History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 146

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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. II > Part 146

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FRIEND'S MEETING HOUSES .- There are three Meeting Houses of the Society of Friends in the town of New Castle : one belonging to the Hicksite branch, at the old site a mile west of Chappaqua station, and two of the Orthodox Friends, one at Chappaqua and the other known as Croton Valley Meeting House, at the extreme north end of the town, between the Bedford line and Kisco River.

This part of Westchester County has been from the carliest settlement a Quaker stronghold. Friends' first settled at Chappaqua about 1730 and for several ycars mnectings for worship were held at the house of Abel Weeks.

A preparative meeting was set up in 1745 and the Chappaqua Meeting House was built in 1753 and cn- larged in 1778. All the Friends in Westchester County belonged to Purchase Monthly Meeting, licld at Harrison's Purchase, until 1785, when that meet- ing was divided and Chappaqua Monthly Mecting was established. The members of the meeting at North Castle and of that at Amawalk in Yorktown belonged to this Monthly Meeting. In 1798 Chappa- qua Monthly Meeting was divided, the meetings at North Castle and Chappaqua continuing to form the Chappaqua Monthly, and those at Amawalk and Salem constituting the Amawalk Monthly Meeting. After the separation occurred in the society in 1827 on account of differences in doctrinal views, that branch which approved the teachings of Elias Hicks continued to use the old Meeting House at Chappa- qua, while the Orthodox people built a new one close

by, which was in use until 1883 when it was abandon- ed and a new building of modern architecture and taste- ful appearance erected by them at Chappaqua station.

The Croton Valley meeting was cstablished in 1806. The meeting house stood near the Croton River a little below the mouth of the Kisco. When the Croton Lake was raised for New York City's water supply the house was moved upon the adjoin- ing land belonging to Henry Sutton. After the divi- sion in 1827 the Hicksite branch retained the house and the Orthodox had their religious services in the house of Moses Sutton until 1845, when the present honse was built. The Hicksite meeting was after- ward discontinued. Another meeting was organized by them at Mount Kisco about the year 1856 and a meeting house erected. This meeting still continues. (See Bedford).

BAPTIST CHURCH .- The Chappaqua Baptist Church was organized February 22, 1881, with nine members, and was formally recognized on the twenty- fifth of May of that year. In the month of July fol- lowing the church unanimously called the Rev. W. H. Marshall (formerly of Bedford) to be the pastor. He served the charge efficiently and faithfully for abont a ycar and a half. Since his ministry closed there has been no settled pastor but the pulpit has been supplied by different preachers. The church became a member of the Southern New York Baptist Association in October, 1881.

No house of worship has yet been erected, but ser- vices have always been held in the Chappaqua Union Meeting House.

CEMETERIES .- The oldest burial place in the town is probably that near St: Mark's Church, where the " North Castle Church " of pre-revolutionary times stood. There are several small grave-yards which have been used by families, or neighborhoods, in dif- ferent parts of the town. Some twenty years ago the Fair Ridge Cemetery, a short distance north of the old Friends' Meeting-Houscs, was laid, and was in- corporated December 26, 1882, when more land was added to it. It now consists of about tweuty acres. The present officers are Azariah Carpenter, president ; R. S. Haviland, secretary.

Oakwood Cemetery, a very beautiful tract of land of fifty-five acres, is in the village of Mount Kisco. It was laid out by Mr. Chauncey Smith, then the owner of the land, and given the name of Locust Hill about 1872. It was incorporated January 9, 1883, by its pres- ent nawie. The preseut officers are James Wood, presi- dent ; Francis M. Carpenter, secretary and treasurer.

Joseph Barrily

629

NORTH CASTLE.

CHAPTER XIII.

NORTH CASTLE.

BY JOSEPH BARRETT AND W. H. HORTON.

NORTH CASTLE lies upon the eastern border of the county, adjoining Fairfield County, in Connecticut. It is bounded north by New Castle and Bedford, east by Poundridge and the State of Connecticut, south by White Plains and Harrison and west by Mount Pleasant. It is about thirty-five miles north of New York City. Until 1791 it included the present town of New Castle.

