The Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company Incorporated in 1817

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Until the first two decades of the 19th century, travel to and from the Town of Pelham was very difficult due to the lack of bridges and meaningful roadways.  Indeed, travel to the area from New York City or from points north was easiest by ship, thus ensuring that City Island grew in those early years to become the principal population center of the town.

This all began to change in 1815 when local residents arranged for the construction of the first Pelham Bridge.  See Tue., Oct. 11, 2016:  Is It Possible The First Pelham Bridge Built in About 1815 Was Repaired After Near Destruction by a Storm?

According to longstanding history of the Pelham Bridge, on March 6, 1812, the New York State Legislature enacted a statute incorporating the "Eastchester Bridge Company" to build a bridge over the Hutchinson River where it empties into Eastchester Bay.  With plans to build a bridge that would allow a more direct roadway from the Village of Westchester to the Town of Pelham, another group of local residents began planning construction of such a road as a toll road.  

The Pelham Bridge was built by early 1815 but, within months, was destroyed by an extraordinary storm and flood. There were, however, prompt proposals to rebuild the bridge by August 1, 1817. At about this time, local residents created the “Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company.”  It was incorporated on April 5, 1817. 

According to one historian, “The Shore Road was made into a real road by the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Co., incorporated April 5, 1817.”  Barr, Lockwood, A Brief, But Most Complete & True Account of the Settlement of the Ancient Town of Pelham Westchester County, State of New York Known One Time Well & Favourably as the Lordshipp & Manour of Pelham Also The Story of the Three Modern Villages Called The Pelhams, p. 51 (Richmond, VA: The Dietz Press, Inc. 1946).  Lockwood Barr may have overstated the point a little. It appears that the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company was incorporated to build a road from the causeway at the Village of Westchester (near today's Westchester Square in the Bronx) to the Pelham Bridge -- not beyond the Pelham Bridge onto today's Shore Road between the bridge and the Pelham Manor border. 

In any event, it is clear that construction of the road between the Village of Westchester and Pelham Bridge connected Pelham to what were then more populated portions of lower Westchester County, making the colonial roadway known today as Shore Road in Pelham Bay Park all the more important.  The roadway built by the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company came to be known as the "Westchester Turnpike."  Occasionally, portions of today's Shore Road between Pelham Bridge and the Pelham Manor border were also referred to as Westchester Turnpike. See, e.g., SUPREME COURT -- John Hunter, Plaintiff vs. Robert R. Hunter, Deforciant [Legal Notice], New-York Evening Post, Nov. 19, 1818, p. 3, col. 2 (referencing "the highway leading from the Westchester turnpike road in Pelham to Rodman's Neck, (so called)").  For more on the history of Shore Road, see Friday, Oct. 14, 2016:  Early History of Pelham's Ancient Shore Road, Long an Important Pelham Thoroughfare Along Long Island Sound.

Today's Historic Pelham article sheds a little more light on the creation of the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company in 1817.  I have written before, on a single occasion, about the history of the company.  See Tue., Feb. 28, 2006:  Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company "Builds" Shore Road in Pelham.

On March 21, 1817, New York State Senator Darius Crosby introduced in the State Senate "An Act to Incorporate the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Company."  The bill had its first reading to the Senate that day and, by unanimous consent, was read a second time then was committed to a committee of the whole, suggesting there was little or no opposition to the measure.

Four days later on March 25, 1817, the committee of enrolment reported to the Senate that they had examined the engrossed bill and that it had been enroled [sic] and collated.  Thereupon, the Senate voted, by resolution, passage of the bill.

The following day, on March 26, 1817, the New York State Assembly announced that the Clerk of the Senate had delivered to the Clerk of the Assembly the bill that the Senate had passed.  The bill received its first reading before the Assembly that day and was promptly referred to a select committee consisting of Assemblymen Ebenezer White, Jr. and John Townsend of Westchester County, and Edward Smith, Jr. of Putnam County.  The Committee was directed to "consider and report thereon."

The following day (March 27) Assemblyman White of Westchester County reported favorably on the bill to the Assembly as a whole, recommending that he believed it "proper that it [the bill] should become a law of this state."  The Assembly ordered that the "said bill be committed to a committee of the whole house" suggesting, again, that the bill was not controversial.

