YoNKERs is situated on the east bank of the Hudson, immediately above New York island, seventeen miles north of New- York, one hundred and thirty south of Albany, and ten southwest of White Plains ; bounded north by Greenburgh, east by Eastchester and a small angle of Westchester, or by Bronx's River ; south by West Farms and New York county, and west by the Hudson River. It extends near eight miles along the Hudson, and has a medial width of near three miles.

The name of this town, at different periods written Younkers, Younckers. Jonkers and Yonkers, is derived from the Dutch " Jonker" or "Jonkheer," meaning in that language the ''young gentleman,^'' a common appellation for the heir of a Dutch family.a

Yonkers and the Mile Square constrtuted a township within the great manor of Philipsburgh, until the year 1779, when the manor was confiscated and conveyed to the people of this state. A. D. 1788, the present township was independently organized.'^

Thirty years after the Dutch discovery of the New Netherlands, A. D. 1639, we find the Dutch West India Company purchasing lands in this town of the native Indian sachems.

" Appeared before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary of the New Netherlands, Fecquemeck, Rechgawac, Packanniens, owners of Kekeshick, which they did freely convey, cede, 6cc. &c, to the behoof of the General Incorporated West India Company^ which lies over against the flats of the Island cf Manhates, mostly east and west, beginning at the source of the said Kill till over against the high hill of the flat lands -- to wit, by the great Kill, together with all the rights, estate and title to them, the grantees.