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. It continued as such until after the burning of the courthouse (February 1, 1758), when White Plains was selected. By one of the acts passed by the assembly of 1683, entitled tk An act for the more orderly hearing and determining matters of controversy," courts of session for Westchester County were directed to be held on the first Tuesdays of June and December, one at Westchester and the other at Eastchester; and on the first >Vednesday of December a Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery was to be held. The County Court of Westchester County did not begin its existence until 1688, when John Pell was appointed its first judge. The first high sheriff of the county, Benjamin Collier, was, however, appointed almost immediately (November 9, 1683), and in 1684 a county clerk, John Rider, was appointed.