INDIAN DEEDS AND PATENTS .- The first record concerning lauds now embraced in this town shows that in 1640 Ponus, sagamore, sold to Nathaniel Turner, on behalf of Quinnipiacke (New Haven), a tract of land known as the Toquams. In the sale of this tract he reserved for the use of himself "the liberty of his corn and pasture lands." These lands were known by the Indians as Shehaug and Ho- quetch.1

In 1665 Ponus and his eldest son, Onax, made a second agreement in regard to these same lands, and while they admitted that the first purchase-money was paid, "yet things not being clear and being very un- satisfied, they came to another agreement."? Just what the trouble was does not appear, but from the general tenor of the papers recorded it would seem as if the Puritans had set their houses too near the Indian planting-grounds, and iu consequence the English hog damaged the red man's corn, or the cattle of the white man may have strayed over the boundary line into their pasture-land. In 1640 Ponus was the ruling sachem of the Siwanois, also known as one of the seven tribes of the coast. This chieftaincy was one of the largest of the Wappinger sub-divisions. They occupied the northern shore of the Sound from Norwalk, twenty-four miles to the neighborhood of Hell Gate. A very large village of this chieftaincy was situated on the shores of Rye Pond.3 The res- idence of Ponus in 1640 was called Poningo.4 The English settlements along the shores of the Sound on the one side, and the Dutch on the banks of the Hudson River ou the other side, naturally crowded the Indians back from the shore-lands into this interior country. And when we look upon these beautiful, though small lakes, and listen to the babbling of these crystal streams as they course their winding way down the sides of these noble hills and through these pleasant valleys, we can easily imagine that the Indian found here much that he had learned in his

youth to expect only when he had reached the happy hunting-ground of the future. It was the liberty of a beautiful spot that the old Indian sachem Ponus had reserved for " his and the rest of the said Indians to plant on."

Sixty years after Ponus had made his sale to Stam- ford, his descendants sold even that which the old sagamore had reserved. The same tide of immigra- tion that hrad crowded them into the hill country was now crowding them out. The lakes, the hills and the valleys, with their fields and villages, passed into the possession of the white man, while the Indian, with little to show for his trading, built his last wigwam among the tall grasses that grew on the borders of Tamarack Swamp.

The lands included in the present town were finally conveyed to the white men substantially in three tracts. First : the part of the town lying west of the Byram River, which was included in Heath- cote's great purchase of October 19, 1696, known after- ward as the West Patent.5

Second: the eastern part of the town lying between the north and south courses of the Mahanas, or Mia- nus River, which Serringoe, Rarequash and other Indians conveyed to Colonel Caleb Heathcote and Joseph Theal, John Horton and Joseph Purdy, of Rye, on July 5, 1701.

Third : the remaining or central part of the pres- ent town, bounded west by the Byram, and east by the Mianus as it flows northward, south by Connec- ticut and north by Bedford. This tract contains some of the most desirable land in the town, and was at an early date sought for by various persons who had come up from Rye. The prior claims of these men seem to have embarrassed Heathcote in his de- signs, and he became associated with them in various purchases, which they together made of the Indians. On the 11th of June, 1701, Heathcote, Theal, Horton and Purdy bouglit of the same Indians al- ready mentioned a "certain parcel and tract of land, bounded as followeth : Easterly by Byram River, northerly to the northwest corner of a great swamp, commonly called the Pound Swamp, thence a south- westerly line to Rye's great pond, and bounded by the said pond westerly, and so runs to Harrison's great marked tree." On the 4th day of July, 1701, the same Indians, Serringoe, Rarcquash, Washpaken, Ramhone aud Packenain, conveyed " to Colonel Caleb Heathcote, Captain James Mott, Robert Lock- hard, Jonathan Lockhard's son, Nathaniel Silleck, Richard Scofield, Gershom Lockhard, Gershon's son, and Henry Disbrow a certain parcel of land bounded as followeth : To begin at Byram River at the Colony line, and so to run to Mehanas River, as the said line goes, running north- erly on the Mehanas River, as the river goes, a mile into the woods, and from the colony line on Byram

1 Huntington's " History of Stamford," p. 98.

2 Huntington's " History of Stamford," p. 98.

3 Ruttenbeer, " North River Indians," p. 81. 4 Ruttenbeer, p. 81.

ii .- 54}

5 See New Castle,

630

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

River tltree miles northerly, as the river runs, into the woods, and from the head of said line to the head of the other liue above mentioned, to have and to hold, ete."] This tract was called the White Fields.

