On December 24, 1673, Roger Tounsen (Townsend) complained to the Governor-General and Council that the people of Westchester were doing great damage to his lands and cattle. The matter was referred to Schout William Lawrence and Mr. Richard Cornwel (Cornell), who, at Townsend's expense, were ordered to inspect the premises, to hear the arguments of parties and, if possible, " to reconcile parties." Should they fail, a report was ordered to be made to the Governor. The sheriff and Mr. Cornell never reported till the following 8th of March. It seems that the arbitrators went to the town, but no one appeared in its behalf The Governor and Council made an order that Townsend and the magistrates, on the sight of tbe order, appear, either in person or by attorney, at a place to be fixed by the arbitrators, who were requested de novo to examine and, if possible, decide the case and reconcile the parties -- otherwise, to report. A reconciliation was eflfected.

MoRRiSANiA. -- Meantime one of the most prominent personages in Bronxland was Richard Morris, a captain in Cromwell's army and later a merchant in Barbadoes, who had moved to New Y^ork and, for his own and his brother Lewis' account, purchased a plantation at Bronxland from Edsall.^ He and his wife, a Miss Pole, from the West

1 HollanJ Pocs., ii. 600.

2 Idem, ii, 625. Idem. ii. 709. 721.

3 See preceding note on Bronxland for earlier titles.

WESTCHESTER.

Indies, settled upon it, and to them was born a son I Lewis. Richard and his wife died in 1672, and thfe I infant was left alone on the plantation with no one to care for him but the negro slaves and a nephew of his father's, a Mr. Walter \\'ebley. The Dutch had repossessed the colony, and the estate of a wealthy retired English merchant otfered spoils that Governor Colve did not overlook.