MACOMB'S DAM, HARLEM RIVER, 1S.50.

this tract vested in the colonial government, which had already assigned its use to Ferryman Verveelen. In 1693 it was included in the grant of the Manor of Phillipsburgh, of which it remained a part until forfeited by the attainder of Colonel Phillipse, in 1779. It was sold by the Commissioners of Forfeiture (deed July 30, 1785) to Joseph Crook, inn-keeper, Daniel Barkins and Abraham Lent, Jr., of Dutchess County, in joint tenancy. Medcef Eden, brewer, John Ramsey and Alexander von Pfister, merchants, subsequently owned it in whole or part ; also, Daniel Halsey, inn-keeper, who kept the old tavern upon it between 1789 and 1793. It was purchased, 1797-99, from Von Pfister and Joseph Eden by Alexander Macomb, a wealthy merchant of New York.^

During the next five years Macomb purchased from Isaac Yermilye, John De Lancey, Isaac, John and

I WLo purchased from the State in 1791 more than tlireo million five huixlred thousand acres in Nortliern New York, at Sd. per acre. The Adirondack Mountains were long known as " Maeomb's Mountains."

Matthias Valentine, Andrew Corsaand Augustus Van Cortlandt adjoining parcels, mostly salt meadow, making up nearly one hundred acres, bounded north by Van Cortlandt, east by the Albany road, south by the Harlem and Spuyten Duyvil, and west by Tippett's Brook. Having obtained from the mayor, etc., of New York, in December, 1800, a water grant extending across the creek, just east of the King's Bridge (which reserved, however, a passage-way fifteen ieet wide for small boats and craft), Macomb erected a four-story frame grist-mill extending out over the creek. Its power was supplied by the alternate ebb and flow of the tide against its under-shot wheel. Macomb's extensive real estate ventures proving disastrous, Paparinamin and the mill were sold under foreclosure in 1810, and purchased by his son Robert.