Be this as it may, however, we find Benjamin Archer, son of Samuel and grandson of John Archer, first grantor of the manor of Fordham. in 1780 seized in fee of a portion of the manor. Upon the death of Benjamin it passed to his children, Benjamin Archer, John Archer, Sarah, the wife of Jacob Alord, and Rachel, the wife of James Crawford. In 1786 Sarah and Rachel conveyed their rights and interest unto Benjamin Archer, their brother, whose sons, the present William and Samuel Archer, are the only proprietors of the name that own a foot of land in Fordham. The family of Archer^' is of English origin, and held for many cen-

» The funds arising from the sale of this property arc now vested in Ciiamber St. New York.

b The surname c>f this family originated at the time of tlie crusades, when some designation was necessarily affixed to the Christain name of those who embarked in them, for distinction's sake ; as L'Archer, signifying the archer or bow-man.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. " 329

tiiries large possessions in the county of Warwicksliire. The representative of the senior branch in 1600 appears to have been John Archer of Warwickshire, who married Eleanor Frewin. Fulbert L'Archer, the first of whom anytliing is known, came into England with William the Conqueror. At what period they emigrated to this country is uncertain, but as early as 1630, occurs ihe name of Samuel Archer, a freeman of Salem, Massachusetts, and in 1641, Henry Archer, of Ipswich in that province. John Archer, first proprietor of the manor of Fordham, probably accompanied the early settlers from Fairfield to Westchester, cir. 1654, for in 1657 his name appears as plaintiff in an action of debt brought against one Roger Wiles.a it is said that this individual expired in his coach while journeying to New York city, November, 1685.'^