USA > New York > Westchester County > A history of the county of Westchester, from its first settlement to the present time > Part 41
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423
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
being the utmost bounds of the said Frederick Philips's land, formerly bought of the Indians, and from thence westwardly along the said creek Wegqueskeek to Hudson's river aforesaid, as by the said Indian deed, relation being there- unto had, may more fully and at large appear, and also another tract or parcel of land that was by the said Frederick Philips purchased of the native Indians Sapham, Ghoharius, Kakingsigo, on the 7th day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1684, which tract or parcel of land is situate, lying, and being to the eastward of the land of the said Frederick Philips between the creek called Nippiorha, or the Yonkers kill, and Bronk's river, beginning on the south side at the northerly bounds of the Yonkers land, and from thence along the aforesaid creek, Nippiorha, however it runs, till you come to the most north- erly bounds of the said Frederick Philips's lands, and from thence north-east into the woods unto Bronk's river, as it runs southerly to the eastward of the Yonkers land aforesaid, and from thence with a westerly lyne to the afore named Yonkers kill, or Nippiorha, as by the said Indian deed, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear, all which several tracts and parcels of land within the several respective limits and bounds aforeinen- tioned, and purchased by the said Frederick Philips of all and every the re- spective native Indians aforesaid, in manner aforesaid, were by the said Thomas Dongan, late gov. of our province, under the seal of our said pro- vince, bearing date as aforesaid, given, granted, ratified, and confirmed unto him, said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assigns, together with all and sin- gular the houses, buildings, messuages, tenements, and hereditaments, mills, mill-dams, rivers, runns, streams, ponds, with liberty to erect other mills or dams, or places convenient, woods, underwoods, quarries, fishing, hawking, hunting, and fowling, with all liberties, priviledges, and improvements whatso- ever to the said land and premises belonging or in any wise appertaining, to have and to hold all the aforesaid tract and tracts, parcel and parcels of land and pre- mises with their and every of their appurtenances unto said Frederick Phillips his heirs and assignees forever, as by the said grant or patent sealed with the seal of our said province, and registered in our secretary's office of our said province bearing date 23d day of December in the year of our Lord 1684 re- lation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear, and whereas the aforesaid Thomas Dongan late Gov. of our said province, by virtue of the said power and authority in him residing hath moreover by another grant or patent sealed with the seal of our said province and registered in our secre- tary's office aforesaid bearing date the 11th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1686 given, granted, ratified, and confirmed unto Philip Phillips eld- est son, of him the said Frederick Philips all that tract or parcel of land com- monly called by the Indians Sinck Sinck, and situate, lying, and being on the east side of Hudson's river by the northermost part of the land purchased by the said Frederick Philips, and so running alongst Hudson's river to a certain creek or river called Kichtawan, and from thence running alongst the said creek two English miles, and from thence running up the country upon a due
424
HISTORY OF THE
east lyne untill it comes unto a creek called Nippiorha, by the Christians Yonkers creek, and so running alongst the said creek untill it comes unto the northerly bounds of the said land of Frederick Philips aforesaid, and from thence alongst the said land untill it comes to Hudson's river, together with all manner of rivers, rivulets, runns, streams, feedings, pastures, woods, un- derwoods, trees, timbers, waters, water courses, ponds, pools, pits, swamps, moors, marshes, meadows, easements, proffits and commodities, fishing, fowl- ing, hunting, hawking, mines, minerals, quarries, (royal mines only excepted) and all royalties, profits, commodities, hereditaments and appurtenances what- soever to the said tract or parcel of land within the bounds and limits aforesaid, belonging or in any ways appertaining, to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land and all and singular other the premises with their and every of their appartenances, unto the said Philip Philips, his heirs and assigns forever, as by the said grant or patent, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear, and whereas the said Philip Philips did by mean assurance in the law, sell, alienate, enfeoff, and confirm unto his said father Frederick Philips all the afore recited tract or parcel of land within the limits and bounds above mentioned and expressed, together with all and singular the premises with their and every of their appertinences, to have and to hold unto him the said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assigns forever, as by his deed of con- veyance under his hand and seal bearing date the day of
