THE TOWN OF YONKERS. 633 



apartments, with old fashioned fire-places faced in Dutch tile, represent- 

 ing thereon, Scripture stories with appropriate references. 



The walks around are laid out in the shape of noble terraces, some 

 of which lead between tall avenues of box. The garden is extensive, 

 and enriched by valuable fruit trees and shrubs. The splendid orange 

 and myrtle trees that once adorned the green house, were formerly in 

 the possession of Mrs. Macomb of Kings Bridge. The green sward, 

 sloping gradually to the Hudson, is here and there dotted with fine 

 specimens of ornamental trees ; this, during the occupancy of the 

 Philipse's, was emparked and stocked with deer. Among other exotics 

 (which seem to thrive here,) we noticed on the edge of the river the 

 English yew; judging from its appearance and the exposed situation 

 which it occupies, we should say it was quite hardy enough to endure 

 our coldest winters. We should be glad to see this beautiful tree, 

 whose dark verdure never fails, naturalized in the gardens of Westches- 

 ter. 



In this mansion the lords of the manor, on the great rent days, feasted 

 their tenantry. Some idea may be formed of this establishment which 

 maintained thirty white and twenty colored servants. There appears to 

 have been two rent days yearly for the manor of Phillipsborough. One 

 in January, held at Yonkers, for the convenience of the lower tenantry ; 

 another a few days subsequent, at Sleepy Hollow, for the upper. 



In lieu of rent, was frequently received a couple of fat hens, a day's 

 work, or a trifling sum amounting to three or four pounds. The farmers 

 bordering the river having greater privileges, paid higher rents. The 

 Courts Leet and Baron were held yearly at the house of John Cockles, 

 the site of the present Nap-pec-ka mak tavern. This court took cog- 

 nizance of all criminal matters, and sometimes inflicted punishments 

 that were even capital. In the administration of justice the baronial 

 lord presided, either in his own person or that cf his steward. 



In the Manor Hall, July 3d, 1730, was bom Mary Philipse, daughter 

 of the Hon. Frederick Philipse, speaker of the House of Assembly and 

 lord of the manor of Philipsborough. From this lady's character 

 Fenimore Cooper formed the heroine of the Spy, under the name of 

 " France." It was in the drawing room of this old hall, the ceiling of 

 which is highly ornamented with arabesque work, that the charming 

 Mary Philpse was married to Colonel Roger Morris on Sunday afternoon 

 of January 15th, 1758. 



That wedding, we are assured, was a pleasant romance of the 

 Hudson. The leading families of the province, and the British forces 

 a This is the description of the Manor house in 1848. 



