THE PRESENT TOWN OF WESTCHESTER SINCE THE REVOLUTION.

Boundaries. -- We have seen that though Westchester township at the time of Colve's interregnum was erected into a town, it did not become a borough entitled to elect representatives to the General Assembly until 1686, when Governor Dongan confirmed the Nicolls patent to Quimby and others. It was still, however, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, attending the courts that were held on Long Island and contributing its quota, to that precinct. Morrisania in the mean time was a separate manor, and what are now known as West Farms and Fordham had their distinct courts under the Archer patent. In 1691 the county of Westchester was formed, and in 1696 Governor Fletcher granted to the inhabitants of Westchester town a charter erecting them into a borough town under the name and title of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of Westchester. * Colonel Caleb Heathcote, then a Councilor, and at that time erecting a mill at Westchester Creek, was appointed the first mayor, and William Barns, John Stuart, William Willett, Thomas Baxter, Josiah Stuart and John Bailey, gentlemen, were appointed the first aldermen. Israel Honeywell, Robert Hustis, Samuel Hustis, Samuel Ferris, Daniel Turneur and Miles Oakley were appointed assistant aldermen. The new oflicials were duly sworn in. Colonel Heathcote presented the town with its seal, and in the following year a town hall was erected. Though not mentioned in the charter as being within the bounds of the borough, the people of Fordham and West Farms seem to have borne allegiance to the rulings of the Mayor's Court of Westchester.