in the year of our Lord 168 , relation being thereunto had more fully and at large appear ; and whereas the aforesaid Thomas Dongan, late gov. of our said province, by virtue of the said power and authority in him residing hath, by another grant or patent sealed with the seal of our said province and re- gistered in our secretary's office aforesaid, bearing date the 25th day of June, in the year of our Lord, 1687, given, granted, ratified, released and confirmed unto the said Frederick Philips all that the moiety or one equal half part of a certain entire parcel of meadow ground, situate, lying, and being at a certain place called Tappan near Hudson's river, bounded to the north by a certain creek called or known by the name of Tappan creek, to the east by Hudson's river aforesaid, to the west by a certain parcel of upland now in possession of George Lockhart, and to the south by Hudson's river aforesaid, the said moiety or equal half part of the said meadows to be laid out along the side of Hudson's river aforesaid throughout the whole length of its bounds upon said river from Tappan creek aforesaid, and to be bounded to the north by Tappan creek, to the cast by Hudson's river, to the west by the other moiety or half part of the said meadows, still running to the said George Lockhart's, and so to run southerly to the end of the said meadows, nothing excepted or reserved thereof, to the said George Lockhart, his heirs or assigns, but one cart or waine way through the said moiety or half part of the meadow aforesaid, which moiety or equal half part of the meadow aforesaid was hy mean assu- rance in the law conveyed to the said George Lockhart and Janet his wife unto the said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assigns, to have and to hold the
425
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
said moiety or equal half part of the said meadows and premises with the ap- pertinences unto the said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assigns forever, as by the said grant or patent, sealed with the seal of our said province and re- gistered in our secretary's office aforesaid, bearing date the said 27th day of June, in the year of our Lord, 1687, and as by the said deed of conveyance, under the hands and seals of the said George Lockhart and Janet his wife, bearing date 20th day of February, in the year of our Lord, 1685, relation being thereunto had respectively may more fully and at large appear ; and whereas Augustine Grayham our surveyor general for our said province of New York, &c., hath by warrant bearing date the 11th of February, in the fourth year of our reign, surveyed and laid out for the said Frederick Philips, a certain small parcel of salt meadows situate and being on the north side of Tappan creek in the county of Orange, beginning at a certain stake set on the east side of the said creek, and from thence run east 37º 40 min. northerly to Hudson's river six chains and ninety links, thence along the said river twelve chains and ninety links, south one degree, westerly to the mouth of the afore- said creek, and from thence along the said creek west five degrees thirty-five minutes, northerly eleven chains, thence north twelve degrees, eastwardly two chains and forty links, thence east forty degrees, southerly three chains forty- five links along the said creek, thence east eleven degrees thirty minutes, southerly two chains twenty links, thence north six degrees twenty-five min- utes, seven chains and seventy links, to the stake where the line first began, being bounded on the north-west by a certain parcel of meadow said to belong to Cornelius Claater, on the east by Hudson's river on the south and west by the said creek, containing in all six acres three roods and eight perches, as by the return of the survey, bearing date the 19th day of April, in the said fourth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord, 1692, relation being thereunto had may more fully and at large appear, all which several tracts or parcels of land lying together, and bounded and limited in manner hereafter expressed and mentioned, (that is to say) all the said tract and parcels of land that are on the east side of Hudson's river are bonnded to the northward by a creek or river commonly called by the Indians Kightowank and by the English Kno- trus river, and now belonging to Stevanus van Cortlandt, Esq., and so east- ward into the woods along the said creek or river two English miles, and from thence upon a direct east line to Bronxes river, and so running southward along the said Bronxes river as it runs until a direct west line cutteth the south side of a neck or island of land at a creek or kill called Papparinemo which divides York island from the main, and so along the said creek or kill as it runs to Hudson's river, which part of the said creek is called by the In- dians Shorackhappok, and continues dividing the said York island from the main, and so from thence to the northward alongst Hudson's river untill it comes into the aforesaid creek or river called by the Indians Kightawank and by the English Knotrus river and the salt meadow ground on the west side of Hudson's river, are bounded and limited as here before is plainly mentioned VOL. II. 51
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HISTORY OF THE