Two days later on March 29, 1817, the Assembly met as a committee of the whole on the engrossed bill, then formed a select committee to consider the Senate bill further.  The committee consisted of Assemblymen Christopher Tappen Jr. and Green Miller (both representing Sullivan and Ulster Counties), and Assemblyman Ebenezer White, Jr. of Westchester County.  The select committee was instructed "to report the same [the bill] complete."

On Tuesday, April 1, 1817, the Senate bill was read to the full Assembly for a third time.  The Assembly then passed the bill "without amendment" and ordered the Clerk of the Assembly to "deliver the said bill to the honorable the Senate, and inform them, that this house have passed the same without amendment."

The Senate immediately referred the bill, passed by both houses of the legislature, to the "Council of Revision" for advice on whether it should become a law of the State.  On April 7, a message from the Council of Revision, delivered by the Secretary of State, was read to the Senate stating the Council's view "that it does not appear improper to the Council" that the bill should become a law of the state.  

Thus, the bill became law as "CHAP. CLVII -- AN ACT to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company." effective April 5, 1817.

The text of the statute sheds interesting light on the project to build the roadway from the Village of Westchester to the Pelham Bridge.  For example, it authorized three men and their associates to "associate for the purpose of making a turnpike road."  The men were Herman Le Roy (of Pelham, who lived near Pelham Bridge), Thomas C. Taylor, and William Edgar.  It confirmed that the new road would "begin at the causeway leading from the village of Westchester to Throgsneck [sic], at some point east of the bridge over Westchester creek, and to run from thence on the most convenient route to the bridge lately erected over the mouth of Eastchester creek."  It constituted the company as capable of suing and being sued and to allow it to purchase and own property.

The Statute authorized the company to issue one hundred shares of stock, "of thirty dollars each."  It further appointed William Bayard, Thomas C. Taylor, and Benjamin W. Rodgers as "commissioners to receive subscriptions for the said stock" (i.e., sell the 100 shares for thirty dollars each to raise $3,000 to fund the venture).  

Perhaps the most interesting, and amusing, aspect of the statute was the section that authorized the company to levy tolls on the turnpike, once built.  The statute stated "it shall be lawful for the company hereby incorporated to exact and receive at the gate or turnpike to be erected on the said road, the following rates of toll."  It proceeded to list the following:

• for every score of sheep or hogs, six cents; 
• for every score of cattle, horses or mules, twenty cents; 
• for every chair, sulkey [sic], chaise or other two wheel pleasure carriage, with one horse, six cents; 
• for every horse rode, three cents; 
• for every horse led or driven, two cents; 
• for every stage waggon, chariot, coach, coachee, phaeton or other pleasure carriage, drawn by two horses, twelve and an half cents, and six cents for every additional horse; 
• for every cart or waggon, drawn by one horse, six cents; 
• for every cart or waggon, other than stage waggons, drawn by two horses, mules or oxen, eight cents, and two cents for every additional horse, mule or ox; 
• for every sleigh or sled, if drawn by not more than two horses, mules or oxen, six cents, and 
• for every additional horse, mule, or ox, one cent.

By early July, 1817, it seems the shares had all been sold.  That month notices appeared in the Commercial Advertiser published in New York City that an election would be held at 12:00 Noon on Monday, August 4, 1817 at the office of Thomas C. Taylor, 41 Robinson Street (New York City) during which subscribers of shares would elect directors of the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company.  

Soon, afterward, Pelham had a more convenient roadway connecting it with lower Westchester County and the great metropolis of New York City.

"Pelham Bridge in 1865 From a sketch by W. J. Wilson"

This Shows the So-Called "Third Pelham Bridge" That Crossed

Eastchester Creek and Connected the Westchester Turnpike with

Shore Road.  Source: Jenkins, Stephen, The Story of the Bronx From

the Purchase Made by the Dutch from the Indians in 1639 to the Present

Day, Opposite p. 318 (NY and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons The

Knickerbocker Press, 1912).  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"FRIDAY, 10 o'clock A.M. March 21, 1817.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

PRESENT, 

His honor, Philetus Swift, President pro hac vice, and a quorum of the Senate. . . . 

Mr. Crosby, according to leave, brought in the said bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was read a second time, and committed to a committee of the whole. . . ."

Source:  JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK:  AT THEIR FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 213, 215 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).  