On July 11, 1701, the Indian proprietors, Wapato, Araquah and Rorata, sold to "James Mott, Mr. Jus- tice Joseph Purdy, and Henry Disbrow " a traet " bounded as followeth : Myanos River cast, the colony line south, Bieram rivere west, Bedford north- east, another pattene north."2

Thus the same land was purchased over and over, from the same Indians and from different Indians, in the loose fashion which prevailed wherever purchases were made from the first owners of the soil. The ownership of this region is confused and uncertain for several years. Several other sales are recorded, but on the 14th of July, 1705, the Indian claims ceased by a deed to George Booth, John Bond and others, by which they sold "all the land, swamp and meadow " that they had in Westchester County.

These purchases were confirmed by the government under three patents. The West Patent, which in- eluded all of this town lying west of the Byram, and ail of New Castle, will be found fully described in the history of New Castle. The second tract, above referred to, was patented to the same ten men who held the West Patent, with the addition of Theal, Horton and Purdy, who seem to have made such progress in dealing with the Indians that they had to be takeu into partnership by Heathcote and his asso- ciates. The patent was dated February 17, 1701, and became known as the Middle Pateut, from its situa- tiou between the West and East Patents. This last- named traet was secured by the same company of speculators, by patent dated February 25, 1701, and was the largest of all their three patents, including, as it was worded, the major part of Poundridge and Lewisboro, and also, either by error or by design, a considerable area that belonged to Bedford. The " Middle Patent" is still the name of that part of the town.

" MINDLE PATENT .- William, the third, by the grace of God of Eng- land, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., to all to whom these presents shall come or may concern, sendeth greet- ing: Whereas, our loving subjects-Colonel Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theal, John Horton, Joseph Purdy, Robert Walters, Leigh Atwood, Matthew Clarkson, Lancuster Sims, Cornelius Depeyster, Richard Slater, John Cholwell, Robert Lurting and Barne Cosens-Inve, by their petition, presented unto our trusty and well-beloved John Nanfan, Esq., our Lieut .. Governor and Commander-in-chief of our Province of New York and territories depending thereon in America, etc., aud prayed our grant und confirmation of a certain tract of land in the county of West- chester, bounded southerly by the colony line of Connecticut, easterly by Mahaims river, northerly by Bedford line marked trees to Mehanas river again, und sontherly as the said river goes against the stream to ye head of the said river, and so to the snid colony line, which said tract of Innd on the 5th day of July last past, was by our said Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theal, John Horton and Joseph l'urdy, etc., purchased of the na. tive proprietors, and containing within the limits atoresnid, by estima-

