This mill is supposed to have occupied the site of the present grist and saw mill of Mr, James E. Beers, so that a mill has stood upon this stream for one hundred and forty years at least. The ancient Budd mills were located near the present stone bridge at the entrance of the village. ,
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 45
near the Rye Port harbour. To the Island village its proprietors gave the name oi Hastings. From this place the early settlers issued their famous declaration, dated
Hastings, July 26, 1062. " Know all men whom this may concern, that we the inhabitants of Minussing island, whose names are underwritten do declare unto all men, we came not hither to live without government as some suppose, an J therefore do proclaime Charles the Second our true Lord and King, and doe voluntary submit ourselves and all our lands that we have bought of the English and Indians under his gracious protection, and do expect according to his gracious declaration unto all his subjects which we are, and desire to be subject to all his wholesome laws that are just and righteous, according to God and our consciences, to receive, whereunto we do subscribe.
The mark of Taylor Johnson. ^ Peter Disbrow,
The mark of Moses. Joim Coe.
Samuel Allin. The mark of Thomas Stedwell.
Tiie mark of Robert Hudsone. William Odell.
John Bmndish.
The mark of Frederick Hermanson. The mark of Tiiomas Applebe."
To this declaration is appended the following agreement and orders, (showing the bounds of the future township of Hastings.)