174 HISTORY OF THN COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



dineir, Abraham Van Tessel, as elders, and Abraham Lent, as deacon, 

 &c." a From the foregoing extracts it is evident that a district society- 

 was organized on Cortlandt manor as early as 1729, and that the first 

 Church edifice was erected soon afterwards. 



The present church which was built between the years 1795 and 1799 

 is located south-east of Verplanck's Point, near the King's Ferry Road 

 and directly facing the Albany and New York turnpike. It is a neat 

 structure of wood, with a tower and cupola, but its interior contains 

 nothing worthy of notice — a lecture room and porch have been recently 

 added. The tower contains a steel bell weighing 800 lbs., manufactured 

 at Sheffield, England, presented by James R. Gibson and Mrs. A. G. 

 Phelps as a memorial of Mrs. James R. Gibson of Cortlandtown — in- 

 scribed " Kathrina, 1874." A parsonage was erected on the glebe ad- 

 joining the church in 1854. The church now holds sixteen acres of 

 land, a portion of which has been laid out in what is called " Cedar Hill 

 Cemetery." 



The following warrantee deed, which includes the site of the church 

 and containing altogether an acre of ground was given on the 31st of 

 March, 1795, by James Cockcroft, of the city of New York of the first 

 part to the Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Dutch church of the 

 town of Cortlandt, County of Westchester and State of New York, for 

 the sum of five shillings good and lawful money of the State of New 

 York to him in hand paid : 



" All that certain piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the Town 

 of Cortlandt, County of Westchester and State of New York and is part of water 

 lot (No. 7) adjoining Hudson's River, butted and bounded as followeth beginning 

 at a small Bilberry Bush & on the west side of the Post Road leading from the 

 City of New York to Peekskill thence south 62 degrees and 30 minutes west 3 

 chains and 90 links to a stake and stones, thence south 26 degrees and 30 min- 

 utes East three chains and 90 links to a stake and stone, thence north 62 

 degrees and 30 minutes east 3 chains and 90 links to the Post Road afore- 

 said, thence northerly by and with said road to the place of beginning con- 

 taining 1 acre two quarters and three rods of land, together with all and singular 

 the buildings, hereditaments, &c, belonging, &c. To have and to hold, &c," 

 "and also the said party, party of the 2nd part and their successors shall and 

 may from time to time and at all times for ever hereafter peaceably and quietly 

 have, hold, occupy, possess and enjoy, &c." James Cockcroft." 



Lydia, widow of James Cockcroft, afterwards married Charles White. 

 To prevent any claim of dower that might hereafter have arisen, Charles 



a Since the publication of the first edition of this work in 1S47, the above register has been 

 mutilatrd ami now commences with deaths, Aug. 29, 1741. [Editor.] 



Z> Amidst all the trimmings and changes the bilberry bush still nourishes and bids fair to 

 be a lasting boundary to < loci's acre. 



c County Rec Reg. Office Book of Deeds, Lib. T. p. 253, 



