And just like one in age alone, Bends sadly where the waters moan, De Lancey's ancient pine. Oh, victim of misguided zeal To tell thy former fame! Who bids the fretted stone reveal Wo ho! the satiate traveller stays At a short distance from Lydig's mills, on the property of Mr. Leonard Mapes, may be seen the ruins of an old chateau, since the residence of Lewis H. Guerlain. The following inscription upon a marble monument hard by, so touchingly records the history of its former inmates, that any further account would be needless. A. D. 1798, sacred to the memory of virtue, merit and beauty; to Sarah Guerlain, the beloved consort of Lewis H. Guerlain. Alas! 'tis in vain! the spirit has filed! Sarah has sunk in the tomb, The beauty of nature lies mix'd with the dead Gods! how severe is the doom: As a delicate lily that blows in the vale, That springs to perfection and dies, So she bloomed, and then sickened; but, shall we bewail? The grave of the pure is the path to the skies. ETERNITY HOW LONG! In 1798, 7th March, Sarah died in the West Indies, in the 20th year of her age, in the passage from St. Croix to St. Christopher's and was brought back by her disconsolate husband to this peaceful mansion, the place of their union, the 4th of October, 1795. Immediately north of the village of West Farms, lies Bronx dale, the sides of which present a most romantic appearance. In this neighborhood, is a small settlement, containing two public houses, two stores and about twenty dwellings, also the extensive bleach factory of Mr. James Bolton, and the snuff mills of Mr. Peter Lorillard. The beautiful seat of the latter gentleman is rendered particularly attractive, from the contiguity of over hanging woods, and its due vicinity to the river. The low ground east of Bronx dule, is called Bear swamp. The general "surface of Westchester is rolling, and in some places hilly; soil, clay loam, mostly susceptible of high cultivation." "The lands produce all kinds of grain, but they are best adapted to grass and pasturage. Almost every variety of fruit trees flourish here. The principal growth of wood is oak of all sorts, chesnut and hickory, &c. It is freely watered in every part by springs and rivulets." York. It is distant sixteen miles south of the village of White Plains, and about one hundred and forty-one miles from Albany. "Kings bridge, across Harlem river, is just within the line, at the north-west corner of this town." Our intention is to take up separately the three former divisions of the present town, viz., West Farms, Morrisania and Fordhain. From the following patent, it appears that the proprietors of the lands subsequently called the West Farms, in 1666, were Edward Jessup and John Richardson, of Westchester. PATENT OF WEST FARMS. "Richard Nicolls, Esq., governor general under his royal highness, James Duke of York and Albany, &c. &c., of all his territoryes in America, to all to whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting: whereas, there is a cer • Westchester prior to the division embraced an area of twenty sqaure miles. Laws of N. Y. 69, sess. 1846. tain tract or parcel of land within this government, situate, lying and being neare unto and within the limits of the towne of Westchester. Upon yo maine being bounded to the east by the river commonly called by the Indians Aquehung, otherwise Broncke river, extending to the midst of said river to the north, by the mark't trees and by a piece of hassock meadow, westwardly a little brook called by the natives Sackwrahung, and southward by the Sound or East river, including within a certain neck of land called Quinnahung, which said parcel or tract and neck of land with the appurtenances, together with commonage and liberty for range of horses and cattle, as free as they please into the woods, hath heretofore been jointly purchased of the Indyan proprietors by Edward Jessup and John Richardson of Westchester aforesaid, and due satisfaction hath ye then been given for the same, as by the deed remaining upon record, more at large doth and may appear, now it being mutually agreed upon ye both the aforesaid purchasers, that an equal division shall be made of the said parcel or tract of land and appurtenances between them the said Edward Jessup and John Richardson, their heirs and assigns, and to the end that the said lands may be better manured and planted for a further confirmation unto each and either of them, in their possession and enjoyment of the premises. Know ye, that by virtue of the commission and authority unto me given by his royal highness, I have ratified, confirmed and granted, and by these presents do ratify, confirm and grant, unto John Richardson aforesaid, his heirs and assigns, the moiety or one-half of the aforesaid parcel or tract of land and premises, together with the moiety or one-half of all the woods, meadows, pastures, waters, commonage, marshes, rivers or lakes thereunto belonging, within their and every of them, appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof, to have and to hold their said moiety, or one-half of the said parcel or tract of land, commonage and premises, with all and singular the appurtenances to the said John Richardson, his heirs and assigns, unto the proper use and behoof of the said John Richardson, his heirs and assigns forever, he or they rendering and paying such duties and acknowledgments as now are or hereafter shall be constituted and established by the laws of this government, under the obedience of his royal highness, his heirs and successors, given under my hand and seal at Fort James in New York, on the island of Manhattoes, 25th day of April, in the eighteenth year of his majesties reign, A. D. 1666." RICHARD NICOLLS. Edward Jessup one of the above patentees, like most of the original settlers of Westchester, emigrated from Fairfield, Connecticut. In 1653, occurs the name of Edward Jessope, owner of lands on Sascoe neck in that town. By his wife Elizabeth Bridges, he left issue a son, Edward, and two daughters. Elizabeth married Thomas Hunt, of the Grove farm, Westchester, from whom the Hunts of Hunt's point descend. Edward Jessup died in 1666; his will bears date the same year. THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF EDWARD JEssup. "Being sicke and weake in body, yet in perfect memory, I bequeath my soule to ye Almighty God that gave it, and my body after my death to be decently buried, my funeral to be discharged and my debts to be paid. I will and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Hunt, twenty shillings, besides which, I have already given her to be paid in a year and a day after my decease. I will and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Jessup, the sum of five and thirty pounds with that she hath already, to be payed unto her at 18 years of age. I will and bequeath unto my sonne Edward Jessup, two mares with two colts by their sides, one is a gray mare, and the other is a mare marked on both ears with two half pence on each ear, to bee set out for him for his use a year and a day after my decease. I will and bequeath unto my grandchild Mary Hunt, twenty shillings, to bee payd in a year and a day after my decease. I will and bequeath unto my cousin Johannah Burroughs, twenty shillings, to bee payed in a year and a day after my decease. Furthermore, I institute and appoint my well beloved wife, Elizabeth Jessup, to bee whole and sole executrix, and I do will and bequeath unto her, all my lands and houses, and goods and cattle, moveable and immovable, of this my last will and testament, and to receive all debts, dues and demands whatsoever, to be at her disposing, and she to pay all debts, dues and legacies whatsoever, and she to bring up my two children in the feare of God. This I do owne to be my last will and testament. Further, I do appoint my well beloved friends Mr. Richard Cornhill, justice of the peace, Mrs. Sarah Bridges, my well beloved brother-in-law, John Burroughs, and Ralph Hunt, overseers of this my last will and testament, likewise to be assistants to my executrix in all cases and difficulties, and this I do owne as my owne act and deed, to all true intents and meanings, and doe furthermore ratify and confirm it as my owne act and deed by ye setting to my hand and seal, the day and year underwritten. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us, witnesses, August the 16th, 1666. EDWARD JEssup. Will'm Gouldstone, John Richardson, mark of Richard Horton. Upon the 20th of June, 1668, Robert Beacham and Elizabeth |