H. Frost, Westfield. 1852-Joseph B. H. Martling, Castleton; Garret P. Wright, Northfield; Samuel Barton, Southfield; Samuel H. Frost, Westfield. 1853-George B. Davis, Castleton; Charles Van Name, Northfield; Jacob W. Mersereau, Southfield; Samuel H. Frost, Westfield. 1854-Joshua Mersereau, Castleton; Richard C. Moore, Northfield; Jacob W. Mersereau, Southfield; Samuel H. Frost, Westfield. 1855-Gabriel Martino, Castleton; James G. Burger, Northfield; Joseph Egbert, Southeld; Samuel Frost, Westfield. 1856-Richard Christopher, Castleton; Lawrence Hillyer, Northfield; Joseph Egbert, Southfield; Samuel H. Frost, Westfield. 1857-Richard Christopher, Castleton; Garret G. Post, Northfield; Samuel Barton, Southfield; Gilbert A. Cole, Westfield. 1858-Richard Christopher, Castleton; Garret G. Post, Northfield; John C. Garrison, Southfield; William H. Rutan, Westfield. 1859-Richard Christopher, Castleton; Garret G. Post, Northfield; John C. Garrison, Southfield; William H. Rutan, Westfield. 1860-John J. Clute, Castleton; Garret G. Post, Northfield; John C. Garrison, Southfield; William H. Rutan, Westfield; Jacob B. Wood, Middletown. 1861-Smith Ely, Castleton; Garret G.

Child, Northfield; Dennis Keeley, Southfield; Gilbert A. Cole, Westfield. 1864-David L. Gardiner, Castleton; Charles Van Name, Northfield; Dennis Keeley, Southfield; Abraham H. Wood, Westfield; John Bechtel, Middletown. 1865-James H. Crabtree, Castleton; Thomas Child, Northfield; James Cocroft, Southfield; Abraham H. Wood, Westfield; D. Porter Lord, Middletown. 1866-Joseph Esterbrook, Castleton; Israel C. Denyse, Northfield; Ephraim Clark, Southfield; Abraham J. Wood, Westfield; Theodore Frean, Middletown. 1867Nathan M. Heal. Castleton; Israel C. Denyse, Northfield; Ephraim Clark, Southfield; Abraham J. Wood, Westfield; D. Porter Lord, Middletown. 1868-Richard Christopher, Castleton; John H. Van Clief, Northfield; J. S. Ketteltas, Southfield; Samuel R. Brick, Middletown.

1869–Richard Christopher, Castleton; John H. Van Clief, Northfield; Edward P. Barton, Southfield; Abraham J. Wood, Westfield; Samuel R. Brick, Middletown. 1870-Archie D. Pell, Castleton; John H. Van Clief, Northfield; Philip Brady, Southfield; George W. Ellis, Westfield; Samuel R. Brick, Middletown. 1871-Robert B. Minturn, Castleton; John H. Van Clief, Northfield; Dennis Keeley, Southfield; George W. Ellis, Westfield; Samuel R. Brick, Middletown. 1872John D. Vermule, Castleton; John B. Hillyer, Northfield; George J. Greenfield, Southfield; Abraham J. Wood, Westfield; Alvin C. Bradley, Middletown. 1873-John D. Vermule, Castleton; Garret Simonson, Northfield; George J. Greenfield, Southfield; Abraham J. Wood, Westfield; John E. E. Armstrong, Middletown. 1874-Richard Christopher, Castleton; Garret Simonson, Northfield; George J. Greenfield, Southfield; Henry H. Seguine, Westfield; Frederick White, Middletown. 1875-Richard Christopher, Castleton; Garrett Simonson, Northfield; William Corry, Southfield; James Guyon, Westfield; Henry Frost, Middletown. 1876Richard Christopher, Castleton; Richard Latourette, Northfield; William Corry, Southfield; Jacob M. Guyon, Westfield; Henry Frost, Middletown. 1877-Charles A. Herpich, Castleton; Richard Latourette, Northfield; William Corry, Southfield; Henry H. Guyon, Westfield; Theodore Frean, Middletown. 1878-Charles A. Herpich, Castleton; Richard C. Latourette, Northtfield; William Corry, Southfield; Gilbert C. Deane, Westfield; Theodore Frean, Middletown; John Meehan, clerk. 1879-Charles A. Herpich,12 Castleton; Alfred Z. Ross, Northfield; Timothy D. O'Brien, Southfield; Gilbert C. Deane, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Abram Winant, clerk. 1880-Edward Reilley, Castleton; Cyrus B. White, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Gilbert C. Deane, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Abram Winant, clerk. 1881-Robert Moore, Castleton; Abram Crocheron, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Gilbert C. Deane, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1882-Robert Moore, Castleton; Abram Crocheron, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Jesse Oakley, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1883-Robert Moore, Castleton; Abram Crocheron, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Jesse Oakley, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1884-Robert Moore, Castleton; John H. Van Clief, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Jesse Oakley, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown;

12 In the spring of 1879, the Board of Supervisors voted to appropriate an amount of money to aid in defraying the expenses of unveiling a monument erected in Bethel Cemetery, at Tottenville, to the memory of the men who had enlisted from Staten Island and had died in the war. The members of the Board were indicted by the Grand Jury for "* misappropriating funds." The money, however, was not

paid out of the treasury, and the indictment was set aside. Charles A. Herpich, the member from Castleton, the chairman, was in Europe at the time. On his return home he resigned as supervisor, because of the indignity thus placed upon him and his fellow-members. Edward Reilly was appointed by the Castleton Town Board to fill the vacancy.

Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1885-Robert Moore, Castleton; Cyrus B. White, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Jesse Oakley, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1886 -Robert Moore, Castleton; Cyrus B. White, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; A. Sylvester Joline, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1887-Robert Moore, Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; A. Sylvester Joline, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1888-Robert Moore, Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; George Bechtel, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1889-Robert Moore, Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; Julius Credo, Middletown; Clarence M. Johnson, clerk. 1890-Robert Moore, Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; Peter H. Wandel, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1891-Robert Moore, Castleton; J. Howard Van Name, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; Julius Credo, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1892— Robert Moore, Castleton; J. Howard Van Name, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; Julius Credo, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1893-James E. Mulligan, Castleton; J. Howard Van Name, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; John L. Feeny, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1894 Daniel Campbell, Castleton; J. Howard Van Name, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; John L. Feeny, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1895-George M. Pinney, Jr., Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; John L. Feeny, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1896John L. Dobson, Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Abram Cole, Westfield; John L. Feeny, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk. 1897-Augustus Acker, Castleton; Edward P. Doyle, Northfield; Nathaniel Marsh, Southfield; Hubbard R. Yetman, Westfield; John L. Feeny, Middletown; Franklin C. Vitt, clerk.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE BILLOPPS AND THEIR HOME.

HE history of Staten Island can not be truthfully and fully written without telling the long and interesting story of the Billopps and their home, for the Island was practically controlled by that noted family for more than a century. It is well, at the commencement of the story, to go back to the little village of Coventry, in the heart of Old England, in the troublesome days near the close of the Sixteenth Century. Barnard Billopp was born in that place, and at the age of seventeen enlisted as a cavalryman in the service of the Crown. He became an officer as a reward of merit, was repeatedly promoted for bravery, and finally died from the effects of a wound received in a duel with a fellow officer. It is known that his parents resided at Coventry, and left him an orphan at an early age.

Barnard left two sons, Christopher and James, and the latter is said to have won the warm friendship of Queen Elizabeth by once saving her precious life at the risk of his own. He was presented with a commission in the English navy, which he declined and accepted a court appointment as, perhaps, more congenial to his nature. James had a large family. His eldest child, a daughter, is said to have left her home mysteriously, after she had grown to womanhood, and served in the English army as an officer, her disguise not being detected until after several years of active service. According to tradition, James I. was so pleased with her conduct that he ordered her pay to be continued after she had been mustered out of the army. Her brother, Christopher, became a merchant in London, and was a government contractor under Charles I., who granted him this favor because of his marriage to a lady belonging to the court circle.

Christopher had one son, whom he also named Christopher, and who was born in London about 1638. He was educated for a naval officer, by direction of the King, who held his father and mother in high regard. He received a commission as captain, and made several important voyages to distant parts. In one of these he was captured by Turkish pirates, who wounded him severely and left him lying upon the shore for dead. After many weeks of suffering he was picked up by an English vessel and taken back to his home.

In the Spring of 1667, Christopher Billopp sailed from England in the "Bentley," a small vessel carrying two cannon on her deck. She reached the banks of Newfoundland after several weeks of tossing about on the ocean, and almost immediately started to make a cruise

along the coast of New Netherlands. It is not definitely known whether he was in the service of Charles II., or whether the venture was of a private nature.

When it was known in England that New Netherland had been reduced, and was now actually in the possession of the English, Lord William Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, two of the royal favorites, induced the Duke of York, probably influenced by the King, (his brother), to give them a patent for the territory west of the Hudson and the bay, and as far south as Cape May. This was named Nova Caesarea, or New Jersey. With thirty emigrants, composed of English and French, Captain Philip Carteret, a cousin of Sir George, and Governor of the new territory, sailed for New York; but by stress of weather was driven into the Chesapeake. While lying there he forwarded despatches to Bollen, who was commissary at the fort in New York, and also to Nicholls.

This was the first intimation the Governor had received of the dismemberment of the extensive territory over which he ruled. He was both astounded and chagrined. He had already conveyed several parcels of land within the limits of the new grant, and regarded the whole of it as the best part of the duke's domain. He remonstrated, but it was too late; the duke evidently thought he had been too precipitate; but as he could not well retrace his steps, he suffered matters to remain as they were. Carteret arrived in New York about midsummer, 1665, and immediately took possession of his government. He chose Elizabethtown as his capital. It is said that when he first landed on the soil of New Jersey, he carried a hoe upon his shoulder, in token of his intention to devote his attention to the promotion of agriculture.

After the Duke of York had conveyed the territory of New Jersey to Carteret and Berkeley, a doubt arose whether Staten Island was not included in the grant, by the terms of the charter. Carteret, the Governor, not the proprietor, did not lay a positive claim to the Island; in a certain way he admitted that it did not belong to his jurisdiction, and accepted a conveyance for a tract of land on the Island from Nicholls, the Duke of York's agent. In 1668, however, the Island "was adjudged to belong to New York," and the old stone house on the beautiful slope overlooking the Raritan bay, still stands to remind the present generation of that important period.

As we cross the threshold of this ancient structure, our minds wander back through the dim avenues of history, and we recall so much that has aided not only to form the early records of Richmond county, but to lay the very foundation of the nation. We go back to that

1 After the disappearance of Captain Christopher Billopp, his wife, who remained at the Manor of Bentley, received a pension from the King. Some writers believe that he had been ordered back to England, and did not go on his

own accord. In consideration of the fact that his life was lost at sea, while obeying this order, the widow was compensated from the royal treasury.