Upon the division of the province into shires and counties, the followins^ act was passed by the Colonial Assembly for the regulating and settling of courts of justice, entitled " an act for the more orderly hearing and determining of matters and cases of coniroversy, <fec." Two courts of sessions for the county of Westchester, the first Tuesday in June and the first Tuesday in December yearly and every year, the one to be held at Westchester^ and the other at Eastchester. Also a court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery in the same county on the first AVednesday in December. Passed 29th of October, 1683. a-

Westchester formed the shire town of the county from 1683 to 1759. Tiie last court held here was on the 6lh of November, 1759.b ^ few extracts are selected from the early records to show the manner in which the county courts were conducted.

" At a court of sessions held at Westchester, for the county of Westchester, by their Majesties authority, present John Pell, justice and quorum, president of the court, John Pahner, justice of the peace and quorum, Daniel Sharpe and William Barnes, Esquires, justices of ye peace. December ye 1st 1691.

The Court opened. The grand jury called and appeared, viz.

Robert Hustead, John Furgeson,

John Ferris, sen. Robert Hustead, jun.

John Mollinex, John Hadden,' sen.

« Acts of Assembly, passed A. D. 1683. Upon the 29th of October, 1684, the period was changed for holding the above courts from the first Tuesday in December to the third Tuesday iu November. In 1691 the courts were held as first ordered.