Tne front of the house is shaded by two of the largest and finest elm trees in the County. Cornell's or Clason's neck, which is pleasantly situated in the south-west corner of the town, contains about five hundred and fifty acres. We have seen that Thomas Cornell, from whom it was originally named, became possessed of the neck through the Dutch, who purchased of the Indiaiis.i' Near the entrance to the neck, are the mansions of Mrs. Ludlow, and of her son, Henry Ludlow, Esq.
The site of the old Willett homestead is now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Clason.^ On the extreme point of the neck stands that of Augustus Clason, Esq.
About three miles from the mouth of the Bronx, and directly opposite to the village of West Farms, is the mill seat and property of Philip M. Lydig, Esq., formerly called l)e Lancey's mills. Here it is probable that Jonas Rronck^ erected a mill and laid out a plantation as early as 1639. Upon the 16th of August, 1680, the town of Westchester did give and grant unto
» TiOrenzo Sabine's Biographical Sketches of Araericaa I^oyalists.
b See page 156.
c On the north side of this house we noticed a beautiful specimen of the Hycene Wisteria, which is said to be indigenous to the neck.
d From tiiis individual the river derives its nam.e. Town Rec. lib. jv. 57. Bee, of Trustees, pages 88, 89.
252 HISTORY OF THE
William Richardson and his associates the privilege of tlie stream of Broncks's river, to set up two mills, viz., one saw and a corn mill, upon certain conditions specified in the conveyance.* On the 2nd of April, 17] I, Tryntje Byvanck, widow of Evert ByviUick, granted to William Provost four Qiiills, to wit, three grist mills and one saw mill, situate in the township of Westchester, and all rights and privileges appertaining thereto, &c. ; also a certain privilege granted by lite freeholders of Westchester of the stream of Broncks^s river, l^c, ^'c.