History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 165

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


USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I > Part 165


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219


November, 1843.


Robert R. Oakley


November, 1849.


John P. Jenkins


November, 1855.


Hiram P. Rowell . . November, 1858.


Chauncey MI. Depew 1.


May 25, 1867.


William W. Pierson 2


July 22, 1867.


J. Malcolm Smith


November, 1867.


John M. Rowell, .


November, 1876.


James F. D. Crane 3


November, 1882.


COUNTY TREASURERS .- During the colonial period the treasurers from 1701 to 1703 were elected by the justices of the peace in the Court of General or Spe- cial Sessions; from 1703 to 1846 by the supervisors. The Constitution of 1846 made the office elective and the term three years.


Name.


Elected.


Elisha llorton .


. November, 1848.


Robert Palmer


November, 1851.


Lieman B. Tripp . November, 1854.


Henry Willetts . November, 1837.


Gilbert S. Lyon 4. November 25, 1866.


N. Holmes Odell.


November, 1872.


George W. Davids


. November, 1875.


David Cromwell 5


. November, 1878.


COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF COMMON SCHOOLS. -The Boards of Supervisors were directed, by the act of April 17, 1843, to appoint County Superintendents of Common Schools. The office was abolished March 13, 1847.


Samuel L. Holines. John Ilobbs.


1 Appointed vice Rowell, deceased.


2 Appointed vice Depew, who failed to qualify.


8 Present incumbent.


4 Appointed rice Willetts, resigned.


5 Present incumbent.


SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS .- "Prior to 1857 School Commissioners were appointed by the Boards of Su- pervisors. Since that year they have been elected on a separate ballot. The first election under the act creating the office (chapter 179, Laws of 1856) was held in November, 1859. Term, three years." 6


First District.


A. G. Reynolds.


Franklin W. Gilley.


Jared M. Horton.


Joseph H. Palmer.


Theodore Kent.


Joseph F. Wood.


William Miller.


Jared Sanford."


Second District.


Samuel U. Berrian.


George W. Smith.


William G. Weston.


Casper G. Brower.


Isaac D. Vermilye.


Theodore B. Stevens.


Abel T. Stewart.


James B. Lockwood.8


Third District.


James W. Husted.


Isaac C. Wright.


John S. Bates.


Edward N. Barrett.


Henry White.


Platt R. H. Sawyer.


Herry A. Wells.


James F. Williams. 910


Joseph Barrett.


Census.


1698 .


1,063


1814 26,367


1703 .


1,946


1820 32,638


1712


2,815


1825 33,131


1723 .


4,409


1830. 36,456


1731.


6,033


1835 38,790


1737


6,745


1840


48,687


1746.


9,235


1845 47,578


1749


10,703


1850


58,263


1756


13.257


1855


80,678


1771


21,745


1860 99,497


1782


7,330 11


1865


. 101, 197


1790


24,003


1870


131,348


1800


27,347


1875.


. 103,564 12


1810


30,272


1880


108,987


LIST OF SUPERVISORS, 13 1772-1787.


1772.


William Davis


Philipsburgh.


William Sutton


. Mamaroneck.


Ebenenezer Lockwood.


Poundridge.


James Holmes


Bedford.


Stephen Ward.


East Chester.


Abijah Gilbert.


Salem.


Richard Willis.


New Rochelle.


William Barker.


Scarsdale.


David Daton .


North Castle.


Robert Graham.


White Plains.


James Van Cortlandt


. Yonkers.


Pierre Vau Cortlandt


. Manor of Cortlandt.


1773.


Willianı Barker.


Scarsdale.


Samuel Haviland.


Rye.


James Van Cortlandt


Yonkers.


James Pell .


. Pelham.


James Holmes . Bedford.


James Ferris .


. Westchester.


Morris.


. Morrisania.


6 Civil List, 1880, p. 398.


7 Present incumbent.


8 Present incumbent.


9 Appointed vice Sawyer, deceased.


10 Present incumbent.


11 Census of North Castle, Bedford, Poundridge, Salem, Manor of Cort- landt, Ryck's Patent. 12 Towns of Morrisania, West Farms and King's Bridge annexed to New York City by chap. 613 of laws of 1873.