"TUESDAY, 10 o'clock, A.M. March 25, 1817.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

PRESENT,

His honor Philetus Swift, President pro hac vice, and a quorum of the Senate.

The committee of enrolment reported, that they had examined the engrossed bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company' . . . and that the same [was] duly enroled and collated.

Thereupon,

The said engrossed bill, entitled 'and act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' was read the third time.

Resolved, That the bill do pass."

Source:  JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK:  AT THEIR FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, p. 233 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"WEDNESDAY, March 26, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

Four several messages from the honorable the Senate, also delivered by their clerk, with the bills therein mentioned, were read, informing that the honorable the Senate have passed the bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' . . . in which bills respectively they request the concurrence of this house.

The said bills were severally read the first time, and by unanimous consent were also read a second time, and the bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' was refered [sic] to a select committee, consisting of Mr. White, Mr. E. Smith and Mr. Townsend . . . severally to consider and report thereon."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 668, 670 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"THURSDAY, March 27, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

Mr. White, from the select committee to whom was refered [sic] the engrossed bill from the honorable Senate, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' reported, that they have had the said bill under consideration, and believe it proper that it should become a law of this state.

Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a committee of the whole house. . . ."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 678, 682(Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"SATURDAY, March 29, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the engrossed bill from the honorable the Senate, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' and after some time spent thereon, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Sanford, from the said committee, reported progress, and asked for and obtained leave to sit again. . . . 

Thereupon -- 

Ordered, that the committee of the whole house be discharged from further consideration of the said bill, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' . . . and that the same be committed to a select committee, consisting of Mr. Tappen, Mr. G. Miller and Mr. White, to report the same complete. . . ."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 699, 704 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"TUESDAY, April 1, 1817.

The house met pursuant to adjournment. . . . 

The engrossed bill from the honorable the Senate, entitled 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' was read the third time.

Resolved, that the bill do pass.

Ordered, That the clerk deliver the said bill to the honorable the Senate, and inform them, that this house have passed the same without amendment. . . ."

Source:  Journal of the Assembly, OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK -- FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, p. 720(Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"MONDAY, 9 o'clock A.M. April 7, 1817.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

Present,

His honor Philetus Swift, President pro hac vice, and a quorum of the Senate. . . . 

A message from the honorable the Council of Revision, delivered by the Secretary of State, was read, informing, that it does not appear improper to the Council, that the bill, entitled . . . 'an act to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company' . . . should respectively become laws of this state. . . ."

Source:  JOURNAL OF THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK:  AT THEIR FORTIETH SESSION -- SECOND MEETING, pp. 283-84 (Albany, NY:  J. Buel, 1817).

"CHAP. CLVII.

AN ACT to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company.

Passed April 5, 1817.

Associates.

I.  BE it enacted by the people of the state of New-York, represented in senate and assembly, That Herman Le Roy, Thomas C. Taylor, William Edgar, and all such other persons shall associate for the purpose of making a turnpike road, 

Route.

to begin at the causeway leading from the village of Westchester to Throgsneck, at some point east of the bridge over Westchester creek, and to run from thence on the most convenient route to the bridge lately erected over the mouth of Eastchester creek, be and they are hereby created a body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of 'the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company,' 

Powers.

and by that name shall have continual succession, and be persons capable in law of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in all courts places whatsoever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, matters and causes, and by the same name and style shall be in law capable of purchasing, holding and conveying any estate, real or personal, for the use of the said corporation:  Provided, that such estate, as well real as personal, so to be purchased and held, shall be necessary to fulfil [sic] the end and intent of the said corporation.

Shares.

II.  And be it further enacted, That the stock of the said company shall consist of one hundred shares, of thirty dollars each;

Commissioners to receive subscriptions.

and William Bayard, Thomas C. Taylor and Benjamin W. Rodgers, are hereby appointed commissioners to receive subscriptions for the said stock, in the manner directed in and by the act, entitled 'an act relative to turnpike companies,' passed the 13th day of March, 1807.

Tolls.

