THE TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT. 529 



Philipse, and to his heirs forever in trust for the church, in the following 

 manner : 



Item. I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law Adolph Philipse and to his 

 heirs forever, a large silver beaker, on which my name is engraved, a damask 

 table cloth, five Dutch ells and three quarters long, and two and a half broad, 

 with a long table, in trust to and for the congregation of the Dutch church erect- 

 ed and built at Philipsburgh, by my late husband Frederick Philipse deceased, 

 according to the discipline of Dort, which beker and cloth I will and direct shall 

 be always kept at the mansion house of the said Adolph Philipse and his heir-s, 

 in that part of the manor of Philipsburgh, whereon the said church is erected, to 

 and for the use of the said church and congregation, and to and for no other 

 use or purpose whatever, &c. Item, I give and bequeath unto the children of 

 Paules Vanderhiders, the sum of £25 current money, &c. Item, I will and di- 

 rect, that Matty and Sarah, my Indians or muster slaves, shall be manumitted 

 and set at full freedom. « Item, all the residue and remainder of my whole 

 estate, both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever, I do give, devise and 

 bequeath, to my brother Jacobus van Cortlandt, one-fifth; and to all the children 

 of his deceased brother Stephanus, and the daughters of his eldest son Johannes, 

 a fifth part, share and share alike ; another fifth part to the children of my de- 

 ceased sister, Marietje van Kenssalear, &c. ; another fifth part of my said estate 

 to the three grand children of my deceased sister Sophia Teller, to be divided be- 

 tween her grand-son Andrew, and the children of her son Oliver, deceased ; the 

 remaining fifth part and residue, unto the children of Philip Schuyler deceased, 

 eldest son of my sister, Cornelia Schuyler deceased, and Oliver Schuyler, &c.<* 



Tradition asserts that Catharine Philipse was in the habit of riding up 

 from the city of New York on horseback, mounted on a pillion behind 

 her favorite brother, Jacobus Van Cortlandt, for the purpose of superin- 

 tending the erection of this church ; her husband was at this time a 

 merchant in the city. These journeys were generally performed during 

 moonlight nights. Who could relate the interesting conversations that 

 must have passed between the affectionate brother and sister, as they 

 thus sat on horseback pursuing their lonely route from the metropolis, 

 and the joy of the latter when the glorious work was completed ? This 

 illustrious lady must certainly have taken a very active part, not only in 

 the building, but in the procuring and subsequent settlement of the 

 ministry therein — which plainly appears from the ancient records of the 

 Dutch church, where her name occurs, as first on the list of its members, 

 in 1697. 



a It is a well-known fact, that slavery existed in this county at an early period of its settle- 

 ment, of which abundant evidence can be produced; but no record appears that native Indians 

 were enslaved until 1705, when we find the following deed of gift executed by Elizabeth Leg- 

 get, of Westchester, in favor of her daughter Mary : " I hereby give, grant and confirm, unto 

 the said Mary, her heirs and assigns forever, my two negro children, born of the body of Han- 

 nah, my negro woman, of the issue of the body of Robin, my Indian slave. There are also 

 several bills of sale recorded of Indian squaws being furnished by a dealer in New York, 

 named Jacob Decay. Westchester Rec. 



b Surrogate's office, N. Y., No. XL 85. 