13 Records of Board of Supervisors.


Colonial.


655


CIVIL HISTORY.


Abijalı Gilbert . Salemu.


William Davis Philipsburgh.


David Daton . North Castle.


Stephen Ward . East Chester.


William Sutton. Mamaroneck.


Ebenezer Lock wood.


l'onndridge.


I774.


Pierre Vau Cortlandt Manor of Cortlandt.


James Croukhite . Ryck's Patent.


Robert Graham. White Plains.


Pierre Vau Cortlandt Cortlandt Manor.


James IFolmes. Bedford,


Samuel Haviland. Rye.


David Datun


North Castle.


James Ferris


Westchester.


William Sutton.


Mamaroneck.


Ebenezer Lockwood Poundridge.


William Davis.


Philipsburgh.


Abel Smith.


. North C'astle.


Daniel Horton


White Plains.


Gilbert Budd Mamaroneck.


Abijahı Gilbert


Salem.


Peter Fleming . Town of Bedford.


1784.


Abel Smith. Precinct of North Castle.


Thomas Hunt. Borough Town of Westchester


William Paulding. Manor of Philipsburgh.


Jonathan G. Tompkius Manor of Scarsdale.


Thaddeus Crane. . Town of Upper Salemu.


William, Miller. . Harrison's Preciuct.


Joseph Strang . Manor of Van Cortlandt.


Ebenezer Lockwood. Precinct of Poundridge.


Gilbert Budd.


. Town of Mamaroneck.


Ebenezer S. Burling. Town of East Chester.


Daniel Horton . . Precinct of White Plains.


Israel Honeywell . Yonkers.


Johu Thomas Town of Rye.


Philip Pell . . Manor of Pelham.


Benjamin Stevenson Town of New Rochelle.


William Morris . Manor of Morrisania.


Abijah Gilbert . Town of Lower Salem.


June 28, 1785.


Gilbert Budd


Mamaroneck.


William Davis


Manor of Philipsburgh.


Jonathan G. Tompkins Manor of Scarsdale.


Joseph Strang . Manor of Cortlandt.


Ebenezer Lock wood Poundridge.


Peter Fleming . Bedford.


Abraham Leggett Westchester.


Daniel Horton


White Plains.


Abel Smith


. North Castle.


James Croukliite


. Ryck's Patent.


James Hunt


. East Chester.


William Miller . Harrison's Precinct.


Jesse Hunt


. Rye.


Abijahı Gilbert Salem.


October 4, 1785.


Jesse Hunt Town of Rye.


Benjamin Stevenson


. Town of New Rochelle.


William Davis


Manor of Philipsburgh.


Daniel Hunt


White Plains.


Lewis Morris


Manor of Morrisania.


Philip Pell . Manor of Pelham.


Thaddeus Crane


Town of Upper Salem.


Peter Fleming


Town of Bedford.


Abraham Leggett


. Town of Westchester.


James ('ronkhite


. Ryck's Patent.


Jonathan G. Tompkins


. Manor of Scarsdale.


Joseph Strang


Manor of Cortlandt.


Abel Smith


District of North Castle.


Ebenezer Lock wood


District of Poundridge.


James Crunkhite Ryck's Pateut.


Abijah Gilbert Salem.


Samuel Haight . . Manor of Cortlandt.


I783.


Ebenezer Lock wood.


Poundridge.


Joseph Strang. . Manor of Cortlandt. ] .


Peter Fleming . . Bedford.


Abijah Gilbert . . Salemi.


James Cronkhite . Ryck's Patent.


1784.


Jolın Thomas. Rye.


William Paulding. Philipsburgh.


Jonathau G. Tompkins Manor of Scarsdale.


Joseph Strang. Manor of Cortlandt.


Thaddeus Crane. . Town of U'pper Salem.


Benjamin Stevensou. New Rochelle.


Israel Honeywell . . Yonkers.


William Miller. Harrison's Precinct.


Ebenezer Lock wood. . Poundridge.


Ebenezer E. Burling East Chester.


William Barker.


Scarsdale.


