history of Yonkers. ...or âgentlemanâ (whence, phonetically, Yonkers)âwas given a land grant in 1646 and established the patroonship (estate) of Colendonck in 1652. The lands were then bought by Frederick Philipse who built a manor house there in 1682 (later used as the Yonkers city hall). The manor was confiscated (1779) because the founderâs great grandson espoused the Tory cause during...