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From: "Howard Swain" <>
Subject: The Shire of Yorkshire (was: Re: Southampton, Long Island)
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:39:56 -0800
References: <20050112045835.99290.qmail@web53802.mail.yahoo.com> <41E4DCD5.6060106@optonline.net>


Hi all,

From: "Bob Billard" <>
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 12:16 AM

> Hi guys,
>
> Just to chime in, by sheer coincidence, I just stumbled across this tidbit
> in the will abstract of John Conkling Jr., "of Hashamomack, neare
> Southold, in the East Riding of Yorkshir" [Nov. 16, 1665]

From French's Gazetteer (1860), p. 544, footnote 2:

"By a convention held at Hempstead in 1665, Long Island,
Staten Island, and a part of Westchester co. were erected into a
shire called "Yorkshire" for the purpose of holding courts and
administering justice. This was subdivided into "Ridings"
known as
"East Riding," (Suffolk co.),
"West Riding" (Kings co., Staten Island, and Newtown),
"North Riding" (Queens co. except Newtown) [which in 1860
would also have included the present Nassau Co.].
-- Thompson's Hist. of L.I. p. 137"

He says it includes part of Westchester Co. (which in 1860 would have
included the Bronx too), but doesn't say which Riding. My guess
would be North Riding.

Note that this mirrors Yorkshire Co. in England which is also
divided into the same 3 Ridings.

I assume that these lasted until the county system was set up
in 1683 (with the possible exception of the brief Dutch
interegnum in 1673-4).

And, as Bob demonstrated, you do see these Ridings of
Yorkshire in wills of the period.

Regards,
Howard





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