III.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the company hereby incorporated to exact and receive at the gate or turnpike to be erected on the said road, the following rates of toll, to wit:  for every score of sheep or hogs, six cents; for every score of cattle, horses or mules, twenty cents; for every chair, sulkey, chaise or other two wheel pleasure carriage, with one horse, six cents; for every horse rode, three cents; and for every horse led or driven, two cents; for every stage waggon, chariot, coach, coachee, phaeton or other pleasure carriage, drawn by two horses, twelve and an half cents, and six cents for every additional horse; for every cart or waggon, drawn by one horse, six cents; for every cart or waggon, other than stage waggons, drawn by two horses, mules or oxen, eight cents, and two cents for every additional horse, mule or ox; for every sleigh or sled, if drawn by not more than two horses, mules or oxen, six cents, and for every additional horse, mule, or ox, one cent.

Rights.

IV.  And be it further enacted, That the company hereby incorporated shall have all the rights, privileges and immunities, which are given and granted in and by the aforesaid act relative to turnpike companies, and shall be subject to all the conditions, provisions and restrictions therein contained."

Source: "CHAP. CLVII -- AN ACT to incorporate the Westchester and Pelham turnpike road company Passed April 5, 1817" in LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK, PASSED AT THE THIRTY-NINTH, FORTIETH AND FORTY-FIRST SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE, COMMENCING JANUARY 1816, AND ENDING APRIL 1818, Vol. IV, pp. 160-61 (Albany, NY:  Printed for Websters and Skinners by the Printer to the State, 1818).

"NOTICE is hereby given, that an election of Directors in the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company will be held at the office of Thomas C. Taylor, situate at No. 41 Robinson-street, in the third ward of the city of New-York, on the first Monday of August next, at the hour of 12 o'clock at noon; at which time and place the subscribers of shares in the said company, are notified to attend accordingly. Dated this 3d day of July, 1817. 

WM. BAYARD, ) 
B.W. ROGERS, } Commissioners. 
THOS. C. TAYLOR, ) 

july 3-law4w" 

Source: NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser [NY, NY], Jul. 3, 1817, p. 3. 

The same notice also appeared on July 16, July 17 and July 22. See NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser [NY, NY], Jul. 16, 1817, p. 4; NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser, Jul. 17, 1817, p. 4; NOTICE, Commercial Advertiser, Jul. 22, 1817, p. 4.

"The present road from Westchester Bridge to Pelham Bridge was authorized as follows:

In 1817, Hermann Le Roy, Thomas C. Taylor, William Edgar and their associates were incorporated as a turnpike company to make a turnpike road beginning at the causeway leading from the village of Westchester, at some point on the east side of the bridge over Westchester Creek, and to run from thence in the most convenient route to the bridge lately erected over the mouth of Eastchester Creek and were to be known as the 'Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Road Company.'"

Source:  Scharf, J. Thomas, History of Westchester County, New York Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed to New York City, Vol. I, p. 815 (Philadelphia, PA:  L. E. Preston & Co., 1886).

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The March 6, 1812 New York Statute Authorizing Construction of the Pelham Bridge

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On March 6, 1812, the New York State Legislature enacted a statute incorporating the "Eastchester Bridge Company" to build a bridge over the Hutchinson River where it empties into Eastchester Bay.  The bridge was built shortly afterward and is believed to have been completed by about 1815.  In 1817, the Westchester and Pelham Turnpike Company was incorporated to construct a turnpike from the causeway at Westchester to the bridge.  That bridge came to be known as "Pelham Bridge"  -- the name it bears today.  Even in its first iteration, Pelham Bridge was a draw bridge to permit masted ships to pass.  

Within its first few years, the first Pelham Bridge was destroyed by a storm.  On April 12, 1816, the company was authorized by the Legislature to sell its property and toll franchise for a period of forty-five years. The second bridge was built in 1834 by George Rapelje, with the right to charge tolls for a period of thirty years, but the supervisors of Westchester County purchased the bridge in 1860 and made it free. The bridge was replaced with an iron bridge constructed in 1869-1870.  That bridge, in turn, was replaced by the present larger bridge, opened by the New York City Department of Bridges on October 15, 1908.  

I have written before about the history of the Pelham Bridge.  See, e.g.:  Thu., Jan. 1, 2009:  A Brief History of Pelham Bridge.  Additionally, I have written about other aspects of the Pelham Bridge and its history on numerous occasions.  For a lengthy list of such postings with links, see the end of today's article.

 Downstream Side of Pelham Bridge, Looking

Northeast Across the Hutchinson River on October 19, 2008.

