USA > New York > Westchester County > Origin and History of Manors in the Province of New York and in the County. > Part 21
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Know Ye that of our Especial grace Certain Knowledg and Mere motion We have given granted ratified and Confirmed And by these presents do for Us our heirs & Succesors give grant ratifie and Con- firm unto our Said Loving Subject Stephanus van Cort- landt all the Afore recited Ceartain Parcell & tract of Land and Meadows Within theire Several and Re- spective Limits and bounds Aforesaid Together with all and Every of the Mesuages Tenements buildings Barnes Houses out houses Stables edifices Gardens In- closures fences pasture" fields Feeding" woods under- woods trees timbers Swamps meadows marshes pools ponds Lakes fountains waters Water Courses rivers Revulets runs Streams Brooks Creeks Harbours Coves Inlets Outlets Islands of Land and Meadows Necks of Land and Meadows Pennensules of Land and Mead- ows ferrys fishing fowling hunting and hawking and the Fishing on Hudsons River so far as the bounds of the Said Land Extends upon the same, Quaries, Mines, Minerals, (Silver and Gold mines only Ex- cepted) And all the Other the rights, Members, Lib- ertys, Priviledges, jurisdictions, prehemenences, Emol- uments Royaltys, Profits, Benefits, Advantages, Heri- dittements, & apurtenances, whatsoever, to the afore recited Ceartain parcells or Tracts of Land and Mead- ows Within their Severall and Respective Limits and Bounds aforcsaid belonging or In any wise Apper- toaning, or Eccepted, Reputed, taken, known, or Ocu- pied, as part parcell or member thereof, To HAVE AND To HOLD all the afore Recited Ceartain parcell" and tracts of Land and Meadows within their Several
and Respective Limits and Bounds Aforesaid ; To- gether with all end Every of the mesuage Tennements Buildings barns houses out houses Stables Edefices Orechards Gardens Inclosures fences Pasture fields feedings Woods underwoods trees timber Swamps Meadows Marshes pooles ponds Lakes fountains Wa- ter Water Courses Rivers Revulets Rivulets Runs Streams brooks Creeks harbours Coves Inlets Outlets Islands of land and Meadows Necks of Land and Meadow Penninsules of Land and Meadow ferry" fishing fowling hunting and hawking and the fishing ou hudsons River so far as the Bounds of the Said Land Extends upon the said River, Quaries Mines minerals (Silver and Gold Mines only Exept) And all other the Right" Members Libertys priveledges jur- risdictions prehemmenences Emoluments Royaltys profits benifits Advantages heridetiments and Appur- tenances Whatsoever to the afore recited Certain parcell and tract of Land and Meadow within the several and Respective Limitts and bounds aforesaid belonging or in any wise apertaining or accepted Re- puted taken Known or ocupied as part parcell or member thereof unto the Said Stephanus van Cortlandt his heirs and assigns to the Sole and only proper use Benefit and Behofe of him the said Stephanus van Cortlandt his heirs and assigns for Ever.
And Moreover Know ye that our further Especial Gruce Certain Knowledge and mere Motion we have thought fitt according to the Request of our Said Lov- ing Subject to Erect all the before Recited Ceartain Parcell and tracts of Land and Meadow Within the Limitts and Bounds aforesaid into a Lordship or Mannor, and therefore by these presents we do for us, our heirs, and Successors, Erect make Aud Consti- tute, all the afore Recited Ceartain purcells and tracts of Land and Meadows Within the Limitts and bounds aforesaid, together with all and Every the above Granted premises With all and Every of Appurte- nances Into one Lordship and Mannour to all Intents and purposes, And it is our Royall will and pleasure that the said Lordship and Mannour Shall from henceforth be Called the Lordship and Mannour of Cortlandt ; And further Know yee that wee Reposeing Especial trust and Confidence in the Loyalty wisdom Justice Prudence and Circumspection of our said Loving Subject do for us our heirs and Successors Give and Grant unto our said Loving Subject Ste- phanus van Cortlandt and to the heirs and assigns of him the said Stephanus van Cortlandt full power and authority at all times for Ever Heareafter in the said Lordship and Mannour one Court Leet and one Court Barron To hold and Keep at Such time and times and so Often Yearly as he or they Shall see meet, and all fines Issues and Amerciaments at the Said Court Leet and Court Barron To be holden within the said Lordship and Mannour to be Let for- fited and Employed or payable or hapning at any time to be payable by any of the Inhabitants of or Within the said Lordship and mannour of Cortlandt or
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118
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
.
