THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. II3 



rived from the adjoining lands. The small stream intersecting the 

 village was called by them Magrigaries. 



The Dutch first denominated the village Peekskill from Jan Peek, one 

 of their early navigators, who, mistaking the present Annsville creek for 

 the proper passage through the race, ran his yacht ashore on the former. 

 Here he subsequently erected a habitation and spent the winter. 



The earliest settlement in this neighborhood commenced one mile 

 north-east of Peekskill, on the property of Capt. John McCoy. The 

 landing place was then at Pemart's dock, near the head of the tide waters 

 of the creek. 



On the 8th day of August, 1745, occurs a sale of land from Andrew 

 Johnson and Isabella his wife, daughter of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, to 

 Caleb Hall and Palatiah Haws, consisting of a part of lot No. 2, situated 

 in great front lot No. 9, beginning on south side of Peck's creek, con- 

 taining 351 acres, excepting 16 acres of land conveyed by said Johnson 

 to Mrs. Gertrude Beeckman. a 



Fifteen years subsequent to the above sale, Andrew Johnson conveys 

 to Caleb Hall, Joseph Travis and Palatiah Haws, "lands situated at a 

 place called Peekskill." 6 



In the year 1764, Birdsall, Nathaniel Brown, Joseph Travis, and Capt. 

 Isaac Conklin, commenced the settlement of the present village. At 

 that early period there was little or no business transacted here. The 

 first store was erected by Daniel Birdsall in the vicinity of middle dock, 

 near the mill of Andrew Johnson, Esq. Captain Swim is said to have 

 sailed the first sloop from Pemart's dock, A. D. 1773. 



From its earliest settlement, the growth of Peekskill has been gradual, 

 and its population has increased according to the development of its 

 resources. The population in 1870 was 6,560. The present number 

 will probably exceed 7,000. The village was incorporated in 1839; 

 but prior to this, in 1827, the fire department was organized and an 

 engine purchased. Nathaniel Bedell was the first foreman of the com- 

 pany. The fire department consists now of five independent companies, 

 constituting two hundred men under Chief Engineer George E. Craft, 

 Esq. The village government was organized in 1 839 under the style and 

 title of the " Corporation of the Village of Peekskill " by the election of 

 Capt. F. W. Riqua, Frost Horton, Daniel D. Smith, James Taylor and 

 Morris Depew, as Trustees. Capt. W. Riqua was elected by the Board the 

 first President of the village, 



a Co. Rec. Lib. G., p. 403. 



b Co. Rec. Lib. H., p 344. 



c The present officers are : Stephen D. Horton, President, Andrew TTken, William D. 

 Southard, William H. Hunter, E. F. Bedell, J. H. Kingsbury and Jas. H. Robertson, Trustees; 

 Stephen Lent, Clerk. 