Source:  Wikimedia Commons, Photograph by Jim Henderson.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes the text of the March 6, 1812 statute that incorporated the Eastchester Bridge Company and authorized it to build the first Pelham Bridge.  The statute contains a wealth of information relevant to the early history of the Town of Pelham.

"CHAP. XXII.
An ACT to incorporate the Eastchester Bridge Company.  Passed March 6, 1812.

Preamble

WHEREAS Herman Le Roy and others have, by their petition to the Legislature, prayed to [Page 23 / Page 24] be incorporated for the purpose of erecting, by voluntary subscriptions, a bridge across Eastchester creek, and to be authorised to exact from all persons using such bridge, a toll merely adequate to the repairs thereof:  Therefore,

Eastchester bridge company incorporated

I.  Be it enacted by the people of the state of New-York, represented in Senate and Assembly, That Herman Le Roy, James Harvey, William Bayard, John Bartow, Richard Ward, Elbert Roosevelt, Daniel Pelton, Joshua Heustice and John Hunter, and all such other persons as shall associate for the purpose of building a bridge across the mouth of Eastchester creek, from the farm of James Harvey, in the town of Pelham, to the point of Throgh's Neck, called Dormer's Island, in the county of Westchester, and shall subscribe and pay towards building the said bridge a sum not less than twenty-five dollars, their successors and assigns, shall be and hereby are created a body corporate and politic, by the name of 'the president and directors of the Eastchester bridge company,' and so to remain for the term of thirty years and no longer; 

Their style and corporate rights.

and they are hereby constituted and declared to be a body politic and corporate, in fact and in name, and by that name they and their successors may have continual succession, and shall be capable in law of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in all courts and places whatever; and that they and their successors may have a common seal, and may make, change and alter the same at their pleasure, and also that they and their successors, by the same name and style, shall be capable in law of purchasing, holding and conveying, any real or personal estate for the use of the said corporation:  

Proviso.

Provided, That the estates so to be holden shall be such only as shall be necessary to promote or attain the objects of this incorporation.

Capital stock

II.  And be it further enacted, That the capital stock of the said company shall consist of so many shares of twenty-five dollars each, as shall amount to a sum sufficient, for building the said bridge, and the toll house and gate thereunto belonging; and each stockholder shall be entitled to as many votes for directors of the [Page 24 / Page 25] said company as he may hold shares of the said stock; 

7 directors chosen annually.

and the affairs of the said company shall be managed by seven directors, who shall be chosen annually from among the stockholders of the said company, by a plurality of the votes of the said stockholders, at such times and in such manner as may be prescribed by the by-laws of the said company; and a majority of the said directors shall elect one of their number to be president, and the said president, with a majority of the said directors, shall be a quorum capable of transacting the business of the said corporation; 

Their powers.

and shall have power to make such by-laws, rules, orders and regulations, (not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of this state or of the United States,) as shall be necessary for the well governing the affairs of the said company.

The company may build a bridge over Eastchester creek.

III.  And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said company to erect and build at their own expense, a good and substantial bridge across Eastchester creek, at the place before mentioned:  

Proviso.

Provided, That the said bridge be built at least twenty-four feet wide in the clear between the sides or railings thereof, and be well covered with planks, not less than three inches thick, and the sides of the said bridge be well secured with good and substantial railings, not less than four feet, six inches height:  

Further proviso.  

And provided further, That the said bridge be constructed with a draw, to open at least twenty feet, so as to permit vessels with standing masts conveniently to pass and repass the said bridge, which passage shall be freely passed, repassed and used, by all persons whatever, without toll or reward.

The bridge to be kept in repair.

IV.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said company to keep and maintain the said bridge, and the floor, sides, railings and draw thereof, in good and sufficient repair from the time the said bridge shall be completed, during the continuance of this act; 

A person shall attend night & day to open the draw.

and when they have completed the said bridge, they shall at all times thereafter, as well by night as by day, provide and keep a sufficient person or persons at or near the said bridge, to open the draw thereof; and such person or persons so attending, on sufficient no- [Page 25 / Page 26] tice being given to him or them by the master or owner of any vessel having necessary business or occasion to pass the said bridge, by blowing a horn or otherwise, such person or persons so attending the said bridge shall immediately open or cause to be opened, the said draw, and shall permit every such vessel to pass through the said draw unmolested and freely as aforesaid; 