the Limitts and bounds thereof And Also all And every of the Powers and Authoritys herein beforemetioned for the holding and Keeping of the said Court Leet and Court Barron from time to time and to award Issue out the acCustomary writs to the Heirs and As- signs of the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt for ever or their or any of their steward Deputed and apointed with full and ample power and Authority to Distrain for the rents Services and Other Sums of Money pay- able by Virtue of the Premises and all other Lawfull remidies and means for the having possessing Re- ceiving Levying and Enjoying the premmises and every Part and Parcell of the same and all waifes Es- trayes Wrecks Deodands goods of felons happening and being Forfeited within the said Lordship and Mannour of Cortlandt and all and Every Sum and sums of Money to be paid as a Post fine upon any fine or fines to be Levied of any Land Tennements or Heriditements within the said lordship and mannour of Cortlandt together with the Advowson and right of patronage and all and Every the Church and Churches Erected or Established or heareafter to be had Erected or Established in the said mannour of Cortlandt.
And we do by these presents Constitute and Ap- point our said Loving Subject Stephanus van Cortlandt and his heirs and Assinys to be our Sole and only Ranger of the Said Lordship and Mannour of Cort- landt and to have hold and Enjoy all the Benifits perqusites fees, rights priviledges Profits and Apurten- ances that of Right doth belong unto a Ranger Ac- cording to our Statutes and Customs of our Realm of England in as full and Ample Manner as if the same were perticularly Expressed in these presents anything to the Contrary Hereof in any ways Notwithstanding.
And we Likewise do further give and Grant unto the said Stephanus van Cortlandt and to his heirs and As- sinys, That all and every the tennants of him the Said Stephanus van Cortlandt Within the Said Lord Ship and Mannour of Cortlandt Shall and May at all times heareafter meet Together and Chuse Assessors within the Mannour aforesaid According to such rules ways and Methods as are prescribed for Citys towns and Countys within our said province by the Acts of Gen- erall Assembly for the Defraying the Publick Charge of Each respective City town and County aforesaid and all such sum or sums of Money So assessed and Levyed to Collect pay and Dispose of for Such Uses as the act of General Assembly shall Establish and Apoint.
And further of our Especial grace Certain Knowl- edge and Mere Motion we do by these presents for us our heirs and Successors give and Grant unto our Said Loving Subject Stephanus van Cortlandt and to his heirs and assinys forever that he the said Stephanus van Cortlandt his heirs and assinys Shall and May From time to time and after the Expiration of twenty Years Next Ensueing the Date of these presents Return and send a Discreet Inhabitant in and of the said man- nour to be a Representitive of the said Mannour in
every Assembly after the Expiration of the said twen- ty Years to be summoned and holden within this our said province which Representative so Returned and Sent Shall be Received into the house of Representa- tives of Assembly as a Member of the said house to have and Enjoy such priviledge as the other Repre- sentatives Returned and Sent from any other County and Mannours of this our said province have had and Enjoyed in any former Assembly holden within this our said province;
To have and to hold possess and Enjoy all and Sin- gular the said Lordship and Mannour of Cortlandt and premisses with all their and every of their Royaltys and appurtunancys unto the said Stephanus van Cortlandt his heirs and assignes to the Sole and only proper use Benefitt and Behoof of him the said Stephanus van Cort- landt his heirs and Assignes forever To Be holden of us our heirs and Successors in free and Common Soc- cage as of ou rMannour of East Greenwich in our County of Kent within our Realm of England, Yield- ing Rendering and paying therefore yearly and Every year for Ever unto us our heirs and Successors at our City of New York on the feast Day of Annunciation of our Blessed Virgin Mary the yearly Rent of forty Shillings Current money of our said province in Lieu and Stead of all other Rents Services Dues Dutys and Demands whatsoever for the Afore Recited Tract and Parcell of Land and Meadow Lordship and Man- nour of Cortlandt and premisses.
