Home / Bolton, Robert Jr. A History of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. I. New York: Alexander S. Gould, 1848. / Passage

A History of the County of Westchester, Vol. I

Bolton, Robert Jr. A History of the County of Westchester, from its First Settlement to the Present Time, Vol. I. New York: Alexander S. Gould, 1848. 311 words

Cornelius Chatterton, one of the earliest magistrates of Eastchester was an ancestor of this family.

Hart's Corners, formerly Barnes' Corners, is another small hamlet in Greenburg, situated about three miles south of White Plains, in a fine valley, tlie neighborhood of which is rendered extremely beautiful by the inequality of the ground and surrounding scenery. The settlement is composed of one church, several dwellings and stores. The Bronx River Powder Manufactory, and Railroad depot adjoin it on the east. This place derives its name from John Hart, who purchased the property of the commissioners in 1784,

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 243

The Methodist.church ; stands on the summit of the high ridge west of the hamlet, it was erected A. D. 1832.a The burying ground Ues near the Raihoad.

A fine line of hills extend south from Hart's Corners to the foot of Thirty Deer ridge in Yonkers, watered on the east and west by the two branches of the Spraine, called by the Indians Armenperal. These hills were formerly so covered with thick woods as to be almost impassable, and abounded in deer, wolves, bears, wild-cats, and rattle snakes. Deer were numerous as late as 1760.

One of the earliest settlers of the place was John Tompkins of Eastchester, who purchased a large tract upon these hills in 173 L For some time after this purchase, Mr. Tompkins was in the constant practice of spending the week here, and returning to his family on a Saturday. During the whole of this period he was surrounded by Indians, but they never once offered to molest him. A small hill to the south-east of the present Mr. John Tompkins, still bears the name of Indian hill, and the adjoining spring is called the Indian spring. Two descendants of the original proprietor, John and James Tompkins, yet occupy a large portion of the estate.