History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 33

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 33

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12. Thunder Bergh Hill.

13. Magrigarie's Pond.

14. Crooked Pond.

15. Cedar Pond.

16. Call bergh Pond.

17. The Elbow of the River by the Indians called Kewightequack

18. Kiskow River by the Indians called Pepenighting.

19. Cross River.

20. Matsghtecoos River.

21. Long Pond.

22. Peach Pond.

23. Mescoot River.

24. A Monument erected by the Commissioners, and is to be deemed and esteemed twenty Miles distant from Cortlandt's Point, or the month of the Highlands.

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141

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

certain is that the Indian name of "Kichtawank," or " Kightawong " is that given to the River in all the earliest Deeds and Patents. In Philip Verplancks survey and map made in 1732 the name he gives to it is the " Kightewank Creek or Groatun's River." 1 As Mr. Verplanck lived many years prior to 1732 in the Manor, and knew every one interested in it, from shortly after the death of Stephanus Van Courtland to his own death a period of abont seventy years, his opportunities of knowing the English name of the stream were certainly better than those of any one of whom we now have knowledge. He was also a sur- veyor, and hence obliged to be particular in giving correct names to natural features. Now he called it on his map of 1732 " Groatnn's River," hence at that date such was certainly its English name. Therefore the name must have originated between 1697 the date of the Manor Grant in which it is described by its In- dian name and 1732, the date of the Manor Map, that is within the period of thirty-five years. Bnt whether " Groatun " from which the change to " Cro- ton " was very easy, was the name of an Indian or a Dutchman can never be known. The probability is that if there was such a man he dwelt near the mouth of the stream, and his name given to it at his dwelling-place was extended gradually throughout its entire length. But whatever the origin, " Croton " it has been for more than a century, and " Croton " it will forever remain.

The Manor of Scarsdale, Its Origin, Local History, Adjoining Patents and Manors, Its First Lord and his Family, Division and Topography.

Named by its Lord after that division of the bean- tiful county of Derby, nearly the geographical centre of England, in which the city of Chesterfield, crown- ing a lofty verdant height, sits like a queen upon her throne, the rivers Rother and Hipper flowing to- gether at her feet, termed the "Hundred of Sears- dale," in which he was born, Colonel Caleb Heath- cote proved at once his own good taste and his love for the ancient home of his fathers. The name de- scribes equally well the English locality and its Amer- ican namesake. "Scarrs" was the Saxon word for rocky crags, and " dale" for valley. The western and northwestern parts of the Hundred of Scarsdale are noted for the rocky heights and deep valleys which form that striking Derbyshire seenery immor- talized in the " Peveril of the Peak " of Sir Walter Scott. The western and northwestern parts of the Manor of Scarsdale are overlooked by the hills and crags, half covered with forests, at the foot of which flows the river Bronx ; while the vales and glades of the lower heights which separate the valleys of the Bronx and the Sound, upon one of which he dwelt in

his earlier life, are also immortalized in the "Spy " of the Neutral Ground of Fenimore Cooper.

The Manor of Searsdale was of irregular shape ow- ing chiefly to the winding course of the Mamaroneck River, which formed a large part of its eastern bound- ary. By its terms the Manor-Grant included a tract embracing the present towns of Mamaroneck, Sears- dale, a small part of Harrison, with White plains, and a portion of Northcastle. But as a dispute existed with " some of ye inhabitants of ye town of Rye " as to White plains at the time of Colonel Heathcote's 2 purchase of the traet, the Manor-Grant expressly provided that it should give no further title to White plains to Colonel Heathcote than what he already had before it issued. Irrespective of White plains and the lands beyond, the length of the Manor was about nine miles by an average width of a little more than two iniles. The following is the

MANOR-GRANT OF THE MANOR OF SCARSDALE.

