continues, " and it is my Desire and Appointment that tlie same houses, lands, and premises be Eitlier Equally Divided amongst them my said children, or that they hold or enjoy the same in Common Amongst them, as my said children and Overseers and Guardians hereafter named shall judge and think most eflectuall and proper for their best advantage, use, and benefit." The next clause directs " that upon a Division of my said houses, lands, mills, and other Real Estate, my Sons according to their priority of birth shall have the first choyce, ahvaycs allowing to the value of those parts they shall choose, that the resi)ective partys and persons of my children may be made Equall in worth to one another."

The family was a very united one and depi)ly attached to the mother, who was a woman of a very affectionate, but strong, and decided, character. She never niarried :igain, but devoted herself to iier children and their interests. Under these circumstances, very many of the children being minors at their father's death, and tlic above being the provisions of his will, it was determined, that the Manor should be kept in common and not divided. Ann, Mrs. de Lancey, and Margaret, Mrs. Bayard, were the only daughters married in their father's life-time, the former only in the January, and' the latter only in the April, of the same year, 1700, in November of which he died. This determination continued not only during i\Irs. van ('ortlandt's life, which terminated in 172.'!, but up to the year 1730, when it was agreed to divide that part of the ^^anor lying north of the Croton River. During this period the population gradually increased, the rents were applied, in part, to its development in building of mills, the making of roads, and aiding those tenants who desired to take up lands, The few ])eo])le brought in, and imjirovements undertaken, by Steplianus van Cortlandt between his first purchase and his death, were settled and made in the western portion of the Manor, along the river, and in its immediate neighbourhood.