[Robert Bolton, Jr. (1848)] Frances=Tlios. Augusta James de l.an-cey 448 HISTORY OF THE of the Hudson and palisades; the entrance is by a beanfifiil road that winds through a thick wood to the house. The Van Cort-landt mansion and surrounding property belongs to Samuel B. Thompson, Esq., and is now occupied by the McFarlane family. The western side of Cortlandt's ridge embraces fine views of the Hudson River, palisades and hills stretching northwards. Upon the property of W. C. Wetmore, Esq., there is a celebrated white oak, which stands in the midst of a pretty glade called the " Coio Boy Oak," from the fact that these lawless desperadoes were often suspended from its branches. " Short was their shrift, and sure the cord." ♦ • [Rokeby. Cortlandt house, the ancient residence of the Van Cortlandt family, stands in the vale below, about one mile north from Kings bridge, on the road leading to the village of Yonkers. Prior to the purchase of the Philipses this estate (as before shown,) formed a portion of the fief of Colen-donck, and was styled the " Old Yonckers." From the Patroon Adrjaen van der Donck it passed through the hands of various proprietors to the Hon Frederick Philipse who sold it to his son-in-law Jacobus van Cortlandt A. D. 1699. Since then, it has been considerably enlarged by other purchases. The whole eight hundred and fifty acres is now vest-ed in his descendant Augustus van Cortlandt Esq.