V., ^o. 1, p. -iZi, wiii.s aiiJ aaiu. ia;,>-iCMJ.

THE TOWN OF YOXKEKS. 6oJ

All testimony unites in ascribing to this family a French origin ; and :s maile probable that the seat of their ancestors was at Berrien, now a considerable town in the department of Finistcrre. Concurrent traditions, existing in diverse branches of the family, declare their ancestor was a Huguenot, who, during the civil wars of France was forced to flee and take refuge in Flolland.

The children of Abraham -- were Abraham who died in 1S5 1, aged 7 1 ; Nathaniel, died in 1847, aged 65; Richard, blind, died ,1827, aged 40; Rebecca married George Brinkerhoff ; Grace-Moore, married Major Leonard Bleecker ■ Charity, married John Hoogland, and Mary.°

The neck remains yet undivided. The heirs are Abraham Berrian, John Hoogland, and Mr. Bleeckcr.

There are remains of three distinct forts on Tippett or Berrian's Neck, which once formed a part of the chain of hill batteries reaching from the North to the East Rivers. On January the 19th, 1777, (says Gen. Heath.) it was determined to make an attempt to cutoff the British battalion within King's Bridge, early the next morning, by passing a strong detachment over Spitten Devil Creek on the ice, which, however, was not very strong, but the weather was cold. One thousand were detached for this puq-jose ; but the weather having grown warm in the night, the ice v:as judged, by the unanimous opinion of all the general officers on the ground, to be too hazardous, on the morning of the 20th, to venture the attempt. On this day there was a cannonade on both sides, and the enemy on the island side were thrown into much confusion. Our General observed that when the enemy within the island were cannonaded across Haarlem Creek, they sheltered themselves behind the Httle hill near tlie bri.-!ge, next to Spitten Devil Creek.