James Cronkhite


. Ryck's Patent.


Robert Grahamu. White Plains.


Stepheu Ward. East Chester.


1775.


Samuel Haviland.


James Van Cortlandt.


William Davis.


William Barker.


Pierre Van Cortlandt.


Ebenezer Lockwood.


Stephen Ward.


Lewis W. Douald.


Joseph Drake.


James Pell.


Samuel Purdy.


Abijah Gilbert.


James Horton.


David Daton.


1778.


Ebenezer Lockwood.


Jacob Purdy.


Joseph Strang.


Israel Lyon.


January 5, 1779.


Ebenezer Lockwood.


Israel Lyon.


Joseph Strang.


Abijah Gilbert.


Jacob Purdy.


February 19, 1779.


Jacob Purdy.


Israel Lyon.


Joseph Paulding. Abijah Gilbert.


March 18, 1779.


Ebenezer Lockwood.


Joseph Paulding.


Joseph Strang.


Jacob Purdy.


Israel Lyon.


May 13, 1780.


Samuel Haight . Manor of Cortlandt.


Jacob Purdy North Castle.


Israel Loou. Bedford.


William Dancher. Ponudridge.


Abijalı Gilbert Salem.


October 9, 1780.


Israel Lyon. Bedford.


William Dancher . Poundridge.


Jolın Van Tassel . Ryck's Patent.


1781.


Samuel Haight. JIanor of Cortlandt.


Abijah Gilbert . Salem.


Samuel Haight . Manor of Cortlandt.


Israel Lyon. . Bedford


William Fancher. Poundridge.


Abijalı Gilbert


Salemı.


January 28, 1782.


Zebediah Mills


Bedford.


Samuel Haight Manor of Cortlandt.


Ebenezer Lockwood. Poundridge.


Abijah Gilbert .


Salemi.


May 29, 1782.


Peter Fleming Bedford.


Ebenezer Lock wood. Poundridge.


James Hunt . Town of East Chester.


William Miller


. Harrison's Precinct.


Abijahı Gilbert Town of Lower Salem.


Abijah Gilbert.


656


HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.


May 9, 1786.


William Morris . Manor of Morrisania.


Lake Hunt


. Town of Westchester.


James Ilunt


. Town of East Chester.


Gilbert Budd


. Town of Mamaroneck.


Jesse Hunt


. Town of Rye.


William Miller


Harrison's Precinct.


Jonathan G. Tompkins


Manor of Scarsdale.


Abraham Guion


. Town of New Rochelle.


Philip Pell


Manor of Pelhaul.


Daniel Horton


Precinct of White Plains.


Justices of Sessions.


Stephen Billings, Verplanck's; John H. Baxter, Peekskill.


Stenographer.


Harvey Husted, White Plains.


Interpreter.


A. R. Stainach, White Plains.


District Attorney.


Nelson H. Baker, Sing Sing ; Assistant District Attorney, David Ver- Planck, White Plains. County Clerk.


John M. Digney, Yonkers ; Deputy County Clerk, Franklin Couch, Peekskill ; Record Clerk, M. James Mooney, Yonkers.


County Treasurer.


David Cromwell, White Plains; Deputy County Treasurer, Thomas R. Hodge, Mount Vernon. Register.


Joseph O. Miller, New Castle ; Deputy Register, B. Frank Palmer, Mamaroneck ; Searcher, Benjamin S. Dick, White Plains.


Sheriff.


John Duffy, White Plains; Under Sheriff, William Ryan, Rye ; Jailer and Deputy Sheriff, Frank G. Shirmer, White Plains ; Clerk and Deputy Sheriff, Charles E. Johnson, Mount Vernon ; Deputy Sheriffs : John C. Verplanck, White Plains ; Stephen A. Marshall, Port Chester ; Alfred Lawrence, Tarrytown; William H. Sommers, Mamaroneck ; Erastus R. Finch, Purdy's Station ; John T. McGrath, Yonkers; James Mabie, Peekskill ; Mark Skennion, West Chester.


Stenographer to Grand Jury.


Warren C. Brown, Tarrytown.


Court Crier.


James E. Campbell, White Plains.


