A petition from Joseph Rodman and one hundred and twenty-six others, ft'eeholders and inhabitants of the Manor of Pelham, East and Westchester and New Roclielle, in the County of Westchester, having been presented to the House and read, praying that Joshua Pell, Jr., may have leave to bring in a bill to enable him to erect a bridge across the old creek, so-called, that runs between the said Manor of Pelham and Eastchester, ordered That the members of Kings and Queens Counties, together with the members for the borough of Westchester, or the major part of them, be a committee to view the premises and report their opinion to this House ivifhin fourteen days after the beginning of the next session thereof, and that the clerk of this House serve Philip Pell, Esq., and Stephen Ward with a copy of the said petition and of this order.*

Chief Families.-- In any review of the history of this period, memory will easily recall the names of Pell, Philipse, Morris, De Lancey, Van Cortlandt as of families po.ssessiug large influence in the county ot Westchester. To these may be added the Bartows, Wards, Drakes, Fowlers, Hunts, Purdys, Guions, Pinkneys and Thomases as families which, for intelligence, wealth, public spirit and valuable services in the foremost positions, have been held in the highest estimation. In them are found the leaders of thought and action in religion, in the State and in society. The judicial, executive and legislative functions ot government were being exercised by members of these families during the colonial period. How largely the production of its ])rosperity is to be attributed to the thoughtfulness and energy of the original Patentees of Westchester County may readily be conceived when the faithfulness whicii they displayed and the high respect continually accorded to them is considered.