« King Philip's war with New England. On the 13th of March, 1676, (eight days

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 47

of the undivided lands, provided they be such as the town approve.^ Upon the 13th of July, 1681, the town authorized John Ogden and George Knilien to purchase a barrel of powder, and three hundred weight of lead of Mr. Budd of Fairfield, or wherever it can be obtained the cheapest. These are to be kept for the use of the town."

At this early period, the Indians were very numerous, and the surrounding country was infested by wolves. On the 15th of December, 1689, a bounty of fifteen shillings was ordered to be raised by a town rate, for the killing of wolves. Whilst under the jurisdiction of Connecticut, the villages of Rye and Haslings sent a deputy to' the general court of that colony. The first individual who held this honorable office, was Mr. John Budd, as appears from the following letter addressed to the members of the court then assembled at Hartford.

Hastings, the 1st month 26, 1663. Much Honored Sirs : --

We heer underwritten, heingseted upon a small tract of land lying betwixt Greenwich and Westchester, which land wee have bought with our money the which wee understand doth lye within your patent, and whereas, you have already required our subjection as his majesties subjects, the which we did willingly and readily embrace, and according to your desiour, we sent a man to Fairfield, who have there taken the oath of a constable, we have now made choys of our nayghbar John Budd for a depute, and sent him up to your Corte to act for us, as hee shall see good, it is our desiour to have some settled way of government amongst us, and therefore, we do crave so much favor at the hands of the Honble Cort, that they do make us a constable or any other officer, that they would give him power to grant a warrant in case of need, because we be somewhat remote from other places, thus leaving it to your well and judicious consideration, we remain yours to command,