tion, about 1500 acres of profitable land, besides wastes and woodlands, which reasonable request we being willing to grant. Know ye, that in our especial grace, certain knowledge aud mere motion, we have given, granted, ratified and confirmed, and by these presents doe for us, our heirs and successors, give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto our said loving subjects-Colonel Caleb Heathcote, Joseph Theal, Jolin Horton, Joseph Purdy, Robert Walters, Leigh Atwood, Matthew Clarkson, Lan- caster Sims, Cornelius Depryster, Richard Slater, John Chollwell, Rob- ert Lurting and Barne Cosens-all the afore-recited tract of land within the county of Westchester and within the limits and bounds afure said, together with all and singular the woods, underwoods, trees, tim- ber, feeling, pastures, meadows, marshes, swamps, jonds, pools, waters, water courses, rivers, rivulets, runs, brooks, streams, fishing, fowling, hunting, hawking, &c., mines, minerals, &c. (silver and gold mines ex- cepted), and all other profits, benefits, privileges, liberties, advantages, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsrever, to the aforesaid tract of laud within the limits and bonnds aforesaid, belonging or in any way or ways appertaining unto them, the said Colonel Caleb Heathcote, &c., their heirs and assigns, to the only proper use, benefit and hehoof of him, the said Colonel Caleb Heathcote, &c .. &c., their heirs and assigns for- ever, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and common soccage as of our manor of East Greenwich, in our county of Kent withiu our realm of England, yealding, rendering and paying therefore yearly and every year on the feast day of the nativity of our Blessed Sa- viour, the annual yearly rent of one pound seven shillings and'six pence current money of New York in lieu and stend of all other rents, dues, duties, services and demands whatsoever. In testimony whereof we have caused the great seal of our said Province to be herennto affixed. Witness John Nanfan, Esq., our Lieut .- Governor and commander in- chief of our Province of New York this 17th day of February, 1701-2 and in the 14th year of our reign.

"JOUN NANFAN."

The men to whom these patents were granted had no intention of settling on these lands. They were not farmers; they were merchants, gentlemen, ofli- cials and ex-officials in the city of New York, who were in favor with the friends of the crown and ad- herents of the Church of England.3 They were thie middlemen who stood between the aboriginal pro- prietors of these hunting grounds amd the tillers of the soil. The leader of the yeomen was John Clapp, a sagacious and energetic man, who looked upon the claims of these speculators as being contrary to the design of the government in granting lands for the purpose of settlement.

In April, 1705, Clapp bought of the Indians a large quantity of land in the neighborhood of Rye Pond, part of which was apparently in the State of Connectient; but part was within the traet between the Byrami and the Mahanas, About this time Clapp and his associates seem to have thought they had obtained control of the whole tract in question, for they applied to Lord Cornbury for a patent, as follows :

" The humble petition of John Clapp, in behalf of himself and com- pany, to his Excellency Edward Viscount Cornbury, Captain-Generall and Governor-in-chief, &c., humbly sheweth that by virtue of a Lycence to him and company, granted for the purchaseing of land of the native Indian proprietors In West Chester County, that they had made a pur- chase of a tract of land bounded as followeth : By Birame river west ; southerly by the Colony line, and running easterly till it meet with an oldlere patent ; northerly till it meets with the Bedford line ; west till it meets with the head of Birnme river nfore said. The said petitioners therefo: e most humbly pray his Excellency to grant them a warrant for Surveying the same, that they might prosecute the same for a patent. " Endorsed; received in Council on the 14th day April, 1705, and a warrant of Survey issued accordingly." +

1 County Records, Lib. C., page 96.

: County Records, Lib. G., page 108.

3 For some account of these patentees, see New Castle.

4 Land Papers, Albany, N. Y., vol. iv. p. 48.

631

NORTHI CASTLE.

Notwithstanding the warrant of survey was ordered, as appears in this indorsenient, there were others who had something to say.

A few months later it appears, by the petition of George Booth, William Bond and company,-

" That they, with Mr. Clapp and others (after a hearing some time since before your Excellency in Council), are agreed to join in company in the land formerly in question between them, lying and being in the county of Westchester ; that your Petitioners did intend to Petition your Lordship for a Warrt to the Attorney. Gen" to draw a Draft of Letters l'at- ent of sd Land for your Petrs, together wth Mr. Clapp and others, as afore- said, but her Majties affairs in the Jerseys requireing your Lordsps attend- ance there, and the Despatching the packetts for England since your re- turn from thence, has been the oceasion of their delay. But so it is, may it please your Excellency, the sd Mr. Clapp, together with some others, have privately obtained a Warrt to the Attorney-Gen1 to draw Letters pat- ents for the Land your Petition's were to be partners with, and has wholly left your Petitioners out, not making them acquainted therewith, and, as your Petition's are Informed, is now Ingrossed by the Secretary and made ready to pass the Great Seal. Your Petition's therefore miost humbly pray your Lord and this honoble Bord to Inspect the sd Letters Patent and to cause the sd Mr. Clapp to make proof of his Tittles, that your Petition's may no ways enjure by the said Patent, and your Pe- tion's shall ever pray. Signed,

