[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] tic struggle, the glorious consummation of what had been through so many dark years so ardently hoped for. The papers there signed gave freedom to a nation and initiated another grand test of repub-lican institutions. The spot should ever be held in honored remembrance as the birth-place of the United States. The lands on which the village is built having formed part of the Manor of Phi lipsburgh, thai were declared by the new government to be forfeited, in consequence of the defection of Frederick Philipse to the King during the Revolution, and all the subsequent titles were derived through the Commissioners of Forfeitures. Most of the land in the western portion of the vil-lage, upon which nearly all the population is yet lo-cated, became the property of Peter Van Brugh Lilt iugston in lsi'.'!. lie was for many years an enter-prising and conspicuous person in this locality. He caused a portion of his land to be surveyed in ls;5'i into small plots. He advertised an auction sale and invited population, but without much success. Per-