and expressed. And whereas our loving subject the said Frederick Phil- ips, one of the members of our council of our said province of New York, and the territories depending thereon in America, hath by his petition pre- sented to Benjamin Fletcher, our captain-general and governor-in-chief of our said province of New York, &c , prayed our grant and confirmation of all and every the tracts and parcels of land within the limits and bounds aforesaid, and that we would likewise erect all the said tracts and parcels of land within the limits aforesaid into a lordship or manor of Philipsborough, and that we would further grant unto our said loving subject a certain neek or island of land called Paparinemo adjoining to the land aforesaid, with the salt meadows thereunto belonging, together with power and authority to erect a bridge over the water or river commonly called Spiten devil ferry, or Paparinemo, and so receive toll from all passengers and droves of cattle that shall pass thereon according to rates hereinafter mentioned ; and whereas it is manifest that our said loving subject hath been at great charge and expense in the purchasing and settling of the aforerecited tracts of land, whereupon considerable im- provements have been made, and that he is likewise willing at his own proper cost and charge to build a bridge at the ferry aforesaid for the benefit and ac- commodation of travellers, which reasonable request for his future encourage- ment we being willing to grant, Know ye, that 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 said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assigns, all and every the aforerecited tracts and parcels of land and meadow ground within the limits and bounds before mentioned and expressed, and likewise the aforesaid neck or island of land called Paparinemo, and the meadow thereunto belong- ing, with power, authority, and privilege to erect and build a dam bridge upon the aforesaid ferry of Spitendevil or Paparinemo, and to receive rates and tolls of all passengers and for droves of cattle according to the rates hereafter mentioned, (that is to say,) three pence current money of New York for each man and horse that shall pass the said bridge in the day time, and three pence current money aforesaid for each head of neat cattle that shall pass the same, and twelve pence current money aforesaid for each score of hogs, calves, and sheep that shall pass the same, and nine pence current money aforesaid for every boat, vessel, or canoe that shall pass the said bridge and cause the same to be drawn up, and for each coach, cart, or sledge, or waggon that shall pass the same the sum of ninepence current money aforesaid ; and after sun- set each passenger that shall pass said bridge shall pay two pence current money aforesaid, each man and horse six pence, each head of neat cattle six pence, each score of hogs, calves, and sheep two shillings, for each boat or vessel or canoe one shilling and sixpence, for each coach, cart, waggon or sledge one shilling and six pence current money aforesaid, togather with all the messuages, tenements, buildings, barns, houses, out-houses, mills, mill- dams, fences, orchards, gardens, pastures, meadows, marshes, swamps, moors,
427
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
pools, woods, under-woods, trees, timber, quarries, rivers, runs, rivulets, brooks, ponds, lakes, streams, creeks, harbours, beaches, ferrys, fishing, fowl- ing, hunting, hawking, mines, minerals, (silver and gold only excepted,) and all the other rights, members, liberties, priviledges, jurisdictions, royalties, hereditaments, proffits, tolls, benefits, advantages and appurtinances whatso- ever to the aforesaid tracts and neck or island of land and meadows, ferry, bridge, and mills belonging or in any ways appertaining, or accepted, reputed, taken, known, or occupied as part, parcel, or member thereof ; and moreover, know ye, that of our further special grace, certain knowledge, and mere mo- tion, we have thought fit, according to the request of our said loving subject, to erect all the aforesaid recited tracts and parcels of lands and meadows with the limits and bounds aforesaid, into a lordship or manor, and, therefore, by these presents we do erect, make, and constitute all the aforesaid recited tracts and parcels of land and meadows, within the limits and bounds aforesaid mentioned, together with all and every the afore granted premises with all and every of the appertinances into a lordship or manor, to all intents and pur- poses ; and it is onr royal will and pleasure that the said lordship and manor shall from henceforth be called the lordship or manor of Philipsborough, and the aforesaid bridge to be from henceforth called Kingsbridge in the manor of Philipsborough aforesaid. And know ye, that we, reposing special trust and confidence in the loyalty, wisdom, justice, prudence, and circumspection of our loving subject, do, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said Frederick Philips, and to the heirs and assignees of him the said Fred- erick Philips, full power and authority at all times forever hereafter in the said lordship or manor, one court leet and one court baron to hold and to keep at such times, and so often, yearly and every year, as he or they shall see meet ; and all fines, issues, and amercements as the said Court Leet or Court Baron to be holden within said lordship or manor to be sett, forfeited, or em- ployed, or payable, or happening at any time to be payable by any of the in- habitants of or within the said lordship or manor of Philipsborough, in