The company shall pay a fine of five dollars
for every 10 minutes neglect to open the draw.

and when any vessel shall be unnecessarily detained from passing through the said draw for more than ten minutes, by the refusal, neglect or delay of any person or persons so attending the said bridge, the said company shall pay to the owner or master of such vessel so unnecessarily detained, the sum of five dollars for every ten minutes such vessel shall be so unnecessarily detained beyond ten minutes before mentioned, which sum or sums shall be paid upon demand, to be made of the president of the said company; 

Masters and owners of vessels to pass with due diligence.

and the owner or master of any vessel at whose request the said draw shall be opened, shall use all due diligence and expedition in passing such vessel through the said draw, 

For every 10 minutes delay to forfeit 5 dollars to the company

and shall pay to the said company five dollars for every ten minutes of unnecessary delay in passing such vessel through the said draw, after the said draw shall have been opened to permit her to pass through it; which sum or sums shall be paid upon demand to be made of the master or owner of such vessel, by an authorised officer or agent of the said company.

The judges of Westchester county to give a certificate
that the bridge is sufficiently constructed.

V.  And be it further enacted, That as soon as the said bridge shall be finished, and the judges of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Westchester, or a majority of them, shall, upon inspection, have certified under their hands that the said bridge is well and sufficiently constructed and built, and will admit the passage of loaded teams and other carriages, and is in all things conformable to the true intent and meaning of this act, it shall and may be lawful for the said company to erect a gate at or near the said bridge, and to exact and demand of all persons passing the said bridge a toll to be received and taken for the use of the said company, to enable them to keep and maintain the said bridge in repair, which toll shall not exceed the following rates, to wit:  

Rates of toll.

For every stage-waggon, drawn by [Page 26 / Page 27] two or more horses or mules, twelve and an half cents; for every four wheel pleasure carriage, with two or more horses, twelve and an half cents; for every two wheel pleasure carriage or sleigh, and horses or mules, six cents; for every waggon and horses or mules, other than stage-waggons, four cents; for every man and horse or mule, two cents; for every ox-cart with oxen, four cents; for every market sleigh or sled and horses, or mules or oxen, four cents; for every cart with one horse or mule, three cents; for every ox, bull, cow, steer, mule or horse, led or driven loose over the said bridge, one cent; for every score of sheep or swine, two cents, and in that proportion for a greater or less number of them.

President and directors

VI.  And be it further enacted, That Herman Le Roy shall be president, and John Hunter, Richard Ward, John Bartow, Elbert Roosevelt, Daniel Pelton and Joshua Hustice, directors of the said comapny, until an election for directors of the said company shall be held according to the provisions of this act.

The company shall render to the

comptroller an account of the costs of the bridge.

VII.  And be it further enacted, That as soon as the said bridge shall be finished, the said company shall render to the Comptroller of this state an account of the costs thereof, 

And annually thereafter render an

account of monies received and expended.

and that they shall annually thereafter render him a full and just account of all monies received by them for tolls for passing the said bridge, and of all expenditures to be made by them in repairing and maintaining the said bridge, to the end that if it shall be found that the rates of toll hereby established shall be more than adequate to the repairs of the said bridge, the said rates of toll may be reduced in such manner as the Legislature may from time to time think proper and expedient.

The provision in the 7th section

of a certain act repealed.

VIII.  And be it further enacted, That the proviso contained in the seventh section of the act, entitled 'an act for improving the road from Eastchester to Byram,' be, and the same hereby is repealed:  

Proviso.

Provided, That it shall not be lawful to erect the most easterly gate therein mentioned to the eastward of the dwelling-house of Thomas Theall, in Rye.

IX.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the company incorporated by the last mentioned [Page 27 / Page 28] act 

The draw in the bridge at
Fisher's Landing discontinued.

to discontinue the draw in the bridge across Eastchester creek, at Fisher's Landing, directed by the said act to be maintained in the said bridge.

This is a public act.

X.  And be it further enacted, That this act be, and the same is hereby declared to be a public act."

Source:  "CHAP. XXII. An ACT to Incorporate the Eastchester Bridge Company Passed March 6, 1812" in Laws of the State of New-York, Passed at the Thirty-Fifth Session of the Legislature Begun and held at the City of Albany, The Twenty-Eighth Day of January, 1912, pp. 23-28 (Albany, NY:  Printed for S. Southwick, Printer to the State, 1812). 