In Testimony whereof we have Caused the Great Seal of our said province to be hereunto affixed Wit- ness our Said trusty and well beloved Coll. Benja- min Fletcher our said Cap: Generall and Governor in Chief or our Province of New York and the Terri- torys Depending thereon in America and Vice Ad- miral of the same, our Lieu and Commander in Chief of the Militia and of all the forses by Sea and by Land within our Collony of Connecticut and of all the Forts and places of strength within the same, in Coun- cil at our fort in New York the Seventeenth day of June in the Ninth Year of our Reign Anno Domini 1697.
BENJAMIN FLETCHER.
By his Excelys. Command, David Jamison D. Sec'y.1
The earliest movement of Stephanus van Cortlandt towards obtaining the Lands of the Manor, was to take out, pursuant to the law of the Province,2 a Li- cense to purchase them from the Indians, in order to extinguish the Indian title. This instrument, from the original among the van Cortlandt papers, is in these words :
License from Gov. Andros.
"By The Governor :
Whereas application hath been made unto mee by divers persons for lands at Wyckerscreeke, or ad-
1 Recorded in Book of Patents No. 7, begun in 1695, pp. 165-170. "Explained above in this essay.
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119
THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.
jacent parts, on the east side of Hudson's River, the which have not yet been purchased of the Indyan Proprieto". These presents are to authorize you, Co" Stephanus van Cortlandt, Mayor of this City, if fitting opportunity shall present, to treat with, and agree for, any part of the said Land for when there may be present occasion of settlement, or for the whole, with the Indyan Sachems or Proprieto"". The payment whereof to be made publicly at the Fort or City Hall.
Given under my hand in New York this 16th day of November, 1677.
Andros." 1
This license, it will be seen, was general, and per- mitted van Cortlandt to buy of the Indians whenever it might conveniently be done. No time was men- tioned and it operated as an indefinite permission to extinguish the Indian title in the region named. Six years after its date, in 1683, he bought the penin- sula afterwards, and now known as Verplanck's Point, and another large tract adjoining it running to the eastward, the former called by the natives Meanagh,' and the latter Appamapogh, which were conveyed to him by the annexed Deed ;-
SIECHAM, and six other Indians, to Stephanus van Cortlandt.
"To all christian people to whom this present writing sball come: Siecham, Pewimine, Oskewans, Turham, Querawighint, Isighera, and Prackises, all Indians, true and rightful owners and proprietors of the lands, hereinafter mentioned, as for themselves and the rest of their relations send, greeting, KNOW YE that for and in consideration of the sum of twelve pounds in wampum and several other merchandises, as by a schedule hereunto annexed more at large, doth and may appear, to them the same Indians in hand paid before the ensealing and delivering thereof, the re- ceipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and for other divers causes and considerations, they, the said In- dians have granted, bargained and sold, aliened, enfeofted and confirmed, and by these presents do fully, clearly and absolutely grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeof, and confirm unto Stephanus Van Cortlandt of the city of New York, merchant, his heirs or assignes forever, all that certain tract or parcel of land situate, lying or being on the east side of the Hudson River, at the entering in of the Highlands, just over against Haverstraw, lying on the south side of the creek called Tammoesis, and from thence easterly in the woods to the head of the creek called Kewightahagh, and so along said creek northerly to Hudson River, and thence westerly to the utmost point of the said
1 This paper is recorded in the Sec. of State's off., Albany, Lib. 27, p. 238, and in West Co. Reg. off., Lib. A, 228. It is also in XIV. Col. Hist., 515.
