94 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



The Hon. Stephanus Van Cortlandt being now vested in the fee 

 simple, the whole territory was by royal charter erected into the lord- 

 ship and manor of Cortlandt, which, according to actual survey, con- 

 tained eighty-three thousand acres. It is said that the governor's fees 

 on this occasion amounted to three hundred pieces of eight. 



Over the extensive forests of Cortlandt (celebrated for their fat veni- 

 son,) the lord of the manor was constituted, "the sole and only ranger, 

 to have and enjoy all the benefits and perquisites, &c, that of right 

 doth belong unto a ranger according to the statutes and customs of the 

 realm of England." In fact there was a paramount right in the superior 

 lord for the range of deer within the manor, as parsel of the forest; a 

 right which might consist with free Chace and Warren on the mesne 

 lord. 



The Lords of Cortlandt had power to hold one Court Leet, and one 

 Court Baron in their territory for the collection of fines, &c, to which 

 the several wards in the manor owed suit and service. 



The lords of Cortlandt also enjoyed the extraordinary privilege of 

 sending a representative to the provincial assembly. 



The whole manor was by the feudal tenure of paying therefor yearly to 

 the Crown, upon the feast day of the Annunciation of the blessed Vir- 

 gin Mary, the rent of forty. shillings. 



THE KOYAL CHARTER. 



Gulielnius Tertius Dei Gratia, Anglise, Scotiae, France et Hibreniaj, Rex. fidei 

 defensor, &c, &c. 



' ' To all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting : Whereas, our 

 loving subject, Colonel Stephanus Van Cortlandt, one of the members of our 

 Council of our Province of New York, &c, hath by his petition presented unto 

 our trusty and well beloved Colonel Benjamin Fletcher, Captain-General and 

 Governor-in-chief of our said Province of New York and territories depending 

 thereon, in America, &c, prayed our grant and confirmation of a certain parcel 

 and tract of land situate, lying and being upon the east side of Hudson's river, 

 beginning on the north line of the manor of Phillipsburg, now in the tenure and 

 occupation of Frederick Phillips, Esq., one of the members of our said Council, 

 and to the south side of a certain creek called Kightawanck Creek, and from 

 thence by a due east line, running into the woods twenty English miles, and 

 from the said north line of the manor of Phillipsburgh upon the south side of 

 the said Kightawanck Creek, running along the said Hudson river northerly as 

 the said river runs into the north side of a high hill, which high lands, common- 

 ly called and known by the name of Anthony's nose, to a red cedar tree, which 

 makes the southernmost bounds of the land now in the tenure and occupation of 

 Mr. Adolph Phillips, including in the said northerly line, all the meadows, 

 marshes, coves, bays and necks of land and peninsulars that are adjoining orex- 

 tending into Hudson's river within the bounds of the said line, and from the 