Librarian.


Harold T. Kinch, Pleasantville.


Chaplains to County Almshouse. Rev. Lawrence H. Van Dyke, Rev. Patrick Egan, Tarrytown.


Physicians to County Alnishouse.


Dr. N. C. Husted, Tarrytown ; Dr. R. B. Coutant, -. Watchman Court-House.


Alexander Jones, White Plains. Janitor Court House.


Thomas Zimmerman, White Plains.


Keeper County Almshouse.


Charles Fisher, East Tarrytown.


Keeper Pelham Bridge.


David Blizzard. Coroners. Edward J. Mitchell, Yonkers; Leonard D. Tice, Mount Vernon ; Eli- jah Purdy, White Plains ; George II. Sutton, Sing Sing. Superintendents of the Poor.


Aaron F. Read, Armonk ; James E. Hoyt, Katonab.


School Commissioners.


Jared Sandford, Mount Vernon ; James B. Lockwood, White Plains ; John W. Littel, Peekskill.


Loan Commissioners.


Isaac B. Noxon, Sing Sing ; Jonathan Vail, Yonkers.


Philip Pell .


Manor of Pelliam.


Jonathan G. Tompkins . Manor of Scarsdale.


William Miller . Harrison's Precinct.


Richard Hatfield White Plains.


David Hunt Yonkers.


Isaac Requa


Manor of Philipsburgh.


Abel Smith


. North Castle.


Joseph Strang


Manor of Cortlandt.


Jonathan Ferris


. Ryck's Patent.


Zehedialı Mills


Bedford.


Ebenezer Lockwood


Poundridge.


Abijah Gilbert


Lower Salem.


Stephen Ward


. East Chester.


Israel Underhill


. Westchester.


CIVIL LIST FOR 1886. Representative in Congress -- 14th District.


William G. Stahlnecker, Yonkers. (District composed of Westchester County and Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards of New York City.)


State Senator-12th District.


Henry C. Nelson, Sing Sing. (Senatorial district composed of West- chester and Rockland Counties.)


Members of Assembly.


First District, Charles P. McClelland, Dobbs Ferry. (District composed of Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant and Yonkers.)


Second District, Norman A. Lawlor, Mount Vernon. (District com- posed of East Chester, Ilarrison, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, North Castle, Pelham, Rye, Scarsdale, West Chester and White Plains.)


Third District, James W. Husted, Peekskill. (District composed of Bedford, Cortland, Lewisboro, New Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Poundridge, Somers and Yorktown. )


Surrogate.


Owen T. Coffin, Peekskill ; Clerk of Surrogate's Court, William M. Skinner, White Plains; Record Clerk, Benoni P. Platt, White Plains, Special Clerk, Elias P. Purdy, White Plains.


Supreme Court Stenographer.


D. C. McEwen, Tribune Building, room 77, New York City. County Judge.


Isaac N. Mills, Mount Vernon.


Abel Smith .


Precinct of North Castle.


William Hadley


Precinct of Yonkers.


Jonathan Horton Manor of Philipsburgh.


James Cronkhite . Ryck's Patent.


Joseph Strang


. Manor of Van Cortlandt.


Zebediah Mills .


Town of Bedford.


Ebenezer Lockwood


. Parish of Poundridge.


Hachaliah Brown Town of Upper Salem.


Abijah Gilbert


Town of Lower Salen.


1786.


Jesse Hunt . Town of Rye.


Gilbert Budd .


Town of Mamaroneck.


Abraham Guion


Town of New Rochelle.


Philip Pell .


Manor of Pelham.


James Hunt


. Town of East Chester.


William Hadley


. Precinct of Yonkers.


Jonathan Horton Manor of Philipsburgh.


Jonathan G. Tompkins


Manor of Scarsdale.


Daniel Horton


Precinct of White Plains.


William Miller


Harrison's Precinct.


Abel Smith . Precinct of North Castle.


Zebediah Mills . Town of Bedford.


Joseph Strang . Manor of Cortlandt.


James Cronkhite . Ryck's Patent.


Ebenezer Lockwood


Precinct of Poundridge.


Hachaliah Brown . Town of Upper Salem.


