THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 117 



comparatively small expense. These works have been idle during the 

 past winter, but are expected to resume operations in a short time. 



Located within the town of Cortlandt and drawing a large portion of 

 their supplies from Peekskill, are a number of brick yards, employing 

 a large force of men and making the best brick in market. The one 

 nearest the village is situated on Lent's Flats. This is owned and oc- 

 cupied by Charles D. Southard, employing about thirty men and pay- 

 ing out over $10,000 per season. 



Near the centre of the village stands the Westchester Bank. This 

 institution was first established in Peekskill in 1833, with a capital of 

 $200,000, and the late General Pierre Van Cortlandt elected its first 

 president. It is at present in a flourishing condition, and like the old 

 hills of Westchester, has so far stood firm and unmoved amid trouble- 

 some times. The stock has sold at almost as great an advance as ever 

 the United States Bank stock did. The bank declared its first dividend 

 six months after its establishment. The bills used to contain a beauti- 

 sul vignette representing the capture of Andre by the three farmers of 

 Westchester County; besides a neat engraving of the Hon. Pierre Van 

 Cortlandt, first Lieutenant-Governor of the State. There is also a bust 

 of this individual in the bank, presented by his son the late Gen. Pierre 

 Van Cortlandt. 



A short distance below the town is situated the property of Captain 

 Jas. Requa, a lineal descendant of Daniel, who emigrated from La Ro. 

 chelle in France, to New Rochelle in this county and afterwards pur- 

 chased a farm on the Hudson a little south of Tarrytown. 



The house is pleasantly located on rising ground overlooking the Al- 

 bany and New York Post Road and commands beautiful views of the 

 surrounding country. In one of the upper rooms the visitor is shown 

 some ancient portraits in crayon, of the Huggeford or Hugeford family, 

 viz: — Peter Huggeford, M.D., born and educated in England and one of 

 the most accomplished physicians of his day in this country. He prac- 

 tised in Rye as early as 1753; and is last mentioned in 1772; he subse- 

 quently removed to the Manor of Cortlandt and was probably (says Dr. 

 Fisher) the first regular physician in the north-western portion of West- 

 chester county. Being a royalist he retired to the British army when 

 war was declared. His fine farm of two hundred acres was confiscated, 

 and subsequently given by the government to John Paulding for his ser- 

 vices as one of the three distinguished captors of Andre, the British spy. 

 The property is now ownedby Jacob Strang. He was buried in St. Peter's 

 church-yard at Peekskill, notwithstanding that his gravestone is still to 

 be seen in Trinity church-yard, New York. A portrait of Elizabeth 



