All slaves in the State of New York were made free by law on 4th of July, 1827.

When the Quakers of Purchase liberated their slaves they settled them upon their rough lands in the northwestern portion of the town of Harrison, and thus the negro community', still existing northeast of the village of White Plains, was begun. Some of the slaves liberated in the northern portion of the county collected into a smaller settlement near the village of Bedford. These were the largest colonies of negroes in the county.

Occupations of the Early Settlers.-- The first settlers in Westchester, like those who located elsewhere, had many difficulties to overcome besides those usually attending the occupation of a new country. Every native animal and bird was new to

them and every plant unknown. The planting of every crop was an experiment, and the requirements of its successful cultivation were not understood. It is true that the cereals they brought across the Atlantic succeeded well here, but the climate was uncertain to them and tlie seasons differed greatly from those of their native lands.

The maize, upon which the Indians so largely subsisted in winter, was strange to them, and its preparation as food had to be learned, while their palates were slow in appreciating its excellence. The heat of summer and the continued cold of winter were found most trying. The animals they brought with them were greatly reduced by their long voyages and then had to endure the trials of acclimatization. As there were no mills for sawing lumber, the houses were constructed of stones and logs, while the necessary boards were obtained only by tedious hand labor. The shingles were riven from straight-grained chestnut timber and the laths from easy -splitting oak.