[Robert Bolton, Jr. (1848)] southern border of the Highlands, and the general surface is hilly, though its hills are of a moderate height in the south.''^ The numerous streams supply abundance of mill seats. " The soil is generally productive, and well distributed into arable, pasture and meadow lands. Much of it is stony; and previous to the late introduction of gypsum as a manure, many farms were nearly exhausted by constant tillage.''^ The timber is very thrifty and tall, consisting for the most part of oak, chesnut, hickory and walnut, (fcc. The low grounds yield maple, black birch, ash and hemlock, &c. The first entry relating to town officers occurs in the manor book, entitled, " Record for the manor of Cortlandt and York-town." " At a town meeting held for ye manor of Cortlandt, on the first Tuesday, in April, in the year of our Lord, 1760, to choose town officers for ye said manor for the ensuing year, and the re-spective names and offices of ihose chosen." Pierre van Cortlandt, Supervisor, Moses Travis, Clerk, » Heath's Mem. 206. d Ibid. \> Ibid. 260. « Spafford's Gazetteer of New York. 400 HISTOKY OF THE Joseph Sherwood, Treasurer,