THB TOWN OF NORTH CASTLE-. 7*3 



house, is the burying-ground of the ancient proprietors. The oldest 

 grave-stones are inscribed as follows : — 



S x B Here lies the A. H. N. 



J. 29, 1743. body of 1776. 



SAMUEL BANKS, 

 who departed this life the 19th of September, 1773, 

 in the 86th year of his age. 



From the Rye * Ponds, situated on the southern border of this town, 

 issues the principal branch of the Bronx River. Upon this stream 

 stands the small hamlet of Kensico, formerly called Robbin's Mills. 

 Here is a Methodist church, two wollen manufactories, a saw and grist 

 mill, a spring and carriage manufactory, two stores and several dwellings. 

 In the north-west angle of Connecticut, which projects into this town, 

 lies the boundary-rock, marked with the royal initials, G. R. a The 

 Heights of North Castle are well known in the annals of the Revolu- 

 tion. It was to these hills that General Washington retired, soon after 

 the battle of White Plains. Upon the summit of Fort Hill, in the vi- 

 cinity of Rye Pond, vestiges of a military encampment are still to be 

 seen. General Washington's troops encamped here on their retreat 

 after the battle of White Plains. The property is now owned by Wil- 

 liam Fields, Esq. Camp Field is also situated in this town. " The 

 general surface of North Castle is broken into hills and valleys, but all 

 admit of cultivation — either as arable, meadow or pasture lands." 6 " The 

 soil is a sandy loam and clay." The principal growth of wood consists 

 of oak of all kinds, chestnut, hickory, elm, locust, &c, &c. In our to- 

 pographical description of the town, we have shown that it is a well 

 watered district. " 



LEASE AND RELEASE. 

 This indenture, made the twenty-third of October, in the twelfth year of the 

 reign of our Sovereign, Lord George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great 

 Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, &c, and in the year of 

 our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight, between Cornelius 

 Depeyster, of the city of New York, merchant, of the one part, Abraham Depey- 

 ster, of the same city, merchant ; Philip Courtlandt, of the city of New York, 

 aforesaid, merchant, in right of Catherine, his wife, John Hamilton, of Perth 

 Amboy, in the Province of New Jersey, Esq., and Elizabeth, his wife, Isaac De- 

 peyster, of the said city, of New York, merchant, and Ann, his wife, and Peter 

 Depeyster, of the said city of New York, merchant of the other part. Whereas, 

 his late Majesty, King "William the Third, by his Letters Patent, under the broad 



a Four towns abi* upon Clapp's ridge in the south-east corner of North Castle. 

 b Spafford's Gazetteer. 

 c Disturnell's Gazetteer 



