206 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



Cluster* This place has grown rapidly within a few years, and bids 

 fair to rival any on the Sound ; among other causes, its manufactories 

 have contributed greatly to promote this prosperity. The Byram or 

 Armonck river, which waters this beautiful section of Westchester County 

 takes its rise from the Byram lake — an extensive sheet of water, fed by 

 the springs of the Comonck or Armonck hills in Bedford. During its 

 downward course, it winds between lofty hills, fringed with copse wood, 

 and abounding with bold projections which here and there break the 

 course of its rapid current. In other places it forms romantic glens, 

 shaded with the wild hemlock and fir. The wooded shores of Byram 

 point, rise directly opposite the village, forming a fine contrast to the 

 western side of the river. The Byram is navigable nearly two miles from 

 its mouth, affording an easy transit from this place for the marketable 

 productions of the interior. 



The site of the ancient ferry across the Sound to Matinecock, upon 

 Long Island, was the Horse Rock in the vicinity of Rye Port. 



Upon the 18th of July, 1739, King George the Second, by his royal 

 letters patent, regulated and established a ferry at this place, to be kept 

 and attended for the convenience of passing and repassing to and from 

 the land in the two patents called Budd 's neck and Peningoe fieck, lying 

 and being in Rye, to the island of Nassau, over against the township of 

 Oyster Bay, in the said island. 



Which ferry our loving subjects John Budd, Hachaliah Brown and Jonathan 

 Brown, Esqs. , propose to undertake and to provide and keep at their own charge 

 and expense, a sufficient number of good and able boats and servants for the due 

 attendance on such ferry, &c, &c,and have free liberty to ask, demand and 

 take for ferriage at and for such ferry, <kc, the several and respective fees here- 

 inafter mentioned, &c. , viz : for ever}' person one shilling and sixpence, for every 

 man and horse three shillings, for all horned cattle from two years old and up- 

 wards each two shillings, for all colts and horned cattle under two years old each 

 one shilling, for every score of sheep, lambs, hogs and sows five shillings, and so 

 in proportion f r any greater or lesser number, for every full barrel one shilling, 

 for every empty barrel four pence, for every full pipe or hogshead six shillings, 

 for every empty pipe or hogshead two shillings, for every firkin or tub of butter 

 four pence, for every bushel of wheat, salt, grain, seeds or any other thing fully 

 measured and sold by the bushel one penny ; for every waggon, cart or carriage 

 seven shillings and sixpence, for every pair of wheels two shillings, for every 

 cupboard, press for clothes or writing desk four shillings and sixpence, for eveiy 

 full trunk or chest two shillings and sixpence, for every empty trunk or chest 

 one shilling, for every full half barrel sixpence, for every gammon, flitch of bacon 

 or piece of smoked beef one penny, for every hundred weight of gunpowder, iron, 

 steel, sheet pewter or lead and iron or iron, copper or brass kettles or pots one 



a Formerly called BawpUs. 



