This tract was exempted out of the great manorial patent of 1693, and aj)pears originally to have formed a part of the possessions of the Doughtys of Flushing, as we find John Doughty of that place in 1685 selling sixty-four acres o( land here, in one square mile, to Francis French, Ebenezer Jones and John Wascot.a u 22d May, 1674, John Winter of Westchester sold to Joseph Jeames of Fairfield, Connecticut, a parcel of land containing 120 acres, which is one quarter part of ye tract of land Francis French and Ebenezer Jones bought of Elias Doughty. This land lay west northerly from Eastchester, on the other side of Brunckses river." -- Fairfield Records. 1685, John Hiatt of Bronx's river deeds sixty acres of upland to Hopestill Betts of the Yonckers, this sale being a part of the whole tract of land called by the name of the Mile Square. Tradition says that this place was given by Frederick Philipse as,a dower portion when his daughter Annetje married Philip French. From the French and Jones f-imily it passed by sale to the Oakleys, Bertines, Curwells, Sher woods and Riches. The latter family have been long residents here, and are still possessed of a large estate, which has been successively occupied for several generations. By marriage they are connected with the ancient family of the Valentines. The Rich family originally came from Germany, and are descended of

fyiber B. Co. Rec. p. .'53.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESsTER. 431

the Ulrich of Flaack, whose son, Balthassar Ryche, emigrated to this country at an early period of its settlement. The following ancient document is still preserved in the family ; it is written in the German language, and was brought from Germany by Balthassar Ryche.