At the end of 165(3 Stuyvesant sent three of his subordinates to Westchester, to administer the oath of office to the newly appointed magistrates and the oath of allegiance to the other inhabitants. But the latter objected to the form of oath, and would promise obedience to the law only, provided it was conformable to the law of God; and allegiance only " so long as they remained in the province." This modified form of oath was generously consented to. Later (January 3, 1657), Stuyvesant sent to the colonists, at their solicitation, twelve muskets, twelve pounds of powder, twelve pounds of lead, two bundles of matches, and a writingbook for the magistrates. At that time the population of Westchester consisted of twenty-five men and ten to twelve women. The Dutch commissioners dispatched by Stuyvesant to Westchester in 1050 left an interesting journal of their transactions and observations there. The following entry shows that the colonists were typical New Englanders in practicing the forms of religious worship: 81 December. -- After dinner Cornelius Van Ruyven went to see their mode of worship, as they had, as yet, no preacher. There I found a gathering of about fifteen men and ten or twelve women. Mr. Baly said the prayer, after which one Robert Bassett read from a printed book a sermon composed by an English clergyman in England. After the reading Mr. Baly gave out another prayer and sang a psalm, and they all separated.

The writing-book for the magistrates provided, with other necessary articles, by Governor Stuyvesant, was at once put to use; and from that time forward the records of the towu were systematically kept. All the originals are still preserved in excellent condition. The identical magistrates' book of 1G57, with many others of the ancient records of Westchester, and also of West Farms, are now in the possession of a private gentleman in New York City.