their endeavors to preserve their rights and liberties from the invasion that is threatened, we do most heartily recommend a steadiness and unanimity in their measures, as they will have the happy effects of averting the calamity that the late tyrannical act of the British Parliament would otherwise most assuredly involve us in.
5th. That to obtain a redress of our grievances it has been thought most advisable in the Colonies to appoint a General Congress ; we will take shelter under the wisdom of those gentlemen who may be chosen to represent us, and cheerfully acquiesce in any measures they may judge shall be proper in this very alarming and critical occasion.ª
JAMES FERRIS, Chairman.
Upon the 6th of April, 1775, appeared the following public notice, addressed to the freeholders and inhabitants of the county of Westchester.
" You are earnestly desired to attend a general meeting of the county to be held at White Plains, on Tuesday next, the 11th inst., to give your votes upon the questions :- Whether you are inclined to choose deputies to meet at the city of New York, in a Provincial Convention ? or, whether you are deter- mined to abide by the loyal and judicious measures already taken by your own worthy Representatives in the General Assembly of this Province, for a redress of American grievances ? The consequences that may arise from neglecting to attend at White Plains on Tuesday next, to declare your sentiments rela- tive to the appointment of deputies to meet in Provincial Congress, may be very fatal to this county. The friends of government and our happy consti- tution are therefore earnestly invited in person, to oppose a measure so replete with ruin and misery. Remember the extravagant price we are now obliged to pay for goods purchased from merchants in consequence of the new impor- tation agreement ; and when the new exportation agreement takes place, we shall be in the situation of those who are obliged to make bricks without straw."b
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