As a few individual Huguenots had already built homes on Pelham Manor, that quarter was already indicated as the one to be chosen. In the original purchase from John and Rachel Pell, September 20, 1689, "Jacob Leisler, of the City of New York, merchant," was the sole person interested; and his conscientious spirit in the transaction is indicated by the significant provision of the deed that, besides the six thousand acres conveyed !o him, a parcel of one hundred acres should be set apart from Pell's property as a free gift to the French church. Moreover, he gave for

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

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the lands the large sum of " sixteen hundred and seventy-five shillings sterling, current silver money of this province," paying the entire amount on the day of purchase -- a sum whose comparative magnitude will be appreciated when it is remembered that eight years later Caleb Heathcote, in buying from Mrs. Eichbell her title to most of the present Township of Mamaroneck and other lands (having an aggregate area much larger than the New Eochelle tract), paid for his acquisition only £600. Leisler rapidly transferred his whole purchase to the Huguenots, and before his execution they were in full possession of it. Smith, in his " History of New York," gives the following interesting item: " Leisler' s party was strengthened on the 3d of June, 16S9, by the addition of six captains and four hundred men in New York, and a company of seventy men from Eastchester, who had all subscribed on that day a solemn declaration to preserve the Protestant religion and the Port of New York for the Prince of Orange and the governor whom the prince might appoint as their protector." The action of the seventy volunteers of our Town of Eastchester in marching down to New York to give their support to Leisler is highly significant.