Abijah Gilbert


. Town of Lower Salem.


Lake Hunt . Town of Westchester.


1787.


Gilbert Budd . Mamaroneck.


Theodocius Barton


. New Rochelle.


657


SCARSDALE.


Town Clerks.


Bedford


. T. Elwood Carpenter, R.


Cortlandt .


William HI. Pierce, R.


East Chester


John Bowden, D.


Greenburgh


. Frank Wiley, D.


Harrison . Charles C. Haviland.


Lewisboro


. Frederic Ilowe, R.


Mamaroneck


William II. Lange, D.


Mount Pleasant


J. Benedict See, D.


New Castle .


. Elijalı Crossman, D.


New Rochelle


James Consadine, D.


North Castle William HI. Creemer, R.


North Salem . Sammel B. Clark, R.


Ossining


. Henry Austin, R.


Pelham


Thomas K. Morrill.


Poundridge


William Jones, R.


Rye . .


Purdy G. Sands, D.


Scarsdale Peter M. Dobbs, D.


Somers Jacob W. Tompkins, R.


Westchester


Alexander Devlin, D.


White Plains


. Francis II. Hessels, R.


Yonkers


. William H. Doty, R.


Yorktown


. Theodore T. Tompkins, R.


List of Supervisors.


Towns.


Names.


Politics.


Bedford


Timothy C. Adams


Rep.


Cortlandlt


William Mabie Dem.


East Chester


David Quackinbush Dem.


Greenburgh John Besson Dem.


Harrison


George T. Burling


Rep.


Lewisboro'


John C. Holmes


Rep.


Mamaroneck


Mathias Banta


Dem.


Mt. Pleasant


Moses W. Taylor


Dem.


New Castle


Francis MI. Carpenter


Rep.


New Rochelle


Henry D. Phelps


Rep.


North Salem


Odel Close Rep.


North Castle.


. Joseph B. See . Rep.


Ossining


Gilbert M. Todd .


Deni.


Pelham .


Sherman S. Pell Dem.


Poundridge


Miles Adams


Dem.


Rye .


William Ryan Dem.


Scarsdale


Chauncey T. Secor Dem.


Somers


James P. Teed


Rep.


West Chester


Daniel J. McGrory Dem.


White Plains


Lewis C. Platt Dem.


Yonkers .


Jacob Read . Dem.


Yorktown


William James Horton Dem.


Democrats . 14; Republicans


. 8.


Mr. f. Cummings


TOWN HISTORIES.


CHAPTER XV.


SCARSDALE.


BY ALLAN M. BUTLER, M.D.


THE town of Scarsdale is in its general outline rhoniboidal, the long diameter running nearly due north and south and extending from a point about a mile south of the county court-house in White Plains in a southerly direction for two miles. The shorter diameter runs nearly due west from Scarsdale Station,


on the New York and Harlem Railroad, for about a mile and three-quarters, until it meets "Braneh Brook," a small stream forming part of the western boundary of the township. The area of the town is about six thousand acres, and the general regularity of its outline is broken just west of the southern angle by a projecting portion of the town of New Rochelle, nearly a mile in length and ranging from one-half to one-quarter of a mile in breadth. The town is bounded on the northeast by White Plains and a small part of Mamaroneck ; on the southcast, by Mamaroneek and New Rochelle; on the southwest by New Rochelle and East Chester and on its entire northwest border by Greenburgh. In the centre of the town rises the Hutchinson River, which flows in a southerly direction, and on the east, another stream, the "Shelldrake," --- or as it appears on the old records, " Branch Brook,"- both flowing into the Sound, the latter being a tribu- tary of the Mamaroneck River.


Along the northwest border of the town flows the river Bronx or Brunx, into which empty several smaller streams which drain the western portion of the town. The Bronx lies entirely within the township of Green- burgh, Scarsdale extending only to its eastern bank.