WILLIAM THE THIRD by the Grace of God of Eng- land, Scotland, France & Ireland, King, Defender of the faith &c. To all to whom these presents shall come sendeth greeting ; Whereas onr loving subject CALEB HEATHCOTE, Esqr. hath petitioned the Hon.ble John Nanfan our Lt. Govern'r, & Comand" in Cheif of the Province of New Yorke in America, & onr Councill of the said Province, for a confirmation of a traet of land in the County of Westchester, Begin- ning at a marked tree by Mamoronack River w'ch is the eastermost side of the Northern bounds of Mamo- ronack Township, being about two miles from the country road & to run along the sd. River to the head thereof, & thence on a north line untill eighteen miles from the said marked tree is compleated ; west- erly, beginning at the marked tree or a great rock he- ing the westermost part of the northern bonnds of the aforesd. township, being about two miles from the country road, & thence to run northerly eighteen miles as the line on the eastermost side of the said land runeth, including in the sd. Mannor his eighth parte of the two miles laid out for the town of Mamo- ronaek, with the lott he now liveth on, & the lott bonght of Alice Hatfeild, wth the lands & meadows below westerly to a path to him belonging by virtue of his deeds & conveyances, parte of weh land within ye bounds aforesd. was purchased by Jno. Richbell from ye Native Indian Proprietors wch sd. Jno. Rich- bell had a grant & confirmation for ye same from Coll. Fra.cs Lovelace, late Govr. of ye sd. Province, & the right of ye sd. Jno. Richbell therein is legally vested in the sd. Caleb Heathcote, & other parte has been purchased by ye sd. Caleb Heathcote of ye Na- tive Indian Proprietors ; & whereas ye sd. Caleb Heathcote hath further petitioned our sd. Lt. Gov- ernor & Councill that ye sd. tract of land may be erceted into a Mannour by ye name of ye Mannour

I See the Manor map and his "explanations " appended Io it.

2 This name is properly pronounced as if spelled "Hethcul," not " Ileethcole," as often heard.

142

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

of Scarsdale, whereupon our sd. Lt. Govern" by & wth ye advice of our Councill Directed a Writt to ye high Sherrife of ye sd. County of Westchester to enquire to w· damage such patent would be, weh writt issued ac- cordingly, wth a proviso that it should not give ye sd. Caleb Heatheote any further title then which he al- ready hath to ye lands ealled ye White Plains, wch is in dispute between ye said Caleb Heathcote & some of the inhabitants of the town of Rye, whereupon the sd. sherrife returned yt the Jurors found that there is no damage to the King, or his subjects, in ereeting the Mannour aforesd., except ye sd. white Plaines w.ch. are in dispute & contest between ye sd. Caleb Heathı- cote & the town of Rye, & excepting James Mott & the rest of ye freeholders of Mamoronack who have deed within the patent of Richbell ; Know yee that of our special grace, certain knowledge, & meer motion, wce have given, granted, ratified, & confirmed, & by these presents, doe for us, our heires & successors, give, grant, ratifye, & confirme, unto ye sd. Caleb Heathcote, his leires, & assignes, All & every ye a foresd. tracts & parcells of land and meadow w.the in ye respective limits & bounds beforementioned & ex- pressed, together with all & every ye messuages, teil- em *** , buildings, barnes, houses, out-houses, fences, orehards, gardens, pastures, meadows, marshes, swamps, pools, ponds, waters, water courses, woods, underwoods, trees, timbers, quarries, runs, rivers, riv- oletts, brooks, lakes, streames, creeks, harbores, beaches, bayes, islands, ferries, fishing, fowling, hunt- ing, hawking, mines, mineralls, (royall mines ex- cepted) & all the rights, members, libertys, privil- ledges, jurisdiccons, royaltys, hereditam.'s, profitts, benefitts, advantages, & appurtenances, w'soever, to aforesd. severall & respective traets & pareels of land and meadow belonging, or in any wise appurteining, or accepted, reputed, taken, known, or occupied, as parte parcell or member thereof, To Have and to Hold all the aforesd. severall & respective tracts, & parcells of land & meadow & premises w.thin the re- spective limitts & bounds aforesaid, w.th all & every of their appurtenanees, unto him the sd. Caleb Heatheote, his heirs, & assigns, to the only proper use & bchoof of him the sd. Caleb Heathcote, his heires & assignes forever, provided that nothing here- in conteined shall be construed, deemed, or taken, to give the sd. Caleb Heatheote any further title then what he now, by virtue of these our letters patents, lawfully hath to ye sd. white Plaines in dispute as aforesaid nor any jurisdiction wthin the sd. White Plaines untill the same shall happen to belong to the sd. Caleb Heatheote, and moreover, Know yee that of our further speciall grace, certain knowledge, & meer motion, wee have thought fitt to ereet all the aforere- eited traets & parcells of land & meadow, wthin the limitts & bounds aforcsaid, into a Lordship and Man- nour, except as before excepted, and therefore by these presents wee doc for us, our heires, & suceess's., erect make & constitute all the aforerecited traets and

