We have shown in a previous chapter (see p. 41 S) that there was an increase of only 2,258 in the population of the county from the time of the last colonial census, taken in 1771, to that of the first federal enumeration, made in 1790, and that the meagerness of this growth during nineteen years (including seven years of peace) is even more significant when it is remembered that many thousand acres of confiscated lands were sold after the war by the State at low prices.

The principal confiscation by the State of lands of British adherents in Westchester County was d thai of Philipseburgh Manor. The act forfeiting the manor was passe l Duyvi ten Spuy the from ding , exten lands n its all eupo in 1779, wher Creek to the Croton, and from the Hudson to the Bronx, became the property of the State of New York. In due time provision was made d by the legislature to sell to private persons all the confiscate lands in the State (with the exception of certain properties which were re end commisserved for gifts to particular individuals), and to that sioners of forfeiture were appointed for the four districts into which the State was divided-- the Eastern, Western, Middle, and Southern. General Philip Van Cortlandt, son of Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt, was one of the commissioners for the Southern district, which comprehended our county. Most of the resulting sales occurred in 1785, although a few were made in 1786. The following is a list of the purchasers of forfeited lands in the Yonkers portion of the manor, which we extract from Allison's History of Yonkers: ORIGINAL