366 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



Commander in Chief of the Militia and of all the forces by Sea and Land within 

 our Colony of Connecticutt aDd of all the ports and Places of Strength within 

 the same at our Fort in New Yorke the twenty fifth day of June in the eighth 

 year of our Reigne annoq Don 1696. Ben ffletcher. By his Excelt Command 



David Jamison D. Secry. 



I do hereby certify the aforegoing to be a true Copy of the Orignal Record. 

 Words East side 30th Line page 36 written on a razure. Compared therewith by 

 me. Lewis A. Scott, 



Secretary. a 



" By this summary measure," says Baird, " the people of Rye were 

 despoiled of a most important part of their rightful possessions. It was 

 a loss felt by each proprietor, for each had an interest in the undivided 

 lands, to the distribution of which he looked forward as a provision for 

 his children. The only show of reason for this act of spoliation, was in 

 the fact, that the inhabitants of Rye were as yet without a patent for 

 their lands under the Government of New York. In 1685, Governor 

 Dongan had issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of Rye and Bed- 

 ford, requiring them to appear before him, and prove their title to the lands 

 upon which they were seated. This summons, it appears, had not been 

 obeyed. The sympathies of the people were with the colony from which 

 they came, and to which they yet hoped permanently to belong. Their 

 rights, besides, had been amply recognized by Connecticut, and they doubt- 

 less saw no propriety in the requirement to obtain a patent from New 

 York." 6 The whole transaction, Baird attributes to the unscrupulous 

 conduct of Governor Fletcher, who he declares was notorious for the 

 extravagance with which he disposed of the public lands. 



"The people of Rye," continues Baird, " when they heard of Harri- 

 son's design, doubtless used every means within their reach to pre- 

 vent its execution. One of their number, the grandson of the original 

 purchaser of Budd's Neck, was especially earnest in opposing the grant, 

 on the ground that it conflicted with the rights acquired by his ancestor. 

 Harrison's petition to the Council represented that he had bought ' a 

 tract of vacant and unappropriated, uncultivated land in ye County of 

 Westchester, bounded on the north by Rye Pond, and on the east by 

 Blind Brook, on the west by Mamaroneck River, and on the south by 

 the land of Joseph Budd. At a Council held at his Majesty's fort in 

 New York the 13th of February, 1695-96,' Harrison's petition was re- 

 ferred to the Attorney General, Major Austin Graham, Surveyor-Gen- 

 eral, Justice Theals, Joseph Purdy and Joseph Horton, or any three of 



a Received for William Nicolls, Esq., and 6th Book of Patent, (Albany,) No. vi, p. 36-38. The 

 A 1 bit a 11 Records, say 5th of June, 1695. The orignal document is in the possession of Andrew 

 Carpenter, of Harrison's Purchase. 



b Hist, of Rye, 16C0-1870, by Rev. Charles W. Baird. 



