2l8 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



habitants of this city, and by them, with loud acclamations of the people as he 

 walked the streets, conducted to the Black Horse tavern, where a handsome en- 

 tertainment was prepared for him at the charge of the gentlemen who received 

 him, and in the middle of one side of the room was fixed a tablet with golden 

 capitals, "King Geokge, Liberty, and Law."« 



The road which passes through the village green on the north side of 

 the church, was formerly called the Kingsbridge turnpike. This road 

 appears to have been first opened in 167 1, as we find in that year, "Mr. 

 John Pell and Mr. John Richbell appointed to lay out the new road to 

 New England, through Eastchester. " b The Kingsbridge road was the 

 first stage route established between New York and Boston in 1732. 

 "The coach, which would at the present time be thought an extremely 

 slow one, was fourteen days in the journey, carrying news to and fro 

 once a month."" 



Beneath the shade of the venerable locusts (which still adorn the 

 green,) stood the village stocks, erected in 1720^ Embedded in the 

 bark of one of the trees, may be seen the iron staple to which cul- 

 prits were formerly attached and publicly whipped. Upon the green, 

 between the locust trees and the present church yard, stood the old parish 

 church, built by the Independents about 1699. 



The first settlers of Eastchester, like the people in general of that day, 

 paid early attention to religion, to the support of the gospel, and the in- 

 stitutions of the Church to which they belonged. The congregational 

 church in this place was gathered in 1665; for, in that year it was 

 ordered: "That all and every one of us, or that shall be of us, do pay 

 unto the minister according to his mead," also, "that we give new 

 encouragement to Mr. Brewster each other week, to give us a word of 

 exhortation. " e A. D. 1670, it was further enacted: "That whereas we 

 being a society of christians living together, have agreed that all of those 

 of our association shall join together in meeting on Lord's days to tell 

 about the worship of God; it was also resolved that whereas Moses 

 Hoit being deserter, and being behind, and not seeming to be willing to 

 contribute unto our minister, whereupon the inhabitants of Eastchester 

 have agreed that the said Moses shall be presented unto the next Court 

 of Sessions," &c. 



Upon the 29th of July, 1674, Richard Shute was chosen for to go to 

 our honored governor as a representative for the village of Eastchester* 



a New York Weekly Journal, 1733, No. viii. 



b Assize Rec. Alb. 



c Bridgman's Hort. Rep. 1S46. 



d The stocks consisted of a rude wooden instrument, firmly secured in the ground, into 

 which the offenders' hands and feet were locked. It was once a common, mode of puiushment, 

 but since the Revolution has fallen into disuse.— Editor. 



e See Covenant. 



