Pelham Once Was Part of Yorkshire in the Province of New York

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The period between 1664 and 1683 is a fascinating time in the history of Pelham.  Thomas Pell, who acquired the lands that became the Manor of Pelham from local Native Americans in 1654, did not reside on his lands.  Rather, during the period before his death in late September, 1669, he managed those lands from his home in Fairfield in the Colony of Connecticut.  In 1670, Pell's nephew and principal legatee, John Pell, arrived in New England and proceeded to Connecticut and then to Pelham to claim the lands he had been bequeathed.  

During this time, the region was experiencing great change.  On August 29, 1664, forces loyal to the Proprietor of the Province of New York, the Duke of York, captured New Amsterdam from the Dutch and proceeded to take all of New Netherland.  They renamed New Amsterdam as New York and constituted the Province of New York to include large parts of today's New York (including New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and Albany) as well as parts of New Jersey, Vermont, and even southeast Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The first English colonial governor of the Province of New York was Richard Nicolls.  Under his guidance, the so-called "Duke's Laws" were prepared and distributed throughout the Province.  This was, in effect, New York's first set of English statutes to govern the conduct of New Yorkers.

The only unit of local government created by the Duke's laws was a unit named "Yorkshire."  Though often referenced as a county, Yorkshire was a slightly different entity that might best be described as a governmental administrative area.  It encompassed parts of the region of today's New York City that included English settlers:  Manhattan, today's Westchester County, Long Island, and Staten Island.  It was named after Yorkshire, England in northern England, an administrative area or "shire" so named-because it encompassed the City of York.  As one scholar has written about Yorkshire in the Province of New York:

"The only unit of local government created by the Duke's Laws was the county of Yorkshire.  It contained the areas of English occupation -- Long Island, Westchester, and Staten Island -- and like its namesake, it was divided into three ridings.  The east riding comprised the towns at the east end of Long Island (now Suffolk County); the west riding, the middle section of Long Island (parts of Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens counties) and Staten Island; and the north riding, the west end of Long Island (Queens and Kings counties) and Westchester.  The focus of administration in the ridings was the court of session.  The officers of the court were justices of the peace and under-sheriffs who were chosen by the governor.  Their duties were to hear appeals from the town courts, supervise the collection of taxes, and entertain petitions from aggrieved individuals or towns.  The high-sheriff of the county supervised the work of the courts of session.  In theory, he was chosen from nominations made by the sessions in a three-year cycle.  In practice, the governor chose his own man and kept him in office as long as he liked.  As the chief liaison with the towns the sheriff had to be someone who had the confidence of the governor."

Source:  Ritchie, Robert C., Duke's Province:  A Study of New York Politics and Society, 1664-1691, p. 35 (Chapel Hill, NC:  The University of North Carolina Press, 1977).

After his arrival in the Manor of Pelham in late 1670, John Pell became a friend of then New York Governor Francis Lovelace.  Pell was appointed a Justice of the Peace to serve in  the north riding of Yorkshire encompassing the west end of Long Island (today's Queens and Kings Counties) and today's Westchester County.

The Dutch briefly recaptured New York from the English in August, 1673.  Within a few weeks the local government structure returned to that which had been in place during the original Dutch reign over New Netherland.  Theoretically, at least, Yorkshire was no more.  

Only weeks later, on February 9, 1674, the Treat of Westminster ended the Anglo-Dutch War and transferred the territory that had been the Province of New York back to British control.  The English colonial authorities promptly re-instituted the governmental structure that previously existed, including Yorkshire that included the Manor of Pelham.  

On November 1, 1683, English colonial authorities eliminated Yorkshire.  The various ridings were converted into counties.  The North Riding that included the Manor of Pelham was converted into Westchester County (including much of the modern Bronx County), Queens County (including much of the modern Nassau County), and New York County.  

Thereafter, the Manor of Pelham no longer was part of the administrative area known as Yorkshire.  Rather, it was part of Westchester County.

