Heber Bedell, M.D. of Tremont, in this City, without whose untiring watchfulness of our very delicate health, with God's blessing on his labors, during the many months of feebleness and pain with which we have been afflicted, while employed in the preparation of this work and until this time, we could not possibly have completed so much of what we had undertaken to do : to him, for that almost filial attention to our health and comfort during what has been the most trying labor of our authorial life, we gladly record our very great obligations and ■our heartfelt gratitude.

,, XT _, „ Henry B. Dawson.

Morkisania, New York City,

August 16, 1886.

WESTCHESTEK-COUNTY, MEW YOEK,

DURING

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

During the entire period extending from the first settlement which was made by Europeans, within that portion of New Netherland which, subsequent to the first of November, 1683, was known as the " County " of Westchester," in New York, until within the memory of living men, the inhabitants of that portion of the country, with rare exceptions, were either cultivators of its soil or employed in other occupations which were, then, necessary for the comfort and well-being of such a purely agricultural community. 1

1 "The Inhabitants indeed live all upon their own ; but are generally "poor." -- Rev. John Bartow to the Venerable Society, "Westchester in "New York Province, 4th Nov., 1702."

" The people of thiB County, having generally land of their own, although they dont want, few or none of them much abound." -- Colonel Caleb Heathcote to the Venerable Society, "Manor of Scarsdale, Nov. "9, 1705."