Westchester ( ounti JSl 



on the shore of the Hudson. The company brought over horses, 

 cattle, and poultry for the use of the settlers, whose farms, called 

 " boweries." soon showed prosperity. 



During Kieft's administration an Indian war drove the white 

 settlers from Westchester County and threatened the complete 

 destruction of the colony. As soon as the English were established 

 in the eastern colonies, desiring to. encourage settlement and 

 enlarge their borders, they purchased from the Indians a tract of 

 land that included a portion of the present Westchester County 

 bordering the sound. A settlement of Huguenots was made in Now 

 Eochelle. Quakers settled the towns of Harrison, Westchester, and 

 Mamaroneek, purchasing the lands of the Indians in 1695. 

 Whether the celebrated Anne Hutchinson was the first of the 

 immigrants from New England into Westchester County cannot 

 be determined, but it is certain that she was one of the very 

 earliest. She was killed during the great Indian raid. 



During the Revolution this county was the scene of many 

 important events, including the battle of White Plains in 1776. 

 Being for the most of the time the middle ground between the 

 opposing armies, it was continually exposed to alternate American 

 and British raids and to depredation by bands of irresponsible 

 ruffians not legally attached to either army. 



During the greater part of July, 1776, White Plains was the 

 seat of the Revolutionary government. It was there that the 

 Declaration of Independence was formally proclaimed; that the 

 name of the state of New York was substituted for the ancient des- 

 ignation of the province of New York ; and that the original steps 

 for the organization of the state machinery were taken. Kings 

 Bridge was held by the British throughout the war, and Peekskill 

 was the vital point which the Americans persistently maintained. 

 Andre's arrest took place near the village of Tarrytown. 



The recovery of Westchester County from the effects of the 

 Revolution was an exceedingly slow process, notwithstanding the 

 fact that after the war the state sold many acres of confiscated 

 lands at low prices. Of those confiscated lands the principal tract 

 was that of Philipseburgh Manor, which extended from the Spuy- 

 ten Duyvil Creek to the Croton and from the Hudson to the Bronx. 



