THE TOWN OF BEDFORD.
Frederick Van Cortlandt, one of the above devisees, obtained a release from the following freeholders of Bedford on the 2 ist of September, 1 741 :
Hezekiah Roberts, John Holmes, Daniel Holly,
John Miller, Jonathan Westcoat, Nathan Clark,
Joseph Seely, Richard Westcoat, Moses Fountain,
Jonathan Holmes, Daniel Miller, John Miller,
Zachariah Mills, Richard Holmes, Samuel Miller,
Jonathan Seely. Daniel Haight, Samuel Barras,
Ebenezer Holmes, Philip Ayres, Ebenezer Owen.
Jonathan Miller, Vincent Simpkins.
From an original map, drawn up by Samuel Purdy, surveyor, it appears that a partition of Jacobus Van Cortlandl's estate took place in 1743. To Frederick Van Cortlandt was allotted 1,424 acres ; to Abraham De Peyster, 1,1 10 acres; to John Chambers, 1,282 acres; and to Peter Jay, 1,299 acres-
Upon the death of Peter Jay, Esq., in 1782, his share fell to three sons, Peter, Frederick and John. The latter was subsequently invested with a large portion of the original allotment."
By the decease of the Honorable John Jay, in 1829, his son, the late William Jay, Esq., became the sole proprietor of the Bedford estate, which since his death has passed to his son, the Hon. John Jay ; the Hon. John Jay, therefore, is the only descendant of Jacobus Van Cortlandt that owns a foot of the original patent in the town of Bedford. Abraham De Peyster sold to various individuals. The descendants of the ancient proprietors of the Hop grounds (resident in Bedford) are still very numerous, viz.: the Greens, Millers, Holmes, Roberts, Amblers, Clarks, Ayres, Wcstcoats, Simpkins, Meads, Webbs, Clasons and Higgins.