Supervisors had been chosen in several of the towns before the passage of the act of 1703 (East Chester, 1686; Mamaroneck, 1697; New Rochelle, 1700), but what were their duties it is impossible to state. The records of the proceedings of the supervisors prior to 1772 having been lost during the Revolutionary War, we can only surmise what sections of the county came under the provisions of the act. East Chester, Westchester, Philipsburg, Pelliam Manor, Morrisania, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Bedford and Rye probably elected these oflficers. The census' for 1712 gives some idea of the civil divisions recognized by law or usage, with the population of each, --

" Westchester 572

East Cliester 300

Kye 516

New Rochelle 304

Yoinikers 260

Philipsburg 348

5lo Marroiiack 84

Morrisania 02

Pelham 62

Bedford 172

Cortland's Pattent 91

Ryke's Pattent 32

Scarsdale 12

Total 2815 "

November 1, 1722 (9th Geo. I.), an act was passed entitled "An Act to increase the number of Supervisors in the county of Westchester, and that no wages of Supervisors shall be any part of the said county's rate for the future." After authorizing the choice of a freeholder by the freeholders and inhabitants, it was

2 Civil List, 1880, p. 209.

3 O'Callaghan's "Doc. Hist, of N. V.," vol. i.J

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

provided that in case of failure to elect, or where there were not more than twenty inhabitants, the owner of the manor or his steward should be supervisor. The freeholders of the Manor of Cortlandt were authorized, by the act of December 16, 1737, to elect annually one supervisor, one treasurer, two assessors and one collector, and Ryke's Patent, by the act of January 27, 1770, were granted a similar privilege. While much is left to surmise prior to the year 1772, the records give both the towns and the supervisors who represented them from that day to this.