Adolph Philipse in the year before this episode of the wt Frederick " had become on his own account one of the principal land owners of the province. On the 17th of June, 1697, Governor Fletcher granted to him a patent (known historically as "The Great Highland Patent") for the territory immediately above Westchester County, running from the Hudson to the Connecticut line, a distance of some twenty miles, and extending northward about twelve miles. Out of the patent thus conferred Putnam Comity (then a portion of Dutchess County) has since been erected. The sole consideration charged for the grant was a " Yearly Rent of twenty Shillings Currant money of our said Province," payable upon the feast day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Adolph Philipse, at his deatii, left the Highland Patent, with all his other landed possessions, to his nephew, the second Frederick, who divided it equally among his three children-- Frederick (3d), Mary, wife of Roger Morris, a colonel in the British army, and Susannah, wife of Colonel Beverly Robinson, also a noted Tory. The whole patent Mas partitioned off into three parts and nine lots, each child receiving one-third part and three lots. The lots acquired by Colonel Robinson and Major Morris, says GOVERNOR BURNET. Blake in his " History of Putnam County," were confiscated by the legislature, but the reversionary interest was not affected by this action, and that interest was purchased of the heirs for $100,000 by the first John Jacob Astor, who ten years afterward received for it from the State of New York $500,000 in State stock at six per cent. After the death of his father, Adolph became the head of the family, a position which he divided with his nephew. Frederick, when the latter came of age.