In Westchester-county, the heirs and assigns of Stephanus Van Cortlandt having failed to exercise the privilege which had been given to the latter, as the Lord of the Manor of Cortlandt, of electing a Representative for that Manor in the General Assembly, that privilege was transferred, by the Act of June 22, 1734, to the body of the Freeholders resi-

* A complete lift of those who were admitted to the Freedom of the City of Xew York, from 174!t until 1775, may be seen in the Jtatiual of the Corporation of the City of -Veir York for Wbd, 477-502.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

who had usually assumed to be their social and political superiors, in order to secure their sturdy assistance in the intimidation of the Government, and, at other times, unrecognized by those whom they had thus befriended, as if they possessed no Rights, in political matters, which the franchised well-born

dent on the Sfanor. {Law$ of Neio York, Cliapter DCVU., Section II., Livingston and Smith's edition, New York: 1752, 219, 220 ; the same. Chapter DC VII., Section II., Van Scliaack's edition. New-York : 1774, 183, 184.) It will be seen, therefore, that none, except those who were Freeliolders holding improved and nnencun>bered Keal Estate worth Forty Pounds, agreeably to the Act of Jlay 8, 1G99, could vote, in Colonial Westchester-connty ; but, on the other hand, the Freeliolders on the Cortlandt Manor possessed and, undoubtedly, exercised the Right to vote twice, at every such Election for KopresentJitiTes to the General .Assembly--that for the Represeut;»tivo for the Manor, under the Jlanorial ("barter, and that for the two Representatives for the County, under the Statute, already mentioned. Of course, the great body of the Tenantry, no matter how valuable its Leaseholds might be ; those whose humble home.s were not worth, in each instance.