2 This word is so spelled in the original deeds and wills in which it oc- curs. The spelling " Meahagh " is simply a copyist's, or printer's, cor ruption.
tract of land, and from thence southerly along said Hudson River to the aforenamed creek, Tammoesis, which said tract or parcel of land known by the Indians by the name of Appamaghpogh and Meanagh, including all the lands, soils, meadows and woods within the circuit and bounds aforesaid, together with all, and singular the trees, timber-woods, under- woods, swamps, runs, marshes, meadows, rivulets, streanis, creeks, waters, lakes, pools, ponds, fishing, hunting, fowling and whatsoever else to the said tract or parcel of land within the bounds and limits aforesaid, is belonging or in any wise appertaining without any restriction whatsoever, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said parcel or tract of land, and all and singular other the premises and every part and parcel thereof unto the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt, his heirs and assignees to the sole and only proper use, benefit and behoof of him, the said Stephanus his heirs and assignees forever, and they, the said In- dians do for themselves their heirs and every of them consent, promise, and engage, that the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt his heirs and assignees shall and may from henceforth and forever lawfully peaceably and quietly have, hold, possess and enjoy the said tract or parcel of land, and all and singular the other the premises with their appurtenances without either let, hindrance, disturbance or interruption of or by them, the said Indian proprietors, or their heirs or any other person or persons claiming, or that shall hereafter, shall or may claim, by from under them or either of them, and that they shall and will upon the reasona- ble request and demand made by the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt, give and deliver peaceable and quiet possession of the said tract and parcel of land and premises, or of some part thereof and in the room of the whole under such person or persons, as by the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt shall be appointed to re- ceive the same, in witness whereof the said Indians Pewemine, Oskewans, Turham, Querawighint, Siech- am, Isighera, and Prackises, the Indian owners and proprietors aforesaid, have hereunto set their hands and seals in New York, this twenty-fourth day of Au- gust in the thirty-fifth year of his majesties reign, Anno Domini, 1683.
Signed sealed and de-
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livered in presence of Francis Rumbouts,
Guelyne Verplancke.
(Here follow the seals, and the marks, of Siecham and the other six Indians named).
Appended is the "schedule" of " other merchan- dises" mentioned in the deed as part of the consid- eration ;
8 guns,
12 shirts,
9 blankets, 50 pounds powder,
5 coats, 30 bars of lead,
14 fathoms of Duffels, 3 18 hatchets,
14 kettles,
18 hoes,
" A coarse but soft woolen cloth made in Holland.
120
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
40 fathoms black wampum, 14 knives,
80 fathoms white wampum,
A small coat,
2 ankers of rum, 6 fathoms stroud . cloth,
5 half vats strong beer,
6 pair of stockings,
6 earthen jugs, 6 tobacco boxes."
On the ninth of March, 1682, Cornelis van Bur- sum of New York City, obtained the following License to purchase Indian Lands from Anthony Brockholes, who, as Senior Member of the Council had succeeded Andros in the Command of the Province when the latter went to England.
Lycense to Cornelis Van Bursum, By the Commander in Chiefe.
" Whereas Cornelis Van Bursum of this City hath made Applicacon for Liberty and Lycense to pur- chase of the Indyans a Certain parcel or Tract of Land Lyeing on the East side of Hudson River Be- hither the High-Lands, to Settle A ffarme or Plantaçon or for the Improvem' of Husbandry, These are to certify that I have and Doe Hereby with Advise of the Counsell Grant Liberty and Lycense to the said Cornelis Van Bursum to purchase of the Indyans the said Parcell or tract of Land and to Settle A ffarme or Plantacon thereupon, he Makeing Due return thereof to the office of Records there in Order to Confirma- con, and Makeing Improvement and performing what the Law in Such Cases Requires.
