History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
Morrissania, and we do also give and grant unto the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and assinees, that all and each of the tenants of him the said Lewis Morris, within the said manor, may at all times hereafter, meet together and choose assesors, within the manor aforesaid, according to such rules, ways and methods, as are prescribed for cities, towns and counties within our province aforesaid, by the acts of general assembly for the defraying the jiublic charge of each respective city, town and county aforesaid, and all such sums of money assesed or levied, to dispose of and collect for such uses as the acts of the general assembly shall establish and appoint, to have and to hold, possess, and enjoy, all and singular the said lordship or manor of Morrissania and premises, with all their and every of their appurtenances, unto the said Lewis Morris, his heirs and assinees forever, to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, in free and common socage, according to the tenure of our manor of East Greenwich, in our county of Kent, within our realm of England, yielding, rendering and paying therefor, yearly and every year, on the feast day of the Annunciation of our blessed virgin, unto us, our heirs and successors, at our city of New York, the annual rent of six shillings, in lieu and stead of all former rents, dues, services and demands whatsoever, for the said lordship and manor of Morrissania, and premises : in testimony whereof, we have caused the great seal of the said province to be afiixed. Witnesse our trusty and well beloved Benjamin Fletcher, our capt. gen. and gov. in-chief of our province of New York, and the territories and tracts of land depending thereon, in America, and vice-admiral of the same, our lieutenant commander-in-chief of the militia and of all the forces by sea and land within our colony of Connecticut, and of all the forts and places of strength w'ithin the same, in council at our fort in New York, the 8th day of May, in the ninth year of our reign, Anno Domini, 1697.'