On the east side of this town, bordering the Bronx's river, is situated a tract of land called the Jfi'/e Square, lying principally in a beautiful vale, watered by the river and sheltered by picturesque hills. This tract was exempted out of the great manorial patent of 1693, and appears originally to have formed a part of the possessions of t!ie Doughtys of Flushing; as we fmd John Doughty of that place in 16S5 selling sixtyfour acres of land here, in one square mile, to Francis French, Ebenezer Jones and John Wascot.^

o Llbor B. Co. Rcc. p. 53.

6 Oa tho 59th of January, 1TT9, occurs a petition of Joaathan Tlortan and 17-2 nthorB, Inhabitantsof I'luaii'^e's Miuijr, "wluirs" •• f'H- vo vetif^al t. purcUase v<' y\.\\v.x f irius iq caio of conuscaiioa a:Hi salo ' Ac-- Journals of SL'uaie of New Yort, vol. iVT3-So, p. i5.i.

6oO HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

"22d May, 1674, John Winter of Westchester sold to to Joseph Jeames of Fairfield, Connecticut, a parcel of land containing 120 acres, which is one quarter part of ye tract of land Francis French and Ebenezer Jones bought of Elias Doughty. This land lay west northerly from Eastchester, on the other side of Brunckses river." -- Fairfield Records.

In 1685, John Hiatt, of Bronx's river, deeds sixty acres of upland to Hopestill Betts of the Yonckers, this sale being a part of tlie whole tract of land called by the name of the AFile Square. Tradition says that this place was given by Frederick Philipse as a dower portion when his daughter Annetje married Philip French. From the French and Jones family it passed by sale to the Oakleys, Bertines, Cunvells, Sherwoods and Riches. The latter family have been long residents here, and are still possessed of a large estate, which has been successively occupied for several generations.