Along the edge of the valley are scattered beautiful knolls and high ranges of hills, either cultivated or covered with woods ; to the left, seated on a fine wooded hill, is a large stone mansion, erected by Augustus van Cortlandt, Esq., A. D. 1822, upon the site of a much older building, which was destroyed by fire A. D. 1822. The ascent to the house is through the romantic woods of Cortlandi's ridge. The road passes over a deep ravine, watered by a picturesque brook, and through high masses of frowning rock. The lawn in front commands a view of the vale of Yonkers, while at the foot >>{ the hill runs Tippett's Brook.

The farm house situated on this property was built by Frederick van Cortlandt A. D. 1766. Still flourishing upon the lawn, in the rear of the mansion, is an aged apple tree marked with the name of Jacobus van Cortlandi -- date illegible.

This property, which lies directly north of Berrian's Neck, passed, upon the death of Frederick van Cortlandt, to his brother Augustus van Cortlandt. The latter, by will, bequeathed the same to his grandson Augustus Morris, "provided he assumed the name of Van Cortlandt." Augustus van Cortlandt subsequently sold the property to Samuel B. Thompson, John Ewing, William C. Wetmore, and James R. "Whiting. The latter gentleman has recently erected a beautiful stone residence on the western side of the ntck, which commands extensive prospects

448 HISTORY OF THE

of the Hudson and palisades ; the entrance is by a beautiful road that winds through a thick wood to the house. The Van Cortlandt mansion and surrounding property belongs to Samuel B. Thompson, Esq., and is now occupied by the McFarlane family. The western side of Cortlandt's ridge embraces fine views of the Hudson River, palisades and hills stretching northwards.