the limits and bounds thereof, as also all and every of the power and authority herein before mentioned, for the holding and keeping the said Leet and Court Baron from time to time, and to award and issue out the customary writs to be issued and awarded out of the said Court Leet and Court Baron to be kept by the heirs and assignees of the said Frederick Philips forever, in their or every of their stewards deputed and appointed, with full and ample power and authority to distrain for the rents, levies, or other sums of money payable by virtue of the premises, and all other lawful remedies and means for the having possession, receiving, levying, and enjoying the premises and every part and parcel of the same, and all waifes, estrays, wrecks, deodans, and of the fellons happening and being furnished within the said lordship and manor of Philipsborough, and all and every sum and sums of money to be paid as a parte fine upon any fine or fines to be levied of any lands, tenements or hereditaments within the said lordship or manor of Philipsburgh, togather
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HISTORY OF THE
with the advowson and right of patronage of all and every the church or churches erected or to be erected or established or hereafter to be erected or established within the said manor of Philipshorongh ; and we do also further give and grant unto the said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assignees, that all and singular the tenants of the said Frederick Philips, within the said manor shall and may at all times hereafter meet together and choose assessors within the manor aforesaid, according to such rules, ways, and methods as are pre- scribed for the cities, towns, and counties within our province aforesaid by the acts of General Assembly, for the defraying the publick charge of each re- spective city, town, and county aforesaid, and such sums of money so assessed or levied to collect and dispose of for such uses as the acts of General Assem- bly shall establish and appoint, to have and to hold, possess, colleet, and enjoy all and singular the said lordship or manor of Philipsborongh, togather with the aforesaid halls and premises, with all their and every of their appertinances, unto the said Frederick Philips, his heirs and assignees, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of him, the said Frederick Philips, his heirs and as- signees forever, reserving unto os, our heirs and successors, free egress and ingress of all our and their forces, horse or foot, of our and their coaches, waggons, stores of war, ammunition, and expresses, that shall from time to time pass the said bridge for our or their service, or any thing contained to the contrary herein in any ways notwithstanding, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and common soccage according to the tenure of our manor of East Greenwich within our county of Kent in our realm of England, yeald- ing, rendering, and paying therefor, yearly and every year, on the feast day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at our fort at New York unto us, our heirs and successors, the annual rent of £4 12s. current money of our said province in lieu and stead of all former rents, services, dues, duties, and demands for the said lordship or manor of Philipsborough and premises. In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our province of New York to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benjamin Fletcher our captain-general and governor-in-chief of our province of New York aforesaid, province of Penn- sylvania and county of New Castle, and the territory and tracts of land de- pending thereon in America, at Fort William Henry, the 12th day of June, in the fifth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord, 1693.
Frederick Philipse Esq., by his last will bearing date 9th of December, 1702, devised his lands in this town and part of Green- burgh to Frederick Philipse his grandson, born in Barbadoes ye only son of Philip, his eldest son, viz.
" The Island of Papirinemin with the meadows ye toll and all ye lands and meadows called the Yonkers plantation, with all houses, mills, mill dams &c.,
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
as also a piece of land in the mile square by me late bought of Michael Haw- don and all that tract or parcel of land extending from the Yonkers palent or plantation to a creek called by the Indians Wysquaqua and by the Christians William Portugues creek, and thence according to ye course of that creek in- to ye woods to ye head of ye same from thence on a last line to the creek called the Yonkers creek, and thence to continne on the same course to Broncks's river, also the boat Yoncker, with her furniture apparel and appur- tenances, &c.ª Upon the death of the Hon. Fredrick Philipse, the above de- visee of his grandfather Frederick in 1751, Colonel Frederick Phillipse his son became devisee in tail male of the whole manor of Philipsborough.
These lands continued in the possession of Colonel Frederick Philipse, till the year 1779. When having broken his military parole by not returning to Yonkers, they became confiscated to the people of this state, and sold and conveyed by Isaac Stouten- burgh and Philip van Cortlandt Commissioners of Forfeitures appointed in pursuance of an act of the Legislature of the State passed 12 May, 1781, to the following persons.