Burr, David H., "Map of the County of Westchester" (1829).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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1877 Account of Competition for DePeyster Medal at the Glen Drake Range in Pelhamville

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I have completed my recent efforts to uncover more information about the "Glen-Drake" rifle range in Pelhamville during the 1870s. See:


Mon., April 20, 2009:  Only Known Image of the Glen-Drake Rifle Range Near Pelhamville.

Wed., April 1, 2009: Evidence of a "Glen-Drake" Rifle Range in Pelhamville During the 1870s.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes the text of an article that appeared in a New York City newspaper in 1877 describing the competition for the DePeyster medal at the range.  The brief article sheds additional light on the history of the range.

"GLEN DRAKE RANGE, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- A very limited number of the members of the First, Second, and Fifth Divisions of the National Guard met at the Glen Drake range, on Sept. 27, the occasion being the regular match for the DePeyster medal.  This is the grand match of the American Rifle Association, and as the badge had been won twice by two marksmen, an interesting contest was expected, particularly as the Westchester sharpshooters had been practicing steadily at this range, 300 yards, fully intending that the beautiful medal should not again leave their county.  The conditions of the match are:  Open only to National Guardsmen in uniform, distance 300 yards, standing, military rifles, State model, seven rounds per man, and the ground between the firing points and the butts being very hollow, close work is required to secure an average score.  The mid-day train brought the New York and Brooklyn marksmen to the range, and as the weather was pleasant, all looked forward to a fine afternoon's sport.  Unfortunately, the pleasure was marred by a squabble for the possession of the trophy, and the assistance of a constable and justice of the peace was finally needed to settle the dispute.  The cause of the quarrel was the direct refusal of Lieut. J. A. Gee, the last winner of the badge, to surrender it to the proper officers of the association until the close of the match.  One of the essential conditions of this contest is that the winner shall give bonds for its safe keeping, while in the bond is a clause which binds the holder to return the badge to the association whenever so requested.  This rule has been readily complied with in all previous contests.  Capt. Charles F. Robbins, the first winner, gave bonds, and returned the badge previous to the second match.  Lieut. Gee himself, the second winner, gave bonds, and also returned the badge in the proper manner.  Private Backofen, who won the third and fourth matches, did likewise, and it was not until after the close of the fifth contest that any trouble was experienced.  Lieut. Gee, who won this match, was not prepared with his bonds; but as he expected to attend some military ball or entertainment the evening of the match, he requested permission to wear the badge, promising to return it, or give the necessary bonds in a few days.  This favor, Mr. Thompson, the Treasurer of the American Rifle Association, readily granted, and the Lieutenant, having obtained possession of the badge, failed to either return it, or give the required bonds, notwithstanding the repeated demands of the successive treasurers and secretaries of the association.  Tired at length of waiting for the badge or the bonds, the Board of Directors called the match, and Major Coburn, the executive officer of the range, previous to commencement of the firing, approached Lieut. Gee, and said:  'Now, Lieutenant, if you are ready to turn over the badge to the association, we will proceed with the match.'  This very just request the Lieutenant declined to accede to, stating that he refused to give up the badge until the match was completed, when he would turn it over to the winner.  The Lieutenant is a regular attendant at the Creedmore matches, and he must have known that a medal or trophy is invariably turned over to the executive officer before the commencement of a new match, and his direct refusal to comply with the request rather astonished Major Coburn.  However, he endeavored to convince Lieut. Gee of his error, but the latter refused to see it, and a general row was imminent.  This was stopped by the interference of Mr. Jarvis, the acting Secretary of the association, who had entered a replevia suit, the complaint being that Lieut. Gee was wrongfully detaining the property of the association.  All parties, therefore, adjourned to the Justice's Court at Pelhamville, where the Lieutenant again refused to deliver up the badge, and taking it from its case, pinned it on his breast, and said that it must be taken from him by force.  The justice then ordered the constable to remove it from the Lieutenant's coat, which was accordingly done.  Thus ended the squabble, and, of course, the match for that day, and the men wended their several ways, it is needless to say, not in the best of humor.  The officers of the association are content with their rights in obtaining possession of the badge, while the Lieutenant and his friends threaten civil suits and court-martial.  We opine that the matter will be allowed to rest just where it is.  The association is about to contsult the donor, Gen. DePeyster, as to the future contests for his badge, and it is very probable that the coming matches for the medal will be held at Creedmoor, where they will be well attended.  The annual match for the Fifth Division prize was held on this range, on Oct. 5:  distances, 200 and 500 yards; five rounds at each range."

