Upon the 7th day of August, 1766, the East Patent formerly granted to Robert Walters and others, was sold, in pursuance of a certain act of the Lieutenant Governor, the Council, and General Assembly of this colony, entitled " An act for the more effectual collecting of his Majesties quit rents in the colony of New York, and for partition of lands in order thereto," &c. The principal purchasers under the act, appear to have been the Lockwoods, Amblers, Forshers, Bishops, Ferrises, Hoyts, Hollys, Browns, Sillicks and Scofields, (fcc, &c.a In 1826, the Legislature of this state claimed as successor of the Crown the sum of $243 71, due as quit rent on the East Patent.^ To satisfy this claim nine hundred acres of land were sold in the southern part of the Patent. c
The village of Poundridge occupies an elevated situation near the centre of the town, and contains two churches, two stores, a school house, a post office and 15 or 20 dwellings. As early as the year 1744, a settlement was commenced on this spot by Captain Joseph Lockwood, and a few associates'^ from Stamford, Connecticut. At this early period the surrounding country was one vast wilderness heavily covered with timber. Upon a commanding eminence which rises above the rest of the village stands the Presbyterian church. This building, which was
» The Wetmores also appear to have been among the early proprietors, for at a late period James Wetmore, attorney at law, (then residing in Nova Scotia,) served a writ of ejectment upon the Lockwood family to recover certain lands in Poundridge.