In its general topography the township is rolling country, though the eastern portion is comparatively high land, while the western portion forms one slope of the valley of the Bronx. The aspeet of the town is relieved from monotony by many gentle undulations, frequent small ponds and streams and many tracts of wooded land. In former times the eastern angle of the town was heavily wooded and was known as the " Saxton Forest," from Wm. Saxton, whose name ap- pears on a map of the town bearing the date 1779 as proprietor of a saw-mill in this locality. Although this forest once eovered from twelve to fourteen hun- dred acres, most of it has been cleared, and, except for a few inconsiderable portions, the "Saxton Forest " remains only in name. Bolton, in his history of the county, says : "The most prominent features of Scars- dale, however, are the extensive tracts of woodland which completely cover its wild and romantic hills on the west, displaying themselves to great advantage from every part of the surrounding country. The Sacton Forest, which forms a large portion of this woody district, abounds with foxes, rabbits and other wild game, and retains much of its ancient grandeur." This deseription, however, is incorrect, for although the eastern bank of the Bronx is, wooded alinost con- tinuously throughout its course along the border of the town, these portions of woodland never formed part of the Saxton Forest, which was on the far eastern side of the town. The brooks were formerly well stocked with trout and small fish, and the woods abounded in game,-the name " Fox Meadows " ap- parently having been given from the abundance of these animals,-but now there are few fishes in the. streams and only an occasional rabbit or quail in the woods.


62


658


HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.


The Bronx, though unnavigable, was formerly a stream of some magnitude, furnishing water-power for a saw and grist-mill, which stood from before the days of the Revolution until the Rebellion near Scarsdale Station, but now fully one-half of the volume of water has been diverted to the new aqueduct or pipe-line which skirts the town on the Greenburgh bank of the river, contributing to the water supply of the city of New York. The general character of the soil of the town is light and sandy loam, but in former years there were many acres of swamp and marsh, most of which has now been drained and improved, furnishing large tracts of rich black loam. Only about half of the acreage of the town is under actual cultivation, the remainder consisting of meadow, pasturc and wood- land. The ownership of the town, according to the last State census (1875), is divided among ninety-four proprietors, few of whom hold over fifty acres. There ' is no farming on a large scale, the greater part of the farm product being devoted to home consumption.


The facts in relation to the first settlement of the part of Westchester now included in Scarsdale town- ship are very meagre. It appears, however, that the town was once part of a large tract ceded by the In- dian owners to onc John Richbell, a native of England, about whom little is known. This tract formed part of the Indian district of "Quaroppas," then occupied by the Mohegans or Mohicans. This was in the year 1660, and Richbell was probably the first white man to settle in the town. For this purchase Richbell re- ceived a grant and confirmation front Francis Lovelace, Governor of New York, in 1668, and it had already been confirmed by the government of New Nether- lands in 1662. In his patent Richbell received possess- ion of "the three necks bounded on the east by Mamaroneck River, and on the west by Stony Brook, together with the land lying north of these bounds, twenty miles into the woods." Hence, afterward, arose the question as to the ownership of Quaroppas, in the time of Colonel Heatlicote. Thirty-six years after this, Richbell's widow, Anne, granted to Caleb Heathcote, of New York, the right to purchase por- tions of the land included in the above mentioned purchase from the Indians. In 1701 the sale was con- cluded between Richbell's widow and Colonel Heath- cote, the deed dating from March 30th of that year, and being signed by four Indians,-Patthunek, Beaupo, Kohawney and Wapetuck, representing the Mohegan tribe, and by a corresponding number of witnesses.


In this deed, which is still in the possession of the descendants of Colonel Heathcote, the said Indians, " for and in consideration of a certain sum of good and lawful money,"-the amount of which is not stated,-sold to Colonel Heathcote, free of all encum- brance or limitation, "a certain tract of land lying and being in the county of Westchester, bounded as follows: To begin on the west side, at the southern- most end of a ridge known by the name of Richbell's