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Below is a listing of other postings I have published regarding the Pelham Bridge.  Together they present a rather interesting history of the bridge that was so important to the development and expansion of the Town of Pelham during the nineteenth century. 

Tue., Sep. 22, 2009:  Names of Early "Keepers of Pelham Bridge" Appointed by Westchester County.  

Thu., Jan. 08, 2009:  Another Brief History of The Pelham Bridge.

Thu., Jan. 1, 2009:  A Brief History of Pelham Bridge.

Wed., Jan. 2, 2008:  New York State Senate Report on Petition by Inhabitants of Westchester to Allow Construction of Toll Bridge Across Eastchester Creek in 1834.

Tue., Aug. 28, 2007:  The Laying Out of Pelham Avenue From Fordham to Pelham Bridge in 1869.

Wed., Jul. 4, 2007:  1857 Real Estate Advertisement for Sale of the Pelham Bridge.

Fri., Jul. 22, 2007:  1857 Real Estate Advertisement for Sale of "Country Seat" at Pelham Bridge.

Fri., May 18, 2007:   Celebration at Pelham Bridge in 1872.

Wed., May 16, 2007:  Board of Supervisors of Westchester County Vote to Build New Iron Bridge to Replace Pelham Bridge in 1869.

Tue., May 15, 2007:  The Owner of the Pelham Bridge Hotel Sold it for the Princely Sum of $22,000 in 1869.

Mon., May 14, 2007:  Plans to Widen Shore Road in the Town of Pelham in 1869.

Fri., May 11, 2007:  A Sad Attempted Suicide at Pelham Bridge in 1869.

Thu., Dec. 08, 2005:  The First Stone Bridge Built Across Eastchester Creek in Pelham, 1814-1815.

Thu., Aug. 18, 2005:  The Opening of the New Iron "Pelham Bridge" in 1871.

Tue., Aug. 9, 2005:  Cock Fighting at Pelham Bridge in the 19th Century.

Thu., Jul. 21, 2005:  Today's Remnants of the Bartow Station on the Branch Line Near City Island.

Tue., Jun. 28, 2005:  The Hotel and Bar Room at Pelham Bridge.

Thu., Mar. 24, 2005:  The Bartow Area of Pelham in the 19th Century: Where Was It?

Wed., Mar. 23, 2005:  Prize Fighting at Pelham Bridge in 1884.

For more about the Pelham Bridge and its history, see Pelham Bridge, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelham_Bridge (visited May 6, 2014).

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.

Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

A Brief History of Pelham Bridge

Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.

In 1886, John Thomas Scharf released his monumental, multi-volume History of Westchester County. The work includes much about the history of Pelham. Below is a brief excerpt that provides a little history of the bridge known as Pelham Bridge.
"Pelham Bridge, which crosses East Chester Creek at the head of East Chester or Pelham Bay, was authorized as follows:
By a legislative act of March 16, 1812, Herman Le Roy, James Havey, William Bayard, John Bartow, Richard Ward, Elbert Roosevelt, Daniel Pelton, Joshua Euastace and John Hunter were incorporated as the East Chester Bridge Company, and authorized to build a toll-bridge from the farm of James Harvey in the town of Pelham to the point of Throgg's Neck called Dormer's Island. Within a few years a storm destroyed the bridge, and on April 12, 1816, the General Assembly empowered the company to sell its property and franchises at public auction, the purchaser to become the owner of the franchise for forty-five years. Nothing seems to have been accomplished under this act, and int 1834 George Rapelje was authorized to build a bridge over East Chester Creek 'at the pint where the bridge formerly stood.' If the draw permitted free navigation, and the Common Please judges of the county were satisfied with the structure, it being made their duty to inspect it, Rapelje was allowed to collect tolls upon traffic. His grant was to run thirty years, but in 1860 the supervisors of Westchester County were directed by an act of the Legislature to purchase this Repelje's or Pelham Bridge and make it free, which they promptly did."
Source: Scharf, J. Thomas, ed., History of Westchester County, New York Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge and West Farms Which Have Been Annexed to New York City, Vol. 1, Part 2, Chapter XX. Westchester Town by Fordham Morris, p. 815 (Philadelphia, PA: L.E. Preston & Co. 1886).
Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.