Frederick Yan Cortiandt purchased it in several parcels between 1768 and 1788, and built his house on a commanding spot on the easterly side, approached by a private road leading up from the post road at Mosholu. He devised this property to his brother Augustus, by whose v»ill it passed to a grandson, Augustus F. Morris, who assumed the name of Van Cort-

' Mr Gwtwiii's residence is the old Mticoinb niausion, now altered and enlarged.

'A grandson of tlie first proprietor of tlie name. His wife was Dorcas . He had sons : George, William, James and Thomas (all of whom

man led and had is.-<ue), and daughters: Jane, wife of Charles Warner; Phebe, wifi- of George Hudley; and Dorcas, wife of Samuel Berrien. The Kev. William Berrien, rector of Trinity Parish, Xew York, and its liistoriau, was a grandson of the latter.

■'After the Revolutionary fort, erroneously supposed to have orcupii-il this hill.

' Mr. Johnson resides in the ohi Berrien lu^usc, which he has enlarged and improved.

landt. From him James R. Whiting bought the tract in 1836 and aljout 1840 erected a large stone mansion on the western side, overlooking the Hudson. Samuel Thomson, William C. Wetmore and Daniel Ewing became interested in Whiting's purchase in 1841, and they subsequently divided it into parcels stretching from the Hudson across the neck to Tippett's Brook. Thomson took the northerly parcel, on which stood a large stone house erected about 1822 on the site of the "Upper Cortlandts'," destroyed in that year by fire. Surrounded by well laid out and highly-improved grounds, it is now the residence of Waldo Hutchins. Near by is Hiram Barney's beautiful country-seat, " Cedar Knolls." The Whiting mansion is occu|)ied by James R. Whiting, Jr. Adjoining is the house of James A. Hayden.