The purely agricultural character of Westchester County at the end of the eighteenth century is perfectly demonstrated by these In truth, there was at that time no single village census returns. displaying circumstances of local activity from which the prospect The existence of any substantial ultimate growth might be deduced. of the foundations of such thriving communities as Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and Peekskill on the Hudson, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, and Rye on the Sound, and White Plains and various other villages in the central sections of the county, isinrecogeach nizable, with more or less distinctness, at this period; but case these foundations were strictly elementary, represented by such instruments of advancing civilization as churches, mills for the grinding of grain, small general stores, and inns for the accommodation The only commerse. of ^travelers, with here and there a schoolhouwas that of transmitting cial industry that had been inaugurated market produce to New York, in which a few sloops were engaged, But most of the farmers preboth on the Hudson and the Sound. ferred to cart their own wares to the city. kk What a sight must have presented itself," says a writer in Scharfs History, describing a somewhat later period, " as over our three great thoroughfares not only the farmers of the county, but often, as when the river and Sound were icebound, those of the regions beyond, passed into the city with their heavy loads of produce. There were hours of the day when the roads, it is said, were fairly blocked by the heavy traffic upon them, and eyewitnesses declare that at night even the floors of the bar and sitting-rooms of the taverns were spread over with the sleepers tarrying to rest themselves and their teams for a few hours on the way." To the national convention at Philadelphia which framed the constitution of the United States Westchester Comity contributed one distinguished and influential members, Gouverneur Mormost its of ris.