THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. 37 



Frederick Van Cortlandt, one of the above devisees, obtained a release 

 from the following freeholders of Bedford on the 2 ist of September, 1 741 : 



Hezekiah Roberts, John Holmes, Daniel Holly, 



John Miller, Jonathan Westcoat, Nathan Clark, 



Joseph Seely, Richard "Westcoat, Moses Fountain, 



Jonathan Holmes, Daniel Miller, John Miller, 



Zachariah Mills, Richard Holmes, Samuel Miller, 



Jonathan Seely. Daniel Haight, Samuel Barras, 



Ebenezer Holmes, Philip Ayres, Ebenezer Owen. 



Jonathan Miller, Vincent Simpkins. 



From an original map, drawn up by Samuel Purdy, surveyor, it 

 appears that a partition of Jacobus Van Cortlandt's estate took place in 

 1743. To Frederick Van Cortlandt was allotted 1,424 acres ; to Abra- 

 ham De Peyster, 1,110 acres; to John Chambers, 1,282 acres; and to 

 Peter Jay, 1,299 acres. 



Upon the death of Peter Jay, Esq., in 1782, his share fell to three 

 sons, Peter, Frederick and John. The latter was subsequently invested 

 with a large portion of the original allotment. a 



By the decease of the Honorable John Jay, in 1829, his son, the late 

 William Jay, Esq., became the sole proprietor of the Bedford estate, 

 which since his death has passed to his son, the Hon. John Jay ; the 

 Hon. John Jay, therefore, is the only descendant of Jacobus Van Cort- 

 landt that owns a foot' of the original patent in the town of Bedford. 

 Abraham De Peyster sold to various individuals. The descendants of 

 the ancient proprietors of the Hop grounds (resident in Bedford) are 

 still very numerous, viz.: the Greens, Millers, Holmes, Roberts, Amblers, 

 Clarks, Ayres, Westcoats, Simpkins, Meads, Webbs, Clasons and Higgins. 



New York, 2d Nov., 1785. 



Dear Sir : Mr. Taylor, the Bearer hereof, waits upoa you with a petition 

 which we propose to present to the Superior Court of Common Pleas for West- 

 chester Co., in order to have commissioners appointed, agreeable to a late act of 

 Assembly, to divide the lands of the late Mrs. Chambers, at Bedford, among her 

 Devisees. They are now in a neglected, ruinous Condition, and until divided 

 and properly attended to, will continue to decrease in value. I intend to go to 

 Bedford next week, in order to see this Business put in a proper train. Be 

 pleased to sign the Petition and return it to Mr. Taylor. 



Mrs. Jay joins with me in desiring you to present our best Compliments to 

 Mrs. De Peyster and the rest of the Family. 



I am, Dear sir, your most ob't serv't, 



(Signed.) JOHN JAY. 



Mr. James De Peyster, Jamaica. 



a. The following letter of Chief Justice John Jay to James DePeyster shows that the lands 

 of Anne Van Cortlandt, daughter of Jacobus, and wife of Judge John Chambers, and sister 

 of Mary Jay, mother of the writer, had not been divided as late as 1TS5. 