Mary Hunt
120
Jacob van Tassel
0.
Abraham Archer
120
Peter Acker
186
Pierre van Cortlandt
150
Abraham Acker
239
ditto.
120
William Dalcher
215
His own
164
John Jewell
285
John Bishop
83
Jonathan Odell
463
Moses Ward
167
Daniel Wiltsie
329
Elijah Hunter
196
Jacob Storms
279
Peter Davids
200
Richard Delawley
220
Samuel Drake
115
George Daterach
282
Arnold Hunt
283
Philip Livingston
233
Richard Garrisden
123
James D. Clark
286
Abraham Orser
123
Peter Post
226
Thomas Bishop
159
Jacobus Dyckman
300
Job Sherwood
365
George Forster
300
Gerard G. Beeckman
750
Garrett Brown
312
Cornelis Jones
200
Peter Forshee
171
Gerard G. Beeckman
0
Cornelius Darqua
29
Michael McKeel
327
Andrew Bostwick
279
John van Tassel
160
John Lawrence
175
· Surrogates offi. N. Y. vii. 101.
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HISTORY OF THE
David Storms
25
John Lamb
202
James Hammond
0
Robert Johnson 190
and
Cornelius P. Lowe
320
George Coombs
162
. mills at Yonckers
James van Wart
0
Sarah Archer
18
William van Wart
0
John Williams
0
William Hunt
270
Dennis Post
155
John van Wart
230
Thomas Valentine
238
Reformed Dutch Church
0 Joseph Oakley
164
Glode Requa
296
Elnathan Taylor
100
Frederick van Cortlandt
105
John Dead
136
On the east side of this town, bordering the Bronx's river, is situated a tract of land called the Mile Square, lying principally in a beautiful vale watered by the river and sheltered by pictu- resque hills. This tract was exempted out of the great manorial patent of 1693, and appears originally to have formed a part of the possessions of the Doughtys of Flushing, as we find John Doughty of that place in 1685 selling sixty-four acres of land here, in one square mile, to Francis French, Ebenezer Jones and John Wascot.a "22d May, 1674, John Winter of Westchester sold to Joseph Jeames of Fairfield, Connecticut, a parcel of land containing 120 acres, which is one quarter part of ye tract of land Francis French and Ebenezer Jones bought of Elias Doughty. This land lay west northerly from Eastchester, on the other side of Brunckses river."-Fairfield Records. 1685, John Hiatt of Bronx's river deeds sixty acres of upland to Hopestill Betts of the Yonckers, this sale being a part of the whole tract of land called by the name of the Mile Square. Tradition says that this place was given by Frederick Philipse as,a dower portion when his daughter Annetje married Philip French. From the French and Jones family it passed by sale to the Oakleys, Bertines, Curwells, Sherwoods and Riches. The latter family have been long resi- dents here, and are still possessed of a large estate, which has been successively occupied for several generations. By marriage they are connected with the ancient family of the Valentines. The Rich family originally came from Germany, and are descended of
a Liber B. Co. Rec. p. 53.
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COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
the Ulrich of Flaack, whose son, Balthassar Ryche, emigrated to this country at an early period of its settlement. The following ancient document is still preserved in the family ; it is written in the German language, and was brought from Germany by Balthassar Ryché.
I, Johann Conradt Heidegger, sen'r, of the corporation for Guild, and by the council of the honorable city of Zurich, duly appointed sheriff of the county of Kyburgh, certify and make known that on the date mentioned below, the bearer of this, Balthassar Ryché, son of the late Ulrich of Flaack, situated in my jurisdiction, appeared before me, stating, that whereas having been many years and days absent from this country, and in consequence of a purchase made by him, intending to reside in future with his wife and children at Sand- hussen in the electoral palatinate as his permanent residence, he therefore humbly requested an authentic certificate showing his honest birth, pedigree, and name, and likewise that he leaves this country with a good name and character, in order that he may produce such testimony when and where it might be requisite. Wherefore I, having heard the said Ryché's petition, conceive it to be no more than right and just to grant him his request. After having made diligent enquiries respecting his character, and also obtained
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