leased to John Hampstead by the heirs of Andrew Johnston, 24th of June, 1772.

John Hampstead the above lessee was one of the first settlers of this town. From his tomb-stone in the Union burying ground, we learn that he departed this life the 26th of April, 1801, at the advanced age of 107 years, 5 months and 21 days.

How few can reach those years of time,
Which here are numbered to our view,
Since death calls most while in their prime,
And leaves behind so aged few.

Upon the 3d of Dec. 1772, the devisees of Andrew Johnston conveyed to Lewis Bailey, farm No. 9, in west range of great north lot No. 7. In the year 1775, the executors and heirs of Andrew Johnston deceased, conveyed to Abraham Theale, certain lands situate on Plum brook.

A. D. 1793. John Johnston, executor of Andrew Johnston, conveyed to Benjamin Green of Stephentown, a farm in the north east corner of lot No. 4, west range, being part of Andrew Johnston's great north lot No. 7.

These sales clearly show that the great lots were again subdivided by the devisees of Stephanus van Cortlandt. Many of the descendants of the above mentioned grantees still occupy the patrimonial estates in fee simple.

The oldest record relating to town officers occurs in a small manuscript volume, entitled as follows:

"Book of the records of the proceedings from the first town meeting of the people of Stephentown, being the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereof William Horton, Esq. was chosen town clerk.

The first Tuesday in April, in the year above written, the people of Stephentown met at the house of Benjamin Green, for choosing town officers and other necessary business of the town for the year ensuing.

Hachaliah Brown, supervisor.

a Co. Rec. Lib. I. 179.

The village of Somers is pleasantly situated on a beautiful plain almost surrounded by romantic hills, the top of which are clothed with a profusion of green verdure. The air of this delightful region is said to be uncommonly mild and salubrious. To the south of the village lies the delightful vale of Plum brook, through which passes the road to Pine's bridge. On the north-east Prospect hill rises in a grand and picturesque manner. The village of Somers Plain, commonly so called, "is the principal market of lean stock of cattle and sheep, brought hither from various and distant parts of the country to supply the wants occasioned by the sales of fattened cattle and sheep to the butchers of New York. The farmers of this county carry on an extensive traffic in this way, and droves are annually and almost constantly arriving from the inland regions, some from 100, 200, and 300 miles, to replace the consumption." It is computed that over 5000 head of horned stock are annually fatted in this district alone.

A bank has been for many years established in this village, under the name of "the Farmers and Drovers Bank of Somers." This institution was first organized under the general banking law of 1839, with a capital of $111,000. First president, Horace Bailey, Esq. It deserves notice that the money of the Farmers and Drovers Bank has always been redeemable at par. The present board of directors, consist of

a New York Gazetteer.

Near the centre of the village, and directly opposite the junction of the Pines bridge and Peekskill turnpike road, stands the Elephant Hotel, a very commodious and handsome brick edifice, under the superintendence of Horace Bailey, Esq.

The large zoological exhibitions which annually visit this state, originated in Somerstown, through the enterprise of Hachaliah Bailey, who imported about 1815, the celebrated elephant "Old Bet," the first ever brought to the United States. Other importations of animals quickly followed, but subsequently the smaller companies became absorbed into one grand travelling menagerie. The present proprietors are Messrs. Thaddeus and Gerard Crane. These gentlemen are associated with the great liontamer, Van Amburgh, and in the adjoining town of North Salem, with Lea is Titus nd John June.

The Episcopal Church of St. Luke, occupies a fine situation, on the Plain, at no great distance from the hotel. It is a very handsome edifice of wood, in the Grecian style, with a stone basement beneath. The front presents a lofty portico, supported by Ionic columns; the roof is surmounted with a low tower.

Previous to the erection of this church in 1842, Episcopal services were occasionally performed in the town, by the neighboring clergy. They were held usually in an edifice erected by the liberality of persons belonging to the various religious societies and others, possessing no denominational connection, under the name of the Union Meeting House. Here the churchmen of this section of country were favored with the occasional ministrations of the Rev. R. C. Moore, the late pious and beloved Bishop of Virginia, and many other respectable and laborious clergymen. As early as 1808, we find the Rev. Evan Rogers officiating here. Before the 26th of January, in the year 1835, the present parish was organized under the rectorship of the Rev. Alexander Fraser, and about this time, arrangements were made for disposing of the interest which the Episcopal party held in the Union meeting house and parsonage, and building a church for themselves. This was quickly effected through the active and zealous exertions of the vestry, to whose liberality together with that of several other individuals of the neighborhood, friendly to the undertaking, the parish is indebted for its present commodious and beautiful church.

This building was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, on the 19th of January, A. D. 1842, by the Right Rev. VOL. II.

18

Benj. Tredwell Onderdonk. It had been previously incorporated upon the 28th Feb., 1835.

Isaac Purdy, and Frederick J. Coffin, church wardens, Thaddeus Barlow, Aaron Brown, William Marshall, Gerard Crane, Edwin Finch, Charles Wright, William Clock and Ray Tompkins, vestrymen.a

Instituted or called.

A. D. 1835,

A. D. 1842,

A. D. 1844,

A. D. 1846,

LIST OF RECTORS.

Incumbents.

Rev. Alexander Fraser, Presb.
Rev. David H. Short, Presb.

Vacated by

resig. do.

Rev. Samuel Chalmess Davis, Presb. do.
Rev. Alfred H. Partridge, present incumbent.

Notitia Parochialis.
1843, Communicants, 14.
1844, do.
22.

Baptisms, 1.

do. 12.

The Presbyterian church is very pleasantly situated on the north side of the main street, near the foot of Prospect Hill.

Its front presents a neat portico of the Doric order. The Presbyterian society was first incorporated on the 10th of January, 1811, under the name of the "Union Presbyterian Church of Somerstown," Darius Crosby, Lewis Brown, Amaziah Mead, Joseph Owen, jr., James Bailey and Ebenezer White, jr., trustees. In the year 1832, a mutual division took place, which led to the erection of the Presbyterian Church at Croton falls, whose pastor is the Rev. Joseph Nimmo. The present church edifice was erected, A. D. 1799.