296 The Story of The Bronx 



attempt to better the condition of those who were so unhappy 

 as to be held prisoners. During his occupancy, the mansion 

 was known as "Lower Cortlandt's" to distinguish it from the 

 farm of Frederick Van Cortland t at Mosholu, west of Broad- 

 way, which was called "Upper Cortlandt's," and, sometimes, 

 "Cortlandt's white house." 



Colonel James Van Cortlandt died childless in 1781, and the 

 property passed to his brother Augustus, who died in 1823 

 without male issue. The estate then went into the female line, 

 and the name of Van Cortlandt was legally assumed by their 

 descendants. 



Over the windows of the old mansion are inserted in the 

 way of keystones, or corbels, carved faces, some of which are 

 childish, but many of which are fiendish in their grinning and 

 grimacing ugliness. They have seen many and curious 

 sights. Over the Albany Post-road, directly in front of the 

 house, has passed the great manor-lord or gentleman of 

 estate with his out-riders and his grand coach and four, on 

 his way, perchance, to visit the great Colonel Philipse at his 

 manor-house at Yonkers, or to take part in the deliberations 

 of the Provincial Assembly, and stopping here for a bed and a 

 sup. They have seen the Westchester farmers driving their 

 cattle to market in New York, and have heard them grumbling 

 at the payment of tolls at the King's bridge to swell the already 

 bursting coffers of Colonel Philipse; or later, have heard the 

 glee and satisfaction of the same farmers at the completion of 

 the free bridge. 



Here comes a gay and gallant company of ladies and gentle- 

 men, decked out in their fine clothes, the former wearing masks 

 to protect their delicate complexions from the rude air, and 

 the latter tapping their snuff-boxes as they utter some bon- 

 mot or exaggerated piece of gallantry to their fair compan- 



