The assembly was to meet once in three years at least, and to number not more than eighteen members." This first New York assembly consisted of fourteen representatives, of whom four were from Westchester, as follows: Thomas Hunt, Sr., John Palmer, Richard Ponton, and William Richardson.1 The assembly passed an act, approved by the governor on November 1, from which we quote the pertinent portion : " Having taken into consideracon the necessity of divideing the province into respective countyes for the better governing and setleing Courts in the same, Bee It Enacted by the Governour, Councell and Representatives, and by authority of the same, That the said Province bee divided into twelve Countyes, as fol1 " Civil History of Westchester County," by Rev. William J. dimming, Scharf, i., 647.

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

loweth : . . . The Countye of Westchester, to contain West and East Chester, Bronx Land, Ffordham, Anne Hooks Neck [Pelham Neck], Bichbell's [de Lancey's Neck], Miniford's Island [City Island], and all the Land on the Maine to the Eastward of Manhattan's Island, as farr as the Government Extends, and the Yonckers Land and Northwards along Hudson's River as far as the High Lands." The other eleven counties named and erected were New York, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, and Albany, with Duke's and Cornwall, the latter two embracing territory now belonging to the States of Massachusetts and Maine,1 but at that time the property of the Duke of York. It was also provided that there should be a high sheriff in each county, and that courts should be established, including town courts, county courts, a Court of Oyer and Terminer, and a Court of Chancery, the Supreme Court of the province consisting of the governor and council. Westchester was appointed to be the shire town, or county seat, of the county.