or Horse's ridge, at a great rock and so to run a Northwest line to Bronck's River and on the Eastern - most side with Mamaroneck River and from the head thereof to Bronck's River." This he and his assigns were to hold forever, and the Indians faithfully per- formed their part of the contract, for there is no record of the settlers being molested by them in any way. This tract, together with the other large pur- chases of Colonel Heathcote-an exception being made of White Plains, to which Colonel Heathcote had a claim which he afterwards raised-was, on March 21, 1701, by royal patent of William III., John Nanfan, Licutenant-Governor of the province, sub- scribing to it, erected into the " Lordship and Manor of Scarsdale," to be holden by Colonel Heathcote of the King in free and common soccage, " Paying therefore yearly and every year forever at our city of New York, ... five pounds current money of New York upon the Nativity of our Lord." By the terms of the royal patent, the lord of the manor was permitted at his pleasure to hold "one court-leet and one court-baron," all fines and assessments going to himself, and it was furthermore granted that "ye tenants of him, ye said Caleb Heathcoate, within ye said manor, shall and may at all times hereafter meet together and choose assessors within ye manor afore- said," according to the laws prescribed by the General Assembly of the province for cities and towns, "for defraying the public charge of each respective city, town and county aforesaid, and all such sums of money so assessed and levied, to collect and dispose of for such use as any aet or acts as the said General Assembly shall exhibit or appoint, to have, hold, pos- scss and enjoy all and singular the said Lorship and Manor of Scarsdale and premises, with all and every of their appurtenances, unto the said Caleb Heathcote, his heirs and assigns forever." 1


The entire Indian history of Scarsdale, so far as it is known, is summed up in the account of the trans- actions of Richbell and Colonel Heathcote with the Indian proprietors. There is no account of any dis- turbance from them since the town was settled, nor are there any Indian remains of any account, nothing more than a few arrow-heads and similar relics having been found to mark the former proprietorship of this territory.


TOWN STATISTICS .- The first recorded census of the town was taken in 1712, the inhabitants numbering 12, of whom but 5 were white. The next figures are for 1740, when the population had inereased so rapidly that there was a total of 255 persons. During the next fifty years the population remained almost stationary, the census of 1790 giving a total of 281 persons ; this was lowered within the next ten years, and in 1800 the inhabitants numbered 258. Of these, 224 were whites-107 being males, 117 females-and


1 A sketch of Colonel Heathcote is inserted in Mr. De Lancey's chapter on the " Manors in Westchester County," in this volume.


659


SCARSDALE.


the remainder were colored, of whom 24 were slaves. In 1810 the population was 259 and in 1814, 292. The next ensuing United States census, in 1820, gives the population as 329, including 42 colored. The State census of 1825 shows a decrease of 8 persons, the total in 1830 being again slightly reduced, the returns showing 317 inhabitants. In 1835 the num- ber of the inhabitants was the same as in 1820, being 329. Of these, 162 were males and 167 females, among these being included 39 eolored persons. The num- ber of births this year was 10, and of deaths there were 4. It is interesting to note that up to this time, a constant rivalry had been going on be- tween Pelham and Scarsdale in point of popula- tion. In 1790 Pelham was the smallest town in the county in this respect, and from then to 1835 the vary- ing populations of the two towns put first one and then the other ahead in the census reports. Finally, in the census for this year Pelham took the pree- edence, and Scarsdale has ever since remained the smallest town in the county in respeet to its popula- tion. Within the next five years the number of inhabitants fell off greatly, and in 1840 but a total of 255 was recorded-a smaller number than any re- corded in the censuses of the last hundred years. In 1845 the number had again reached a higher limit than ever before, and 345 inhabitants, including 33 colored, were recorded on the census books. Of these, 170 were males and 175 females. The families of the town numbered 57, with 297 natives of the United States. The foreign born numbered 44, of whom 26 remained aliens. In 1850 the population had risen by one, while the next five years saw a rise of over a hundred, the census of 1855 showing a pop- ulation of 445, ineluding 28 colored. Of these 205 were males and 240 females; the total of foreign born was 123, of whom 87 were aliens. The families num- bered 74, and of the total 322 were native born, 301 being born in the State and 285 in the county. There were 286 single and 138 married persons, 10 widowers and eleven widows. During the period from 1855 to 1865 the population was again in- creased by more than a hundred persons, reaching the figure of 557, of whom 22 were colored. There were 256 males and 301 females, the foreign born numbering 156. There were 91 families, of whose members 401 were natives of the United States, 377 of New York State and 237 of Westehester County.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.