Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Gift of Seymour B. Durst Old York Library

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013

http://archive.org/details/historyofwestcheOOscha

PIT STORY

WESTCHESTEE COUNTY,

NEW YORK,

INCLUDING

MORRISANIA, KINGS BRIDGE, AND WEST FARMS,

WHICH HAVE BEEN ANNEXED TO NEW YORK CITY.

J. THOMAS SCHARF, A. M., LL. D.

Author " Ilislory of Mnri/lanil," "Chronicles of Baltimore," " Histor}/ of Baltimore City and Cuunti/," " Hi story of St. Louis Citii fiiiil Count;/," "History of the City of Philniklphia, Pa.," etc., etc. Corresponilinq Member of the Historical Societies of New York, Penmylmnia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virc/inia, Georgia, South Carolina, Historic anil GcneO' logical Society of New Enijlanl, Philosphical Society of Ohio, etc., etc.

ASSISTED BY A STAFF OF CAREFULLY SELECTED EXPERTS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.

IN TWO VOLUMES, ILLUSTRATED.

VOL. I.

L. E.

PHILADELPHIA: PRESTON & 1886.

CO.

Copyright, 1886, By L. E. Prkston & Co.

All Rights Jieserved.

PRESS OP

JAS. B. nODGEKS PRINTING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA.

PREFACE.

In presenting this "History of Westchester County" to the i)ublic, the Editor believes, uo apology is necessary. It is a new and trustworthy history of the county, founded upon the best authorities, and the most authentic documents and authoritative records. In no sense of the word is it built up out of, or repeated from, any previous one on the same subject, or any of its branches.

The plan of the work is to a large extent novel -- the grouping of so many representative writei-s, to tell so interesting a storj' as that of the origin, career and significance of Westchester County, has no parallel in the history of any other county in the United States. To present the principal historical phases of the several towns, and the county's life and development, together with the traces of previous occupation and the natural history of the county, the various chapters were assigned to writers, most of them well known in their respective spheres, and some of them of national reputation, who, from study and association, were in a measure identified with their subjects.