parcells of land and meadow within the limits & bounds beforementioned (execpt as before excepted), together w.the all & every the above granted premises, w.the all, and every, of their appurtenanees, into one Lordship or Mannour, to all intents and purposes, & it is our royal will and pleasure, that the sd. Lord- ship and Mannour shall from henceforth be called the Lordship and Mannour off Scarsdale ; and Know yee that wee reposing espeeiall trust & confidence in the loyallty, wisdome, justice, prudence, & circumspee- tion, of our sd. loveing subjeet, doe for us our heires & success."" give & grant unto the sd. Caleb Heath- cote, his heires & assignes, full power & authority, at all times forever hereafter, wthin the sd. Lordship or Mannour, one Court Leet & one Court Baron, to hold, & kcep, at such time & times, & so often yearly, as he or they shall think meet, & wee doe further give & grant to ye sd. Caleb Heathcote, his heires & assignes, all fines, issues, & amerciaments, at the sd. Court Leet & Court Baron to be holden within our said lordship or manor, to be sett, forfeited, or ini- posed, or payable, or happening, at any time to be payable, by any of the inhabitants of, or wthin, the said Lordshipp or Mannour of Searsdale or che Lim- itts & bounds thereof, & also all & every power & powers, authority & authorityes, for the holding & keeping, the sd. eourt leet, & court baron, from time to time, & to award & issue out, the accustomed writts to be issued & awarded out of courts leet & courts baron, as also that the sd. court lect & court baron be kept by the sd. Caleb Heatheote his heires and as- signes forever, his, or their, or any of their, stewards deputed & appointed, wth full & ample power & au- thority to distrain for the rents, serviees, & other sumes of money, payable by virtue of ye premises & all other lawful remedys & means for the haveing, possessing, levying, & enjoying the premises, & every parte & parcell of the same, & all waifes, estrayes, deodands, & goods of fellons, happening, or to hap- pen, being or to be, forfeited, w.thin the sd. Lordship or Mannour of Scarsdale. And wee doe further give & grant unto the said Caleb Heathcote his heires & assignes, that all & singular ye tenants of him the sd. Caleb Heatheote, within the sd. Mannour, shall & may at all times hereafter mcet together & ehoose assessors within the man." aforesd. aeeording to such rules, wayes, & methods, as are prescribed for cities towns & counties within our sd. provinee, by ye aets of Generall of Assembly for defraying the publick charge of each respective city, town, & county, afore- said, & all such sumes of money so assesscd & levyed, to colleet & dispose of, for such uses, as any act or aets of the sd. gener." assembly shall establish & ap- point, to have, hold, possess, & enjoy, all & singular the sd. Lordship or Mannour of Scarsdale & premises, with all & every of their appurtenances, unto ye sd. Caleb Heathcote, his heires & assignes, forever, and that the sd. Lordship or Man." aforesd. shall be & forever continue free & exempt from the jurisdicson

143

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

of any town, township, or Manour, whatsoever, to be holden of us, our heires & successors, in free & comon soccage according to the tenure of our Mannour of East Greenwich in the county of Kent, wthin our Kingdome of England, yielding rendering and paying therefore, yearly, & every year, forever, at our city of New Yorke, unto us our heires & successours, or to such officer or officers as shall from time to time be impowered to receive the same, five pounds currant money of New Yorke, upon the Nativity of our Lord, in lieu & stead of all services, dues, duties, or de- mands, whatsoever.

In testimony whereof wee have caused the great seale of our province of New Yorke to be hereunto affixed. Witness John Nanfan Esq.' our Lt. Governour & Comander in Chief of our Province of New York & territories depending thereon, in America.

Given at fort William Henry in our city of New Yorke this 21st day of March in the fourteenth year of our reign Anno Domini 1701.

John Nanfan.

By his Hours. comaud

M. Clarkson Secry.

I do hereby certify the aforegoing to be a true copy of the original record word d' 5th line page 229 being obliterated and or interlined in its stead as in said record. Compared therewith by me.

Lewis A. Scott, Secretary.

State of New York,

Office of the Secretary of State.

I have compared the preceding copy of Letters Pat- ent with the record thereof in this office, in Book Number Seven of Patents at page 195 and I do hereby certify the same to be a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole thereof.

Witness my hand and the seal of office of the Secre- tary of State, at the City of Albany, the 1st day of September, one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.

L.S.

Anson G. Wood Deputy Secretary of State.

