6lS HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



olution ; this appears from the following letter addressed by him to the 

 New York Committee of Safety — Dated Sept. 5, 1775 : — 



''Gents. — Being requested by the Provincial Congress to enquire for some 

 place of safety to deposite the public records in, and to inform the Committee of 

 safety thereof, agreeable to which, Mr. Cortlandt informs the committee of safety, 

 that previous to the above request, he caused the public records to be put into 

 chests, and secured them in a cellar in his garden, made for that pinpose, of 

 stone and brick, well arched and exceedingly dry. This precaution was taken 

 against accidents happening by fire ; should the city be invaded by an army from 

 Great Britain, or British troops, he in such case intended to remove them to his 

 brother's at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester. If the committee of safety 

 shall judge any other place more secure, Mr. Van Cortlandt will be glad to be in- 

 formed thereof, that he may communicate the same to the corporation of this 

 city for their approbation. "« 



He remains their most obedient humble servant, 



Augustus van Cortlandt. 



By the will of the above Augustus van Cortlandt, dated 20th of De- 

 cember, 1823, he bequeathes his property after the following manner: — 



"Whereas, the greatest part of the lands and real estate which I occupy and 

 hold in the town of Yonkers, was derived to me by inheritance from my ances- 

 tors ; and, whereas I have lately purchased several tracts and pieces of land also 

 lying in ye said town of Yonkers, which I at present occupy and possess, &c. 

 Item, it is my desire that the same remain entire, and pass from time to time to 

 one of my surname and family ; whereupon I do hereby give and devise all my 

 lands and real estate, and all dwelling houses, mills and other buildings thereon 

 in the town of Yonkers, &c, unto my affectionate relations, John Jay and Peter 

 Augustus Jay, and to their heirs for ever, except a certain dwelling house and 

 farm in the said town of Yonkers, and a lot of ground near 1113' mill-pond, Arc, 

 which belonged to my late brother, Frederick van Cortlandt, to hold the same in 

 trust for the following uses : viz., 1st, To hold the same for my son-in-law, Hen- 

 ry White, late the husband of my deceased daughter, Anna White, for and dur- 

 ing the time of his natural life. 2nd, For and after the decease of my son in-law 

 Henry White, and in case Augustus, the son of the said Henry White and my 

 said deceased daughter shall survive the said Henry White, then to hold the same 

 for the use of the said Augustus, and his heirs and assignees, on condition that 

 from and after my decease, he do take and constantly and exclusively use the 

 name of Van Cortlandt, &c, &c."& 



Augustus van Cortlandt, the above devisee, subsequently took posses- 

 sion of the estate under the will of his grandfather, the above testator. 

 The Revised Statues of 1825, having abolished the entail, Augustus 

 became possessed of the estate in fee simple. Upon the 18th of Feb., 

 1827, Augustus van Cortlandt bequeathed the Yonkers to his brother 



o American Archives, 4th series, vol. Hi. G45. 

 b Surrogate's office, N. V. 