"GEORGE BOOTH, " WILLIAM BOND. "Endorsed: read in Council 27th Dec., 1705." 1

It appears from the following petition that Clapp, Booth and Bond eame to an agreement eoneerning this land :

"John Clapp and Company, persuant to his Excellency's warrant of Survey, had been to considerable expence in Surveying a tract of land Lying to the Eastward of Biram river, wchi said tract of Land was pur- chased in the year 1701 of the Native Indian Proprietors, but the same heing not warranted by sufficient Lycence, the Government is now vested in and at the Disposel of the Crown. Mr. Clapp and company humbly petition that his Excellency be pleased to grant unto them the said tract of land pursuant to the Surveyor-Geul's Survey thereof made and returned unto the Secretary's Office, and under such moderate Quitt Rent as to his Excellency shall seem meet.

"Signed. " GEORGE BOOTH,

" R. BROUGHTON,

" WILLIAM BOND,

" JAMES MOTT, " RICHARD SCHOFIELD, " JOHN CARYLL,

" AUG. GRAHAM,

" JOHN CALONIAIT,

"HENRY DISBROW, " GEO. H. PALDWICK.

"Endorsed : read in Council on the 21st day Feb., 1705-6, and a war- rent ordered to be drawn for ye Attorney-Gen1 to prepare a patent for Jolin Clapp and company." 2

In accordance with the methods and praetiees of the publie men of those times,3 the land-owners seem to have found it necessary to further enlarge their company before the patent could be obtained. They evidently had to agree to share their privileges with persons representing the powers that then managed the government. When the patent was granted, in the following month, the names of Ann Bridges and Roger Mompesson led those of the real owners. This lady was the wife of John Bridges, member of the Council, chief justice of the provinee, judge of the

Colonial Court and occupant of other offices. He is deseribed as " the Honorable Doetor John Bridges, LL.D." Apparently he did not consider it decorous to be eonneeted with a land grant, and for that reason was represented by his wife. Roger Mompesson was less sensitive. He was, at this very time, chief justice and member of the Governor's Council (which rati- fied the patents) and judge of the Court of Admiralty. The patent was granted on March 2, 1706, by Lord Cornbury, Governor of the province, to Ann Bridges, Roger Mompesson, George Booth, William Anderson, William Bond, John Person, Daniel Clark, John Clapp and Lewis Perant, and the land was described as bounded " West by Biram River, East by Mehanas River, Northi by the Bedford line and Cohamong Brook, and South by the Colony line," to be held in nine parts, and to be divided one-ninth part to each of the patentecs, at an annual quit-rent of fifty shil- lings.4

But there was another public man who eoveted an interest in this attractive property. Thomas Wen- ham, previously one of the associate judges of the Colonial Court, was, at this time and until his death in 1709, a member of the Governor's Couneil, and, at one time, a member of Assembly. The nine persons above mentioned sold Wenham one-tenth interest on the 16th of September, 1706, and two years afterward applied for a new patent. After deseribing the patent of March 2, 1706, and reeiting the sale to Wenhanı, they say,-

" And whereas the said Letter Pattent were under a Certain Con- dition or proviso, that they should Settle, clear and mnike Improvement on the said Lands, or some part thereof, within the Space of two years then Next following, And your Petitioners having made some Improve- ment on part of the Said Lands, Yet fearing some Dispute may arise hereafter, what Shall be esteemed a Settlemt, & hether tho Terme were fully completed within ye time Limited to prevent charges and Expenses which your Petitioners may thereby Otherwise be subjectod unto.