John Richbell who is stated in this Manor-Grant, to Colonel Heathcote (which expressly vested Rich- hell's title in the latter), to have been the purchaser of part of the Manor-land originally "from ye native Indian proprietors," was one of a family of Hamp- shire-men either in, or from the neighbourhood of the city of Southampton, in that County, in Eng- land. They were also merchants in London engaged in trade with America. In the seventeenth century a large trade was carried on between England, the West Indies, and the ' Plantations on the Maine' of America. Of this trade the central point in the West Indies was Barbadoes then, as now, a British Island. The voyages were from England to Barbadoes, thence to New York or Boston, and thence back to England. Hence the continual reference in the accounts and letters of that day to the " news from home via Bar- bardoes." Precisely when John Richbell left Eng-

land is not known. He was a merchant in Charlestown, Massachusetts, according to Savage's Genealogical Dietionary in 1648. In an inventory of the estate of Robert Gibson of Boston, dated the 11th of August 1659, appears this item, "due from Mr. John Rich- bell for wages and wine £36, 4,0, under date of 8th August 1656.1 The next year 1657 he was apparently in the Island of Barbadoes. Prior to this latter date he was in the island of St. Christopher's, where he received from his mother-in-law Margery Parsons "' certain goods formerly delivered and paid unto me by Mrs. Margery Parsons upon the Island of St. Christopher's." 2

When in Barbadoes he met with two other English- men, Thomas Modiford a resident of that island, and William Sharpe of Southampton in England. The three entered into an agreement to undertake a bnsi- ness which the oppressive navigation laws of England tempted, and practically compelled, many Englishmeu and Colonists to go into. These laws increased in extent, and vigorously enforced by Cromwell, bore harshly upon England's "Plantations in foreign parts" at that time just beginning to exist. Then began that illicit contraband trade in America which con- tinued and increased from that time during the whole colonial period. And which proved, in consequence of the very stringent measures adopted by England late in the eighteenth century to suppress it, thereby injuring the business interests of the colonies, one of the potent, if not the most potent, of the causes which produced that great event, the American Revolution.

The " Instructions " to Richbell from his partners in relation to their business still exist in the public Archives of New York. The parties named, were " Thomas Modiford of Barbadoes, William Sharpe of Southampton [England], and John Richbell of Charlestown, New England, Merchants. " All were in Barbadoes apparently at the date of the " Instruc- tions," which, as clear and specific, as they are inter- esting and curious, are here given in full They are headed :-

" Instructions delivered to Me. JJohn Richbell in ordes to the intended settlement of a Plantation in the south-west parts of New England, in behalf of himself and of sub- seribers."

They piously begin, and are in these words :- " God sending you to arrive safely in New England, our advice is that you informe yourself fully by sober understanding men of that parte of [the] land which lyeth betwixt Connecticott and the Dutch Collony, and of the seacoast belonging to the same, and the Islands that lye betwixt Long Island and the Mainc, viz. : within what government it is, and of what kinde that government is, whether very strict or remisse, who the Chiefe Magistrates are, on what termes ye

1XI. N. E. Gen. Rec., p. 317.

" Recital in a deed to her of 14th Nov., 1668, in the writer's possession.

144

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Indians stand with them, and what bounds the Dutch pretend to, and being satisfyed in these particulars, (viz.) that you may with security settle there and without offenee to any. Then our advice is that you endeavour to buy some small Plantation that is al- ready settled and hath an house, and some quantity of ground eleared and which lyeth so as you may enlarge into the woods at pleasure in each,-be sure not to fayle of these accommodations.

I. That it be near some navigable Ryver, or at least some safc port or harbour, and that the waye to it be neither long nor difficult.

II. That it be well watered by some running streame, or at least by some fresh ponds and springs, near adjoining.

III. That it be well wooded, which I thinke you ean hardly misse of. That it be healthy, high, ground, not boggs or fens, for the hopes of all consists in that consideration."

Then after cautioning him to obtain a good title, and direeting him how to begin and carry on the actual settling and planting of the location, the in- structions, with a sharp eye to their main object, thus conclude ;- " Lastly, we desire you to advise us, or either of us, how affairs stand with you, what your wants are, and how they may be most advantageously employed by us, for the life of our business will consist in the nimble, quiet, and full, correspondence with us ; and although these instructions we have given you, clearly indicates [our views ] yet we are not satisfied that you must needs bring in the place so many difficultycs, and also observe so many inconveniences, which we at this distanee cannot possibly imagine; and therc- fore we refer all wholly to your discretion, not doubt- ing but that you will doe all things to the best advan- tage of our designe, thereby oblicdging your faithful friends and servants

