Town officers were required to make assessments annually, and taxes were levied through the Courts of Sessions, which made requisitions upon the town authorities. The delegates to the convention asked for power to choose their local magistrates. This was denied, the Governor exhibiting his instructions from the Duke of York, 'wherein the choice of all the officers of justice was solely to be made by the Governor.'" * From 1665 to 1683 the inhabited portion this county formed, with Staten Island, Kings County and Newtown, the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Westchester County, with substantially the same boundaries as at present, was erected, November 1, 1683, by the following act of the General Assembly, assented to by the Governor and Council :

"An Act to divide the Province of New York and dependencies into shiret and counties^ et:.

" Having taken into consideration the necessity of dividing the Province into respective countys, for the better governing and settling courts in the same, be it enacted by the Governor. Council and the Representatives, and by the authority of the same, that the said Province be divided into twelve countys as foUoneth . The County of Westchester to conteyne. West and Eastcliester, Bronx-land, Fordham, Anne Hook's Neck, Richbell's, Miuiford's Islands, and all the land on the uiaine to the eastward of Manhattan's Island, as farre as the government extends, and the Yonker's land, and northward along Hudson's Kiver as fane as the Highland. . . .

"The bill having been three times read before the governor and Council, is assented to the first of November, 1683."'