Given under my hand in New-Yorke this third Day ffebry, in the thirty Fourth yeare of his Matien Reigne Annoy. Domini 1681-2. A. B. 1 "
Van Bursum acted immediately, and four months later received from Ackimak, and nineteen other In- dians, a deed for the lower peninsula which forms the South bounds of Haverstraw Bay. It was called by the Indians Senasqua, and by the Whites "Sa- rah's," and "Teller's," Point, and later "Croton " Point. The last from the fact that it forms the North Side of the estuary of the Croton River. Sarah was the wife of William Teller who long lived upon the Point, she having survived her husband several years. It is decribed in the Indian deed to Van Bursum as, " all that parcell, neck, or point of Land, with the Marsh, Meadow ground, or valley thereto Adjoining and Belonging, Situate lying and being on the east side of the North or Hudson's River, over against verdrietye's Hooke, commonly called and Known by the name of Slauper's Haven, and by the Indians Navish, the Meadow " being called by the Indians Senasqua, being bounded by the said River and a certain creek called or known to the Indians by the name of Tanrackan, and divided from the Main land by certain trees marked by the Indians, together with half of the said creek &c. for, and in consideration of, a certain sum of Wampum, and divers other goods, paid by Cornelius van Bursum. 3
IXIII. Col. Hist., 554.
2 On the peninsula. 3 Wust. Co. Reg. off. Lib. A, 182.
The lands from the Croton River Northward to Stephanus van Cortlandt's Appamapogh purchase before mentioned, and running eastward to the Kea- kates or twin ponds, or Cedar Ponds, as they are called on the Manor Map, and thence down the Mescoot and Croton rivers to the latters mouth, were bought of the Indians by Governor Thomas Dongan himself. Their deed to him was dated August 1685. Dongan on the 20th March 1686, sold the land to one John Knights. Dongan's deed from the Indians thus describes the tract, which from the Indian name of the Croton, was called Kichtawanck, or Kitchtawong; - "all that Tract or parcell of Land situate Lying and being on the East side of Hudson's River, within the County of Westchester, beginning at Kichtawong Creek, and so running along Hudson's River northerly to the land of Stephanus van Cortlandt, from thence'to the eastwardmost end of the Said van Cortlandts Land, and from thence to a great fresh Water Pond called Keakates, and from the said pond along the creek that runs out of the said Pond to Kichtawong Creek, and so downward on the south side of the said creek to Hudson's River, including all the land, soil, and meadow within the bounds and limits aforesaid." John Knights, on the 20th of April, 1687, reconveyed it by deed to Governor Thomas Dongan. ' And from Dongan it subsequently passed to Stephanus van Cortlandt.
Previously to his purchase of the Dongan lands, and on the 13th of July, 1683, Stephanus Van Cort- landt bought from the Haverstraw Indians a tract on the West side of the Hudson River, directly opposite to the promontory of Anthony's Nose, and North of the Dunderbergh Mountain, forming the depression or valley,5 through the upper part of which, in the Revolutionary War, Sir Henry Clinton came down and captured Forts Constitution and Montgomery, then commanded by his distant relatives and name- sakes, Generals, George, and James, Clinton. The original deed, among the Van Wyck papers, which has never before been printed, is as follows :
Indian Deed to Stephanus van Cortlandt for Lands on the West Side of the Hudson.
"To All Christian people To whom this Present writing shall come Sakaghkeineck Sachem of Haver- straw, Werekepes, Saquogharup, Kakcros, and Kaghtsi- kroos, all, Indians true and Rightfull owners and Pro- prietors of the Land herein after mentioned and Ex- pressed, Send Greeting. Know ye, That for and in Consideraion of the Sume of Six Shillings Curr: Silver money to them the said Indians in hand payed before the Ensealing and Delivery here of the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and for Diverse other Valuable Causes and Consideraions they the said Indians have Granted Bargained Sold Aliened Enfe- offed and Confirmed and by these Presents Doe Fully
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4 Lib. A, 121, West. Co. Reg. off.
" This valley bears now the odd appellation of " Doodletown."
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THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.
