THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 1 85 



Hudson was built soon after the erection of the Manor by Johannes Van 

 Cortlandt, eldest son of De Hur Stephanus Van Cortlandt first lord of 

 the Manor. Although tradition says that when Van Cortlandt purchase^ 

 from Governor Thomas Dongan, in 1683-4, the domain of Kitchawan, 

 the latter had already begun improvements, intending to complete a 

 fortified country seat for the convenience of fishing, hawking and hunt- 

 ing in the neighboring waters, low lands and forests. Tradition also 

 adds, that Dongan planted apple-trees not far from the site of the Manor 

 house. A variety of the fruit known as the " Dongan apple," is yet 

 grown on the estate. Quaint and picturesque in form, the old house 

 harmonizes well with its natural surroundings. It stands near the foot 

 of an abrupt slope of a high wooded hill, that shelters it from the keen 

 northern blasts of winter. Before it, is a fine lawn, gently sloping to the 

 water's edge, and shaded by magnificent trees. 



The manor house was built for the two-fold purpose of a country 

 residence and a fort. Its solid walls of gray stone, three feet in thick- 

 ness, were pierced on every side with loop-holes for musketry. Some of 

 these may yet be seen in the rear walls, and one in particular that has 

 been recently opened on the front or south side of the dinning-room 

 which presents the form of the Egyptian T. H. T. One of the principal 

 objects the builder (whether Governor Dongan or Johannes Van Cort- 

 landt) had in view was security against the Indians, who at one time 

 were very numerous in this neighborhood.* In fact its noble owners 

 never knew when they were secure from the inroads of the savages, but 

 in proportion to the strength and security of their habitation. The 

 principal sachem of Kitchtawan, when Stephanus Van Cortlandt made 

 the purchase, was Sackima Wicker, a son probably of the illustrious 

 Indian warrior Croton or Noten, who had for a long period lived and 

 exercised his authority at the mouth of the river still bearing his name. 

 This war-like individual had erected in his life time a fort on the Point, 

 a little south-west of where the manor house now stands well guarded 

 and protected, as a defence for his rich domain against hostile intruders. 



A large Indian bow now lies across a pair of magnificent moose- 

 antlers over the main entrance door to the mansion, which was given, it 

 is said, by that sachem to the first lord of the manor, and has been 

 handed down to the present proprietor. But to return to our description 

 of the house — it has a high basement, a second story, which includes the 

 principal apartments; and a third, lighted by dormer-windows. Around 

 the front and ends of the mansion is a broad veranda, shaded by trail- 



er Still preserved at the manor house are various articles of Indian pottery, hatchets, pipes, 

 pestles, chopping Knives and arrow heads all dug up in this vicinity at various dates. 



