In July, 1781, Wttshington came in force to attempt a surprise of the British posts at King's Bridge, expressly to cut off De Lancey's and other light corps ; but without success. Later in the month, accompanied by De Rochambeau, he moved a force of five thousand men down to the heights beyond King's Bridge and reconnoitered the northerly part of Manhattan island from Tippett's and Tetard's Hills and Fordham Heights. In Sejitember a British force of five thousand men moved out across the bridge to Valentine's Hill, as an escort to the young Prince William Henry. After the bitterly cold winter of

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

1782-83 the British troops were withdrawn from the Yonkers and King's Bridge. The inhabitants began to return to their desolate homes, while the Loyalists crowded into the city. In November, Washington came once more down the old post road, spent the night of the 12th at the Van Cortlandt house, and the next day, amid the acclamations of the people, rode victorious across King's Bridge, over which he had retreated seven years before.

Political History. -- The area under consideration was part of the fief of Colen-donck from 1652 to 1664. After the English conquest in the latter year it belonged to the North Riding of Yorkshire until the erection of Westchester County under the act of October 1, 1691. It was afterwards known as the Yonkers Precinct (except the parts included in the Manor of Phillipsburgh after the erection of the I latter, in 1693). By the act of June 19, 1703, the towns, manors, etc., were authorized to choose supervisors, and each inhabitant of any precinct, being a freeholder, was allowed " to join his vote with the next adjacent town." The freeholders of the Yonkers probably voted for a supervisor with the freeholders of East Chester.