" Your Petitioners Humbly pray that yor Lordship would be pleased to grant her Majtys Letters Pattent of Grant and Confirmation unto them the Said Ann Bridges, Roger Mompesson, George Booth, William Anderson, Wm. Bond, Jno Person, Dan" Clark, Jno Clapp, Lewis Perant and Tho. Wenham and their Heirs, of the said Tract of Land & premises Under the yearly Quit-rent, 5s each, which, in the whole, will amount to the said 50s., as formerly reserved with a further Term of two years for Clearing and making Improvement thereon.

" Aud yor Petitioners shall ever pray, &e.

" ANN BRIDGES, " R. MOMPESSON. " GEORGE BOOTH. " WILL ANDERSON . " Tho. WENHAM."

" Endorsed : The petition of Ann Bridges and others ; read 17th 7br and granted, pattent issued.

The year thus omitted was evidently 1708, as the patent was dated a week later.

PATENT.

" Anne, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom this shall come, Sendeth greeting. Whereas, by our letters patent, bearing date the 2d day of March, 1705, in the fourth year of our reign, we have given, granted, . ratified and confirmed unto our loving subjects, Ann Bridges, Roger

1 Land Papers, Albany, N. Y., vol. iv. p. 65.

2 Land Papers, Albany, N. Y.

8 See New Castle, History of West Patent.

$ Book of Patents, Albany, vol. vii., p. 2SS.

G32

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Mompersson, George Booth, William Anderson, W'in. Bond, John Person, Daniel ('lurk, John ('lapp, Lewis Perant, ull that certain tract or parcel of land in the conuty of Westchester, begining at n certain small brouk called Cohamong Brook, where the said brook empties its self into Mehanas River, and runs thence np the said river Mehanas sontherly to the head there of, to a beech troo standing by a small spring, und marked with letters T. M., and thence sonth to the colony line of Con- nectieut, which runs in the rear of the town of Greenwich and llorseneck, and so by the said line as it runs westerly to Byram River; thence by the river (including the said river) to the head thereof, to two certain white ash-trees, standing on the north end of a certain bog- meddow, marked with three letters, D. G., P. C., T. C. ; and thence easterly in a direct line to the head of Cohamong Brook, as it runsto the placo where it begnu, bounded west by Byram River, enst by Mehavas River, north by Bedford line and Cohamong Brook, and south by Colony line, together with all the woods, underwoods, &c. ; und whereas said Anne Bridges, Roger Mompesson, George Booth, &c., by their indenture of lease and release bearing date the 18th and 19th days of September, in the tifth year of our reign, and for considerations therein mentioned, did grant and convey unto Thomas Wenham, Esq., and to his heirs und assigns, one-tenth part of the said premises; and whereas the & id Anne Bridges, Roger Mompesson George Booth, Wil- liam Anderson, William Bond, John Person, Daniel Clark, John Clapp, Lewis Perant und Thomas Wenham have since, by their petition pres- ented to our right trusty and well-beloved consin, Edward Viscount Cornbury, captain-general and governor-in-chief in and over our prov. vince of New York and territories there on depemling in America, and vice-admiral of the same, &e., in Council, there in setting forth that having unde some improvements on the said lands, and fearing somo disputes may arise hereafter, what shall be esteemed a settlement, &c., the which petition wee being minded to grant know yee . . . that for divers considerations us therennto moving of our special grace, &c., wee Invo given, granted, released, ratified and confirmed, and in and by this present, for onr selves, our heirs and successors, to give, grant, release, ratify and confirm unto the said Anne Bridges, Roger Mompesson, &c., within the bounds and limits above in our said recited letters patent, &c., &c., in ten equal part to be divided &c., to be hoklen of ns, our heirs and successors, &c., in freo and common soccage, as of our manor of East Greenwich, in our county of Kent, within our realm of England, yieldl- ing, releasing und paying therefor yearly and every year henceforward, und unto our heirs, at our custom-honse at New York, to our collector or receiver-general then for the time being, at or upon the feast day of tho Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the yearly rent or sum of £2 108., current money of the province of New York, &c , this 25th day of Sep- tember, in the seventh year of our reign A. D. 1708. 1

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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. II, Part 146

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286