Isaac Coutant was the first keeper of the almshouse, receiving a salary of $300 per annum. The institution has always since been maintained at the original location. The village of IVekskill, whose incorporation was authorized in 1816 but was not effected under the original act, received a new charter from the legislature on the 9th of April, 1827, and shortly afterward trustees were elected as follows: Samuel Strang, John lialstead, Philip Clapp, James Birdsall, Ezra Marshall, and Stephen Samuel Strang was the first village president. Brown. This village, now so important for its iron-working industry, and known far and wide as the seat of the New York State Military of the so-called " Ryck's early times the settlement Camp, was in name is said to be " due to Jans Peek, an early Dutch Patent." The navigator, who, in following the track of Hendrick Hudson, mistook the broad estuary at Roa Hook for the proper passage to the north. Here, it is said, he built a house and remained during the winter. of Jans Peek's Creek, or Peek's Kill, To the creek was given the name the village received its designation. and from the name of the creek De Kay and others, June Jacobus to Indians the In a deed given by 25, 1685, the creek is referred to as being known to the Indians as John Peake's Creek." The original settlement of Peekskill is supposed to have been about a mile north of the center of the present village. A visitor to the present village in 1781 described it as consisting of some twenty houses, quite close together. This considerable growth in population of the Town of Cortlandt, as evidenced by the census returns, between 1700 and 1820, was largely contributed by Peekskill village. According to the author of the article on the Town of Cortlandt in Scharfs History, iron industry of Peekskill dates from 1820, when Stephen Gregory " commenced the manufacture of plowshares. ...