Vlll INTRODUCTION. 



courts in the same, be it enacted by the Governor, Council and the 

 Representatives, and by the authority of the same, that the said Pro- 

 vince be divided into twelve Countys as followeth : The County of 

 Westchester, to conteyne West and Eastchester, Bronx-land Fordham, 

 Anne Hook's Neck, Richbells, Miniford's Islands, and all the land on 

 the maine to the eastward of Manhattan's Island as farre as the govern- 

 ment extends, and the Yonkers' land, and northward along Hudson's 

 River as farre as the Highland." 



"This bill having been three times read before the governor and 

 Council, is assented to the first of November, 1683."" 



Westchester County was represented in the first Legislative Assembly 

 of the Colony, which met at, New York on the 9th of April, 1691 ; b and 

 it has constituted one County to this time, having been organized as 

 such by the General Acts of 1788 and 1801. It is situated on the 

 east side of the Hudson, immediately north of New York County; 

 bounded north by Putnam and Dutchess Counties ; east by the State of 

 Connecticut; southerly by Long Island Sound and East River; west 

 by Haarlem River and the Hudson River, or by New York County, the 

 State of New Jersey, and the County of Rockland in this State. The 

 area may be 480 square miles — 307,200 acres — situated between 40 

 47', and 41 22 A north latitude, 103' east, and 32' east longitude from 

 New York. 



The County is thus described by William Smith, the historian, of 

 New York, in 1756. 



"Westchester County is large, and includes all the land beyond the Island of 

 Manhattans along the Sound to the Connect icut line, which is its eastern boundary. 

 It extends northward to the middle of the Highlands, and westward to Hudson's 

 River. A great part of this county is contained in the manors of Philipsburgh, 

 Pelham, Fordham, and Courtlandt, the last of which has the privilege of sending 

 a representative to the General Assembly. The county is tolerably settled. Thg 

 lands are in general rough but fertile, and therefore the farmers run principally 

 on grazing. It has several towns, Eastchester, Westchester, New Rochelle, Rye, 

 Bedford, and North Castle. The inhabitants, are either English, or Dutch Pres- 

 byterians, Episcopalians, Quakers, and French Protestants. The former are 

 the most numerous. The two Episcopal missionaries are settled at Rye and 

 Eastchester, and receive each .£60 annually taxed upon the county. The town 

 of Westchester is an incorporated borough, enjoying a mayor's court and the 

 right of being represented by a member in Assembly." 



a Provincial Laws of N. Y., County Clerk's Office, Queen's Co., L. I. The above act was 

 confirmed on the 1st of October, 1691. 



b In the person of John Pell, Esq. On the 20th of Oct., 1685, James II. appointed John Pell, 

 J ohn Palmer, William Richardson. Joseph Horton, sen., and Joseph Theale, Justices of the 

 Peace in the County of Westchester. 



