cerning the Claim that John Harrison makes to our Lands, and to use what methods he shall see good for securing the towne's interest. '«

' At a lawful towne meeting held in Rye, February, 1702-3, the towne hath by a major vote chosen Capt. Theale and George Lane, senior, and Isaac Denham, to forwarne any person or persons that shall lay out any Lands within the towne bounds without the towne's approbation or order : that is to say, within the township of Rye.'6

The purchase was owned in common by the five patentees, who soon divided it up among themselves in equal shares.

The following advertisement appeared in the New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Monday, March 18. 1771 : --

'If any person has in his keeping the Partition Deed that was made between the Patentees of Harrison's Purchase, in the County of Westchester, and will uotify where he may be applied to, by a Letter to the Printer hereof, he will afford a great Pleasure to the Proprietors, and may expect a handsome Reward for his Trouble. The Patentees were Harrison, Nicolls, Haight, Wilson, and William Jamison. The deed must have been made about the Year 1700, and is likely to be among some old Papers about Flushing, on Long Island.'

The deed appears to have come to light hereupon with very little delay -- an early proof of the advantage of newspaper advertisement -- for on the twentyeighth of June, 1771, the recovered document was admitted to be recorded j and we have it in full in the Records of the town of Rye, vol. D. pp. 2S0-2S3. It sets forth that the tract of land in question was bought by John Harrison in 1G95, with funds belonging to his four associates equaily with himself, and that the purchase was made in their behalf also 'in a joint and equal right and interest, and not otherwise,' to be held by the five purchasers ' as tenants in common, without any right, claim or demand of survivorship by reason of joint tenancy upon the death of all or any of the said parties.' The Deed is dated November 10, 1700, and is signed by W.