Source:  Glen Drake Range, Westchester County, N.Y., The Spirt of the Times [New York, NY], Oct. 6, 1877, p. 252, col. 3.

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Biography of Theodore Montgomery Hill, Justice of the Peace in Pelham in Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

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Below is a brief biography of Theodore Montgomery Hill who served as a Justice of the Peace in Pelham in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The biography appeared in a multi-volume work published in 1903 and cited following the excerpt below.

"HILL, Theodore Montgomery, 1874-

Class of 1894 Law.

Born on Staten Island, New York, 1874; studied in Trinity School, New York; graduated LL.B., New [Page 446 / Page 447] York University Law School, 1894; in practice since 1895; Justice of Peace; in U.S. Naval Service in Spanish War.

THEODORE MONTGOMERY HILL, LL.B., who was born on Staten Island, New York, on July 31, 1874, is a son of Jacob Clarkson Hill and Amanda M. (Harwood) Hill. He is descended from William Hill, a merchant of New York, who married Alethea Carmer in 1786, and had a son, Robert Carmer Hill. The latter married Susan Clarkson, and had a son, Jacob Clarkson Hill, the father of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Hill was educated at the Trinity School, New York, and in the Law School of New York University, from which latter he was graduated a Bachelor of Laws in 1894. He also spent three years in mercantile employment and three in a law office. He was admitted to the Bar in 1895 and since that date has been practicing his profession in New York, with offices at No. 44 Broadway. He lives at Pelham Manor, New York, where he has been Justice of the Peace for six years, and is Secretary of the Republican Town Committee. In the Spanish War of 1898 he served as Gunner's Mate on the U.S.S. 'Jason.' He is a member of Phi Delta Phi, Phi Gamma Delta, the Bar Association, the Republican Club, the Manor Club, the Huguenot Yacht Club, the New York University Alumni Association, the Trinity School Alumni Society, the Pelham Marine and Field Club, and other organizations."

Source: Chamberlain, Joshua L., ed., Universities and Their Sons: New York University Its History, Influence, Equipment and Characteristics with Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Founders, Benefactors, Officers and Alumni, Vol. II, pp. 446-47 (Boston, MA: R. Herndon Company 1903).



Source: Id., p. 447.

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Brief Biography of Henry De Witt Carey, 19th Century Pelham Justice of the Peace

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Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biographyof the Nineteenth Century published in 1908 includes a brief biography of a man named Henry De Witt Carey who once lived on City Island and served, for a number of years, as a Justice of the Peace in the Town of Pelham. The biography is transcribed in its entirety below, followed by a citation to its source.

"CAREY, HENRY DE WITT, business man, jurist, was born March 24, 1844, near Middletown, N. Y. He was a successful merchant of Middletown, N. Y.; for the past quarter of a century has been the manager of the export department of the New Home Sewing Machine company with headquarters at 28 Union square, New York city. He has always taken an active interest in democratic politics, and is a member of the Tammany society and the Sagamore and Pequod clubs and of the American Historical society. For four years he was a justice of the peace at City Island, N. Y.; and in 1889 - 90 was judge of the court of general sessions of Westchester County, N. Y. He is a thirty-third degree member of the Masonic fraternity; and a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Carey is president of the Pelham Park Street Railroad company; president of the Metropolitan dispensary; president of the board of trustees of the New York College of midwifery, and other institutions."

Source: Herringshaw, Thomas William, ed., Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Ninetheenth Century, p. 192 (Chicago, IL: American Publishers' Association 1898).

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