When he was about four years old, Capt. Jonathan Griffen who lived near by, took a fancy to him, and he was bound to him by Indenture until he was 21 years old, to learn the farming business, which Indenture I have seen and read. After he was 21 Capt. Griffen having no children of his own, adopted him as his son and had him baptized by the name of Jonathan Griffen. From that time and for several years

1 "Caleb Tompkins was first judge of the Westchester County Court of Common Pleas from 1808 to 1820 and again from 1823 to 1846. He died January 1, 1846, aged eighty-six years and nine days. He was buried at White Plains. Mr. Tompkins was a learned jurist and a man of great abilities. He possessed in an eminent degree, the gifts and virtues for which the Tompkins family has ever been noted." Scharf, Vol. I., p. 528.

54 THE McDONALD PAPERS

previous, he had the sole management of the farm and of all Capt. Griffen's business. Shortly after his Apprenticeship expired, he married the daughter of Caleb Hyatt, a respectable farmer and a justice of the peace in the town of White Plains. He resided with Capt. Griffen until about three years before the Revolutionary war, and until he had Eight children born of which I, was the eldest. Capt. Griffen conveyed to him one hundred acres of land without either buildings or orchard. He rented a house of Thomas Vail for one year, on the farm adjoining his own, where Daniel D. Tompkins was born June 21st 1774, and which after Vail's death he purchased, whereon I have resided for the last 50 years. The house and barn on this one hundred acres (conveyed by Capt. Griffen) was built during the year my Father resided in Vail's house.