121
Cleerly and Absolutely Grant Bargain Sell Alien Enfeoff and Confirm unto Stephanus Van Cortlandt of the Citty of New Yorke Merchant his heires and assignes for ever All that A Certaine Tract or Parcell of Land Situate Lyeing and being on the West side of Hudsons River within the High Lands over Against a greate Hill Commonly called Anthonys Nose be- ginning on the South side at a Creeke called Sinka- pogh1 and so alongst the said Creeke to the head thereof and then northerly alongst the high hills as the River runneth to Another Creeke called Assinna- pink' and from thence along The said Creeke to Hudsons River againe togather with A Certaine Island and Parcell of Meadow Land neere or adjoyneing to the same called Wanakawaghkin and by the Christ- ians known by the name of Salsbury's Island' In- cludeing all the Lande Soile and Meadows within the Bounds and Limitts aforesaid togather with all and singular the trees Timber Woods Underwoods Swamps Moores Marshes Meadows Rivoletts Streames Creeckes Waters Lakes Pooles Ponds ffishing hunting and fowleing and whatsoever Else to the said Tract or Parcell of Land within the Bounds and Limitts afore- said is belonging or in any wise appurteineing with- out any Reservaion whatsever To have and To hold the said Tract or parcell of Land and all and singuler other the Primisses and every Parte and Parcell thereof unto the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt his heirs and Assigns to the sole and only Proper use Benefitt and Behoofe of him Van Cortlandt his heires and Assigns for ever. And they the said In- dians Doe for themselves and their heires and every of them Covenant Promise and engage that the said Steph: Van Cortlandt his heires and assignes Shall and may from henceforth for Ever Lawfully Peace- ably and Quiettly have hold Possesse and Enjoye the said Tract or Parcell of Land and all and singuler other the Premisses with their Appurtenences with- out any Lett Hindrance Disturbance or Interrupion whatsoever of or by them the said Indian Proprietors or their heires or of any other Person or Persons Claymeing or that hereafter shall or may clayme by from or under them or either of them.
And that they shall and will upon reasonable Re- quest and demand made by the said Stephanus Van Cortlandt Give and Deliver Peaceably and Quietly Possession of the said Tract or Parcell of Land and Premisses or of some Parte thereof for and in the name of the whole unto such Person or Persons 88 by the said Stephanus V. Cortlandt shall be ap- pointed to Receive the same
In Witnesse whereof the said Sakaghkeineik Sa- chem of Haverstraw Werekepes Saquoghharup Ka- keros and Kaghtsikroos the Indians owners and Pro- prietors aforesaid have hereunto Sett their hands and
Seales in New Yorke the 13th day of July in the thirty-fifth yeare of his Mates Reigne Anno Domin 1683.
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Uss the mark of
By Sakaghkeineck Werekepes &
Sakaghkeineck + Sachem of Haverstraw
Kaghtsikroos
The marke of
+
Fredryck Flypssen Werekepes
Gulain Verplancke The Marke of
John Weis
+
Kaghtsikroos"
My Marke + Mantion
The last purchase which Stephanus Van Cortlandt is known to have made, was a tract on the east side of the Hudson, then belonging to " Hew MacGregor, Gentleman, of the City of New York," who previous- ly obtained it from the Indians. The original deed from MacGregor is among the Van Wyck papers and bears date the 13th day of July 1695, only two years and twenty-five days before the date of the Grant of the Manor. It is a full covenant warrantee deed, signed by both Hew McGregor and Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the witnesses being Johannus Kip, Theu- nis De Key, and John Barclay. The consideration mentioned is " a certain summ of good and lawfull money." And the premises conveyed are thus de- scribed-" All that certain tract of land situate, ly- ing, and being up Hudson's River on the East side thereof, beginning at the East side of the land late belonging to Jacob De Key and Company at a Creek called Pohotasack and so along a creek called by the Indyans Paquingtuk and by the Christians John Peak's Creek.to another creek called by the Indyans Acquasimink, including two small water ponds called Wenanninissios and Wachiehamis, Together with all and singular meadows, marshes, woods, underwoods, waters, ponds, water-courses, improvements, privi- leges, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said Tract of land and premises belonging or appertaining."
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