William Willett, who succeeded Colonel Heathcote as judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county in 1721, was the son of Colonel Thomas Willett, of Flushing, Long Island, and the grandson of Honorable Thomas Willett, first mayor of New York. The Willetts descend from the Rev. Thcmas Willett, a distinguished English divine, who died in 1597. The descendants of Honorable Thomas Willett occui)ied prominent positions in the province, such as high sherifl's, judges and mayors.

Frederick Phillips was judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1732 to 1734. His full history is given in connection with Yonkers, where his residence was located, and ako in the history of Greenburgh.

Israel Honeywell, one of the earliest settlers of the town of Westchester, where he had a number of local office!-, was judge of the same court from 1734 to 1737, and again from 1740 to 1743. Samuel Purdy, of Rye, was also judge of that court in 1734-37, and again from 1740 to 1752.

John Thomas was judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1737-39, and again from 1765 to 1776. Judge Thomas was the son of the Rev. John Thomas, a missionary of the Honorable Propagation Society at Philadelphia, and first rector of St. George's Church, Hempstead, L. I., in 1704.' Judge Thomas was the most prominent personage in Rye. He espoused the patriotic side in the Revolution, and his influence was greatly felt in its behalf. In 1777 a party of British troops, making oneof their frequent raids into the interior of the county, seized Judge Thomas at his house in " Rye Woods." He was particularly obnoxious to the British, who had long been seeking to effect his capture. He was taken to New York and cast in a prison, where he died soon after.