Thos. Modiford

Barbadoes Sept. 18, 1657. Will. Sharpe.1

Certainly John Richibell carried out these " instruc- tions " to the letter. No better description of the situation of Mamaroneck and its peculiar local char- acteristics could be written than they contain. Directly on the Sound, close to Connecticut and claimed by that Colony, yet within the Dutch juris- dietion, with a deeply indented harbour, and a fine ever running stream of fresh water falling over a reef directly into it, backed by high wooded hills, and skirted by the cleared planting fields of the Indians; and within a day's sail of the " Manhadoes," Richbell could not have found on the whole coast a locality better adapted to the " nimble" business of himself and his Barbadocs friends. There was only a single point in which it failed to meet their "instructions." It was not "already settled," and had no " house" already built. The Siwawoy tribe of Mohican Indians were its sole inhabitants when Richbell first saw

Mamaroneck, and their Sachems were Wappaque- wam and Mahatahan,2 brothers in authority, but not in blood.

How soon Richbell left Barbadoes, after the date of his instructions, or when he arrived in New Nether- land, or on Long Island, is not known. He pur- ehased that beautiful peninsula, or a part of it, in Oyster Bay, afterwards, and still, known as Lloyd's Neck, on the 5th of September 1660, which six years later he subsequently sold.3 He was a resident of Oyster Bay from 1660 to 1663 or 1664, and afterwards of Mamaroneek.

A year later, in September 1661, he made the first purchase of the Mamaroneck lands of the Indians, the deed for which is as follows :-

The Indian Deed to John Richbell.

Mammaranock, ye 23ª Sept. 1661. Know all men by these presents ;- That I Wappaquewam Right owner and Proprietor of part of this Land, doe by order of my brother who is another Proprietor & by Consent of the other Indyans doe this day Sell, Lett, & make over from mce my heyres and assignes for- ever, unto John Richbell of Oyster Bay his heyres & assignes forever, threc Necks of Land, the Easter- most is called Mannaranock neck, and the Wester- most is bounded with Mr. Pell's purchase : Therefore Know all men whom these presents concerne, that I Wappaquewam Doe this Day alienate and Estrange from mee, my heires, and assignes for ever unto John Richbell his heyres and assignes forever these three Necks of Land with all the Meadows Rivers and Islands thereunto belonging, Also the said Richibell or his Assignes may freely feed cattle, or cutt Timber Twenty miles Northward from the marked Trees of the Necks, ffor and in consideracion the said Richbell is to Give and Deliver unto the aforenamed Wappa- quewam the goods hereunder mentioned, the one halfe about a month after the date herc of, and the other halfe the next Spring following, as the Inter- preters can Testifye, & for the true performance hereof I Wappaquewam doe acknowledge to have Reseived two Shirts & Ten Shillings in Wampum the Day and Date above Written.

The mark of +

Wappaquewam,

Twenty Two Coats, One hundred fathom of Wampum, Twelve Shirts,

Ten paire of Stockings, Twenty hands of powder, Twelve barrs of Lead, Two firelockcs, ffifteen Hoes,

2 In a single paper of the time, this name is spelled " Mathetuson," but in all the others " Mahatahan."

3 See chapter on " Mamaroneck " for some details of Richbell and his residence in Oyster Bay.

1 Deed bouk III., Sec. of State's off., 122, 126.

145

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

ffifteen Hatchets,

Three Kettles.1

In the December following the execution and de- livery of the foregoing deed one Thomas Revell also of Oyster Bay a merchant, and rival of Richbell at- tempted to claim the same lands under a deed from an Indian, for " two Necks " dated the 27tli of Octo- ber 1661. This led to an examination into the facts by the Dutch authorities when Richbell presented to tliem his memorial for a " grondbref," or permit to extinguish the Indian title, in December 1661. This examination showed Revell's claim to be a fraud, and the Dutch Government accordingly issued their ground brief to Richibell, and later, their “ Trans- "port," or Patent. When the change of rule came and the English were in power and the Dutch Transports, or patents, had been confirmed by English oncs under the Duke of York, Richbell had recorded with his English Patent, in the Secretary's office of the Province, the numerous affidavits made in 1661 and 1662 and laid before the Dutch authorities, on which they condemned Revell's In- dian deed and claim, and decided in his own favor, together with another by an eye witness made in 1665,2 and an Indian certificate of Confirmation of the foregoing Indian deed to him of September 23ª, 1661.3

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. I, Part 33

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

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